Category Archives: Country

Categories: England

Alvin Robinson’s British tours of the 1960s

Leave a comment

New Orleans-based R&B singer and guitarist Alvin Robinson first toured Britain in spring 1966 after he was brought over by promoter Roy Tempest for a nationwide tour with fellow New Orleans stars, female vocal trio, The Dixie Cups.

It isn’t clear who the backing band was on this tour so we’d welcome further information from readers in the comments section at the end.

This isn’t a complete gig list for this tour

Tour dates:

23 April 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)

26 April 1966 – Zambezi, Hounslow, west London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)

30 April 1966 – Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex with The Dixie Cups and The Night People (Brighton Evening Argus/Melody Maker)

30 April 1966 – Cue Club all-nighter, Paddington, west London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)

 

4 May 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)

7 May 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester with The Dixie Cups and Steampacket (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Rod Stewart had left Steampacket by this point but they could have been the backing band

 

An article in the Bournemouth Evening Echo notes that local group The Bunch participated in a nationwide tour with Lee Dorsey, Edwin Starr, Ike & Tina Turner and Alvin Robinson in October 1966.

The Bunch in the Bournemouth Evening Echo which mentions touring with Alvin Robinson

None of the gigs listed below tally with the tour dates printed in the newspaper (see above image), however, other than the Leicester gig below on 21 October so it’s possible that The Bunch backed Alvin Robinson at this show.

According to Bryan Stevens, bass player with Bognor-Regis group, The Noblemen, who had previously backed The Vibrations on a Roy Tempest Agency tour in September 1966, The Noblemen backed Alvin Robinson on this second tour in 1966. He confirms that the band backed Edwin Starr at Granby Halls on 21 October and thought that another Tempest agency group, The Senate, might have backed Alvin Robinson, but it is possible that it was in fact The Bunch.

The rest of The Noblemen comprised Jimmy Marsh (lead vocals); Martin Barre (lead guitar/saxophone); Mick Ketley (keyboards/vocals); Chris Rodger (saxophone/trumpet); and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums). To confuse matters, The Noblemen changed name to (The) Motivation in early November 1966 while backing Robinson.

However, The Noblemen didn’t support Robinson on all of the dates below. Pip Williams, lead guitarist with west London band, The Sovereigns, says they backed Robinson on some of these tour dates and points to a photo of Robinson playing his guitar on stage. This is most likely the Whisky A Go Go in Wardour Street, a venue that Ketley says The Noblemen didn’t play.

Originally from Hillingdon, west London, The Sovereigns comprised Roy St John-Foster (vocals); Pip Williams (lead guitar); Mich Tomich (bass); Freddie Tillyer (sax); and Keith Franklin (drums).

After the Club Cedar gigs in Birmingham in early November, The Noblemen also started backing The Coasters on another Roy Tempest organised nationwide tour, so it’s likely that the Robinson shows from that point onwards featured different backing bands, although The Noblemen may have played the odd gig. We’d like to hear from anyone who can provide more information.

This isn’t a complete gig list for this tour

Tour dates:

21 October 1966 – Granby Halls, Leicester with Ike & Tina Turner Show, The Ikettes, Kings of Rhythm, Edwin Starr (with The Noblemen) and Family (Leicester Mercury) Backed by The Senate (or The Bunch)

22 October 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucestershire Echo/Gloucester Citizen) Most likely backed by The Noblemen

22 October 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Noblemen

23 October 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire with The Ziggy Turner Combo (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Most likely backed by The Noblemen

23 October 1966 (most likely date) – Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Malcolm Tomlinson’s recollections) Backed by The Noblemen

24 October 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Sovereigns, according to guitarist Pip Williams

25 October 1966 – Location, Woolwich, southeast London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by The Noblemen

Nottingham Evening Post, 4 November 1966, page 14

28 October 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham with The Noblemen (Nottingham Evening Post) Backed by The Noblemen. Nottingham Evening Post reviewed this show in the 4 November (page 14) issue and said the backing group was The Motivation (aka The Noblemen)

29 October 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Noblemen, Alan Bown Set, John McCoy’s Crawdaddies and Listen (Lincolnshire Standard) Backed by The Noblemen

