Category Archives: Country

Odin (Ed Willman) – “Lost” and “I’m Out of Here”

October 12, 2006 Chris Bishop 7 Comments

Odin came from Sidney, Ohio, a one-man band and true outsider artist. His real name was Ed Willman and was known as Mike Willman. I’m not sure the extent of his recording, but he had two singles pressed by Columbia Records’s Chicago-office plant in Terre Haute, Indiana in the mid 1960s.

First came “Oh Why” / “True”, Odin singing two plaintive ballads accompanying himself on electric guitar, with a pause for each chord change. This single has a Columbia pressing code of ZTSC-107533/4. I’m not sure of the date, but maybe someone out there has a chart for dating Columbia pressings.

Odin has a more accomplished sound by the time of his next single, “Lost” and “I’m Out of Here”. His singing has improved and the instrumental backing of autoharp or guitar and snare drum is steady. The echo gives it an otherworldly sound. “Lost” was copyrighted with the Library of Congress in October 1966. This recording seems to be at least a couple years after “Oh Why” / “True”, with a Columbia code of ZTSC-12135/6.

Apparently this is the same Edward Michael Willman who was born on April 2, 1947 and died on December 24, 2007 in Daytona Beach. After serving in Vietnam, he studied mathematics at Wright State University and became a pilot. However, I would like to hear confirmation that this is indeed the same person.

Thank you to Mike Stuart for his comment below. Some information came from Edward Willman’s obituary.

Categories: California, Hollywood, Impression, Los Angeles

Impression Records discography

October 6, 2006 Chris Bishop 10 Comments

The Sloths Impression PS Makin' Love / You Mean Everything

I planned an entry on the Dirty Shames for their great “It’s A Shame” 45, but when I discovered the flip side, “Makin’ Love”, was a cover of an earlier 45 on the same label by the Sloths, I thought I may as well feature whatever I can find out about Impression. It turns out there were a good number of fine 45s on this Hollywood, California label run by two brothers, Al and Sonny Jones.

There were two sets of Impression releases, a first on a blue label with plain logo, and the second on yellow labels with the new, somewhat psychedelic Impression logo.

The Sloths Impression 45 Makin' Love On the blue label is the Sloths’ song “Makin’ Love”, which was covered by the Dirty Shames a year later. The Sloth’s version is far cruder, but both are fine perfomances. The Dirty Shames label gives writing credit to Hank Daniels. I had heard a rumor that the two bands shared some members, but Marty Wons from the Dirty Shames says this isn’t true. The Sloths record happens to be by far the rarest garage 45 on this label.

Update June 2011: I’ve included more on the Sloths on a separate page.

Of the releases on the yellow Impression label, first was a release by the Dillons, produced by Dorsey Burnette. See the Dillons’ entry for more on this release.

Next up is one that I hadn’t heard until recently. The Mark Five of San Bernadino featured brothers Danny and Jimmie Faragher, who released “I’m Through With You” b/w “I’Il Keep On Trying” on Impression 102 in 1965 before they went on to form the Peppermint Trolley Co. The Mark Five also recorded as the Intercoms and the C-Minors for Impression, as well as helping back Jimmy Robins on his great soul song, “I Just Can’t Please You”. See their entry for the full story on all four of these Impression releases.

The Tangents have the distinction of releasing two 45s on Impression, “Good Times” / “Till I Came Along” (Impression 105) in 1965, and “Hey Joe, Where You Gonna Go?” / “Stand By Me” (Impression 111) a year later. “Good Times” starts off like Heat Wave then gets very pop sounding. Their version of “Hey Joe” is one of the best. Like many 45s on this label it was arranged and engineered by Al Jones. Members were: Jim Janesick (Jim Janesich?) lead guitar, Bob Shelton rhythm guitar & lead vocals, Terry Topolski bass guitar and Warren Brodie drums.

