Category Archives: New York

The Odyssey “Just to Be” on Yorkshire Records

The Odyssey Yorkshire 45 Just to Be

Here is a truly unknown single by the Odyssey, “Just to Be” b/w “Sunday Time” on Yorkshire Records YO 154. I’m not sure of the pressing date, but Leonard Novarro registered “Sunday Time” with the Library of Congress in July, 1968.

I couldn’t find a Library of Congress registration for “Just to Be”, but BMI lists the song as “Just to Be the Way I Want to Be” with Warner-Tamerlane.

Leonard Novarro, Vincent Leary and Richard Nusser co-composed the song.

Richard Nusser may have been the columnist for the Village Voice.

Vincent Leary may be the same Vinny Leary who played guitar with the Fugs on their earliest albums, and again in the mid-80s. Vinny Leary was also an engineer at Variety Recording Studio. This was one of only two song-writing credits he has on BMI, the other being co-composer of “Virgin Forest” with Ted Berrigan and Lee Soren Crabtree; there is also a “Benson Leary” credited on the Fugs’ “Doin’ All Right”.

David Gornston’s name appears as publisher. Ten years prior Gornston published a number of Big Bob Dougherty’s songs on Golden Crest: including “Honky”, “Squeezer”, “Lover’s Love” and “Lorelei”.

Odyssey Yorkshire 45 Sunday TimeGolden Crest was based in Huntington, NY. I’m not sure where Yorkshire Records was located, but the label produced other good singles by the Dolphins, from Larchmont, and the Saxons, from West Palm Beach.

Leonard A. Novarro registered many other copyrights. Although the Odyssey labels spell his name as L. Navarro, it seems Novarro is correct. So far I haven’t discovered if any of the following were recorded:

In August 1967, Novarro registered “Don’t Disturb the Artist” and “Gypsy Man”.

In January 1969, using the pseudonym Gideon, Novarro registered “Candy Buttons”, “Dusty Shoes”, The Homecoming”, “Lady Liar”, “Sweet-Talkin’ Child”.

In May of 1970, he registered “Baby’s Sleeping”, “Sunny Day Woman” and “Time Again”, and in August “Hear My Warning” and “Legend of a Love Child, Linda” (echoes of Donovan on this title).

Thank you to J.W. Honeycutt for alerting me to the Odyssey single. Some info on Vinny Leary came from Mr. Smith, the Sybarite Who Also Was a Teacher by Warren Allen Smith.

The Four of Us “I Don’t Need No One” from Queens, NY

Four Of Us Brunswick 45 I Don't Need No OneThe Four of Us came from Queens, NY, though I’m not sure which neighborhood.

“I Don’t Need No One” is good tough garage with sax, written by Joseph Guido, Stephen Guido, and Jose Maldonado, all probably members of the group.

“I Don’t Need No One” was reviewed as the top side in Cash Box in January, 1966: “Raunchy funky shouting tune based on an everpresent solid beat. Strong guitar and hard vocal work could start this one off toward being a biggie.”

The flip is the more pop “Iga Diga Doo”, technically the A-side, written by Harold Onderdonk, George Bonetti, Tom Cox, and Jim Carrick. Merrimac Music Corp. published both sides. This team also wrote “Stomp ‘Em Out” for the Exterminators on Chancellor CHC 1148, the flip to “The Beetle Bomb”, but were not credited on the label. Ding Dong Music Corp published “Stomp ‘Em Out”, registering copyright in April, 1964 (March, 1964 for “The Beetle Bomb”).

The Four of Us was released on Brunswick 55288. Producer Harry Goodman was Benny Goodman’s brother.

I would appreciate more info or photos of the group.

Joey Guido and Jose Maldonado (as Jose Mala) formed the Koala with Anthony Wesley, Joe Alexander and Louis Caine, releasing an album & single on Capitol in 1969 featuring all original songs by Guido and Maldonado. In 1974, Jose Mala replaced Eric Emerson in the Magic Tramps.

The Aggregation on Dynamic Sound

Aggregation Photo

Aggregation shattered Dynamic Sound 45 CandlestickstompThe Aggregation cut two fine originals, “Candlestickstomp” and “You Lied to Me” for the Dynamic Sound label of Long Island, NY.

