Those Two Plus – “I’ll Be There” / “It’s Rainin’ (Where I’m Bound)” (both by Alex Rotter, arranged by “Those Two”) Kennett Sound 0017, 1969.
Alex Rotter and Dawn Mickle performed as simply “Those Two” in a couple news reports. The Oneonta Star noted on August 10, 1968 that the duo took second place in the Folk Music Contest at the Otsego County Fair.
The Schenectady Gazette ran a photo of the duo on September 17, 1968:
Those Two, folksingers Dawn Mickle of Warnerville and Alex Rotter of Schenectady, who won top honors at the Cobleskill Fair and first in the semi-finals of the State Fair, entertained patients at the Eden Park Nursing home …
I have a 12″ acetate from the Kennett Sound Studio that includes both songs from the single. Another 12″ acetate contains five songs performed by Alex and Dawn which were not released.
From listening, I believe four of these to be original songs: “If I Were Free”, “Take Me to the Land of Lovin'”, “I Can Tell”, and “I Know What You Mean to Say” (titles are based on the lyrics), along with a version of Fred Neil’s “The Other Side of this Life”:
The Kennett Studio labels are blank.
Thank you to Peter Aaron for loan of the Those Two Plus single, and for finding the Gazette article on the duo.
Update: I’m pleased to say I was able to send the 12″ acetate of five unreleased songs to Alex Rotter’s family. Thank you to Sherry Rotter for contacting me.
The Heathens, from left: Mike Scheer, Steve Petticrew, Mike Delario, Laddie Stahl and Larry Hooker. Bass player Paul Marquez wasn’t around for the photo.
The Heathens came from Schenectady, NY and cut one of the greatest singles of the area “The Other Way Around” / “Problems” on Vibra L-104. The Heathens recorded at Vibra Sound Recording Studio, but the cavernous sound does not diminish the energy of the group.
Michael Dellario wrote both songs and sang lead vocals. The labels credit Hooker, Stahl, Petticrew, Sheer & Marquez for arrangement.
Michael Dellario – lead vocals Laddie Stahl – guitar Steve Petticrew – guitar Larry Hooker – keyboards Paul Marquez – bass Mike Sheer – drums
Steve Rosen wrote a profile on the band in Kicks #2, but the article had a number of typos in the names, such as Steve Pedicrue, Paul Marques, and Mike Sherer.
The article gives some interesting information about Vibra Sound studio:
The Heathens were the first to record at Schenectday’s first studio, Vibra Sound, which at the time was located in the home of proprietor Nate Schwartz. As Mike Dellario remembers it, conditions were primitive: “At the time, the studio was his garage and the engineering booth was his basement. I remember there was no eye contact at all. All the talking was through the microphone. Everything was done basically in just one shot, no concept of tracking.”
The Heathens broke up when the members graduated high school in June, 1967. The article states that Dellerio stuck it out with several subsequent bands and eventually cut some demos for Warner Brothers … He hopes to work with local bands on a producer/arranger level.
The Sensations, from left: unidentified on accordion, Dave Marinucci with pompadour on guitar, Michael Dellario on drums, Larry Hooker with the tambourine, and George Supreneault on guitar in the white shirt.
Walter Phelps (who was lead guitarist for the Ravens, also managed by Marty Wade) sent in this photo of the Sensations, which had two members who would go into the Heathens.
Mike Dellario changed his name to Michael Dellaira and became an orchestral composer.
Michael Dellaira told me he auditioned to sing for the Heathens, and brought Larry Hooker with him into the band on keyboards. Thank you to Michael for the info and the photo at top.
Morning After released one record in 1970, “I Don’t Need You Today” / “Dream” on Third Wave 0027.
Members were:
Joe Kearney – lead guitar and vocals Bruce Talbott – bass guitar and vocals Jim Tate – drums and vocals
Although all three have song writing credit on the labels, copyright registration from March, 1970 shows Bruce E. Talbott wrote words and music to “I Don’t Need You Today”, and Talbott and Joseph Kearney co-wrote “Dream”. Dyad Music published the songs, but I don’t see them in BMI’s database.
According to an article in the Kingston Daily Freeman from March 7, 1970, the group met in New Paltz but were based in Kingston, NY. The group were in their early 20s, so they may have had previous band experience.
For Them, Rock’s the Mother Tongue
Morning After is not much interested in talking up a revolution. Its three clean-cut, suede-jacketed-and-vested members prefer to sing songs that are rhythmic with vocal harmony rather than rife with social movement … forsaking screaming lyrics and fire-eating antics for music with a straight-ahead sound.
