Category Archives: Upstate New York

Categories: Fort Wayne, Fulton, Indiana, New York, Tech, Upstate New York

The Shadows 5 “Gathers No Moss”

April 19, 2016 Chris Bishop 18 Comments

The Shadows 5 were thought to be from Oswego, New York, on Lake Ontario, northwest of Syracuse, but the band actually formed in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The band members’ first names are on the labels but I only know two members’ surnames. Another member’s last name is Williams, but I don’t know which.

Bill – lead vocals
Randy – lead guitar (Fender Jaguar)
Craig McKinney – rhythm and occasional lead guitar (Mosrite “Joe Maphis”)
Ralph Riehl – bass (Fender Jazz)
Vic – drums (Ludwig)

“Gathers No Moss” is an incredible version of the song, and the flip “That Little Girl” is a fine jangler.

Tech Records released the single in August 1966; I can’t find anything else on this label. The quality of the recording is excellent, with the opening guitar riff jumping off the grooves.

This was a very rare record though in the last year about 10 copies have shown up, which is how I was able to afford one.

Craig McKinney wrote to me with info about the group:

Two of us (Vic and I) are from Fulton, NY, a small city just south of Oswego, NY. Vic and I played together there before shipping off to Fort Wayne, IN and college. We started the band out there.
We recorded the record in Fort Wayne, IN at radio station WOWO and pressed 500 copies in Chicago. I wrote the words and music to “That Little Girl” as well as the arrangement for “Gathers No Moss.” Bill sings lead on “Girl” and that’s me on “Moss.” There is only copy out there that was signed by all members of our band. It was signed while we were on a tour trip to upstate NY in our old hometown.
Q. Were you or Vic in the Newberry 4 of Oswego when you lived in Fulton? They recorded a song called “That’s Why I’m a Rolling Stone” that is much like “Gathers No Moss”.
We were never in the “Newberry 4.” I heard them once or twice, though I was not there much in those days. They were the area’s top group at the time. They were excellent. A “Beatles” spin-off group if I remember right. Never knew them but admired them at the time. I didn’t remember their song until I heard it after reading a comment on your website. Still a great song to this day.
While we recording in the studio at WOWO, we had a professional photographer take pictures and videos of the group. We also left with the master tape. To this day, the pictures, videos and tapes cannot be found.
The group played backup for The Kingsmen in 1966 at my brother’s fraternity at Franklin College, Franklin, IN. They commented on how much better we were than them. Great fun! We played a LOT of frats and sorority houses in Indiana until Vic and I flunked out and the band broke up. Vic and I both later returned and graduated.
Randy was from Fort Wayne and, unfortunately, passed away about 8 years ago. I’m not sure where Ralph was from, but now resides somewhere in Florida. Bill was from Ohio and still resides there. Vic lives in Huntington, IN. I am back in Fulton, NY.
Craig McKinney

This is not the same Shadows Five who recorded “Dynamic Drums” / “Gary’s Boogie” for the Sully label and “Markham” / “Twistin’ Shadows” for Peacock. That group became the Ultimates and later Prince Charles & the Crusaders, then finally the Ultimate, with a 45 on Garland.

Categories: Aegis, Buddha, Chadwick's Recording Studio, Kama, Krishna, New York, Upstate New York, Utica

Utica record labels: Kama, Aegis, Lewis, Buddha, Krishna, Hurd & Stentor

March 10, 2016 Chris Bishop 9 Comments

Andy And The Classics Kama PS Taba-Da-Ba-Do and Prehistoric Time — Andy And The Classics Kama PS

Utica, New York had a number of independent labels in the 1960s. At first I believed labels such as Kama, Krishna, Lewis and Aegis were related, but after a comment and more investigation, I’ve decided to cover a number of Utica labels that shared artists, distribution by Kama, or use of the Chadwicks Recording Studio.

Kenneth Hurd, a New Hartford shoe executive, owned the Hurd and Revere Records labels, as well as the Longmark Studio in Utica and the Chadwicks Recording Studio and pressing plant on Oneida St. in Chadwicks.

Any help with information about any of these labels would be appreciated!

Aegis Records

Aegis 1001 – The Bel Airs – “You Left Me (For Somebody New)” / “You’re the Greatest” (Aegis Records ARS 1001). Gates Initino, vocal. Other members were Guy Vivenzo, Dick Laurey, Jim Hanna and Jon Hynes). Distributed by Bason Agency, Utica.

Aegis 1003 – The Royals – “Shake It” / “Mix Up” (both written by Fran Migliaccio), W-194

Aegis 100? – The Royals feat Ralph Migliaccio “I Only Have Eyes For You/ Land Of A Thousand Dances”

Buddha Records

Buddha CO 1753 – The Roosters – “I Wanna Do It” / “You Don’t Need Any Reason”

See my post on the Roosters for more information about that band.