Members were:

Russell Javors – lead guitar
Bob Wenmouth – rhythm guitar
Ken Rosenberg – lead vocals and bass
Jim Carey – drums

As you can see, my copy did not arrive in very good condition.

Aggregation Photo School Dance
The Aggregation playing at a school dance

There was very little information about them until I heard from Ken Rosenberg, who sent in the photos seen here and wrote to me about the band:

This is Kenny Rosenberg, better known now as Kenny Owens since 1981, ’82. The group came out of Plainview, NY right next to Hicksville. I was the lead singer & bassist, Russell Javors played lead guitar, Bob Wenmouth played rhythm and Jim Carey played drums. We were pretty young, Jim was I think 13 the rest of us a little older. Russell a year younger than Bob and me. Jim and Bob are no longer present on earth.

The band used to play high school dances and parties and town pool events. Entered the battle of the bands, came in 2nd the first time, next year came in 1st.

We used to practice at 30 Eldorado Blvd in the Carey’s converted garage. We were big fans of the Mersey Sound.

The studio was in a modest house in Hicksville, recorded in the basement and the owner had his own pressing machine. That’s how I remember it.

We also recorded a 5 song acetate. Bob’s wife has a copy. Jim’s family has a copy. I let mine go years ago, in some landfill in Oyster Bay. One of the songs exists with “Candlestick Stomp” in a ten minute indie film … called American Sugar. “In This Placing” was the tune. The Careys tracked me down so they could use it in the film. I do remember we did a version of the stones “The Last Time”.

In answer about other 60’s bands I was in, I was the lead singer for a band called The Clique, we opened for The Young Rascals at Plainview High School, fun show.

Currently I’m an Americana singer-songwriter living in Hendersonville, TN. I record and make records and CD’s when I can. My site is kennyowensthewheatpennies.com .


Ken Rosenberg wrote “Candlestickstomp”. Russ Javors, Ken Rosenberg and Wenmouth collaborated on “You Lied to Me”.

Russ Javors later played guitar in Billy Joel’s band for many years.

Aggregation Photo 2
The Aggregation at a battle-of-the-bands

The Dynamic Sound label

The “WElls 8-7108” phone number on the labels indicates Dynamic Sound was based in Plainview, Jericho or Hicksville, NY.

I know of two released 45s:

Dynamic Sound DY-105 – Aggregation – “You Lied to Me” / “Candlestick Stomp”
Dynamic Sound DY-106 – Born Mean – “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” / “Shapes of Things” (a Rite vinyl pressing)

I’ve heard four acetate demos from Dynamic Sound, these three have the Wells exchange on the Dynamic Sound label:

The 5 of Us – “One of a Kind” / “But He Promised”
Satan & the Body Snatchers – “Little Young Girl” / “In the Summertime”
The Un-Called Four – “Since You’ve Been Gone” / “Masters of War”

This acetate I’ve heard (and both cuts are excellent) but haven’t seen the label:

The Gothics – “Mover” (instrumental) / “Watch Me Now”

—–

There was a Dynamic Sound label that released singles such as James Ray’s “I’ve Got My Mind Set On You”. Those usually have a “Hutch Davie” production logo and date to a few years earlier.

I doubt there’s any connection with the Dynamic Sound label of Milwaukee, WI.

There are at least two releases from Ohio that feature a Dynamic Sound label. The Born Mean cut “Shape Of Things” / “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” in 1966. The band may have been from New York but the release on Dynamic Sound 1068 was a Rite pressing from Cincinnati. Then in 1969 comes the Crystal Rain ‎with “You & Me” / “World On Fire” on Dynamic Sound 91101.

My broken copy of the Aggregation was shipped from Ohio so I wonder if there could be some connection?

The Black Banana and Banana Music Ltd. from Limestone, NY

Black Banana Fog 45 Listen GirlThe Black Banana had two singles under different band names. The first 45 I’d heard but hadn’t connected to the second because of the different artist name until Mike Markesich pointed out the connection in his comment below. Mike kindly provided scans of the 1st single as the Black Banana.

The group was from Limestone, in upstate New York, only a little west of Olean, the home of the Tigermen. The Tigermen were active earlier, but perhaps the bands knew each other. Mike tells me the band was also based in Bradford, Pennsylvania, just south of Limestone.