Relying on the powerful, bluesy, lean sounds of Wallkill drummer Jim Tate, Kingston lead guitarist Joe Kearney, and bass guitarist Bruce Talbott of Walden … Their impeccable instrumental style and express-track delivery has brought them bookings at The Creamery in West Park, the Thunderbird in Saugerties, the Blue Eagle in New Paltz, and the Trade Wind and Coral Reef in Newburgh …
Talbott … tied in with the other two members of the group during a jam session while he was a student at New Paltz State University College.
The new disc, produced by Lance Naylor for Third Wave Records, was recorded at Kennett Sound Studios in Kinderhook: is currently available at Caldor’s Abrams and Britts.
(T.G.)
I don’t know if Talbott, Kearney or Tate continued in music after Morning After. Their record is one of the few singles from Kennett Sound studio that I don’t have in my collection.
Lance Naylor had a previous mention in the Daily Freeman, from March 25, 1969:
Theft of musical instruments valued at $1,000 from the Pleasure Yacht Tavern here, was under investigation …
Lance Naylor … manager of The Spurs, a musical group, reported the theft on Monday to authorities. He said the missing articles included three amplifiers and other musical equipment.
Riccardo and the 4 Most made one single, the great ballad “There’s a Reason” backed with a good version of “Barefootin'”, released in 1967 on Foremost Records.
The band is listed on the label: Riccardo Wright (guitar), Ralph Marotta (bass), George Leary (drums), and Douglas Jacobs (organ). Bill White wrote and sung lead on “There’s a Reason”.
“Bare Footin'” features Ricardo Wright on lead vocals. Someone is playing trumpet on both songs, uncredited.
Later members included Joe Lattanzio (trumpet) and Tommy Watson (bass). In 1969, with an expanded horn section including Ron Rucker on trombone and Gene Hilstro on sax, the group became a nonet called the Blues Busters.
If any of the members of the band are out there, I’d like to hear from them.
The single was recorded at Kennett Sound Studio in Kinderhook. I found an acetate lacquer of both sides among a stack of Kennett demos. The Foremost Records release code U4KM-0937 indicates a 1967 RCA pressing.
ad from February 11, 1967
It’s a little difficult to search for the band, as listings for the group in newspapers include variations such as Riccardo & the Fourmost, Ricardo and the 4 Most, Ricardo and the Foremosts, etc. The sign behind the band on stage in two photos reads “The Fabulous 4 Most”.
The earliest ad I can find for the group is from the Troy Record on February 11, 1967, noting that Ricardo and the 4 Most would be playing the Excelsior House on Snyders Lake in North Greenbush “every Friday, Saturday and Sunday”. Another ad on August 19, 1967 noted the group would play the Excelsior “every Thurs. thru Sun.
The Times Record of Troy mentioned the group playing Shaker High School in Latham twice, once on January 15, 1968, then again on May 29, 1968 in a benefit for a Shaker school in Vadawal, India. The group also played the University Twist Palace in Albany.
Another ad lists Ricardo and the Foremosts at Corkey’s on 18 Clifton St. in Waterford, April 5-7, 1968.
Riccardo and the Fabulous 4-Most
A clipping from January 25, 1969 (I don’t know the paper) describes their transformation into Ricardo and his Blues Busters:
Riccardo and The Fourmosts, as you younger people know, has enlarged from four to nine. The new nonet is called the Blues Busters and features rhythm & blues and soul music, much of it original words and music by Riccardo, the leader, and some arrangements by Al Friedman.
The Blues Busters are a living example of interracial harmony, personally and musically. They play to an enthusiastic gathering at The Royal Mousetrap from 9:30 to 3 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Mousetrap is on New Karner Road (Route 155) just off Central Avenue [in Colonie].
The Troy Record noted a Youth On Unity (Y.O.U.) benefit dance on May 29 at St. Joseph’s Church Hall in Rensselaer with the Blues Busters (“formerly known as ‘Riccardo and the foremost’ from Albany” with the Souls from Pittsfield and the Multi-colored Projections. The Youth On Unity group chairman was Ronald Rucker, trombone player in the Blues Busters.
Riccardo and the Blues Busters featured in Bill Rezey’s column in Where the Action Is, June 2, 1969
Bill Rezey wrote in his Celebrity Spotlite page in the June 2-16 issue of Where the Action Is, Capital District :
Where the Action Is, Capitol District, June 2-16, 1969. Thank you to Chas for sending this in.
… the Albany area has been supporting a nine piece soul band for over a year and by today’s standards, that’s a big band and a long time.
