Category Archives: Ohio

The Sprites “Jim’s Ballad” with Jim Wenstrup

October 18, 2022 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Sprites were students at the Charles Springmyer school in Mack, Ohio, a suburb west of Cincinnati.

Buckeye Beat covered the Sprites first single, listing the people involved:

the schools ‘vocal director’ Donna Buel … Linda Tyra, Nancy Schunk, Janet Miller, Norma Sumner, Shirley Mangold, all 8th graders, Diane Rodenburg, Diane Schwander, Jill Lampe, Mary Schleue, Diane Spencer, all 7th graders, and Jane Labanz, a first grader … An eleventh member was added … in time for the studio ‘take’ … Melody Stinson now a ninth-grader at Oak Hills High School.

The Percussions backed the Sprites for their recording of “Little Latin Lupe Lu” / “On a Slow Boat to China”. The tape was sent to Wakefield Manufacturing in Phoenix, Arizona to be pressed, and the Wakefield code 7234 dates it to 1965.

Even more obscure is their second record, which probably features a different group of children, as the Wakefield number 14360 dates it to 1969 or 1970. “Consider Yourself” (from Oliver!) is about what you’d expect, and features backing by the Percussions (definitely not a rock group). The flip is the gentle and affecting “Jim’s Ballad” featuring guitar by Jim Wenstrup.

The Electros, Cincinnati Enquirer, April 8, 1967 — The Electros, April 1967, from left: Jim Wenstrup, Frank Luckey, Gene Yuellig, Rick Clark, and Ed Holloway

This must be the same Jim Wenstrup who played lead guitar with the Electros, a group from nearby Elder High School and Oak Hills High School. The Electros included Frank Luckey on rhythm guitar, Gene Yuellig on drums, Rick Clark on bass and Ed Holloway on vocals. The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a photo of the group on April 8, 1967, and mentioned that the Electros planned to cut a record “Chase Around the World” – but if they did I haven’t seen it.

I would like to know more about how the Sprites came to record what seems to be an original song by Jim Wenstrup.

Categories: Ohio, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Springfield, Urbana

The Tremors – “Wondering Why” on Catalina

August 8, 2022 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

Updated July, 2023

The Tremors “Wondering Why” on Catalina is one of the greatest garage records, but almost nothing was known about the band until recently, when Matt Aquiline found an article from the Urbana Daily Citizen on December 12, 1966, detailing their first recording session, which would produce the 45.

Members were:

Bill Cromwell – lead vocals and rhythm guitar
Derry Cox – lead guitar
Gene Monroe – bass
Herald Barker – drums and organ
Jim Cummins – organ and drums

Buckeye Beat has a photo and mentions that four members were from Urbana, Ohio and one from Springfield OH. They cut their single at the O’Brien Studio in Springfield, produced by musician and race car driver Ron Knull, released in December 1966 or January 1967 on Catalina 03/04.

The 45 was pressed by Rite Record Productions, 19469/70, account # 1801, both songs published by Ronnie K Music.

The writer credit on “Wondering Why” is Cummins – Barker. For some reason, many scans of this side on the internet have erased their names. I need to see a good scan of the B-side, the fine ballad “What Have I Done” to see if there are similar credits.

Paul Lunnon suggests Harold Barker was known as Hal Barker, he and Jim Cummins were long-time friends and musicians. Hal Barker mainly played drums, James Cummins organ and keyboards.

“The Tremors” dance band in the Daily-Times, New Philadelphia OH, March 31, 1967

The only other notice I can find is a mention of “The Tremors” Dance Band at the Quarter Miler Rod & Custom Show on April 1 & 2, 1967, at the National Guard Armory in New Philadelphia, Ohio, almost three hours’ drive east of Urbana.

Other singles on Catalina:

Catalina 1 – The Shacklefords – “The Wonderer” / “The Unloved” (1966, written by D. Shackleford, published by Lunk Music, Rite pressing 17743/4, account # 1801)

Catalina 335 – Ron Frasier and Consolidations – “Summer with You” / “Another Girl” (I need a scan of this single, it is a Rite pressing 18803/4, account # 297)

Categories: Action, Leetonia, Ohio, Salem

The Crescendos “I Need Love” on Action Records

February 8, 2022 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Crescendos came from the Leetonia and Salem area south of Youngstown, Ohio, and made this one single in 1965. “I Need Love” is fine garage, and the flip is a good ballad, “Blue Sunday”. Both were written by vocalist Jim Altomare.

