Them: The Raw and Primal Rhythm of Belfast Blues-Rock
Them stands as one of the most ferocious, fiercely authentic, and intensely brilliant bands to emerge from the mid-1960s British blues boom. Hailing from Belfast, they bypassed the polite pop sensibilities of the era, opting instead for a volatile, aggressive approach to rhythm and blues that rivaled the absolute heaviest sounds of the London scene. The band's ultimate weapon was their legendary front man, whose raw vocal power and poetic, improvisational intensity established a completely new template for rock vocalists. Though their classic era was notoriously brief and chaotic, the primal energy and street-level grit of their recordings left a permanent mark on garage rock and alternative music for generations to come.
Them were perhaps the best of the British blues-rock bands that emerged during the Sixties. The band covered much of the same blues/R&B terrain as bands such as the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds, yet they possessed the best white blues shouter of the era, Van Morrison.
Them were formed in Belfast, Ireland, in 1964, and the band quickly gained a reputation for its hard drinking and brawling as well as music.
The band’s first album, "Here Comes the Night" (1965), was a brilliant debut that combined inspired covers of blues standards and original material. The title track, “Here Comes the Night,” would become a hit. “Mystic Eyes” and “Gloria” are also standout tracks. The band’s sophomore album, "Them Again" (1966), continued in the same rave-up R&B vein with outstanding covers of "Turn On Your Love Light," "I Put a Spell on You," and "I Got a Woman."
Van Morrison left the group after Them Again to pursue a solo career, and the band continued without him. Despite the loss of Morrison, Them produced two more solid albums featuring a new psychedelic sound: “Now and Them” (1968) and “Time Out! Time In For Them” (1968). "Complete Them (1964-1967)" is a fine compilation of the band’s work.
Technical Catalog Spotlight: Here Comes the Night (1965)
This explosive debut long-playing record stands out as a definitive cornerstone of mid-sixties garage rock and electric blues. The production perfectly captures the group's frantic, unhinged energy, driven by sharp guitar riffs and a relentless rhythm section. The album holds massive historical importance because it introduced an iconic, three-chord rock anthem that went on to become one of the most covered songs in rock history, showcasing the band's ability to turn basic blues progressions into high-voltage pop-rock gold.
- Released: September 1965
- Label: Decca Records (UK) / Parrot Records (US)
- Producer: Bert Berns, Tommy Scott
- Core Personnel: Van Morrison (Lead Vocals, Harmonica), Billy Harrison (Lead Guitar), Alan Henderson (Bass), Peter Bardens (Keyboards), John McAuley (Drums)
- Key Tracks: Gloria, Here Comes the Night, Mystic Eyes
Technical Catalog Spotlight: Them Again (1966)
The band's sophomore studio album represents a tighter, more experimental expansion of their gritty R&B sound. Under the guidance of their production team, the tracking seamlessly blends traditional acoustic folk elements with blistering electric blues rave-ups. The record serves as a spectacular platform for some of the most dramatic and uninhibited vocal tracking of the era, illustrating why the band's pioneering sound became an essential structural reference point for the future of underground rock.
- Released: January 1966
- Label: Decca Records (UK) / Parrot Records (US)
- Producer: Tommy Scott
- Core Personnel: Van Morrison (Lead Vocals), Billy Harrison (Guitar), Alan Henderson (Bass), Ray Elliott (Keyboards, Saxophone), John Wilson (Drums)
- Key Tracks: It's All Over Now Baby Blue, I Can Only Give You Everything, Turn On Your Love Light
Technical Catalog Spotlight: Now and Them (1968)
Following the departure of their iconic lead singer, the remaining members completely transformed the band's sonic architecture to adapt to the late-sixties musical landscape. This fascinating transitional album breaks entirely away from raw Belfast blues, opting instead for a highly complex mixture of garage rock, raga rock, and early psychedelic experimentation. The production utilizes unique instruments like the sitar and features extended, dreamlike tracking that shows off a surprisingly sophisticated progressive rock maturity.
- Released: January 1968
- Label: Tower Records
- Producer: Ray Ruff
- Core Personnel: Kenny McDowell (Lead Vocals), Ray Elliott (Keyboards, Flute), Alan Henderson (Bass), David Harvey (Drums)
- Key Tracks: Square Room, Walking In the Queen's Garden, I'm Your Witchdoctor
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