All posts by Chris Bishop

The Jesters from Naples, Florida “I’ll Laugh at You”

Early photo of the Jesters

The Jesters came primarily from Naples, Florida, about 110 miles west of Miami. Their discography comprises a handful of high quality singles, but there is very little info about the band on the ‘net.

The first notice I can find about the Jesters comes from the Miami Herald on March 25, 1965, for a “Hootenanny” at Naples Senior High School on April 1:

“… a six-piece band which has won popularity with local teenagers. Band members are Wally Frederickson [sic], Larry Cope, Johnny Gibbs, Riley Brack, Steve Miller, and Bill Morton.”

The lineup in early 1965 was:

Wally Fredrickson Jr. – lead vocal
Larry Cope – lead guitar
Johnny Gibbs – rhythm guitar
Bill Morton – keyboards
Steve Miller – bass
Riley Brack – drums

At some point David Hopkins, from Fort Myers, replaced Larry Cope.

The Jesters in the News-Press, August 15, 1965, from left: Wally Fredrickson, John Gibbs, Bill Morton, Steve Miller, Riley Brack and David Hopkins

The Fort Myers News-Press had a full page feature on the group on August 15, 1965, including photos of fans and parents:

Teens Flock to Night Spot to Enjoy Jesters

Jester A-Go-Go, News Press, July 10, 1965
If attendance is any gauge, the newest establishment at Fort Myers Beach – Jester A-Go-Go is a smashing success. Every Wednesday and Saturday night an average of 250 enthusiastic teens flock to this teenage night spot at the old Driftwood Lounge to spend an evening dancing to the music of the Jesters, a six man combo from Naples.

A popular feature is the dance contest. The prize to the winner is a record album, recorded by The Jesters at the Qualicon Studios in Naples. One of the cuts on the record is an original Jesters’ composition, “I Ain’t Gonna Cry No More.”

According to Brack, the leader, the group has been playing together a little more than a year… Brack said, “One day I was talking to a man who worked for my father and he asked if I had ever played any instruments. When I told him I played the drums some, he said he was a professional bass player and suggested we get together.

… he said he could teach the guitar, so I got Steve, Bill and John and they started taking lessons. Up until then none of them had ever picked up a guitar. After three months of lessons and practice, we went out on our own and played our first dance a year ago last July 4.

… one day Dave Hopkins drove by and saw the “for rent” sign on the Driftwood.

“We decided we liked it, went in and cleaned it up and painted it. We opened about a month ago.”

…their parents… are kept busy… selling tickets, stamping the teens for identification and acting as chaperones… Parents at the door use their own judgment as to who will be allowed in and the smell of alcohol on the breath is one sure way of being denied entrance…[see full article]

Wally Fredrickson’s father, Walter Fredrickson Sr. owned Qualicon Studio.

The Jesters as a quintet, October 1965

On October 16, 1965, the Miami Herald announced the Jesters performance that night at the Masonic Hall in Naples. The accompanying photo showed the group as a quintet, without Bill Morton. A notice in the News-Press for the same show confirms that lineup and gives some more detail, with DJ Roby Yonge as emcee, and “Two of the combo’s latest recordings, ‘I Laugh At You,’ and ‘You Say You’ll Never Leave Me’ – their own composition – will be featured.”

Wally Fredrickson Jr. – lead vocal
David Hopkins – lead guitar & vocals
Johnny Gibbs – rhythm guitar
Steve Miller – bass
Riley Brack – drums

This group cut an awesome demo, “I’ll Laugh at You” / “You Can Have Her”.

The Jesters recorded a second version of “I’ll Laugh at You” for their first released single, backed with “Just Let Me Love You”. This version has “LIVE From THE CLUB A GO GO” and “Recorded By Qualicon” on the label.

Jeff Lemlich wrote to me: “Club A Go Go [aka Jester a Go Go] was an old 1930s speakeasy on Fort Myers Beach that the band ran for about four months. Other places they played included the Flaming Fountain in Naples and the local Moose Club.”

