The Wilshire Express is an interesting release that deserves a quick look. Despite the Austin Records label name, this was one of Major Bill Smith’s labels such as Charay and Le Cam out of Fort Worth, TX, almost 200 miles from Austin.

The Wilshire Express version of “Lose Your Money” is actually identical to the Ron-Dels hit on Smash, except for the lead vocals. Hard to say if it’s an alternate Delbert McClinton vocal, or merely someone imitating him. In any case the backing is identical, even the guitar solo and harmony vocals. The Wilshire Express version of “Lose Your Money” made it onto Highs in the Mid Sixties Vol. 23 without the compiler realizing it was basically the same recording as the Ron-Dels.

The Ron-Dels were from Fort Worth, the lineup on their Smash singles consisting of Delbert McClinton, Ronnie Kelly, Billy Wade Sanders, Jimmy Rogers on bass, and possibly Jerry Foster or Dahrel Norris on drums.

“Lose Your Money” was written by Mike Pinder and Denny Laine and was in fact the Moody Blues’ first UK single. “Lose Your Money” would get more exposure as the B-side to the US release of “Go Now”, where the Ron-Dels took their version.

The Wilshire Express B-side “Carla” is an easy listening instrumental and obviously from a completely different source. Both sides list “A Maridene Production”, and “Carla” has Freddy Crane on piano.

I’ve seen a September 1966 release date for the Wilshire Express single. The runout has “Maridene” “M 107” suggesting it was intended for Maridene Records, another Bill Smith label. If so it would have fit between Gene Summers remake of his earlier hit “Big Blue Diamonds” and Zuma’s “Hot Pants”, and the proper release date should be 1970 or 1971.

To make matters more confusing, on youtube I find a Wilshire Express single with the same release number, Austin Records A-322 with a version of Bruce Channel’s “Hey! Baby”: another Texas artist with a hit on Smash produced by Bill Smith. This time it’s a new recording actually done by the Carolina Tikis, a group who had recorded as Sunny & the Carolina Tikis for Charay (Sunny Threatt).