Lord have mercy! Yesterday commenter snacktruck was gracious enough to suggest I keep today's focus on Texas after yesterday's IF2013aYiaRGB-GFY post on Texan group, the Mysterions. Uh, I agreed 'cause the jam suggested "I Was Alone," by The Exotics, is SMOKIN'!!

This single was released in 1967 and is a perfect American summation of exactly what these kinda pop/teen groups were facing. They could hear the (ahem) Summer of Love/Rock future on the radio and on albums, but they had to keep locals dancing. "I Was Alone" straddles and stretches that heaving boundary with authority. The riff is based on a heavy Kinks' riff, with searing fuzz and organ draped on top, BUT you can also hear the kinda whispered nod to lysergic vocal harmony experimentation and a couple guitar fills knowingly laced by the West Coast sound. DAMN.

The Exotics were a top of the heap band in Dallas, Texas; they had residencies at local clubs Pirate’s Nook, the Dunes, Yogi’s, were on TV occasionally, and even did some touring. As they earned their reputation, I reckon it's no surprise their catalog is full of fuck yeah. I've always heard them described as folk-rock, but songs like this Farfisa and fuzz bouncer, which charted Top 10 in Dallas, "Come With Me" and the driving flip to "I Was Alone," "Queen Of Shadows," sound more like they were smart enough to mix it ALL in their pot. Oh, some members we ex-Floyd Dakil Combo, a group known for the Pebbles' classic "Dance Franny, Dance."

Sidebar: Obviously, the Texas Exotics had no connection to the Northwest Exotics, who had 45s on Jerden, Bolo, and Seafair.