Category Archives: Label

Categories: Hillsdale, Michigan, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Stonehenge, Unknown

Goodly Rubenson

December 14, 2014 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The only info I could find on Goodly Rubenson was an article from September 6, 1968 that mentioned they would be playing the second dance at the Hillsdale Teen Club on 77 N. Broad St. in Hillsdale, Michigan the next day. I suppose they were local to the south-central area of Michigan around Hillsdale.

This 45 comes from the same month as that show, released on a Rite Press, Stonehenge 22889/22900. It is a low-fidelity recording, but has a lot of appeal, especially the top side, “Inside Outside”. That song and the flip “Crystal Love” were both written by Gaulin, no publishing info listed. Ray Lantz produced the 45.

Categories: Oklahoma, Pride, Tulsa

The Infernos

December 12, 2014 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

Can’t find any info on the Infernos other than their location of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Their only 45 came out on the Pride label in April, 1967. The best side is a band original, “Road of Life”, a loose rocker with a dry 12-string guitar sound, great vocal shouts, harmonica, and even what sounds to be a Hammond organ.

The flip is “Your Love for Mine”, written by Chuck Douglas, a ballad with enough attitude to make it interesting. Both sides Oklahoma Pub. BMI. Jay Reed produced the single.

Pride Records started out at 4232 E. Young Pl. in Tulsa, Oklahoma then relocated to 2032 E. 49th St. No. in Tulsa. The label started in country but released some interesting garage and even psychedelic songs in 1966 and 1967.

Pride discography (probably incomplete, I’d appreciate any assistance)

45s (in chronological order):

Billy Parker – “It Takes a Lot of Money” / “Sing Me a Sad Song” (1965, red label, produced by David Ingles, SK4M-0871, 660P-0871)

Bobby McBride – “Roll On Blues” / Curtis Long – “Koosey Coo” (1965, blue label, produced by Billy Parker and Jean Corby, SK4M-3615/6, 660P-3615)

Bobby McBride – “Chantilly Lace #2” (vocal by Don Ramey) / “Cryin’ Heart” (vocal by Bobby McBride) (1965, Pride Inc. logo, SK4M-5811/12, 660P-5811)

Benny Ketchum – “That Ain’t No Stuff” / “Sad Sad World” (1966, Pride Inc. logo, produced by Billy Parker and Carl Rivers for Blue Crest Music BMI, T4KM-2322/3, 660P-2322)

The Rompers – “Slippin’ And Sliding” (vocal By Charlie And Don) / “Don’t You Ever Get Tired” (vocal by Bob Winningham) (1966, Pride Inc. logo, T4KM-2483/4, 660P-2483)

Tommy Florence – “My Baby’s Gone” / “Love Me Tender” (1966, Pride Inc. logo, T4KM-5240, 660P-5239)

The Cinders – “Hey Pretty Girl” (vocal by Dennis Parrott) / “Wind Up” (Tommy Hudson) (1966, Pride Inc. logo, T4KM-5200/1, 660P-5200)

The Cinders “Trouble Making Guy” (Dennis Parrott for Billy Parker Music) / “Hard Hard Life” (1966, Pride Inc. logo, TK4M-7459, 660P-7459)
(The Cinders were Dennis Parrott, Wayne Reed, Tommy Hudson, Frank Schaeffer and Keats Tyler.)

The Infernos – “Road of Life” / “Your Love for Mine” (Chuck Douglas) (April 1967, simpler blue logo, U4KM-4623, 673P-4623)

Jerry Boggs – “Freedom” / “I’ve Never Wanted Anyone But You” (1967, 673P-4995)

Jerry Boggs – “Love Came Back” / “My Eyes Could Only See” (1967, U4KM-8141, 673P-8131)

Frankie and Lonnie Treat – “Somebody New” / “I Don’t Blame You” (1967, 673P-8167)

Group Love Corp. – “Love Corporation” (Phil Henry) / “Should I” (1967, U4KM-8450, 673P-8450)

LP: Billy Parker – If I Make It Through The Night, Pride 1001 PLP (1965, 660P-0874)

Most Pride releases from late ’65 and 1966 have a Pride Inc. logo on a light blue background. Pride used their account number 660P as a prefix for their early releases (changing with the Infernos to prefix 673P), then picked up the four digits from the RCA custom pressing #. Following this system can give an mistaken chronology of releases as it leaves off the year indicator on the RCA pressing code. More accurate is to follow the RCA custom press code (such as SK4M-3615 or T4KM-5200).

Categories: Azusa, California, Los Angeles, Sidewinder, Unknown

The Christian Brothers on Sidewinder

December 9, 2014 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Christian Brothers 45 on Sidewinder has excellent instrumental backing by a heavy group with two guitarists (plus overdubbed fills), bass and drums. The vocals on “Feeling Bad” are nasal and muddied to the point of making the lyrics nearly indecipherable.

