Category Archives: Country

Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lancaster, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Sigma Sound Studios (Philadelphia)

The Riders of the Mark and John Hill

March 25, 2019 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

In November 1967 a single by the Riders of the Mark came out on 20th Century Fox Records 45-6694. One side is the very accessible “Gotta Find Somebody”; the flip is the wild two minutes of “The Electronic Insides and Metal Complexion That Make Up Herr Doktor Krieg”.

Teen Beat Mayhem lists locations of Moorestown, New Jersey which is east of Philadelphia, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, over an hour’s drive to the west.  

The Riders of the Mark may have been a real group, but the credits on their 20th Century Fox single don’t support that idea, and instead point to John Hill, Don Cochrane and their associates.

John Hill wrote “Gotta Find Somebody”; John Hill and Don Cochrane wrote “The Electronic Insides and Metal Complexion That Make Up Herr Doktor Krieg”. Blackwood Music published both songs, and the Blackwood connection features in the lead for news items on the recording in Cash Box and Record World. Tony Luis and John Hill produced both sides, and Hill arranged “… Herr Doktor Krieg”.

Riders of the Mark Record World 1967 November 4 — Record World, November 4, 1967

John Hill and Don Cochrane composed “Love, Love, Love, Love, Love” for the Nite People, also done by Wool, and John Hill released it under his own name on a Columbia 45 backed with “I’m a Bear”.

Hill produced and played guitar on Margo Guryan’s 1968 LP Take a Picture, and produced the sessions that would be released as Susan Christie’s Paint a Lady. Studio musicians included Kirk Hamilton on bass and Jim Valerio on drums. These were done at Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios, but since that studio opened in 1968, I have to assume the Riders of the Mark single was recorded elsewhere.

In 2009, Finders Keepers Records released some of his 1970 sessions at Sigma Sound as John Hill’s 6 Moons of Jupiter.

John Hill Riders of the Mark Cash Box 1967 December 2 — Cash Box, December 2, 1967

Categories: D'Arcy Sound Studios (Norfolk), Hampton, Sounds International, Virginia

The Nite Liters “Set Me Free”

March 18, 2019 Chris Bishop 7 Comments

Nite Liters Photo — The Nite Liters horn section at D’Arcy studio, from left: George Resto, Harrel Baker and Danny Kelly.

Don Faulk and Harrel Baker wrote the A-side of the Nite Liters excellent single on Sounds International 631, “Set Me Free”. D’Arcy Sounds Studios‘ publishing company Twenty Grand Music belatedly registered copyright on over 20 songs including “Set Me Free” on April 3, 1968. Since this seems to be the earliest release on Sounds International, the single likely dates a year or two earlier.

Danny Kelly of the Nite Liters wrote to me about the group and sent the photo seen above:

I did play trumpet with the Nite Liters along with George Resto and Harrel Baker on sax and also rhythm guitar. Bobby Schnell on drums, Joe Fromel on keyboards and vocals, Donnie Faulk on bass and vocals, and Steve Keith on lead guitar filled out the rest of the band.
We all went to Hampton High School. Danny and the Del Notes went to Newport News High School which was a real rivalry in every sense.
We recorded an original titled “Set Me Free” and covered “The Harlem Shuffle” in D’Arcy Studio around the time Danny and the Del Notes did their record. We were both on the Sounds International label. Our 45 aired locally on AM and played on a few juke boxes. We only had 500 copies made.
Before George and I were recruited into the band, the Nite Liters played in the battle of the bands at the Peninsula Auditorium.
I remember playing with Dennis and the Times at the Peppermint Beach Club in Virginia Beach. The best times were when we were the house band at the Hullabaloo Club in Newport News, Va. We even tried getting into some psychedelic music there. That was really crazy.
There were other good times like when a couple of members including myself went down to North Carolina to get a dj Russ Spooner to play a demo tape on the air. We recorded that also at D’Arcy studio.
As of right now, we’re all still alive and kicking. Steve, Bobby and myself are the only ones still in the area. George and Joe are up in northern Va., Donnie’s somewhere out west and Harrel is music director with a group in Hawaii. He was a surfer back when we were at Hampton High School. I’m retired from the USPS.
Danny Kelly, March 2019

Categories: Farrall Records, Kentucky, Louisville

The Dynamics “Later On” Farrall Records

March 16, 2019 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

The Dynamics were from the west side of Louisville, Kentucky, and cut a great instrumental single from 1962 or 1963 on Farrall Records.

