The High Numbers from left: Danny Daniels, Bruce Bruscato on drums, and Bill St. John
The High Numbers made one record, “High Heel Sneakers” / “I’m a Man” on their own Ocean label, 885S-0594. The TK4M-0594 code dates the pressing to the second half 1966. Both sides clock in at over four minutes, rather long for single sides from that time. The band cheekily listed Giorgio Gomelsky as producer of “I’m a Man” (he was of course the producer of the Yardbirds’ version!)
Members were:
Danny Daniels – lead guitar and vocals Glen Engleking – rhythm guitar Bill St. John – bass, harmonica and vocals Alan Gratzer – drums and backing vocals, replaced by Bruce Bruscato
Bass player Bill St. John sent in these photos and told me about the group:
Danny Daniels and Bill St. John
I had a band in the mid-60s in Arlington Heights.
When Danny and I were about 14, we formed a little group and played at some house parties for $5.00! We got more serious, bought some nice equipment and had a few gigs. Alan Gratzer had a band called The Questions, and they had better gigs. He called me one day and asked if I would join his band as bass player. I said I would if Danny could come along and play lead guitar. We were getting really good and found 14 year old Glen Engleking who was still in 8th grade to join as rhythm guitar.
We cut one record in 1966. I was 15 and Alan 17. When we recorded “I’m a Man”, Glen took over the bass part and I played harmonica and sang. Pretty rough and basic with no over dubs! Somehow it found its way to the Garage Punk Unknowns Volume 3 compilation album.
About three months after we cut the disc, Alan left for college. We added different drummers along the way, but it was never the same. I left for college in 1968 and never saw or talked to Danny or Glen again. Both are deceased.
Bruce Bruscato went on to replace The Shadows of Knight original drummer. Alan formed REO Speedwagon at University of Illinois in 1967.
The Changing Tymes were based out of their own Club Moss in Gate City, Virginia, located in the far western part of the state just across the state line from Kingsport, Tennessee. Four of the band were from Hiltons, VA, with another from Johnson City, TN.
Members were:
Buzzy Jones – lead vocals, guitar Jimmy Harris – lead guitar, vocals Lenny Gillenwater – organ Allan McMurray – bass Buddy Babb – drums, vocals
The group released two seven-inch records on their own Moss label, featuring good original songs by the band. “The Only Girl I Love” (McMurray – Jones) / “Parody of a Love” (McMurray, Gillenwater) came out on Moss 000-001/002 in August 1967, followed by “Go Your Way” (Gillenwater – Jones) / “She Laughed at Me” (Gillenwater) on Moss 000-003/004 in December.
Chronos Music published all four songs.
The Clinch Valley College in Wise, Virginia newspaper, the Highland Cavalier, profiled the group on November 1, 1967, for their upcoming show at the Cotillion Club Harvest Dance on November 4:
They were called NUTHIN then … after a while they figured The Changing Tymes fit better’n anything else.
Last New Year’s Eve … the Changing Tymes opened a place of their own and they called it Club Moss …
Every Saturday night since, Moss has been open from 8:30 – 11:30 … Sometimes the crowds have been huge with hardly room to dance, and at other times there wasn’t more than 50, but the music goes on and the quality is good … the best sound around. “Big Daddy Harris” and “General Jones” are always around somewhere in the shadows, but they never give the feeling that they’re watching for you to do something wrong.
Club Moss ad with the Changing Tymes, in the Kingsport Times, February 3, 1967
In August the Changing Tymes went to Nashville for their first recording session. Allan McMurray, Bass player had written some words for which Buzzy Jones and Lenny Gillenwater had written some music … they called the two songs “Parody of a Love” and “The Only Girl I Love”, sung by Buddy Babb, drummer, and Buzzy Jones.
