All posts by Chris Bishop

The Xployts

February 26, 2024 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Mike Butler sent in these photos and wrote to me about his band, the Xployts. Members included:

Berl Bartz – vocals
Mark Sherrill – guitar
Mike Butler – guitar
Ned Moore – bass
Warren Moore – drums

The Xployts played in the Inland Empire area of Southern California from 1965 through 1969. We started as a surf band then moved to a cover band for top forty songs, and ended up as a blues band.
We played local high school dances, proms, street dances, teenage night clubs, and a local concert venue named Swing Auditorium. Swing Auditorium was the first place The Rolling Stones played when they arrived in the United States in 1964. We played a couple of gigs with the Whatt Four and The Light.
The Xployts drumhead, photo courtesy of Warren Moore
I worked at Chauncey Romero’s House of Note in Redlands after graduating from Redlands High School. Chauncey is still a friend.
We broke up in 1969 when three of us were drafted. The draft caught up with us before we could record.
I’m still in touch with our drummer Warren and our bass player Ned. Warren still has the drum head with our band’s name.
Mike Butler

The Xployts at Liers Music in San Bernardino, from left: Berl Bartz, Mark Sherrill, Mike Butler (sitting), Ned Moore, and Warren Moore

Categories: Evansville, Indiana, Kentucky, Morganfield, Skoop

The Sunday Funnies “Sunny Covington Avenue” / “It Won’t Happen to You” on Skoop

February 5, 2024 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Photo card included with some copies of the Sunday Funnies 45 on Skoop. From left: John Rice, Luke Pride, Gary MacShara and Tom Sheffer.

The Sunday Funnies 45 on Skoop 1070 has two excellent original songs, “Sunny Covington Avenue” an uptempo rocker, and “It Won’t Happen to You”. The labels list Gary McShara (actually Gary MacShara) as the song writer on the labels, with publishing by Buna Music. I don’t own a copy of the 45, unfortunately.

A photo card included with some copies of the record has a photo that predates Pat Berry joining the group, and has the name of manager Wayne Watters crossed out.

Sunday Funnies profiled in the Evansville Press, March 30, 1967

I came across this profile of the group from March, 30, 1967, which would date the single to about April, 1967:

The group … has become known through various appearances at such Evansville places as the Community Center at the Coliseum and on local television.
The Messenger of Madisonville KY, Friday, Oct. 14, 1966
The Sunday Funnies combo also has performed throughout the Tri-State area, but is hoping to become still better known through its recording of ” soon to be released
The group’s drummer, Gary MacShara, an 18-year-old employee of Our Lady of Mercy Hospital at Morganfield, Ky., wrote both of the tunes. The recording, which will be the Sunday Funnies’ first, is expected to be released soon on the Skoop label from the Santa Claus, Ind. studios.
Also in the combo are John Rice, 17-year-old Union County High School senior from Morganfield, on lead guitar; Luke Pride, 14-year-old Pride, Ky., resident who is a freshman at Sturgis Junior High, the organist; and Tom Shaeffler [Tom Sheffer], 16-year-old junior at St. Vincent Academy near Waverly, Ky., on bass guitar.
Newest member of the group is the singer, Pat Berry, 21, of Morganfield. Richard Young, a disc jockey for a Morganfield radio station, is the group’s business manager.
The group has been together since last September performing “mostly as a hobby and something to do,” Rice explained.
None of the group’s members are now planning to make music a career, he said.
In their appearances, the group strives for a different sound. “We don’t try to get real loud because we don’t especially care for that, but at the same time we try to move away from the old surfing sound,” Rice said.
“Our’s is a straight, no beat, but melodious sound lacking the tangy guitar sound. We’re trying to develop the Utah sound Gary played with a musical group before moving from the western state to the Tri-State,” Rice explained.
The instrumentalists each previously played with other combos, he noted.

