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==Background==
==Background==

_
The Litter formed in 1966 from the remains of two locally popular [[Minneapolis]] groups, the Victors and the Tabs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sundazed.com/shop/artists.php?artistID=484 |title=The Litter |publisher=sundazed.com |accessdate=October 4, 2015 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Early into the group's existence, the Litter enjoyed tremendous popularity, particularly in [[Chicago]] where the band became regulars at the [[Electric Theatre]] as they performed alongside [[the Byrds]] and [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelitter-lightning.com/html/body_facts.html|title=The Litter FACTS|publisher=thelitter-lightning.com|accessdate=October 4, 2015}}</ref> During this time, [[bass guitarist]] and [[keyboard instrument|keyboardist]] Jim Kane got the Litter in contact with [[record producer]] Warren Kendrick, who was a capable instrumentalist in his own right before an arm injury prevented him from performing. Seeing the group's potential, Kendrick signed the Litter to a [[recording contract]] to his self-owned [[record label]], Scotty Records, to produce their debut single and subsequent album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2012/07/litter-white-lightning-lightning.html|title=The Litter, White Lightning & Lightning interview with Tom "Zippy" Caplan|work=It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine|accessdate=October 4, 2015}}</ref>

"Action Woman", a Kendrick-penned composition about a man in search of a "woman who'll satisfy his soul", was chosen for the group's first release. Musically exhibiting heavy influence from the [[British Invasion]] bands [[the Yardbirds]] and [[the Who]], "Action Woman" was marked by [[distortion (music)|distorted]] [[guitar]] riffs and feedback provided by [[lead guitarist]] Bill Strandlof.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Distortions|type=CD booklet|publisher=Arf! Arf! Records|last=Sheppard|first=Doug|year=1999}}</ref> The fuzz-toned instrumentals evident in the song were regularly utilized in the Litter's later recordings, even prompting Kendrick to name their first album ''Distortions''. In addition to Strandlof's motif, the composition was also highlighted by Denny Waite's authoritative and snarling [[lead vocals]], coupled with a raw musical stance emulating from the band's relatively live-recording style.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Pebbles, Volume 1|type=CD booklet|year=1992|last=Shaw|first=Greg|publisher=AIP Records}}</ref>

In January 1967, "Action Woman", with a [[cover version]] of [[Pete Townshend]]'s "[[A Legal Matter]]" as its [[B-side]], was released and became a regional hit in Minneapolis. The song received a broader audience when it was featured as the opening track to the highly regarded [[compilation album]], ''[[Pebbles, Volume 1]]'' in 1979.<ref name=all>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/action-woman-mt0044278669|title=Action Woman - Review|publisher=AllMusic|author=Unterberger, Richie|accessdate=October 4, 2015}}</ref> Music historian [[Richie Unterberger]] praised "Action Woman", saying it is "an archetype of the tough '60s garage rock favored by fans of the ''Pebbles'' reissue series".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-litter-mn0000080149|title=The Litter - Biography|publisher=AllMusic|author=Unterberger, Richie|accessdate=October 4, 2015}}</ref> Along with its inclusion on ''Pebbles'' the composition also appears on the 1998 reissue of ''[[Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968]]'' and ''[[Trash Box]]''.<ref name=all/>

The song has been covered by multiple groups, the first of which came just a month after the Litter's version by fellow-Minnesota band [[the Electras (band)|the Electras]]. The Electras' rendition, along with sharing Kendrick as their producer, has caused many record collectors to wrongly believe the two groups contained some of the same members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2012/jun/01/old-music-electras-action-woman|title=Old Music: The Electras - "Action Woman"|work=The Guardian|author=Hann, Michael|accessdate=October 4, 2015}}</ref> Other versions were recorded by [[Naz Nomad and the Nightmares]] during the garage rock revival of the 1980s, Kek '66, and [[Echo & the Bunnymen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://secondhandsongs.com/work/68340/versions#nav-entity|title=Cover versions of 'Action Woman'|publisher=secondhandsongs.com|accessdate=October 4, 2015}}</ref>