The flip “The Last Hour” starts with a solo singer who sounds almost folky, and the lyrics are clear even when sung in unison. About 55 seconds in the song comes to life as the lead guitar blasts in and the tempo picks up.

I thought there might be some religious aspects to these songs due to the group name, the titles and the unusual vocals, but there’s nothing explicit that I can make out in the lyrics. Besides, there’s a serpent on the label.

I don’t have any info on the band. Both songs were written by D. Edison and J. Carter for King Midas BMI. The record was produced by J. Branton and arranged by F. Lange, released in March 1968 on Sidewinder Records LL-003.

I don’t know of any other releases on Sidewinder. The label’s location was 739 W. Gladstone, Azusa, CA. Azusa is on the east side of Los Angeles, near Glendora.

Update, February 2018:

A recent record show in Albany, NY turned up an Alco Research test pressing of the Christian Brothers doing “If I Knew” / “Playing Songs Our Way”. The sound is so different from the Sidewinder release that I didn’t think it was the same band until I saw that Jack Carter is listed on one label and made the connection. The Delta number of 81081 suggests a pressing date about the end of 1970, over two years after “Feeling Bad”. I hear some similarity in the vocals and drum sound; take a listen to a minute excerpt of “Playing Songs Our Way”.

As yet I can’t trace either of these songs to a released single, unusual for a test pressing. Thank you to John for the clip and photos of the Alco release.

Categories: Asheboro, JCP, North Carolina

The Invaders of Asheboro, NC

December 2, 2014 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

I found this great sleeve featuring the Invaders on JCP records. Unfortunately I don’t have the 45 yet, and it’s an excellent one.

The Invaders came from Asheboro, North Carolina, a town just south of Greensboro. By the time of their 45 release in 1965 they were older and more experienced than most garage bands, having come together in high school as early as 1958.

Tom Abernathy – lead vocals, piano, organ, trumpet
Joe Abernathy – vocals and bass
James Bridgeman – lead guitar
Bryan Pugh – drums

The Invaders went to the JCP Studio in Raleigh to record this single. “(You Really) Tear Me Up” was a group composition, while “Workin’ For Your Love” is credited only to Abernathy, not specifying Tom or Joe. Both sides published by Aimee Music Co. BMI. The single came out on JCP 1027 in September, 1965.

There are supposed to be other singles and a couple dozen unreleased tracks by the band, many of which were recorded at JCP, but I haven’t heard those yet. The group often played at the Red Barn in Southern Pines. I’ve also read Tom Abernathy has passed away.

This band is not the same Invaders who recorded the LP On the Right Track on Justice Records, that group was from Charlottesville, VA.

Categories: California, Guitarsville, Los Angeles, Monterey Park

The Johnny Thompson Quintet

November 27, 2014 Chris Bishop 6 Comments

Johnny Thompson Quintet Guitarsville PS Color Me Columbus — The Johnny Thompson Quintet, from top left: Gilbert London, Kent (surname?), Duncan (surname?) in the center, Johnny Thompson, and Big Mike (surname?) in viking hat

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.

Johnny seemed to like bizarre vocals referencing the supernatural, as his cut “The Sorcerer” demonstrates:

There were three 45s with the One-Eyed Jacks:

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.

Categories: Cameo, Columbus, Jamie, Ohio

The Dantes

November 19, 2014 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

I 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.

In 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.

Categories: Bronx, Inner, New York, New York City

Mustache Wax

November 17, 2014 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

Daniel Lane (Danny Lutzky) – guitar
Richie Winston – 6 and 12 string guitar
David Knopf – bass
Lloyd Goldberg – drums and lead vocals
Eddie DiBiase – harmonica

I was very excited to track down a copy of this 45 only find it to be in nearly unplayable condition – if anyone has a nice spare please contact me!

Mustache Wax came from the Bronx, in Riverdale. This was the last of several lineups and band names they used before breaking up after high school. They recorded the 45 in a studio on 42nd St.

Eddie DiBiase came from Queens and was the connection to Inner Records, though I can’t find any other releases on that label. Eddie wrote the top site, “I’m Gonna Get You” published by Luv Music ASCAP.

I also like the flip, “On My Mind” alternately somber and quick, written by guitarist Danny Lane for Philonic Music, BMI.

The 45 was produced by Epstein-Schwartzberg, yet it’s also “A Vitale-Eden Production”.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Info from David Knopf via Flower Bomb Songs.

Categories: Holladay, Palladium, Salt Lake City, Utah

The In Mates

November 15, 2014 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The In Mates came from Holladay, Utah, a suburb east of Salt Lake City. Randy Teal wrote “London Town” and Sam Parsons, who was not in the group, wrote “The Same”. Both songs are steady ’60s pop with harmony vocals and a good balance between the clean guitar work, organ and the rhythm section. Both songs have a touch of melancholy; “London Town” has a richer arrangement and harmonies, while “The Same” is more upbeat.

This 45 was released in January, 1967 on Palladium P-5011. I don’t know of any other releases on this Palladium label (there were others). Publishing by Le Mon Music, BMI.