Lonnie & the Legends backing Doye O'Dell — Lonnie & the Legends backing Doye O’Dell

Lonnie & the Legends Impression 45 I Cried Lonnie and The Legends recorded one of my very favorite songs on this label. “I Cried”/ “Baby Without You” (Impression 109) was released in Mar. 1966. Lonnie Grah’s niece Becky Lynn Ray sent me some photos of Lonnie and info about Lonnie & the Legends. The band was from Sylmar, California, near San Fernando. It may surprise the listener that they were actually more of a country & western band, performing on bills with many big names like Doye O’Dell, Joe and Rose Maphis and Lefty Frizzell, and were friends with early rock ‘n roll performers like Ritchie Valens and the Rivingtons of “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” fame.

Songwriting credits are George and Lonnie Grah, but Becky tells me “I Cried” was actually written by Lonnie and her mother, Nancy Grah, who was also in the group along with Donna Grah. Other musicians included Kenny Ray on bass and Gene Gunnels on drums, who was in Thee Sixpence just before they became Strawberry Alarm Clock, and then joined Hunger. (See SAC’s website.)

Lonnie & the Legends had other 45s:

Rev 1006: Lonnie & the Legends – “Penguin Walk” / “Crazy Penguin” (George Grah, Laucan Music BMI)
Danette Records: Lonnie & His Legends – “Cause I Love You” (Lonnie Grah, Nancy Grah, produced by George Grah) / ?

The Dirty Shames Impression 45 I Don't Care The Dirty Shames have one great double-sided 45, the garage classic “I Don’t Care” with the flip “Makin’ Love” (Impression 112) released Sept. 1966. Band members include Marty Wons and Bob Larson. Marty wrote a little to me, but hasn’t answered my responding emails. He wrote:

We recorded until we lost two members to the Vietnam war draft. Al Jones did the majority of the engineering with Sonny occasionally sitting in. By the way, the Sloths and the Dirty Shames were two different groups. No crossover members. We were given a copy of their record to create our version of Makin’ Love.

A discussion of the Grodes would take up a whole entry in itself. From Tucson, Arizona, they tried to break out to national success with some 45s released on California labels. Their most famous is the original version of “Let’s Talk About Girls”, covered by the Chocolate Watchband. Over a year later, they released “What They Say About Love” on Impression 114, but it made no mark at all. I don’t believe John Fisher of Current Records was part of Impression, but he may have been the connection for the Grodes single.

Impression discography (any help on finishing this would be appreciated)

Blue label series:

?? – (Impression 101)
Tommy Lee – If You See Me Cry / One of These Days (both written by Al Jones & Joe Osborn, produced by Al Born) (Impression 102)
Big Dave Washington & the Zensations with the Buddy Harper Orch. – You Stay On My Mind / Don’t Say We’re Through (Impression 103)
The Sloths – Makin’ Love / You Mean Everything (Impression 104)

Yellow label series with new Impression logo:

The Dillons – Simple Way of Living / Night Winds (Impression 101)
The Mark Five – I’m Through with You / I’ll Keep on Trying (Impression 102)
Teddy Durant – The Beast Of Sunset Strip / The Night Stalker (Impression 103)
Bob & Judy – We’ll Try It For Ourselves (Gregory Dempsey) / We’ve Got Something Going (Impression 104)
The Tangents – Good Times / Till I Came Along (Impression 105)
The C-Minors – Just a Little Feelin’ / Don’t Go (Impression 106)
The Intercoms – Unabridged, Unadulterated, Unextraordinary, Ordinary, Mediocre Unoriginality Blues / Please Try and Understand (Impression 107)
Jimmy Robins – I Just Can’t Please You / I Made It Over (Impression 108)
Lonnie & the Legends – I Cried / Baby, Without You (Impression 109)
?? – (Impression 110)
The Tangents – Hey Joe, Where You Gonna Go? / Stand By Me (Impression 111)
The Dirty Shames – I Don’t Care / Makin’ Love (Impression 112)
The Dirty Shames – Run and Hide / I Don’t Care (Impression 112 – white label promo only)
Jan Crutchfield – Front Door, Back Door / It’s Now (Impression 113) (both by Crutchfield and Fred Burch)
The Grodes – What They Say About Love / Have Your Cake and Eat It Too (Impression 114)

Thanks to Rich Strauss, Jason and Max for help with the discography. According to Rich, the Teddy Durant 45 has a couple of good novelty monster songs, and #113 is mediocre country. The Tommy Lee, Big Dave Washington and Jimmy Robins are r&b/soul releases, everything else is rock.