On October 22, 1965, the Fort Lauderdale News ran a display ad for the Pompano Skate Rink “Arena-A-Go-Go, Every Sat. Nite Dance to the Fabulous ‘Jesters'”.

News-Press, September 30, 1966

By the next notice I can find from September 30, 1966, nearly a year later, the lineup had changed considerably. Only Wally Frederickson and David Hopkins remained from the 1965 lineups:

Wally Fredrickson Jr. – lead vocals, tambourine
David Hopkins – lead guitar, harmonica and vocals
Bill Hinman – organ, guitar, mandolin and vocals
Bruce Morford – bass and vocals
James O’Neill – rhythm guitar
Bobby O’Neill – drums

The News-Press announced negotiations between George Pittman, representing the Jesters and Qualicon Studios, and Sidewalk Productions, a division of Capitol Records. That contract would happen, with the Jesters sending two tapes to Capitol in October, 1966, for “Ride, My Son, Ride”, written by George Pittman, and “Leave Me Alone” by Wally Fredrickson. They also signed publishing contracts with Exbrook Publishing and Mirby Music Co.

I am not sure how Walter Fredrickson, Sr. met Mike Curb or some other representative of Sidewalk Productions, but a number of his productions from Qualicon would end up on Manhattan or Sidewalk.

Fort Myers News-Press, Nov 18, 1966

The News-Press ran a feature on the the Fabulous Jesters on November 18, 1966:

The Fabulous Jesters will play for a dance for teenagers Saturday night on the second floor of the former Belk’s Building at First and Hendry Streets …

The six band members … are from Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Naples … Their first record [sic] is scheduled for release around Jan. 1 by Tower Records …

Wally Frederickson Sr. will travel as sound engineer with the Jesters on all personal appearances. He is president of Qualicon Productions, Inc. He also is owner and director of Qualicon Studios which does custom recording.

Tapes by the Jesters will be prepared by Qualicon Studios in Naples and sent to California.

In January, 1967, “Don’t Try to Crawl Back” / “Leave Me Alone” came out on Sidewalk 910, originals by Pittman and Fredrickson.


On February 9, 1967, the New-Press ran an update to note the single had reached the top 40 on WMYR, Fort Myers, and WFUN, Miami:

Twenty-two songs have been recorded for Capitol and will be released at the company’s discretion. All of them were written by the Jesters.

The boys cut a film for the Rick Shaw Miami TV show recently and it was shown on the 7-8 a.m. time spot. It will be repeated from time to time.

In Miami the Jesters have played at the Tiger Den and Shindig and entertained over 3,000 of the “in” group at the world [The World nightclub].

In April of 1967, the Jesters released “Blue Feeling” (which had been done as “Blue, Blue Feeling” by Dr. T. & the Undertakers) b/w “Unchain My Heart” on Qualicon QU-5003.

June 1967 saw the release of their second Sidewalk single, “Hands of Time” / “If You Love Her, Tell Her So” on Sidewalk 916.  Writing credits list Wally Fredrickson, Sr. (I suppose it should be Jr.) and George Pittman. The labels read arranged by Wally Fredrickson, Sr., produced by Qualicon.

The Sidewalk LP Freakout U.S.A. also contains “Don’t Try to Crawl Back”.

Bruce Morford later joined the Painted Faces, another band that frequently recorded at Qualicon.

Walter Fredrickson Sr died in December, 1976 at the age of 52.

John Gibbs passed away on November 15, 2010.

There was also a group called the Jesters from Palmetto High that was playing shows in the area in 1965 and 1966, with a lineup of Richard White (lead guitar), Bob Ammarell (rhythm guitar), Pete Mooy (bass) and Mike Linet (drums).

And of course there was Mark Markham & His Jesters, with an entirely different set of musicians.