Categories: Freeport, Illinois, Radex Recording Studio, Unknown

Dave and the Squires “The Girl of My Dreams” on Radex

November 5, 2023 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

Dave and the Squires cut this moody original song “The Girl of My Dreams” in late 1965, released on Radex R65121. The flip is a slow version of “Ferry Cross the Merscy” [sic].

I know nothing about the group except one member’s name, Dave Lamoreux who wrote the A-side and sang lead on both sides.

Radex Recording Studio was in business in Freeport, Illinois into the 1980s. Its most notable production may be the Nomadds who cut an album there, Nomads Originals Plus. Owner Dexter Witt passed away in January 2023.

Categories: Fan Jr., Madison, Night Owl, Wisconsin

The Cannons “Day to Day” on Night Owl

October 15, 2023 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Cannons came from Madison, Wisconsin, releasing singles in 1966 and 1967. Members were:

Lee Larsen – lead vocals
Mike Keilhofer – lead guitar
Peter Loeb – sax and rhythm guitar
Jim Perkins – bass
Mike Turk – drums

Gary E. Myers’ book Do You Hear That Beat has Jerry Cratzenberg on bass.

Their first single was “Sweet Georgia Brown” / “Lonesome” on Fan Jr. 5504, produced by Skip Nelson.

In January 1967 they made their masterpiece, “Day to Day”, backed with “‘Love,’ Little Girl”.

No writing credits are listed for either song on the Night Owl 45, or for “Lonesome” on the earlier Fan, Jr 45, but a Capital Times profile stated “‘Day to Day'” and “‘Love Girl'” … both songs were written by ‘The Cannons.'”

“Day to Day” was reissued on Highs in the Mid Sixties Vol. 15 retitled “Days Go By”, and wrongly listing the band’s origin as Milwaukee.

The Capital Times ran a profile of the group by Gary Rettgen on February 6, 1967:

‘The Cannons,’ Local Rock ‘n’ Roll Group, Discovered by Chicago Agency
A musical group of young Madison men has been “discovered” by Chicago’s Williard Alexander booking agency … but the “discoveries” already are well known to Madison rock ‘n’ roll fans.
The local Upstairs at the Gun Club, Cottage Grove Rd., bills them as “Madison’s Number One Band.” Recently the group were first place winners in the March of Dime benefit band contest at the Capitol Theatre.
Familiar, too, is the face of its long-haired, bearded leader, Peter Loeb, 21, who wields a “wicked” sax and wild second guitar … Peter will enter graduate school in social work after June graduation.
Mike Keilhofer, 20, on lead guitar is a student at the Wisconsin School of Electronics.
The bass player is 20-year-old Jim Perkins, who by day attends Madison Business College.
Mike Turk, 20, the drummer, is a U. of Wisconsin sophomore.
Singing with “The Cannons” is Lee Larsen, 19, a printer’s apprentice by day at Webcrafts. The only married man in the group, he has a daughter…
A young brother, Greg Loeb, 18, a U. of Wisconsin freshman, has formed a group of his own. Their name: “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Categories: Unknown

The Varments with Bill Truett “Love Is a One Time Thing” on Varment

October 11, 2023 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Varments cut two good original songs “Love Is a One Time Thing” / “I Want to Salute You Girl” for their only 45 on Varment JW 101/102. Bill Truett was the song writer and, given the prominent credit on the label, probably the lead vocalist. The other members are only listed by first names: John, Dave and Dennis.

There’s no identifying info on the label as to location. The dead wax simply repeats the JW 101/JW 102 code, with no other marks. I’m not sure what the JW refers to.

The B-side title is misprinted with Saulte instead of Salute.

Any further info on the Varments would be appreciated.

Categories: Unknown

Caravan of Sound “Walking High” on Victory Productions

September 22, 2023 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Caravan of Sound made this cool instrumental 45 in 1969. “Walking High” starts out with the “Dirty Water” riff then turns into something the Bobby Fuller Four could have cut. It’s backed with the milder “Happy Caravan”. Both tracks are credited to R. Hudson, probably the very skilled lead guitarist on both sides.

