Genre: pop
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title:  The Krystals
Company: Fourmost
Catalog: MS-8943
Year: 1968
Country/State: Labrador City, Canada / Haarem Holland
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG+
Comments: minor ring and edge wear
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6121
Price: $200.00

First off, good luck finding a copy of this Canadian obscurity. In thirty years of collecting I've only seen one copy of "The Krystals". Similarly, good luck finding any kind of information on the band ...

What little I can tell you about the band comes from the limited liner notes on their self-titled 1968 album. The line-up consisted of singer/bass player Stan Erbrink, drummer Roland Gaudet, keyboard player Ray March and guitarist Lloyd Thornhill. Recorded in RCA's Montreal Studios, Erbrink was also credited with producing, designing the cover and taking most of the album photos. Interestingly, there was a Stan Erbrink who was a member of the early-1960s Dutch band The Black Knights. I have no idea if there's any link, but on tracks like their cover of Chicago's 'Colour My World' Erbrink's vocals displayed a heavy accent that certainly wasn't English or French. So what's this rarity sound like? While the album lacked writing credits, the mix of apparent band originals and popular covers found the group bouncing around between pop, beat and mild-psych genres. They certainly weren't the most technically proficient band you've ever heard, but at least to my ears their occasional clumsiness was part of the charm. While most of the covers were at least passable (wonder why they felt the need to turn in two Chicago covers?), originals like 'You Love 'cos You Like It', 'Mr. In Between' and 'You Are Such a Good Looking Woman' were the real charmers. You also have to admire the group's willingness to record in French ('Je' N'aurai Pas Le Temps') and Spanish ('Maria Isabel')   

"The Krystals" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) You Love 'cos You Like It
2.) Mr. In Between
3.) You Are Such a Good Looking Woman
4.) He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
5.) El Condor Pasa (instrumental) (Paul Simon) - 
6.) Make Me Smile

(side 2)
1.) Over & Over
2.) Maria Isabel
3.) Je'N'aurai Pas Le Temps
4.) Colour My World
5.) Mamas and Papas (instrumental)
6.) Can't Have
7.) Creepin' Fuzz (instrumental) (Lloyd Thornhill)

For those of you influenced by such things, this one's listed in Hans Pokora's book as a three star rarity.