Hurd Records

Hurd 77 – Patti Miller & the Friends Trio – “Caveman Blues” / “Stone Age” (with PS)
Hurd 78 – Andy and the Classics – “Walk Walk Walk” / “Wilma” – band led by Andy Cittadino
Hurd 79 – Dee Dee Warwick – “I Can’t Go Back” / “I (Who Have Nothing At All)” (1966, prod. by H. Rudd and Bob Gallo)

Hurd 82 – Lloyd Price ’66 – “Misty” / Lloyd Price Orchestra – “Saturday Night”

Kama Records

Kama 33 – Gary Angel And The Halos – ?

Kama K-43 – The Ultimates “Lost Romance” (Foti-O’Donnell) / “Foreign Girl” (Dick Broderick – both songs Harbor Music ASCAP), unrelated label?).

Kama 501 – Gary Angel And The Halos – “Oh, Judy” / “Memories Of A Summer Day” (circa 1962)
Kama 502 – Maureen Fitzgerald – “Twinkle In His Eye” / “His Own Kind of Rhythm” (division of Kama Productions)

Kama L-106 – Ted Alexander and The Cordels – “Baby You Can Drive My Car” / “Please Go” (with picture sleeve)

Kama L-164 – Heaven’s Devils – “Lonely Girl” (Paul Sparaco) / “Out Of Your Life” (Frederick J. Catella), prod. by Gary J. Sparaco, Kama Music

Kama L-212 – Jerry Carr and the Travelers – “I Laugh When I Should Have Been Listenin’” / “Wondering If I Could Go On”

Kama L-269 – Susie Southworth – “My Heart Could Never Stand (to Be Broken by You)” (Dorothy Southworth) / “Once a Day”

Kama K-712 – JC and the Tears – “Then You’d Better Go Away” (J. Camilli, copyrighted as Jimmy Camilli in 1953) / “What’d I Say” (OV-102)

Kama 775 – Heavenly Flyers – “Mighty Long Time” / “Hallelujah to His Name” (W-167/W168)
Kama 776 – Lou Barile (John Mazzae At The Organ) – “He’ll Look Down” / “Prayer”
Kama 777 – Eric and the Chessmen – “You Don’t Want My Loving” / “Blue Skies”, L-99-1/2. The labels note “Recorded at Chadwicks Recording Studio”, in Chadwicks, NY, a small hamlet along Route 8 south of Utica, and a few miles east of Clinton, NY and Hamilton College.

Kama 780 – The Ally Kahns – “Gonkletwerp” (instrumental by Gary Brody, Dick Kenney and Charlie Caryl) / “Blue Moon” (W-321)

Kama K-780 – The Avengers – “Reflection” (C. Wheeler) / “Irresistable You” from April of 1967, also recorded at Chadwicks and produced by A. Polacelli.

Kama 786 – Andy & the Classics – “Yaba-da-ba-do” / “Prehistoric Time” (with PS, prod. by Bob Gallo)

Kama 1070 – Audrey De Lia and the Western Aces cut “Kansas City” b/w a version of Loretta Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough”

Kama 814 – Target – “Give Me One More Chance” / “Cleveland” (modern soul, early 1970s)
Kama 815 – Target – “Look at Me” / “You’re So Beautiful”

Kama OV-567 – Tiny Tim – “Howard Cosell (We Think You’re Swell)” / “The Bi-Centennial Song (I Believe in America)” – 1976

Kama 71310 – Sonja Bonness “I’m the Only Woman” / “Black Satin” (1977)

Krishna Records

Krishna TR 2690 – The Roosters – “The Rooster Song” / “Lost And Found”

Lewis Records

Lewis Records 525 – The Starfires “Vampire” (by James Palladino for Kajobe Music, BMI) / “Honky Tonk Twist”, mastering #s W-189 & W-190. The labels read “distributed by Kama Productions, Utica, NY.” “Vampire” also recorded by the Plaids on Stentor – see below.

Lewis 1000 – The Ponzi Bros. Lou & Zack – “Guitar Boogie Twist” / “Channel 98” (Lou Ponzi, Kama Music BMI) (K-71/72)
Lewis 107 – The Belairs – “All The Time” (Chuck Weiss, Eddie Mikenas) / “As You Go” (Eddie Mikenas), Kev-Tess Music BMI

Mark Records – extensive discography, see entry on Discogs for more info

Tino & the Revlons – “Black Burma-Mudas and Knee Socks” (R. Demart, B. Rezey; Kama Music Publ.) / “Story Of Our Love” (Mark M-154)
The Plaids – “Out To Lunch” (Carl Swanson aka: Mr. Sunshine) / ?, circa 1961 – need label scans for this one.

