Johnny Thompson was a guitarist, producer and song publisher with an exotic bent to his records. He released singles under two group names, Johnny Thompson & the One-Eyed Jacks and the Johnny Thompson Quintet, all released on Guitarsville except the last, on Lyra.
The first releases were by Johnny Thompson and the One-Eyed Jacks. These had a simple label design, gold background with a basic logo and “A Circa Release”. “Soul Chant” actually had a release in the UK on Ember EMBS 206 with a picture sleeve.
Guitarsville G-2121: “Soul Chant” (J. Thompson) / “For Us There’ll Be No Tomorrow” (G-1755)
Guitarsville G-2122: “Battle of Jerico ’65” / “I Feel Like A Saturday Night”
Guitarsville G-102: “The Sorcorer” (vocal)/ “The Sorcorer” (instrumental) (label shows address as 112 N. Garfield in Monterey Park)
The Johnny Thompson Quintet is known now primarily for one song, “Color Me Columbus” an intense psychedelic track with a horror-movie vocal. The backing has congas, flute, heavy guitars, and a great overall crunching sound. Unfortunately the flip replaces the heavy vocals for a lisping parody. I would prefer an instrumental version.
Two picture sleeves show a quintet, but the only names I can associate with this group are Johnny C. Thompson and Gilbert London who are credited as songwriters on the A-sides “Color Me Columbus” and “Promise Her Anything”.
I only have first names for other members: Duncan, Kent and “Big” Mike.
The Johnny Thompson Quintet had three 45s:
Guitarsville 2125 (G-1762): “Color Me Columbus” / “Color Me Columbuth” (October 1966)
Guitarsville 2126: “Promise Her Anything” (Thompson/London)/ “For Us There’ll Be No Tomorrow” (J. Thompson) (Jan. 1967)
Lyra L100: “Turn Me Down” / “We’ll Make It Good” with b&w art sleeve (late ’60s)
The change in label name makes sense: Lyra L100: “Turn Me Down” / “We’ll Make It Good” is dominated by a harpsichord sound instead of guitar. With the exception of “Sorcerer”, Guitarsville singles list an address at 222 E. Garvey, Monterey Park, CA. Most of the 45s were produced by Dontom, or Don Tom as listed on other Guitarsville 45s. Publishing by Johnny Thompson Pub BMI.
Other Guitarsville releases:
Guitarsville G 2123 – The V.I.P.’s “It” / “Don’t Turn Around”
Guitarsville G-2124 – Clark Brothers – “Hide Me” / “Listen Girl” (both by T.J. Kouza for Nova Pub BMI, prod. by Don Tom)
There were a couple other 45s on the Guitarsville label. Most notable is Guitarsville G 2123: the V.I.P.’s “It” / “Don’t Turn Around” which seems to be highly rated as a garage 45, though I’ve never heard it. The other is the Clark Brothers on Guitarsville 2124: “Hide Me” / “Listen Girl” (both by T.J. Kouza for Nova Pub. BMI, produced by Don Tom) (G-1760/1).
While making these records, Johnny Thompson had opened an instrument shop, first at 112 N. Garfield and then at 222 E. Garvey in Monterey Park, where it is still in business today. The shop’s website has many early photos of Johnny and his shop, his early country & western groups and a remembrance of Johnny as a music instructor. It includes a promotional flyer for the Johnny Thompson Sextet, but curiously no mention of any of these records.
The Johnny Thompson Music shop was obviously involved in the Eastside sound of such bands as the Premiers, Thee Midniters & Cannibal & the Headhunters and continues to be involved in community music projects to this day. Thank you to Gary Myers for pointing out that connection.
Interesting. There’s a Johnny Thompson Music in Monterey Pk and it’s been there for many yrs, so I’m guessing it’s the same guy.
Same location and obviously connected to these releases, though the website for the shop doesn’t mention them. Thank you for making that connection Gary.
It’s him. I actucally have some e-mails from Johnny, he said that he doesn’t have one copy left of the “Color Me Columbs” 7″. I will have to dig up those e-mails!
Please do! Would be keen to find out any info.
Hi Chris. I’m a huge fan of Johnny’s work. I’ve never met him but have spoken with him on the phone – you should give him a ring – he was really happy to talk and both bemused and delighted that people nowadays are interested in the records he put out back then on a whim.
It is a few years since we spoke, but I remember that he said Guitarsville wasn’t his label as I had assumed, despite his store’s address being on the label; it was put out by some local promoter (possibly the Don Tom?). I don’t think he had any connection with the VIPs or the Clark Brothers.
Listen Girl by The Clark Brothers is the same song as was recorded by Giant Crab: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox3_efBhEnc
Soul Chant/For Us somehow managed to get a release in the UK and France on Ember. The French sleeve has some info on the back. I’ve got a handwritten letter on Guitarsville stationary dated 2/6/66 that he sent to some DJ called ‘Bill’ thanking him for playing For Us… on his station.
I did get names of some of the other members of the Quintet, but my notes have gone missing in the depths of two house moves…
There is at least one JT record that still eludes me – I’ve never seen a copy, just spotted it on a mail list many, many years ago and it was sold by the time I enquired. That was the only reference I have ever seen to it:
JOHNNY AND THE JAGUARS: guitarsville 100—workin’ out/soul chant vg- 10 RARE mf gui-drums-sax r&r instr’s.
That’s Guitarsville 100, and Sorcerer is G102, so this makes me wonder if there’s a G101 out there too.
A photo of my Johnny Thompson bits and bobs is below. The letter’s at the front and at the back is a carbon copy handwritten promo/lyric sheet that came with We’ll Make It Good:
http://s3.postimg.org/xz7va22kz/IMAG2637.jpg
I’d be more than happy to get some decent scans of these if you’d like to add them to the above.
Thanks for highlighting JT’s fantastic work and for bringing us Garage Hangover!
Hey. I love your article and I wanted to say that my grandfather, Gil London is the guitarist in this band. He loved this article too. He considered himself and this project a failure. He assumed no one heard of him or anything he did. He passed away recently, but before he did we talked a lot about this and he read your stuff and it meant a lot to him. My grandmother is still around and knows a lot of what happened during these times so if you have any specific questions or anything I’d love to reach out to her and get back to you.
Thanks again.
Andrew