29 October 1966 – Burlesque, Leicester (Leicester Mercury) Most likely backed by The Noblemen

30 October 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle).

31 October 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Sovereigns, according to guitarist Pip Williams

1-2 November 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Motivations (Birmingham Evening Mail) Backed by The Motivations (formerly The Noblemen)

5 November 1966 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire with Pinkerton’s Colours (Chester Chronicle) The Noblemen/Motivation were playing with The Coasters on this date so probably another backing band

5 November 1966 – Majestic, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) The Noblemen/Motivation were working with The Coasters on this date so probably another backing band

5 November 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with Herbie Goins & The Night-timers, Johnny Breeze & The Atlantics, The Sect, The Herb Set, The First Lites and The Interns (Liverpool Echo) This was probably another backing band and not The Noblemen/Motivation

We’d like to hear from anyone who can provide more information in the comments section below

Categories: Audition, New York, Rochester, Upstate New York

The Vaqueros from Rochester “Echo” / “Desert Wind” on Audition

Leave a comment
The Vaqueros, from left: Steve Corona, Tom Corona, Larry Weld and David Heath

The Vaqueros had the first release on the Audition Recording label out of Rochester, New York, “Echo” / “Desert Wind”. It hit local charts in early June, 1964 and received a review in Cash Box on June 13, 1964.

Audition Label Bows with “Echo” by the Vaqueros, Cash Box, June 27, 1964

The group registered copyright for “Echo” on June 15, 1964, music by Larry Weld (Laurence R. Weld), David Heath & Tom Corona (Thomas J. Corona). I haven’t yet found a copyright registration for “Desert Wind”.

Band members were:

Larry Weld – lead guitar
Tom Corona – rhythm guitar
Steve Corona – bass
David Heath – drums

The Vaqueros, from left: Larry Weld, Tom Corona, David Heath kneeling with drum sticks and Steve Corona with bass
Vaqueros in the Democrat And Chronicle, June 8, 1964

David Heath wrote a history of the band and provided the photos seen here.

In 1963 two 16 year old boys found an old guitar in the house attic in Rochester NY. Larry Weld, the older of the two, decided he would put strings on it and learn how to play. The other boy David Heath said he had a small pair of bongos, round metal tray mounted on a wood stand and a pair of drum sticks. Together they spent many hours trying to play songs they had heard on the radio.

One month later Larry had purchased his first electric guitar and Dave had purchased his first drum set and by this time both had learned several songs and were starting to make new songs of their own. Knowing they needed a rhythm background Dave and Larry asked another Charlotte High school student Tom Corona to join the group and decided on the name “The Vaqueros” for the band. About a month later we composed the song “Echo”. At this point we were starting to play at many parties and events.

Record review in Cash Box, June 13, 1964
Vaqueros with Al Cecere at WBBF Studio, June 25, 1964

Around 10 months after we first started playing we were asked to play for a Rochester business event and that was the first time we met Al Cecere who was just starting Audition Records. Al said he liked our band sound and said he would like us to make a record with his new company. We said we would and set up a date to record but we had two major problems to overcome.

1: We had no bass player in the band

2: We had no second side for the record

The first problem was resolved by asking Tom’s older brother Steve Corona to play bass. He agreed and he purchased a bass guitar. Then Tom and Larry showed him what notes to play so we could make the record. The second problem was resolved by rapidly (in one day) composing the song “Desert Wind”.

The Vaqueros (and Al Cecere in back) with the Letterman, Niagara
The Vaqueros opened for the Lettermen at Niagara Falls Memorial Arena, July 11, 1964

The Vaqueros in Cash Box, July 18, 1964
After the song was released and hit #1 on the Rochester and surrounding radio stations we had steady play dates in many venues. We had interviews on radio stations, band picture signing dates, photos and release info in Cashbox, and we were the opening act for The Lettermen in Niagara Falls Canada.Within the next month we wrote and (on acetate demo record) recorded our next two songs to be released “Whiplash” and “Our Lost Love”. Al Cecere was setting up for us to open for The Beach Boys.