Reversing the usual way of garage bands, the group formed after some of the members had finished their military service. They have a great mid-’60s sound on both their singles despite the late recording dates.

Black Banana Fog 45 Please Come Back to Me
Both singles list the members on the label, for this first one the lineup is:

Fred Mascioni
Karl Langner
Dave McGee

Denny Eck would join the group on guitar by the time of the second single, but he is credited with co-writing “Listen Girl” with McGee and Mascioni.

McGee and Mascioni wrote “Please Come Back to Me” which I haven’t heard yet.

Karl Langner and Arnold White designed the cool label, and Car Hamme engineered the recording. This is an RCA custom pressing from 1969.

Banana Music Ltd Fog 45 Don't Bother Me
The second release has the Fog label but the band name is changed to Banana Music Ltd. It may date as late as 1971.

Members were:

Fred Mascioni
Karl Langner
Dave McGee
Denny Eck

Denny Eck wrote “Don’t Bother Us” and Mascioni & Eck wrote “Walkin'”.

The group is listed as “The Mack Banana Band” in the Bradford Era newspaper from August 1, 1969. From the excerpt I could find online, all the members names are listed except Denny Eck:

The new sound around, come and listen to music written & played by THE MACK BANANA Band — Fred Mascioni, Karl Langner, Dave McGee …

Besides Fog Music Inc., there are other production credits on the labels: “Langner Label”, “Rotten Crates Music Corp.” and “Black Banana”.

When Mike Markesich contacted Fred Mascioni he mentioned there were songs cut for an album that went unreleased.

Thank you to Mike for his help with this post.
Banana Music Ltd Fog 45 Walkin'

Coming Generation from Kingston NY

I don’t have much info on the Coming Generation who released one single in 1969 on the King Town label. Jim Du Bois wrote “Tell Me Now”, and Ed Barnhart wrote “This Troubled Life”.

The band seems to have been a quintet or sextet, with organ and smooth harmony vocals. They were indeed from Kingston, New York, as noted on several ads for shows in the Kingston Daily Freeman beginning in 1967 and ending in 1970.
A sample of their shows include:

1967 – Sportsmen’s Park, Rosendale and the Viking Lounge on Glasco Turnpike, High Woods

The Coming Generation opening for Fire & Ice, March 27, 1970
1968 – The Tropical Inn, Port Ewen

1969 – 1970 – the Pleasure Yacht, Eddyville

December 31, 1969 – the Creamery at Wiltwyck Village, Esopus with Jay and the Techniques

1970 – Thunderbird Inn, Route 9W, Saugerties

March, 1970 – Thunderbird Inn with Fire and Ice (could this be Auggie Bucci’s group, with singles on Capitol and Crazy Horse?)

Runout vinyl has no markings other than 0024-A/B, but this numbering and the label design indicates it was recorded at Kennett Sound Studio in Kinderhook, NY.

Despite the labels saying copyright ’69, I haven’t found any registration for these songs.

The Cordials “Tell Me Please”

Cordials Bundy 45 Tell Me Please

The Cordials recorded for the Bundy label of Freeport, New York. They may have been a local group, but Freeport is not far from Brooklyn, so the group could have been from anywhere in the New York metro area.

The Cordials cut a fine version of “Misery”, originally done by the the Dynamics on their 1963 single on Big Top. I prefer the flip, “Tell Me Please”, a moody original with great harmonies, written by Rick Stevens and published by M.C. Music Pub. BMI.

Cordials Bundy 45 MiseryAn article in Cash Box from August 7, 1965 gives an approximate date for the Cordials release and some background on Bundy:

“Bundy-Fonic Expands”

Mickey Carr, top man at The Bundy-Fonic Corp., is in the process of expanding the firm’s activities, and has appointed Bob Spina to veep and Clarence Finnell as A&R boss.

The diskery, with Dee Dee Records as a subsidiary line, will be offering two new releases, the first tagged “Misery” b/w “Tell Me Please” by the Cordials, and another by the Diablos, the titles on which will be announced at a later date. Both disks will be on Bundy Records. The address of the firm is 22 Pine St., Freeport, L.I.

Although Bundy had a 1962 release by Ray Artis, “Dear Liz” / “Wella-Wella” (Bundy BU-222), I haven’t found the Diablos single or anything else on Bundy. There were several record companies called Dee Dee, and I’m not sure if the one mentioned in the Cash Box article actually released anything.

