The Kenetics 45 is one of my very favorites in all garageland. The band may have been from Martin, Tennessee, three hours drive west of Nashville near the Kentucky and Missouri borders.
“Put Your Loving on Me” starts out with a simple riff then moves to barre chords over sustained organ notes and drum rolls, then launches into a catchy progression for the chorus where the band chants “Baby, baby put your loving on me.” When the verse starts the band lays off every other repetition while the lead singer hiccups his pleas to this chick. Otherwise the verse and chorus are identical. No bridge, just a simple solo break and it’s back to the chorus and verse pattern again. The instruments are finely balanced and there’s a nice echo applied to the vocals that blends with the organ.
“Jo Ann” is a throwback to an earlier era. The band tries hard to make the song work, but it doesn’t compare to the top side. Buddy Deason wrote both songs. Buddy’s full name was John Sidney Deason III, according to BMI’s database.
A notice published in the Fulton Leader on July 3, 1967 lists the members of the group:
The Kenetics Win “Battle Of Bands” Here
“The Battle of the Bands” was held at the South Fulton High School gym Saturday night with “The Kenetics” of Martin winning first place. Members of this band include Buddy Deason, Jerry Rogers, Steve Harris and Steve Tuck.
Second place in the battle was “The Oxfords” of McKenzie and third place, “The Discotheques” of Mayfield.
Other bands participating were “The Trademarks” of Jackson, “The Young Generation” of Memphis and “The Darksides” of Humbolt.
The earliest notice I can find of the band is from the Fulton County News on November 17, 1966:
The Fulton Country Club will have an informal dance on Friday, November 18, from 7:30 to 11 p.m., sponsored by the Club teenagers. Admission will be $1.00 per person.
Each member may bring three guests. Co-chairmen of the event are Cindy Homra and Steve Green.
Brenda Barker and Sharon Moore have charge of refreshments. Mike Gossum, Dick and David Jones have charge of tickets.
Music will be furnished by the Kenetics.
The following Wednesday the Paducah Sun noted thirty-six teenagers attended the dance.
Nashville was a custom label of Starday, based out of Madison, just outside Music City. The 45 was pressed at the nearby Columbia Records plant indicated by the dead wax “ZTSB-128084/5” in 1967.
Anyone have a photo of the group?
More info on the band would be appreciated.
Somehow I remember having this record when I was about five or six years old, but like so many other records I had then, it got trashed and forgotten. I wonder how much it goes for now. It’s a great record.
I dig your boss jive, Sir Chas (welcome (no sleep) to Brooklyn) Put Your Loving On Me – as some Frisco hippie chick said in ’67 but here it really applies IT’S A NICE SOUND AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD and yes IT’S GOT A GOOD BEAT AND YOU CAN SHAKE, SHIVER AND STOMP TO IT. Great lyrics, great minimalist production – very well done like you say. Jo Anne’s has some charm and it’s not awful at all but it shows that The Kenetics were better at other stuff. By the way, both tunes have great endings. Again, that’s good playing and good production.
These guys must be related to another Martin, TN band called The Innovations, who released one 45 on the Insound label in 1968: Soul Motivation / If I Had Loved Her. Both songs are written by Buddy Deason.
Interesting connection. Buddy’s real name was John Sidney Deason III according to BMI’s database. Today I did a search and found a newsclip with the other members’ names – see revised post above.