I wonder how a fast, wah-heavy version of the Rokes “Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi” got its only release on a Philadelphia label known for a handful of local pop artists.
Whoever put the label together changed Gli Angeli to Gil’ Angeli, and misspelled the Italian title (as “Che Colba Abbia Mo Noi”), as well as several songwriter names.
Although there is an English title, “What Faults Do We Have?”, the song is sung in Italian. “Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi” was an Italian version of Bob Lind’s “Cheryl’s Goin’ Home”, and was a hit for the Rokes in 1966. The Mogol song credit is Giulio Rapetti Mogol who often adapted English lyrics into Italian.
I put together a video of the song for youtube, but as I was uploading it, an automatic copyright claim popped up. Some faceless company would “allow” the upload but monetize it for their own profit. There’s a good chance this company doesn’t even have the rights to claim copyright, and I never monetize my uploads. So I decided not to upload it at all. The world will do without.
The flip also gets an English title, “Don’t Cry Tonight”, but it’s sung in Italian too, and is a cover of Don Backy’s 1967 ballad, “Non Piangere Stasera”. Mainstay Music Inc. is listed as publisher.
Usually a record like this would have been released in Italy or somewhere else first, but as far as I can tell, this was not released in any other country. The Bats did a version of “Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi” but it does not sound like this one.
It’s possible this was recorded in Philadelphia, and was not taken from a demo or international release. The label says produced by Ricky Layne, who produced at least a couple other releases on Star-Line Records, on S. Eleventh St. in Philadelphia, PA. Possibly an Italian group was touring the US, and cut this 45 in a quick session to sell at their shows.
The dead wax FC-1A/B F/W indicates Frankford-Wayne mastering.
There was a Gli Angeli from Abruzzo who did “Butta La Corda” backed with an Italian version of the Who’s “I’m a Boy” as “Dove Vuoi”, but they didn’t have a vocalist named Franco. Gli Angeli Di Trieste are another possibility, but the recording I heard of them is much more polished pop than this.
I’d appreciate any leads on who this Gil Angeli & Franco could be.
The Straitjackets in the Star-Telegram, February 10, 1961
Straitjackets at the Red Devil Lounge, January 17, 1958Delbert McClinton formed the Straitjackets in sometime in 1957. Early members included Art Holland on lead guitar, Robert Harwell on guitar, Billy Cox on sax, Ralph Dixon on bass, and Ray Clark on drums.
The first printed notice I’ve found in the Fort Worth Star Telegram was from January 17, 1958, an ad for the group’s appearance at the Red Devil Lounge at 2541 N.E. 28th.
The ad also notes “The Straightjackets are appearing on Teenage Downbeat – WBAP-TV, Channel 5, Tuesday, Jan. 21.”
Another one on February 28, 1958 calls the group “recording stars” though I don’t believe they had made any records yet. Early ads through 1960 give a different spelling for the group, the Straightjackets, and sometimes list Delbert as featured vocalist. He had turned seventeen years old a few months before.
On February 25, 1960, the Straightjackets played a battle-of-the-bands with the Twisters at Crystal Springs Ballroom. They regularly played at Jack’s Place on Mansfield Road.
The Star Telegram ran items on March 26 and April 10, 1960 with the first lineup I can find for the group in print:
Talent Hunt Ends in Tie for 2 Combos
Two five-man combos, one from Fort Worth and the other from Victoria, finished in a tie for first in the area finals of the Talentsville, U.S.A. contest Saturday afternoon at Casa Manana.
The Fort Worth entry, “The Straitjackets,” was composed of Billy Cox, Delbert McClinton and Ronnie Kelly, Technical High School Students, Jim Dinsmore [Jimmy Densmore] of Arlington Heights and Bob Jones of Paschal.
The Victoria entry, billed as “Dads of Dixie” …
The two groups won trophies and the right to compete in the division finals in Houston May 7.
The Dads of Dixie would win the regionals in Houston along with the Blue Notes of Witchita, KS, winning spots for the finals in New York.
A short profile in the Star Telegram from February 10, 1961 announced their first record and included a photo of the band. Jim Densmore was no longer with the group, while Ray Clark and Ralph Dixon had joined. It also listed Delbert as “Mac Clinton”, a pseudonym that would appear on their first single, “Wake Up Baby” / “That Cat” on Le Cam Records 714.
Six graduates of Fort Worth high schools who work together as a band – The Straitjackets – this week have released their first record.