The Cordials is a styrene 45, released on Bundy BU7711, Mickey Carr gets credit for arranging and producing both sides, and Bundy is listed as a subsidiary of Bundy Phonic Ent. Corp.

The Penetrators from Crown Point, NY

Penetrators Penstar 45 Guitar BoogieThe Penetrators came from Crown Point, NY, on the west shore of Lake Champlain above Ticonderoga.

Members included Dan Rabideau and Larry Rabideau, Kim Joiner and Joe Dugan on bass. John Hoffman seems to have been a later member of the group.

There is a single by the Penetrators on Penstar Records 1146, “Guitar Boogie” / “Coming Home Baby”, both instrumentals. I’m not yet positive this is the same as the Crown Point group.

Penetrators Ferus 45 I'll Make You MineIn March of 1968 they made what I believe to be their second record, the cool garage original “I’ll Make You Mine” by Dan Rabideau and Kim Joiner, backed with a good instrumental, “Splitter Splatter” by Dan Rabideau and Larry Rabideau.

The 45 came out on Ferus Records FR 4958. Ferus had an address of 64-12 60th Pl., Brooklyn 27, New York. Tommy Wilde produced the single, I’m not sure how the band came to find Ferus.

Danny and the Penetrators Ticonderoga Sentinel 1971
1971 Battle of the Bands
This is a styrene 45 with the Columbia custom pressing code ZTSP 124958/9. Both songs published by Ferus Music BMI.

As Danny and the Country Penetrators they put out a single that I haven’t heard, “She’s My Mother-In-Law” / “I’ll Be Waiting” on Delta Records in June of 1968.

The band was well known locally as as Danny and the Penetrators. They appeared on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour and continued with local bookings into the 1970s.

From a 1971 news item, it appears the Rabideau’s mother Doris managed the band.

Info on the band from a Port Henry forum. Thank you to Anthony M. for the original 45.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Penetrators Ferus 45 Splitter Splatter

The Dirty Elbows – “To Carry On” on Solid Gold

Dirty Elbows promo photo

Dirty Elbows Solid Gold 45 To Carry OnThe Dirty Elbows came out of the Highland and Poughkeepsie music scene. Around 1966 they cut one excellent single on the Solid Gold label, “To Carry On”.

Members were:

Reggie Ward – vocals
Russ Aldrich – lead guitar, vocals
Al Friedman – keyboards, vocals
Gene Baker – bass
Sal D’Onofrio – bass and vocals
Jimmy Galuzzi – drums, vocals

Russ Aldrich wrote the A-side, “To Carry On”, a song that shines from the opening riff to the harmony vocals and excellent guitar break.

The flip is a harmony ballad, “I Love You Girl” by G. Whitsell, Jr.

Released on Solid Gold Recornds SG-10 (UB-721/2), the labels credit J. Levine with arrangements, and engineering by J. Gasper. Both sides are “A Toi Production” and published by Happi Three Music, BMI. Solid Gold also had a 45 by Shorty Billups “Alone / Shake Off That Dream”.

The Poughkeepsie Journal reported the Dirty Elbows opening for the Animals on April 16, 1966, along with a number of other local groups: the Sepians, the Mark IV. the Jule Ettes, the New Pyramids, the Royal Coachmen, the Barons, the Sportsmen, the Benders and the Courages. They also played the Club 44 in Pleasant Valley with the Aborigines.

In June of 1966 they played at the Trade Winds on Route 207 near Newburgh. The next month they played with the Mark IV at a teens-only club called What’s It To Ya? on 176 Church Street in Poughkeepsie.

In October, 1966 the Dirty Elbows played at the Swingin’ Cellar, and a Thursday at What’s It To Ya?, followed on Friday by the Lost Soles and on Saturday by the Barrons. In November the Dirty Elbows were the main draw at a week of What’s It To Ya? shows that included Love’s Body and Nobody’s Child.

The Dirty Elbows played a benefit for the March of Dimes in January, 1967 that took place in two locations: Poughkeepsie High School and Wappingers Falls Jr High School. Tommy James & the Shondells also played at one of these performances, but the notice I found doesn’t specify which band played at which location.