Just as things were going very well for the Vaqueros the dark side of this business began to show its face. Al Cecere never informed the band of any record sales and stopped supporting us. He had moved on.

With communication with Al Cecere heading downhill, everything slowed and we were all around 18 years old at this point. Life took over and the band started to split. Larry, Dave and Steve went on to other Rochester bands and Tommy married and started a family. We never played together again but do remain friends. Tommy passed away in 2025.

The Vaqueros and the Tweeds at Teen Town, Kenmore, NY, October 1965

The Vaqueros recorded other songs that went unreleased at the time that now exist on lacquer “acetate” or second-generation tape; a few very effective instrumentals that were ready for release and others that were in progress.

“Whiplash” has an excellent ‘wet’ surf sound I did not find a copyright registration for this one.

“Daybreak” is a spirited vamp with excellent lead guitar from Larry Weld and agile drum fills from David Heath. The group registered it as “Daybreaks” on February 25, 1965, with copyright to the full band including Steve Corona.

“Our Lost Love” is a slower ballad, registered on July 1, 1965 to the four members of the group.

Thank you to Dave Heath for his help with this article and for letting me hear the unreleased songs.

Categories: New York, Pelham, Ren-Vell, Westchester

Interview with Jim Klieforth of the Traits

Leave a comment
The Traits, 1967, from left: Bob Creaturo, Bobby Williams (on drums), Mike Carroll, Phil Daddona, Jim Klieforth (on keyboard, obscured) and Artie Williams. Photo from Mike Carroll, courtesy of his family.

I corresponded with Jim Klieforth of the Traits in 2009, about a year after writing about them in some detail in regard to the Ren-Vell Records Battle of the Bands LP. Below is our conversation from that time.

Jime Klieforth: My late brother [Charles Klieforth] was a bit of a wheeler-dealer who wasn’t musical but wanted to be in the rock business in some capacity, nurturing a fantasy of being an impresario. I’d been playing guitar and keyboards for a couple of years and our family home had an empty basement that was suitable for a group to rehearse in, so he sweet-talked me and the best musician-singers he knew into forming a group with him as manager. I’d never met any of these guys but was very impressed with the line-up’s talent and professionalism.

Back then, a group needed to have a couple of hours of material well rehearsed for public performances and we had enough musical common ground to pull that together within two weeks. My brother Chuck and his assistant, Don Reid, started aggressively pursuing work for the band and getting us publicity. Almost overnight, we were playing every local venue and from then on out, our rehearsals were jammed with our local contemporaries (mostly schoolgirls) eager to monitor our development. It was an odd and unexpected social change for all of us.

I wish I could say that we were friendly with other bands at that time but the truth is that we saw all of them as competition that needed to be vanquished. The Orphans, for example, who didn’t shine on the Renvell record, turned into a force to be reckoned with when Bobby Mayo (later of Peter Frampton fame) joined up.

We’d had a real advantage by starting out with a good rhythm section and an extraordinary guitarist (Dom Chicerchia, who left the band just before the Ted Mack show we did) but our competitors began acquiring skills at a pace that caused us to get very serious about playing well and refining all aspects of our performance. In an unfortunate reversal of what usually happens, the only recordings of the band were from very early on, before we really developed musically.

I was born in White Plains. Jimmy Carpenito of the Mystics told me Renvell’s studio was next to Gun Town on Central Ave, a store I vaguely remember from my childhood. Hard to believe there was a recording studio on Central Ave! I’m in Brooklyn, now, but my family’s still in White Plains and Yonkers.

As I recall it, Renvell was a second floor walkup, a big room that struck me, even then, as being quite low budget, a shoestring operation with cheap and/or antique equipment. Given how few records carry the Renvell label, I have to assume that most of their business was geared to commercial jingles for local businesses and radio play. I ran into the guy who ran it (I believe his name was Joe Renda) years later, when he owned Northlake Studios in White Plains.

