The Lollipop Shoppe

The Lollipop Shoppe was an American garage rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1966.

In 1964, Fred Cole (lead vocals) recorded his first single, a R&B original with a group known as the Lords, but the band proved to be short-lived, and in 1966, Cole formed the Weeds. The Weeds consisted of Cole, Eddie Bowen (guitar), Ron Buzzell (guitar), Bob Atkins (bass guitar), and Tim Rockson (drums).^[1] However, it appeared the group would soon disband when the band members feared being drafted, and attempted to cross the border into Canada. They reached Portland, Oregon out of funds, so the group began to perform on the local club circuit, gaining a cult following, and releasing a regional successful single, "It's Your Time".^[1][2] The Weeds attracted the attention of Uni Records (a now-defunct subsidiary of MCA), who signed the group to a recording contract, and their new manager, 'Lord' Tim Hudson, insisted they change their outré moniker to The Lollipop Shoppe to assimilate into the trend of bubblegum pop music.^[3]

The band's actual recordings, including the 1968 album Just Colour, are in actuality a mix of garage rock and psychedelia. The album and its single, "You Must Be a Witch" – later included on the compilation album Pebbles, Volume 8 – are regarded as garage rock classics for its hard-edge musical stance, and is still prized by record collectors, though neither made the charts. Two of The Lollipop Shoppe's songs appeared in the movie, Angels from Hell. The group toured and released one more single, "Someone I Knew" b/w "Through My Window", before breaking up in 1969. They reunited as The Weeds for a 1971 single on the Portland, OR NWI label, "Stop" b/w "No Good News", but soon disbanded for the final time. All of the band's recordings have been reissued on the compilation, The Weeds – AKA The Lollipop Shoppe, in 2007 on Way Back Records.^[1]

Australian garage band The Philisteins covered "You Must Be a Witch" on their 1988 EP Bloody Convicts.

Memphis synth punk band Lost Sounds covered "You Must Be a Witch" on their 2000 LP Memphis Is Dead.

The Black Lips recently covered "You Must Be a Witch" during their Rhapsody Originals set.

Discography

Singles

As the Weeds

• "It's Your Time" b/w "Little Girl" – Teenbeat Club TB-1006, 1966
• "Stop" b/w "No Good News" – NWI Records NWI-2784, 1971

As The Lollipop Shoppe

• "You Must Be a Witch" b/w "Don't Close the Door" – Uni Records UNI-55050, 1968
• "Someone I Knew" b/w "Through My Window" – Shamley Records S-44005, 1969

Albums

• Just Colour – Uni Records UNI-73019, 1968
• The Weeds – AKA The Lollipop Shoppe – Way Back Records MMCD-66026, 2007

References