The New Colony Six started out as one of the better garage bands to come out of the Midwest in the mid-'60s, playing tough British Invasion-style
rock & roll (their "At the River's Edge" made it onto the Nuggets box set), and they later evolved into a surprisingly sophisticated and skillful
pop group that scored nationwide hits with the singles "Love You So Much" and "Things I'd Like to Say." However, this collection of odds and ends doesn't quite play to either side of the band's personality; in fact, most of the 24 songs aren't actually by the New Colony Six, with 11 tunes by the Raymond John Michael Band (which featured three NC6 alumni, singer Ray Graffia, drummer Chick James, and keyboard man Craig Kemp) and one each by Junior and Graffia, both latter-day Ray Graffia projects. The compilers also present a number of tracks in multiple versions, which gets a bit tiring; "The Power of Love," "Accept My Ring," and "Rap-A-Tap" by the New Colony Six all appear twice, while there are two different takes of "Hitch-Hiker" by the Raymond John Michael Band, and their cover of Terry Reid's "Rich Kid
Blues" shows up no less than three times. Given the plentiful supply of alternate takes and recordings by post-New Colony Six acts, Sides is clearly for hardcore NC6 fans only, but that's not to say they won't enjoy this collection; there's a charging live recording of the New Colony Six rarity "The Time Is Right," "Come and Give Your Love to Me" is a fine high-attitude rocker, most of the Raymond John Michael Band material sounds like a solid if slightly over-polished variation on the latter-day NC6, "Bobby and Georgia" and "Gwendolyn" are witty novelty numbers, and Graffia's "Sides" is an admirably ballsy
hard rock number. In short, if you're looking for the New Colony Six's greatest hits, steer clear of Sides, but if you're a committed fan looking for some choice rarities, you'll find them on this collection.
Tracks:-------
01. The New Colony Six - Sunshine (Kollenburg, McBride, Graffia) - 2:25
02. The New Colony Six - The Power Of Love (Vankollenberg, McBride, Graffia) - 2:12
03. The New Colony Six - Rap-A-Tap (R. Graffia Jr., R. Rice) - 2:05
04. The New Colony Six - The Power Of Love (Vankollenberg, McBride, Graffia) - 2:26
05. The New Colony Six - Accept My Ring (Vankollenberg, Graffia, McBride) - 2:17
06. The New Colony Six - Rap-A-Tap (R. Graffia Jr., R. Rice) - 2:32
07. The New Colony Six - Accept My Ring (Vankollenberg, Graffia, McBride) - 2:16
08. The New Colony Six - Come And Give Your Love To Me (Graffia, Vankollenberg, Jobes) - 1:57
09. The New Colony Six - The Time Is Right (W. Kemp) - 2:14
10. The New Colony Six - Muddy Feet (On The Mississippi) (B. Herman) - 2:56
11. The Raymond John Michael Band - Let There Be Love (B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb) - 2:51
12. The Raymond John Michael Band - Feel Free (R. Graffia Jr., G. Kempinski) - 2:02
13. The Raymond John Michael Band - Rich Kid
Blues (Terry Reid) - 2:59
14. The Raymond John Michael Band - Hitch-Hiker (J.Chitkowski, R. Graffia Jr., G. Nashan) - 2:07
15. The Raymond John Michael Band - Rich Kid
Blues (Terry Reid) - 2:35
16. The Raymond John Michael Band - Bobby And Georgia (R. Graffia Jr.) - 1:39
17. The Raymond John Michael Band - Hitch-Hiker (J.Chitkowski, R. Graffia, G. Nashan) - 2:10
18. The Raymond John Michael Band - I Can't Believe That We're Alone (R. Graffia Jr., G. Kempinski) - 3:19
19. The Raymond John Michael Band - Rich Kid
Blues (Terry Reid) - 3:21
20. The Raymond John Michael Band - Gwendolyn (R. Graffia Jr., G. Nasham) - 2:56
21. The Raymond John Michael Band - I Confess (R. Graffia, J. Kollenburg) - 4:08
22. Junior - I Will Always Think About You (R. Rice, L. Kummel) - 2:51
23. The New Colony Six - Can't You See Me Cry (R. Graffia, G. Vankollenberg) - 2:34
24. Graffia - Sides (R. Graffia Jr.) - 2:24
Personnel:---------
Ray Graffia - Vocals
Chick James - Drums
Pat Mcbride - Harmonica
Craig Kemp - Organ
Wally Kemp - Bass
Gerry Van Kollenburg - Guitar
Ronnie Rice - Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar
Ellery Temple - Bass
Les Kummel - Bass
Billy Herman - Vocals, Drums
Bruce Gordon - Bass
Chuck Jobes - Keyboards
Skip Griparis - Vocals, Guitar
All thanks to original releaser