Stentor Records

Stentor RR 101 – The Plaids (aka the Bel Airs) – “Vampire” / “Creepin'” (Vivenzo) from Stentor Recording Co., Utica.
Stentor RB-165 – Brian Wilson & the Del Vues “Blue Skies” / “Blueberry Hill”
Stentor RM 101 – Bebo Singleton with Jeff & the Notes “The Shrine of the Echoes” / “Feeny Jones”

Categories: Knight (Schenectady), Latham, Mechanicville, New York, Schenectady, Scotia, Troy, Upstate New York, Vibra, Vibra-Sound, Vibra-Sound Recording Studio

The Vibra-Sound Recording Studio and label

January 28, 2016 Chris Bishop 30 Comments

The Vibra-Sound Recording Studio and label started in Schenectady or Rotterdam, New York circa late 1966. I’m not sure where exactly the studio was, but New York State business records list a residential address on Crestwood Drive in Rotterdam for Vibra-Sound, and also include a later starting date in 1969, with the business closing in 1992. However, several of the singles listed here such as the Heathens and Delirium are earlier, from sometime in 1967.

Nate Schwartz appears as engineer and also as a representative of the label in an local news item from the early ’70s. Initially the studio was located in Schwartz’s garage, with the control room in the basement without a window between.

Vibra-Sound had its own Vibra label, plus variations like Vibra-Sound, VSS, and others that were customized for the artist. Later productions often share publishing by Robert Barry Music BMI.

Below is a general discography in approximate chronological order of records made at Vibra-Sound / Vibrasound, with my comments.

Any additions or corrections would be appreciated, as well as info on any of the artists listed here.

45s:

Vibra L-103 – Elaine Brooks & the Pushers (Albany/Schenectady) “I’m So Blue” (Brooks) / The Pushers – “The New Thang” (C. Nelson) both published by Kama BMI
“The New Thang” is a cool instrumental with saxophone, tambourine and plenty of echo. I’m surprised to see what must be some connection to Kama Productions of Utica, NY in the publishing company (see the end of my article on the Roosters for more info on Kama and related productions).

Vibra L-104 – The Heathens (Schenectady, NY) – “The Other Way Around” / “Problems” (both written by Michael Dellario, arranged by Hooker-Stahl, Petticrew, Sheer & Marquez)
Maybe the most well-known garage single of the NY capitol region.

Delirium Vibra 45 Never Comin' Home — 45 scan from the unparalleled collection of Bosshoss

Vibra L-136 – Delirium (Mechanicville, NY) “I Need Your Lovin'” / “Never Comin’ Home” (both songs by T. Sullivan, Wall Music BMI)
A very rare single, and musically as good as the Heathens. If anyone has info on this band please contact me.

Vibra L-137 – The Dimensions (Latham, NY) – “The Pilot” / “Dimension Beat” (both by Federici, Federici, Olson and Speciale for Wall Music, BMI)
Another fine garage single, According to copyright records from February, 1967, The Dimensions were Martin Federici, Arthur Federici, Dominick Speciale and David Olson. I’ve also found a new clip from 1965 verifying the members of the group.

Vibra Sound 423702 – Sound with Brass – “Shine Down on Me” / “Lollypops and Roses / Wall St. Rag”

Vibra-Sound 121969 – The Changing Times – “Free As The Wind” / “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” 1969
Good versions of both songs, the capitol region being one of the few places where the Myddle Class had extensive radio play. Label credits for “Free As the Wind” give S. Trimochi, S. Lane in error, as the original song was a collaboration between Gerry Goffin & Carole King, and Rick Philp & Dave Palmer of the Myddle Class.

The Changing Times were from Mohonasen High School, Rotterdam, NY, with members Kurt Eastman, Mark Eastman, Gary Esposito, Bob Launders. and David Cilberti on vocals (thank you to David for his comment below)

USS 102 – The Chimes of Freedom (Scotia, NY) – “Did You Ever” / “Jungle Rock” (Hamilton, Francis, Pytlovany)
For more info on the Chimes of Freedom see my post on the group.

unreleased demo – The Concepts (Ravena,NY) – “Faces Come, Feelings Go” 1968. Presumably from an acetate, this track is on the Garage Beat ’66 vol. 2 CD

Hemlock VSS-2/09 – Art Anderson and the Anderson Family – “Don’t Come Knockin’ At My Door” / “I’ve Been Searchin’ in My Dreams” (both by A. Anderson, Robert Barry Music, BMI, ZTSP 140404, 1968)

Knight Records KN-1 – Marshall Hanson and the Hamps – “Dark Clouds” / “Waiting for My Love” (1966, State Music Productions, ZTSC122592/3)

Governor VSS-910 – Bob “Rebel” King and the Knights of Music – “Suspicious Illusions” (R. King) / “For the Good Times”

Al Knight Records VSS 2704 – Al Knight ”Dreaming Dreams of Yesterday”

Zep Records KN-4 Tim Ryan ”Angels in the Front Row”

Bob "Rebel" King - Governor 45 Suspicious Illusions — Scan courtesy of Brian Kirschenbaum

W.S. Highway 2710 – West Side Highway – “Spring Song” (J. Hochanadel) / “I’ve Got a Way” (D. Vroman) (both Robert Berry Music, BMI, Vibra-Sound 2710, ZTSP 140682/3)