In March, 1967, the group played “well supervised” shows at the Thunderbird Lounge, next to the Imperial Billiard Lounge. A show that month at Sportsmen’s Park notes their “hit record: ‘I Love You Girl’.

Reggie Ward joined the Silver Byke in 1967-8, and played with Easy Street in the 1970s.

Russ Aldrich continued in music, including with Spyder in the early ’70s. Later on he worked primarily as a blues guitarist and was featured in another article in the Poughkeepsie Journal on June 30, 1989. Russell Aldrich passed away on March 24, 2015.

Sal D’Onofrio sent in the photo seen here at top and wrote me with some info about the band:

Our big hit was “I Love You Girl” on Solid Gold Records which outsold the Beatles in the Hudson River Valley for a month. Gene was the original bass player I replaced.

Jimmy Galluzi died at a drag strip accident while racing his car. Al Friedman stopped returning my emails several years ago, parts unknown. Reggie Ward is doing real estate and still singing with local friends.

Moose photo, Poughkeepsie
“Moose”
Sal D’Onofrio before leaving for sunny California in 1971, played with Moose: Reggie Ward, Al Friedman, Benny Ribble and Claud Le Hennaf; and did a short stint with the Vanilla Fudge and Boomerang in 1970 on Long Island. Sal is now a Nutripathic doctor in Redondo Beach (healthguardians.com), and still does gigs with local bands on occasion.

Thank you to Sal D’Onofrio for the photos and information.

Dirty Elbows Solid Gold 45 I Love You, Girl

The Cloudwalkers “Sunglasses”

Cloudwalkers Capco 45 SunglassesThe Cloudwalkers came from the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. They cut one single, the harp-driven “Sunglasses” b/w
“Never Told Me So” on Capco 106 in mid-1965.

“Sunglasses” isn’t the same song as the Cramps’ “Sunglasses After Dark” but I’d like to think there was some influence there. The single made it to #49 in Record World’s “Singles Coming Up” chart.

Members included Chris Welch and Peter Polizzano, who wrote both songs on their single, plus Pete Frias.

“Never Told Me So” is a fine Buddy Holly influenced rocker.

George Napolitano of the Ox-Bow Incident told me that Pete Frias was the guitar instructor and mentor of many musicians in the neighborhood, and also was guitarist for Jimmy & the Jesters, a group that often played the Peppermint Lounge. George also thought the Cloudwalkers single was recorded at Rossi Sound Studios at 2005 West 8th Street and Avenue T in Brooklyn.

The labels note “A Billyjo Production”. The engineer for the session was Joe Venneri, who was a guitarist for the Tokens during their early days, then became an engineer at Incredible Sound Studio, Mira Studios and Mercury Records.

Chris Welch and Peter Polizzano registered both songs with the Library of Congress on July 2, 1965. Publishing came through Calboy Music, BMI, owned by Joe Calcagno who also owned the Capco Records label.

An ad in Billboard in November 9, 1965 lists Capco Hitsound Records at Southard Ave in Rockville Center, NY. The label was promoting Capco 108, Irv Goodman’s “Hava Nagilah” / “Sugar Blues au Go Go” produced by Jimmie Haskell.

Singles by the Crossfires, the Don Rays and others on a green Capco label, circa 1963, come from a Los Angeles company probably not associated with Joe Calcagno.

I’d appreciate any further info on the Cloudwalkers.

Cloudwalkers Capco 45 Never Told Me So

The Fownds of Hudson, NY

Fownds Reeb 45 Comin On StrongFownds Reeb 45 Rosalin

Founds Reeb 45 RememberThe Fownds came from Hudson, New York. They had two singles, first the thumping rocker “Comin On Strong” b/w the doo-wop influenced “Rosalin” in 1971, and then the moody “Remember” b/w a hot rod parody “Wheels” (the band name changed to the Founds on this release).

Both singles have a sound like something from the early-mid ’60s despite the release dates.

Donald Moore wrote most of the songs and did some lead vocals. Sal Gambino wrote “Rosalin”, and Roy Jackson sang lead on the moody “Remember”.

The Fownds released both singles on their own Reeb label (“beer” spelled backwards), a custom label through Earl Kennett’s studio in Kinderhook.

Don Moore had a later band called Confusion, I believe he passed away in 2013.

Founds Reeb 45 Wheels