Categories: Ashland, Kentucky, Plato

The Outcasts – “Loving You Sometimes”

September 30, 2006 Chris Bishop 131 Comments

The Outcasts of Ashland, Kentucky, just over the West Virginia border turn in a fine mid-tempo ballad, “Loving You Somtimes”.

I recently heard from Al Collinsworth, vocalist and co-songwriter for the Outcasts. He filled me in on some questions I had about the band, including interesting background about the Plato label and about how “Loving You Sometimes” has become well known in funk and hip hop DJ circles.

I was in the Outcasts and remember the whole Plato experience. The Outcasts included Nick Wickware on drums (deceased); Dick Hall-Hawkins on bass (deceased); Ronnie Gibson on lead guitar; Ralph Morman and myself on vocals. I sang lead on “Lovin’ You”.
The Outcasts mostly played school parties, bars, the Hullabaloo Club in Huntington and we auditioned for Buddha Records in 1969. The group disbanded in 1969. We did manage to be an opening act for Neil Diamond one night.
Plato was originally intended to be an African-American music (Afrilachian) label. Dick Hall was the person who worked out the deal. Dick spent most of his life proving that Hawkshaw Hawkins was his father. Hawkshaw was a popular country star that died in a plane crash with Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas.
Plato wasn’t sure they wanted to sign us. We paid for the studio time and Plato pressed the records. We recorded the record in Cincinnati at Queen City Studios, the same day that the Mustangs recorded their song. We were all friends and it was a very good time for both bands.
The record received local airplay and got on the Billboard charts. The amazing thing is that Lovin You has been released 4 different times on 4 different labels. Plato was the original release.
A second release was with a compilation record along with ZZ Tops’ first release and The Allman Joys’ first release (Allman Bros). I don’t have a copy of this record. A third release was in 1984 with BFD records in Australia on a compilation called “Highs in the Mid Sixties Vol. 9 – Ohio”. The liner notes read, “A Zombies-influenced, moody punk sound from Cincinnati, not to be confused with 18 other groups called the Outcasts!”
A 4th release was done in 2002 by Arista Records Hip-Hop Artists, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist on the very popular “Product Placement” CD. Oddly, and I don’t know why, Loving You Sometimes is now a very popular hip-hop hit. Remixes have been done by DJ Shadow and DJ Ayres. LSD Phone Calls (a NYC hip-hop e-magazine wrote, “Maybe the perfect song. Garage psych dorks who hate this also hate the Zombies. Who hates the Zombies!?”
Ralph Morman later worked with the Joe Perry Project (Aerosmith) and Savoy Brown.
In 1972, I worked with Pre (ZNR Records) which was a Prog-Rock Band. I now have a self-titled release on CD Baby. I also play steel guitar and have a promo photo on the MSA steel guitar site in the SuperSlide section.
It seems that it took a long time for the song to become popular, but that’s always the opportunity for any recording. All I can say is why not?
Al Collinsworth

Terry Lowe replaced Nick Wickware on drums.

Thank you to Al Collinsworth for relating the history of the band, to Ronnie Gibson for the great photo at top and to jgtiger for the photo at bottom.

Categories: Plato, Point Pleasant, West Virginia

King James and the Royal Jesters

September 29, 2006 Chris Bishop 18 Comments

The Royal Jesters, left to right, on bottom: Art Thevenin; standing: Eddie Swann, Dee Thevenin, Mike Carlisle and Jack Simpkins, and David Anthony bottom right.

