The Gremlins

Bands from New Zealand and Australia in the mid-to-late 1960s frequently absorbed heavy doses of British and American rock, pop, and soul, emerging as polished all-round performers rather than artists who forged an individual identity. The Gremlins displayed this breadth across nearly two dozen tracks issued between 1965 and 1968, weaving together Merseybeat, mod, light psychedelia, soul, surf, pop, and other strands while offering clear references to the Kinks, Bee Gees, and Troggs. Among the comparable acts that managed to release a sizable catalog, the Gremlins ranked higher than most thanks to their commanding vocal and instrumental prowess and their habit of writing most of their own songs, chiefly through singer/guitarist Glyn Tucker. Just one of their singles reached major commercial heights: a cover of the Knickerbockers' "The Coming Generation" that delivered greater force than the original and peaked at number two on New Zealand's national charts in September 1966. Every recording they made later appeared on the 2005 CD compilation The Coming Generation: The Complete Recordings 1965-68.