The disk presents a Straitjacket arrangement of “Wake Up, Baby,” a 1955 tune by Sonny Boy Williams.
On the reverse side, also arranged by the group, is “That Cat.” The release is on the Le Cam label.
“We think ‘Wake Up, Baby’ will sell readily,” said Mac Clinton, leader of the group and former Arlington Heights High School student.
The band was last year’s city competition winner in the Talentsville U.S.A. contest. However, the group was defeated in state competition.
Band members include Ronnie Kelley, Bob Jones and Ray Clark, who were graduated from Paschal High School; Ralph Dixon from Polytechnic, and Billy Cox from Heights.
On the Le Cam label, “That Cat” shows owner Major Bill Smith as writer. In 1962, “That Cat” would appear again on the flip side to versions of “Gigolo” / “I Ain’t Got Nobody” on United Artists UA 453, with the Straitjackets listed as the artist this time.
The Straitjackets and Ray Sharpe at the Skyliner, February 1962
The Straitjackets kept busy in 1962 with shows at the Skyliner Ballroom with Ray Sharpe and the Trebles, and a June 3 show at the Stork Club following the John Griffin, Jr. Band.
In June 1962, Del McClinton toured the UK with Bruce Channel, to reprise his harmonica playing on Channel’s smash “Hey! Baby”. There he famously met the Beatles.
While in London, Delbert cut four songs. “Dunkirk” / “Angel Eyes” came out only in the U.S. on London 45-LON 9544 with Del McClinton listed as the artist. “Hully Gully” / “Baby Heartbreak” came out in the UK on Decca F.11541, using his full name Delbert McClinton, with later issues in Italy and Greece. Earl Guest was music director, and Mike Smith did production.
By 1963, Delbert had formed the Ron-Dels with Ronnie Kelley, and would go on to cut a number of singles on Bill Smith’s labels like Shalimar, Brownfield, Le Cam and Shah, as well as a couple on Smash. Members of the Rondels would include Dahrell Norris on drums, Jimmie Rodgers on guitar and bass, and Billy Wade Sanders on guitar, piano and vocals.
December 1962 shows with the Capris
The Straitjackets continued, possibly without Delbert. Ray Torres was drummer on “Hey! Baby” and mentioned being a drummer with the Straitjackets, but other than him, I don’t know who was in later lineups. They had shows at the Skyliner Ballroom in December 1962, and New Year’s Eve with the Capris at the Ridglea Palladium Ballroom.
I find two later notices, one for Sonny and the Straightjackets at the Stork Club in August 1966, and another for the Straight-Jackets at the Tropicana Club in January 1967, but these may be different groups altogether.
In the ’80s, Le Cam released two LPs released titled Very Early Delbert McClinton with the Ron-Dels that may contain some recordings done with the Straitjackets as early as 1960. (I would like to hear these records if anyone has them for a reasonable price.)
Further reading: Lee Cotten’s interviews with Delbert and Major Bill Smith in Discoveries October 1996 issue.
The Twilighters, from left: Bob Harbur, John Harbur, unidentified drummer, and Fred Palmer
When Bob Harbur left the Kirksville area and the Twilighters, he formed a new band in St. Charles, Missouri with his brother John, but kept the Twilighters name.
Members of the new Twilighters included:
Bob Harbur – lead guitar John Harbur – bass Fred Palmer – trumpet
I don’t know the name of the drummer. Bob Harbur looks to be playing the same Fender Jazzmaster he played with his earlier group.
They recorded at Premier Film & Recording Corporation in St. Louis for one single as Fred and Bob and the Twilighters on Palms Records 16125, released in 1967. On the A-side, the band does an original song by Bob Harbur, “That’s the Way It’s Gotta Be”.
The flip is “Twistin’ St. Louis Blues”, arranged by Fred Palmer, with the artist listed as the Twilighters.
After the band split, Fred Palmer opened Palmer Music Education in Valley Park. Bob and John Harbur have since passed.
The Phase V, as featured in an ad for Stripling’s Campus Thing Fashion Show, August, 1968
The Phase V came from Fort Worth, TX, and cut a rare single, “Opaque Illusions” / “The Promise I Keep” on Title Records S-101.
