- Peter 'Peet' Becker -- drums (1968-70)

- Herbert Bornhold -- drums (1973)

- Wolfgang 'Al' Brock -- drums, percussion (1974-)

- Rainer Degner -- guitar, vocals (1967-69)

- Frank Dostal -- vocals (replaced Achim Reichel)

  (1966-67)

- Linda Fields -- vocals, percussion (1974-77)

- Herbert Hilderbrandt -- bass (1961-68, 1988-)

- Henner Hoier -- keyboards (1969-70, 88-93

- Frank Jamach -- keyboards (1991-96)

- Edna B. Jerano -- vocals (1970-73)

- Eggert Johannsen -- rhythm guitar, vocals (1994-)

- Manne Kraski -- guitar, vocals, (1991-)

- Hans Joachim Kreutzfeld -- guitar (1961-65)

- Lude Lafayette (aka Jochen Peters) -- vocals, keyboards

  (1972-76)

- Kurt "Zappo" Lüngen -- bass (1968-73, 74)

- Georg "George" Meier -- guitarm vocals (1970-77, 74-77)

- Frank Mille -- guitar, vocals (1970-77)

- George Miller -- drums (1975-77)

-- Achim Reichel -- (vocals 1961-67 and 88-91)

- Volker Reinhold -- guitar, backing vocals (1960-61)

- Herman Rugy Rubstein -- vocals, guitar (1965-68)

- Dieter Sadlowsky -- drums (1960-63)

- Bernd Schulz -- keyboards (1967-68)

- Frank Seidel -- keybaords (1996-)

- Dicky Tarrach -- drums, percussion (1963-67, 88-)

- Gash (Lude Lafayette)

- Karthago (Wolfgang Brock)

- Lude Lafayette (solo efforts)

- Achim Reichel and The Machines

- Wolfsmond (Lude Lafayette)

- Wonderland (Achim Reichel)

Genre: rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Remember Finale Ligure

Company: Star Club

Catalog: 158 031 STY

Year: 1967

Country/State: Germany

Grade (cover/record): VG /VG 

Comments: German pressing; 3" of clear tape along bottom seam

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5509

Price: $100.00

1967 found most bands abandoning their creative roots in order to follow the crowd and dive headlong into the psychedelic pool opened by the Fab Four.  Bless their collective souls, but judging by 1967's "Remember Finale Ligure" The Rattles displayed at least some reluctance to mindlessly follow the crowd.   Produced by Siegfired E. Loch, tracks like the Frank Dostal and Herbert Hilderbrandt penned organ-propelled ballad 'I Will Always' displayed a distinctive psych flavor, as did the pounding guitar rocker 'Nurse Elisah' and the bizarre autobiographical title track.  Even after dozens of spins the 'Remember Finale Ligure' plotline leaves me puzzled, though it seemed to have something to do with the band living in and performing in Italy ('Finale Ligure') during the summer holidays.  Couple of beers and I could bop along to the song ...  At the other end of the spectrum the band seemed interested in ensuring a commercial base, hence the decision to balance the set with blue-eyed soul material including Sam Cooke ('Another Saturday Night'), Don Covay ('Souki Souki') and Junior Walker ('Shotgun') covers. Due in large part to the fact the results were so strange, I've always loved these disconcerting performances.  Don't get me wrong, the performances were all quite professional, but there was something about the combination of American soul, psychedelia and Frank Dostal's heavily accented German vocals (his deep voice always reminded me of a German version of Bill Medley) that brings a smile to my face.  For goodness sake, I even liked the Spanish flamenco-flavored 'Rugy's Girl' and the cheesy pop number 'Sweet Dreams'.  A fun album through and through ...

"Remember Finale Ligure" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Is It Love   (Frank Dostal - Herbert Hilderbrandt) - 2:15

2.) Shotgun   (A. DeWalt) - 2:12

3.) I Will Always   (Frank Dostal - Herbert Hilderbrandt) - 3:09

4.) Stay Your Friend   (Frank Dostal - Herbert Hilderbrandt) - 3:09

5.) Souki Souki   (Don Convay) - 2:30

6.) Rugy's Girl   (Rugy Rugenstein) - 1:39

7.) Nurse Elisah   (Frank Dostal - Herbert Hilderbrandt) - 2:10

8.) Remember Finale   (Frank Dostal - Herbert Hilderbrandt) - 4:25

(side 2)

1.) Callboy   (Frank Dostal - Herbert Hilderbrandt) - 2:24

2.) Another Saturday Night   (Sam Cooke) - 1:29

3.) Hold On I'm Coming   (Isaac Hayes - David Potter) - 2:48

4.) Our Way Of Thinking   (Frank Dostal - Herbert Hilderbrandt) - 2:37

5.) Sweet Dreams   (Frank Dostal - Herbert Hilderbrandt) - 3:11

6.) Don't Run Away   (Frank Dostal - Herbert Hilderbrandt) - 2:00

7.) We've Got To Go Now   (Frank Dostal - Herbert Hilderbrandt) - 3:47

Ah thanks to the wonders of YouTube.you can actually see a couple of Rattles video clips.  The first one captures them at their pseudo-mod best.  Great clothes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjowaMDrbjI

Genre: rock

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Gin Mill

Company: RCA Victor

Catalog: PPL 1-4016

Year: 1974

Country/State: Germany

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: German pressing; gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4510

Price: $30.00

Cost: $66.00

It's interesting that The Rattles were/are one of Germany's biggest rock bands, but outside of the country their virtually unknown.  Ask most Americans (including collectors) and you'll get a blank stare.

By the time 1974's "Gin Mill" was released the band had largely abandoned their original beat-band sound in favor of a then-contemporary (if largely anonymous) mainstream rock sound.  Produced by guitarist Frank Mille (who also wrote, or co-wrote all ten tracks with keyboardist Lude Lafayette) the album was certainly competent, but simply didn't have much going for it in the way of originality.  Lead vocalist Linda Fields (I assume she was an American or British expatriot) had a nice, bluesy-styled voice, but under the mistaken belief that louder was better, she tended to turn shrill.  Of course her voice was certainly preferable to Lafayette's heavily accented deliveries.  Mind you, the album had it's small pleasures.  'You've Got So Many Faces' was a pretty ballad (marred by Lafayette's flat vocals), the upbeat 'Hot Banana' was a great song made hysterical by the accented vocals, while 'You Know It Better' would've have been a decent US single.   Needless to say the LP went nowhere Stateside.   

"Gin Mill" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Countryman's Blues   (Frank Mille) - 2:46

2.) You've Got So Many Faces   (Lude Lafayette) - 4:36

3.) Hot Banana   (Frank Mille) - 2:52

4.) Sidewalk Queen   (Lude Lafayette) - 3:26

5.) You Know It Better   (Lude Lafayette - Frank Mille) - 3:33   

(side 2)

1.) Rainbow   (Frank Mille) - 3:03

2.) Give Me More   (Lude Lafayette - Frank Mille)  - 4:16

3.) Sugar Bee   (Lude Lafayette - Frank Mille)  - 2:05

4.) Try To Forget   (Lude Lafayette) - 3:35

5.) Ain't It a Shame   (Lude Lafayette) - 3:22