The old US Route 60 runs through Milton, West Virginia, home of the Plato label, which released at least three garage discs and a great funk 45 from 1966-68. Anything else on the label is completely unknown as far as I can tell. All of these 45s were produced by Ullom-Wiseman.

Since hearing from a couple of the bands on the label, I’ve split the post into this one on King James and the Royal Jesters, and separate ones on the Outcasts, the Satisified Minds, and the Kickin Mustangs. Or check out the complete set of posts on the Plato label.

One of my favorite records on this label is King James and the Royal Jesters “I Get a Feeling”. The swirling organ and lethargic vocals give it a haunted sound unlike any other garage song I can think of. The band came from Point Pleasant, WV, at the junction of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers.

Since my original posting, I’ve heard from the Dennis Thevenin, whose father Dee was lead singer of King James and the Royal Jesters. He told me that they recorded their 45 at King/Federal Studos in Cincinnati, Ohio, which thrilled them being the same studio James Brown used. They were only about 17 at the time, so they didn’t play many live shows.

Mike Carlisle, the keyboardist wrote “I Get a Feeling”. Mike Carlisle and D. Thevenin wrote the ballad on the flip, “Girl”, which became popular with homesick soldiers in Vietnam when a Point Pleasant recruit took the record overseas with him. Other members of the band were Willie Louis guitar, Butch Bright and David Anthony on bass, and Eddie Swan drums. Dee remembers a photo was taken of the band but he does not have it.

Thanks to Dale for the photo and caption!

Categories: Ascot, Bronx, New York, New York City

The Age of Reason “(Your Love Is Like a) Magnet” on United Artists

September 23, 2006 Chris Bishop 17 Comments

The Age of Reason Ascot 45 (Your Love Is Like a) Magnet The Age of Reason were five teenagers from the northern half of the Bronx: Kenny Dale on guitar, Sid Sheres lead guitar, Andy Adams bass, Alan Turner on vocals and Larry Russell, drums.

Larry Russell recalled:

Our original name was The Loose Ends but, when we recorded “Magnet” on 9/8/66, our manager decided to change our name (that night) because there had been another band with the same name that had a record deal before us. On that day we recorded four songs, the other two besides the single were “(It’s a) Dirty Shame”, which was going to be our follow-up single, and “Pride”, written by our producer and which, in our opinion, sucked.
TV host Clay Cole died on Dec. 18, 2010. He was a pal and great guy who presented my band in 1967.

United Artists released “(Your Love is Like a) Magnet” on its Ascot subsidiary in March of ’67. The song was written by the lead singer Alan Turner, who also penned a fine b-side, “I’m a Free Man” that surprisingly has never been comped or featured before. The 45 made local charts and gave the band the opportunity to appear on afternoon TV shows and open for bigger acts like the Box Tops and the Young Rascals.

The Age of Reason live at Palisades Park, Spring of '67 — Live at Palisades Park, Spring of ’67

“Dirty Shame” would have been a great follow-up, but UA wasn’t interested and it remained unreleased for over thirty years after the group broke up in 1968.

Thanks to Larry Russell for the photos and ad clipping.

The Age of Reason with Zacherley for the Disc-o-Teen Show, April 1967 — with Zacherley for the Disc-o-Teen Show, April 1967

Hal Jackson and Clay Cole emcee the Age of Reason and other acts at Palisades Park

Categories: Dutchess County, Giantstar, Hyde Park, New York, Poughkeepsie

The Mark IV on Giantstar

September 22, 2006 Chris Bishop 26 Comments

Mark IV, December 1965 from left: John Ackert, Emery Ruger, Eddie Gilroy and JJ Marino. All photos courtesy of Edward Gilroy

The Mark IV came from Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie, New York. The Mark IV released three 45s on the Giantstar label out of Mahopac, in Putnam County.

