The Scotsmen

• Formed: 1965
• Disbanded: 1965
• Genres: Rock

Biography

From Minnesota, the Scotsmen made one obscure novelty single, "Beer Bust Blues," in 1965. A typical frat rock arrangement backed a gravelly-voiced, indeed wrestler-voiced singer with sound effects of a beer can being opened and poured. The flipside was an instrumental featuring organ and what sounded like artificially sped-up electric guitar lines. Both sides, in addition to a few outtakes, were issued on The Scotty Story compilation of Warren Kendrick productions. Jim Kane, who played bass with the Scotsmen (a studio-only group), would go on to play with the Litter, one of the most noted 1960s bands in the Minneapolis area.

The single, forgettable in and of itself, did serve the purpose of providing an opportunity for Warren Kendrick to enter the record business. Kendrick produced and wrote both sides with friends of his from Minnetonka High School, and issued it on his own label, Scotty. Throughout the rest of the '60s, Kendrick continued to work as a regional producer and songwriter, most notably with garage bands the Electras and the Litter, issuing his productions on his own labels. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide