Category Archives: Cameo-Parkway

Categories: Cameo, Columbus, Jamie, Ohio

The Dantes

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The Dantes Jamie 45 Can't Get Enough Of Your LoveThe Dantes Jamie 45 80-96I found mint copies of the first two 45s by the Dantes in company sleeves, and they were so cool I had to put scans of them up on the site with something about this quintessential mid-60s band.

Barry Hayden – lead vocals
Dave Workman – lead guitar
Lynn Wehr – rhythm guitar
Carter Holliday – bass
Joe Hinton – drums

The Dantes formed about 1964 in Columbus, Ohio suburb of Worthington. Though they drew inspiration from the Rolling Stones and covered Stones songs live and on their records, their first single displays an original and catchy style. “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love” begins with quick finger picking more like something from the Byrds until the opening vocals come blasting out at the listener. The rhythm section chugs along with a sound peculiar to styrene discs.

Although it made #1 on Columbus station WCOL, the single didn’t break out nationally. Song writing credits are to Harvey-Wehr for Doraflo Music BMI, arranged by lead guitarist Dave Workman.

The flip “80-96” starts out like the Yardbirds’ “I Ain’t Done Wrong” then settles into a bluesy instrumental. According to Buckeye Beat the band wanted to call this song “8-69” but Jamie insisted it was too suggestive a title. Writing credits are to Dantes-Weber. Released in March 1966 on Jamie 1314, both sides are listed as “A Sire Production for B.J.R. Productions”.

According to an article in the Mansfield News-Journal, their manager was DJ Johnny Garber, while a later article from January 1968 discusses Garber and Chuck Swisher co-managing the group.

The Dantes Cameo 45 Can I Get a WitnessIn late September, 1966 the Dantes released their second 45, this time on the Cameo label, a cover of the Stones “Under My Thumb” with a good version of “Can I Get a Witness” (which the Stones also did) on Cameo 431, the labels reading “a Richards Production”.

An article in the Newark Advocate from May 9, 1968 mentions Dave Workman had left the band and formed Dave Workman’s Blues Group with other Columbus musicians. Dave’s leaving may have led to a softening of the band’s sound, evident on their last 45 in October 1968. Featuring horns and a pop sound, the A-side was a cover of another Stones song, “Connection” backed with the band original “Satisfied”. Walt Masky produced the record, coordinated by Jerry Sharell; it was released on the Main Line label.

The band lasted until about January 1969, at which point they changed their name to Moonstone. The Circleville Herald has an ad for one Moonstone gig in January with the Fifth Order and the Young Generation, and another in April ’69 with the Tree and the Fifth Order. After this Moonstone and the Dantes seem to disappear.

Any photos or info on the band would be appreciated.

The Dantes Cameo 45 Under My Thumb

Categories: Bay City, Cameo, Cameo-Parkway, DJ and Radio gigs, Michigan, Pa-Go-Go, Tangerine

? and the Mysterians

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Saturday, Feb 24, 2007, there’s a benefit in Brooklyn for Rudy Martinez aka “Question Mark” the singer and songwriter of 96 Tears. His house burned down on January 9, and he lost all of his memorabilia, including the actual Farfisa on which Mysterians’ organist Frank Rodriguez played the famous 96 Tears riff. There’s a moving video of Question Mark walking through the wreckage at http://96tears.net/ and if you want to donate something to Rudy, you can do it there.

Come out to the Laila Lounge, 113 N. 7th St. (near the L train at Bedford) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. There will be bands from 8 pm until 11, then djs including Phast Phreddie, Mike Lynch and myself, and a raffle of rare 60’s movie posters. Only $5, and all proceeds will go to Question Mark.

Most people familiar with garage will know their famous songs “96 Tears”, “I Need Somebody”, “‘8’ Teen”, so I’m including just a few lesser-known tracks as samples of their sound.

The version of “96 Tears” here is an earlier, slower take. It’s good, but I don’t think this version would have gotten them to #1 on the charts. “Ten O’Clock” is one of the best songs from their first lp, and was never released on 45. The soulful “Ain’t It a Shame” is from a 1969 single on the Tangerine label (? has a thing for the color orange, supposedly signing with Cameo-Parkway and Tangerine because of the color of their labels!)

? and the Mysterians cut plenty of good garage songs, and I definitely can recommend either of their original lps or the ‘Best of’ compilaton for those who want to hear more.