The Ill Bred Mind were high school students from Sayreville, New Jersey, making their only single in 1969. There are no credits on the label, but I believe “How Can You Be Happy Today?” is an original song. The flip is a fine version of “Walk on By”.
My copy is autographed by another member, possibly Gary Jensen. Another copy (see below) has other names & spellings: including Greg Evigan (who became a well-known actor), Garry Jenssen, George B (?), Jimmy Smokey (?). I would appreciate help with deciphering the names. Youtube comments lead me to the name of another possible member: Bruce Elacqua.
The Ill Bred Mind recorded at Photo Sonics Laboratories at 236 Walnut St. in nearby South Amboy, releasing it on P.S.L. 20171.
Marty Ruszala owned or operated PhotoSonics Laboratories, also known as Triple A studio, where he engineered the Jerry Rivera “Lovin’ Man” single on Kim, and Brian O’Connor “How Was I To Know” / “Missing You” on Sayne Records 20168.
I can find two notices for live shows from the Home News, on August 1, 1969 at the Emma L. Arleth School, and at the Sayreville VFW Post 4699 on August 20.
Anyone have a photo of the Ill Bred Mind?
can you help decipher George and Jimmy’s surnames on this single?
notice in the Courier-News, Thu, Sep 24, 1964Frank Jones was born in Plainfield, New Jersey and joined the Fabulous Strings at age 15. Frank wrote to me:
My band the Fabulous Strings won a talent show in Newark NJ and recorded two demos at Hertz Studio 38 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey. The tunes were “How High the Moon”, “Slow Hold It”, “Movin’ Up” and “Vibrating”. I would like to listen to them again.
Charlie Morton – lead guitar C.B. Hill – rhythm guitar R.D. Cunningham – bass guitar Frank Jones – drums
The Bridgewater Courier-News announced a benefit concert at Plainfield High School on Saturday, September 26, 1964 with 20 acts including Sammy and the Del Larks, the Conchords, Jimmy Gator, Mersey Johnson, the Plazas, Paradons, Jo Jo and the Admirers, the Tri Dells, Harry Ring and the Fabulous Strings, Parliaments and Parlets.
If anyone comes across any Hertz Recording Studio lacquer demos of the Fabulous Strings, please contact me.
Frank Jones has kept active in music, and can be found on facebook.
The Lemon Sandwich released the very cool “Give Me Love” on La Salle Records L-371, backed with “I Must Be Dreaming”. Eddie Hileman wrote both songs.
Tommy Burke used the Lemon Sandwich’s exact recording of “Give Me Love” for his 45 on Lauren L-2513 backed with “I Don’t Want to Be Your Keeper”, with writing credit for both songs to Tommy Burke.
Eddie T. Burke then released the Lemon Sandwich’s “I Must Be Dreaming” on E.T.B. Records ETB-113. I’m not sure if this was the same recording as the Lemon Sandwich or not, but with LA SALLE CE 15/16 cut into the dead wax, I believe it probably is. The flip is the Taboos “So Sad” but with Eddie Burke doing new vocals. For this release Eddie Hileman is given writing credit for both songs, even though the Taboos was by Brennan and Palazzo.
Phil Fallo contacted me about the Lemon Sandwich:
I was lead guitarist in the Lemon Sandwich back in 1968-69. When I joined, they were a quartet, Ed Hileman was the sole guitarist. I was brought in to play lead guitar and we became a 5 piece. The bassist was Tom Davis, the drummer was Mike Kritsky and the organist was named Al. We were all from New Jersey.
I believe that single predates me – maybe early 1968. We were very successful in Greenwood Lake, NY where we were house band at “Mother’s”, the largest club on the lake for an extended period. We played other places on the lake like the Long Pond, Big Daddy’s and TA’s East. We broke up in 1969.
At the time the drinking age was 18 in NY and 21 in NJ and all these clubs were located just over the Jersey line on the NY side of the lake. Flocks of teens from NJ would come up to the lake to be able to drink. When the drinking age changed, most of those clubs burned down killing the scene.
That was probably the most successful band I was in. After that played in a number of bands that worked the northern New Jersey circuit or in Greenwich Village. Syren, Apollon, Buck Scrub, St. Jack. Also played in a band led by Tom Feher, who had been in the Left Banke, and another led by Paul Klein who prior to my time had a band called the Wind in the Willows. My last band broke up in 1978-79.
The Viscanes, from left: Al Martansic, John Ayers, Lou Dobrolosky, Jerry Hyde and Donald Jack Four song EP cut at Hertz Sound in Newark
The Viscanes came from Morristown, New Jersey, and included:
Donald Jack – lead guitar John Ayers – rhythm guitar Al Martansic – keyboards Jerry Hyde – bass Lou Dobrolosky – drums Billy King – vocals
They cut four unreleased songs at Hertz Recording Studio in Newark. From the songs on the acetate, the Viscanes had a style influenced by soul sounds of the day. There’s a cover of “Ooh-Poo-Pah-Doo”, and two original songs, the uptempo “Windstorm” and a ballad, “Black and Blue”. They also recorded a loose jam of organ and guitar solos with some ad-libbed vocals.
