Dr. Spec's Optical Illusion was an American garage rock band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1965. The group is best known for their single release, containing the songs "Tryin' to Mess My Mind" and "She's the One," which have become cult classics in the garage rock musical genre, and are included on several compilations.
Dr. Spec's Optical Illusion was from the Gentilly Woods subdivision of Gentilly, a section in eastern New Orleans, near Lake Ponchatrain adjacent to the Industrial Canal.[1][2] The group originally formed in 1965 as the Illusions, supposedly when brothers Kris Sherman (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Scott Sherman (drums) had a jam session with Marshall Clyburn (lead guitar) on Halloween night.[3]
They would shortly thereafter recruit Brice "Pinky" Hatchett (bass guitar) and Rick Stelma (keyboards). The band became a popular live act, performing in the local circuit and winning as contestants in battle of the bands.[4] Sometimes after contests, the group had to contend with retrograde hoodlums who bullied them about the length of their hair and mod clothes, in a local rivalry between "greasers" (sometimes referred by Crescent City locals then as "pits") and the more stylish "frats."[4][5] In early performances, the Illusions' set list was typically dominated by cover versions of other artists' material ranging from British Invasion songs to R&B standards by artists such as James Brown and Curley Moore. In addition, the band was notorious for their ear-shattering performances, with the local speech and hearing director measuring their cacophony at 140 decibels.[3]
In 1967, while the Illusions were playing a show at the Mardi Gras Bowling Alley, James Migliaccio, the manager of the establishment and the owner of the small Flambeau Records label, proposed funding for a single. The group's two original compositions, "Tryin' to Mess My Mind," distinctive for Scott Sherman's wailing vocals and its organ-driven protopunk instrumental backing, as well as "She's the One," were recorded at Cosimo Matassa's Jazz City Studio on Camp Street, and are both considered garage rock classics.[4][6] Two additional songs, "The Undertaker" and "Too Busy Laughing" were also penned for a possible follow-up single. In September 1967, the single was released under the name Dr. Spec's Optical Illusion, as suggested by R&B singer Joyce Harris to sound more psychedelic, and charted quickly around the region.[4][7]
However, the band members' parents refused to agree to a recording contract with Migiliacco and the single's distribution was abruptly halted. The group disbanded by 1968. Though the single was limited to its regional release, it has gained interest over the years. Both songs are included on the compilation album, Louisiana Punk, and "She's the One" appears on Teenage Shutdown! The World Ain't Round, It's Square! in 1998. In September 2004, the band reconvened for the Tryin’ To Mess My Mind Festival put on in their honor, alongside The Seeds and Question Mark and the Mysterians, and other Louisiana garage bands from the 60s, such as the Bad Roads and others. Their single saw its first reissue by Crypt Records.[7]
Drummer Scott Sherman died during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 at the age of 54.[8]
Discographyedit
Year
Title (A-side/B-side)
Label
Format
1967
"Tryin' to Mess My Mind" "She's the One"
Flambeau
7"
Referencesedit
^Hurtt, Michael. "Offbeat: Hidden Charms > Dr. Spec's Optical Illusion: Music To Your Mind (press release)". Ponderosa Stomp. Ponderosa Stomp Foundation. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
^Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. "Gentilly Woods Neighborhood". Retrieved June 21, 2008.
^ abcd"Dr Specs Optical Illusion". The Ponderosa Stomp. New Orleans, LA: Ponderosa Stomp Foundation.
^. 60sgaragebands.com. 60sgaragebands.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
^Broven, John. "A Tribute to Cosimo Matassa:- A Fond Farewell to the true Architect of Rock & Roll and The Godfather of New Orleans R&B". Cosimo Code. Soul Detective.
^ ab"Music to Mess Your Mind". offbeat.com. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
^Krupa, Michelle. (PDF). Nola.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2006. Retrieved August 30, 2006.
