Was nowhere near Wash/Ore in those days, but I recognize several of these from the Dave Marsh book Louie, Louie, and that includes the indispensable (and late) Rockin' Robin Roberts. Is one of these 30 your band?

There was a lot of great stuff out of there from the late 50s into the next decade. It was just a really nice sound that sounded even better on the radio.

No,we were not one of the bands listed.We were like a N.W. tribute band,playing the music of the headline act, before they, came out to play.Oddly, no one took issue with our mimmicre.By this time,(1966-69)most of these bands were facing a fanbase collapse.So, our spirited "homage" may have been a beautiful moment for these regional rock Gods.At least, I would like to think so.

Wow, that's a beautiful collection you've got there, just past the transition from the underappreciated doo-wap of the late '50's to the naiscent origins of what we recognize as '60's rock. (BTW, I think you've misspelled Jack Bedient's name). Don and the Goodtimes were on "Where the Action Is" a few times, wearing top hats and tails, had a nice sound. I'm curious as to how the Liverpool Five ended up here, they were actually an English group that played mostly in Japan! Really great to see "I've Been Thinking" by Paul Bearer and his band, that's a great little riff! All and all a great mix of work that needs to be preserved so that it's joyful quality can be passed down though the generations. Thanks to sulayman for putting it all together!

Jim K. Thanks for the typo correction. As to the inclusion of a band named the Liverpool Five.My understanding at that time was that while some members of the band were indeed British, they had established residency in the NW.At one point in there history,playing keyboards for them, was a fellow high school classmate of mine.I saw them play the Richland Roller Rink often. Often enough to believe them to be yet another great "local" band on the scene.lastly,At that time in eastern Washington, we were all faking British accents.The Invasion was on!If none of this seems reasonable,please forgive me,as I was on drugs.

So what was it that made the Pacific Northwest such a musical hotbed at that time? Was it something in the water? That must have been an exciting time.

Remember that Hanford radiates nearby, so the water IS a possibility! Perhaps its the influence of black music, without actually having blacks.I don't think the NW then,And even today, had (or has),a very large population of Afro-Americans.So you get these odd, but wonderful versions of early soul music.In other words: I haven't a clue.