I reminded him of the album and told him I’d been on it and he replied with a story that I thought at the time was an overblown fabrication. According to him, a couple of big DJ’s in England had fallen in love with the Battle of The Bands album and by repeatedly featuring it, had cultivated the development of the garage band sound there, setting the stage for punk. As he told it, the album was selling for $200.00 a pop there (in 1980 dollars) and “High On a Cloud” had received extensive airplay. It turned out that he’d been telling the truth, and the song became known well enough to end up being covered by the Pandoras. Since then it has been put on more compilations than I’ve been able to keep track of. In what is a common story about recordings of that era, no request for usage in these compilations has ever been requested from the band and no compensation has ever been forthcoming. Some of my former band mates are unhappy about this, but personally, I’m delighted that the recording has been archived and perpetuated as a minor archetype of the true garage band sound.

Traits to appear on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour on Sunday, September 17, 1967

Q. When Dom left the band, who replaced him for the Ted Mack show, playing guitar behind his neck on the film?

That was Phil Daddona, who had to attempt to learn Dom’s “behind the neck” trick very quickly.  As you can see from the film, he wasn’t particularly adept at it, whereas Dom had been the pre-Hendrix master of it.

Jim Klieforth (2009)

The Traits on “High on a Cloud”:

Mike Carroll – lead vocals
Dom Chicherchia – lead guitar
Jim Klieforth – keyboard
Bob “Creature” Creaturo – guitar
Bobby Williams – drums
Unidentified bass player

The Traits on Ted Mack (July 31, 1967, aired Sept. 17, 1967):

Mike Carroll – lead vocals
Phil Daddona – lead guitar
Jim Klieforth – keyboard
Bob “Creature” Creaturo – guitar
Bobby Williams – drums
Artie Williams – bass

The band seems to have slowly split up, as Mike Carroll was drafted in ’68, but must have come back at some point to be the lead vocalist on the Nobody Loves the Hulk release, from 1969.

Bobby Williams reportedly died some years ago, details are unknown. Three other Traits members have passed: Bob Creaturo on September 12, 2014, Mike Carroll on March 15, 2018, and Dom Chicherchia on August 24, 2021.

The Traits at the entrance to the Pelham Parkway IRT station (the 5 train)

More info can be found in the accompanying booklet to the Mojo-Bone release and Ugly Things #66.

Categories: Kennett Sound, Kennett Sound (Kinderhook NY), Kingston, Lake Katrine, New York, Ulster County

The Psychedelic Sound “Sorry Baby – Goodbye” / “Stars Cease to Shine” on Sunny-Side

Leave a comment
The Psychedelic Sound, January 1968, front left: Linda Lizzi and Tina Bauer, back from left: Jim Schelley, Ronnie Amato and Tom Berger. Not pictured: bassist Kevin Kerr.

The Psychedelic Sound were one of the bands who recorded at Earl Kennett’s studio in Kinderhook, New York.

Psychedelic Sound Kennett Sound Studio Acetate 45 Sorry Baby Goodbye
Lacquer with both songs of the Psychedelic Sound 45
The band released two original songs, “Sorry Baby – Goodbye” / “Stars Cease to Shine” on Sunny-Side Records 0014, Sunnyside being the name of the Kennett family’s horse farm where the studio was located.

Members included:

Linda Rizzi – vocals
Tina Bauer – drums
Jim Schelley – guitar
Ronnie Amato – vocals and keyboards(?)
Tom Berger – guitar
Kevin Kerr – bass

Psychedelic Sound Daily Freeman 1968 Feb 22
plans include making another record
The Kingston Daily Freeman reported on January 22, 1968 that: “the Psychedelic Sound would take part in the annual March of Dimes benefit show Jan. 28 at municipal auditorium. They recently cut two successful platters, Sorry Baby – Goodbye and Stars Cease to Shine.”

A Daily Freeman notice from July, 1968 remarks:

The Psychedelic Sound, a five-piece musical group consisting of teenagers from Kingston and Lake Katrine, won the Battle of the Bands, sponsored by the Saugerties JayCees, which was held July 3 at Cantine Field.

The group has played for many benefits including the American Legion, Band Battles and Cerebral Palsy, and are under the direction of Mary Rizzi, Lake Katrine.

Mary Rizzi, presumably Linda’s mother, is also credited as producer of the 45, as M. Lizzi. The band probably broke up as Linda Rizzi and presumably others were attending college in the fall.

