I mentioned the Xanadus when I wrote about Angelus Records, a label for Christian music based out of Lorin Whitney’s studio in Glendale. The Xanadus first single was on Angelus, even though it was not a religious record. On hearing their second single recently, I decided the Xanadus deserve their own entry.
Their first single, “Before the Dawn” features a basic ensemble of lightly-amplified guitars, tambourine and harmony singing. “Little Girl” is a ballad, even more low-key than the A-side. Both songs are on youtube but not in great sound quality. It came out on Angelus WR-4442, and then the band reissued it on their own Encore label with the same catalog # 4442.
There are only a few instrumental or pop releases on Angelus. The Xanadus single is more pop in style and subject matter, but it’s so light and innocuous it doesn’t clash with the typical Angelus subject matter.
However, there’s no way Angelus would allow the band to use the label for their second 45, the salacious and amazing “You Turn Me On” / “Bankrupt Bothered & Bewildered”, released on Encore 4443. These are sharp, cutting rockers, with good guitar breaks. “Bankrupt Bothered & Bewildered” sounds like it was recorded live, shouting and hooting in the background.
Photos in the videos are different bands.
Angelus WR-4442 – “Before the Dawn” (Boyd & Adams) / “Little Girl” (Wray) produced by J & R Productions Encore 4442 – Xanadus – “Before the Dawn” (Boyd & Adams) / “Little Girl” (Wray) (WR-4442-45) released Feb. 1965 Encore 4443 – “You Turn Me On” / “Bankrupt, Bothered & Bewildered” released April 1965
Both Encore releases have publishing by Shat-Shep Music BMI.
At this time I know nothing about the band.
The Shat-Shep Music credit shows up on at least a couple other singles of the period. One is Gail Da Corsi – “I’ve Lost In Life” / “Touch Of Yesterday” on Dolton 314. The other is the Universals “I’m In Love” / “A Love Only You Can Give” on Shepherd SR 2200, a doo-wop style 45 from 1962.
Another Shepherd release, though without the Shat-Shep credit is Ritchie Marsh “They Say” (Pat Vegas, R. Marsh, pub. by Debutante Music) / “Darling I Swear That It’s True” on Shepherd SR-2203. Ritchie Marsh is better known as Sky Saxon.
The Shepherd label came out of Hollywood.
Thank you to Dan Peterson for the scan of the Angelus 45. If you have better scans of the second Encore single, please contact me.
Here are two obscure singles that seem to have been recorded in one session on the same day, apparently March 12, 1965. Both feature the Mockers, and each was released on the Monte-Vista label and numbered 3-12-65.
The first features two surf instrumentals: the atmospheric “Children of the Sun” backed by a first-rate surf-rocker “Madalena” with crunching wet guitar. Both songs were written by David Norgord for Monte-Vista Music BMI.
Dave Norgord of the Mockers, photo courtesy of John Morgan
The Mockers were obviously a very competent group, and may have come from Glendora High School. If anyone knows the names of the other members of the Mockers, please contact me or leave a comment below.
The second single has them backing what sounds like a prepubescent lead singer, Chris Parry, on another single written by Dave Norgord, “I Need You Now”. The flip is a cover of “Angela Jones”, written by John Loudermilk (composer of “Tobacco Road”).
The producer was Dale Smallin who in 1963 managed the Surfaris’ and brought them to Paul Buff’s PAL studio in Cucamonga to record “Surfer Joe” / “Wipe Out” (Smallin also contributed the maniacal laughter to the opening). Smallin may have lost the Safaris when he and Dot Records brought in the Challengers to record tracks to fill out the album. In any case, the Mockers may have been the only records after the Safaris to feature his name as producer. If there are others, I haven’t found them yet.
Monte Vista Street runs in Highland Park in Los Angeles, not far from the Glendale origin of the Safaris. Smallin would name his film production company Monte-Vista and produced a 28 minute movie show in West Covina, The Day That Sang and Cried in 1968, featuring another band, The West Coast Blues Company. Dave Smallin died on March 1, 2011.
