The Grodes has been played on NTS shows including The Uline Catalog w/ Calvin LeCompte, with I've Lost My Way first played on 7 June 2024.

The Grodes, sometimes known as The Tongues of Truth, were an American garage rock band from Tucson, Arizona, that featured lead singer and songwriter Manny Freiser, and were active between 1965 and 1967. They are best remembered for two Manny Freiser written songs, “Cry a Little Longer” and the original version of “Let’s Talk about Girls" (recorded as The Tongues of Truth), later covered by The Chocolate Watchband.

The band was founded in 1964 in Tucson, Arizona. They were led by guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Manny Freiser.[3] The band's original lineup consisted of Freiser and Dale Smith on guitar, Rick Cota-Robles on bass, Rick Lust on keyboards, John Lee White III on drums. They released their first single, "Uh Huh Girl" b/w "She Got What It Takes," on the Tri-M label in August 1965. Later in the year, Rick Mellinger (aka Cable Von Mar) replaced White on drums. They followed it up in December with another Tri-M release, the protopunk "Cry a Little Longer" b/w "She Got What it Takes." Their next single was issued in 1966 on Rally Records, "Love is a Sad Song" b/w "I've Lost My Way." They cut their final single on the Current label in October under the name The Tongues of Truth, which featured an A-Side of a song written by many Freiser that would later be covered by the Chocolate Watchband, "Let's Talk About Girls," backed with "You Can't Come Back." Freiser also wrote several songs for fellow Tucson band, The Dearly Beloved. The band continued playing the next several years. In 1967, drummer Rick Mellinger departed and was replaced by Pete Peterson. Kieth Craig came in on keyboards after Rick Lust left the band. In 1968, the band brought in Patti McCarron on vocals, but broke up shortly thereafter.

In the intervening years the band's work, like that of fellow Tucson act the Dearly Beloved, has come to the attention of garage rock collectors and enthusiasts. Many of the songs recorded by both The Grodes and the Dearly Beloved are included on the CD compilation Let's Talk About Girls! Music From Tucson 1964-1968. The songs "Let's Talk about Girls" and "Cry a Little Longer" appear on the Trash Box 5-CD compilation, put out by Hit Records, and "Cry a Little Longer" is included on its 5-disc LP counterpart, the Pebbles Box.

Members Manny Freiser (guitar, vocals) Dale Smith (guitar) Rick Cota-Robles (bass) Rick Lust (keyboards) John Lee White III (drums, 1964-1965) Rick Mellinger (drums, 1965-1966) Pete Peterson (drums, 1967-68), Keith Craig (keyboards, 1968) Patti McCarron (vocals, 1968)

Discography

Singles "Uh Huh Girl" b/w "She Got What It Takes" (Tri-M 1001, August 1965) "Cry a Little Longer" b/w "She's Got What it Takes" (Tri-M 1002, December 1965) "Love is a Sad Song" b/w "I've Lost My Way"(Rally 5005, 1966) "Let's Talk About Girls" b/w "You Can't Come Back." (as the Tongues of Truth) (Current 112, October 1966) Anthology With The Dearly Beloved Let’s Talk About Girls! Music From Tucson 1964-1968 (Bacchus Archives/Dionysus Records, rel. 1997)