==Track Listing==
==Track Listing==

Revision as of 22:19, 20 May 2019

Distortions
Studio album by
The Litter
ReleasedMay 1, 1967
Recorded1966, Dove Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota
GenreGarage rock
Length1:04:04
LabelSundazed Records
ProducerWarren Kendrick
The Litter chronology
Distortions
(1967) 		$100 Fine
(1968)
Singles from Distortions
  1. "Action Woman"
    Released: January 1967
  2. "A Legal Matter"
    Released: January 1967
  3. "Somebody Help Me"
    Released: 1967
  4. "I'm a Man"
    Released: 1967
  5. "Whatcha Gonna Do About It"
    Released: 1967

Distortions is the debut Studio album by the American Psychedelic and Garage rock band The Litter releases on May 1, 1967 under Cleopatra Records which includes there mostly known hit single "Action Woman.

Background

The Litter formed in 1966 from the remains of two locally popular Minneapolis groups, the Victors and the Tabs.[1] Early into the group's existence, the Litter enjoyed tremendous popularity, particularly in Chicago where the band became regulars at the Electric Theatre as they performed alongside the Byrds and Jethro Tull, among others.[2] During this time, bass guitarist and keyboardist Jim Kane got the Litter in contact with record producer Warren Kendrick, who was a capable instrumentalist in his own right before an arm injury prevented him from performing. Seeing the group's potential, Kendrick signed the Litter to a recording contract to his self-owned record label, Scotty Records, to produce their debut single and subsequent album.[3]

"Action Woman", a Kendrick-penned composition about a man in search of a "woman who'll satisfy his soul", was chosen for the group's first release. Musically exhibiting heavy influence from the British Invasion bands the Yardbirds and the Who, "Action Woman" was marked by distorted guitar riffs and feedback provided by lead guitarist Bill Strandlof.[4] The fuzz-toned instrumentals evident in the song were regularly utilized in the Litter's later recordings, even prompting Kendrick to name their first album Distortions. In addition to Strandlof's motif, the composition was also highlighted by Denny Waite's authoritative and snarling lead vocals, coupled with a raw musical stance emulating from the band's relatively live-recording style.[5]

In January 1967, "Action Woman", with a cover version of Pete Townshend's "A Legal Matter" as its B-side, was released and became a regional hit in Minneapolis. The song received a broader audience when it was featured as the opening track to the highly regarded compilation album, Pebbles, Volume 1 in 1979.[6] Music historian Richie Unterberger praised "Action Woman", saying it is "an archetype of the tough '60s garage rock favored by fans of the Pebbles reissue series".[7] Along with its inclusion on Pebbles the composition also appears on the 1998 reissue of Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968 and Trash Box.[6]

The song has been covered by multiple groups, the first of which came just a month after the Litter's version by fellow-Minnesota band the Electras. The Electras' rendition, along with sharing Kendrick as their producer, has caused many record collectors to wrongly believe the two groups contained some of the same members.[8] Other versions were recorded by Naz Nomad and the Nightmares during the garage rock revival of the 1980s, Kek '66, and Echo & the Bunnymen.[9]

Track Listing

No.TitleLength
1."Action Woman" 
2."Whatcha Gonna Do About It" 
3."Codine" 
4."Somebody Help Me" 
5."Substitute" 
6."I'm So Glad" 
7."A Legal Matter" 
8."Rack My Mind" 
9."Soul Searchin'" 
10."I'm a Man" 

References

  1. ^ "The Litter". sundazed.com. Retrieved October 4, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "The Litter FACTS". thelitter-lightning.com. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  3. ^ "The Litter, White Lightning & Lightning interview with Tom "Zippy" Caplan". It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  4. ^ Sheppard, Doug (1999). Distortions (CD booklet). Arf! Arf! Records.
  5. ^ Shaw, Greg (1992). Pebbles, Volume 1 (CD booklet). AIP Records.
  6. ^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "Action Woman - Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  7. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "The Litter - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  8. ^ Hann, Michael. "Old Music: The Electras - "Action Woman"". The Guardian. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "Cover versions of 'Action Woman'". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
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