Bari & The Breakaways – I Can’t Explain

Quite possibly the finest & most fully realised R&B band to emerge from a sixties New Zealand scene that had a number of fine bands. The Breakaways were the first to get a taste of national success, inspired by bands such as the Rolling Stones, the Kinks & the Pretty Things. “I Can’t Explain” was their first single, it was released in 1965 & backed with a cover of the Tommy Tucker/the Kinks track “Long Tall Shorty”. Over their 3 year career they released six 45s & two LPs, none of which are that easy to find these days. The Who’s “I Can’t Explain” was the band’s first 45. I am a little bewildered as to why their record company HMV would do this (apart from the well documented local labels aversion to releasing original compositions by local bands on 45 at the time), considering that the local release of the Who’s original on Festival would have been their competition. I speculate that HMV were trying to beat Festival to some sales dollars, whatever the reason though it remains a great version. All of the remaining members of the Breakaways have stayed reasonably active in music & I was fortunate to catch them at a reunion show late in 2007. They were still pretty amazing & I count myself as being pretty lucky to have gotten a chance to witness them live. The interested should still be able to find a CD reissue of both their LPs without too much trouble, well worth it as both LPs are considered something of Garage/R&B classics that now command hefty prices.

To read more on the band check this page: http://www.sergent.com.au/breakway.html

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