Album Review:

While surf groups sang primarily about the inviting shores of the Pacific, countless landlocked garage bands arose throughout the US and Canada inspired by the infectious harmonies of the West Coast bands. The Craftsmen, hailing from Ohio, were one such group Presumably recorded at a local church (due to the logo on the album cover), What Can We Say? was pressed in limited quantities (sources vary between 200-500 copies) and shipped out directly in LP mailers with the album cover stamped on the front. What's perhaps most admirable about the group is the care and attention to detail in regenerating the songs on this album - particularly the Beach Boys' numbers. 

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A cover of Steve Alaimo's 'Everyday I Have to Cry' is a rather weak opening track. 'Surfin' U.S.A.' is a phenomenal cover of the Beach Boys' classic tune - at least by garage band standards. The Craftsmen's only original, 'For You Babe,' was penned by bassist Jim Meader and sits somewhere between the sunny Beach Boys sound and heavier 60s rockers. Paul Revere and the Raiders' 'Kicks' receives a strong cover before the band reaches back into the Hawthorne band's catalog and covers the Beach Boys' 'Then I Kissed Her' with splendid results (itself being a cover of the Crystals' 'Then He Kissed Me.') 'Your Summer Dream' was a curious choice for a garage band to cover with its various embellished maj 7s and complex chord structure; yet the Craftsmen do a wonderful job recreating the Surfer Girl track. Continuing squarely in the Beach Boys' influence, 'Louie Louie' faithfully recreates the band's cover. The Craftsmen's version is far more energetic than its Wilson-arranged counterpart. 'Fun Fun Fun' is yet another excellently performed track. The Lovin' Spoonful's  'You Didn't Have To Be So Nice' also benefits from the Craftsmen's charm. 'You're So Good To Me' revives a later BB's song (1965). As with 'Louie Louie,' 'Long Tall Texan' favors the Beach Boys' rendition from the Beach Boys' Concert over the original. 'Over the Rainbow' is rather leftfield, though it's handled well in the 50s/surf style. 

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The Craftsmen were definitely a strong band - both instrumentally and vocally. Recorded in "one frantic weekend in Nashville," according to the jacket, What Can We Say? is an absolute treat to discover 60 years later.