John Thompson – lead guitar (replaced by Pete Ross)
Brian Brown – bass
Terry Marshall – tenor saxophone
Peter Wright – tenor saxophone
Paul Atkinson – drums
Formed sometime in 1964 after Terry Marshall left The Soul Messengers, the band appears to have worked at the Ealing Club on a weekly basis throughout 1965.
Ray Martin (aka Raymond Richardson) is the same Ray Martin who had previously led Ray Martin & The Corvettes.
Photo: Dean Richardson
The Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette has The Ray Martin Group appearing at the Ealing Club on a Saturday (and sometimes a Sunday) throughout 1965, except in December when they switched to Fridays (see gig list below which is incomplete).
Ross, however, didn’t join until July 1965 after The Flexmen split up and John Thompson (see comments) was the original guitarist.
Left to right: Pete Ross, Peter Wright, Ray Martin, Paul Atkinson, Brian Brown and Terry Marshall. Photo: Brian Brown/Pete Ross
According to Ross, the band opened for James Brown at Tiles (circa March 1966). They also opened for Neil Christian & The Crusaders at Tiles later in July.
Thanks to Pete Ross and Terry Marshall for input. Thanks also to Dean Richardson (see comments) for images and further information.
The band recorded two tracks, which were never released. Dean Richardson has these recordings (see below) and they can be heard for the first time at the top of this entry.
Selected gigs:
16 January 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Saturday)
23 January 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Saturday)
31 January 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
6 February 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Saturday)
18 April 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
25 April 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
8 May 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
15 May 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
Photo: Dean Richardson
20 May 1965 – Spider Club, Memorial Hall, Harrow Weald, west London with support (Thursday)
22 May 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
Photo: Southend Standard
28 May 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex with The Paramounts (Southend Standard)
29 May 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
5 June 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
12 June 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
Photo: Dean RichardsonPhoto: Dean Richardson
19 June 1965 – Uxbridge Blues Festival, Uxbridge, northwest London with Marianne Faithfull, The Who, Solomon Burke, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Long John Baldry, Zoot Money, The Birds, John Mayall, The Spencer Davis Group and Dave Whittling (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
Photo: Dean Richardson
24 July 1965 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Saturday)
31 July 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
Photo: Dean Richardson
7 August 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
14 August 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
21 August 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
Photo: Dean Richardson
11 September 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
18 September 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
30 October 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
20 November 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
Photo: Melody Maker
10 December 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Friday)
Photo: Melody Maker
17 December 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Friday)
Photo: Dean Richardson
24 December 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Friday)
31 December 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Friday)
Photo: Melody Maker
15 July 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Neil Christian & The Crusaders (Melody Maker)
16 December (Friday) – White Hall, Southall, west London (Harrow Observer)
If you can add any further information, please leave a message in the comments below.
Left to right: Ray Martin, Paul Atkinson, Brian Brown, Terry Marshall, Pete Ross and Peter Wright. Photo: Brian Brown/Pete RossLeft to right: Paul Atkinson, Terry Marshall, Pete Ross, Brian Brown (front), Peter Wright (back) and Ray Martin. Photo: Brian Brown/Pete Ross
The Mexican Hat in Worthing, West Sussex was a popular live venue during the early-to-mid 1960s. The venue wasn’t advertised regularly in the local press so I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add any further details of groups that performed there.
The Worthing Gazette only advertised the venue intermittently throughout 1964, so please get in touch if you can provide confirmed concert dates for this year.
Photo: Worthing Gazette
However, it looks like gigs took place every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a ‘New Junior Twist Club’ may have started on 8 February 1964.