After the Psychedelic Sound, Kevin Kerr is mentioned as the bassist for the Contemporary Souls, in a photo that ran in the Daily Freeman showing guitarists Jim Kluepfel and Guy Walker with drummer Ted Blankschan for a YMCA/YWCA/Kingston Recreation dance on Dedrick Street in August, 1968.

Ronnie Amato played organ at the Cedar Grove Inn in Saugerties and Liguori’s Restaurant in Rosendale.

Tina Bauer had previously been in another local group called 3 Hits and a Miss with a photo that ran in the Daily Freeman in September, 1966 for a dance at Ulster Park Grange Hall.

3 Hits And A Miss, from left: Sal Greco, lead guitar; Tony Greco, vocalist, Tina Bauer, drummer and Al Pace, rhythm guitar

Thank you to Achille Brunet for tracking down the news clips seen here. Achille has his own site, Strange Lights to cover other bands of this period.

There used to be a dozen such blogs and sites going to cover ’60s ‘garage’ music, but the number of active ones has dwindled in recent years. I hope more start up, because there are too many bands from this era whose history is still undocumented.

Categories: Hampton, Hampton Roads, Newport News, Virginia

The Wild Kingdom, Hampton and Newport News, Virginia

Leave a comment

The Wild Kingdom: John Etheridge (drums), Glen (Robbie) Robertson (bass), Bruce West (vocals), and Mike Johnstone (guitar)

Many is the time I’ve had a lead on a band that is obscure to me, which then gets forgotten in the avalanche of emails and comments I received from this site over time. I apologize for not following up in a timely manner.

Steven S. wrote to me a long time ago, 2008, about the Wild Kingdom, and though I corresponded with him, I neglected to post about the band, probably because they didn’t have any records to their name. Only recently have I noticed the connections to other bands such as the Mustangs and the Back Door, so I’ll add the photo and info he sent to me so long ago.

The Wild Kingdom were from the Peninsula (Hampton, Newport News) and used to play on the Southside at all the usual teen clubs.

The Swinging Machine and the Wild Wild Kingdom, at Hullabaloo, Newport News Daily Press, June 1968
The band personnel were: John Etheridge (drums), Glen (Robbie) Robertson (bass), Bruce West (vocals), and Mike Johnstone (guitar). Johnstone was an extremely gifted player who enjoyed considerable acclaim among area musicians.  Etheridge and Robertson wove a tightly solid sound, more like an R&B rhythm section than one might have expected from a hippie band in those days.  West was a versatile singer and quite the showman. 

At one point, they hooked up with Keith (of “98.6” fame) and toured as his backup band for awhile.  They later morphed into “The Back Door” and continued playing at local clubs until they scattered to join various other local groups.  They were the great unknowns in those days, being somewhat eclipsed by Swingin’ Machine. However, they were outstanding players and didn’t pay lip service at all to the “blue-eyed soul” genre that ruled the area back then. Their manager, Jim Tatum, also handled Bill Deal & the Rhondells – go figure!

Wild Kingdom and Back Door were a huge influence on many of us Southside garage punks.  We ranked them above Swingin’ Machine, partly because they didn’t cover any radio hits, but mostly because they were the better band.

I don’t remember Wild Kingdom/Back Door surviving beyond 1969. At that time, Bruce West injured his leg in a motorcycle mishap and “retired” from the music scene. Robbie Robertson likewise dropped off the radar about then.  Mike Johnstone & John Etheridge continued performing with various other area groups until at least the mid 1970’s. Some of the bands I recall were “Headstone Circus”, “Rooth”, “The Dubonettes”, and “Hot Cakes”.

To my knowledge, there are no recordings of the Wild Kingdom.

Jerry Harden published a brief memoir about Barnie’s in Buckroe Beach, VA that mentioned some of the bands I’ve covered, including Adrian & the Sinsations and Danny and the Delnotes. About the Wild Kingdom, he lists an additional member, Ray Witham, and writes that Robby Robinson [sic]: “was arrested on stage for wearing a sword as part of his costume”!