Released on Victory Productions K 2179 in 1969, I have no idea where the group came from. There was a Caravan of Sound playing in New Hampshire and Maine in 1969-1970s, but they played country music. From the sound of the record, I expect this Caravan of Sound was a California group.

The RCA pressing codes X4KM-1074/X4KM-1074 date the pressing to 1969. Usually RCA pressings have a plant code in the dead wax: R, H or I, but this one lacks that, or it is so faint I cannot make it out. I do see a faint C etched after the stamped matrix, but no indication of regional pressing plant.

Categories: Haverhill, Massachusetts

The Heard from Haverhill, MA

September 16, 2023 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

The Heard came from Haverhill MA but I don’t believe they ever recorded. Dennis Villanucci, bassist with another local group, the Royals, sent me the photo and card seen here.

Members included:

Mike Moustafa – lead guitar
Chuck Buzzell – rhythm guitar and bass
Eric McFadden – organ
Bob Fontaine – drums

Dennis tells me Eric McFadden is still performing today.

Categories: Austin, San Marcos, Texas, Texas Sound Studios (San Antonio)

The Modulation Corporation “What to Do” on Atom

August 12, 2023 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Modulation Corporation made one 45 on Atom 1001 in November, 1967: the tough garage song “What to Do” b/w the bluesy “Worms”, both written by Francis W. Wilson II, and cut at Texas Sound Studios in San Antonio.

I don’t know the names of other members in the group. Francis Wilson seems to have been known as Billy Wilson. Covering the wedding of Jane Ellent Grant and William Eilers Jr. in Luling, TX, the Shiner Gazette on December 7, 1967 mentioned “An orchestra, Billy Wilson and the Modulation Corporation, provided music during the reception.”

The Modulation Corporation seem to have been together only during the fall of 1967. I’ve read the group was from San Marcos, about halfway between Austin and San Antonio, but most of the notices I’ve found are from two Austin venues, the Lake Austin Inn and the Pleasure Dome.

They had regular gigs at the Lake Austin Inn in September and October, 1967

On December 29-30, 1967 the Modulation Corporation played two nights with the South Canadian Overflow at the Pleasure Dome, and may have been included in the New Year’s Eve show with the Golden Dawn, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and the Afro-Caravan.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

The Pleasure Dome

The Pleasure Dome opened on December 15, 1967 with the Thingies and underground films like Scorpio Rising. It was located at 222 E. 6th Street in what had been the Yank Theater building. Bill Simonson managed the club, with lighting by an unnamed person who had done lighting at the Electric Circus and the Cheetah in New York City. In progress off the lobby was the Sacred Mushroom Bar.

From notices in the American-Statesmen, the Pleasure Dome seems to have lasted only one month.

The first week of January the Pleasure Dome had the Thingies and South Canadian Overflow on Friday, the Strawberry Shoemaker and the Golden Dawn on Saturday, and the Golden Dawn and the Thingies on Sunday.

The following week featured the Thingies, the Starvation Army Band and the Vines. I have found no further notices after that.

Categories: Arizona, Phoenix, Scottsdale

Gossip “No One’s Standing in Your Way” / “Whispering Wind”

July 24, 2023 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

Gossip made this one great two-sided 45 “No One’s Standing in Your Way” / “Whispering Wind” in October, 1968, released on Gossip Records ARA 102268.

The only name on the label is Monte Gagg, a senior at Scotsdale High School according to a April 5, 1969 Arizona Republic news item about a production of Our Town at the school.

The female vocalist is supposed to be Carolyn Thompson who had an album as Carrie Thompson on Rolling Bay Records in 1980, and three CDs as Carri Coltrane in the 1990s.

The band’s playing and vocals are very accomplished, heavy on “No One’s Standing in Your Way”, and with some psychedelic guitar on “Whispering Wind”. According to a youtube comment, the lead guitarist was Dennis Alexander, later engineer / owner of Pantheon Studios.