RICCARDO AND THE BLUES BUSTERS, evolved from a well-known group called the 4 Mosts, when Riccardo discovered that many of the musical things he wanted to do just couldn’t be done with four men. He added piece by piece until he found the perfect combination: nine musicians plus a lovely and talented vocalist, Linda Wilson.
Featured players include: George Leary, drums Ralph Maurotta, bass Al Valente, guitar Ron Rucker, trombone Joe Latancio [sic], trumpet Fred Antico, organ Gene Samaca, tenor and alto saxophone
… a major portion of the group’s book of tunes is in the soul idiom, however, their catalogue of material includes much of the Young Rascals, 5th Dimension and Glen Campbell. When Linda and Riccardo get together on “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the audience immediately becomes aware of the group’s ability to expand beyond the pure soul movement.
Look for the refreshing sounds of RICCARDO AND THE BLUES BUSTERS when they return from their extended [intended] engagement at the Tropical Inn, Kingston.
The two photos and some of the info came from the Albany Group Archive. Thank you to Al Quaglieri and Joe Lattanzio for their help with this article. Thank you to Chas for sending in the Where the Action Is issue photos.
Frani & the Frantics, from left: Fran Russak, Karla Major, Alayne Major and Jim Morabito
Frani & the Frantics were a vocal quartet of Fran Russak, sisters Karla Major and Alaine Major, and Jim Morabito. Fran Russak came from Carmel, New York, the others from Peekskill.
Their one and only single from the spring of 1964, “You Threw a Line” b/w “Skin and Bones” was also the first on the Giantstar label of Mahopac, owned by Raymond Meltzer. Giantstar would release three singles by the Mark IV of Poughkeepsie.
The labels of Giant Star GS 401 credit Dorothea Meltzer & Jeannie Villetto for both songs. Ray Meltzer owned Jemel Publishing, JNR Production and Music-All Inc. Copyright registration shows another song, “Why Ya Make Me Wanna Cry” which Frani & the Frantics attempted but didn’t finish.
Jeanne Villetto had previous experience in song-writing, composing songs for two singles by Claire Lane (aka Claire Litke, a member of the Ramrods): “I Dig That Guy” for the top side of Josie 904 (b/w “Run Run Run Away”), and “Curiosity” / “Isn’t It a Shame” on Petal 1020 in August, 1963.
Villetto and Litke also wrote “Do You Hear Me Call?” in 1962, but I’m not sure if this was recorded.
Alaine Major wrote to me about her time as a Frantic:
I was one of the Frantics of the group Frani and the Frantics. The “Frantics” were myself, my sister Karla and Jimmy Morabito. We recorded “You Threw a Line” backed by “Skin and Bones” in 1964 with Ray Meltzer and Jean Villetto.
Karla, Jimmy and I sang in high school. One day we saw an ad in our local Pennysaver that record producers were auditioning singers for studio backup work (for Frani). We thought that sounded like fun, so we called and auditioned. Once Ray Meltzer and Jean Viletto heard us sing (acapella), Jean decided right then and there that instead of us being studio backup singers, she wanted to form a group.
Within two weeks we were under contract. We rehearsed locally in the Peekskill area for two months most evenings and weekends with a small combo. Finally Ray and Jean decided we were ready to record. Our Mom drove us to Mars Broadcasting [in Stamford, Connecticut] for the recording sessions. Ray knew several musicians from the New York Philharmonic who made up the orchestra you hear on the record. I remember the engineer Chuck James who was truly supportive of our efforts. The studio was very crowded with the musicians on one side and we on the other. We each sang into a hanging mic. There was a lot of down time as the engineer worked on the board with Ray and Jean listening and tweaking. (I also remember hearing that Mars Broadcasting was owned by Dick Clark).
Music-All was Raymond’s company and was the name on our contract. “Why Ya Make Me Wanna Cry” was supposed to be the ‘B’ side of “You Threw A Line”, but the next week we switched to “Skin and Bones”.
At our request, “Skin and Bones” was done acapella. If you listen to it again, you’ll hear me cue Frani her note after we modulate up on the word “bones.”
The Jarlayns on Giantstar GS-402, “I Don’t Love You Anymore”, released February 1966
We played rock n roll shows with The Duprees, The Ventures, The Rivieras, and others I don’t recall anymore. It was an exciting time for three high school kids from Peekskill, NY! We became local celebrities and got invited to sing at many, many shows and events.A year later I used to do a lot of writing and I would go to the studio just to get my stuff on tape. Under the name The Jarlaynes, we recorded “Why Don’t You Call” with Karla and I playing the acoustic guitar. “I Don’t Love You Anymore” was originally just me and my guitar and Chris Dikaris [who also had a single on Giantstar] added instruments & backup vocals. I wrote both of those songs and so my name, Alayne Major, is written underneath the song title.