Eddie Gilroy on bass with his father and band manager Bob Gilroy. Likely taken at Papa Joe’s in Honesdale, PA

Members were:

John Ackert – lead guitar and keyboards
James Marino – guitar (known as JJ, and Jay on the photo card)
Conrad “Butch” Loreto – guitar (joined in 1966)
Edward Gilroy – bass
Emery Ruger – drums

Rae Ann Panzera – vocals at some live shows and on “Hey Girl”

Their first single was “Hey Girl (Won’t You Listen)”, a good folk-garage song written by John Ackert, b/w the instrumental “Sleepy”, written by Ed Gilroy and Jim Marino, released on Giantstar 404 in May, 1966.

“Don’t Want Your Lovin'” is the toughest song they cut, a crazed rave-up with plenty of furious strumming. Songwriting credits go to John Ackert, Butch Loreto, Emery Ruger and Ed Gilroy. The A-side, “Would You Believe Me” is fine too, written by Gilroy and Ackert, and released in October 1966 on Giantstar 405.

The Mark IV’s last single was “Churches and Houses”, written by Ed Gilroy and Donnie Herring, backed with “Please Don’t Go”, on Giantstar 406, from March, 1967.

All the singles list publishing by Jemel Publications, and a Product of Jemel Music Corp and “A JNR Production” – all owned by Raymond Meltzer.

On the Chuck McCann Show, from left: Emery, unknown girl, Chuck McCann (in back), Rae Ann Panzera, JJ Marino, Eddie, and John

In 2020 James Marino answered some of my questions about the Mark IV:

In 1964 John Ackert and I were classmates at Haviland Jr High in Hyde Park NY. Eddie Gilroy was attending FDR High in Hyde Park.
I had played with Ron Piccolo in the Revells. I also played in the Royal Coachman with Bobby Germano and William Paroli, both now passed. So at age 14 or so I was a seasoned vet.

Eddie with fans at Captain’s Cove in Carbondale, PA (Bob Gilroy’s hometown)

Ed Gilroy and I would hang out after school, trying to learn chords and songs on the guitar. I knew John but soon leaned of his music abilities. John and I sort of morphed into Lennon and McCartney right away. It just clicked and we fed off each other. Ed learned bass and we were off.
Next, drummer showman Emory Ruger from Poughkeepsie rounded out the group. The Mark IV was born. An older group of musicians named the Dirty Elbows were trying to court me away. We had such a good sound vocally I wouldn’t leave.
We started playing small venues, YMCA / CYO, firehouses etc. Bob Gilroy, Eddie’s father became our manager. Began to play larger venues with larger crowds both locally and out of town.

From left: Eddie, JJ Marino, John and Emery. Location possibly the LaGrange, NY firehouse. Photos courtesy of Edward Gilroy

Donnie Herring with Ed Gilroy's mother — Donnie Herring with Ed Gilroy’s mother

Some of these little towns in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, 800 to 900 kids would come to dance and listen. Strange as it may sound, it was like these kids were on delay. They had never seen anything like us. It sounds unbelievable they were wanting our autographs and trying to take pieces of our clothes. We were on cloud nine.

Mark IV and the Revells ad for What's It To Ya? Poughkeepsie — Mark IV and the Revells ad for What’s It To Ya? in Poughkeepsie

We appeared on a show called Teenage Dance Barn, what was then Channel 6 in Scehnectedy. We then appeared on Chuck McCann’s Puppet Show Channel 5 WNEW in NYC.
Some time later in ’65 our manager approached us with cutting a record, a little unknown record company in Mahopach, NY named Giant Star Records.
We found ourselves in the studio unprepared and with no material. So we proceeded to write “Hey Girl” in the studio and I played lead guitar on side b an instrumental called “Sleepy”, that I made up on the spot. It was very off-the-cuff and we should not have done it. We were sort of pushed before we were ready.

