The Daybreakers - History Of Eastern Iowa Rock Volume One (1985)

A garage rock combo from Muscatine, IA, who cut only one single, "Psychedelic Siren" (1967), which was rediscovered by collectors upon its inclusion on the Psychedelic Unknowns anthology in the early '80s. They were a more or less average garage band of the time, led by songwriter, organist, and vocalist Al Collins, who -- under the name Max Allan Collins -- later became one of the writers of the Dick Tracy comic strip. In the early '70s they evolved into the equally obscure Rox under the leadership of Bruce Peters, and pursued a more pop-oriented direction that recalled the late-'60s Beach Boys and early Raspberries.

18 songs, including both sides of their single and lots of previously unreleased demos, most dating from 1967-68. This is more progressive in slant than the usual archival garage release, with influences from The Doors, Rascals, and "White Room"-era Cream harmonies. The sound of the original garage band era is strongly felt via Al Collins' Farfisa organ, which is at the forefront of his often minor-key compositions. Also includes four demos in a much breezier pop vein by Rox, and some crummy oldies remakes by reunion versions of the band in the late '70s and 1980s.