Qualicon Studios:

Qualicon seems to have been formed in January, 1963, according to a notice of incorporation on the News-Press:

Qualicon Corp. of Naples was authorized to deal in electronic devices. Incorporators are William B. Vogt, Walter I. Frederickson and Patricia Ann Dozzie, all of Naples.

Though frequently spelled Frederickson in news reports, I believe the correct spelling of his name is Fredrickson.

Qualicon QU 5001 – Bob Bellows – “Goodbye Blue Eyes” (Reg Fulton, Ted Paulson) / “Tout Doux, Tout Doux” (Reg Fulton, Louie Rey)
Qualicon QU 5002 – The Painted Faces – “I Want You” / “Things We See”
Qualicon QU-5003 – The Jesters – “Blue Feeling” / “Unchain My Heart”

Although the Qualicon label only released three singles, Walter Fredrickson Sr produced five singles for the Manhattan label (also affiliated with Mike Curb) by the the Painted Faces and the Mysteries.

———

Some of the info in this article came from Jeff Lemlich’s interview of David Hopkins many years ago. Thank you to Jeff for the news clipping from November 18, 1966.

Thank you to Anthony G. for forwarding a photo from Riley Brack, to Paul Sullivan for another photo, and also to Matthew Baker for his help.

Photo of the Jesters

The Lonely Souls from Redford & Detroit

The Lonely Souls with Ray Goode on drums, May 1968.

The Lonely Souls were from the Redford / Detroit, Michigan area, like the Midnight Shift.

Members were:

Bob Calco
Terry Gilbert
Ray Goode – drums
Louie
Chuck Murphy

The group was active in the late sixties, certainly in 1968. Check out the double bass drum in the photo! I don’t believe they recorded.

Ray Goode died in a motorcycle accident in 1980. Thank you to Steve for sending in the photo and info on his uncle’s group.

Any further info on the band would be appreciated.

The Loose Ends “Hey, Sweet Baby” on Meadow Brook Records

Loose Ends Meadow Brook 45 Hey Sweet BabyWhen I heard the Loose Ends “Hey, Sweet Baby” / “I Love You, Baby”, I thought this might be a rural southern single. I was surprised to find a suburban Connecticut address on the labels.

“Hey, Sweet Baby” by Robins and Douglas has a fuzz blues riff that hardly varies the entire song. There are breaks, not for guitar solos, but screams and hoots. Great drumming too. The hand claps towards the end of the song show the group was loose indeed.

The flip “I Love You, Baby” by Robins is a fine ballad with an extended reverb guitar solo.

Released on Meadow Brook Records MB-0069, the labels have an address of 27 Carousel Drive, Nichols, CT (now would be Trumball, CT), northeast of Bridgeport. The labels spell it Carrousel.

Produced by MBR Productions, and published by Loose Ends Music BMI. This is a Rite pressing from October, 1969.

The Loose Ends seem to be a dead end, as I can’t find any leads past the info on the label.

The NYTE

The NYTE, Gary Jedlicka at bottom of photo

My name is Gary Jedlicka, I was the drummer in the band The NYTE:

Sandy Pantaleo – lead vocals
Bill Stevenson – lead guitar and vocals
Ben Ninnman – Hammond B3 with a Leslie and a piano bass, vocals.
Gary Jedlicka – drums and vocals

Second-to-last poster for the Other Place, with the Franklin Freight Train, The Genesis and The Nyte
Second-to-last poster for the Other Place, with the Franklin Freight Train, The Genesis and The Nyte

The NYTE organized in Greenville, North Carolina, sometime in 1967 as we were all students at East Carolina College (at that time, University now). I was, and still am, from New Jersey, Bill was from New Jersey, Sandy was from Long Island, and Benny was from Virginia. Strange how a bunch of Yankees got together and started a rock-n-roll band in North Carolina.

