Volume 3

Released in 1965, Volume 3 solidified The Kingsmen as the premier purveyors of the 'Northwest Sound' and frat rock. Following the massive success of 'Louie Louie,' this album finds the band leaning further into their rowdy, unpolished aesthetic. Recorded with a live-in-the-studio feel, the album is notable for its inclusion of 'The Jolly Green Giant,' a novelty-tinged hit that showcased the band's playful side and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sonically, the record is defined by Lynn Easton's aggressive drumming and the signature Farfisa organ work that became a staple of the garage rock genre. While many of their contemporaries were moving toward folk-rock or psychedelic experimentation, The Kingsmen remained committed to the R&B-influenced, high-energy dance music that made them a staple of the Pacific Northwest circuit. The album is a vital bridge between early 60s rock and roll and the burgeoning punk movement that would follow a decade later.