Cobb 81935 – The Universal Set – “Ballad For Linda” / “Memphis Express” (both by E. Locke, Robert Barry Music, ZTSP 144640/1)

Darec VSS 81943 – The Dignitaries – “Steppin’ Out” (R. Gigliotti) ZTSP 144740

Hemlock 81946 – Cathy Lee, Anderson Family – “The Dark Side of the World” / “Our Side” (ZTSP 144893, Vibra-Sound 81946)

Kandy 101 – The Essentials – “Baby You Get to Me” (S. Wheeler) / “Oklahoma Blues” (F. Stay, S. Wheeler) both Robert Barry Music BMI, 1969

Kandy 82042 – The Essentials – “Sunshine Baby” / “Freedom” (both by Squeeky Stay for Robert Barry Music BMI, Vibra-Sound 82042, ZTSP-221980, 1970)

JC 82017 – 2nd Foundation – “Wipe Out” / “I Am The One” (D. Spensley, Robert Barry Music) (ZTSP 221697/8) – instrumentals produced by Johnny Cefala

Katy VSS 2705 Dusty Atcher and River Valley Boys – ”Right, But I Think It’s Wrong”

Little Records VSS-82043, Jimmy Lane and the Incredible 5 – “Deal With It” (J. Lane) / “What Kind of Man” (S. Brooks, J. Wortham) (both Robert Barry Music, BMI, A Little-Mickens Production, ZTSP 222378, Vibra-Sound 82043)

The Lightning Brothers Brothers Two 45 Wild Smoke — “Wild Smoke” is an excellent 70s rock song

Brothers Two 6023-13 – The Lightning Brothers – “Crazy Jane” (W. Braemer, S. Hansen, M Ilnicki, P Ilnicki) / “Wild Smoke” (W. Braemer, P Ilnicki) (both Robert Baby Music, an Albert Perrone Production, pressed by Queen City Album in Cincinnati)

Jinhea DC-100 – Squeeky Stay and Mark Galeo – “Slippin’ Away” / “Mrs. Jones”, early 1970s

Rambler 2712 – Jerry Madore and the New Prairie Ramblers – “Wishing” / “Blue Blue Eyes”

EROS Records VSS 1239 – The Ridgerunners – “Stop, Look and Listen” / “King and I” (Robert Barry Music, produced by Watrobski Enterprises Broadalbin, NY 1973)

CMS 5105-40 – Billy D. Hunter, the Country Joe Revue “My Heart’s Still Doin’ Time” / “Old Five & Dimers” A Conway-Murray Production

476-45P – Bunz Rock Show – “Doctor Rock & Roll” / “Raw Power” (both by S. Atwood, C. Cirrone, B. Deitz, R. Hull, 1976)

Neon Records 6084-24 – Skip Johnsen – “My Friend John” / “I Like You” (1976)

Sit’ n Bull 6072-31 – Night Conference – “I Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)” / “Kansas City” (1976)

Alan 7054-25A – Alan Burn “Unless You’re Born Again” / “Jesus the Healer” with James Caulfield (backup vocal), and musicians Ernie Burnell, Joe Latorra and Mark Carnival

Also many square dance records on the Jay Bar Kay Records label by the Rustlers and others

LPs:

Vibra-Sound 8014N5 – The Common People – Come Rest In My Heart (need confirmation of this one)

VRS-741 – Yankee Doodle Band – Yankee Doodle … Comes To Town

Vibra-Sound 82031 – Birdcage Beat: The Moods & Sounds of Go Places with General Electric 1969

82055/6 – The Golden Fox Steakhouse Presents Live the Vito Mamone Trio and Carlos & Rosita (The Chaynas); Lou Mauriello, technical assistant.

Brian Kirschenbaum and Max Waller provided many additions to the discography.

Categories: Chadwick's Recording Studio, Kama, New York, Upstate New York, Utica

Eric & the Chessmen

April 24, 2015 Chris Bishop 9 Comments

Eric and the Chessmen were a well-known group from Utica, New York. They toured throughout upstate New York and into Vermont, and even had a stand at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City. They released only one single: the original song “You Don’t Want My Loving” by the band’s leader, Eric Thorngren, backed with a rocked-up version of “Blue Skies”, on Kama Records 777.

The band’s membership changed many times, so I’ll list some of the lineups below to the best of what I can gather:

Eric and the Chessmen at the Evening Inn, Colliersville, June, 1965

As simply the Chessmen, the original lineup consisted of:

Eric Thorngren – guitar
Tony Frontera – saxophone
Jon Hynes – bass
Butch DeAngelo – drums

By March 1965 the band consisted of:

Eric Thorngren – guitar & vocals
Norm Knapp – guitar
Dale Rider – bass
Wayne Bohling – drums

Eric and the Chessmen Five Flys Club, Bennington, October 1966

When Norm Knapp took a leave of absence in 1965, Chuck Schoenley became the band’s first keyboardist:

Eric Thorngren – guitar & vocals
Chuck Schoenley – organ
Dale Rider – bass
Wayne Bohling – drums

After Chuck Schoenley left the group to join the Rogues, Frankie Convertino became the keyboard player, then Fred Faccioli.