After high school Karla, Jimmy and I began singing as a trio again and sang at many local events and “hootenanny’s” which became popular with the advent of folk music.
Mirabai in the Poughkeepsie Journal, September 5, 1976
Karla was also a student at New Paltz. Jimmy moved on, but Karla and I sang as The Major Sisters and were invited to other colleges to perform in their hootenanny’s. We also were asked to be the opening act for several musicians at college concerts which included Chuck Berry (!), Judy Collins, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masakela among others. This went on through 1969.After Woodstock, Karla moved to San Francisco and started a band, and I was a wife and mother. In 1970 Jimmy was drafted and went to Vietnam.
I was the impetus for Karla’s solo career through contacts I’d made. She used the stage name Mirabai. She returned from San Francisco around 1972 and moved to NYC where she was a headliner at Reno Sweeney’s, Catch a Rising Star, and The Bottom Line (she opened for Billy Joel, Kenny Rankin, Loudon Wainwright III). Her big break came in 1974 when Jimmy Cliff was going to do his first U.S. concert at Carnegie Hall and he requested Karla (then Mirabai) be his opening act. Danny Goldberg caught her performance and began managing her career at that point.
In 2006 Karla was living in Asheville, NC with her family. She got in touch with Bob Johnston who produced her album and he produced a new CD she’d written. Unfortunate personal events precluded its release, but I have the master and a couple of first CDs printed.
I learned from a friend that Raymond and Jean got married and lived out the rest of their lives in Florida. Karla died in 2016, and Jimmy died on March 14, 2022.
Thank you to Alaine Major for answering my questions about the Frantics!
Thanks also to Mike Markesich for the scans of the Jarlayns single on Giantstar.
Frani and the Frantics mentioned in the Mamaroneck Daily Times on April 30, 1964
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 Silver Byke at Arthur’s, photo courtesy of Reggie WardThe Silver Byke released only one single, “I’ve Got Time” / “Who Needs Tomorrow” on Bang Records B-557.
Charly Cazalet wrote “I’ve Got Time”, while “Who Needs Tomorrow” is credited to Cazalet, Nelson, Platania, and Ward.
Cash Box gave it a favorable review in April, 1968. It was also released in the UK on London Records.
Supposedly the group had more songs completed for an album when Bert Berns of Bang Records passed away on December 30, 1967. If they still exist, I’d love to hear them!
Members were:
Reggie Ward – lead vocals and rhythm guitar John Platania – lead guitar Charly Cazalet – bass guitar Michael Nelson – drums
An unsigned profile of the Silver Byke appeared in the May 4, 1968 edition of the Kingston Daily Freeman:
Silver Byke Rolls Along Sporting Guitar and Song
The Silver Byke is a recording group out of Poughkeepsie …
The Silver Byke was the last group to be signed to a recording contract and become proteges of the late great Bert Burns [sic] of Bang Records. Two of their recent releases on this label are “I’ve Got Time” and “Who Needs Tomorrow”.
Among the many successful college concerts where the Silver Byke has made its sound are Vassar, Harvard, Bard and Finch…
Founder of the group is Michael Nelson, a drummer who began his career several years ago with the Lost Souls. He later recorded with Bobby Dylan. After a stretch on the New York music scene he returned to the Hudson Valley where he had spent most of his life after coming over from his native England.
Charlie Cazalet [sic], bass guitarist, immigrated here from France and stepped right into the music scene at 17. After accompanying well known groups here and in Canada, he joined Mike in The Silver Byke, then under the name of The Meek and Obscure.
Most recent member of the Byke brigade is 20-year-old John Platania, lead guitarist. A well known instructor in upstate New York, John gained fame as lead singer and guitarist with the big city group, Love’s Body.
Formerly a member of the Dirty Elbows recording group, Reginald Wald [sic], also 20, does honors as lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the Bykes. He also switches from guitar to trumpet and does a good deal of horn dubbing for the Bykes recording sessions.
Recent engagements have been two weeks at the Discotheque Arthur in New York City and weekend performances at the Dew Drop Inn, Eddyville.
from the Daily Freeman, October 17 1969I can find listings for the band around the Poughkeepsie area from December 1967 until April 1969, including at the Dew Drop Inn on Route 213 in Eddyville, and at the “Us” teen club at Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park.
Then in October 1969, an ad for the Pleasure Yacht in Eddyville announces the Bak Steppe, “including members of the Famous Silver Byke”.
