We're Gonna Change the World! The 60's Chicago Garage Sound of Quill Productions

While the Chicago label Quill only lasted a bit less than two years (from 1966 to 1967), their output was impressive stuff from an eclectic variety of acts, and the great reissue label Sundazed, only a few months after releasing a definitive two-disc overview of the USA Records catalog (2131 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE: 60'S GARAGE AND PSYCHEDELIA FROM U.S.A. AND DESTINATION RECORDS), have unearthed 19 highlights from Quill's archives on WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THE WORLD! THE 60'S CHICAGO GARAGE SOUND OF QUILL PRODUCTIONS.
Many of Quill's acts followed the trends of the major British acts of the day, but hardly all of them; the Exterminators deliver a screed against long hair and take an "America first" position on rock with the over the top "Declaration of Independence '65," "Hot Pastrami" by the Don Caron Orchestra is a high-powered instrumental dominated by honking saxophones and fuzzy guitars, and "I'm Going to Change the World" by the Commons Ltd. suggests the psychedelic revolution that was lurking around the corner while still maintaining a high degree of sneer and swagger. And even the acts that were looking to the U.K. for inspiration were turning their eyes to unusual places; the Delights were clearly obsessed with the Zombies, so much so that their original tune "Every Minute, Every Hour, Every Moment" mimics their style just as well as their cover of "Just Out of Reach," and the Skunks, who true to their name bleached stripes into their hair, also leaned to the moody side of British pop with "Don't Ask Why" and a fine cover of the Beatles' "It's Only Love." But whether they were embracing an introspective approach or raving up on some tough R&B-influenced sounds, every track on this collection sounds taut, well-crafted, and full of life.