They cut the record at Gateway and released it on the Action Records label of Youngstown, between the two singles by the Executioners on the label. Trend Setter Music did the publishing, and Jerry Starr produced.

Instrumentally, the Crescendos was a quartet but I only have two names so far Jim Altomare on vocals and guitar and Jim Ginther on drums. I’m not sure who was playing bass or piano on these cuts.

The Crescendos received a few mentions in the Salem area press. In October, 1964, they played a street fair in Columbiana, and in February 1965 they headlined a dance at the Knights of Columbus hall in Leetonia.

Jim Ginther was also part of the Invictas from Lisbon, with Jerry Justice on piano.

Any further info on the group would be appreciated.

Categories: Dayton, Ohio, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Unknown, Wildwood Sound Productions

Last Exit “The Fast One” on Wildwood

January 24, 2022 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Last Exit came from western Ohio, perhaps Montgomery County, near Dayton. The only name I have is K.K. Petty, who wrote both sides.

“The Fast One” gives the lead guitarist plenty of time to solo. “The Slow One” is, as the title suggests, a ballad, with lines like “The best foundation for true love is simply a little trust / But the whole thing can be shattered, with a sudden burst of lust”!

The band cut their single at Wildwood Sound Productions in Brookville, where the Centrees, and Captain Crunch and the Crew also recorded.

Gene Turner’s Gene O Music published the songs but I cannot find registration for either. It is a Rite pressing, account # 1850, from 1967.

Categories: Audio Adventures, Ohio, Piqua, Rite Record Productions custom pressings

The Countrymen “Flare-Up!!” on Audio Adventures

January 21, 2021 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Countrymen recorded on Audio Adventures out of Piqua, Ohio, 20 miles north of Dayton in 1971. They were really a country act, but “Flare-Up!!” is a crude and bizarre song, and does sound like it was recorded in a garage.

On “Flare-Up!!”, Ron Lininger sang lead and played guitar, Harry Burd played bass and Bud Allen contributed the tambourine. Lyrics were by W.R. Lake, music by Harry Burd.

Are you ready girls?
Now there’s times I’m sorry,
You can bet your bippy,
That I ever decided to marry a long-haired hippie.
Well I like to eat,
And hold down a job,
You’d rather eat and drink and live like a slob.
I think we’re about to have a flare-up,
Let’s not have another flare-up.
If you dress like a girl,
Maybe put up your hair,
I’m sure that we could avoid another flare-up.
If you’d only wake up,
And do a little clean-up
We might avoid another flare-up.
When I need a little loving,
Tender loving care,
All I ever see is your long, black, and greasy hair.
I think we’re about to have a flare-up,
Let’s not have another flare-up.

The lyrics are basically sung twice, separated by a break where the drummer & tambourine keep the beat while Ron slides the pick down the strings.

For the country ballad “That’s Why I’m Dreaming of You”, Bud Allen sang lead, Harry Burd played steel guitar (and wrote the song), and Ron Lininger played bass.

Fred Snyder played drums on both sides.

This is a Rite Records custom pressing, 27699/27770 from Rite account number 5216.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Categories: Nashville (Starday), Ohio, Starday, Xenia

GT’s from Dayton, Ohio

November 15, 2020 Chris Bishop 8 Comments

GTs Xenia Daily Gazette Feb. 21, 1967 — The GTs in the Xenia Daily Gazette Feb. 21, 1967

The GTs came from Dayton, Ohio. Members were:

John Boerstler
Eddie Wells
Brenda Bishop
Mary McCartney
Bruce Larson

The Xenia Daily Gazette featured a photo of the band in February, 1967 for their date at the Blue Moon Ballroom.

A 1966 single “Bad Girl” and “Farewell Faithless Farewell” on Nashville NV-5302 is reputed to be by this band, however neither song was written by a member of the group. Cathryn Wright wrote “Farewell, Faithless, Farewell” while “Bad Girl” was written by Earl Isble, listed in March, 1966 copyright registration as Earl Roger Isble. Tronic BMI published both songs.

The 45 was a Starday Recording and Publishing production, so the band only had to send their tape in, not travel to Tennessee.

Categories: B&4 Records, Columbus, Ohio

Dennie Mosley “Love Me, Love Me, Love Me” out of Columbus Ohio

September 19, 2020 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Dennie Mosley seems to have only cut this one single, the cool rockabilly “Love Me, Love Me, Love Me” backed with the pleading lament, “I Tried”. It’s not really a garage style record, but the late recording date and crude quality of the production gives it something of a garage feel. The guitar break on “Love Me” is excellent.