… Last week “Parody of a Love” made the “Top Forty” at WNVA …
… four of them are from Hilton, Virginia: Buzzy (Rhea Wilbur Jones, Jr.), Larry (Larry Wayne Gillenwater), Jimmy (James Oscar Harris, Jr.), and Alan (Alan Rhea McMurray).
Buddy (James Howard Babb, Jr.) lives at Weber City, but during school he lives in Johnson City while studying at East Tennessee State University.
According to the article, Jimmy Harris was the youngest of the group, a junior at Gate City High School. Larry Gillenwater attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now Viginia Tech), while Alan McMurray and Buzzy Jones were at Clinch Valley College.
Discussing Club Moss, February 2, 1968
The Kingsport Times ran a feature about Club Moss on February 2, 1968:
… a basement in the old Craft Motor Company Building … could hardly be described as swank …
“It has the best band in the Tri-Cities,” Steve McMurray said, “except maybe the Scat-Cats. They drew the largest crowd we’ve ever had, about 450, but there was still room to dance.”
“If you like to dance,” Lester Spivey said, “it’s a good place to go. They have a good sound system and the band is good.
“The walls have a black background with op art designs on them,” he said, “and they use colored lights. It looks real nice.”
“And you get bored just staying at home,” Chuck Quillen said. “You get tired of your parents, could even start to hate them …”
The last annoucement I can find for the group comes from the Kinsport Times on September 18, 1968, announcing a band competition at the Scott County Tobacco Festival in Weber City.
Club Moss continued for some time. Kingsport Times articles from January 17 and 29, 1969 discuss the re-opening of the club:
Last summer, its previous managers (teenage members of the Changing Thymes [sic] band) decided to close the club because of questionable legality of their license and a growing problem with teenage activity outside the club …
The new managers were Tommy Francisco and Eric Darnell [Eric Darnel in the other article], and Jack Francisco was a chaperone:
Gate City Sheriff Ernest Culbertson said that he hadn’t endorsed the re-opening of the club. “I do not approve of the re-opening of the Club Moss … Whenever teenagers get together, there’s going to be trouble.”
The article mentions a group the Seventh Dawn performing at the club and a bank Christmas party.
Club Moss did not last long, however, because in April 1970 another article mentioned several spots that closed: Club Moss, the Barn in Rogersville and the Purple Penguin in Kingsport; and discussed whether a new teen club could open.
Anyone have a photo of Club Moss, or pics of the Changing Tymes or other local bands?
The Kingsport Times ran this photo on April 24, 1970, but didn’t specify if it was one of the local clubs or a stock photo.
The Limeys were Andrea Gennard and Stephen Gennard, a sister and brother duo who arrived in Miami, Florida from London about 1962. While students at Rockway Junior High, they made this great single “Come Back” / “Green and Blue” with the London Sounds.
Released on Sherwood 1715, a Miami News notice gave the exact release date, Monday, April 25, 1966. Printed sleeves included a small photo of the duo.
An February 25, 1966 ad for the Palmetto Bandstand featured the Limey’s backed by the Outcasts, on a bill with the Dirt Merchants. (The following night featured the Invaders, the Impacts and the Hares.)
The Miami News profiled the band on March 15, 1966, including:
Here are two down-to-earth teens with an out-of-this-world singing talent. They have no set style, but their music lends itself mostly to folk-rock …
Stephen and Andrea, together with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Gennard, of 1715 SW 97th Pl., arrived from London almost four years ago …
Usually they are coupled with a five-member band, the Outcasts.
With the Outcasts, the Limeys have appeared on Florida Bandstand, the Miami-Dade Junior College campus, on Chuck Zinc’s TV program and at the Cloverleaf Center.
The entire Gennard family has become involved: Dad is business manager, Mom a critic and booster.
They also appeared on the Rick Shaw show on May 27.
On the single, the backing band is called the London Sounds, and includes horn players and strings. I’m not sure if the Outcasts were involved, or even who was in the Outcasts – if anyone knows please contact me.