Charly Cazalet wrote a partial history of his career for his release Rough Mix-NYC, which I’ll excerpt here:
The Silver Byke, photos courtesy of Reggie Ward
My first professional performance was with my first band ‘The Outsiders’ at the Steve Paul Scene nightclub in New York City, the fall of 1964. I was sixteen years old and the band had already recorded two songs at Mirror Sound for a couple of writers from the infamous Brill Building. Soon after we signed with Audio Fidelity Records. Over the next few years I continued to perform in NYC clubs, The El Mio, Ondine’s, The Phone Booth, Arthur’s, The Bitter End and The Salvation to name a few.
In May 1966 after a four month tour in Quebec with French Canadian rock star Tony Roman I came home to NYC and met the band ‘The Left Banke’. They had just recorded “Walk Away Rene” and were looking for a guitarist to join the band. I didn’t join the band but maintained a professional and personal relationship with some of the band members until today. I played bass guitar on most of the tracks for The Left Banke’s third and last album ‘Voices Calling’ around 1978 that was released in Britain in 1988.
The Left Banke lead singer Steve Martin Caro co-wrote and sings lead on track 1 and 4 and sings harmony vocal on track 8 [on Rough Mix-NYC]. The Left Banke drummer George Cameron plays on track 5, 6, and 8. These five songs were recorded between 1978 and 1979. Reginald Ward sings lead on Track 5.
Reggie and I performed in a four piece band called The Silver Byke with John Platania and Mike Nelson between 1967-1970. We signed with legendary music producer Bert Berns, but Bert passed away before we recorded and released a 45 rpm for his label Bang Records. Chris Houston from the British rock band The Undertakers produced the session.
I asked Charly about how he joined the Silver Byke and he wrote to me:
I met Mike Nelson around early 1965 at a club called Ondine in midtown Manhattan. He was playing there with his band The Lost Souls. When they finished the set I went up to him and started talking with him.
At the time I was in a band called The Outsiders and we were the house-band at the El Mio club not to far away from Ondine. A short time later he quit his band and started spinning records at El Mio for a while. My band left El Mio and broke up soon after and some time after that I ran into Mike and he didn’t have a place to stay so, I took him to my parents and they said he could stay with us. To make a long story short, he got a recording gig with Bob Dylan and made a bunch of money $500, so we got an apartment together.
After playing in a number of bands together we formed The Sliver Byke. When the lead guitarist quit we got John Platania to fill in. We broke up in Jan. 1969. I played with John for a while, until he sent on to play with Van Morrison. Mike and I parted ways.
John Platania would go on to play on albums by Van Morrison, Chip Taylor and Genya Ravan, among many others. See www.johnplatania.com for more info on his career.
The Los Angeles Times profiled Mike Nelson in January, 1987, describing his move to California while playing fusion jazz, then leaving music to become a sculptor.
Thank you to Reggie Ward for sending in the photos of the group seen here. Reggie was in a group called Easy Street in the 1970s.
When singers John Finley and Lee Jackson left The Jon-Lee Group (aka Jon & Lee and The Checkmates) in mid-September 1967, Toronto singer David Clayton-Thomas picked up their backing band, renamed it The Phoenix and moved to New York.
After a month’s rehearsals, the group debuted at the Bitter End and then briefly played at the East Scene in October before working as the house-band at Steve Paul’s The Scene.
The band’s career, however, was cut short during early November when Clayton-Thomas was deported for being an illegal alien.
Leishman also returned to Toronto at this point and played with several groups, including The Power Project and Bobby Kris & The Imperials before joining The Duke Edwards Cycle in late 1968.
Hodgson meanwhile was offered a place in Project Supergroup (later Rhinoceros) in December and flew out to Los Angeles to audition.
After being passed over for the group in early 1968, he briefly rejoined David Clayton-Thomas in his group, David Clayton-Thomas Combine. When that split in mid-1968, Hodgson moved back to the US and became a member of the Paxton Ranch Band, playing on Jackson Browne’s early recordings (aka Baby Browning).
Cutler stayed in New York and worked with an embryonic version of Hot Tuna and then did a stint drumming and managing The Crazy World of Arthur Brown during the band’s summer ’68 North American tour. He later worked as a manager for The Holy Modal Rounders.
When Clayton-Thomas had previously worked in New York in March 1967, he had shared a flat with former Bob Dylan bass player Harvey Brooks, who was in the process of putting The Electric Flag together.
Apparently Brooks had offered Thomas the original vocal slot in the group, but he declined.
Fonfara however, did accept an invitation from the Flag’s drummer Buddy Miles to replace Barry Goldberg when the latter got busted in November 1967.
