Nuggets: Why Do I Cry by The Remains

26 Comments

1. That is one cool-sounding tune! Who knows what would have happened, had their drummer not quit. Based on your write-up, it sounds like they were booked to open for The Beatles but didn’t because Damiani left, or did they still do the gig with a sub?

   • They did the gigs, but broke up straight afterward.

2. Definitely a polished sound.

   • Yup, but still garage-y enough to fit fine on Nuggets.

     • Something you might find interesting. At my granddaughter’s 2 year birthday party, my daughter in law’s dad and his brother got to the party late as they had been to “national record store day.” The brother had picked up the Nuggets set and I made sure to mention your series on it.

     • p.s. And here is the info I just went out and found! https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/15892

       • Yeah, the new LP version is a bit different than the 1998 CD version I’ve been covering. It’s shorter and has some different songs.

3. I can hear the potential this band had, shame they didn’t last.

4. I really like their sound. When I saw their name I got them mixed up with The Barbarians who were from Massachusetts also…but the Remains were much better.

   • Yeah, the Barbarians are a little gimmicky, I think, Remains could have potentially gone on to a great career.

5. Great sounding song. Though I’m confused by this: “The Remains formed at Boston University in 1964, although three of the four members were originally from Connecticut.” Although? Massachusetts is one state over from Connecticut, and believe me, A LOT of Nutmeggers went to schools in Boston. (I’m from CT and know many people who did go to a Boston school.) It’s not like there were a lot of colleges in Connecticut, not as much as there are in Beantown!

   And the drummer quitting BEFORE The Beatles tour? Sheesh. They would have a conversation piece for the rest of their live if they did. “I ALMOST toured with The Beatles” isn’t as impressive sounding.

   • This is like a mid-range Nugget for me. Like second-tier. A 6/10 maybe. The music is fun though.

     • It’s not the strongest song but the performance is really good IMO.

       • Yeah. It gets some action going with the guitars and stuff. A lot of them are like that where the music is okay but the songs suck ass. You gotta have a decent song first as far as I’m concerned.

   • I should probably fix that, thank you. My knowledge of American geography is obviously lacking.

     Apparently the drummer wanted to go back to college. I’d have thought he’d do The Beatles tour for sure.

6. When I saw this I didn’t realize it was Barry and the Remains. Sure, a Boston staple and their name crops up in any Boston band/radio station history. Good garage rock.

   • Yeah, Nuggets lists it as The Remains, I guess they went by both names?

     • Like the Supremes, then Diana Ross and the Supremes.

       • They changed it to Diana Ross and The Supremes from just The Supremes in 1968, And ya know what? By that time none of the Supremes even sang on any more of their records. Not even original members Mary and Florence or the new member Cindy Birdsong. It was just Diana Ross and two random singers at Motown. I think Love Child was their first record where the label said Diana Ross and The Supremes instead of The Supremes.

         • And that wasn’t such a great song IMHO.

         • Actually, Reflections was the first one where it said Diana Ross and The Supremes on the label.

         • Was DIana Ross an original member? Wikipedia says she’s been there since 1959, the same year the group was formed. Seems like close enough?

         • It’s probably confusing the way I said it. But yeah, Diana Ross was an original member. What I meant was the other two original members besides her. Mary and Flo. And then when Diana Ross left in 1969 and was replaced with Jean Terrell, Mary and Flo were back again.

         • Oh wait. That was incorrect too because Florence didn’t come back after 1969 cuz she got fired in 67 and Cindy replaced her. Mary was the only original one left.

7. Yup. Will be searching out some more

   • There’s another one coming up on Nuggets.