Jerry Hargrove wrote the A-side, “Later On”, which starts out with a solemn intro for 15 seconds then kicks into high gear with a driving guitar riff and growling saxophone. That slow intro was cut when this song appeared on a volume of Strummin’ Mental many years ago.

Gary King wrote the flip, “Departure”, a ballad all the way through. Tronic Music published both sides. Issued as Farrall Records FAR-45-694.

Max Waller alerted me to an entry in Brenda & Bill Wood’s book Louisville’s Own which gives an extensive band member list. On this instrumental, the likely lineup is:

Jerry Hargrove – lead guitar
Gary King – saxophone
Bob Webb – bass
Johnny Coffman – drums
and possibly Freddie Witzelhouse on rhythm guitar

According to Louisville’s Own, the Dynamics formed in 1961, most members students from Shawnee High School.

Other members would include:

Tinsley Stuart – lead vocal
Gary Harrod – vocal
Kenny Flowers – vocal
Tommy Flowers – vocal

In 1963, most of the band (Tinsley Stuart, Gary Harrod, Bobby Webb, Gary King, and Johnny Coffman) joined members of two southern Indiana bands (the Citations and the Imperials) and Frank Bugbee (later in Soul Inc. and Elysian Field), and formed the ten-member group, the Shadows, who released one single “Shake Sherry” / “That’s All” on Jam 45-109 in September 1964. That band later became the Chateaus. The Chateaus had three singles including ones on Jam and Boss Records.

Farrall Records released a number of good rockabilly and country-bop singles by Ken Turner, Paul Wheatley, Jimmie Dale, & Fannom Patrick, among others. It may be best known for the original version of “Scorpion” by Jimmie McConville & the Shamrocks. The label had an address of 1834 Nelligan Ave, near Portland Ave.

Thank you to Max Waller and Louisville’s Own for information on the group.

Categories: Church Hill, Kingsport, Tennessee, Trail Records, Tri-State Recording Company (Kingsport)

The Shades Of Depression

March 14, 2019 Lonnie Salyer 5 Comments

Shades of Depression photo — The Shades Of Depression, circa 1967, (l to r): Joe Johnson, Ronnie Slemp, George “Rocky” Hammonds & Chuck Leamon.

Less than two weeks ago The Shades Of Depression were a complete unknown band in the garage rock 45 rpm community, one of those iconic bands that recorded a stunning and highly collectible record and disappeared into the lore of history to be debated on late night chat rooms and podcasts 40 plus years later. When I first started collecting local records a couple years ago Trail TSRC-1712 released in 1967 was at the top of my want list. “Time For Love” backed with “I’m A Fool” by The Shades Of Depression doesn’t sound like a record made in the hills of East Tennessee and the band name oozes West Coast coolness.

Shades of Depression Trail 45 Time For Love — The Shades Of Depression, “Time For Love”, Trail TSRC-1712, side 1, released 1967.

Frustrated that I’ve never even seen a copy of this gem recorded less then 3 miles from Big Lon’s clandestine lair, I posted pictures of one I’d found grossly over priced on eBay asking if anyone knew anything about the band and within an hour had made contact with a band member and the widow of a band member. By this past Saturday, I was standing outside The Down Home getting a hug from Anne Hammonds, the widow of one of the band members with a near mint un-played original copy in my hand and a story to share.

Shades of Depression Trail 45 I'm A Fool — The Shades Of Depression, “I’m A Fool”, Trail TSRC-1712, side 2, released 1967.