Fonfara duly appeared on the group’s debut album, before becoming a member of Project Supergroup the following month, which soon changed name to Rhinoceros.
Hodgson and Leishman both rejoined Fonfara in Rhinoceros in 1969.
David Clayton-Thomas joined Blood, Sweat & Tears in June 1968.
Advertised gigs
19-22 October 1967 – Steve Paul’s The Scene, New York with The Carnival Connection
The Essentials came from Schagticoke, New York, and cut two singles on their own Kandy label in 1969 and 1970. Members were:
Jason Wheeler – lead guitar Steve Wheeler – rhythm guitar Jeff Wheeler – bass guitar Fred “Squeekey” Stay – drums
Jeff Wheeler recalled to Max Waller:
Our ages were 13, 15, 17 and 17 at the time. We played Friday and Saturday nights and threw in a wedding now and then with the old standards on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Even went to Atlantic City and Raleigh, NC. cuz we won a few Battle Of The Bands – the Tea Berry song contest too (we didn’t win that tho). We made 2 45s in 1968. Never made a million but we sold 1000 records for $1 apiece after spending $500 to do it! It was fun.
The Essentials recorded at Vibra-Sound Studio in Schenectady for both their singles. The first was Kandy 101 from 1969. “Oklahoma Blues” has some falsetto vocals about a minute in, but really gets going after the guitar break, with a funky rhythm and chanting. Fred Stay and Steve Wheeler wrote “Oklahoma Blues”. Steve Wheeler wrote “Baby You Get to Me”, which I haven’t heard yet.
Their second 45, on Kandy 82042 from 1970, had two originals by Squeeky Stay. “Sunshine Baby” is light pop. I prefer “Freedom”, which starts out with wah-wah guitar over drumming and doesn’t let up for three minutes. It’s a styrene 45 and hard to find in fine shape.
Robert Barry Music published all four songs.
Squeeky Stay and Mark Galeo made another single recorded at Vibra-Sound, “Slippin’ Away” / “Mrs. Jones” on Jinhea 100.
Max Waller added, “in 2002 Jeff resided in Poestenskill, NY; Steve was in New Jersey; Jason was reported to be in Texas; and Squeeky Stay had stayed in Schaghticoke.”
Fred Stay, Jr. also played drums with a group called the World of Darkness, that back Alan Burn on two songs “Gotham City” and “See Susie Run”, released on Tuesday Records. “See Susie Run” was also on the flip of “Information (Help Me Please)” by Alan on Tuesday Records TR-1 / Tuesday Records TR-SSR.
The other members of the World of Darkness were David L. Ferretti guitar, Paul Orloski rhythm guitar, John Zullo (or John Sciuto) on bass, and Sandi La Barge on organ.
Thank you to Max Waller for help with this article.
Earl Kennett, left with members of Love Minus Zero inside the Sunnyside studio, January 8, 1967. Photo courtesy of the Kennett family.Kennett Sound Studio acetate of three songs by the East Coast Clique (previously known as the Cleaners), photo courtesy of Mike Dugo
Earl Kennett was born in 1912 in Augusta, Kansas. He attended the Kansas State Institute for the Blind and the Horner-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.
He established some reputation as a touring pianist in the 1940s, including at the Blue Note at 56 West Madison in Chicago, the Rainbow Room in Oklahoma City, and the Casablanca Supper Club at 101 May Avenue in, I believe, Oklahoma City.
On March 1, 1945 Down Beat published a review:
Jazz Concert Given in Minneapolis
From 3 to 5 Sunday afternoon, February 11, Doc Evans conducted the first in a series of jazz concerts held in station WCCO’s auditorium studio.
… on piano was Earl Kennett, a solo fixture at the Casablanca …
… Song Of The Wanderer, the final tune, developed into an all-out jam-session … Pianist Kennett drew a tremendous, spontaneous ovation from the audience with his three sensational choruses on this closing number.
In the 1960s he sometimes played with the Original Berkshireland Jazz Band in Williamstown, MA. I have not yet found any recordings with Earl prior to his own album Musical Themes of Composure: Earl Kennett’s Original Piano Improvisations of Restful Music from circa 1967.
Though blind, he received training in audio recording. A 1957 LP on ABC-Paramount, Vinnie Burke’s String Jazz Quartet credits Earl Kennett as recording engineer.
Earl Kennett in the Carnegie Hall studio, May 1959
I believe his first studio was located at 115 West 49th Street, New York City. In January 1958, he moved the studio to rented space in Carnegie Hall. The May 1959 issue of Broadcast Engineering had a three page feature on Earl with detailed information about the studio construction materials made by the Johns-Manville company, with a console built by Fred C. Roberts.
