VA - Searching In The Wilderness (1964-67/2000)

While this compilation might prove mighty hard to track down, it's one of the better anthologies of raw, rare mid-'60s rock, concentrating exclusively on bands from the U.K. and Europe (i.e., this is not a "garage" compilation in the classic sense). Some of these groups enjoy a cult reputation, especially the Dutch ones (the Outsiders, Q65, Cuby & the Blizzards, the Motions); most will draw blanks even on the faces of specialist record store owners. Still, if you like the R&B/mod of the Pretty Things or the Who and are looking for stuff in that mode that's less polished, this is a good place to land. The Red Squares' "You Can Be My Baby" is as good as the best London 1966 mod; the Buzz's "You're Holding Me Down" is one of British producer Joe Meek's hardest-rocking sessions; Jimmy Page plays a raunchy session guitar lead on Sean Buckley's "Everybody Knows"; and the Outsiders' "Won't You Listen" is one of the wildest, most unhinged beat/punk performances of all time. There's also a rare and basic unreleased mid-'60s song by the Kinks (who are identified as the "Muswell Ravens" on the cover), "All Aboard."