Slivers Matrassi replaced Wayne Bowling on drums by early or mid-1966.

The band featured on the picture sleeve to their 45 and probably on the recording is:

Freddie Faccioli – organ
Eric Thorngren – guitar & vocals
Dale Rider – bass
Slivers Matrassi – drums

The sleeve at the top of this post seems to be very rare. The labels note “Recorded at Chadwicks Recording Studio, Chadwicks, NY”. For more on the Kama and related labels like Krishna and Sutra, see the final section of my post on the Roosters.

The band had other recordings that weren’t released at the time. An atmospheric instrumental featuring organ and a reserved guitar solo called “Too Much” appeared on The Best of Twist-a-Rama: Crude 1965 Garage Sounds from the Mohawk Valley. There are also demos of “Wooly Bully”, “New Orleans” and “Heat Wave”.

The Chessmen continued in different forms into the late 1960s, eventually without any original members. Sometime in 1967 or 1968 Ted Alexander replaced Freddie Faccioli. Dale Rider left to join the Rochester group the Oxford Watchband – a group by that name had a 45 in 1969 on the Hand label, “Diagnosis (One Way Empty and Down)” / “Welcome to the World”.

Eric Thorngren joined the Brass Buttons and went on to a long career as a recording and mixing engineer.

I found this info on the band at the forum After Bebop a Lula: Utica Bands 50s 60s. There are many photos of the band in that thread, see these pages for some of them:

http://clipper220.proboards.com/thread/779?page=108
http://clipper220.proboards.com/thread/779?page=110
http://clipper220.proboards.com/thread/779?page=111

Thank you to Fred D’Huve for the scan of the Audiodisc demo of “Heat Wave”.

Eric and the Chessmen at the Halfway House, Norwich, March 1966

Categories: Hamilton, Krishna, New York, Upstate New York, Utica

The Roosters

July 12, 2014 Chris Bishop 17 Comments

I picked up this great 45 by the Roosters on the Krishna label, not the Los Angeles group, but one from upstate New York. “The Rooster Song” has a fantastic crunching guitar sound, and shows they must have been a fun, tight live band. The flip is a ballad, “Lost and Found”, an original by Lotz-Barbour for Fat John Music Inc. BMI.

The Roosters were one of a number of bands from the area near Utica, Oneida and Syracuse. They shared a record company, if it can be called such, with Eric and the Chessmen. The person heading this operation was some way assocated with Hamilton College in Clinton, NY and released singles on labels such as “Buddha”, “Krishna” and “Kama”.

The Roosters were:

John Lotz – lead vocals
Trey Lotz – lead guitar
Peter Brohl – bass
Ralph Guastaferro – drums

There’s also a piano player on “The Rooster Song”, but I don’t know his identity.

Trey Lotz produced the Krishna 45. “The Rooster Song” label reads “In album ‘The Roosters Live At The Appollo'” but I don’t believe this LP was ever released. If it was recorded, I’d love to hear it.

The Roosters have another 45 which I suspect came earlier, “I Wanna Do It” on Buddha Records. with a Hamilton College address.

The Roosters Photo 2 — The Roosters, from left: Ralph Guastaferro, Trey Lotz, John Lotz with Peter Brohl lying on the ground

Peter Brohl sent in the photos seen here and wrote to me:

The band was formed in 1965 (I think) by Jim Solan of the JS agency. I was playing with a true garage band that had just disbanded and Trey, a student at Hamilton College, was looking for a group to play with. When we got together, his brother, John, came to town and registered with Utica college. They then brought their friend and drummer, Ralph, who went to MVCC. We all jelled and the band was formed!
We used to play “The Ale House” once a week for a year or two in the ’65-’67 time frame. Of course we played locally but we were mainly a college concert band. Our agent would book us into a college for the weekend where we would usually play a couple of fraternity parties and a Saturday afternoon concert. We were very popular at St. Lawrence University, Union College, Cornell, Colgate, Vassar and a bunch of others who’s names escape me. We really only played the local bars and school dances if we didn’t have a college gig. During the summer months we would do Old Forge and the Adirondack circuit.
There never was an album called “Live at the Apollo”. That was a pipe dream of Trey’s. We did do an album for Decca records but it was never released; it didn’t have a title at that time.
The flip side of “I Wanna Do It” was “You Don’t Need Any Reason”, originally recorded by the Zombies.
Another question was who played the piano on the record [“the Rooster Song”. If my memory serves me correctly, it was John. Even in the mid-60’s records were multi-tracked. So, the piano was added as an enhancement. “The Rooster Song” was not recorded live as we always told our audiences but was done in a multi-track studio. It sounded live but, we were our own “live” audience. After the music tracks were layed down, we became the background ‘audience’. Also, on “Midnight Green” you will hear a celeste. That was a last minute addition by Trey because we found the celeste in the recording studio and it fit the song perfectly. Yep, it had it’s own track.
The Roosters also released a third single entitled “Midnight Green”. It was written by Barbour and recorded at 15 W. 45th Street in NYC; the same studio as the Lovin’ Spoonful, using the same technician. It was understandably the best production of the lot. The flip side was “Hurry Sundown”.
We continued as a quartet through mid-1967 when I decided to leave to pursue another career. The last time we all got together as a group was at Ralph’s wedding in 1971. The only one of us still playing music is Ralph. Last I heard he was playing with a dance band in Buffalo, NY. John and Trey both live in the LA area but neither are playing music these days.
After a 30+ year hiatus, I finally picked up the bass again and have been playing in my home for my own enjoyment. In addition, I have started to refurbish/restore guitars and basses on a very limited basis. I have rebuilt a Fender ‘P’ bass and built a Fender telecaster from the ground up. Needless to say I can’t call them “Fenders” so I call them “Roosters”.

