The Spectres formed at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, and then based themselves in Monroe, which is about halfway between Shreveport, LA and Jackson, Mississippi. Band members included Daniel Gilbert on lead guitar, Jim Steele on vocals, Sidney Boone on keyboards and vocals and Woodie Bardin on keyboards.
Their repertoire leaned heavily on soul songs, and they often played at the Dynasty in West Monroe.
Monroe was also the base for the N-Joy label, run by Rocky Robbins. Both sides of the Spectres 45 were written by Ron Gray and J.L. Carraway. Gray did A&R for the label and had his own group, the Countdowns, with whom he released three earlier 45s on the N-Joy label, some of which I hope to feature soon. I’d be interested to know why he had the Spectres record these songs instead of his own group.
“No Good, No Where World” has a neat keyboard riff, and a heavy beat. It’s well produced with a nice pop sensibility, while “High Stepper” is a bit of a throwaway, maybe closer to their live sound. My copy of the record has some serious Katrina/Rita water damage on the labels.
The writers Ron & Jerry were disc jockeys in Sherveport where we cut those two sides on N-joy at Sound on Sound Studios, which burned down many years ago. Other band members besides Daniel, Sidney, and Woodard were Terry Montgomery on bass – his brother the late Vince Mongomery played bass in the very popular band from Mississippi, The Gants, and our crazy drummer Billy Bass…he’s still crazy after all these years.
You’re right about “High Stepper” it should have been thrown away! The lyrics were handed to me as I was singing them. Sidney did the harmony. He did all the soul stuff. The band even changed to gold jackets for that part of the show. I sang on the Brit Invasion and pop stuff. Unfortuately Sidney died years ago..a very talented man. We all miss him.
For some reason Daniel didn’t play guitar on Stepper, Bobby Stampley, who played in The Uniques with his brother Joe played on it. We cut two more sides in the the fall of 66.
I got drafted in the Army in Aug of that year, but came home on leave and we went to Robin Hood Brians studio in Texas to record two songs that Daniel had written. “I Cried” and “Psychodelic Situation”. Their new singer also sang, but I forgot his name. They came out on Paula, Stan Lewis’ label in Shreveport. I recently found “I Cried” on an Aussie compilation, Wyld Sydes Vol5. Did you get your royalities Daniel? Since I got out of the Army, I’ve played in a few bands and worked in radio. I currently DJ at Classic Hits LA105.3 in Monroe, Louisiana.
“Psychodelic Situation” is not very mind-bending, but it’s a solid song, and “I Cried” is even better. Both sides were produced by Rocky Robin. Thank you Jim for your comments and for sending in these two songs.
Anyone have a photo of the band?
My cousin has a 7″ Spectres record at his summer cottage in Maine. Every summer, we listen dozens of times to this song that is slow and only instrumental, mostly keyboard… amazing. Can anyone help with the name of this song or the name of the LP?
Thanks
Jason
Hey Daniel,
You wrote I Cried, that was released on Paula. I haven’t heard that 45 yet, I’ll have to track it down.
I’d like to hear more about the band, please send an email to chas_kit@garagehangover when you have the time. Thanks.
Jason,
It sounds like the Spectres’ single on the Salem label, 7 Days A Week/So Near To Me. “7 Days” is a more uptempo piano-based instrumental, with a Northwest kind of sound. I can’t recall the flip, though I seem to think it was slower and might be the track you were asking about.
Jeff
Hey Chas,
I have a little more info. on the band for you. We formed in the fall of’65 and broke up in 68. We really weren’t into R & B. We were the first north Louisiana band to do the British invasion stuff, which in my opinion was the reason for our immediate popularity.
We recorded No Good Nowhere World in ’66 and got a good bit of air play in a number of southern states. We had an album deal in the works when Jimmy Steele, our lead singer was drafted into the army. We recorded the second record on the Paula label at Robin Hood Briant’s studio in Tyler Texas when Jimmy was home on leave.
When Jimmy left we cut down to four pieces with me singing lead and Tim McGivern on bass. We worked fairly regularly, but went separate ways in 68. We did get to open for The Lovin’ Spoonful and had a chance to open for The Young Rascals, but that didn’t materialize.
Hope this info. will be useful. Thanks for the interest and keep up the good work on this great site!
P.S. Hope to get some pictures to you soon. Thanks, Daniel
Hi, Daniel. Today I was thinking about The Spectres and started Googling. Was delighted to find this site from 2007. Have no idea if you will see this, but giving it a shot. I am Mary Ann Childress. I sang with you, Woodard, Tim and Billy in the spring of ‘68. I was with the band when we opened for the Lovin’ Spoonful at the Alex Convention Ctr. I sang Respect. I was into soul music..did a lot of Irma Thomas songs. I remember you singing The Bee Gees Words. I transferred from Tech to Northwestern in the summer of ‘68. I was at a Kappa Sig dance y’all played for that fall. That’s the last time I saw you. Have often wondered what became of all of you.
awesome.. damn War interupts a great opportunity AGAIN..
Original members were Woodard Bardin, keys; Bill Bass, drums; Daniel Gilbert, guitar and vocals; Jim Steele, lead vocals; Terry Montgomery, bass and Sidney Johnson, keys and vocals. We had a second single on Paula Records call Psychodelic Situation( spelling error intentional)
You were right! It is “So Near To Me.” What a great track. Thanks!
Hi Jason — here’s a bit more info for you. So Near to Me is a lovely slow instrumental by The Spectres, who were a student band at Phillips Academy, Andover MA when I was there in 1964/65. Somehow, over the years, I lost that 45 which I purchased there on campus when it was first pressed and released — yet I have never forgotten how gorgeous it is. Please send an email to tennismagic at gmail when you have time. Thanks.
I just ordered this because the 2nd side is an instrumental. Do you know if Side 2 of the album containing “I cried” is also an instrumental, or whether there were any versions of it that may have had a B-side if this album didn’t?
Hello. I’ve heard that my dad’s cousin was the keyboardist in this band. His name was Sidney Johnson, not Sidney Boone. Can anyone clarify that?
Thanks,
Paul Johnson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNutmznA5FU&feature=share
My grandfather was the Dummer in the band, his name is Billy Bass. Fun fact, this was the band that played at my mother’s wedding.
My dad was Terry Montgomery, was the original bass player in the Spectres. Unfortunately dad passed in 2017, but I used to hear all the stories.
I found an old picture of the band not long ago that I framed.