Classic Singles #10: The Fe-Fi-Four Plus 2 – I Wanna Come Back (From the World of LSD) / Double Crossin’ Girl (1967)

“I’m outside the world and I can’t find a way to get in, the cube I took just a cut me a little too thin…”

From the moment the fuzz guitar kicks in after a short organ introduction, everything about this single marks it out as one of the high watermarks of 60s garage psychedelia.

The Fe-Fi-Four Plus 2 were from Albuquerque and are widely credited with releasing the first psychedelic 45 in New Mexico. Though the band themselves weren’t into LSD, the lyrics of ‘I Wanna Come Back’ recount the experience of a bad trip complete with blood chilling screams. According to keyboard player Victor Roybal the band had been looking for a new and original sound rather than just performing the Top 40 hits which audiences requested. And boy did they find it!

 

‘I Wanna Come Back’

Flip ‘Double Crossin’ Girl’ addresses that perennial garage band topic of the cheating girlfriend.

‘Double Crossin’ Girl’

The 45 was issued on Lance Records and was recorded at the Norman Petty Studios in Clovis – Petty himself being most well-known as Buddy Holly’s recording engineer and one-time manager.

The band played across New Mexico opening for the likes of Question Mark and The Mysterians and The Yardbirds. It was originally suggested that they call themselves The Fe Fi Fo Fum after the giant in the fairytale Jack and The Bean Stalk. But some members of the group weren’t happy with that and, as a compromise, it was shortened to The Fe Fi Four. But as there were six of them “Plus 2″ was added to avoid any confusion!

Value: around $800.

Reissues: the single has been reissued on 7” vinyl, and on CD the a-side is easily acquired on Sundazed’s excellent Garage Beat ’66 Volume 1, and the b-side on Eva’s New Mexico Punk From The Sixties.

Discography:

• I Wanna Come Back (From the World of LSD) / Double Crossin’ Girl (Lance, 1967)
• Mr Sweet Stuff / Pick Up Your Head (Odex, 1967)