Categories: Hampton, Hampton Roads, Virginia

The Rogues and the Back Door, Hampton VA bands pre-Headstone Circus

Leave a comment
Steve Monaco and Bob Schlagel of the Back Door, 1967

Tina Monaco sent in these photos of the Rogues and the Back Door, two Hampton Virginia bands that didn’t make records but would have at least two members who would go on to Headstone Circus: Mike Johnstone on guitar and Bob Schlagal on bass.

The Rogues 1965-66, Hampton VA, from left: Tommy Clark, Bob Schlagal, Jimmy ?, Jerry ?, and Steve Monaco.

The Rogues ran during 1965 and 1966, and included:

Jerry ? – lead vocals
Tommy Clark – lead guitar
Jimmy ? – rhythm guitar
Bob Schlagal – bass
Steve Monaco – drums

The Back Door existed circa 1967 and included:

Bruce West
Mike Johnstone – guitar
Robbie Robertson
Bob Schlagal – bass
Steve Monaco – drums

Bruce West, Mike Johnstone and Robbie Robertson were also in the Wild Kingdom in 1968.

Tina wrote to me in 2025:

I am Tina Monaco, sister of Steve Monaco. He was a drummer for an incarnation of several bands from the 60s. The bands would practice in our garage at our residence on Big Bethel Road.

We were kids of a career Air Force father and our family retired in 1968 in Miami, Florida. Steve went on from there to marry his Lakenheath American High School sweetheart from our earlier days 1963-1965 in England. He became a commercial airline pilot for major airlines. He and Nancy are retired living in Arizona. I am retired as well, living in Lake Worth Beach Fl.

The Back Door, 1967 from left: Bruce West, Bob Schlagal (at top), Mike Johnstone, unidentified in white shirt, and Robbie Robertson at far right. Steve Monaco drummer not pictured.
Categories: California, Hayward, Union City

The Powers of Darkness from Union City, CA

Leave a comment
The Powers of Darkness from left: unidentified, Dave Moreno, Anthony Anchundo, Dave Perry and unidentified. Photo taken at Southland Mall in Hayward
Eric Burdon of the Animals with Dave Moreno of Powers of Darkness

The Powers of Darkness came from Union City, CA though in at least one contemporary news notice they’re listed as from Hayward.

Members included:

Dave Moreno – bass and vocals
Dave Perry – drums
Tony Anchundo – rhythm guitar and vocals

It’s possible Sal Saccardo from the Just VI replaced Dave Perry on drums at some point. Candelario ‘Candy’ Moreno managed the group.

The Powers of Darkness played shows in Newark, Fremont and Hayward at the roller rink on Mission Blvd, and a senior prom at Gonzales Union High School in the Salinas Valley.

Their most well-publicized show was the Spotlight ’66 concert on November 25, 1966 at Logan High School in Union City with Mel Carter, the Just VI and the New Chessmen, M.C.’d by Johnny Holliday of KYA.

The group took part in a televised event in Modesto, but that seems to be lost. Unfortunately, the band did not make it into a recording studio.

Dave Moreno’s son Aaron recalls his father meeting Eric Burdon and the Animals when they were touring in the Bay Area and Eric accepting an invitation for dinner at my grandparents home in Union City.

Categories: England

Bob & Earl’s May-June 1969 British tour

Leave a comment
Advert in Record Retailer May 1969

Most famous for writing and recording the original version of “Harlem Shuffle”, Los Angeles soul duo Bob & Earl toured Britain in the spring of 1969.

Guitarist Ged Peck, who previously played with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound among many others, says his group Storm backed the duo on this British tour, although they are not listed on the dates below.

Formed around November 1968, Storm comprised Ged Peck (lead guitar); Tony Dangerfield (bass); Peter Jennings (keyboards); and Pete Phillips (drums).

