The Little Boy Blues
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Garage rock music |
The Little Boy Blues were a garage rock group originating from Chicago, Illinois during the mid to late 1960s, acknowledged as forerunners in the development of protopunk. Their most notable tracks include "The Great Train Robbery" and their cover of Van Morrison's "I Can Only Give You Everything," both considered staples within the garage rock genre. Throughout their career, the band underwent multiple personnel changes and evolved toward a more polished musical style before ultimately dissolving in 1969.
History
Established in 1964, the founding members consisted of vocalist and guitarist Lowell Shyette, lead guitarist Paul Ostroff, bassist Ray Levin, and drummer James Boyce, all attending the University of Illinois at Chicago. Their early repertoire centered around Chicago blues and classic rock & roll tunes. After signing with the local IRC label, they transitioned to a sound influenced by The Beatles, aiming for broader commercial appeal.
In 1965, their track "Love for a Day" gained significant airplay on Chicago radio stations, which led to opportunities supporting prominent bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Lovin' Spoonful, and The Association. During this period, Billy McColl joined as a vocalist for live performances and contributed to their follow-up single, Willie Dixon's "I'm Ready," which marked a return to blues roots and also achieved regional success.
Their fuzz-driven rendition of "I Can Only Give You Everything" became another regional hit and is now regarded as a classic example of 1960s garage rock. The band secured a regular weekly engagement at the Like Young nightclub and made an appearance on Dick Clark's television program Where the Action Is, enhancing their national profile.
In September 1966, lead singer/guitarist Lowell Shyette was conscripted into military service, causing a disruption in the band's progress. Frank Biner stepped in as his replacement. After signing with Ronko Records in 1967, they released "The Great Train Robbery," which is now recognized as an influential punk-era track. As psychedelic music gained traction, they broadened their musical approach, performing at local "be-in" gatherings and headlining notable Chicago psychedelic venues such as the Cheetah and Electric Playground.
This stylistic change led to the departure of McColl and Ostroff; guitarist Peter Pollok was brought in to fill the vacancy. Upon securing a deal with Fontana Records (a subsidiary of Mercury Records), plans were made to record a full-length album. However, internal disagreements resulted in Biner and Boyce leaving during sessions. Vocalist Marc Coplon and drummer Bill Mooney completed the album In the Woodland of Weir, which received mixed critiques due to its uneven material. The group continued briefly before disbanding in 1969.
One significant legacy is their track "Seed of Love" from In the Woodland of Weir, which was sampled by producer Just Blaze for Jay-Z's Grammy-nominated album The Black Album on the song "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)." This piece was also featured on the soundtrack for the widely popular video game NBA 2K13.
Singles
- "Look at the Sun" b/w "Love for a Day" (IRC, 1965)
- "I'm Ready" (W. Dixon) b/w "Little Boy Blues Blues" (IRC, 1966)
- "I Can Only Give You Everything" (T. Scott) b/w "You Don't Love Me" (E. McDaniel) (IRC, 1966)
- "Great Train Robbery" (J. Miller) b/w "Season of the Witch" (D. Leitch) (Ronko, 1967)
- "It's Only You" b/w "Is Love?" (Fontana, 1968)
Studio albums
- In the Woodland of Weir (Fontana, 1968)