New Sound Files Added

We're continuing to upgrade our website -- and adding sample sound files for all selections is a big part of that! We just finished adding audio clips for "Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Volume 2."

If you've never heard the raw, energetic sound of 1960's garage bands, this is a good place to start!

- Ralph

WVTF and the Soul Masters

Today public radio station WVTF aired another installment of "Captive Audio." This on-going series by reporter Connie Stevens has been profiling some of the artists found on Arcania International's releases.

This week she interviews some surviving members of the Soul Masters, a racially mixed band from the Danville, Virginia area. As with Gene and Teen/Team Beats, who Stevens featured last week, you can find the Soul Masters' recordings on "Ol Virginia Soul, Volume 1."

- Ralph

Arcania International Back on the Air!

WVTF reporter Connie Stevens, using Arcania International's CD compilations as a starting point, continues her look at the forgotten soul and rock artists from 1960's Virginia. In the current segment of "Captive Audio, " aired the other day during Morning Edition, she interviewed Gene Brumley, of Gene & the Teen Beats from Martinsville, Virginia. As the band aged, they became Gene & the Team Beats.

If you dig the sound of the Teen/Team Beats Stevens plays in the background, then check out Ol'Virginia Soul, Part 1: Jump Up and Down. You'll find tracks from both versions of the band.

She also mentions Captain Darby and the Buccaneers, a garage/psych band based out of Roanoke, Virginia. Their tune "Look Out" shows up on "Aliens, Psychos & Wild Things, Volume Fore."

- Ralph

Arcania International On The Air!

Brent Hosier, owner of the Arcania International record label was featured on public radio station WVTF during "Morning Edition" today.

It was a pretty exciting time for all of us. We've been working with Brent for some time, trying to get some well-deserved attention to his releases.

Brent's a knowledgable record collector, and his compilations of 1960's garage band and soul records are pretty remarkable. Brent insists only using tracks that haven't been previously released on CD, which keeps the selections fresh-sounding. Further, he's pretty much limited his compilations to Virginia artists (with a few side trips).

Arcania International has two series running. The four volumes of "Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things" focuses on garage and psych bands of the mid- to late-1960s. "Ol' Virginia Soul" collects soul and R&B tracks from (mostly) the Old Dominion on three CDs.

Some of the discs have fallen out of print, and that's where we've come in. DCD Records has reissued "Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things, Vol. 1" and we're working on the others.

Check out the "Captive Audio" series at WVTF. You can even listen to the segment. And then -- if you're so inclined -- toodle on over to DCDRecords.com and buy a CD or two. We'll all be glad you did.

- Ralph

Aliens Psychos and Wild Things, Volume Fore

We recently added another title to our line of rock titles, thanks to Arcania International.

Arcania International's made Virginia the focus of their compilations. The first three volumes of "Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things" featured music from the Old Dominion, ca. 1965 - 1969.

For the fourth volume, Arcania expanded their scope. "Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things - Volume Fore" covers pych and garage bands from Virginia and its surrounding states. The resulting compilation contains some real gems. And just like the other volumes in the series, the songs in "Fore" are appearing in a collection for the first time.

Here's a small slab of psychedelic goodness from "Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things, Volume Fore."

Black Narcosis: The Land of Stone
Spontaneous Combustion: The Looking Glass of Time

Far out!

- Ralph