Members of the band were:
Steve Lamb – bass, vocals Mike Kersh – rhythm guitar, lead vocals on “The Promise I Keep” Monte Kersh – lead guitar, vocals Rick Eubanks – keyboards, lead vocals on “Opaque Illusions” Jim Cardwell – drums, vocals
Rick Eubanks wrote “Opaque Illusions”. Kendall Publ Co. is on the label but I can’t find any registration of copyright. I haven’t heard “The Promise I Keep” yet.
First mention I can find of the band is a notice of the group playing a back to school fashion show on August 12, 1967, sponsored by Penneys.
On Labor Day, September 4, 1967, the Phase V opened for the Doors at the KFJZ Teen Mardi Gras Pop Music Festival at the Round Up Inn in the Will Rogers Complex. The festival lasted for nine days and featured a different headliner each day and many local groups. Headliners included the Seeds, Box Tops, Standells, Electric Prunes, McCoys and Grass Roots.
Also in September the Phase V played the new Soul City Club for teens at 2918 East Belknap.
Panther Hall’s Halloween Scene, 1967 with Phase V, Jades, Restless Set, and Sundown Collection
On October 31, 1967 they played Panther Hall’s Halloween Scene with the Jades, the Restless Set and the Sundown Collection, emceed by KFJZ DJ Stan Wilson.
Half an hour of footage from Panther Hall exists, I believe from this Halloween show. Unfortunately there’s only about 30 seconds of the Phase V tearing through Love’s “Seven and Seven Is”. I can recognize the white Gibson SG guitar from their band photo. However, in this clip, the bassist is singing lead vocals, and there is a second guitarist, so the lineup above may need some correction.
In February 1968, the Phase V played the Irving Teen a Go Go at the National Armory with the Crowd + 1 (Ed Grundy, Dean Parks, Nick Taylor and drummer Jim Rutledge).
The group played Irving Teen-a-Go-Go on April 12 with the Tyme of Day, and appeared at a teen narcotics seminar the very next day.
July and November 1968 saw the Phase V playing at the White Settlement Youth Club and Jolly Time Skating Rink Teen Scene.
I’ve seen the band’s name rendered online as Phase Five or Phaze V, but it is Phase V in the photo and in all newspaper notices I’ve found.
I’d like to know more about the Phase V and this rare record.
The Tyme of Day, from left: Robert Anderson, Chris Rogers and Shelby Rogers
The Tyme of Day came from Irving, Texas, northwest of Dallas.
Members were:
Shelby Rogers – lead vocals and guitar Bob Anderson – bass Chris Rogers – drums
I found this photo of the group in the April 7, 1968 Irving Daily News, announcing their appearance at the Irving Teen-a-Go-Go with the Phase V, the Glenda Harris Dancers and emcee Ralph Baker.
The group traveled to Norman Petty’s studio in Clovis, New Mexico several times, cutting Shelby’s original songs “I Wanna Know” and “Persuade Me” in March of 1968, In June they cut another original, “Listen to What Is Never Said”.
Norman Petty added keyboards, and “Listen to What Is Never Said” / “I Wanna Know” saw release on Mercury 72861 in November, 1968. Besides the Rogers brothers, session notes from https://www.norvajakmusic.com/t-v.html list Larry Shaw on bass, though it appears Robert Anderson played bass at some sessions.
The group made two further sessions at the Petty studio, cutting “Am I Really Me” / “The Word ‘Because'” in August, 1968, / “You Don’t Want Me” and “The Game” in March of 1969. All of these have remained unreleased.
The Paper Fortress, from left: Sam Chirico, Evan Zang, Joey Campo, and Jim Whittle
The Paper Fortress started out as the Royal Teens, making one single for the Rev Records label, “Tears in My Eyes” (Chirico) / “Chicanery” (Chirico, Whittle) in 1967.
Members were:
Sam Chirico – rhythm guitar, lead vocals Jim Whittle – lead guitar, vocals Joey Campo – bass, vocals Evan Zang – drums, vocals
The following year, they went into the studio with Tandyn Almer and Eddie Hodges to make “Butterfly High” / “Sleepy Hollow People”, released on VMC V719 at the Paper Fortress. Although the single used studio musicians, Sam Chirico sang lead vocals, with Evan Zang harmonizing, and Jim Whittle and Joey Campo adding backing vocals.
Evan Zang sent in the photos seen here and wrote to me about the group:
We were all from Redondo Beach. For various reasons the band went through three name changes in four years. We were initially The Royal Teens [but] learned there was another vocal group called the Royal Teens. Then the Candy Company, and finally the Paper Fortress.
