Them - The "Angry" Young Them! (1965)

UB40's song "Burden of Shame" from their debut album was co-written by Van Morrison. Although Mr. Morrison is known and revered for his solo output, he actually started out in a number of garage rock bands with the only notable one being Them. Can you find him on the cover?

Them's debut album The "Angry" Young Them! only opens a small window as to how the band truly sounded. Van Morrison put it that, while performing, the band fed off each other's energy and the energy of the crowd. Performances of their classic songs "Gloria", "Mystic Eyes" or "Here Comes the Night" could stretch to 20 minutes or longer depending on how Van Morrison felt, often ad-libbing new lyrics.

The group held a healthy amount of popularity while they were active and their live act often outshone their contemporaries: the early years of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals,... They melded garage rock and blues seamlessly and were one of the few bands that exhibited "genuine soul" in their music.

Here is the discography surrounding Them's debut album:

Don't Start Crying Now (1964 single)
Baby, Please Don't Go (1964 single)
Them (1965 EP)
Here Comes the Night (1965 single)
Gloria (1965 EP)
The "Angry" Young Them!
Mystic Eyes (1965 single)
One More Time (1965 single)
(It Won't Hurt) Half as Much (1965 single)

(at least it's something like this)

Pass the Headphones!!