Photo: Ged Peck. Left to right: Pete Phillips, Ged Peck, Tony Dangerfield and Peter Jennings

This is not a complete gig list

Bob and Earl tour dates Record Retailer, 21 May 1969, page 11

Tour dates:

3 May 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with First Back from Heaven (http://www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

3 May 1969 – Winsford Civic Hall, Winsford, Cheshire with Almost Young (Runcorn Guardian/Winsford Chronicle)

17 May 1969 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire (Winsford Chronicle)

18 May 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

23 May 1969 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

24 May 1969 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

24 May 1969 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

25 May 1969 – Casino Club, Bolton (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

25 May 1969 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Inez & Charlie Foxx (Derby Evening Telegraph) Starts at midnight

26 May 1969 – Club Cedar, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

26 May 1969 – Oakengates New Town Hall, Oakengates, Shropshire with Swing Ensemble (North Shropshire Journal)

27 May 1969 – Top Rank Ballroom, Croydon, south London (Record Retailer)

29 May 1969 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

29 May 1969 – Rainbow Suite, Co-op, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

 

1 June 1969 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk plus good supporting group (Norwich Evening News)

Photo: Ged Peck. Storm with Earl

5 June 1969 – Rainbow Suite, Co-op, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

7 June 1969 – New Century Hall, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

8 June 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

11 June 1969 – Top Rank Suite, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

After the band broke up, Jennings subsequently joined Cressida while Peck played with Marsha Hunt and Warhorse among others.

Categories: Houston, Label, Orbit Records, Texas

The Rebellers “The New Generation” on Orbit Records

Leave a comment
The Rebellers in the 1968 Milby High Valentines Varieties show, from that year’s yearbook. From left (please correct if these IDs are wrong): John Manlove, David Rodriguez, James Manlove and Jeff Gray

The Rebellers came from the Houston, Texas metro area, recording James Manlove’s original song “The New Generation” for Orbit Records 1114 in the summer of 1967.

Members included:

James Manlove – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
John Manlove – keyboards and vocals
Jeff Gray – bass guitar and vocals
David Rodriguez – drums

The flip, “The Common People” was written as “Love of the Common People” by the prolific songwriting team, John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins.

Early versions of the Cicadelic compilation Three O’Clock Merrian Webster Time included “The New Generation” mistakenly attributed to the Nomads but with the correct writing credit. This has led some website to include James Manlove as a member of the Nomads, which I believe is incorrect.

The Rebellers featured in the Houston Post nowsounds calendar, November 19, 1967

The November 19, 1967 Houston Post nowsounds calendar ran a photo of the Rebellers.

From a photo in the 1968 Milby High School Yearbook, the Rebellers played Milby High School’s Valentines Varieties show that year.

According to his Discogs profile, David Rodriguez was a member of the group, but a commentator on youtube listed the drummer as “Pete”.

Gig list compiled from the Houston Post nowsounds calendar and other news items:

September 20, 1966: there’s a notice of the Rebellers at a benefit with Jack Jones, Garry Mann, the Bachelors and Tommy Graham at the Gulfgate Cellar Club, but that may be a little early for this band, whose frequent gig listings start in May, 1967.

