The psychedelic beats generated in India in the 1960 and 70s represented an underground movement of music that we’re still in awe of today. With quaint, popular coffee shops like the now defunct Sharon’s in Colaba giving garage bands like The Jets a stage to perform, groups across Bombay, Madras, Calcutta and Bangalore became a part of this intoxicating new genre. Beats erupted from garages, and moved to larger spaces like the Shanmukhananda hall, and The Savages, The Combustibles and more became house-hold legends for all those who were a part of this counter-culture. Groovy songs of new-age rock sensations flooded towns, pushing the jazz era into the past and opening up a whole new soundscape in India. And with this shift came the magical world of covers.
As we dug into the archives of funky, psychedelic garage music created during the 1970s, we came across The Shadooks, an Indian band part of the garage beat revolution, and their tango with foreign inspirations. Progressive Hindustani music with garage rock and surf influences come together to cover songs like Love Grows by Edison Lighthouse, as well as Butterfly, Lady Rose and Top of the World. Released in 1973 (Love Grows, Butterfly) and 1974 (Lady Rose, Top of the World), these vinyl records were manufactured by the Gramophone Company of India Ltd, amongst others, and stand as iconic pieces of the garage rock era in India.
Listen to ‘Love Grows Where My Rosemary Grows’ by The Shadooks, a cover of the 1960/70 hit by Edison Lighthouse below.
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