Randy Teal wrote to me:

The members of the band were: myself on lead guitar and lead vocals, Randall Chase drums and vocals, John Foster rhythm guitar and back up vocals, Lane Clissold organ and Don Hancock bass guitar and vocals. The band lasted about three years.
We were all actually from Holladay, Utah not Kearns. I think Sam Parsons was from Kearns although, I never met him. When we went into the studio to record “London Town” we didn’t have a decent song for our B side. Our manager and producer at the time had access to Sam’s song “The Same”, so we learned it and recorded it the same day we did London Town.
I played in a variety of bands throughout the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s on up to the present including a trio with Tony Decker and Dean Widen from Fargo. In seventh grade I met Bob Holman who would end up drumming with Fargo and we were in our first band together in 1964.
In the early eighties I was in a band called Haymaker which had a lot of success playing in and around the inter-mountain west. From that band our steel guitar player Brooke Langton went on to play with Marie Osmand and Pam Tillis and is still very active in the music scene in Austin Texas.
I continue to play in a trio called The Fall River Ramblers doing all original Americana music and playing festivals throughout the western united states. I released a CD of all original music in 2010. You can view our website at fallriverramblers.com.
Randy S. Teal

Categories: IGL, IGL (Iowa Great Lakes Recording), North Dakota, Oakes

The Dynamic Dischords

November 4, 2014 Chris Bishop 9 Comments

The Dynamic Dischords came from the small town of Oakes, North Dakota, in the southeast part of the state. Members were: Mel Bruns, Dave Enquist, Tom Rodine, Bob Vorachek and Tim Weatherhead.

In 1967 the band played the Roof Garden in Arnolds Park, Iowa, 330 miles from Oakes, but not an unusual distance for a band to travel in the upper Midwest. After their show the band visited Iowa Great Lakes Recording in nearby Milford, Iowa, where they cut their first 45, released on IGL 45-150 in November, 1967.

“Passageway (to Your Heart)” starts with a gloomy four-note riff then settles into something resemblings “You Keep Me Hanging On”, with heavy fuzz breaks between the verses. The IGL Rock Story, Vol. 2: 1967-1968 has a slightly longer version with an alternate vocal, though I prefer the 45.

I’m a fan of the flip side, “This Girl of Mine”, an upbeat harmony song without any psychedelic influence at all.

Tom Rodine and Mel Bruns wrote both songs and Mark Reiner produced the single. I don’t recall Mark Reiner appearing on credits for any other IGL singles so he may have been part of the Dischords’ management. The publishing was by Okoboji Music BMI, a common credit on IGL 45s (and named after the lake where all this fun was happening).

The band did not record again until 1971 when they released “The Age of Caesar” / “I Love Life” (another Rodine & Bruns original) on Mark Custom Records from Moorhead, Minnesota, distributed by Midwest Booking Authority in Grand Forks, ND. I haven’t heard either side of that 45 yet.

Info and top poster taken from http://www.nightlifemusic.com/HOR/Dynamic%20Dischords/index.html. Poster below sent to me by Philippe Wegmuller.

Categories: Hercules, Manhattan, New York, New York City

Joey Vine on Hercules

November 3, 2014 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Joey Levine wrote “Try It” for the Standells and went on to compose, produce and sing on numerous pop hits for the Third Rail (including “Run Run Run” and the excellent flip “No Return”), the Ohio Express, Jet Stream and other acts. Before the hits came this one-shot record as Joey Vine, released on Hercules Records in the U.S. and Immediate in the U.K.

I’d like to know who was backing him on these songs. Though likely studio musicians, the group has a sharp garage sound on “The Out of Towner”, with a catchy guitar hook, solid drumming, and good harmonica fills. Vine gives a good vocal on the A-side, then does a close Dylan imitation on the flip, “Down and Out”.

Though Joey Levine wrote both songs, Gallico Music published “The Out of Towner” while Pentagon Music BMI published “Down and Out”.

Hercules Records had three singles, all in 1965, all produced by Charles Calello and distributed via Jamie/Guyden. Besides Joey Vine’s there were also Hercules 101, the Victorians “C’mon Dream (Chris Andrews) / “Catrina” (Donnie Frio) and Hercules 102, Joy Leonard “Baby I Wanna Back Track” (Lou Christie, Twyla Herbert) /”Don’t Feel Sorry For Me” (Rosemarie McCoy, Dorian Burton).

Of these three only Joey Vine’s was licensed for release in the UK by Immediate in October, 1965. How that happened is uncertain – the only other Jamie/Guyden product to be picked up by Immediate was a Barbara Lynn single whose r&b sound would have obvious appeal in England.

Background on Joseph Levine is available at http://home.comcast.net/~bubblegumusic/levine.htm and at http://www.wfmu.org/LCD/22/bubblegum.html

Hercules discography compiled by Davie Gordon on Spectropop.

Garage Hangover