Thank you to Peter Brohl for sending in the photos and providing some history of the Roosters.

Other bands from this scene who may not have made recordings include the Vandels, Andy & the Classics, Jack & the Naturals, the Mercy Side 5, Willie & the New Yorkers, and the Brass Buttons.

Does anyone know of other recordings by bands in Oneida, Clinton or Utica in the years ’64-’67?

Categories: Chadwick's Recording Studio, New York, Oneonta, Upstate New York

The Other Half on Bell Sound, from Oneonta

March 22, 2011 Chris Bishop 24 Comments

The Other Half at Chadwick's Recording Studio in Utica — The Other Half at Chadwick’s Recording Studio in Utica

Brian Kirschenbaum submitted this article on the Other Half a band from Oneonta, New York. The band cut one folk-inspired 45 at Bell Sound, “It’s Been a Good Day” written by Glenn Schenenga and the excellent “I Won’t Be Back” by Glenn and Jeff Lyman.

Bassist Pete Lipsio wrote this history of the group and gathered the photos seen here.

The Other Half was organized in 1965 at Hartwick College, Oneonta New York; the members being Jeff Lyman (vocals), Steve Harrigan (lead guitar and keyboard), Peter Lipsio (bass), Glenn Schenenga (rhythm guitar) with Ed Welsh, Bob Kirsch and later Bill Pegler (drums). In the beginning there were but two individuals, (Harrigan and Lipsio), living in the same dormitory, who would get together to play their guitars. This duo soon found a local drummer in Ed Welsh with an existing band and a weekly venue at Molinari’s, a local bar and restaurant. While practicing together they attracted the talents of rhythm guitarist Glenn Schenenga and vocalist Jeff Lyman.
The group thus formed soon replaced that which was performing at Molinari’s and began to attract large crowds of college students from both Hartwick College and the nearby Oneonta State University. As their litany and variety of songs increased and matured, Steve further improved the groups sound with the addition of a Farfisa organ; alternating between same and lead guitar as a particular song required. While Steve played the keyboard, Glenn would assume the role of lead guitar and Peter that of Rhythm while Jeff carried on with vocals and an occasional guitar performance. It soon became obvious that their music needed more depth and thus Peter began playing a Fender Jazz Bass through a Fender Dual Showman amp. Jeff added a new Bogen sound system and Binson Echorec reverb while both Steve and Glenn increased their respective sound with a succession of larger and more powerful amplifiers and additional instruments.
The Other Half at Chadwick’s Recording in Utica
Shortly thereafter, the band recorded their first two hits at Bell Sound (later Bell Records) in New York City. Sales of the record proved to be a local phenomenon and the group acquired an ever increasing and widespread popularity with a television performance on Hank Brown’s “Twist- A-Rama in Utica.A new drummer and fellow college student, Bob Kirsch, soon replaced Ed and the band began an ever increasing spiral of popularity. Their music eventually attracted the attention of Gene Kipper, a well known agent and promoter based in Utica, New York who signed them for various performances throughout New York State.
The band continued to perform together throughout the Southern Tier of the North East; opening for The Rascals during the spring of 1967 while playing at numerous locations such as the Evening Inn and the College Inn at Saratoga New York, where they were booked for that entire summer. The band’s drummer, Bob Kirsch, a pre-med student, transferred to Wake Forest College and a new drummer and fellow Hartwick student, Bill Pegler, was obtained to be the group’s percussionist.
The band continued to play together with numerous performances throughout the school year of 1968, at the end of which, most of the members graduated and went about their individual lives. For the most part, the members of the band are now retired professionals who long ago left their musical roots to pursue different careers. In August of 2008, following a forty year hiatus, the assiduous efforts of Glenn Schenenga, reunited the members of The Other Half in communication with one another. Though now living in different states, the members are planning a reunion for the near future.
While unaware of this at the time, current research has demonstrated that there were two other contemporaneous groups with the same name. One being in Chicago and the other a West Coast band, each of some regional renown.
The years spent together, while in The Other Half and at college, hold a particular significance for each of the members, who consider this time in their lives to be among the most memorable of events wherein were formed the bonds of personal commitment to their music and a lasting friendship.
Pete Lipsio

