A long time comin'

Dave Martens, a born-and-raised Havreite and rock music lover, spearheaded a compilation of Montana garage rock that will be blasted from the speakers of the Triple Dog Brewery during Sunday’s release party at 5 p.m.

Martens took his break from bartending to talk about the labor of love project that took him and a dedicated group of friends four years to put together, “Long Time Comin’: Lost Sounds from the Treasure State.”

He undertook the project in 2011 and initially anticipated being finished in six months. The project was officially complete about three weeks ago. He put the record on sale Monday.

Martens was a DJ at Montana State University-Northern out of high school. But his passion for Montana rock bands didn’t really take root until he got to KGBA in Missoula, where he went beyond the boundaries of the local music library and unearthed Montana groups from the ‘50s and ‘60s, bands like The Frantics, The Fugitives, The Vulcans, The Chosen Few, and Billings’ own Chan Romero, who wrote what many consider the most famous song to ever come out of Montana, “Hippy Hippy Shake.”

The song has been featured in movies and covered by bands like The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Georgia Satellites and a little outfit from across the pond called The Beatles.

Martens tracked Romero down and Romero in turn told him about Larry Faught, the man who did the first recording of “Hippy Hippy Shake.” Romero was skeptical that Martens, who wouldn’t be born for over two decades after that demo of “Hippy Hippy Shake” was recorded, would find Faught.

“I don’t know if he’s around anymore; he was old when he recorded us,” Romero told Martens.

Martens, however, found Faught, alive. And for the first time, the original recording of “Hippy Hippy Shake” from December 1958 is available on Long Time Comin.’

The record boasts 27 bass-thumpin,’ guitar-laden, drum stompin’ tracks, some so warm and antiquated that they hiss and crackle just like grandma’s records.

Burch Ray and the Walker’s ballad “Love was made for two” slows things down a bit. The Renegades’ “All night Long” picks it back up with a very Berryescue guitar lick leading the way. The Night Raider’s “Girl Night and Day,” with its hoarse saxophone and a bass drum that pounds its way to the forefront, sounds like something that would be featured in a Quentin Tarantino movie.

Havre’s connection to this record goes deeper than the man putting the musicians together. Julius Priete, Ric Richter, Kirt Miller, and Lyle Dillie are locals who make an appearance. Priete was with Opus IIII. Richter, Miller and Dillie were all in a popular Havre band called The Squires before going separate musical directions and ending up in bands featured in “Long Time Comin.’”

For Martens, one of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been reuniting some of the musicians.

“A lot of these guys haven’t spoken since the ‘60s. It’s been fun, to sit back and watch these guys come together after all those years,” Martens said.

So how rich does Martens expect this project to make him?

He actually still owes himself money he put into the production process. He and his fellow laborers hosted a fundraiser and made up the difference afterwards.

Are they going to get rich afterwards?

“Any proceeds are going to go to the next compilation. This is 1958-69. I’d like to cover the ‘70s and the ‘80s… and then I would give the money to charities.”

Martens has another headache aspect of the distribution process to learn. He didn’t expect buyers from Norway and Sweden and now he’s having to learn how the ropes of efficient international shipping.

“Long Time Comin’” comes with a CD in addition to the vinyl record. It is not available on iTunes. Contact Martens at [email protected] for info on “Long Time Comin.’”