From 1967 and on, and with many thanks to a local DJ, Casey Kasem, who managed us, we were one of the very rare South Bay pop bands that graduated from playing high school dances to the more lucrative and prestigious Hollywood scene. The other South Bay local band that cracked the Hollywood market were the Indescribably Delicious (who were also friends of ours. The Indescribably Delicious were like The Rolling Stones, while we were more like the Beatles).
We always played our originals in our live performances. We had an actual show, with routines and dialogue built into our sets. We also had revolving costume changes depending on the gig.
The venues where we were booked were the typically the hottest clubs in Hollywood, like the Whiskey A Go-Go, Pandora’s Box, the Hullabaloo (the club and the TV show), Arthur, the Roxy, Blue Law, and the Pendulum Club.
We also were fortunate enough to play at the Ice House and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, both located in Pasadena. At the Pasadena Civic, we were the opening act for The Strawberry Alarm Clock, Electric Flag, Iron Butterfly, Standells, and The Merry-Go-Round.
Our center of the universe was Hollywood, and we felt we’d made it when the money started pouring in. In 1968-69 while my friends were working at McDonald’s and driving used VW Bugs, Sam had a new Corvette and I had a new Lotus Europa! We definitely were grateful for the good timing and fortune to have experienced so much, in such a great period of music.
The Candy Company, aka the Paper Fortress
We did appear on Felony Squad as a band called The Candy Company. We were on screen about 4 minutes but it took all day to film. Several years ago Dennis Cole, the star of Felony Squad, sent me a DVD of that episode which also guest starred Roddy McDowall who played the role of our manager. It was called “The Flip Side of Fear.” Cole’s beautiful wife at the time was Jacklyn Smith, and she was on the set that day. Like Roddy, and Dennis, she was very nice and talkative with us.
Again using the name, The Candy Company, we performed 2 songs on the Woody Woodbury Show. Woody was a very gracious host to us. I believe I have the ONLY existing recording of that performance. After we performed our songs we were invited to sit with the other talk show guests. I sat next to the late Red Foxx. He was outrageously funny.
We were recording our own original songs at several Hollywood studios, but nothing really hit. At one point we were then approached by VMC who introduced us to song writer, Tandyn Almer. Tandyn already had a huge hit with “Along Comes Mary” by The Association, and “Sail On Sailor”, which he co-wrote with Brian Wilson for The Beach Boys. Tandyn offered us two wonderful songs, “Butterfly High”, and “Sleepy Hollow People”.
Jim Whittle, vocalist and lead guitar, got married, which swiftly became the demise of the band. We were at our peak with recordings and gigs, but Jim didn’t think it’d make for a good marriage. He was undoubtedly right. Sadly, Jim passed away from a heart attack only five years after leaving the band. Jim taught me how to drive even before I had my license.
Sam Chirico, the lead vocalist and rhythm guitar has never stopped playing professionally. He lives in Las Vegas and gigs when the mood suits him. Sam often performs under the name, Sam Walker.
Joey Campo, Sam’s cousin, vocalist and bass player, stopped playing professionally. He recently retired as a Firefighter Captain.
Evan Zang of the Paper Fortress
I went off to UC Berkeley after the band broke up. While in college, I continued to play drums for several well established country singers in Northern California, and began writing songs on my own having taught myself to play piano and guitar. I’ve actually sold a handful of original tunes to be used for commercials.
In the 80’s I found myself on the ground floor of a start up Arizona based company called PET FOOD WAREHOUSE. Prior to taking our rapidly growing chain of stores public, we changed our name to PETsMART.
One of the Founders, Tye Smith, and I had previously worked together at another company. We became tight friends, especially since both of us had also been drummers in different California bands when we were teenagers. Playing music again was inevitable, and he and I, plus a local doctor, Tom Moss, formed a 3-piece combo band, humorously calling ourselves “The Barking Geezers.” Tye played drums, Tom manned the rhythm guitar, and I played bass guitar and piano.
“The Barking Geezers” unique (and then untested) niche was “live Karaoke,” and audience members could join us onstage to sing with a “real rock and roll band.” Initially I didn’t think the concept would get very far. I was dead wrong!
Apparently EVERYONE (especially after a few beers) wanted to experience their own 5 minutes of “rock and roll fame!” The concept was very well received and The Barking Geezers continued to gig in Arizona, California and Oregon for the next 14 years.
I still write and record in my home studio.