We played The Other Place in Nags Head, NC, on August 23-25, 1968. We may have been one of the last 2 or 3 bands to rock that place before it closed. I still have that awesome poster in perfect condition hanging on my wall near my original set of 1965 Grey Oyster Pearl Ludwig drums.

We established ourselves as a pretty good rock band and eventually got picked-up by Bowie Martin of Bomar Productions. He booked us at a lot of cool places relatively close to Greenville and we had a lot of great gigs. The Other Place was certainly one of them. We stayed in NC throughout the summers, playing gigs instead of heading up North after the last semester. The NYTE eventually broke up early 1969 because members moved onto other adventures in our lives.

The Lemon Sandwich – “Give Me Love” / “I Must Be Dreaming”

The Lemon Sandwich released the very cool “Give Me Love” on La Salle Records L-371, backed with “I Must Be Dreaming”. Eddie Hileman wrote both songs.

Tommy Burke used the Lemon Sandwich’s exact recording of “Give Me Love” for his 45 on Lauren L-2513 backed with “I Don’t Want to Be Your Keeper”, with writing credit for both songs to Tommy Burke.

Eddie T. Burke then released the Lemon Sandwich’s “I Must Be Dreaming” on E.T.B. Records ETB-113. I’m not sure if this was the same recording as the Lemon Sandwich or not, but with LA SALLE CE 15/16 cut into the dead wax, I believe it probably is. The flip is the Taboos “So Sad” but with Eddie Burke doing new vocals. For this release Eddie Hileman is given writing credit for both songs, even though the Taboos was by Brennan and Palazzo.

Phil Fallo contacted me about the Lemon Sandwich:

I was lead guitarist in the Lemon Sandwich back in 1968-69. When I joined, they were a quartet, Ed Hileman was the sole guitarist. I was brought in to play lead guitar and we became a 5 piece. The bassist was Tom Davis, the drummer was Mike Kritsky and the organist was named Al. We were all from New Jersey.

I believe that single predates me – maybe early 1968. We were very successful in Greenwood Lake, NY where we were house band at “Mother’s”, the largest club on the lake for an extended period. We played other places on the lake like the Long Pond, Big Daddy’s and TA’s East. We broke up in 1969.

At the time the drinking age was 18 in NY and 21 in NJ and all these clubs were located just over the Jersey line on the NY side of the lake. Flocks of teens from NJ would come up to the lake to be able to drink. When the drinking age changed, most of those clubs burned down killing the scene.

That was probably the most successful band I was in. After that played in a number of bands that worked the northern New Jersey circuit or in Greenwich Village. Syren, Apollon, Buck Scrub, St. Jack. Also played in a band led by Tom Feher, who had been in the Left Banke, and another led by Paul Klein who prior to my time had a band called the Wind in the Willows. My last band broke up in 1978-79.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

For more on La Salle and Lauren records, see my post on this site.

Gli Angeli featuring Franco cover the Rokes “Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi”

Gil Angeli Franco Star-Line 45 What Faults Do We HaveI wonder how a fast, wah-heavy version of the Rokes “Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi” got its only release on a Philadelphia label known for a handful of local pop artists.

Whoever put the label together changed Gli Angeli to Gil’ Angeli, and misspelled the Italian title (as “Che Colba Abbia Mo Noi”), as well as several songwriter names.

Although there is an English title, “What Faults Do We Have?”, the song is sung in Italian. “Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi” was an Italian version of Bob Lind’s “Cheryl’s Goin’ Home”, and was a hit for the Rokes in 1966. The Mogol song credit is Giulio Rapetti Mogol who often adapted English lyrics into Italian.

I put together a video of the song for youtube, but as I was uploading it, an automatic copyright claim popped up. Some faceless company would “allow” the upload but monetize it for their own profit. There’s a good chance this company doesn’t even have the rights to claim copyright, and I never monetize my uploads. So I decided not to upload it at all. The world will do without.