Turns out The Shades Of Depression were not from an exotic far-off land, they hailed from God’s country, Church Hill, TN just a few miles down Bloody 11-W from the Tri-State studio in Kingsport. This band formed in 1967 consisted of Church Hill High School students Joe Johnson (vocals, guitar, song writer), Chuck Leamon (guitar, vocals), George “Rocky” Hammonds (bass, vocals) and Ronnie Slemp (drums).

They performed together 2-3 years while in high school mostly playing local sock hops and dance parties. Rocky and Chuck would sit up late night with a tape recorder and AM radio to catch the newest Beatles or Doors songs on Chicago radio stations and then learn them for the next weekend gig as new records released in major markets didn’t make it to small towns like Kingsport until two or three weeks later giving The Shades Of Depression a leg up on other local bands.

Their biggest rival band for local shows was The Odds’n’Ends from Surgoinsville, TN which featured Benny Wilson (Passenger, Janie Fricke Band, Benny Wilson Band) and Billy Greer (Passenger, Bishop, Kansas) who had just recorded TSRC-1709 “Record Shop Song” at Tri-State.

The band had 500 copies of the record pressed. They sold them mostly to friends and family with a few available at the local Woolworths and Joseph’s Music Center in Kingsport.

As with most garage bands life happens and they broke up as Chuck went to college, Rocky joined the Air Force and Joe started a successful real estate business. Chuck said he doesn’t know what happened to Ronnie as they drifted apart as school, jobs, wives and children rearing became the priorities. Rocky passed away in 2007. Chuck and Joe still live in the area.

Anne and Chuck were surprised by the clamor about this record released over 50 years ago and were appreciative I wanted to do a story about the band and that this treasured 7” piece of vinyl means so much to those of us trying to preserve the musical legacy of Southern Appalachia. Chuck said he tossed 50 or 60 of these away a few years ago with no thought that one day people around the world would clamor for a copy. As Anne’s note says ”it’s all about the music”. Thanks to The Shades Of Depression for preserving a piece of the local 1960’s history through a timeless 45.

Shades Of Depression Trail 45 For Lonnie — Thank you Anne for sharing Rocky’s musical legacy!

Lonnie Salyer writes about eastern Tennessee music at Big Lon’s Crateful Dig on Facebook. Each week, Big Lon spins obscure original local 45rpm and 78rpm records on Radio Bristol at WBCM 100.1 FM and online.

Categories: Arkansas, Fort Smith, Jaguar

The Roustabouts “Just You And Me” on Jaguar Records

March 5, 2019 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Roustabouts came from Fort Smith, Arkansas, roughly halfway between Little Rock and Oklahoma City and the base for the earlier group Bobby & the Denos. In July, 1968 the Roustabouts traveled to Little Rock to Steve Jaggars’ studio to cut their only single.

Band members were:

Danny Hendricks – lead vocals
Gene Rodgers
Johnny Carrol Scott
Dave Davis

Danny Hendricks wrote “Just You And Me”, the chugging, almost menacing, A-side of the single. Dave Davis wrote the ballad “Lonely Blues”. Tyler Pub. Co. published both songs.

The Roustabouts stayed active until the 1980’s, according to the liner notes to Lost Souls vol. 1., where I found most of this info.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Categories: Texas, Tulia

The Other Side from Tulia, TX

February 23, 2019 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Other Side came from Tulia, Texas, a small town south of Amarillo and north of Lubbock. The Tulia Herald profiled the group on November 9, 1967.

Members were:

Kennth Bean – lead guitar
Paul Sharp – organ
Perry Russell – bass and band “showman”
Bill Cruce – drums

I don’t believe the group recorded, but it’s encouraging that they had three Kinks songs in their live repertoire.

This is NOT the same group as the Other Side who cut “I Can’t See You” / “Your Faith So Strong” on Warlock Records ACA 6250 in October, 1966. That group came from Victoria, TX, almost 600 miles away and included Tobias Henderson, Bill Gaida, Leroy Materanek, John Wells, Terry Wells, and Gary Vancleave

Categories: East Baltimore, Fayette, Littlefields, Maryland, Virtue Recording Studios

The New Diablos

February 6, 2019 Chris Bishop 12 Comments

The New Diablos came from East Baltimore, Maryland, making two excellent psychedelic singles during their time together.