Other Half vocalist Jeff Lyman at the Evening Inn

In the 60s this became the College Inn at Saratoga Lake

Categories: Columbia County, Hudson, Kennett Sound (Kinderhook NY), Mo-Foag, New York, Schenectady, Troy, Upstate New York, US

The Kynds – “So If Someone Sends You Flowers Babe” / “Find Me Gone” on Mo-Foag

February 26, 2011 Chris Bishop 9 Comments

The Kynds, from the Schenectady Gazette, September 16, 1966

The Kynds were a Capital region trio with members from Hudson, Troy and Schenectady, New York, and bookings throughout the area. They recorded their only single “So If Someone Sends You Flowers Babe” / “Find Me Gone” at Kennett Sound Studio in Kinderhook, NY.

Members included Joseph Cirincione, Jerry Porreca and Dan Wood. They were a trio of organ, bass and drums, which may explain why the organ is loud in the mix on both of these songs.

Jerry Porreca wrote to me “the band actually formed in Hudson. It evolved from the Del Tones to the Kynds and then Bits & Pieces.”

A short article in the September 16, 1966 Schenectady Gazette promoted one of their engagements. It gave a different bass player’s name, along with a different spelling of Joe Cirincione’s name:

The Kynds, featuring (from left) Jerry Porreca on drums, Denny Connolly, bass and Joe Cerincione, organ, are appearing nightly at Loreno’s Restaurant, 2235 Broadway. The group has worked at the College Inn, Saratoga Srpings, Excelsior House, West Sand Lake, and the Rose Garden, Amsterdam. They will be appearing with a second band, “The Four Most.”

In a comment below, Rick Piester states that he “was the original bass player in The Kynds. Had worked with Jerry Porreca earlier in the Del-Tones”.

The Kynds released this great 45 on what must be their own Mo-Foag label in the second half of 1966 (RCA custom pressing number TK4M-5296).

“So, If Someone Sends You Flowers, Babe” has become a favorite of mine, with its repetitive organ lick and quiet vocals. As far as I can make out, some of the lyrics are:

Kynds, Good Times Troy Record 1966 April 9 — The Kynds at the Excelsior House, ad from the Troy Record, April 9, 1966

It really makes no difference if you like what you see in me
Not a chance babe,
‘Cause I’m happy,
That we are free (?)
What you say girl,
It don’t have no effect on me
So, if someone sends you flowers, babe,
You know it wasn’t me.

It was written by Dan Wood and Joe Cirincione, Jr.

The b-side is the fast “Find Me Gone”, with its famous shout near the end of the song, written by Joseph Cirincione, published by Upstate Music BMI.

Thanks to Brian Kirschenbaum, and to Jonas Carlsson for help finding the clipping from the Gazette.

Categories: Glenville, Schenectady, Scotia, Upstate New York

The Intruders

November 2, 2010 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

The Intruders were from the small towns of Glenville and Scotia, outside Schenectady, New York. They were students at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake and Scotia-Glenville High Schools and formed the band in 1964.

Carl Buell – vocals
Mark Hecker – lead guitar
Mark Ernst – rhythm guitar
Mike Collins – bass guitar
Snooky Mercoglan – drums, replaced by Warren Droms

They recorded their 45 at WRGB studios in Schenectady. The number RK4M 5992/3 indicates an RCA Custom pressing from 1964.

Mark Ernst has a very cool website on the Intruders and his later career, though he doesn’t say what happened to the group after releasing the single. Presumably, they broke up as members graduated school.

The A-side features the slower “What Kind of Girl Are You”, which starts out with a great bluesy riff and has some good soloing as the song fades.

The flip, “Hey Hey” is a good rocker.

“Hey Hey” was written by Marc Hecker, Mark Ernst and Carl Buell, with credits to AC Production and Intruders Music. “What Kind of Girl Are You” was written by Hecker and Buell.

Thank you to Brian Kirschenbaum for the scan and transfers of the 45.

Categories: Dallas, Knight (Dallas), New York, Texas, Upstate New York, Watertown

The Knights – from upstate New York to Dallas, Texas

October 4, 2010 Chris Bishop 18 Comments

Bob Sanders ran the Knight and Spectra labels, among others, during the mid-’60s in Dallas, Texas.

The Knights 45 was completely unfamiliar to me until Brian Kirschenbaum wrote to me with the scan and transfers of the record. He was surprised to find a Texas 45 had made its way to upstate New York. It’s an interesting single, very much influenced by the British sounds of the time in changes and feel, especially on “I Know It Now”. Bob Kissell wrote both sides.

I had no information on the group until a couple comments were left (see below). As it turns out, this band made an unlikely journey from upstate New York to work in Dallas, Texas. In Watertown they were known as Dick and the Knights.

