Category Archives: Lafayette

Categories: La Louisianne, Lafayette, Louisiana

The Surrealistic Pillar “I Like Girls”

6 Comments

Surrealistic Pillar Tamm 45 I Like GirlsThe Surrealistic Pillar came from Lafayette, Louisiana and cut the classic “I Like Girls” circa 1967 or 1968. The names on the label, Eddie Smith and Ed Futch, were not members of the band, but Ed Futch is likely singing lead vocals on “I Like Girls” – he has become well known by his stage name, Eddy Raven.

The lyrics, what I can make out of them, are from a different era:

Sitting in a car, the tape machine is blaring,
Watching all the girls, and digging the clothes they’re wearing.

When I see a mini-skirt, it drives me crazy,
Cause all the time I’m watching, I’m thinking … maybe,
I would find a girl that would say “surely”.

You could laugh at me, but never call me stupid…

[I wish I could make out the words of the third verse.]

Ed Futch, Eddie Smith wrote “I Like Girls” and Eddie Smith wrote the unusual instrumental, “Mexican Calliope” (rated a “2” in Teen Beat Mayhem!). La Lou Music BMI published both songs.

Though issued on Tamm Custom Series T-2027, this is a production of La Louisianne Records, which issued plenty of great singles, including Eddy Raven’s “Misery” and (for garage fans) the Rogues incredible “I Don’t Need You”.

A defunct website Turn Me On Dead Man had some info from one of the members of the band dating back to about 2003, but that person’s name is left off and only first names are given for the rest.

Well, the band started in 1965-+. We all went to school together or close to each other and somehow started playing together and then started a band. We used the name Kings Council at first, then took the name from a Jefferson Airplane album.

The band had six members with a light man and helper. I played bass. Ernie played drums, Benny played lead, Bubba played guitar, Rayburn sang, Glynn played lights and Clyde played tam, lights, and helped out.

We had Kustom equipment and a Hammond organ, so we could play stuff by Vanilla Fudge, Steppenwolf and other great bands.

I saw Eddie Futch[’s] (Eddie Raven) name listed, he is related to Benny. Eddie Smith is the one who got with us and taught us the song “I Like Girls.” He paid for the recording session and we sold about 200 copies. There is a couple still floating around. We used to play places like the Swing Machine, a college hangout. All I knew is we just had to play loud.

I just retired from the Lafayette Police Force after 29 years. In 1969 I went into the USMC and did my tour in VN [Vietnam]. Some members of the band went on to play in Sage. Benny is playing guitar in church. I have several guitars and play with Benny when we get together. The rest of the guys live around here [Lafayette, Louisiana] but me and Benny are the only ones who still play.

Surrealistic Pillar Tamm 45 Mexican Calliope

Categories: Lafayette, Lightning, Louisiana

The Persian Market

9 Comments

Persian Market Flyer

The Persian Market Lightning 45 Flash In The PanLee DeHart – lead vocals
Doug Cochrane – lead guitar
Brad DeHart – rhythm guitar, vocals
Tommy Ranson – bass and vocals
Doug Begneaud – organ
Keith Thibodeaux – drums
Joe Stein – percussion and vocals

The Persian Market came from Lafayette, Louisiana. In May of 1967, the band recorded four songs at La Louisianne’s studio in Lafayette. Two of these, “Flash in the Pan” and “The Wind Is Ours” were released on Lightning Records LR 103. They also recorded versions of “Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White” and “The Gamma Gooce”, which eventually saw release on Cicadelic. “Flash In the Pan” is a driving garage number, led by the organ playing and with a good vocal delivery. It was written by Lee Dehart and Tom Ranson. The flip is the softer “The Wind Is Ours” (written by Brad Dehart for Lightening Pub, BMI).

The single was produced by Eddy Raven and Ben Skolnick, 104 Brighton, Lafayette, LA; the address is a house not far from the Vermilion River. Ben Skolnick managed the group.