26 March 1964 – Gene Vincent & His Shouts and Lee Tracy & The Tributes (Thursday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
28 March 1964 – The Southern Sounds and The Jaguars (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
29 March 1964 – The Detours (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
30 March 1964 – Dave Storm, Jeff Spence & The Tremors (Bank Holiday Monday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 March 1964 – The Untamed 4 (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
There is a massive gap in the Worthing Gazette until the following dates
Photo: Worthing Gazette
25 September 1964 – The Beat Merchants (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 September 1964 – The Southern Sounds and Sherlock & The Saints (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
27 September 1964 – Unit Four (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
29 September 1964 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
30 September 1964 – The Southbeats (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
There is a massive gap in the Worthing Gazette until the following dates
Photo: Worthing Gazette
24 December 1964 – The Beat Merchants and Force Four (Thursday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 December 1964 – Jimmy Marsh & The Del Mar Trio and The J Crow Combo (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
27 December 1964 – Dave Storme & The Tremors (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
29 December 1964 – The Beat Merchants with supporting group (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 December 1964 – The Detours and Jimmy Marsh & The Del Mar Trio (Thursday) (Worthing Gazette)
According to the Worthing Herald, the club was run by manager Chris Vallins. The newspaper only occasionally advertised gigs at the venue throughout 1965.
Photo: Worthing Gazette
However, the Worthing Gazette was better at advertising throughout 1965, although the list below isn’t complete. This newspaper notes that gigs took place every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
26 February 1965 – The Detours (Friday) (Worthing Gazette) This is interesting as The Detours had recently joined forces with Beau Brummell to become The Noblemen so perhaps a solo gig for the band?
Photo: Worthing Gazette
27 February 1965 – The Tony Grant Group and The J Crow Combo (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
28 February 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Deltas (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
2 March 1965 – The Tremors (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
There’s a gap then until the following dates
Photo: Worthing Gazette
16 April 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
17 April 1965 – The Tony Grant Group and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
18 April 1965 – Dave Storme & The Tremors (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
19 April 1965 – The J Crow Combo (Monday) (Worthing Gazette)
20 April 1965 – DJ Blues Show (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
There’s a gap then until the following dates
Photo: Worthing Herald
21 May 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Scaffold (Friday) (Worthing Herald) Filmed live at the club for Southern television
22 May 1965 – The Force Four and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Herald)
23 May 1965 – Dave Storm & The Tremors (Sunday) (Worthing Herald)
25 May 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Herald)
29 May 1965 – Sons of Man and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
30 May 1965 – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
1 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
5 June 1965 – The Giants and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
6 June 1965 – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
7 June 1965 – The Deltas (Monday) (Worthing Gazette)
8 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
12 June 1965 – The Giants and The Heads and Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
13 June 1965 – Lulu & The Luvvers (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
15 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
18 June 1965 – The Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
19 June 1965 – The Deltas and The Giants (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
20 June 1965 – Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
22 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
25 June 1965 – Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 June 1965 – The Klimacks and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
27 June 1965 – Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
29 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
2 July 1965 – The Warren J Show and The Diamonds (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
3 July 1965 – The Klimacks and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
4 July 1965 – Heinz and The Wild Boys (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
6 July 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
9 July 1965 – The Klimacks (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
10 July 1965 – The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
11 July 1965 – The Four Pennies (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
13 July 1965 – Surprise group (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
16 July 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
17 July 1965 – The Diamonds and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
18 July 1965 – The Applejacks (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
20 July 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
27 July 1965 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
30 July 1965 – The Web (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 July 1965 – The Sons of Man and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
3 August 1965 – Them (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
6 August 1965 – Just Five (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
7 August 1965 – Dave & The Diamonds and Heads & Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
8 August 1965 – Two groups (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
10 August 1965 – Unit Four Plus Two (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
13 August 1965 – The Just Five (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
14 August 1965 – The Deltas and The Sons of Man (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
15 August 1965 – Two groups (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
17 August 1965 – The In Crowd (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
20 August 1965 – The Just Five (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
21 August 1965 – The Deltas and Heads & Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
22 August 1965 – The Noblemen and The Beat Merchants (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
24 August 1965 – The Herd and The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
25 August 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
27 August 1965 – The Klimacks (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
28 August 1965 – The Deltas and The Heads & Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
29 August 1965 – Dave & The Diamonds and The Beat Merchants (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 August 1965 – The Nashville Teens and The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
1 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
3 September 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
4 September 1965 – Heads & Tails and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