When Jim Lewallen sent me scans of a 45 by his group the Goldenaires on Angelus Records, I started looking into the label’s discography. I really didn’t know what I was getting into!
Angelus Records was the in-house label for Whitney Recording Studio in Glendale, California. Lorin Whitney owned and operated the studio and played organ or piano on many of Angelus albums. Les Roberts described the studio to me, “the main studio was almost 50’ x 50’. Great acoustics!”
The label was either named for, or connected to the Angelus Temple of the Foursquare Church, the Pentecostal sect founded by Aimee Semple McPherson. the studio and label were in Glendale, five miles north of the temple.
All kinds of artists used Whitney for recording, but Angelus Records tended towards Christian inspirational music, but not African-American gospel music. It was a big operation, putting out hundreds of LPs from the early ’60s into the ’70s. Most Angelus releases were custom pressings: the artists paid for the recording and pressing of their records. However, Lorin Whitney had at least one release of his own, so Angelus may have marketed some of these albums. The acts came from all over the west, from Montana and Colorado all the way to Alaska, with many from Seattle and the state of Washington.
Within the Angelus catalog there are a handful of interesting releases in genres other than Christian spiritual music, but even the few heavy rock exceptions such as Stone Garden and Faction have religious overtones. The only truly secular recordings may be the Goldenaires and the Xanadus singles.
Like the Word label, it had some of the best album covers ever.
7″ singles on Angelus:
There seem to be relatively few 45s on Angelus, but the single by the Stone Garden “Stop My Thinking” / “Oceans Inside Me” stands out.
There’s also a 45 I’ve never heard by a group called The Acid Test, supposedly recorded at Sound Recording in Spokane. Anyone have a transfer of that one? Craig (MojoCools) sent in the scans seen here and wrote:
I believe [one copy] was unearthed in the Spokane area, while I found mine in NW Montana and always thought they were from Spokane/Couer d’Alene area. No SRC info on the trail off as it is only etched with WR-4803-A/ WR-4803-B and the “(copyright pending)” statement on the label doesn’t shed much light.
These guys sound like high school kids and can’t manage to pull of a lead break on the A side, and only barely at the end of the flip. A-side “What Do I Love” is almost heavy as Stone Garden but very inept and instead of a break they just modulate. Flip “Make Her Mine” is actually the Rascals “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long” and has a simple crude break towards the end.
Craig also sent the scan of the Foundation sleeve (above) and wrote:
Picture sleeve is a slick glued to a 7″ inner. It sounds pretty much like the sleeve looks. Acoustic guitar and electric bass. “The Man” = folky original that borrows from “All Along the Watchtower” a bit but adds some female scat vocals / harmony vocals giving it a sunshine pop sound. Flip is more soft folk sunshine which is a weird/happy way to sing about dying on the cross! This is not typical acoustic Christian folk.
First names are listed (Jim, Lou Ann, Jeanette and Mike), and a quote from Corinthians (“I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it”) but no other info on who group was.
Angelus LPs:
Of the albums, the most famous by far is Jim Beach’s group Fraction, with their very desirable psych LP Moon Blood. Even this record, it should be said, has Christian theology behind it.
Other interesting releases that I haven’t heard yet are two jazz LPs by Ron Pittner recorded in France, another by Bill Maldonado, a country or folk rock album by an act known as Sierra, and the intriguing Joe Jim Paul’s Sings Song from Alaska with song titles like “The Midget Wildwood Little Girl” and “Pop the Magic Dragon”
I’ve included what I could find from the usual record selling sources, so please write if you have good scans or can help with the discography. This is obviously very incomplete – only about 100 records out of what could be as many as 1,000 Angelus releases.
Engineers on the albums include Doug Smith, Paul Elmore and Frank Kejmar.