Keith Thibodeaux had acted the part of “Little Ricky” on the TV series I Love Lucy and also played in another group, Little David and The Giants.

Anyone have a photo of the band?

Persian Market Lake Charles American Press Thursday, May 11, 1967
May 1967 ad for the Cave on Ryan Street in Lake Charles, featuring the Persian Market (Fri. May 12) & the Gravel Road (Sat. May 13)

The first 45 on the label was Lightning LR-101, the Roamin’ Togas “Bar the Door” (Person, Adams, Prust) / “You Must Believe Me” from June of 1967, with the same production and publishing credits as the Persian Market. The Adams in the credits seems to be Pete Adams, according to BMI. I’m not sure of any other releases on Lightning, but the Togas and Persian Market are now very rare, fetching about $200 nowadays.

Sources: Brad DeHart’s website and Mike Dugo’s interview with Doug Cochrane.

The Persian Market Lightning 45 The Wind Is Ours

Categories: La Louisianne, Lafayette, Louisiana, Montel-Michelle

The Rogues & the Dry Grins

11 Comments

Dry Grins Montel Michelle 45 She's A DragThe Rogues from Lafayette, Louisiana had two excellent 45s, both very rare now, I don’t own either one.

They seem to have had some lineup changes during their existence. Members included Fred Brechtel on lead vocals, Mark MacDiarmid (or McDiarmid) on lead guitar (and lead vocals on “I Don’t Need You”), Mike Schwartz on rhythm guitar,  Tommy Withrow on keyboards, John Bonar on bass, and Glen Hebert on drums.

Cyril Vetter of the Greek Fountains saw the Rogues and produced a release for them on the Montel-Michelle label, though he changed the band’s name temporarily to the Dry Grins. The Dry Grins release has the teen loser lament, “She’s a Drag”, written by Fred Brechtel for Red Stick Music, backing the only slightly more commercial “You’re Through”. It was produced by Cyril Vetter & Sam Montel, and released as the Montel-Michelle M/M-959 (74 M/M 14) circa late 1965.

Well, I’m walking down the street with my left hand in my pocket,
And some chick walks up and says,
“Make a switch man, you’re on the wrong side of the street”

Well, I looked up and turned around to see the people watching,
My left hand still in my pocket,
And then she started to laugh.
I had both hands in my pocket and I said, “Baby, you’re a drag”

Well, she’s a drag, yeah, a big ole drag,
She’s a drag, yeah, a big ole drag,
Like a trip, baby

Well, I used to dig a chick … [?]
Cause I’m a stubborn fellow, you know,
And I got to get her, [?]
But that turned into a great big drag.

Well, she’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
She’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
Well, she’s a drag,
Like an albatross

Well, she said get back, come back and don’t you cry,
I turned around and said to her, “Baby, you’re a drag”

Well she’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
She’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
Well she’s a drag,
She’s gone, baby

Rogues La Louisianne 45 I Don't Need you

Rogues La Louisianne 45 TonightThe Rogues second 45 has “Tonight” which Teen Beat Mayhem describes as “swamp-pop ballad with crooner vocals.” on the A-side. On the flip is “I Dont Need You”, one of their best songs, the opening drum roll leading into a blast of sound that keeps up throughout the song.

Both sides written and sung by Mark McDiarmid for La Lou Music, and released on the La Louisianne label, LL-8094-B, in April of ’67.

Andrew Brown wrote that Tommy Withrow joined a group called the Swingin’ Machine, obviously unrelated to the now-legendary Swinging Machine from South Norfolk, VA.

I used to believe the band had a third single, “Put You Down” b/w a version of “Stormy Monday Blues”, but that turns out to be a group from Alabama, which makes sense as MBM was a Birmingham label and “Put You Down” does not have keyboards unlike the other songs by the Rogues from Louisiana.

Anyone have a photo of the group?