circa 1967: Butch Loreto kneeling on left, above him George Whitsell, then Emery Ruger, John Ackert and Ed Gilroy

Our manager billed us as “Giant Star Recording Artists” etc. Gigs were getting pretty good, $200 / $300 / even $400 each per gig. I left in 1966 for awhile, came back in late ’66 or early ’67, and left again. Came back in ’68, all the while personnel changed. Just wasn’t the same for me. I was a bit of a free spirit and a hard ass all in one. A great experience all in all, great friends.
After the original Mark IV broke up my brother Mike Gilroy (drums), Donnie Herring (singer, percussion), John Lockwood (guitar) and I (bass) started a new version of the Mark IV.
John Ackert passed at least 20 years ago. What great talent: great vocals / killer guitar / killer keys made the rest of us look good.
Emery Ruger drummer extraordinaire, killer showman, and a great guy passed over a year now [July 18, 2017]. Glad to have had them as band mates.
Eddie and I are still hangin’ in.
Love all, Jimmy “JJ” Marino

Mark IV, from left: JJ Marino, Emery, Rae Ann Panzera, John and Eddie

The first gig we ever played, the Friday dance at the local YMCA. From left: John, JJ Marino, Emery and Ed. Photo courtesy of Edward Gilroy

The Mark IV on stage, from left: Eddie, Emery, John and JJ Marino

Mark IV photo John Ackert and Butch Loreto — Later version of the Mark IV with George Whitsell and Butch Loreto

Categories: Cheer, Corona, New York, New York City, Queens, Rapa

The Go-Betweens

September 14, 2006 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Corona, Queens was the home of the Go-Betweens (not the 80’s Australian band), whose “Have You For My Own” was a minor sensation in 1965.

The repetitive chiming lead guitar, distortion on the rhythm, screams and an insistent drumbeat make song is a classic. It was written and arranged by one of the band members, Bob Brancati and produced by the band. “Knock Knock” has some funny lyrics about trying to get some sleep with a party raging above. The lead guitar stands out over a solid rhythm while Bob Brancati’s vocal puts the song over well.

The Go-Betweens came out of a group called the Shades who had a release “Cry Over You” / “The 5th of September” on Rapa in late ’64, and are rumored (incorrectly) to have cut another 45 (“Nowhere Man” / “Malaguena”) later on.

I knew nothing else about the group until Bob Brancati contacted me with the photos here:

The members of the Go-Betweens were: my brother Al Brancati (bass), Al Manaseri (vocals), Gene Olive (lead guitar), Charlie Russo (drums) and Bob Brancati (lead vocals, guitar). Every member of the group was from Corona. We all grew up in the same area, near the Lemon Ice King and what we called Spaghetti Park [William F. Moore Park, between Corona Ave, 51st Ave and 108th St.]
The Shades were the the earlier version of the Go-Betweens. We recorded “Cry Over You”, and “5th Of September”. We didn’t record “Nowhere Man”.
I had a vocal coach named Al Greiner, he had a friend, a nice young lady named Sandy Newman who became our manager. She got funding for our next few recordings. “Have You For My Own” and “Knock Knock” were written and produced by me. Some of the sounds were spontaneous by the band members. Sandy was able to get the record released by Cheer. However, we didn’t even know that it became popular in certain areas. She later brought in a well known music arranger named Lee Holdridge. We did a couple of songs arranged by him that were not released.
With Dion, from left: Mikey Botta, Dion DiMucci, Bob Brancati and Joe LoCicero, 1964
As far as gigs, we played in clubs and bars throughout NY, LI and NJ. We also eventually played opening for Johnny Maestro, and did weddings and parties all around the Tri-State area.
I am sending you two pictures. One is of the group at a gig. Another is one I took with Dion around 1964. I am on Dion’s left. The others used to hang with the us but they weren’t in the band, although they sang with us once in a while. They are Mikey Botta on Dion’s right, and Joe LoCicero on my left.
Also, Americana is my album. It can be located at CD Baby. There are also a few videos of songs from that album on YouTube under Bobby Brancati.

