'68 Comeback
Encyclopedia
'68 Comeback is an American garage rock
band formed in Memphis, Tennessee
in 1992 by singer, songwriter
, and musicologist, Jeffrey Evans
. For the purposes of the band, Jeffrey Evans is frequently billed as either "Monsieur Evans" or "Monsieur Jeffrey Evans." The group contains a revolving cast of musicians, the only constant member being Evans himself.
, on drums. With this lineup the band released a number of well-received 7" singles and then began the first leg of a 60-day, 42-city U.S. tour. The tour immediately ran into problems when drummer Peggy O'Neil was unable to perform, leaving the band without a drummer in the midst of a cross-country tour. This position was eventually filled by then-Compulsive Gambler
and future Oblivians
frontman Greg Cartwright
. []
With the success of their first tour under their belt, the band re-entered the studio, completing their first EP
, Paper Boy Blues, in 1993, and their first full-length, Mr. Downchild, in 1994. The band continued its rigorous release schedule, issuing a number of 7" before heading back into the studio, this time with Walter Daniels
and backed by former stand-in drummer Greg Cartwright's Oblivians for what would eventually become the Walter Daniels Plays With Monsieur Jeffrey Evans & The Oblivians At Melissa's Garage" EP, later re-released with additional tracks as "Melissa's Garage Revisited." []
In 1998, following a number of personnel changes, the band released the 21-track double LP, A Bridge Too Fuckin' Far. The album was dedicated to original guitarist Jack Taylor who had recently died of a drug overdose. This album was followed in 1999 by Love Always Wins, an album primarily of cover songs which is widely considered to be the band's most accessible album to date. []
The 2000s saw '68 Comeback on hiatus as Monsieur Evans pursued a solo career, releasing albums with the C.C. Riders, the Porch Ghouls, and eventually reuniting with Walter Daniels and ex-Oblivan, Jack Yarber
, for the band South Filthy. []
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band formed in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in 1992 by singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and musicologist, Jeffrey Evans
Monsieur Jeffrey Evans
Jeffrey Evans is singer and songwriter best known for his Memphis, TN based band 68 Comeback and The Gibsons Bros., South Filthy and his current solo career....
. For the purposes of the band, Jeffrey Evans is frequently billed as either "Monsieur Evans" or "Monsieur Jeffrey Evans." The group contains a revolving cast of musicians, the only constant member being Evans himself.
History
The initial '68 Comeback lineup consisted of Monsieur Evans on vocals, guitar, and blues harp; Jack Taylor of the Monster Truck Five and Darin Lin Wood of the Red Devils on guitar; ex-Gloryhole member, Dan Brown, on bass; and Peggy O'Neil, formerly of The GoriesThe Gories
The Gories are an American garage rock trio that formed in Detroit in 1986. They were among the first 1980s garage punk bands to incorporate overt blues influences...
, on drums. With this lineup the band released a number of well-received 7" singles and then began the first leg of a 60-day, 42-city U.S. tour. The tour immediately ran into problems when drummer Peggy O'Neil was unable to perform, leaving the band without a drummer in the midst of a cross-country tour. This position was eventually filled by then-Compulsive Gambler
Compulsive Gamblers
Compulsive Gamblers were a garage-rock group formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1990 by Greg Cartwright and Jack Yarber, both future members of the Oblivians.-First incarnation:...
and future Oblivians
Oblivians
The Oblivians were an American punk rock trio that existed from 1993 to 1998. In the 1990s, their blues-infused brand of bravado, crudely-recorded music made them one of the most popular and prominent bands within the underground garage rock scene....
frontman Greg Cartwright
Greg Cartwright
Greg Cartwright, also known by his stage name Greg Oblivian, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Memphis, Tennessee. He currently fronts Reigning Sound and lives in Asheville, North Carolina...