The flip also gets an English title, “Don’t Cry Tonight”, but it’s sung in Italian too, and is a cover of Don Backy’s 1967 ballad, “Non Piangere Stasera”. Mainstay Music Inc. is listed as publisher.

Usually a record like this would have been released in Italy or somewhere else first, but as far as I can tell, this was not released in any other country. The Bats did a version of “Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi” but it does not sound like this one.

It’s possible this was recorded in Philadelphia, and was not taken from a demo or international release. The label says produced by Ricky Layne, who produced at least a couple other releases on Star-Line Records, on S. Eleventh St. in Philadelphia, PA. Possibly an Italian group was touring the US, and cut this 45 in a quick session to sell at their shows.

The dead wax FC-1A/B F/W indicates Frankford-Wayne mastering.

There was a Gli Angeli from Abruzzo who did “Butta La Corda” backed with an Italian version of the Who’s “I’m a Boy” as “Dove Vuoi”, but they didn’t have a vocalist named Franco. Gli Angeli Di Trieste are another possibility, but the recording I heard of them is much more polished pop than this.

I’d appreciate any leads on who this Gil Angeli & Franco could be.

Delbert McClinton’s early group, the Straitjackets

The Straitjackets in the Star-Telegram, February 10, 1961

Straitjackets at the Red Devil Lounge, January 17, 1958
Delbert McClinton formed the Straitjackets in sometime in 1957. Early members included Art Holland on lead guitar, Robert Harwell on guitar, Billy Cox on sax, Ralph Dixon on bass, and Ray Clark on drums.

The first printed notice I’ve found in the Fort Worth Star Telegram was from January 17, 1958, an ad for the group’s appearance at the Red Devil Lounge at 2541 N.E. 28th.

The ad also notes “The Straightjackets are appearing on Teenage Downbeat – WBAP-TV, Channel 5, Tuesday, Jan. 21.”

Another one on February 28, 1958 calls the group “recording stars” though I don’t believe they had made any records yet. Early ads through 1960 give a different spelling for the group, the Straightjackets, and sometimes list Delbert as featured vocalist. He had turned seventeen years old a few months before.

On February 25, 1960, the Straightjackets played a battle-of-the-bands with the Twisters at Crystal Springs Ballroom. They regularly played at Jack’s Place on Mansfield Road.

The Star Telegram ran items on March 26 and April 10, 1960 with the first lineup I can find for the group in print:

Talent Hunt Ends in Tie for 2 Combos

Two five-man combos, one from Fort Worth and the other from Victoria, finished in a tie for first in the area finals of the Talentsville, U.S.A. contest Saturday afternoon at Casa Manana.

The Fort Worth entry, “The Straitjackets,” was composed of Billy Cox, Delbert McClinton and Ronnie Kelly, Technical High School Students, Jim Dinsmore [Jimmy Densmore] of Arlington Heights and Bob Jones of Paschal.

The Victoria entry, billed as “Dads of Dixie” …

The two groups won trophies and the right to compete in the division finals in Houston May 7.

The Dads of Dixie would win the regionals in Houston along with the Blue Notes of Witchita, KS, winning spots for the finals in New York.

A short profile in the Star Telegram from February 10, 1961 announced their first record and included a photo of the band. Jim Densmore was no longer with the group, while Ray Clark and Ralph Dixon had joined. It also listed Delbert as “Mac Clinton”, a pseudonym that would appear on their first single, “Wake Up Baby” / “That Cat” on Le Cam Records 714.

Six graduates of Fort Worth high schools who work together as a band – The Straitjackets – this week have released their first record.

The disk presents a Straitjacket arrangement of “Wake Up, Baby,” a 1955 tune by Sonny Boy Williams.

On the reverse side, also arranged by the group, is “That Cat.” The release is on the Le Cam label.

“We think ‘Wake Up, Baby’ will sell readily,” said Mac Clinton, leader of the group and former Arlington Heights High School student.

