Chicano Rockers Thee Midnighters Get Boxed

Massive 4-CD set chronicles "influential and trailblazing" ‘60s Chicano rock ‘n' roll outfit from East L.A.

By Blurt Staff

Thee Midniters are the subject of a new box set, the most comprehensive collection ever assembled on the group.  Thee Complete Midniters: Songs of Love, Rhythm & Psychedelia! is being released on November 3 on Micro Works.

Here's the scoop, from the label:

When the British Invasion took the world by storm in the 1960s, it went largely unnoticed in East Los Angeles, save for a band of young, Latino musicians.  Thee Midniters took to the new rock and soul sound with a fervor, mixing it with psychedelia, big band jazz and some of their own traditional Mexican folk and found themselves heralded as America's first Latino rock band, continuing to influence acts to this very day.  Their music, history and impact are the subject of a new 4-CD box set, Thee Complete Midniters: Songs of Love, Rhythm & Psychedelia! The collection features all full-length albums recorded by Thee Midniters, as well as singles that were never included on the LPs and rare tracks that have never been available on CD before.

Musicologists often refer to Thee Midniters as the archetype Latino rock band, but the group's musical eclecticism is as much a cross cultural affair as the dynamic era it grew out of.  "The '60s weren't segregated," Thee Midniters bassist Jimmy Espinoza said in an interview with writer Richie Unterberger. "The '60s were integrated. The whole 'peace, love, black, white, brown, we're all the same': that's who we were. We were a crossover group, and we really loved it. It's extremely frustrating for me to get put into the Latin bag, because Thee Midniters aren't." 

But their Latin roots were undeniable, surfacing in their garage rock flavored with R&B and soul in a way that no other bands of the era could do.  They twisted the Rolling Stones' "2120 South Michigan Avenue" into a localized "Whittier Blvd," recorded the Spanish-language "Tu Despedida," "Chicano Power" in 1969 and wrote the powerful "The Ballad of Cesar Chavez."  "We seem to have impacted a whole new generation with our music, and it's very gratifying," reflects frontman Willie Garcia (aka Little Willie G), who continues to be active as a performing and recording artist with the likes of Ry Cooder, Los Straitjackets, and Los Lobos, in an interview with journalist Unterberger.  "Thee Midniters were the best band around at the time," adds Los Lobos guitarist Louie Perez.  "They became our Beatles; all of the stuff that was going on in Beatlemania, we translated into Midnitermania. In this microcosm which is East Los Angeles, this is something that belongs to us. It gave young kids who would eventually become musicians like myself inspiration to pursue a career in music."

Thee Complete Midniters: Songs of Love, Rhythm & Psychedelia showcases the band's evolution in chronological order.  Beginning with their first two albums, Whitter Blvd. (1965) and Thee Midniters Bring You Love Special Delivery (1966), the band's adoration of British rock was clear as they chose to record cover versions of their favorite songs.  By the time their third album, Unlimited, was released in 1967, Thee Midniters had developed the confidence and stunning ability to write their own material and deepen their eclectic mix of styles.  By the time Giants  was released in 1969, the band had reached an altogether new era, but one without lead singer Willie Garcia (who has since gone on to work with Ry Cooder, Los Lobos and Los Straitjackets).  Each CD in the box includes bonus tracks such as singles that were not found on any of the LPs, rare b-sides and previously unreleased recordings such as "Baila Cinderella" and an instrumental version of "Walk On By."

Thee Midniters included in the box set are:

Larry Rendon (Saxes, Flute, Piano, Organ)

Roy Marquez (Rhythm Guitar, Vocals)

Romeo Prado (Trombone, Vocals)

Little Willie G. (Lead Vocals, Trombone, Piano, Harmonica, Guitar)

George Dominguez (Lead Guitar, Mandolin)

Jimmy Espinoza (Bass Guitar, Vocals)

Danny LaMont (Drums, Piano)  

Ronny Figueroa (Organ, Conga, Vocals, Hysterical Laughter)