“Mindrocker (demo)” (1967) – Keith Colley * Written by Keith Colley and Linda Colley * LP: Mindrocker * Label: Sonic Past
Although it never charted, the song “Mindrocker,” as recorded by the group Fenwyck, developed a reputation as one of the psychedelic garage rock era’s definitive swirls. It may surprise you, then, that it came to the band courtesy of career songwriter Keith Colley and his wife Linda. (Colley had charted as an artist in 1963 with his song “Enamorado.”) Even more surprising is how self-contained his own demo sounds, giving Fenwyck’s version a run for its money. The track appears on Mindrocker, a compilation of Colley versions of songs he’d also written for the Knickerbockers, Gene Vincent, and more.