Our road manager, Al Taylor, passed away a few weeks ago. Al was a wonderful friend and asset to our band. He lived in Hermosa Beach.
Sam and I have remained in close touch, like brothers. I felt very fortunate to be a teenager in a band that had records playing on the radio, and very loyal fans.
Unreleased songs by the Royal Teens include “Run”, “The Beginning, and “Everybody Knows”. Evan added:
“Run” was the most popular song we played, and teenagers asked for it repeatedly. Jim Whittle, the lead guitarist, does some very nice riffs on “Run.”
Thank you to Evan Zang for contributing the photos and information for this article.
The Paper Fortress, from left: Joe Campo, Evan Zang, Sam Chirico, Jim Whittle
Paper Fortress’s 2nd appearance at the Alphabet Fairs at Devonshire Downs. March, 1968 Paper Fortress appearing with Hunger, Giant Crab and Wedge in Santa Maria, May 1968
Something Wild is known for their excellent 1966 single “Trippin’ Out” / “She’s Kinda Weird” on Psychedelic Records.
The group started as the Hustlers in 1962. By 1964 the lineup included Bill Evans on lead guitar, Tim Leach on rhythm, Joe Geppi on bass and Micky Moshier on drums. This lineup opened for the Byrds at Righetti High School. They won a battle-of-the-bands at the Blue Dolphin club in Solving, and appeared on a local TV dance show on KCOY-12.
Kal-X-Blue (Karl Gebhardt) asked to be their vocalist, and in early 1965, the group changed their name to Something Wild.
Micky Moshier left the group, and was replaced first by Bill Peckham, and then Ronnie Libengood (known in the band as “Red” Libben or Libbon), who played on their single. Ronnie Libengood passed away at a very young age.
Santa Maria Times January 21, 1966A
A couple of photos refer to Bill Peckham as “Rufus Peckham” in the captions. One that ran on January 21, 1966 lists Bob Pierce (should be Bob Piers, according to his brother) and William Michael in addition to Rufus Peckham, Kal X. Blue and Joe Geppi.
In 1966 Tim Leach left, and Bill Payne joined on guitar and keyboards.
Also in 1966 Something Wild did two recording sessions, including one at Stars International Recording in Hollywood. The first demo, “She’s Got a Hole in Her Soul” / “The Blues”, was unissued. Anyone have pics of the labels of demo?
The second session featured the awesome “Trippin’ Out” written by Blue, Payne and Evans, backed with Blue’s original, “She’s Kinda Weird”. The group released it on their own Psychedelic Records PR-1691 in July, with the credit “Produced by Kal X. Blue – Acid Head Productions” and the tag “if it’s PSYCHEDELIC then it’s happening”.
The lineup that played on the Psychedelic single: Bill Payne, Bill Evans, “Red” Libben, Kal X. Blue, and Joe Geppi, from KRLA’s Beat newspaper, August 27, 1966
On August 27, 1966 KRLA’s newspaper The Beat featured Something Wild in the Beat Showcase, but in September the group split. Kal X and Bill Evans would continue in the Kal-X-Blues Band, playing at the Fillmore on Halloween 1966.
Wedge was based in San Francisco but was notable for including two musicians from Santa Maria, California, a small city near the coast, north of Vandenberg Air Force Base. Santa Maria is 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles, and part of Santa Barbara County.
Members included:
Howard Miller – lead guitar Kal X. Blue – drums (?) and vocals John Nicholas Kirk Patrick
An article in the Santa Maria Times from May 4, 1968 announced their participation in a teen dance at the Convention Center with the James Brothers Circus (a real circus, not a band name!) Other bands included Hunger, Giant Crab, and the Paper Fortress:
“Wedge” features two former Santa Maria musicians, Howard Miller and Kal X. Blue. This group is from San Francisco and recently returned after performing in Hawaii.
Miller was the former lead guitar player with the “Impacts,” now known as the “Hammermille Butter.” Kal sang with the “Something Wild”, and was a hit performer last summer at the county fair rock band contest.
They are being joined by John Nicholas and Kirk Patrick in the new organization. They have played at the Matrix and Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco and have appeared many times at the Ark in Sausalito.
Something Wild is known for their excellent 1966 single “Trippin’ Out” / “She’s Kinda Weird” on Psychedelic Records. Kal X and Bill Evans of Something Wild would continue in the Kal-X-Blues Band, playing a show at the Fillmore on Halloween, 1966.