The Viscanes played regularly at Danny’s Hideaway in East Hanover NJ, located on Route 10, attached to a bowling alley. Some silent 8mm footage of the band exists, with part of the recordings as the Front Row added for a soundtrack:
They also played at Idaho Pines in Parsippany NJ, Dude Ranch Inn in Dover NJ, and Aunt Kate’s on Rt 46 in Stanhope NJ, as well as the Boardwalk at Seaside Heights and Atlantic City.
The Viscanes on stage Danny’s Hideaway, April 1966
The Front Row perform “The World’s Fantasy”, produced by Marty Foglia at Regent Sound Studio
The Front Row
With a couple lineup changes the Viscanes became the Front Row:
Donald Jack – lead guitar John Arends – rhythm guitar Frank Knox – keyboards Jerry Hyde – bass Lou Dobrolosky – drums Al Martansic – vocals
As the Front Row they made two acetates at Regent Sound Studios on West 56th St in Manhattan. One has two vocals, “The Worlds Fantasy” b/w “Hey Little Girl”. The second acetate has backing tracks for both songs, but with “The World’s Fantasy” titled “Roaches” for some reason.
“The Worlds Fantasy” is well-crafted commercial pop, with a great opening guitar lick and pounding drums. It certainly is good enough to have deserved release, but I don’t think it ever was. I can’t find copyright information on either song, and wonder if “The World’s Fantasy” was a working title.
The Front Row perform on the backing track to “The World’s Fantasy” produced by Marty Foglia
“Hey Little Girl” is a slower ballad. Marty Foglia’s name is on the labels, probably as producer. In 1966, Foglia recorded an early Jim Croce song called “Sun Come Up” with an unknown group called the Clique that Laurie Records released.
Marty Foglia had been active in the late ’50s, running the Cecilia Records label with a handful of pop and doo-wop singles by the Criterions, Johnny Starr and Mike Figlio. He co-wrote “New Orleans Beat” with Michael Ralph Colicchio. Foglia also recorded the Viscounts, selling the masters to Madison Records which hit with “Harlem Nocturne” in 1959 and again in 1965. But I can’t find many credits for him after 1961. Some info from Pop Archives.
Donald Jack moved to Sunrise, Florida in 1975 where he opened D&J Chevron in Deerfield Beach. His sons Don and Steve contributed the photos and info on the band. Don passed away in 2001, and Jerry Hyde passed in 2006.
Thank you to Don and Steve Jack for sharing these great photos and history.
The Viscanes on stage Danny’s Hideaway, April 1966
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”.
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.
The Hallmarks present “Soul Shakin’ Psychedelic Sally” to Oceanport Mayor Edward C. Wilson and Councilman Felix Foggia, September, 1967
The Hallmarks came from the towns of Oceanport and Long Branch, New Jersey. An article from the Ashbury Park Press of September 26, 1967 gives the full membership of the group:
The Hallmarks are Russ Scalzo, the composer who plays rhythm guitar; his brother, Joseph, drums, and cousin, Anthony Scalzo, rhythm guitar; Ricky Gager, lead guitar, and Jim Bova, bass guitar.
At the time of the article, Russ was the oldest, at 19, Tony Scalzo was 18, Joe Scalzo was 16, and Ricky and Jim were 15.
The article continues, “The record was produced by Thomas Falcone, who was instrumental in bringing the group together through a contest and for promoting the record with Mercury.”
The band cut Russ Scalzo’s original “I Know Why” as early as 1966. With a new title and lyric changes, plus layers of echo and effects to the recording, the Hallmarks released the song as “Soul Shakin’ Psychedelic Sally” on Smash in the summer of 1967. Many listeners prefer the original version without all the echo and effects, but the single does have a zany power that’s made it a classic.
The flip, “Girl of My Dreams” is more conventional. A demo acetate from Bedminster Sound Corp. in West Orange has one unreleased song produced by Tommy Falcone, “Baby We Can Make It Together”, the band trading off with a girl group chorus.
Unfortunately this was the only release the band had. I’m not sure how or why the group broke up.
A few years ago Russ Scalzo produced a musical based on his experiences with the group, “Running Through the Fire” written with daughter Rachel, and is now an author of Christian books. His website is www.russscalzo.com.
Producer Tommy Falcone has an interesting history. In 1963 he and Gino Viscione started the Cleopatra label, famous for labels featuring a reclining woman, often mistaken for Elizabeth Taylor but actually Tommy’s wife in costume. Cleopatra had at least eight releases, ranging from the Tabbys’ bizarre “Hong Kong Baby” to the Centuries great instrumentals “The Outer Limits” and “Jack 23”.
After Cleopatra folded, Falcone had his hand in producing, including the Inmates’ excellent “You Tell Lies” on Columbia and the Shoestring’s “Candy Andy”. Unfortunately Tommy Falcone passed away around the age of 40 circa 1970, supposedly from a heart attack after playing an accordion concert.
