The Litter ( psych rock, garage rock / USA)

The Litter was an American psychedelic and garage rock band, formed in 1966 in Minneapolis (Minnesota, USA). They are best remembered for their 1967 debut single "Action Woman." The group recorded an album in 1972 but would re-unite in 1990, 1992, and again in 1998, when they recorded a new studio album consisting of both old and new material. All of their Minneapolis recorded material was produced by Warren Kendrick.

Years active: 1966 - 1972, 1990, 1992, 1998 - present


The Litter” was originally formed from two popular Minneapolis bands in 1966, “The Tabs” (Dan Rinaldi, Bill Strandlof) and “The Victors” (Denny Waite, Jim Kane). Tom Murray was plugged in after auditioning for the group at the Minnesota State Fair.

The name “The Litter” was presented to the band by Jim Kane and chosen over several other suggestions including “The Mustys”. The original connotation of “The Litter” referred to a “litter” of puppies NOT trash or garbage as many people have assumed over the years. The album title $100 Fine was in part responsible for perpetuating this misconception.


Tom “Zip” Caplan replaced Bill Strandlof in 1967 after Bill had recorded Action Woman, Legal Matter and Soul Searchin’ for the Distortions album. The album was finished with “Zip” playing lead on the rest of the tracks.

In the early days “The Litter” would learn songs from English albums imported to Jim Kane from a friend. Not yet released in the United States, these songs were mistaken by audiences for original “Litter” tunes.

“The Litter” was the first group in the Mid-West to use lights and strobes in their stage act

Dan Rinaldi was the first musician in “The Litter”, and in fact in the entire Mid-West, to smash his equipment on stage.

“The Litter” has toured all over the United States and Canada playing such venues as The Electric Theatre - Chicago, The Peppermint Lounge - New York, “Cheetah” Club in L.A. and the Chicago Amphitheater among many others. They also appeared on an East Coast syndicated Top 40 TV show, the locally syndicated B-Sharp Beat and the famous network TV Rock Variety Series “Hullabaloo”. The band has been billed with such famous acts as “The Who”, “Brian Augar”, “Canned Heat”. “The Iron Butterfly”, “Genesis”, “Eric Burdon & War”, “Blue Cheer”, “Joe Cocker”, “Grand Funk Railroad” “Led Zeppelin” and “Cream” to mention just a few.

There have been 12 different versions of “The Litter” from 1966-2000.



Personnel:

Jim Kane, bass guitar and moog synthesizer, 1966-1970 & 1990
Tom Murray, drums, 1966-1972 & 1992
Dan Rinaldi, guitar and vocals, 1966-1972 & 1992
Bill Strandlof, lead guitar, 1966-1967
Denny Waite, organ and vocals, 1966-1968 & 1990-1992
Tom 'Zippy' Caplan, lead guitar, 1967-1968 & 1990-1992 (left to from White Lightning with Woody Woodrich in 1968)
Lonnie Knight, lead guitar and vocals, 1968
Mark Gallagher, vocals, 1968-1970 & 1992 
Ray Melina, lead guitar, 1968-1970
Sean Jones, lead guitar, 1970 
Jon Sutphen, bass, 1970
Casey McPhearson, vocals, 1971-1972
John King, lead guitar, 1971-1972
Woody Woodrich, bass, 1970
Mick Stanhope, vocals, 1992
Bob Hood, 1992
Rick Ottum, 1992
Joe Scanlan, drums, 1998-2005
Doug Hassman, rhythm and lead guitar, 2005-2007

Discography:

Singles:

"Action Woman" / "A Legal Matter" (Scotty 803G-6710) January 1967
"Somebody Help Me" / "I'm a Man" (Warick 9445-6711) 1967
"Action Woman" / "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" (Warick 6712) 1967
"Silly People" / "Feeling" (Probe 461) 1968
"Blue Ice" / "On Our Minds" (Probe 467) 1969


Albums:

Distortions  (1967)
$100 Fine  (1968)
Emerge  (1969)
Re-Emerge (1998)



Compilation albums:

Rare Tracks (1983)

"Action Woman":
 - Pebbles, Volume 1 (LP-1979; CD-1992)
 - Songs We Taught the Fuzztones (1993)
 - Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968 — Box Set (1998)
 - Garage Rock Classics (2004)
 - Trash Box (5-CD box set)

"I'm A Man":
 - Pebbles, Volume 2 (LP)
 - Pebbles, Volume 3 (CD – ESD Records)

"Hey Joe":
 - The Scotty Story (CD)

"7 Up Commercial":
 - The Scotty Story (CD)

Live albums: Live at Mirage 1990 (1998)