Angelus Records discography:
45 rpm / 7″ records: Angelus 45-1012 – Jack Moore – Goodby, World, Goodby (Mosie Lister, with Frances Moore organ and Cathy Bragg piano) / How Great Thou Art (with the Calvary Temple Teen Chorale) Angelus WR-4342 – The Goldenaires – “What He Said” / “The Mad Hatter” Angelus WR-4346 – The Music of Dick Charles and the Boys (no song titles, small center hole so probably 33 1/3 rpm) Angelus WR-4442 – Xanadus – “Before the Dawn” (Boyd & Adams) / “Little Girl” (Wray) (reissued on Encore 4442) Angelus WR 4446-45 – Elsie & Gene Jaggers – Train Song / Hilo March Angelus WR-4749 – Rick and Dennis – “Redeemed” / “The Love Come a Tricklin’ Down” / “Where Will You Be When That First Trumpet Sounds” / “Let Me Fly” Angelus WR-4803 – Acid Test – “What Do I Love” / “Make Her Mine” Angelus WR-4819 – The Stone Garden – “Stop My Thinking” / “Oceans Inside Me” (Gary Speer) Angelus WR-4942 – Foundation – “The Man” / “Can You Live” (with picture sheet glued on plain sleeve) Angelus WR-5015 – Redwood Chapel Community Church – Sunday Night Sing! (33 1/3 7″ LP) Angelus WR-5047 – Tom Keene and the Contemporaries – “What a Song” / “May I Introduce You to a Friend” Angelus WR 5075 – Mr. Lucky and the Good Vibes – “Streak Around In Your Bones” (Tom Thorne) / “Barefoot in the Rain” Angelus WR-5095 – Blue James – “Fairytales, Fishermen, and Fools” / “Sweet And True” Angelus KO-794881 – Brian Michaels – “Twenty Nine Miles from Boston” / ?
The Xanadus Angelus single WR-4442 reissued on the Encore label
Albums: Angelus WR-4105 – Kaufman Family Radio Missionaries (cover reads Angelus, labels have Whitney Records) Angelus WR-4193 – Bud Garmo – Songs Of Comfort Angelus WR-4216 – Ray Kaady – Amazing Grace Angelus WR-4227 – Moore Evangelistic Party (Marrles Moore, Frances Moore, Jack Moore & Merv Moore, piano by Loren Whitney) Angelus WR-4332 – Vincent and Virginia Gizzi ~ Missionaries To Japan Angelus WR-4342 – see 45 / 7″ list above Angelus WR-4346 – see 45 / 7″ list above Angelus WR-4362 – Don & Norma Tanner – The Tanner Team Angelus WR-4365 – Lex Ellesin – Yugoslav Songs and Dances Angelus WR-4368 – Bill Notehelfer – Forward to Christ, with Charles Magnuson & Lorin Whitney Angelus WR-4371 – Jimmie McDonald – Sings From His Heart to You Angelus WR-4379 – Bill White – Gentle Hands, with Sue Magnuson and Pattie Stiles, prod. by Wesley Tuttle Angelus WR-4381 – Malcolm Fry – Overshadowed Angelus WR-4393 – Woodlandaires – Spring Concert Angelus WR-4394 – Polly Prieto, Lorene Null, Elizabeth Null & Hilarion S. Raymundo – Melodies From The Mission Field (Philippine Islands) Angelus WR-4396 – Calvary Temple, Seattle, Bud Tutmarc dir. – My Heart Is Glad Angelus WR-4409 – Ronald Drye – Balm in Gilead Angelus WR-4419 – Dale Crowley – From My Heart to Your Heart Angelus WR-4422 – Marian Estep – The News in Revelation Angelus WR-4425 – Ron Schloss – Memorial Album Angelus WR-4437 – Wilbur and Norman Nelson – Sing Praises
Angelus WR-4441 – Lorene Booth Koltovich – Sacred Requests Angelus WR-4442 – see 45 / 7″ list above Angelus WR-4443 – Bud Garmo – Songs of Challenge
Angelus WR 4446 – see 45 / 7″ list above Angelus WR-4447 – Bud Garmo – I Never Walk Alone