. []
With the success of their first tour under their belt, the band re-entered the studio, completing their first EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Paper Boy Blues, in 1993, and their first full-length, Mr. Downchild, in 1994. The band continued its rigorous release schedule, issuing a number of 7" before heading back into the studio, this time with Walter Daniels
Walter Daniels
Walter Daniels is an American musician and harmonica player noted for introducing the instrument into a number of styles of music not usually associated with the harmonica, including punk rock, and avant-garde free improvisation.-History:...
and backed by former stand-in drummer Greg Cartwright's Oblivians for what would eventually become the Walter Daniels Plays With Monsieur Jeffrey Evans & The Oblivians At Melissa's Garage" EP, later re-released with additional tracks as "Melissa's Garage Revisited." []
In 1998, following a number of personnel changes, the band released the 21-track double LP, A Bridge Too Fuckin' Far. The album was dedicated to original guitarist Jack Taylor who had recently died of a drug overdose. This album was followed in 1999 by Love Always Wins, an album primarily of cover songs which is widely considered to be the band's most accessible album to date. []
The 2000s saw '68 Comeback on hiatus as Monsieur Evans pursued a solo career, releasing albums with the C.C. Riders, the Porch Ghouls, and eventually reuniting with Walter Daniels and ex-Oblivan, Jack Yarber
Jack Yarber
Jack Yarber, also known by his stage name, Jack Oblivian, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist based in Memphis, Tennessee. He was a founding member of the garage-bands The Compulsive Gamblers, and The Oblivans and currently fronts Jack O & the Tennessee Tearjerkers.Yarber has also been...
, for the band South Filthy. []
Singles
- 3 X Loser 7" (Sugar Ditch, 1992, SD-003)
- Memphis 7" (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1993, SFTRI 215)
- It Gets A Little Red 7" (In The Red, 1993, ITR 016)
- Peepin' & Hidin' 7" (Casting Couch, 1993, CCR-010)
- You Could Call Me Job 7" (Sub Pop, 1993, SP 216)
- Flip, Flop & Fly 7" (Get Hip, 1994, GH-168)
- Do The Rub 7" (Bag Of Hammers, 1994, BOH 021)
- Great Million Sellers "Rocks The Oldies" 7" (1+2 Records, 1994, 1+2 EP 053)
- Tobacco Road Part 1 7" (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1994, SFTRI 292)
- High School Confidential 7" (PCP Records, 1995, PCP-014)
- Someday My Prince Will Come .... 2x7" (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1996, SFTRI 390)
- The Annex Sessions, Volume One 7" (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1996, SFTRI 450)
- The Annex Sessions, Volume Two 7" (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1997, SFTRI 451)
Albums
- Paper Boy Blues 10" (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1993, SFTRI 258)
- Mr. Downchild LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1994, SFTRI 277)
- Golden Rogues Collection CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1994, SFTRI 321)
- Walter Daniels Plays With Monsieur Jeffrey Evans & The Oblivians At Melissa's Garage 10" (Undone, 1995, UDR-0008-10)
- A Bridge Too Fuckin' Far 2xLP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1998, SFTRI 422)
- Love Always Wins LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1999, SFTRI 574)
- Melissa's Garage Revisited LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1999, SFTRI 590)
Compilations
- PCP Generics CD (PCP Records, 1995, PCP-022)
- The Sore Losers Soundtrack 2xLP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1997, SFTRI 338)
- Shine On, Sweet Starlet LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1998, SFTRI 537)
- Killed By The Blues CD (P-Vine, 1999, PCD-5486)
- I Hate Music CD (P-Vine, 1999, PCD-5489)
- Their Sympathetic Majesties Request: Volume 2 2xLP/2xCD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2003, SFTRI 300)
- A History Of Memphis Garage Rock: The '90s CD (Shangri-La Records, 2003, shangri-la 037)
- Root Damage 2xLP (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2003, SFTRI 713)
- Root Damage 2xCD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2003, SFTRI 713)