The Squires

by Richie UnterbergerFrom Bristol, Connecticut, the Squires enjoy a higher profile than most of the thousands of similar teenage bands that cut a single or two in the mid-60s. Thats because both sides of their second and last 45, Going All the Way/Go Ahead (1966), were anthologized on the earliest Pebbles volumes. This was indeed one of the strongest garage obscurities; Going All the Way was a tough but melodic garage-pop original, and Go Ahead (also an original) was one of the most accurate Byrds imitations of all time, complete with circular ringing guitar riffs and a vocal that was a dead ringer for Roger McGuinn. The Squires (who had released a less impressive, earlier single under the name of the Rogues) didnt have anything else nearly as impressive up their sleeves, although they did write some other original material. The group were briefly signed to Atco, an association that came to nothing and led to no further recordings. Their two singles, as well as some unreleased demos, were packaged together to construct an album of Squires material in the mid-80s.