I’ll repeat most of Dick Kissell’s comment here:

The group consisted of Chuck Martuzas, bass (now deceased); Bob Lawlor, drums; Bob Kissell, lead guitar; and myself on rhythm guitar. The vocals were done by Bob and myself.
On a whim, we went to Dallas in the fall of 1964 because we had a friend down there who said he might be able to help us find some local clubs needing bands. We started out at a place called The Haunted House Club then moved on to the Disc-A Go Go and eventually LouAnns. We became house band at LouAnns.
Lewis Lindsey played the organ part on the “Stay” side. A guy named Bill Petty was friends with Lewis Lindsey and was also part owner in the Haunted House club; that’s how we got the recording deal. Only 300 copies were pressed. Later the following year, we became friends with The 5 Americans and played around Dallas for awhile until returning home.

Dick Kissell added in an email to me:

The single “Only You Hold The Answer” was a regional hit for us around 1967. My brother Bob Kissell wrote the melody while I wrote the lyrics. He plays (blues) around the Daytona Florida area in the winter, and then comes home and plays here (Watertown, NY) summers.

The Knights second single, “Only You Hold the Answer” b/w “Walkin’ The Streets” may have been their own production with no involvement from Bob Sanders of Knight Records in Dallas. The labels credit their last name as Kisslle (sic). The single had publishing by Pinent Music, BMI and the band recorded it at Dayson Studio in East Syracuse, NY.

Many thanks to Brian Kirschenbaum for alerting me to the Knights 45 and to retrogirl86 for the info in her comment.

Categories: Albion, Audition, Batavia, New York, Upstate New York

The Humans

September 12, 2010 Chris Bishop 21 Comments

Dick Doolan – vocals
Danny Long – vocals and harmonica
Bill Kuhns – lead guitar
Gar Trusselle – keyboards
Marty Busch – bass
Jack Dumrese – drums

The Humans were from Albion, New York, 20 miles north of Batavia. According to the liner notes for Back From the Grave vol. 5, all six members were in high school marching band when they decided to form a band in the summer of 1964. Their band’s moniker was a dig at all the groups naming themselves after insects and animals.

They toured throughout the northeast, opening for some big acts, including playing the Rheingold Festival in Central Park, Manhattan in 1966.

Their only 45 has a fine folk-rock original on the A-side, “Take a Taxi”. The instrumental passage is a neat combination of twelve-string guitar and organ.

For years now, it’s been overshadowed by the B-side, “Warning”, which has become almost an anthem in garage-rock circles, and rightly so. It’s a well-arranged combination of ringing guitar chords, thudding drum beat and bass line, simple organ melody, a great rough lead vocal answered by a second singer and a harmonica solo.

Lead guitarist Bill Kuhns (listed as William R. Kuhns, Jr. on the label) wrote both songs. It was recorded at Riposo Studios in 1966 and released on the Audition label, which had a number of classic mid-60s singles. I don’t know what happened to the band after its release, or if the record sold at all. It’s pretty hard to find these days.

Gar Trusselle answered some of my questions about the band:

Q. How did the band sign get to tour around the Northeast?

We were managed locally by Al Cecere in Rochester. As far as we knew, Al Cecere was the sole owner of Audition. He had some connections so he got us signed up with Premier Talent Associates (PTA) in NYC. Our agent with them was Rich Nader who went on to promote R&R revivals across the country. We also opened for the Hollies, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (several times) and played a two week gig in Miami with the Standells.

We were friends with “The Heard” as they were also managed by Al Cecere. We alternated at Oak Orchard Lanes in Albion [with] Caesar and His Romans from Buffalo. By the way, Oak Orchard Lanes was quite a hot spot. In the summer, the owners would cover all 12 lanes with plywood and have dances on the lanes with some pretty big names. A couple that come to mind are the Rivieras and the Shadows of Knight.

Q. Do you remember any details about the Riposo Studio and making the record?

All I can remember is that the studio was in Syracuse. Someone said Wooly Bully was recorded there but I cannot verify that.

Q. Did it get any airplay at the time?

We did get good local airplay and some national as well. Billboard reported us in the top twenty in a Michigan and Texas market but it did not last.

Q. Did the band perform “Warning” and “Take a Taxi” during your live shows?

We did perform the two songs live at every performance.

Q. The band had long hair for 1966, did that cause any trouble?

Nothing but. However, we had a lot of local support even from the adult side.

Q. How did the band break up, and did you stay in music after?

It began when Dan died in a car accident in September of 1966. We went on from there but the draft started to whittle at the group. I think our last job was in November of 1966 at our own venue in Albion. We had rented the local (out of business) movie theater, remodeled it, and named it “Happiness Is…”.

Gar D. Trusselle

The photo at top originally provided to RambleMusic.com (link dead as of 2013) by Bill Vosteen. The site includes photos and clippings of other Batavia-area groups like Beethoven’s Dream Group, The Majestics, the Plague, Salt of the Earth, The Revengence, the Squires.

Garage Hangover