Categories: Bangalore, India, Madras

Simla Beat 70: The Confusions from Madras, and the Dinosaurs from Bangalore

September 8, 2006 Chris Bishop 98 Comments

Simla Beat 70, the Confusions and the Dinosaurs — Simla Beat 70 seven-inch with the Confusions and the Dinosaurs

For at least five years, from 1968 to 1972, a cigarette company in India sponsored a nationwide battle-of-the-bands competition.

In 1970 and 1971, the winners went to Calcutta to record for compilations called Simla Beat. One LP was released each year, with no info about the bands other than their hometown. In 1970 Simla Beat also released this 45 with two of the better tracks from that years album, and some florid liner notes on the back of the sleeve:

When I first read about Simla beat around 2002, some people commented that the recordings must have come from somewhere other than India, or that this was a hoax. However, it is now known that these are authentic Indian bands. It’s true that some groups have a similar sound, though this could be from sharing a studio and perhaps some instruments as well. Also, the bands lean heavily on American rock of the time and show very little British influence.

The Confusions from Madras cut this amazing original, “Voice from the Inner Soul”. It has a tough, heavy sound with a rudimentary beat, sharp bluesy guitar fills, and an organ sound right out of 1966.

I only know one name from the Confusions: Bala Ravi was lead vocalist.

The Dinosaurs, from Bangalore, contribute a fine cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Sinister Purpose”, giving Fogerty writing credit. This one has fine fuzz guitar and gravely vocals. I’d say it surpasses the original!

The Dinosaurs included Terence Michael on drums and Roy Letchu on guitar and vocals. In 1971 they released a single on His Master’s Voice ‎NE. 1012, “Dream Walking Mary” / “It’s A Dog Eat Dog World”, both originals by Letchu, with R.H. Outerbridge contributing the lyrics to “It’s a Dog Eat Dog World”.

My research so far turns up no other information about the groups on these releases. Hopefully people associated with these bands will come forward and fill us in on their stories.

Categories: Brooklyn, Cambridge, Decca, Massachusetts, New York, New York City

Groundspeed

September 1, 2006 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

A fine psych 45 with early touches of prog. I wondered if more of their work is hidden away on tape somewhere as they were obviously a talented band.

I knew almost nothing about Groundspeed until hearing from organ player and songwriter Bob Telson recently. I’ll let him tell their story in his own words:

I grew up in Brooklyn (born 1949) and had my 1st band, The Bristols, in ’65-6. We played about 6 gigs a month, school, church, temple dances, etc. (that being long before DJs), playing lots of Beatles, Stones, etc., and some of my tunes too. Our drummer, Mike Jacobs, was already playing sessions at 14- his father, Dick Jacobs, produced Jackie Wilson, Buddy Holly and many others. He got the Bristols in the Decca studios a few times, but wasn’t able to get us a contract.
I went away to Harvard, and put a band together at the end of freshman year, and Mike (who was still in high school in Brooklyn) and his dad arranged for us to cut a demo of 2 new tunes of mine, which with their psychedelic/Jefferson Airplane influence, were a far cry from the tuneful Beatles/Stones kinda tunes I wrote for the Bristols.
Mike played drums, Jesse Miller, who had the longest hair at Harvard, played guitar, Rick Scheuer, bass, and Ken Kyle sang. I played organ. We cut the sides the summer of ’67, got the record deal to record a 45 of those tunes, but never got it better than the original demos we had done, so that’s what they released. Unfortunately, we never got to play live as a band, as Jesse, my best friend, left school for a year to join VISTA in Appalachia.
The record finally came out in summer ’68, got some nice airplay locally, and that was the end of that. They edited out some more weird spacy sections for the record (I guess that was before Light My Fire made longer singles feasible). My next band at Harvard was the Revolutionary Music Collective, in which my sometimes Cliffie girlfriend Bonnie Raitt sang lead vocals. We played SDS parties, and did guerilla rave-ups.
Anyway, in brief, I moved to Manhattan, played with Phillip Glass from ’72-4, then played and wrote salsa (Tito Puente, Machito), gospel (5 Blind Boys), and R&B until I began working with theater director Lee Breuer, with whom I wrote The Gospel at Colonus for BAM in 1983, my 1st opportunity to get my music out into the world. Which led to other possibilities in theater and film (Bagdad Cafe being the most known). I’ve been living in Buenos Aires with my Argentine wife the last 4 years, and we just finished our 1st CD together (Isabel de Sebastian & Bob Telson; “TRIP”).

