By Bob Makin
originally published: 06/14/2024

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is The Grip Weeds' cover of The Rolling Stones' "Dandelion" from the new tribute compilation "JEM Records Celebrates Jagger & Richards."
JEM Records, home to New Jersey’s best ‘60s-inspired garage-rockin’ power-pop bands, has been dropping amazing compilations in tribute to its stable’s legendary influences.
The latest of the bunch is “JEM Records Celebrates Jagger & Richards.” The 13-track collection includes The Grip Weeds’ cover of “Dandelion,”the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Dandelion” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on June 14 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
The Grip Weeds’ studio, House of Vibes in Highland Park, contributes greatly to nearly every record JEM releases. They include four other “JEM Celebrates” comps in tribute to John Lennon, Brian Wilson, Pete Townshend, and Ray Davies.
To the Jagger/Richards comp, the Weeds also contributed “We Love You,” the B side of “Dandelion” in 1967 in the U.S., but a Stones single in its own right in the U.K. The legendary thank you to fans in the wake of a drug bust featured Lennon and Paul McCartney on backing vocals.
Other Jersey acts on the “Jagger & Richards” comp include:
* The Cynz, “Star Star”
* The Weeklings, “Rocks Off”
You can stream the comp on several platforms at https://orcd.co/jemjaggerrichards.
As for The Grip Weeds, the band will be dropping singles and their next album through the course of the rest of the year.
They also will play three dates with Perilous and 1.4.5. on July 19, The Cave, Buffalo; July 20, The Lost Horizon, Syracuse, and July 21, The Hangar, Troy, N.Y. The latter two shows also are with Vava Voodoos.
The Grip Weeds also will be backing Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere & the Raiders and playing their own sets next year aboard Little Steven’s Underground Garage Cruise.
For more about The Grip Weeds, visit http://www.gripweeds.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
About the author:
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
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