The RCA custom pressing code, U4KM-9220/1 indicates an early 1967 pressing.

Released on B & 4 Records out of Columbus, Ohio. Bill Caito wrote “Love Me, Love Me, Love Me” and arranged that side, while Dennie Mosley wrote and arranged “I Tried”.

Other names on the label include M. South, G. Kirk, L. Newsome and F. Smith who must be the backing musicians. B&4 Records typically list the singer of the group as the artist, so it is possible they had a group name not listed on these labels. Any further info would be appreciated.

Publishing by E.C. Baugess Publishing Co.

Chad Baugess ran a home studio and owned the B & 4 Records label. Buckeye Beat has a list of other records on the label, but not this one.

Categories: Cathay, Ohio, Sparta

The Lorey’s of Sparta, Ohio

April 6, 2020 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Lorey’s (or Lorries) came from Sparta, Ohio, a small town northeast of Columbus.

Original members included:

Ted Fuller – vocals
John Boston – lead guitar
Murv Mast – rhythm guitar
Ernie Duncan – keyboards
Larry Roades – bass (replaced by Bob Steinbrink)
John Hinkle – drums

The group competed at the Northland Shopping Center 3rd Annual Battle of the Bands in 1967, and though they did not place in the competition, their song “Don’t You Dare” appears on the album.

The lineup changed often, eventually replacing every member but the rhythm section of Steinbrink and Hinkle:

Steve Baker – vocals
Aaron Kerns – lead guitar
Herb Sample – rhythm guitar
Ed Hartman – keyboards
Bob Steinbrink – bass
John Hinkle – drums

Steve Baker wrote two original songs, “Goin’ Downtown” / “Ready to Go” which found release on Cathay Records. Both songs were registered for copyright in February, 1969.

Cathay was named after Kathay Whitney, who was president and manager of Monte Verde Publishing. Billboard listed Monte Verde with a South Charleston, West Virginia address in 1969, then a Watsonville, CA address in 1970 and ’71.

The Loreys release on Cathay has an address of Rimrock Records in Concord, Arkansas, but most others on the label list Nashville and at least one notes Flint, Michigan. It was primarily a country label.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Info on the Lorey’s from Buckeyebeat.com

Categories: Columbus, Ohio, Sure

The Shilos “Let’s Go Again”

January 14, 2019 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Shilos had only one single, featuring the fine r&b sounds of “Let’s Go Again”, released on the Sure Records label in the second half of 1965.

The Shilos became the Four Winds, and one member recalled those groups lineups as including:

Jeff Pharion – lead vocals
Roger Riley – guitar, replaced by Bob Hill
Walt Edry – bass, replaced by Bob Blackburn
Dave Smith – drums
Russ Geis – saxophone (on occasion)

Other than Jeff Pharion on vocals, I don’t know exactly who plays on the record. The flip is the lighter “You’re Leaving Sunday” featuring a trumpet player. It was an RCA custom press, with master numbers 754S-5932, SK4M-5932/3.

Chuck Howard, a country singer well-known throughout southern Ohio, wrote both songs.

I’m sorry to report that Jeff Pharion passed away January 6, 2019.

Buckeye Beat has photos of the Four Winds and more info on that group.

Categories: Ohio, Prism, Washington Court House

The Duprays on Prism Records

August 29, 2018 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Duprays came from Washington Court House, Ohio, which lies about 40 miles southwest of Columbus and a little further from Dayton.

Members were:

Bruce Daulton – lead vocals
Ray Joslin – guitar
Mike Burnette – guitar
Dennis Minshall – keyboards
Don Miller – bass
Carl Mullen – drums

Guitarist Ray Joslin wrote the excellent top side, “You Make Me”, which starts with what is supposed to be his girl’s wailing, with some unusual echoed drumming. The wailing continues through the guitar break and short recitation.

The band shares composition credit on the bizarre B-side, “The Frog (Froggy)”.

Released on Prism Records PR-1929, the RCA custom pressing code SK4M-1497/8 dates it to late 1965.

B-W Music, Inc and WWMG Pub. published “You Make Me”, while WelDee Music and WWMG Pub. published “The Frog (Froggy)”, though I couldn’t find Library of Congress registrations for either song.

Unlike many Ohio bands of the era, the Duprays did not seem to get any local press coverage, perhaps because they were young teenagers.

Does anyone have a photo of the group?

More info is at Buckeye Beat.

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