The band was last year’s city competition winner in the Talentsville U.S.A. contest. However, the group was defeated in state competition.

Band members include Ronnie Kelley, Bob Jones and Ray Clark, who were graduated from Paschal High School; Ralph Dixon from Polytechnic, and Billy Cox from Heights.

On the Le Cam label, “That Cat” shows owner Major Bill Smith as writer. In 1962, “That Cat” would appear again on the flip side to versions of “Gigolo” / “I Ain’t Got Nobody” on United Artists UA 453, with the Straitjackets listed as the artist this time.

The Straitjackets and Ray Sharpe at the Skyliner, February 1962

The Straitjackets kept busy in 1962 with shows at the Skyliner Ballroom with Ray Sharpe and the Trebles, and a June 3 show at the Stork Club following the John Griffin, Jr. Band.

In June 1962, Del McClinton toured the UK with Bruce Channel, to reprise his harmonica playing on Channel’s smash “Hey! Baby”. There he famously met the Beatles.

While in London, Delbert cut four songs. “Dunkirk” / “Angel Eyes” came out only in the U.S. on London 45-LON 9544 with Del McClinton listed as the artist. “Hully Gully” / “Baby Heartbreak” came out in the UK on Decca F.11541, using his full name Delbert McClinton, with later issues in Italy and Greece. Earl Guest was music director, and Mike Smith did production.

By 1963, Delbert had formed the Ron-Dels with Ronnie Kelley, and would go on to cut a number of singles on Bill Smith’s labels like Shalimar, Brownfield, Le Cam and Shah, as well as a couple on Smash. Members of the Rondels would include Dahrell Norris on drums, Jimmie Rodgers on guitar and bass, and Billy Wade Sanders on guitar, piano and vocals.

December 1962 shows with the Capris

The Straitjackets continued, possibly without Delbert. Ray Torres was drummer on “Hey! Baby” and mentioned being a drummer with the Straitjackets, but other than him, I don’t know who was in later lineups. They had shows at the Skyliner Ballroom in December 1962, and New Year’s Eve with the Capris at the Ridglea Palladium Ballroom.

I find two later notices, one for Sonny and the Straightjackets at the Stork Club in August 1966, and another for the Straight-Jackets at the Tropicana Club in January 1967, but these may be different groups altogether.

In the ’80s, Le Cam released two LPs released titled Very Early Delbert McClinton with the Ron-Dels that may contain some recordings done with the Straitjackets as early as 1960. (I would like to hear these records if anyone has them for a reasonable price.)

Further reading: Lee Cotten’s interviews with Delbert and Major Bill Smith in Discoveries October 1996 issue.

Fred and Bob and the Twilighters

The Twilighters, from left: Bob Harbur, John Harbur, unidentified drummer, and Fred Palmer

Fred and Bob and the Twilighters Palms 45 That's the Way It's Gotta Be

When Bob Harbur left the Kirksville area and the Twilighters, he formed a new band in St. Charles, Missouri with his brother John, but kept the Twilighters name.

Members of the new Twilighters included:

Bob Harbur – lead guitar
John Harbur – bass
Fred Palmer – trumpet

I don’t know the name of the drummer. Bob Harbur looks to be playing the same Fender Jazzmaster he played with his earlier group.

They recorded at Premier Film & Recording Corporation in St. Louis for one single as Fred and Bob and the Twilighters on Palms Records 16125, released in 1967. On the A-side, the band does an original song by Bob Harbur, “That’s the Way It’s Gotta Be”.

The flip is “Twistin’ St. Louis Blues”, arranged by Fred Palmer, with the artist listed as the Twilighters.

After the band split, Fred Palmer opened Palmer Music Education in Valley Park. Bob and John Harbur have since passed.

Thank you to Katie for help with this post.