Stephen and Andrea wrote “Come Back”, and co-wrote “Green and Blue” with Pat Tallis, publishing by Chalfont Music Publishing.
Copyright registration from February 1966 shows three other songs: “Take It Easy”, “I Love You”, and “Melonie”, the last two co-written with Pat Tallis.
In June both the Miami News and the Herald mentioned the duo signing to Scepter Records, I wonder if anything came of that.
They must have been unaware of the English group the Limeys, releasing singles on Amcan in the U.S. and Decca and Pye in the UK.
Back in England, Record Mirror profiled the duo on May 11, 1968, providing different last names, Andrea Gerome and Steve Gerome.
The article mentions they did work in America “but, as ever, work permits for artistes so young (Anna is 17, Steve 16) proved difficult. Anna used to be apprenticed to hairdresser Vidal Sassoon, abandoning haircutting for disc-cutting.”
Anna and Steve made two singles for Fontana under the artist name Too Much, “Wonderland of Love” / “Mr. Money” (written by Gerome) in 1967, then “It’s a Hip Hip Hippy World” / “Stay in My World” in February 1968.
As Anna Hamilton with Stephen they made another single on Fontana in April 1968, “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven (But Nobody Wants To Die)” / “You Laughed When I Cried” (b-side writing credited to Gerome). Their version competed with the Karlins, (triplets Linda Wilson, Elaine Wilson and Evelyn Wilson) who released their 45 on Columbia (UK) about the same time.
Thank you to Ansgar for pointing me to the Record Mirror article (which I never would have found considering they had changed their name!).
Andrea and Steve Gerome in Record Mirror, May 11, 1968
I don’t know if Thee Society were a working band or a studio group. They released only one single, “That Girl” / “Determined Mind” on Revolvo RV-45-217, probably in 1968 or 1969, out of Hollywood, CA.
The A-side is pop, the flip a stomping dance number. E. Nagatoshi wrote both sides, published by Earthquake Music, like other later Revolvo releases.
Not much to go on, but I found a copyright registration to Edward Nagatoshi for a song “We’ll Live On” from February 1966. I’m not sure if this was recorded or if Ed Nagatoshi had any other involvement in music.
Revolvo released a good psychedelic 45 by the Glass Managerie [sic] “End of the Line” / “Troubled Mind” that I’d like to know more about. Dennis Hardy wrote both songs.
Grayson Izumi of Beaudry Express, who commented below, added in a message to me that Thee Society had three vocalists including John Hubbard, and David Akiyama on keyboards. He also recommends the book Chronicles of a Sansei Rocker by Harry Manaka.
The Truths made this one fine Byrds-influenced 45, “Pending” / “Why” on Circle Records 45-953, in August 1965.
Roy Harris wrote “Pending”, and co-wrote “Why” with James Pettey, with publishing by Chu-Fin Music, Inc.
I can find almost no info on the group online. I’ve read the band came from Riverside, California. However, the Playground Recording Studio site notes:
Playground Studios originally built and completed in 1969 by Finley Duncan is located in the heart of old downtown Valparaiso, Florida.
It was the home of Minaret Records, Turrett Records, Choctaw and Circle Records.
I came across this ticket stub for a “Double-Up” concert produced by Koncepts Cultural Gallery on October 16, 1993 at the James Moore Theater in the Oakland Museum. The concert featured two duos, Roscoe Mitchell & Malachi Favors Maghostut; and Horace Tapscott & Roberto Miranda.
I can still hear Roscoe playing the soprano sax (or was it sopranino) without pause using circular breathing.
I’m posting this in the hope that photos or a recording of the event exists.
The Long Island Sounds came from Branford and East Haven Connecticut. They achieved a fine surf sound on their two singles on Wonder Records 165 and 166.
Their first single was “Tiger” / “Lucky Guy”, followed by “Don’t Cry Linda” / “(Ballad of) Marvin Crump”.