5 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Just Five (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
7 September 1965 – Cops ‘N’ Robbers (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
8 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
10 September 1965 – The Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
11 September 1965 – Heads & Tails and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
12 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and surprise group (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
14 September 1965 – ‘Another Top of the Pops attraction’ (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
15 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
17 September 1965 – ‘One of the South’s top groups’ (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
18 September 1965 – Surprise groups (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
19 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Cyan Three (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
21 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
22 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
24 September 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
25 September 1965 – Surprise groups (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
26 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Noblemen (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette) The Noblemen are just back from Norway and this is their last British appearance for six weeks
28 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
1 October 1965 – The Klimaks (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
2 October 1965 – The Diplomats (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
3 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Deltas (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
5 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
8 October 1965 – The Brian Hugg Fraternity (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
9 October 1965 – Surprise attraction (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
10 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Cherokees (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
12 October 1965 – The New Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
15 October 1965 – The Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
16 October 1965 – The Alex Laine Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
17 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Orioles (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
19 October 1965 – The New Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
22 October 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
23 October 1965 – The Alex Laine Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
24 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Orioles (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
29 October 1965 – The Five of One (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
30 October 1965 – The Alex Laine Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Alex Laine Group (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
2 November 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
5 November 1965 – The Deltas (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
6 November 1965 – The Five of One (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
7 November 1965 – The Profile with support (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
12 November 1965 – The Deltas (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
13 November 1965 – The Five of One (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
14 November 1965 – Force Four and The Profile (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
19 November 1965 – Mair Davis & The Rockets (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
20 November 1965 – The Palmer James Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
21 November 1965 – The Cherokees and The Beat Merchants (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 November 1965 – The Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
27 November 1965 – Top local group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
28 November 1965 – Two top groups (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
The newspaper says The Profile and top group plays this week
3 December 1965 – The Deltas (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
4 December 1965 – Alex Lane (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
5 December 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
10 December 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
11 December 1965 – The Sons of Man (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
12 December 1965 – The Noblemen and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
17 December 1965 – The Look (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
18 December 1965 – The Palmer James Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
19 December 1965 – The Profile and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
24 December 1965 – The Look and The Diplomats (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 December 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Mike Stuart Span (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
27 December 1965 – The Don Williams Combo (Monday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 December 1965 – Chris Boyle & The Look and Sack of Woe (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
1 January 1966 – The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
2 January 1966 – The Cherokees and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
According to the Worthing Gazette, the Mexican Hat was closed for a short period for alterations. However, the newspaper did not advertise the venue again in 1966
We’d welcome any additions below in the comments section with dates if possible
The (Fantastic Soul Messengers) were formed in November 1963 by former Flintstones members Terry Marshall (who had been in The Flee-rekkers in the interim) and Rod Freeman.
Future Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell, who started out with The Crescents had previously worked with Frankie Reid & The Casuals (late 1961-mid 1962), Pete Nelson & The Travellers and Johnny Harris & The Shades.
According to Marshall, another band had been booked to play at the famous Ealing Club on a Sunday and let down the club’s owner by failing to turn up.
As he recalls, “There were musicians in the club so I brought together Rod Freeman who I went pro with in 1960 when he was 16, Ken Rankine on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. We went down so well that Feri who ran the club gave us a residency there on the spot for Sundays.”
Regulars at the Ealing Club, the Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette has the band playing every Sunday in December 1963.
In 1964, they are also listed for 2 February, 5 April, 18 April and 11 May but played at the club much more than these advertised dates.
Soon after, Terry Marshall, who joined The Ray Martin Group, was replaced by American Gary Bell.
Photo: Nick Simper. The Soul Messengers, circa July 1964. Left to right: Gary Bell, Rod Freeman (back), Mitch Mitchell and Ken Rankine
However, around July 1964, Mitch Mitchell, who joined The Riot Squad that December, departed and the band changed name to The Next 5.
The new-line up comprised:
Rod Freeman – guitar/vocals
Ken Rankine – bass
Gary Bell – tenor saxophone (from the United States)
Photo: Boyfriend magazine, August 1964. The five-piece Next Five
The Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette lists The Next 5 at the Ealing Club playing a number of Thursdays throughout October and into November 1964 (see gigs below).
According to music writer David Else, they were also resident band at Tottenham Royal Ballroom.
