Here’s a great 45 by the Shadows, a group from Northport, Alabama, across the Black Warrior River from Tuscaloosa.
I recently spoke to guitarist and lead singer Mike Thornton, who helped me straighten out the history of the band. He was only 14 when he joined and the other members were just a little older, mostly students at Tuscaloosa County High School. I believe he replaced their original singer Curtis Goodman.
Along with Mike, Frank Cannon and Jack Bigham played guitars, Stan Fowler played bass and Donnie Walker the drums. Roger Young played keyboards, but he wasn’t present at the recording session so Mike Thornton filled in that day.
The band played semi-professionally for about three years, playing on weekends and when school was out. A rival band was the Misfits from Tuscaloosa, featuring Chuck Leavell and Ronnie Brown.
“If You Love Me” is classic garage with a good performance all around, notable for the repeated distorted guitar riffs and a fine solo, excellent drumming, and good vocals. It was written by Jack Bigham and Mike Thornton.
“The Big Mess” is a sharp take on Watermelon Man, credited to the whole group. Mike Thornton moved from organ to piano for this song.
Does anyone have better-quality photos of the group?
For a long time it was believed the band was from Tennessee or northern Alabama, as the Woodrich label was based in the northern Alabama towns of Rogersville then Lexington, both near Huntsville and Decatur. Mike isn’t sure why the band went so far to record when there were studios nearby in Birmingham, but thinks one of their managers set the deal up.
I had also heard that most of the Woodrich label’s recordings were made in Nashville, about 120 miles away, but K.S. in a comment below, says that owner Woody Richardson did most of the recording in his home studio. Woodrich released mainly pop sides by Buddy Hughey, Patsy Penn, the Campbell Trio, the Light House Gospel Singers, the Rocks, and Aaron & Sue Wilburn.
Woodrich label info from the Rockin’ Country Style and Birmingham Record Collectors sites.
Woodrich owner Woody Richardson told me that he does not remember this group or releasing this record.
Richardson also did most – if not all – of the recording for his label at his house in Rogersville. One band (either The Wombats or the Poor Souls) was recorded in his front yard! Woody said it was a nice day and he didn’t want to be inside.
Woody Richardson was my uncle and I grew up in his studios. The first one he had was on land that he rented in Lexington, AL where he also raised cattle. It was basically a shack with cardboard egg cartons for soundproofing. He then built a brand-new state of the art studio in downtown Lexington where all recording was done. When he was in the first studio, he DID often take artists to Nashville to record due to the fact that the studio had no heat! He NEVER had a studio in his home, and he would never have recorded outdoors either, he was too professional. I went with him to Nashville on several occasions to sessions, and his youngest daughter and I sang backup on some of his recordings in the new studio after it opened. I joined a gospel group when I was 15 and we recorded at least two albums there that I remember. In his later years he closed the studio and converted it into living space where he lived for a number of years before his death.
Hey Sandra, did you record a cover of a DeJohn Sisters hit on Okeh records?
i was a member of the Wombats and The Poor Souls (same band) but we did not record in woody’s front yard… the Wombats recorded in the shoals, and the Poor Souls recorded in nashville… sadly, neither effort was up to our standards; probably because we were sober…. it was fun though…
I have a copy of this 45 and I can verify that the group was from Northport, AL. My cousin is Mike Thornton (lead singer on “If You Love Me”) and I remember when they recorded this single.
The Shadows were from Tuscaloosa and Northport Alabama. This 45 was recorded in 1966. When the Shadows broke up, he went with The Omen and Their Luv for the next few years. The Omen were managed by David Keller and recorded on his Daisey label. They often played gigs for Keller under the band name The Preachers.
How did these guys get away with that name? When Cliff Richard’s group had to change their name from the Drifters the real ones were not known here until the end of the 50s so they became the Shadows AFTER Cliff had been on a U S package tour. The fact that Bobby Vee had a group of this name was irrelevant as it only lasted a couple of years before being abandoned.Other uses of the name were also abandoned
But the Shadows were World famous and still are though America has taken little notice.Which in itself is amazing as Cliff Richard has had at least half a dozen hits from 1959 into the mid 70s
Mike’s first band was The Vibrations, also north of the river. The members were Mike, lead guitar and singer; Barry Evans, singer; Billy McClain, rhythm guitar; James Fuller, bass guitar; Jeff Neighbors, drums; and John Perdue, keyboards.
The bass player for The Shadows was Stanley Fowler.
I am searching the internet for a man named Ronnie Brown, born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1950. He was in the original MISFITZ teenage band in Tuscaloosa. He is mentioned on this site under Alabama, with Chuck Leavell, who was also in the Misfitz, but has moved on high in the music world
Anybody who has anything, photos, music, anything…………share it with me. I am his sister.
Thanks.
Just wanted to make a correction to the article…Roger Young was at all the recordings for the records.
Currently a Shadows reunion show in the works. For Mike’s career defining and
best work, you must hear his recordings with The Dudes and The Cokernuts!
The band photo and article on the front page of Tuscaloosa news for reunion after 45 yrs.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20110123/NEWS/110129864/1007?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar
I don’t remember a sister. I grew up close by played with him an have seen and talked to him rescently. Hint as to who you are?
Hi there, fascinating blog. I found a copy of “The Band That Wouldn’t Die” by The Rubber Band. The main band includes Tommy Stuart, Brook Clement and Boll Connell. I believe Tippy Armstrong is credited on these recordings as well. It is dated 1985 on Greenwood Records. The music itself has nothing in common with mid-eighties norms and is varied and interesting with a laid back rural feel. Please email me with any info.
Thanks, Alex
Alex again, feel free to contact me at coonjine [at] gmail.com
I was a friend and co-worker of Mike Thornton. I remember he mentioned to me that one of the songs of one of the bands he was in had a recording that actually hit the charts. Does anyone know which band and which song?