Facing Earl are saw-tooth-shaped Imperial Transitone movable walls for accurate sound reflection. Next to the piano not in use is an even-finish movable wall, also for sound reflection, and a sound-absorbing perforated Transite acoustical panel. The floor is covered with quiet-under-foot Terraflex vinyl asbestos tile and the ceiling with Permacoustic, a sound-absorbing fissured acoustical tile.
In early 1964 Earl moved his studio for a brief time to Mountain View Road in Nevis, a small town near Bard College in Tivoli.
In 1965, Earl and his wife bought Sunnyside farm in Kinderhook, New York, about 20 miles southeast of Albany. Earl converted an old dairy barn on the property into a recording studio, substituting egg cartons for the pricey asbestos baffles.
The first recording from his studio I can find is the Kynds single “So If Someone Sends You Flowers Babe” / “Find Me Gone”. Pressed through RCA in September, 1966, there is no indication of where it was recorded on the labels, but drummer Jerry Porreca recalled making the single at Kennett’s studio.
Back of Love Minus Zero photo at top. What are these names in the middle? Freely, Freddy, Eby, Franky ??
On January 8, 1967, a group called Love Minus Zero did a session at the studio and sent a photo to Earl. The group came from Albany, and I may have their recordings on an unlabeled lacquer acetate. It’s difficult to make out the names of the group – but luckily I found a lineup in Al Quaglieri’s The Old Band Chronicle #4, a list of Capital District bands compiled in 1990.
Love Minus Zero were:
Gary Siegel – vocals Eberhard Kobryn – guitar Fred Everhart – bass Frank Herec – drums
I believe Everhard Kobryn passed away in 2012. Later lineups added Jack Reilly on organ, replaced by Mark Rabinow. Eventually Fred Everhart was the only original member of the group, with Steve Fuld on guitar, Gary Gardner on vocals, and Stanley ? on drums.
In 1967, Kennett engineered Nick Brignola’s first LP, This Is It! on Priam P-101M. Musicians were Nick Brignola, Reese Markewich, Glen Moore and Dick Berk, A&R by William Rezey, photography by Bob Mitchell.
Another single I can confirm was recorded at Kennett is Riccardo and the 4 Most “There’s a Reason” (written and sung by Bill White) / “Bare Footin'” (featuring Ricardo Wright) Foremost Records U4KM-0937.
The Jelly Bean Bandits at Kennett Sound Studios in Kinderhook, from left: Mike Raab, Jack Dougherty, Joe Scalfari and Billy Donald on the floor – photo taken by bass player Fred Buck.
The Jelly Bean Bandits made their first demo at Kennett Sound Studio, never released to my knowledge. Mike Raab wrote:
The Goodtimes had done some recording there and when we decided to lay down tracks Dave Kennedy suggested Earl’s place … We really didn’t know what we wanted to do or could do. We cut two demo songs: “Poor Precious Dreams” an original song that ushered us into the psychedelic music era; and “Hard, Hard Year” a beautiful b-side from The Hollies that we managed to brutalize.
I have found an acetate of this early version of “Poor Precious Dreams”. The duration is about thirty seconds longer than the version on their Mainstream album.
In 1967 Earl Kennett began offering pressing services through Decca’s plant in Gloversville. Some releases have “Kennett” at the bottom of the labels, but all have a distinctive four-digit release number, beginning with “00”.
There were at least twenty-three 45 rpm singles and one LP released through Kennett’s studio with this numbering system. The last release I can find dates to 1973.
In addition, I know of a number of unreleased lacquer acetates by the Cleaners, the Chain Reactions, and others:
If you or someone you know recorded at Kennett, please contact me.
Discography of Kennett Sound Studio (possibly incomplete):
Kleener Style Records 0011 – The Cleaners – “Dust” / “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me”
Sunnyside Records 0012 – Musical Themes of Composure: Earl Kennett’s Original Piano Improvisations of Restful Music (12″ album)
0013 – ?
Sunny-Side Records 0014 – Psychedelic Sound – “Sorry Baby = Goodbye” / “Stars Cease To Shine” produced by M. Rizzi. Tina was the drummer for the band, and (I believe) one of the vocalists.
0015 – ?
