Here’s an incomplete listing of released recordings made at Alan Graves’ studio Graves Recording Service, primarily the rock 45s:
45s:
Graves 1091 – The Dominions – “I Need Her” / “Spanish Harlem”
Graves TRK 1093 – Little John & the Monks – “Woman Take a Trip” / “All Them Lies” (demo acetate only)
Graves 1094 – The Sires – “Don’t Look Now” / “Come to Me Baby”
Tork 1095 – The Moguls – “Another Day” / “Round Randy” (Dec. 1966)
Graves 1099 – The Ethics – “She’s a Deceiver” / “O.K.” (March 1967)
Graves 1100 – The Fifth Row Bac – “Please Don’t Go” / “Destination Train”
Graves GRS 1102 – Smokey Metcalf And His Timber Toppers – “How Can You Love Me” / “Don’t Come Knocking At My Door”
Graves 1104 – The Phantoms – “Hallucinogenic Odyssey” / “Sixty Minutes To Nine” (1967)
F-Empire 1106 – The Barber Green – “Gliding Ride” / “Life” (August 1968)
LP:
F-Empire (no #) – Beauregarde (features Beauregarde on vocals, Greg Sage lead guitar, Omar Bose keyboards and trumpet, Dave Kolpel bass, Allen Robinson congas and sax, and Jay Lundell on drums.)
The Moguls had two previous 45s: “Avalanche” / “Ghost Slalome” on Century 20449 in Feb. ’65, and “Ski Bum” / “Try Me” on Panorama 29 in March of 1966.
The Phantoms 45 on Graves lists the band members: Rudie Muller, Steve Reiter, Dennis Chu, Brian Ashbrough and Geoff Soentpiet. Rudie Muller sings lead on “Sixty Minutes to Nine”, Geoff Soentpiet sings lead on “Hallucinogenic Odyssey”. The Phantoms had an additional 45 on Ridon 859, “Story of a Rich Man” / “Our Great Society” both by Ashbrough and Soentpiet.
I asked Alan Graves about the bands that recorded in his studio in the 60’s and sent him a list of what I knew had been cut there:
The only record I can add is one done on the F-Empire label, GRS 1106, “Gliding Ride” and “Life” by the Barber Green.
There may be other “garage” bands, but most of the stuff I did was local schools, etc – some gospel and dixieland jazz band stuff.
None of the records pressed were released by me, but were the property of the individual bands -who either gave them away or sold them. Most were done in a limited press of 500 copies each. So if you have any of them, I guess you could say they are rare. Since the records were the property of the bands, I rarely kept any copies – and have none now.
I re-activated the studio by acquiring a Scully Mastering record cutting Lathe, and under the name of “The Audio Lathe” cut lots of “acetate” records for DJ’s and juke boxes.
I sold that last November, and now back to just hosting the History of the Presto Recording Corp on the internet.
Update: Alan’s Presto history at www.televar.com/grshome/Presto.htm is now defunct, but is available on the Internet Archive.
To right, the Phantoms’ second 45, recorded at Ridon by Rich Keefer Thank you to Barry Wickham for the scan. Thanks to Dale for pointing out the Smokey Metcalf.
Hi Chas
I have an mp3 of Our Great Society. I used to have a copy but sold it years ago. Which of course, I Regret. Get in touch and I’ll email you the file. Matt dot Kelley 777 at gmail dot com.
Please send the file. I would greatly appreciate it. I am Steve Reiter, one of the original co-founders and bass player in the band.
Thank you
i’d be happy to Steve but i need your email address!
I use to go through Alan some time ago to have short runs of acetates for afew local acts in Schenectady/albany/troy N.Y.
One Band that was –
The Miserables – 2 Song 45. When Angels Die on the “A side”,and 1 O’clock Train on the B,Which is a alternate early “year recorded unknown” track,Number of acetates were 11 total.
The Miserables – 2 song 45,on Purple Acetate!, Songs were -In the Twilight B/W Little Red Riding Hood,Released on the “Delta9 Quadlab Label” outta Troy NY.Number of acetates made were 5. Also one of the last Acetates Alan Cut ..
Hope this helps some,
RPX
Hi my name is Meagan and Alan is my grandpa I want to thank you so much for making this and helping keep his legacy alive.
Hello Megan, I am looking for someone to talk to regarding ypur Grandfather’s contribution to Northwest rock n roll. Please frrl free to contact me at TVDirector@live.com
Meagan we just bought 2646 Willamette, I think that was your grandpa’s studio back in the day. We would love to know more about it.
Email me at megflower96@comcast.net I can get you in contact with my father
I have an LP that has Graves Recording Service
Rex Allen Mister Cowboy
Hi there,
If anyone has any smokey metcalf records lying around, i would like to buy them or even a digital copy. I am looking for “company’s coming” specifically
Thanks!
Angela
Looking for any original songs from this studio/label to help represent Oregon in a documentary-style video about the History of Northwest Rock n Roll, 1957 – 1967. If you are the owner of any of these recording or know a contact to talk to, please message me at TVDirector@live.com. Thank you ……..Craig Kelly/Tacoma, WA