Phase V “Opaque Illusions” on Title Records

Phase V Photo
The Phase V, as featured in an ad for Stripling’s Campus Thing Fashion Show, August, 1968

Phase V Title 45 Opaque IllusionsThe Phase V came from Fort Worth, TX, and cut a rare single, “Opaque Illusions” / “The Promise I Keep” on Title Records S-101.

Members of the band were:

Steve Lamb – bass, vocals
Mike Kersh – rhythm guitar, lead vocals on “The Promise I Keep”
Monte Kersh – lead guitar, vocals
Rick Eubanks – keyboards, lead vocals on “Opaque Illusions”
Jim Cardwell – drums, vocals

Rick Eubanks wrote “Opaque Illusions”. Kendall Publ Co. is on the label but I can’t find any registration of copyright. I haven’t heard “The Promise I Keep” yet.

First mention I can find of the band is a notice of the group playing a back to school fashion show on August 12, 1967, sponsored by Penneys.

Phase V Soul City Club Sept 16, 1967

On Labor Day, September 4, 1967, the Phase V opened for the Doors at the KFJZ Teen Mardi Gras Pop Music Festival at the Round Up Inn in the Will Rogers Complex. The festival lasted for nine days and featured a different headliner each day and many local groups. Headliners included the Seeds, Box Tops, Standells, Electric Prunes, McCoys and Grass Roots.

Also in September the Phase V played the new Soul City Club for teens at 2918 East Belknap.

Panther Hall’s Halloween Scene, 1967 with Phase V, Jades, Restless Set, and Sundown Collection

On October 31, 1967 they played Panther Hall’s Halloween Scene with the Jades, the Restless Set and the Sundown Collection, emceed by KFJZ DJ Stan Wilson.

Half an hour of footage from Panther Hall exists, I believe from this Halloween show. Unfortunately there’s only about 30 seconds of the Phase V tearing through Love’s “Seven and Seven Is”. I can recognize the white Gibson SG guitar from their band photo. However, in this clip, the bassist is singing lead vocals, and there is a second guitarist, so the lineup above may need some correction.

In February 1968, the Phase V played the Irving Teen a Go Go at the National Armory with the Crowd + 1 (Ed Grundy, Dean Parks, Nick Taylor and drummer Jim Rutledge).

Phase V play a narcotics seminar, April, 1968

The group played Irving Teen-a-Go-Go on April 12 with the Tyme of Day, and appeared at a teen narcotics seminar the very next day.

July and November 1968 saw the Phase V playing at the White Settlement Youth Club and Jolly Time Skating Rink Teen Scene.

I’ve seen the band’s name rendered online as Phase Five or Phaze V, but it is Phase V in the photo and in all newspaper notices I’ve found.

I’d like to know more about the Phase V and this rare record.

The Tyme of Day “Listen to What Is Never Said”

The Tyme of Day, from left: Robert Anderson, Chris Rogers and Shelby Rogers

The Tyme of Day came from Irving, Texas, northwest of Dallas.

Members were:

Shelby Rogers – lead vocals and guitar
Bob Anderson – bass
Chris Rogers – drums

I found this photo of the group in the April 7, 1968 Irving Daily News, announcing their appearance at the Irving Teen-a-Go-Go with the Phase V, the Glenda Harris Dancers and emcee Ralph Baker.

The group traveled to Norman Petty’s studio in Clovis, New Mexico several times, cutting Shelby’s original songs “I Wanna Know” and “Persuade Me” in March of 1968, In June they cut another original, “Listen to What Is Never Said”.

Norman Petty added keyboards, and “Listen to What Is Never Said” / “I Wanna Know” saw release on Mercury 72861 in November, 1968. Besides the Rogers brothers, session notes from https://www.norvajakmusic.com/t-v.html list Larry Shaw on bass, though it appears Robert Anderson played bass at some sessions.

The group made two further sessions at the Petty studio, cutting “Am I Really Me” / “The Word ‘Because'” in August, 1968, / “You Don’t Want Me” and “The Game” in March of 1969. All of these have remained unreleased.