Categories: California, Capitol, Donna, Los Angeles, Revis

Love

August 18, 2006 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

Love montage of photos from Crawdaddy Here’s an overview of early recordings by members of Love, including Arthur Lee, Bryan MacLean and Ken Forssi who have passed away, and Johnny Echols who is thankfully still with us.

Before Love, Arthur Lee and Johnny Echols fronted bands or wrote songs for a series of 45s in a variety of styles, from surf to soul to pop, including a single as Arthur Lee & the LAG’s “The Ninth Wave” / “Rumble-Still-Skins” for Capitol.

Lee wrote the great soul song “My Diary” for Rosa Lee Brooks, recorded in early 1965. The flip is “Utee” an excellent upbeat dance number. This is also an early session for Jimi Hendrix (not his first, which was probably either with the Isley Brothers in early ’64, or with Don Covay in May of ’64).

Lee also wrote “I’ve Been Trying” for Little Ray.

Arthur wrote songs for Ronnie and the Pomona Casuals including “Everybody Do the Jerk” and “Slow Jerk”. He may be singing backup vocals as well. I used to think Arthur was singing lead on these songs, but that was probably mistaken, as lead vocalist Charles Lett was a very talented singer and other people have said he was singing on these tracks. I’ve come to believe Arthur partially modeled his vocal style on Charlie Lett, or at least on Curtis Mayfield.

The American Four just preceded Love’s first incarnation, which was known as the Grass Roots. With typical acerbity, Arthur wrote a dance song named “Luci Baines” after Lyndon Johnson’s homely daughter and called the label Selma. “Soul Food” is Arthur’s take on Booker T. and the MGs; he was born and raised in Memphis, Tennesee, home to Stax.

Following is was a selection of rare tracks by Love, most taken from the great bootleg Last Wall of the Castle. “Gazing” is one of my favorite tracks from the first lp. “It’s the Marlin, Baby” seems to have been recorded around the time of the American Four and was release on a Texas label under the Love name. Release date is uncertain, but it could have been after Love scored a hit with” My Little Red Book”

“7 And 7 Is” required over 80 tracks just to get the backing right! Vocals were recorded later. On these takes you hear the bluesy coda taking form as the band idly jams to relax after frantically tearing through the song. Arthur probably played drums (though some sources say Michael Stuart) on these takes, leaving the guitar to Johnny Echols and Bryan, with Ken Forssi on bass.

An instrumental take of “Your Mind and We Belong Together” showcases Johnny Echol’s lead. Arthur wrote “Feathered Fish” for fellow LA band the Sons of Adam. He recorded his own version in 1994, but it sounds like vintage Love.

Bryan MacLean’s contribution to Love is more important than most know, both in songwriting and in the distinctive sensitivity he brought to the band. There are several fine demos are from 1966, including “Orange Skies” and “Old Man” and strong originals like “Strong Commitment”. There’s also a great version of “Alone Again Or” from 1982. Bryan died in 1998.

Anyone not familiar with the band’s studio lps should definitely check out the first four: Love, Da Capo, Forever Changes, and Four Sail. Out Here and False Start also have good individual tracks, as does Arthur Lee’s solo lp Vindicator. For a different kind of tribute, see my next post on cover versions of Love songs.

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