Count Five – Psychotic Reaction

Another song that I found while listening to an oldies channel in the 1980s. This song reminds me of the Yardbirds in texture and feel. 

This band was a true one-hit wonder in 1966. When the singer-guitarist John Byrne was a freshman in college, his friend told him Psychotic Reaction would be a great name for a song. John had a melody in his head that day and wrote the song, but all of The Count Five contributed.

It was released in the summer of 1966 on the tiny Double Shot label. The single started getting airplay in California and then went national, climbing up the charts. Suddenly, these kids were lip-syncing on American Bandstand and touring with the Beach Boys and The Hollies, off-the-wall stuff for a bunch of guys who had barely been out of San Jose.

As fast as it blew up, it was over. The follow-up singles didn’t chart, the album (also called Psychotic Reaction) was rushed out and padded with covers, and by 1969, the band had quietly dissolved. Byrne went back to civilian life, and the rest scattered into day jobs. You know what, though? Of all the years I played, I would have gladly taken the role of a one-hit wonder. 

It peaked at #5 on the Billboard 100 and #3 in Canada in 1966. It is garage rock, psychedelic with some punk thrown in. The songwriting credits were Kenn Ellner, Roy Chaney, Craig “Butch” Atkinson, John “Sean” Byrne, and John “Mouse” Michalski. 

Psychotic Reaction

I feel depressed, I feel so bad
‘Cause you’re the best girl that I ever had
I can’t get your love, I can’t get a fraction
Uh-oh, little girl, psychotic reaction
(Shouted) And it feels like this!

I feel so lonely night and day
I can’t get your love, I must stay away
I need you girl, by my side
Uh-oh, little girl, would you like to take a ride, now
I can’t get your love, I can’t get satisfaction
Uh-oh, little girl, psychotic reaction

 

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

38 thoughts on “Count Five – Psychotic Reaction”

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  4. I liked this, I thought it was a very cool song, and one that I never heard before. I remember when groups featured Go-go dancers on stage on stage with them, defining this song as being early 60s. Nice find, Max.

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    1. Thanks Jim! I loved the dancers in this…you can tell it was more spur of the moment and wasn’t choreographed…just kids having fun. The song really rocks.

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  5. I don’t think i’ve heard that one before, it’s interesting. Very ’60s isn’t it! That harmonica is a surprise bit in there. You’re so right though about hey, a One Hit Wonder is still impressive, especially if their hit is still remembered and talked about 50 years on

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    1. It really is…hey I would have been proud to have that one go around the circuit…I can’t imagine what they were thinking during the middle of it.

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  8. Good one. I must have heard it on the Nuggets compilation, but probably on oldies radio too, like you. Has a cool sound. Nothing wrong with one hit and gone.

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    1. Can you imagine what they were thinking about? Here they are, 18 or 19, singing a song with go go dancers dancing with them…I mean…it would be all down hill from there on lol.

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      1. Being a one hit wonder must be a double-edged gift, if I can twist old sayings. Some might well love and hold on to the buzz the fleeting good times a one hit gave them, as I reckon you would. But I remember reading a long time ago about one of the guys from Danny And The Juniors who couldn’t- literally couldn’t- live with the thought of hearing and playing ‘At The Hop’ for the Oldies/Cruise ship crowd for the ten thousandth time. And that is sad.

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      2. I agree…you would have to be well adjusted…and yea I know not many rockers are well adjusted… I guess after that experience…you may not be.

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    1. Oh wow! So many people didn’t know this song…I’m glad you did but I should have known. I’m sure you all had different songs that you do things in…like Alice’s Resturant would be dinner time lol.

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