Angelus WR-4458 – Roger Crymes – God Understands Angelus WR-4479 – Marriage, Divorce and Sex (Message by Dr. Joseph Murphy) Angelus WR-4497 – Marian Estep – Songs of Heaven Angelus WR-4503 – Cass Schreib My Wonderful Lord Angelus WR-4520 – First Baptist Church, Crescenta, Calif. – Organ-Music Dedication Angelus WR-4529 – Donna Reed – Fill My Cup Lord
Angelus WR 4538 – Northwest College Concert Choir – “How Big Is God” Also “It Took A Miracle” (need confirmation of this one) Angelus WR 4539 – Tom Keene and the Contemporaries – The New Sound In Motion
Angelus WR 4542 – Northwest District Youth Choir of the Assemblies of God, Seattle – I Have Christ Angelus WR-4551 – Nelson & Jester – Good News Favorites, with Helen Nelson and Mary Jester Angelus WR-4557 – Korean Blind Quartet – Songs of Another World Angelus WR-4557 – Fairview Heights (Inglewood Ca) Baptist Church Angelus WR-4559 – Gilbert Hynes – Heart Songs Of The Spirit (need confirmation of this one) Angelus WR-4569 – Berl Thomas – Hymns of Hope Angelus WR-4561 – Fairview Heights (Inglewood, CA) Baptist Church Choir – In His Glory (need confirmation of this one) Angelus WR-4572 – Harbor-Lites – Girls Trio Angelus WR-4573 – Witnesses Trio – Nearer My God Angelus WR-4591 – Don Calhoun – Sacred Songs Angelus WR-4592 – David F. Webber – Mark of the Beast Angelus WR-4597 – R. Norheim & Lutheran Gospel Hour Singers – Lamplighter Songs Angelus WR-4600 – Roy & Arlene Brewer – He Is Everything to Me Angelus WR-4602 – Marian Estep – Old Favorites of the Church Angelus WR-4616 – The Singing Servants, directed by Dean Schield Angelus WR-4619 – Harold Holt – It’s In My Heart Angelus WR-4638 – Judy Koenig – No Other Song Angelus WR-4654 – Dr. Joseph Murphy – The Secret Of I Am That I Am Angelus WR-4659 – Treble Heirs – No Other Song (Jane Fowler, Cherie Miller, Linda Morse) Angelus WR-4663 – Brandts – No Other Name Angelus WR-4677 – Wilbur and Norman Nelson – New Life in Christ Angelus WR-4684 – The Proclaimers Angelus WR-4701 – Elmer and Lee Bruno – Sonata Sagrada Angelus WR-4705 – Alma Louise Shurte – Songs from the Heart Angelus WR-4722 – The Singing Servants – Day By Day Angelus WR-4732 – Jane Nellis – Songs from the Heart Angelus WR-4742 – The Lacys – Hallelujah! Unique Gospel Songs & Spirituals Angelus WR-4749 – see 45 / 7″ list above Angelus WR-4771 – Bethany Park Presents ’68 Camp Meeting – Melodies of Praise Angelus WR-4778 – Marian Estep – Sing Unto the Lord Angelus WR-4779 – Linda Baker – Paul Speaks to You Angelus WR-4781 – Antanas Pavasaris – Dainu Ir Ariju Recitalis Angelus WR-4789 – Taiwan Men’s Choir – Free China Sings Angelus WR-4793 – The Hart Family – Paul, Connie & David Hart – Hart To Heart Angelus WR-4802 – The Faith Tones – Jesus Use Me Angelus WR-4803 – see 45 / 7″ list above Angelus WR-4811 – Marian Rieth – Moments of Meditation
Angelus WR-4817 – Wilbur and Norman Nelson – More Gospel Favorites Angelus WR-4818 – Bill Maldonado – … This Dream Angelus WR-4819 – see 45 / 7″ list above
