The Three O'Clock’s 'Sixteen Tambourines' 40th Anniversary Edition out October 20

Very exciting news with today's announcement that legendary band The Three O'Clock's "Sixteen Tambourines" will be released as a special 40th Anniversary Edition on Oct. 20, 2023 courtesy of Yep Roc Records. On a released note, read my review of The Three O'Clock's memorable concert in Santa Ana, CA in December 2013 HERE. Additionally, the band performed at Coachella in April 2013; read my coverage of that appearance HERE.

The official media release about the forthcoming "Sixteen Tambourines" reissue is below...Robert Kinsler

Yep Roc Records Announces 40th Anniversary Edition of The Three O'Clock’s Sixteen Tambourines Out October 20, 2023 

 

Remastered Album Features Brand-New Double Front Artwork

 

Baroque Hoedown Features Four Songs Not On Original EP Out Now

 

Yep Roc Records celebrates the 40th anniversary of Sixteen Tambourines by The Three O’Clock, one of the core groups in L.A. 's Paisley Underground scene, with a remastered edition of the band’s second album featuring new artwork. 

 

Out October 20 and available on CD and LP (transparent green vinyl), Sixteen Tambourines was remastered by Bill Inglot and Dave Schultz, lacquer cut at Bernie Grundman Mastering, with the vinyl pressed at Citizen Vinyl in Asheville, NC; pre-order here.

 

Blending psychedelic pop with contemporary sounds, Sixteen Tambourines was produced by Earle Mankey, who encouraged the band in their experimentation. The result yielded a college-radio hit, "Jet Fighter," which remains one of the group's most well-known songs. Other standouts include, "A Day In Erotica," "Stupid Einstein," "Fall to the Ground," and their version of the Bee Gees "In My Own Time." 

 

Originally released in October 1983, for the anniversary reissue the band updated the artwork which features a double front cover, meaning no matter which way you view the album, it will always appear like you are looking at the front cover - front cover image with the opening for LP or CD on the right side. The photos used for the new cover(s) are never-before-seen images taken from the era the album was recorded.

 

Remastered by Bill Inglot and Dave Schultz, the 40th anniversary reissue of the band’s seminal debut Baroque Hoedown was released earlier this year and originally available only for Record Store Day. Now available for wide release, the expanded edition of the debut EP features the five original songs with four additional recordings from the era to create a full-length album. One of the new songs is a cover of Pink Floyd's "Lucifer Sam.” The album is available for order here.

 

The Three O'Clock –  Michael Quercio (vocals, bass guitar, percussion); Danny Benair (drums); Louis Gutierrez (guitars, vocals, percussion); and Mark Mariano (keyboards, vocals, percussion); were the quintessential L.A. Paisley Underground band. Lead singer/bassist Michael Quercio coined the term to describe the bands that incorporated their love of various sixties music with more modern sounds, including the Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade, and The Bangles.

 

Beginning as the Salvation Army in 1982, and forsaking the name due to a conflict with the actual organization, The Three O'Clock originally included Quercio and guitarist Louis Gutierrez. Their self-titled debut in 1982 featured a garage-y sound. When ex-The Quick drummer Danny Benair and keyboardist Mickey Mariano joined for the follow-up EP, Baroque Hoedown and the LP Sixteen Tambourines in 1983, the band found a more polished, perfect pop sound.

 

In 1985, the band released Arrive Without Travelling for I.R.S. Records, followed by Ever After. Gutierrez departed in 1986. For their Warner Bros./Paisley Park debut (Prince was a fan), Vermillion, Jason Falkner joined to play guitar for what would be the band’s last album release. 

 

After years of turning down offers to reunite, in 2013, the band’s original lineup (minus Mariano, who was replaced by Adam Merrin of the 88) re-formed to play the Coachella Festival. In November 2018, Yep Roc Records released three new recordings by The Three O'Clock as part of a compilation album called 3 × 4, including The Dream Syndicate, The Bangles, and Rain Parade, with each of the four bands covering songs by the other bands (Read my review of the "3 x 4" collection HERE).

 

Sixteen Tambourine Tracklisting: 

Side A

1.Jet Fighter

2. Stupid Einstein 

3. And So We Run 

4. Fall to the Ground 

5. A Day in Erotica

Side B

1.Tomorrow

2. In My Own Time

3. On My Own

4. When Lightning Starts

5. Seeing Is Believing

 

Baroque Hoedown Tracklisting:
Side 1

1.With A Cantaloupe Girlfriend

2. I Go Wild

3. Marjorie Tells Me

4. Lucifer Sam

 

Side 2

1.Sorry 

2. In Love In Too

3. All In Good Time

4. Feel A Whole Lot Better

5. As Real As Real