Our word on the Bird this week - "Surfin' Bird," that is! We have to start with two songs by The Rivingtons: "Papa Oom-Mow-Mow" & "The Bird's The Word," which laid the foundation for future ornithological madness. After seeing The Sorenson Brothers (formerly The Revels) perform a mash-up of the two songs, The Trashmen added the tune to their repertoire and the rest is history! We also have a sighting of The Cramps and their version in this episode. This episode is not a lame duck!

Over the holidays, we were in Canada's Royal City - Victoria, BC - and Erik suggested we take on The Kinks song of the same name. She reigned for 63 years so her impact was large, on both Ray Davies and the city of the newly wed & nearly dead! Mexico's Los Rockin Devils covered the song the same year and we don't speak Spanish, but we think they changed the lyrics to make it a love song. If it has a [Tex-]Mex-style organ, we don't care! In the US, Little Roger & The Goosebumps made a bubblegum/powerpop version which leaves us kinda konfused? Back in Ol' Blighty, The Fall authored a rendition that seems to amplify the satirical elements of the original, but that's mostly seen in the video and not heard. Finally, Victoria's own The Hanson Brothers did the song and it travesties the Canadian city - if you've ever been to the Empress, your monocle might pop out when you hear these locals have to say! Lucky us!!!

It's time to celebrate the brightest and Bo Diddliest of 2025 on our Year-End roundup! Categories this year are ...

Bo Diddliest Song From a Series Episode

Bo Diddliest Cymbal Work

Bo Diddiest Song From a Theme Episode

and the one everyone really waits for ...

Most Insane Song!!

Thanks to all the Pastronauts and see you in 2026!

It's less than a week before the big day, so let's get the big ball of twine out to wrap up some Xmas gifts, starting with The Wailers, who are out of their (Christmas) tree once again to lambaste the consumerism of the holiday season with the Dylan-esque "Christmas Spirit" ... a couple of Yuletide yowlers by The Hallmarks and the freaky-peaky A440 follow. Santa's sleigh propels into the 70s with a "reason for the season" number by Alex Chilton & Big Star is next, and then a Christmas list by Vaughn Toulouse & his 80s post-punk pals Department S make your whole cup of eggnog runneth over! We wish it was Xmas everyday!!

Pastronauts have been asking "Please Please Please" for a new episode, so here's James Brown & The Famous Flames' 1956 debut ... what a way to begin a career! He basically sings two words the entire song and it's an unequalled vocal performance. After that, we have renditions by The Five Royales and a bizarre one by Ike & Tina Turner which is more speech than song. Sprinkled in are some garage versions by The Viceroys (Pacific NW band in the vein of The Wailers), The Who, and a bleatin' one by Ed Wool and the Nomads! 

Back to our roots this week for a two-pack! "Too Many Lovers" - an original 1966 song by Manchester/Netherlands beat combo The Scorpions and the only cover we could find anywhere - The Tell Tale Hearts from 1987. We dive deep into the tune and also ruminate on the commerciality (or lack thereof) of garage rock. A real throwback! We said!!!

Another theme episode! This time we explore 60s garage & psych tunes that aim to rewire your mind ... you're going to have a Herculaneum cranium after hearing all the mind-blowing riffs and sounds that permeate these 6 (!) tunes!!

This week, it's the great Goffin/King chestnut "I'm into Something Good" - but did you know the original version was recorded by Earl-Jean of girl group greats, The Cookies? Something tells us you'll like it every bit as much as the more famous version by Herman's Hermits, which of course we also cover. Ever wanted to hear the song in Mandarin? Then lend your ears to Singaporean Rita Chao's version from 1967! It's 棒 ! Ever wanted to hear a dirtbag version of the tune? Then listen to The Majic Stray's version from the dreaded year of 1969. We think they may be singing about drugs ... we also add versions by ampersand bands Junior James & The Late Guitar and The Bird & The Bee. Get into it!

To discuss, "You Can't Sit Down" by The Dovells, you need to go back to "Sit Down Servant" by The Staple Singers, a joyous hymn to entering heaven with syncopated handclaps. You also need to return to the raucous instrumental version by The Philip Upchurch Combo and then you'll hear where the South Street singers got all those elements for their 1963 hit. Did you ever wanna hear Wolfman Jack & The Wolfpack do the song? We have you covered with the cover - surprisingly it sounds a lil bit like The Cramps! Australia's Purple Hearts make you stamp your hands and clap your feet, but give the singer a lozenge! Our final version is by Les Calamités and they speed that backbeat up and get their motor movin' ... Gleep gloop!!

We've made it to another milestone, and to celebrate, we've picked some garage and garage-adjacent tunes to toot our own horn! Prepare to hear a lot of fuzz and friendship - we couldn't have done it without us!!!!