Friday, May 19, 1967: at Insight Au Go Go, 12826 Beaumont Highway 90
Friday, May 26 and Saturday May 27, 1967: at Lions Club Hall, Friendswood, Highway 518
Saturday, June 3, 1967: at Grand Prix, Bay City
Tuesday, June 13, 1967: at Conroe Ballroom, Gladstell West off 45
Friday, June 16, 1967: at the Dungeon in Spring
Saturday, June 17, 1967: at Sea Isle Teen Dance in Galveston
Tuesday, June 20, 1967: at Love Street Light Circus
Wednesday, June 21, 1967: at Hullabaloo
Tuesday, June 27, 1967: at Conroe Ball Room
Saturday, July 1, 1967: at Insight Au Go Go
Saturday, July 15, 1967: at Sea Isle Teen Club, Galveston
Saturday, July 22, 1967: at Buddy McGregor Saturday Show, Foley’s Town Hall
Wednesday, July 26, 1967: at Fun Corral, 9801 Airline
Saturday, July 29, 1967: with the Entire Thing at Sea Isle, Galveston
Friday, August 18, 1967: at the Vault, Pasadena
Saturday, August 19, 1967: at Deer Park Civic Center
Wednesday, August 23, 1967: at Carousel Skating Rink, 9190 Old Katy Road
Thursday, August 24, 1967: at KNUZ back-to-school festival at Sharpstown Center
Friday, August 25, 1967: at Teen Hall, Bryan TX
Saturday, August 26, 1967: at Ken Grant Show, Sharpstown Shopping Center 2 PM, and Insight Au Go Go, Beaumont Highway
Friday, October 6, 1967: at Teen Hall, Bryan
Friday, October 20, 1967: at Lodge Pokrok, 15th and Beall
Saturday, November 4, 1967: at Lions Club, Pearland
Saturday, November 11, 1967: at Kerwin High School, Galveston
Friday, November 17, 1967: with Lemon Fog, Soul Searchers, Duke & the Kingsmen, and the Inquisitions at San Jacinto High School Soul Spectacular
Saturday, November 18, 1967: with Audio Manifesto at Mount Carmel High
Wednesday, November 22, 1967: at Brenham Hanger Club
Friday, December 15, 1967: at the Vault, Pasadena
Saturday, December 2, 1967: at Taylor Hall, Pasadena
Saturday, December 23, 1967: at Nottingham Forest Country Club
Friday, January 12, 1968: at Lodge Pokrok
Saturday, January 27, 1968: at Milby High School
Saturday, February 10, 1968: at Love Street Light Circus
February ?, 1968: Milby High School’s Valentines Varieties show
Friday, March 22, 1968: at the Vault, Pasadena
Friday, April 19, 1968: at Teen Hall, Dickinson
Saturday, May 4, 1968: with Ninth Street Bridge, Lemon Fog, Apollos at Taylor Hall, Pasadena
Saturday, June 8, 1968: Jamaica Beach, Galveston
Friday, June 21, 1968: at Lodge Pokrok
Saturday, June 29, 1968: at Sea Isle, Galveston
Saturday, July 20, 1968: at DERA Hall, Orange
Friday, August 2, 1968: at the New Vault, Pasadena

Categories: Dallas, Denton, Texas

The Misfits “No One Else” / “Route 66” on Repent

Leave a comment

This group of Misfits came out of Dallas and North Texas State University in nearby Denton. They cut a fine original folk-rock song, “No One Else” backed with a good version of “Route 66” on Repent 520 in August, 1966.

This was not the same Misfits who became the Lost and Found. The Misfits who became Lost & Found were from Houston, and, according to an old interview with Jim Frost, never played in Dallas, and never recorded as the Misfits.

This news clipping shows all the members’ names are different than any in the Lost & Found.

The Dallas News ran a photo of Joe Daughtery, the writer of “No One Else” performing with the Misfits and a short article on the group:

If you drive around the shore of White Rock Lake on almost any Sunday afternoon, you’ll come to a brown-rock picnic building where a controlled riot seems to be getting out of control.

But ask any of the mob of teen-agers standing and jumping around and you’ll be assured it’s really just a Sunday concert in the park.

The picnic building has grown in the last few years into a kind of proving ground for the detonations of ambitious and un-shy teen-age combos.

Sunday a sign in front of the band said: “The Misfits. Open for engagements. Call FL2-4046.”

But when the Misfits began blasting something called “Dirty Water,” the sign disappeared in a flood of weaving and bobbing couples.

…

“We get a lot of engagements this way,” said Joe Daugherty, the 21-year-old guitarists and singer who runs the Misfits. “A fellow from a fraternity just asked us to play a party.”

Daugherty and two other Misfits – drummer Rick Price, 22, and bass guitarist Mark McLane, 20 – are North Texas State University business students. Lead guitarist Jim Adkins, 23, works in a Dallas bank.

“We cut a record of a couple of my songs but nothing much happened,” said Daugherty.

Hundreds of kids sometimes mob the picnic building. Nobody seems to be in charge or worried about the noisy blowout. Policemen stop and watch a bit then move on …

Like any musician, Daugherty observed, “The acoustics are pretty bad in that building. Sometimes it gets kind of deafening.”

The Bitter Ende. Joe Daugherty holding guitar at left. Other members unknown – can anyone help with IDs?

The Bitter Ende to play at TCU Tech Stop, November 1967. Same group?
Joe Daugherty formed another group called the Bitter Ende, but I don’t have any info on the membership of that group.

Thank you to Patrick Daugherty for contacting me about his father’s band, and sending in the news clipping and photo of the Bitter Ende.