96 Tears, Part 2

In Part 2, we banter about the bands who have reached the 96th Tier (the highest echelon) of "96 Tears" cover versions.  First up is Zeus's favourite band, Los Thunder Boys from Costa Rica (1:08) . Their 1966 rendition is fast, surfy, and sans organ?!?!?! How do they get away with it? Well, the drummer has us ridin' the big wave of the Middle Eight, and we go gaga over the singer's growly, passionate, and vulnerable vocals so you don't even notice the keys are desaparacido. Fast forward to 1978 to hear R.  Stevie Moore's stab at the song (24:39). It's a goofy great from outer space, and RSM heps us to why 96 is ultimately a better number than 69. A crucial digression on straitjackets and quicksand ensues.  An expedition into the 80s has us checkin' out Thelma Houston's R&B/disco entry into the Too Many Teardrops sweepstakes (1:00:40). Her sly, foxy version contains a Funkytown fragment, a boppin' bass in the Middle 8, and the guitarist finally gets a spotlight. Finally, we go to Canada's Boiler Room - Edmonton, Alberta - to have The Nitehawks fade us out (1:27:21)