The band went through many lineup changes but included as many as eight people at one point:

Bub Deskin – lead vocals
Bill Bell – lead guitar
Bobby Peter – rhythm guitar
Wayne Smith – bass
George Dobash Jr. – drums
Dave Smith – keyboards
Norm Snyder – saxophone
Tim Cech – saxophone

Their first single contained vocal and instrumental versions of “Land of Love”, song writing credits to Serpents Inc., Edw. E. Medcaff (or Ed Metcalffe). It seems Bob Deskin brought this song with him from his prior band, the Serpents. Saxophones are absent from both their singles, but this one has flute to accompany the lead vocal.

The New Diablos released “Land of Love” on Littlefields Records RI 2759, with Alfred L. Cullen credited for production and publishing “at White Marsh, MD”. George Dobash, Sr at 823 Lannerton Road in Baltimore has arrangement credit.

Their next single may have come as late as 1970. “Tangerine Guides” and “I’m Fake” have touches of psychedelia and soul. Bill Bell and George Dobash wrote both songs (Dodash on the label is a typo). I’m still trying to puzzle out the lyrics to “I’m Fake”.

It was recorded at Virtue Recording Studios at 1618 N. Broad St., Philadelphia and released on Frank Virtue’s Fayette label, F-9370. D. Hutch gets producer credit.

The band continued into the ’70s with some lineup changes.

Categories: Dot, Lebanon, MusiCenter, Nashville, Tennessee

The Valiants with Jerry Gillespie on Dot Records

January 30, 2019 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

All four of the Valiants songs were composed by Jerry Gillespie. The band was probably based in Lebanon, Tennesee, east of Nashville. They definitely sound like a real group, not a studio creation.

Members included Gary Gillespie, his cousin Jerry Gillespie, Jim Ladas and Donnie Scarlett.

Their first single was “I’m Getting Tired of You” / “All Night Long” MusiCenter 3102 from 1965 (RCA custom pressing SK4M-3501), produced by label owner Murray Nash.

Both songs are listed with By-Nash of Nashville BMI, though I don’t see copyright listings for either. According to an article on Mellow’s Log Cabin site, Murray Nash had Kenny Norton cover both songs, but these do not seem to have been released. Kenny Norton was a young singer from Texas who had a single on MusiCenter 3104, “To Know You” / “Oonie, Oonie, Yah, Yah, Yah”.

In May of 1966, the Valiants had their second release, “Don’t Make the Same Mistake” / “I’ll Return to You” on Dot 45-16884 (MB-20860/1).

Although “Don’t Make the Same Mistake” has song writing credits by Jerry Gillespie with Cedarwood Publishing (BMI) while “I’ll Return to You” is credited to Wayne Gillespie with Ivory Pub. Co. (Sesac), it seems likely this is the same person, Jerry Wayne Gillespie, from Decatur, Alabama who penned a good number of big country hits in the ’70s and ’80s. I suppose the Valiants were his first group, but do not have any information on that yet.

The sticker from the German division of Peer Music is interesting, however this did not see release in Europe, and even the US single on Dot is very rare now.

Produced by John E. Denny and Noel Ball as “A Jed Record Production”; they also produced the Mod Rockers “Lover’s Lane” (Kenneth Ball) / “Stop And Smell The Flowers” (David Ball) released on Dot Records 45-16907 only a month or two after the Valiants single.

John E. Denny produced the Uncalled For’s classic “Do Like Me” (by Larry Welding and Tollie Lee) for Laurie Records, as well as many country recordings.

