(Sorry - no photo this time. Use your imagination)

L.A. was a hotbed of activity in the 1960's as far as recording studios went. One of the biggest was Gold Star Recording Studios on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood. It wasn't huge, like Columbia Records studios up the street on Sunset, or Capitol on Vine, but it hosted some of the most famous sessions from the early days of rock to its eventual demise in 1983.

So when a studio had a reputation as the place to be, everybody had to record there - as if cutting a session at the same place The Who laid basic tracks down assured you of stardom.

Some cases that was true and others go under the heading of might've been's.

One such group was Limey & The Yanks, a local L.A. band who, like a lot of bands, were a fixture on the L.A. club scene and whose brush with fame consisted of a handful of singles for the Loma label between 1966 and 1967. The group featured Steve Cook (aka Limey) Bob Gay, Wally Downing and Darrell Devlin. They're classified under that great sub-heading "garage band" - those bands who had maybe one or two hits, were very raw. Technical proficiency that ranged from excellent to nonexistant and usually a band that played a lot of covers of other more established bands. Many went on to illustrious careers while others gave it up and went home.

This track "When I Come Home" is from a four song session the band did in 1966 at Gold Star. It's not clear if they were signed to Loma at the time or not - there's no indication on the tape box. But if you're familiar with them this will probably come as a pleasant discovery because it's not likely these tracks were issued. Certainly not issued in stereo as they are here.

So here's a little rarity to start your weekend off with.