Thanks to Terry Marshall and David Else for their help
Selected gigs:
The following are all from Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette unless otherwise noted
Billed as The Fantastic Soul Messengers:
23 November 1963 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with Johnny Five & The Ramblers (Evening Argus) Billed as Soul Messengers
1 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (billed as every Sunday)
8 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
15 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
22 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
29 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
Sonny (aka Tony Smith) (tenor saxophone/baritone saxophone)
Doug Collins (bass)
Dave Golding (drums)
The Flintstones were formed in 1961 from the ashes of The Blue Men who included Collins, Freeman and Golding. Slater had previously been a member of The Cadillacs.
Marshall was the son of Jim Marshall, who ran the famous music shop in Hanwell, west London that became a meeting point for many notable Sixties musicians.
Tony Ross, who was called Rupert by the musicians, took over from Collins in early 1962 after playing in Peter Nelson & The Travellers.
According to Marshall, the band’s first recording was done with the legendary Joe Meek, who insisted that they record under the name The Stonehenge Men.
That summer singer Pete Fleerekker asked Terry Marshall to join his group, The Flee-rekkers and Tony Holley joined on tenor sax/vocals.
According to music writer David Else, Puddy left in November 1962 and formed The Night Sounds (featuring guitarist Albert Lee) and Ricky Marsh took over baritone saxophone.
Else says that The Flintstones backed Little Richard on a British tour in September 1963. By this point, Ernie Cox had succeeded Dave Golding and Dave Green had replaced either Tony Holley or Tony Smith on tenor saxophone.
Photo: Walthamstow Guardian
After a second Little Richard tour in October-November 1963, Freeman left to form The Soul Messengers with Terry Marshall.
Not long afterwards, Tony Ross departed to join Carter Lewis & The Southerners.
Photo: Boyfriend Magazine, July 1964
In July 1964, Terry Slater revamped the band with the following musicians:
Terry Slater (lead guitar/vocals)
Mickey Fitzpatrick (bass) (ex-Pete Chester and Chris Ravel Ravers)
Dave Green (tenor saxophone)
Ray Taylor (tenor saxophone)
Ernie Cox (drums)
Not long afterwards, however, Cox and Green joined The John Barry Seven and the band split up.
According to David Else, Fitzpatrick subsequently worked with future Ferris Wheel member Mike Liston in Simon’s Triangle.
Terry Slater moved to the US and became part of The Everly Brothers Band.
Thanks to Terry Marshall and David Else for their help.
If you can add anything more to the band’s story, please get in contact via the comments section below.
The Crescendos came from the Leetonia and Salem area south of Youngstown, Ohio, and made this one single in 1965. “I Need Love” is fine garage, and the flip is a good ballad, “Blue Sunday”. Both were written by vocalist Jim Altomare.
They cut the record at Gateway and released it on the Action Records label of Youngstown, between the two singles by the Executioners on the label. Trend Setter Music did the publishing, and Jerry Starr produced.
Instrumentally, the Crescendos was a quartet but I only have two names so far Jim Altomare on vocals and guitar and Jim Ginther on drums. I’m not sure who was playing bass or piano on these cuts.
The Crescendos received a few mentions in the Salem area press. In October, 1964, they played a street fair in Columbiana, and in February 1965 they headlined a dance at the Knights of Columbus hall in Leetonia.
Jim Ginther was also part of the Invictas from Lisbon, with Jerry Justice on piano.
Any further info on the group would be appreciated.
The Novells recorded a great lament “Go Now” for Dale Menten’s Westchester label of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Other than a writing credit to Steve Johnson, the Novells are a mystery to me.
“Go Now” was released on Westchester DR-271, as the B-side to a version of “Billy Boy”. The DR-271 number on the label indicates this was recorded at Dove Recording Studios in Bloomington.
Producer Dale Menten is most famous as guitarist of the Gestures, and writer of “Run, Run, Run”.
The Minneapolis Tribune on Sunday, June 2, 1968 ran an overview of the local rock business that included this paragraph:
Candyfrost Productions is a two-year-old firm that manages about 16 bands and does promotion for them as well. The firm did about $400,000 worth of business last year. Dale Menten and Peter Steinberg, the owners, are both 23. Steinberg is also a major stockholder in Dove Recording, a 3 1/2-year-old rock recording compoany that grossed more than $50,000 last year.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