Angelus AR-4823 – Temple-Tones – For His Glory Angelus WR-4827 – Marian Estep with Lorene Kealy, Paul Kealy & Lorin Whitney – Songs of the Holy Land Angelus WR-4833 – Ben Lippen School, Ralph Parker, Director – Music Angelus WR-4842 – Jim Bergthold – Personal Peace Angelus WR-4847 – Rodger Hall – Where Do I Go From Here Angelus WR-4849 – Roy & Arlene Brewer – This Is the Life Angelus WR-4853 – King’s Choralons & Northwest College Ladies’s Ensemble, Kirkland WA – God Is Alive Angelus WR-4858 – Ray Kaady – Volume 2, Tell It Again Angelus WR-4867 – Cymanfa Ganu & Welsh Church, Los Angeles – I Will Sing Hosanna Angelus WR-4869 – Donald Rick with Dick Bolks and Lorin Whitney – In Sacred Concert Angelus WR-4870 – Marian Rieth – Hallowed Moments Angelus WR-4877 – Rise Up O Church – Sanctuary Choir, First Church Of The Nazarene, Whittier CA Angelus WR-4885 – Marian Estep – Songs You Love Angelus WR-4891 – Barbara Lowman, Soprano with Morris Mosby – I Asked the Lord Angelus WR-4893 – Doris Beaulieu – Doris Sings Out in Sacred Concert, acc. by Coral Baerg Angelus WR-4894 – Malcolm Fry – Grace So Amazing Angelus WR-4898 – Harbor Masters – The Harbor Masters Sing Angelus WR-4916 – United Community Church Glendale – 10th Anniversary 1961 to 1971 Angelus WR-4926 – Bibleaires Trio – I Shall Be At Home Angelus WR-4933 – Ada Mouw Groen – Lord Is My Light Angelus WR-4936 – Mizpah Singers (Barruel Bros) – The Living Rock Angelus WR-4937 – Church of the Open Door – His People Angelus WR-4942 – see 45 / 7″ list above Angelus WR-4944 – artist? – What Color is Love (blank cover? I need a scan or confirmation of this one) Angelus WR-4951 – Tom and Rachel Thorne – “Golden Kona” / “Magic in the Air” (R.T. Thompson Music Co., ASCAP – need confirmation of this one) Angelus WR-4954 – Wilbur Nelson – Sings “These Are a Few of My Favorite Songs” Angelus WR-4957 – Lutheran Gospel Hour – Anchored in Jesus / Anniversary Album Angelus WR-4964 – Arnie Hartman – In Concert Angelus WR-4982 – Kathryn Kuhlman presents Jimmie McDonald Angelus WR-4990 – Neal Higgins – Fill My Cup, Lord Angelus WR-4984 – The Sound Impressions – Presents … a Reason for Being (Otis Skillings, orch; Al Reis, photography; Chuck Hernandez, art design; Frank Kejmar, engineer; Jerry Lindsay, director) Angelus WR-4989 – John and Linnie Olson – Radio Favorites Angelus WR-4994 – Paul and Louise Greisen – I’m His to Command Angelus WR-4996 – New Life – Giver Of Joy
Angelus WR-5003 – The King’s Envoys – For Him Angelus WR-5005 – Fraction – Moon Blood Angelus WR-5009 – Dick Zeller – He Loves Us More Angelus WR-5015 – see 45 / 7″ list above Angelus WR-5024 – Vere Raley with John Lundberg Singers – Baritone Soloist Angelus WR-5031 – Marian Estep – God Is Our Refuge Angelus WR-5032 – Chuck Kisner & Rose Parenti – Don’t Let a Day Go By Angelus WR-5041 – The Brotherhood III and The New Life – A Reason to Sing Angelus WR-5042 – Tact Singers (Teen Action for Christ Today) – Jesus Is (dir. Roger Clay, First Church of the Nazarene, Denver, Colorado) Angelus WR-5047 – see 45 / 7″ list above Angelus WR-5051 – Sierra Angelus WR-5057 – F.X. McDonald, Jr. – Peace My Friends Angelus WR-5059 – Robert Bowman – Songs of Enduring Faith Angelus WR-5060 – Westmont College Choir Angelus WR-5067 – Ken Hyde – If God Angelus WR-5068 – Modesto