December 15, 2023
spec, optical, illusion, american, garage, rock, band, formed, orleans, louisiana, 1965, group, best, known, their, single, release, containing, songs, tryin, mess, mind, which, have, become, cult, classics, garage, rock, musical, genre, included, several, com. Dr Spec s Optical Illusion was an American garage rock band formed in New Orleans Louisiana in 1965 The group is best known for their single release containing the songs Tryin to Mess My Mind and She s the One which have become cult classics in the garage rock musical genre and are included on several compilations Dr Spec s Optical IlluisonOriginNew Orleans Louisiana United StatesGenresGarage rock rock and roll proto punkYears active1965 1965 1968 1968 LabelsFlambeauPast membersKris Sherman Scott Sherman Marshall Clyburn Brice Pinky Hatchett Rick StelmaHistory editDr Spec s Optical Illusion was from the Gentilly Woods subdivision of Gentilly a section in eastern New Orleans near Lake Ponchatrain adjacent to the Industrial Canal 1 2 The group originally formed in 1965 as the Illusions supposedly when brothers Kris Sherman vocals rhythm guitar and Scott Sherman drums had a jam session with Marshall Clyburn lead guitar on Halloween night 3 They would shortly thereafter recruit Brice Pinky Hatchett bass guitar and Rick Stelma keyboards The band became a popular live act performing in the local circuit and winning as contestants in battle of the bands 4 Sometimes after contests the group had to contend with retrograde hoodlums who bullied them about the length of their hair and mod clothes in a local rivalry between greasers sometimes referred by Crescent City locals then as pits and the more stylish frats 4 5 In early performances the Illusions set list was typically dominated by cover versions of other artists material ranging from British Invasion songs to R amp B standards by artists such as James Brown and Curley Moore In addition the band was notorious for their ear shattering performances with the local speech and hearing director measuring their cacophony at 140 decibels 3 In 1967 while the Illusions were playing a show at the Mardi Gras Bowling Alley James Migliaccio the manager of the establishment and the owner of the small Flambeau Records label proposed funding for a single The group s two original compositions Tryin to Mess My Mind distinctive for Scott Sherman s wailing vocals and its organ driven protopunk instrumental backing as well as She s the One were recorded at Cosimo Matassa s Jazz City Studio on Camp Street and are both considered garage rock classics 4 6 Two additional songs The Undertaker and Too Busy Laughing were also penned for a possible follow up single In September 1967 the single was released under the name Dr Spec s Optical Illusion as suggested by R amp B singer Joyce Harris to sound more psychedelic and charted quickly around the region 4 7 However the band members parents refused to agree to a recording contract with Migiliacco and the single s distribution was abruptly halted The group disbanded by 1968 Though the single was limited to its regional release it has gained interest over the years Both songs are included on the compilation album Louisiana Punk and She s the One appears on Teenage Shutdown The World Ain t Round It s Square in 1998 In September 2004 the band reconvened for the Tryin To Mess My Mind Festival put on in their honor alongside The Seeds and Question Mark and the Mysterians and other Louisiana garage bands from the 60s such as the Bad Roads and others Their single saw its first reissue by Crypt Records 7 Drummer Scott Sherman died during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 at the age of 54 8 Discography editYear Title A side B side Label Format1967 Tryin to Mess My Mind She s the One Flambeau 7 References edit Hurtt Michael Offbeat Hidden Charms gt Dr Spec s Optical Illusion Music To Your Mind press release Ponderosa Stomp Ponderosa Stomp Foundation Retrieved July 8 2015 Greater New Orleans Community Data Center Gentilly Woods Neighborhood Retrieved June 21 2008 a b Ankeny Jason Dr Spec s Optical Illusion allmusic com Retrieved July 5 2015 a b c d Dr Specs Optical Illusion The Ponderosa Stomp New Orleans LA Ponderosa Stomp Foundation Threshold of Sound An Interview With Dave Johnson 60sgaragebands com 60sgaragebands com Archived from the original on May 3 2015 Retrieved July 6 2015 Broven John A Tribute to Cosimo Matassa A Fond Farewell to the true Architect of Rock amp Roll and The Godfather of New Orleans R amp B Cosimo Code Soul Detective a b Music to Mess Your Mind offbeat com Retrieved July 5 2015 Krupa Michelle In Memory commemorating 1464 people who died as a result of Hurricane Katrina incl Scott Sherman at 54 PDF Nola com Archived from the original PDF on September 27 2006 Retrieved August 30 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dr Spec 27s Optical Illusion amp oldid 1184825037, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