Charter Records 0016 – The East Coast Clique – “Dust” / “Last Stop (Everybody’s Getting Off)”
0017 – Those Two Plus – “I’ll Be There” / “It’s Rainin’ (Where I’m Bound)” (both by Alex Rotter, arranged by “Those Two”) Kennett Sound, 1969
0018 – The Villagers – “Wishes and Memories” / “Cry On” (Chuck Petit)
Jim De Sorbo photo found with his recordScan courtesy of Brian Kirschenbaum
J.D.S. 0019 – Jim DeSorbo and the Country Casuals – “For Crying Out Loud” (Music, lyrics, vocal – Rusty Howard) / “I’ve Had All I Can Take from You” copyright ’69 BMI
The Gallery 0020 – The Gallery / Peter Dean – “Forever Sunshine” (Sal Costanzo) / “Our Man Jack” (Edward Duggan), Kennett Sound, Mlester Pub. BMI. The Gallery – label name or group?
0021 – ?
S Bar S Records 0022 – Slim Skellett & the Slim Skellett Trio – “Ghost Riders in the Sky” / “Wanderers of the Wasteland” (Brad Husson guitar, banjo; Bob Skellett bass)
S Bar S Records 0023 – Slim Skellett & the Slim Skellett Trio – “Strawberry Roan” / “Billy Richardson’s Last Ride” (Brad Husson guitar, banjo; Bob Skellett bass)
King Town 0024 – Coming Generation – “Tell Me Now” (Jim Du Bois) / “This Troubled Life” (Ed Barnhart) copyright ’69
0025 – ? 0026 – ?
Third Wave 0027 – Morning After – “I Don’t Need You Today” / “Dream” (Tate, Talbott, Kearney) Copyright 70 Dyad Music BMI, Prod. by Lance Naylor, group from Lake Latrine area
0028 – ? 0029 – ? 0030 – ? 0031 – ? 0032 – ?
Casino 0033 – The Coachmen – “Green Green Grass of Home” / “Hang Up Your Rock and Roll Shoes” Produced by Kennett AND QUINN
from the collection of Brian Kirschenbaum
Ranch Bar Records 0034 – Billy D. Hunter with the Santa Fe Riders – “I Still Belong to You” (Grace Hamilton, Billy D. Hunter) / “Will You Remember Me” (Gorden Bainbridge, Billy D. Hunter) – Waterford, NY
Drift 0035 – Denny and the Drifters – “Mountain of Love” (Harold Dorman) / “It’s Only Make Believe” (Twitty – Nance)
Ranch Bar Records OO36 – April Starr the Bluebirds and Chorus – “Lonely Heart” / “At the End of the Bar” (Del Monday) – arranged by M. Leddick’ produced by T. Carbonare, R. Hastings, B. Herold, D. Smith, and D. Oliver, from Crescent, NY.
Drift 0037 – Denny and the Drifters – “Broken Hearted Dreamer” (Ted Craver and Denny Haughney) / “Why Do I Love You” (Kenny White, Paul Desroches) produced by Kennett
Reeb 0038 – The Fownds – “Rosalin” (Sal Gambino) / “Comin On Strong” (Donald Moore) (1971)
0039 – ? 0040 – ?
Mojo 0041 – Exit 19 – “Angel of the Morning” / “To Be Alone” (written by Joe Cashara who also did lead vocal) produced by Lanse Dowdell, 1972
Quellthom 0042 – Bob Thomas – “It’s Just Not Fair” / “I’m Walkin’” / “Hello Mary Lou” (1973)
Parker 0043 – Country Express – “Trying to Quit” / “Ode to a $164 Plane Ticket” (both songs by D.B. Boucher, vocal by Frenchie La Shay) 1970
Reeb 0044 – The Founds – “Wheels” / “Remember” – vocal by Roy Jackson, both songs by Donald Moore, 1973
Ranch Bar 0045 – Jimmy DeSorbo and the Country Casual’s – “Listen to the Mocking Bird” / “Let the Rest of the World Go By” (Dolly McIntyre – producer)
King Records 0046 – Tommy Gene with the Kings of Country – “Somewhere U.S.A.” (words by Carol Curtis, music by Tommy Gene) / Tommy Gene and Don Horne – “Me Too” (accompanied by Alice Horn, words by Don Horne). A-side has 1968 copyright while B-side has 1973 copyright.
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Any help with additional releases, photos or memories of the Kennett Sound Studio would be appreciated.
The Gallery (formerly the Gayblades) included Sal Costanzo (organ), Peter Dean (drums, vocals), Holly Gregg, John Dean, Bob Dean, and Robbie Howard, though I am not sure exactly who played on their single “Forever Sunshine”.
Note: there was a Kennett Sound Studios operating out of Kennett, Missouri recording mostly country music, 1,100 miles away and unrelated to this studio.
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