Categories: Country, England, London

Ralph Denyer’s Rockhouse Band

January 27, 2019 Nick Warburton 2 Comments

Ralph Denyer – guitar/vocals

Stuart Cowell – guitar/vocals

Pete Solley – Hammond organ

Pete MacBeth – bass

Stan Sulzmann – saxophone

Dave Coxhill – saxophone

15 October 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

5 November 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

6 November 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Peter B’s Looners (Melody Maker)

15 January 1966 – Zambesi, Hounslow, west London (Melody Maker)

29 January 1966 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Scotch of St James and The Gass (Hertfordshire Express)

14 February 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hampshire with The Small Faces (Camberley News)

20 March 1966 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

18 March 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Irma Thomas and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

23 March 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

17 April 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham News)

1 May 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hampshire (Camberley News)

14 May 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Dianne Ferraz, Nicky Scott & The Untamed and The Anzaks (Lincolnshire Standard)

11 June 1966 – Unknown venue, Cromford, Derbyshire (Poster)

12 June 1966 – Bluesette Club, Leatherhead, Surrey (Poster from John Treais)

19 June 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

25 June 1966 – Co-Op Hall, Chesham, Bucks with The Framed (needs source)

10 July 1966 – The Micronest, Swiss Cottage, London with The Pieces Fit (Melody Maker)

In mid-July Ralph Denyer split with The Rockhouse Band and linked up with The Uptown Band, who were remnants of The Arthur Brown Union

15 July 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham with Solomon Burke (backed by Bluesology) (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Ralph Denyer’s Uptown Band

16 July 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Ralph Denyer’s Uptown Band

5 August 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club (Nottingham Evening Post)

6 August 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Says from Rufus Thomas tour

The Rockhouse Band

16 September 1966 – Mick’s Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Kentish Express) Billed as The Original Rockhouse

I know very little about this band and would welcome any further information in the comments below

Categories: England, London

The Guests

January 27, 2019 Nick Warburton Leave a comment

The original Just Four. Left to right: John Towell; Kenny Davis; Alan Chamberlain and Bernie Jory. Thanks to Alan Chamberlain

Alan Chamberlain – lead vocals

Bernie Jory – lead guitar

Colin Cookson – rhythm guitar

John Towell – bass

Hans Herbert – drums

This was as Dalston, north London band and also included two sax players, including one called Graham either before or after Herbert worked with them.

They were formerly known as The Just Four and featured a drummer called Kenny Davis. Herbert hailed from Ealing and had previously worked with The Flexmen. Before joining, he worked with The Rumours.

Herbert recalls how he came to take over from Kenny Davis: “I got a call which must have been from Alan Chamberlain,” he says. “They had a radio show to do in London in a studio on Tottenham Court Road or somewhere and they didn’t have a drummer. My name popped up somehow, probably through Jim Marshall’s shop. I did the session and they asked me to stay with them, which I did.”

In early 1966, Herbert says he did a studio session with The Animals when John Steel left but Barry Jenkins from The Nashville Teens got the job.

The Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette ran a story on The Guests in its 24 June 1966 issue, page 2. The newspaper notes that the group recorded two tracks at Decca Recording Studios in mid-June; a cover of Ray Davies “When I See That Girl of Mine” c/w “Solitude”. It says the single is due for release in late July/early August.

The paper says The Guests have already played at Tiles Club, Oxford Street, Wimbledon Palais, High Wycombe Town Hall, Leystonstone Baths and the Rambling Rose Club. It also says they practise at Southall Community Centre every Tuesday evening.

Herbert recalls that during his time with The Guests, the group backed Edwin Starr, and (possibly) Ben E King and The Drifters, including at the Twisted Wheel in Manchester (most likely 18 October 1966). He also says that his mother helped secure some of the gigs.

11 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (Melody Maker)

24 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Fleur De Lys and C-Jam Blues Band (Melody Maker)

8 October 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Robert Parker and Wynder K Frog (website: https://www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/gigs-1966.htm) Alan Chamberlain remembers they appeared backing Robert Parker

15 October 1966 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with Bluesology (Kentish Express)

16 October 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Backed Edwin Starr for a week around this time

4 November 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Graham Bond Organisation (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

In November/December 1966, Hans Herbert joined The All Night Workers and Bernie Jory joined The Mickey Finn.

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