Great double-sider 45 from the Towers, “Not With Him” b/w “Babe”, their only release on the Flame 411 with 102-A/B also on the labels.
The fast, pleading “Not With Him” was written by Einstein, Anderson, Bado, Anderson.
Harmon Einstein wrote the flip, which I like even better, “Babe”. Both songs have Nanni Publication listed for publisher.
The mastering engineer must have been working without a title sheet, as he etched “Said I Love You” in the deadwax of the A-side and “Bab” of the flip. It’s a low-fidelity pressing, with lots of surface noise, but the quality of the performances comes through.
The location of the band was a mystery to me until Mike Kuzmin wrote to me that the band was from Hamilton Square, New Jersey, near Trenton.
The Flame label also released Clay Brown & the Invaders “Talkin’ Soul” (C. Wilson) / “Nothin’ But Love” on Flame 415. Clay Brown & the Invaders formed in Florence, South Carolina in 1967.
I’d like to know the three singles that come between the Towers on Flame 411 and the Clay Brown on Flame 415.
I don’t have any info on the Mark V other than what’s on the labels. BMI lists the “Mark V” as the song writer for “I Want To Say”, so that indicates the band members were L. Cerame, G. Snow, R. Eder, T. Montanino, and R. Hackling.
The b-side “You Make Me Lose My Mind” is the wilder of the two songs; Jack Provenzano is the writer. Unfortunately it’s not on youtube right now, but it’s worth seeking out for the weird scream after the opening drum roll.
Released on Blast 215 in 1964. Vincent Catalano (Vinnie) owned the Blast label, and also had the Sinclair, Whale, Mermaid, and Camay Records labels with Don Ames. Blast is known for doo wop, especially “Coney Island Baby” by the Excellents. Basil Bova did some A&R work for the Blast label.
The Mark V single comes towards the end of the Blast catalog. New York City was my best guess on the band, but it turns out they were a Belleville, New Jersey group.
Jerry Rivera and the Generations released this single on the Kim Records label, probably in the early 1970s.
“Baby Be Mine” was supposed to be the A-side, it starts with a recitation and moves into an easy-listening ballad.
I’m more taken with the flip, “Lovin’ Man” which starts quietly and gets a good psychedelic groove going, but refrains from cutting loose. In nearly four and a half minutes, we get several repetitions of the chorus, a long undistorted guitar solo and some overdubbed trumpet, and I did like how the lyric “let me ease your mind” sounds like “let me eat your mind”!
Both songs are originals published by Help Me Music BMI, and recorded at Triple “A” Studios, on Walnut Street in South Amboy, New Jersey with Marty Ruszala as the engineer.
The release on Kim Records 20605 included the cool picture sleeve with notes on the back (“LOVIN’ MAN also projects a meaning but of a different nature”). The runout on this single is etched ARP-2097/8, I’m not sure the plant, but it would not be American Record Pressing Co. in Owosso, Michigan.
Max Waller informs me of another single by Jerry Rivera, “Fortunata” / “This World” on Kim ULT 70011 from about 1970, which indicates “written by Gerald D. Rivera” on the label. Neither of us has heard this single.
This is not the same Kim Records who released an excellent Night Crawlers sounding single by Ron Starr (aka Ron & the Starfires) with the Chuck Conlon penned “Crawl Into My Shoulder” in 1967.
Danny Mansolino sent these newsletters, business cards and other clippings to me. Enjoy!
4 Classics card featuring Rick, Dan and Mike (all later of Myddle Class) with Kurt on guitarearly business card featuring Rick, Dan & “Myke”, plus Doug on sax and Kurt on bassearly business card featuring Rick, Dan & Mike, plus Doug on sax and Kurt on bassThe King BeesSummit High December 11, 1965 The first public performance of the Velvet UndergroundMyddle Class newsletter #2reverse of newsletter #2the infamous pitchfork photo – scanned from a photocopyMyddle Class Newsletter Issue 4, January 1966
Great photos by John E. Lynch – maybe he has some of the other bands that night?
The Blues Project, The Myddle Class and Richie Havens at the Cafe Au Go Go, March and April, probably 1966Plainfield Courier News May 19, 1966The Myddle Class, The Shadows & The Forty Fingers, May 20, 1966 Summit Junior HighNewark Sunday News, June 19, 1966The Myddle Class, the Dougboys and Renaissance Fair Springfield, July 15, 1967Undated flyer for the Myddle Class at Unganoscartoon of Danny Mansolinohand drawn card for Dennis Mansolino’s band the Jazzmasters with Steve and Mick. Dennis was Dan’s younger brother
Thank you to Dan Mansolino for his help.
If anyone has photos, flyers, the other newsletters or any other material on the Myddle Class please contact me.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
Marty Ruszala owned or operated PhotoSonics Laboratories, also known as Triple A studio, where he engineered the Jerry Rivera “Lovin’ Man” single on Kim, and Brian O’Connor “How Was I To Know” / “Missing You” on Sayne Records 20168.