I suppose the Impacts the article mentions was the group from San Luis Obispo who recorded on Del-Fi Records and had included Merrell Fankhauser on lead guitar until 1963. I haven’t seen Howard Miller listed as guitarist with the Impacts anywhere else.
Wedge did not record to my knowledge.
The Wedge became a trio featuring Kal X Blue (going by the name Linus) and Jason (real name LaVerne Miller) on lead guitar. The group traveled to Germany, where they added a bassist and drummer, changed their band name to Life, and made an album of original songs titled Spring, released in Germany by CBS in 1971.
Kal X Blue’s birth name was Karl Heinz Gebhardt. He was born in Germany in 1946, and died in Sweden on January 7, 2016.
The Dignitaries of North Adams, MA, April 17, 1969
The Dignitaries cut a fine r&b instrumental, “Steppin’ Out” on Darec VSS 81943. They recorded at Vibra Sound Studio in Schenectady in early 1969.
The group came from North Adams, Massachusetts. Members on the record were:
Dick Gigliotti – Cordovox and leader of the group Chuck Sweeney – bass “Doc” Everett Rivers – drums Robert Trottier – drums Andy Durocher – vocals
Darec is their own label, made of the first letter of their first names. Richard Gigliotti wrote “Steppin’ Out”. The flip is a ballad, “You Want to Be Free” by J.C. Thompson. Robert Barry Music has publishing credit on both songs, as it did on most of the Vibra Sound studio output, but does not seem to have registered them with the Library of Congress.
First notice I can find for the Dignitaries, in the Bennington Banner, October 23, 1968The North Adams Transcript had a feature on the band on April 17, 1969:
‘Dignitaries’, New Band, Cuts First Record
The five men, Richard “Dick” Gigliotti, 23 (he’s single girls), is the group’s leader and emits on the Cordovox; Charles “Chuck” Sweeney, 24 is a master of the bass guitar. Robert “Bob” Trottier, 22, on drums; Everett “Doc” Rivers, 27 on another set of drums; and Andrew “Andy” Duroucher, the “old man” of the group at 35, is its outstanding vocalist.
They have worked as a group for the past six months, and prior to that as a four-man group for six months and in the very beginning as a trio.
The original trio, Dick, Chuck and Bob, was first known as the Taconic Trio and played most of their engagements at the Taconic Park Restaurant in Williamstown. The name was changed to the Dignitaries eight months ago when they began to branch out and played various supper-clubs in the area.
It also notes that Chuck Sweeney had been in the Four Knights. Everett “Doc” Rivers had been in the Electros, Doc and the Interns, and the Other Guys. The article includes extensive information on their backgrounds and education.
The Troy Record and the Times Record ran nearly identical profiles of the Dignitaries on May 6, 1969 for their opening at Mario’s Theater Restaurant on Campbell Ave in Troy, NY:
Dignitaries Provide Potpourri at Mario’s
“Dick, Chuck and Bob started as the Taconic Trio. Six months ago they spread to a quintet and got down to the serious business of seeing what they can do in musical circles …
The music offered by the Dignitaries is not saturated with rock, nor is it steeped in psychedelic; rather it is a meshing of listenable, melodious tunes on the one hand, driving, vibrant beat on the other. They can go both ways, and do.
“We’re making the big effort now,” Sweeney, a darkly handsome young man, admitted with a grin. “I know, home in North Adams isn’t all that far away, but Troy at least affords a real springboard for us.”
Their top thrills to date probably are two in number – appearing on stage with the Irish Rovers and cutting their first record, Stepping Out.
On August 30, 1969 there was a notice of the Dignitaries appearing on Dialing For Dollars on TV Channel 10.
On April 16, 1970, the North Adams Transcript ran an item for their May 2nd show for a Lebanese Social Club dance at the Armory on Park Street. It looks like the group was down to a quartet, without Bob Trottier. The Dignitaries also had an upcoming engagement at the Cloud 9 Lounge of Bradley International Airport.
On August 28, 1971, the North Adams Transcript ran a photo of Charles Sweeney signing a contract for the Dignitaries to play the Fall Foliage Festival Dance. Bernard Robinson is mentioned as a member of the group, and co-owner, with Sweeney, of the Mountainview Restaurant in Clarksburg.
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.
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
I wonder how a fast, wah-heavy version of the Rokes “Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi” got its only release on a Philadelphia label known for a handful of local pop artists.
