Today's piece of mid 60s Garage greatness isn't as furious in tempo as most of the other tracks in this unintended series have been, Why Don't You Smile was the flip side of the debut single of The All Night Workers from Syracuse, New York and was released on the Round Sound label in 1965. The a side is a blue eyed soul number that picked up some plays on the northern scene, however I find it rather formulaic and well, meh. The flip is far more interesting not least as the track is also the first recorded output of a collaboration of two young guys who the following year would write and record one of the most influential albums ever, not that it was apparent at the time. The two talented songwriters were Lou Reed and John Cale and according to the latter this song was written after a heavy drinking session.
The All Night Workers - Why Don't You Smile
If the song sounds familiar it may be because you have heard either the cover version from 1966 by The Downliners Sect or more probably the Spiritualized interpretation released as a single in 1991. The version posted below is an alternative version from the Blue on Blue bootleg which Will Carruthers sold by mail order in 2007 to raise some cash
Spiritualized - Why Don't You Smile (Alt mix)
3 comments:
Fascinating post Drew.
It's been an education, Drew. Love this post.
Interesting that Reed/Cale wrote this for a Syracuse band, as Reed had already left Syracuse and formed the Velvets in NYC by this time. Round Sound is a dope name for a record label.
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