If anyone has more info on the group please contact me. I don’t believe they were mentioned in Edward Wincentsen’s Yes, Phoenix Had Music In The Sixties!

Categories: Nassau County, New York, Unknown, Valley Stream

Sportin’ Life “I Can Feel It (Servant to the Sky)” on Riba Records

July 20, 2023 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

Sportin’ Life cut a great psychedelic 45 in the summer of 1968, “I Can Feel It (Servant to the Sky)” released on Riba Records R-1004/R-1003. I don’t know if Sportin’ Life was an actual group or a studio gathering. From writing credits on “I Can Feel It” members included Ronald Weissman, Michael Swerdlow, John Homenick, and possibly Richard Babeuf, who produced the record.

Babeuf also wrote the ostensible A-side, “I Can’t Wait Till Tomorrow)” and registered both songs with Kenyon Publications.

Babeuf owned Riba Records, with an address of 65 W. Merrick, Valley Stream, NY. Riba only had one other 45 I know of, the Renés “Shy Guy” / “You’re Wrong” on 45-10012 from 1965, also using Kenyon Pub.

I can’t find more info on Weissman, Swerdlow or Homenick, but Rick Babeuf had plenty of other credits in the music business.

One of the most notable is Gaslite Village “I Am Afraid” (written by Babeuf and Herbert Hilton) b/w “Up from the Underground” (Babeuf) on Murbo M-1029. Babeuf produced the record, which received a mention in the February 22, 1969 issue of Record World. Gaslite Village was probably a name made up for the record, the songs produced at different sessions, with copyright registered at different times (October ’68 and January ’69 respectively).

Babeuf was arranger on Jim Jackson “Welcome Me Home” / “Some Love with Soul” on Sandbag Records S102, produced by Mike Szymansky, who owned Sandbag and operated Omega Sound Studios in Rockville Center. Babeuf does not have any other credits on other Szymansky or Sandbag productions, but Sandbag released another good rock 45, the Epitome of Sound “You Don’t Love Me” / “Where Were You” on Sandbag S 101.

Babeuf and Frank Szelwach produced the Mauroks “Susan” / “Story of My Journey South” on De-Lite Records 517.

Babeuf produced and co-wrote (with Szelwach) the A-side of Frank Dean “My Son (This I Say To You)” / “If I Could Fly” on R & R Records R-102, also in 1969. I suppose Frank Dean was an alias of Frank Szelwach.

Cash Box August 9, 1969:

R&R Records Formed
R&R Records has been formed here at 1650 Broadway and 663 Fifth Ave. Heading up the operation, which also includes two publishing firms, Ren-Maur Music (BMI) and R.R. Music (ASCAP) are: Rena Romano, president, Steve Levy, business manager; and Richard Babeuf, general professional manager of the publishing units; Ric Drew, public relations director …

Billboard, August 8, 1970:

Riba Music Co. has just completed original music for 30″ and 60″ radio spots for Modern Sash and Aluminum Co., Inc. and Electro-Way of N.Y., Inc. Music was composed and arranged by Richard Babeuf.

Riba also did radio ads for Bick’s Family Restaurants and Hathaway’s Furniture Galleries.

Billboard September 12, 1970:

Richard Babeuf is also finishing up original material and charts for a new group called Labyrinth which will debut this fall with a new electro-visual presentation concept.

Billboard, October 17, 1970

Riba Music Co. will supervise all facets of the musical activity on the upcoming off Broadway play, “Iphegenia.” Richard Babeuf, general manager of Riba, will act as music director and conductor, and will supply all arrangements.

This may have referred to Wedding of Iphigenia and Iphigenia in Concert which ran at the Public Theater for a few months starting in December, 1971. However that production had music by Peter Link, performed by a group called Goatleg!

That’s as far as I got on Mr. Babeuf.

Garage Hangover