Curt Block has a great garage single in October ’65, “She’s My Kind” that I’ve been trying to find for some time now. I still haven’t found a copy of that one, but recently I picked up one I hadn’t known of before, his 45 on Spindletop with the Dreamlites.

I don’t know much about Curt Block but I did find one mention on the Port Arthur News from December 8, 1974: “the Port Arthur Merry Mixers Club will dance to the music of ‘Curt Block and the Velvets’ from 8-11 p.m on Tuesday in the K C Hall, 315 Hardy, Nederland. The club is open to all single adults 18 years or older, but all married couples who met in the single movement are invited”.

By the time of that article Curt had been in the music business over 10 years. His 45 on Spindletop SR-45010 is from about 1963, featuring a vocal ballad “It’s Raining Again” (R. Philen) on the top side, backed with one of the shortest cuts I’ve ever seen on a pre-punk 45, the sax & guitar instrumental “Hang Out”, written by Block but credited to only the Dreamlites. Both songs were published by Neches Music BMI.

I asked Curt about his time in these bands and wrote to me:

In the Dreamlites I was only 16. Ray Fallon, sax, he went on to play for Roy Orbison. The guys in my band were Billy Robbins, Bill Iron, Dwight Landry, Ronnie Maxie, Mike Duhon. I played guitar of course. A TV show called Jive at Five had me and the band on many times.

I sang some with Johnny Preston and Jivin’ Gene, really great guys. I played 4 and 5 nights a week for many many years.

Spindletop had well over a dozen releases beginning about 1961, including a couple in-demand soul discs by Talmadge Armstrong and by Al Trahan. Curt Block’s single came about halfway through Spindle’s releases.

In October of 1965 he had another 45, this time credited to Curt Block & the Vibrations. The Vibrations were:

Curt Block – guitar and lead vocals
Billy Robbins – rhythm guitar and back up vocals
Dwight Landry – bass guitar
Bill Irion – drums
Ronnie Maxey – sax
Carl Boettger – sax
Mike Duhom – trumpet

I haven’t heard the top side yet, “With This Ring”, but the flip is excellent garage as long as you’re not one of the types that prefer their r&r without saxophone.

Curtis Block wrote both songs, published by Neches Music, BMI and recorded at L & F Recording Service in Port Arthur. Both Netra and Spindletop were based in Port Arthur, which was also home to the Basic Things who I’ve covered on this site. Like the Spindletop single, the Netra 45 is a Rite pressing.

Curt had one more single that I know of, “Hey Little Girl” / “You Were Mine” on the Gina label – if anyone has scans of this single please contact me.

Thank you to Tori and to Greg & Linda Haynes for sending in the photo of the band at top. Tori’s uncle Dwight Landry played bass with the group. Dwight passed away on April 20, 2014. Thanks also to Deborah for the caption to the photo, she reports her uncle Bill Irion passed away on August 20, 2015.

If anyone has a copy of the Netra or Gina singles for sale, or a photo of Curt Block with one of his ’60s groups, or knows any of the members of the Dreamlites or the Vibrations, please contact me.