Be Stoned! Dig: Zipps

There's 'beat' as in the Beat literary movement that produced beatniks, and poetry read over (usually) jazz music.  And there's 'beat' as in the European '60s rock'n'roll-inspired pop. The kooky, sometimes hilarious Dutch band The Zipps combine both: yes, a Beat Beat group.

Their music's fine in a basic mid-'60s garage kinda way (some tunes are quite catchy), but the real distinguishing characteristic of The Zipps is singer/guitarist Philip Elzerman's English-as-a-second-language vocals, which are either nonsensical, or obscured by his thick accent. Or both. In the Ramones-y titled, Byrds-y sounding "Kicks and Chicks" Elzerman claims that he "read all the books of Jack Kerouac," but he pronounces that Beat icon's name as "Ker-acky." Two lengthy tracks called "Beat and Poetry" are live all-Dutch language spoken word over peppy rock music, not jazz. An odd combination. Tho in the hysterical "Hipsterism," one of the greatest, funniest '60s nuggets I've heard lately, Elzerman says "I always like to listen to good jazz/You're a square! And you don't like it, I guess!" Followed by a solo on that most rock'n'roll of instruments, the flute. Having said that, the groovy a-go-go instrumental version of "Lotus Love" is one of my faves off this career-spanning collection. Wish I could hear all of "LSD 25" minus the interview on top of it, it's a great Seeds-y proto-punk stomper.

The Zipps - Be Stoned Dig Zipps.zip

Thanks again to our psychedelic nugget farmer, Count Otto Black!


1–Highway Gambler
2–Roll The Cotton Down
3–Kicks And Chicks
4–Hipsterism
5–Beat & Poetry Part 1
6–Beat & Poetry Part 2
7–Marie Juana
8–The Struggle For Ice-Cold Milk Of Benzi The Bassplayer Or How To Promote Original Dutch Milk
9–When You Tell It, Tell It Well..!
10–Lotus Love (demo - vocal version)
11–Walking On This Road To Mine Town (previously unreleased live track)
12–The Beer Hall Song (previously unreleased live track)
13–Kicks And Chicks (previously unreleased live track)
14–Philippe Salerne* & Zipps, The*Avec De L'Italie
15–Philippe Salerne* & Zipps, The*Venez Voire Comme On S'Aime
16–Lotus Love (instrumental - previously unreleased demo version)
17–The Struggle For Ice-Cold Milk Of Benzi The Bassplayer Or How To Promote Original Dutch Milk (previously unreleased stereo version)
18–Kicks And Chicks (previously unreleased stereo version)
19–LSD 25 Interview