''Simla Beat 70/71'' is a
garage rock compilation issued by Normal Records consisting of songs which originally appeared on the ''Simla Beat 70'' and ''Simla Beat 71'' albums showcasing bands who appeared at the All-India Simla Beat
battle of the bands contests held those two years in
Bombay
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second-m ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
.
The Imperial Tobacco Company sponsored the annual events to advertise their Simla brand of menthol cigarettes which were marketed to the country's youth of the time.
Groups from all around India would compete for first prize. The ''Simla Beat '70–71'' compilation includes recordings of some of the bands who attended in 1970 and 1971.
[A: B: ] The album was not recorded live on stage, but in a primitive makeshift studio using very little overdubbing or sound reinforcement.
Though recorded in the early 1970s, the music bears an uncanny resemblance to the kind of garage and psychedelic sounds more typical of 1966 and 1967 in Western countries, perhaps due to the India's' relative isolation and lack of technological progress in that era.
The set begins with "Voice From The Inner Soul" by the Confusions from Madras.
The Dinosaurs, from Bangalore, follow with a sprited version of the Troggs' "You Can't Beat It", and appear again on "Sinister Purpose".
The Eruptions, from Cuttack, do a version of
Bo Diddley
Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, inc ...
's "
You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover
"You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" (alternatively "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover") is a 1962 song by rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley. Written by Willie Dixon, the song was one of Diddley's last record chart hits.
Unlike many of his ...
".
The Genuine Spares are represented by two cuts: "Proper Stranger" and "What's Going On".
The Fentones, from Shillong, won first prize in 1971 and are heard doing the "Simla Beat Theme" and the garage ballad, "Until the Dawn".
The Mini Beats perform "Gypsy Girl".
Other bands included on the compilation are the Innerlight, Purple Flower, from Ahmedabad, and Hypnotic Eye.
The Velvette Fogg, from Bombay, won second prize at the contest in 1971.
Atomic Forest
Atomic Forest was an Indian psychedelic and hard rock band from Mumbai, active in the early-1970s. They recorded a single album, ''Obsession '77''.
Background
Atomic Forest only recorded one album, which was not released until after the band h ...
was another popular band of the time and recorded a proto-punk version of Deep Purple's "Mary Long".
Track list
Disc one (''Simla Beat 70'')
#The Confusions: "Voice From The Inner Soul" 3:00
#The Dinosaurs: "You Can't Beat It" 2:54
#The X'Lents: "Psychedelia" 2:53
#The Innerlite: "Zorba's Dance" 3:21
#The Genuine Spares: "Proper Stranger" 3:46
#The Genuine Spares: "What's Going On" 2:45
#The Dinosaurs: "Sinister Purpose" 3:09
#The Great Bear: "Mist" 7:18
#The X'Lents: "Born On The Bayou" 4:14
#The Innerlite: "Baby Baby Please" 2:25
Disc two (''Simla Beat 71'')
#The Fentones: "Simla Beat Theme" 3:01
#The Nomads: "Nothing Is The Same" 5:08
#The Hipnotic Eye: "Killing Floor" 2:42
#The Mini Beats: "Hey Gipsy Girl" 3:02
#The Velvette Fogg: "I Am So Glad" 7:42
#The Black Beats: "The Mod Trade" 4:11
#The Eruptions: "I Am Gonna Erupt" 3:36
#The Fentones: "Until The Dawn" 3:04
#The Brood Of Vipers: "Psychedelic Web" 5:20
#The Eruptions: "You Can't Judge A Book" 3:03
#The Hipnotic Eye: "Aimless Lady" 3:16
References
Bibliography
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simla Beat 70 71
2000 compilation albums
1970 compilation albums
1971 compilation albums
Garage rock compilation albums