A real obscurity here. I’m not sure where the band was from, but the label was based in Commerce, Texas, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas.
“All Is Gone” is a monster of a song, with a spooky organ sound and unrelenting snare beat. The loud mastering leads to some distortion in the 45. The songwriting credits go to Humphrey – Bates, who I suppose were band members.
For the A-side they went with a safer bet, a good cover of “Big Boy Pete”. The Olympics had the big hit with this song, but judging from the Shade’s arrangement I think they probably picked this up from Paul Revere and the Raiders first album.
Their producer was Mike Stanglin, who told me, “My family owned the Twilight Skating Rink in Pleasant Grove section of Dallas. The Shade was a very good band that played there for the “sock hops” that I was in charge of. Roy Clark was the lead singer, who later called himself Royce Clark to keep from being confused with Roy Clark the country singer. I went to college at East Texas State University in Commerce, TX, hence the Commerce address.”
The Shade 45 was recorded at Sumet Studio (the first one) in Dallas. Mike had produced a couple other 45s prior to this, and continued releasing records on Twilight into the late 70’s, including a rap single by FBI…Fresh Brothers International. As for the Shade, they seem to have disappeared.
Tho’ the label notes Commerce, Texas (locale of the person who financed said disc) the Shade were from Dallas, according to my trusted Texas sleuths. Disc is likely from August 1968 or thereabouts.
As for the distortion factor, I have a perfect near mint copy and it plays without any distortion at all. It was mastered loud, with a lot of treble, and if played with a heavy tracking force or poor sapphire needle (the norm in those days), the record will suffer from hi-end damage, which is probably what occurs when you spin your 45.
Well one thing for sure, we kicked it at Twilight, every sunday, and then kicked it in the parking lot after the skating rink closed, i have too many great memories of Twilight. U-Shay being one, when he djayed, we were in the house.