RATS, The
Homebase: Portland, OR
Stats: 1978-1984
Misc Notes: The Rats' story began with a Las Vegas-based garage band, The Weeds, which included a singer Fred Cole. The band headed off to Haight-Ashbury thinking that they'd gotten a firm offer to play a big ballroom show there, but upon arrival nobody there knew what they were talking about. Changing plans, they decided to drive up to Canada (to avoid the draft), but ran out of gas in Portland. In time they decided to give Los Angeles a try, and that's when they morphed into a more psychedelic incarnation, Lollipop Shoppe. Later Cole moved back to Portland, recorded one single as The Weeds. From there Cole would go on to form a string of bands in Portland including, Zipper, King Bee, The Rats, Pierced Arrows, and finally Dead Moon. The Rats was initially comprised of Fred Cole (vocals / guitar); Toody Cole (bass) and Rod "Rod Rat" Hibbert (drums). After their eponymous debut LP in 1980, ex-Wipers drummer Sam Henry joined on, playing on the 1981 Intermittent Signals LP, before moving on to Napalm Beach. Louis Samora drummed on 1983's In A Desperate Red LP, before moving on to the Jackals.
SEE:
1.) DEEP SOUL COLE
2.) WEEDS, THE
2.) LOLLIPOP SHOPPE, THE
3.) ZIPPER
4.) KING BEE
5.) RATS, The
6.) RANGE RATS
7.) DEAD MOON
8.) PIERCED ARROWS
Principal musicians: This band reportedly issued a cassette titled Deck The Halls.
MISC NOTES:
Side a
1. World War III
2. Teenagers
3. Flash Dogs
4. Tactics Plan
5. It's Too Late
6. Rat Race
7. DC - 10
Side b
1. Sacrifice
2. Social Indigestion
3. Panic On 39th
4, 19783
5. Gotta Get Away
6. Until It Rains
7. Secrets
8. Can Never Go Back
LOCATION: Portland, OR
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Fred Cole [guitar, vocals]; T. Rat [bass, vocals]; Sten [keyboards]; Rod Rat [drums]
RECORDING STUDIO: Ace Tunel
RECORDING ENGINEER: Zack & Seth
FORMAT: disc
SIZE:12"
SPEED: 33 1/3 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: ACA 7PV 46969 - 1 RE - 2 06100
A-SIDE COMPOSER: All songs by F. Cole except Track #7 Cole - Shadoan
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX: ACA 7P 46969 - 2 RE - 2 06050
B-SIDE COMPOSER: All songs by Fred Cole
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES:
Side X
1. Nightline
2. Wanna Be Your Man
3. Haywire Desire
4. Contradictions
5. Kids Are Kids
6. Descending Shadows
7. Thoughts By Now
8. Defiance+
Side Z
1. Daddy's In The Shadows +
2. Nightmare
3. Rapid Pulse
4. Heaven Don't Cry
5. C.O.D.
6. Running Away From You
7. It's A Lie
8. Animal
LOCATION: Portland, OR
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
The Rats: Fred Cole [guitar, lead vocal]; Toody [bass, vocals]; Sam Henry [drums, vocals]
Others: Rod Rat [animal noise]; DAVE Hite, Jerry [sax]; Pat Baum [trumpet]; Jimmy Input [slide guitar]; Amy [clarinet]; Suzette, Lisa [percussion]
RECORDING STUDIO: Wave Sound Studio
RECORDING ENGINEER: Tom Robinson
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 12"
SPEED: 33 1/3 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER:
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER:
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES: Reissued by Water Wing / Mississippi Records (WW 27 - MOR). 2019
Side 1
1. Broken Wire Telephone
2. Can't Stand Back
3. It's Still You
4. Leave Me Alone
5. Deterioration
6. Never Say No
7, Working Class
8. Burnside
Side 2
1. Come On Toody
2. Tremelo
3. My Tradgedy Behind
4. Stay
5. I Want You
6. Just A Man
7. B - Sides
8. Never Coming Home
LOCATION: Portland, OR
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Toody [bass, vocals]; Fred Cole [guitar, vocals]; Louis Samora [drums]
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 12"
SPEED: 33 1/3 rpm
DISC NOTES: Translucent red vinyl
A-SIDE MATRIX: The Rats S10875
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Fred Cole
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: (ASCAP)
B-SIDE MATRIX: The Rats S10876
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Fred Cole except Track #6 by Toody
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: (ASCAP)