Members were:
Fred O’Brien – lead vocals Tony Pragano – harmony vocals Angelo Frisketti – lead guitar Tom Hanlon – guitar and harmony vocals Bobby Pasternak – keyboards Jack Russell – drums
Fred O’Brien wrote all their songs, published by Checkmark Music, owned by Arthur Czech, which also published the North Atlantic Invasion Force “Blue and Green Gown” / “Fire, Wind and Rain” among others.
“BRS” etched into the runout of the second record indicates it was likely recorded at Broadway Recording Studios in New York.
I’ve seen Tony Pragano’s name spelled Pregano, not sure which is correct.
Gary Steffins & the Fugitives 5 “I’m a Lover” / “Back Track” on RMP is an obscure 45 from one of the suburbs of Chicago, from March, 1966.
The lead guitar is strong on both sides, especially the neat instrumental “Back Track”.
A couple of photos have turned up on youtube videos, but I haven’t seen a list of band members.
On August 16, 1975, about nine years after the record, the Atlanta Constitution ran a profile of Daphne’s Lounge at the Sheraton near Hartsfield airport, with an interesting paragraph:
The band of the moment is Crystal Ball, a group formed five years ago in Chicago and now relocating to Atlanta. Gary Steffins handles most of the vocals and plays the congas. Other personnel are Steve Farrell, lead guitar, his brother Bill [Farrell] on drums, Joe Grimm on keyboards, and Greg Curbow on bass.
Surely the lineup changed in the intervening years, but I would like to know the names of the original group on the single.
Claud Stuard [sic] – Claude Stewart, or Claude Steward?Bands and musicians from Schenectady, Albany, Poughkeepsie, and other areas traveled to Kinderhook to record at Earl Kennett’s studio.
A number of lacquer demos (commonly called acetates) of various sizes remained when Kennett Sound Studio closed and the property sold. Many of these demos are of the Cleaners (later known as the East Coast Clique), the group Kennett worked with the most. Others duplicate the recordings that would be released on 45 rpm records.
Below is a list of demos by unknown artists, in approximate chronological order. Because Earl was blind, many were unlabeled, though Earl’s young daughters sometimes added names or titles. Many song titles below are my guesses based on the lyrics.
Please take a listen to the audio excerpts and contact me if you know any of these artists.
8″ acetate by James Morse, not the same song as the Claude Steward, above. Another 8″ acetate has his name as Jimmy Morse8″ lacquer acetates
Folk singer Greg (surname?), associated with Hudson River Clearwater Sloop, circa 1969. Five songs, may not have been recorded at Kennett as it sounds like a radio broadcast. Hear “My Dirty Stream” with discussion of Sloop restoration
Those Two Plus – “I’ll Be There” / “It’s Rainin’ (Where I’m Bound)” (both by Alex Rotter, arranged by “Those Two”) Kennett Sound 0017, 1969.
Alex Rotter and Dawn Mickle performed as simply “Those Two” in a couple news reports. The Oneonta Star noted on August 10, 1968 that the duo took second place in the Folk Music Contest at the Otsego County Fair.
The Schenectady Gazette ran a photo of the duo on September 17, 1968:
Those Two, folksingers Dawn Mickle of Warnerville and Alex Rotter of Schenectady, who won top honors at the Cobleskill Fair and first in the semi-finals of the State Fair, entertained patients at the Eden Park Nursing home …
I have a 12″ acetate from the Kennett Sound Studio that includes both songs from the single. Another 12″ acetate contains five songs performed by Alex and Dawn which were not released.
From listening, I believe four of these to be original songs: “If I Were Free”, “Take Me to the Land of Lovin'”, “I Can Tell”, and “I Know What You Mean to Say” (titles are based on the lyrics), along with a version of Fred Neil’s “The Other Side of this Life”:
The Kennett Studio labels are blank.
Thank you to Peter Aaron for loan of the Those Two Plus single, and for finding the Gazette article on the duo.
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