Christian School Choir And The Children Of Modesto Christian School – Good News! (need confirmation of this one) Angelus WR-5069 – Master Design – Get All Excited with Master Design Angelus WR-5074 – Mark Greer – Searching Angelus WR-5082 – Pastor R. Norheim & Lutheran Gospel Singers – Gospel in Song Angelus WR-5083 – Joyce Okert – Something Worth Living For Angelus WR-5086 – The Jesters – Messages In Music Angelus WR-5087 – Tom & Shelly (1974) Angelus WR-5088 – Mark Greer – Resolutions Angelus WR-5091 – Bill White – Reaching Out Angelus WR-5095 – see 45 / 7″ list above Angelus WR-5099 – The Dick Anthony Family – More Out of Life Angelus WR-5102 – The Inspirationals and Lawrence Foley – Sacred Songs from the Crystal Fountain Angelus WR-5108 – Jamie Burghardt – Jamie Sings For God And Country Angelus WR-5111 – Chuck Kisner – In His Name Angelus WR-5113 – George Sanchez – Songs of the Shepherd Angelus WR-5115 – Barruel Brothers – Born to Be King Angelus WR-5117 – Tim & Roger – At the Twin Pianos Angelus WR-5120 – F.X. McDonald – F.X. & the Boys Angelus WR-5121 – Ken Finley – God Is Much Fairer Angelus WR-5123 – Westmont College Choir Angelus WR-5126 – John Steele – Closing Night Angelus WR-5127 – Linnie J. Olson – Linnie (Rufus Harvey Jr. conducting) Angelus WR-5128 – Clara Shannon – Singing Missionary Angelus WR-5130 – Daybreak with Dick Anthony & the Orchestra Angelus WR-5142 – Ron Pittner – Out from the Edge: Recorded in Concert, Paris, France, with Kent Carter (cello), Mototeru Takagi (saxophone), Takashi Kako (electric piano), recorded March 1974 Angelus WR-5143 (?) – Covenant Gospelaires present It’s A True Story Angelus WR-5152 – Jim Bergthold First Tenor With The Haven Of Rest Quartet – The King Is Coming Angelus WR-5154 – The Ascensions – Playing Around with Jazz Angelus WR-5156 – Neal Higgins – To God Be The Glory Angelus WR-5158 – Pierce Family – A Song About Life Angelus WR-5165 – F.X. McDonald, Jr. Soloist – Jesus Thou Art Coming w. Laurindo Almeida and Louise de Tullio Angelus WR-5169 – Larry Vannucci – Anything Goes Angelus WR-5174 – Freedom Ringers II (handbell music recorded during 1978 European tour) Angelus WR-5183 – Joe Jim Paul – Sing “Song From Alaska” (with Son Gary Paul and John Angaiak) Angelus WR-8081 – Jaggers Family – Across the Sea Angelus WR-1943 – Ron Pittner – The Indigo Mirror and the Ivory Dot, Recorded in Concert, Orly, France, Angelus WRLW-1981 – Lorin Whitney – Gospel Organ Favorites vol. 1
? – Christmas Time with Linnie ? – Riverside Professional Jazz Workshop
Master Design cover from Observatory. Thanks to Max Waller for the titles to the Blue James 45, to Dan Peterson for the Xanadus scans and to Jack for the Jack Moore 45 scans, to Gee K. for scans of 4877, and to John for the Elsie & Gene Jaggers info.
T.A.C.T. (Teen Action for Christ Today!) Singers – Jesus Is!
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There are only a few instrumental or pop releases on Angelus. The Xanadus single is more pop in style and subject matter, but it’s so light and innocuous it doesn’t clash with the typical Angelus subject matter.
When Jim Lewallen sent me scans of a 45 by his group 
