THE PALACE GUARD
self-titled (Gear Fab)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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The Palace Guard were a fairly obscure '6Ts band that hailed from California. Yes, they dressed in pseudo Buckingham Palace type uniforms - sans the big hats - and included in their ranks a young Emitt Rhodes. Emitt, who only played on their first three singles, would go on to some degree of fame with the Merry Go Round (whose "Live" was covered by the Bangles on their first album) and his own eclectic solo LPs from the early '70s. Oddly enough, Emitt's own website claims he played drums on all the band's singles, yet the liner notes to this tell of him being replaced by a Terry Rae for the forth single. Specializing in folk-rock type sounds and vocal harmonies galore, they released six singles between 1965-67, all of which are collected here on this rather short CD. From the quaint and melodic sounds of "Summertime Game" and "Little People," to a bluesy Stones-like cover of Wilson Pickett's "If You Need Me," to jangly 12-string propelled tunes like "Falling Sugar," there's plenty here to enjoy. They even cut a pre-Monkees version of "Saturday's Child," replete with cool fuzztone guitar. Fans of obscure '6Ts music will want to check this one out.

© 2003 - Alan Wright