Category Archives: Label

Alear Discography

August 10, 2013 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

Below is an incomplete discography of Jean Alford’s Alear Records label from Winchester, Virginia.

Most of the disks are country, except the Don Dupree is supposed to be doo wop backed by a girl group. Only the Smacks are garage rock as far as I know.

Publishing is usually either Alear Music or Pamper Music.

incomplete – any help would be appreciated

45s:
Alear no #: Don Dupree & Palisades “Phyllis” (Petty & Greer) / “Power of Love” (R4KM-2381, 665A-2381, early 1964)
Alear A-103: Teenie Chenault “I’m So Alone” (Chenault & Tipton) / “It’s a Big Old Heartache” (Chenault & Overman) (R4KM-8016/7, early ’64)
Alear A-105: Carroll Bridgeforth “Next Fool in Line” (Jean Alford) / “The Magician” (RK4M-7356, second half of 1964)
Alear A-106: Teenie Chenault “Make Me Laugh” / “Forgetting”
Alear A-108: Jean Alford “First Man on the Moon” (Harvey Price, Jean Alford) / “The Great Society) (SoN-24015)
Alear A-109: Smacks “I’ve Been Fooling Around” / “Say You’ll Be Mine” (SK4M-0953, Oct. 1965)
Alear A-111: Dean Greer “I Can’t Throw the Ashes Away” (Curley Putnam, Don Wayne) / “I’ve Got a Hold on You” (Jean Alford, Harvey Price) (T4KM-5063/4, March 1966)
Alear A-112: Teenie Chenault “She Tried Hard To Love Me” (Lee Emerson) / “Pushed In The Corner” (Jean Alford) (T4KM-5066, April 1966)
Alear A-113: Vicki Day “Another Hurt” / “Don’t Wake Me”
Alear A-114: J. D. Dawson – “I’ve Got A Hold On You” / “I’m Number One (With My Mary)”
Alear A-116: Smacks “Reckless Ways” / “There’ll Come a Day”
Alear A-117: Tommy Lake “Out of the Dark” / “(If You Want Some Lovin’) Get It From Me” (Jean Alford) (T4KM-2355/6, 655A-7355)
Alear 665A-117: Teenie Chenault “Where Happiness Ends and Heartbreak Begins (Fred Carter) / “(You’re No Inspiration Gracie for) A Hit Song” (Jean Alford) (U5KM-4601/2, first half of 1967)
Alear A-118: Tommy Lake “The Magician” / “Don’t Wake Me”
Alear AL-121: Lone Star “Assumed Love” / “I Write This Letter” (820748) (need confirmation of this one)
Alear A-202: Al Hogan “The Key That Fits Her Door” / “He Didn’t Become Famous For His Song”
Alear A-221: Frank Darlington “You’re My Girl” / “Have a Little Patience” (July, 1969)
Alear A-222: Jim Miller “If You Can Eat The Cake” / “The Other Lover”
Alear A-350: Dave Elliott “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” / “Other Lover”

Alear 665-??: Ned Davis “Organtar” / “Jungle Fog” (piano & pedal steel instrumentals)

Alear AL-108 – Gloria Jean Megee – “This Woman” (Megee) / “Slightly Used” (1978, Alford/McCoy production credit)

LPs:
Alear ERS-517: Teenie Chenault & the Country Rockers
Alear SLP 198: Leroy Eyler & the Carroll County Ramblers – Mr. Bluegrass Here’s to You
Alear SLP 200: Leroy Eyler & the Carroll County Ramblers – Sing Gospel

Gloria Megee wrote to me about her Alear single from 1978, “This Woman”, “Jim McCoy Studios, Buddy Charlton, steel; Roy Justis, fiddle; and John Kaparakis, guitar. It was well received on Big K [WKCW] when the old Tom Cat played it.”

Gloria Jean Megee live in Wheeling, 1978

Thanks to Max Waller, Graham, Dale from 45cat, Bob Perry, and Gloria Jean Megee for their help with the Alear discography.

Categories: Majestic Studios, Showcase

Showcase Discographies

August 10, 2013 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

A partial discography for Showcase shows the styles and production credits to be all over the map, with soul, folk, and even show tunes. Mop Top Mike wrote to me “The S400 series was the 1965 release numbering for Showcase. They switched it to 98xx in 1966; 99xx in 1967.”

S-401 – Gary Burghoff – As I Am / Rainbow
S-402 – Little Freddie & the Gents – Betty / Push, Kick & Shout (group from Ft. Lee, New Jersey)
S-403 – The Wouldsmen – What’s The Use Of Crying (Adler-Ross, pub. by George Paxton, Inc., ASCAP) / Summer’s Over
S-404 – Shan Dels – Please Stay / Treat Me Like a Man

9800 – Mat Matthews – Milk and Honey / Shalom
9801 – ?
9802 – Sonny Stevenson – Night Stroll (parts 1 and 2)
9803 – ?
9804 – ?
9805 – Beverly Ann – Great Pretender / We Got Trouble
9806 – Adam & Eve – The Game of War / Hang Me From The Highest Tree
9807 – Johnnie Shepherd – Coming Home / Mr Weather Man
9808 – ?
9809 – The Parris Mitchell Voices featuring Chips Murphie – We Need a Little Christmas / Mame
9810 – Henry the IX – Don’t Take Me Back, Oh Nooo! / Don’t Take Me Back (part 2) (Beducci)
9811 – Lost In Sound – You Can Destroy My Mind / Stubborn Kind Of Fellow (August 1966)
9812 – Yesterday’s Children – Feelings / Wanna Be With You (September 1966)
9813 – Larry Benson – I Do, I Do / Together Forever
9814 – Don Goldie – Popcorn / Summertime

9901 – Maurice Bower – What’s More American / America The Beautiful
9902 – Beechnuts – Nature’s Company / My Iconoclastic Life

The Beech-Nuts (not the Lou Reed group the Beachnuts – even though he did plenty of work for Pickwick) cut their Showcase 45 at Majestic Studios in Manhattan, a studio also used by the Lovin’ Spoonful. I’ve read the Beechnuts record was bootlegged years ago.

There were at least two other Showcase labels, unrelated to the Pickwick one. Davie Gordon writes, “The 2500 series was from Nashville … the label changed its name to Sound Stage 7 and became Monument’s R&B subsidiary. There was another Showcase label using a 10xx series but it has no connection to the others. It’s from the early sixties.”

2500 – Barbara Grindstaff – Have Mercy (Mr. Lonely) / Where the Red Roses Grow
2501 – Delcos – Arabia / Those Three Little Words (Distributed by Monument Records, Nashville)

Sources include: Beech-Nuts info from Beyond the Beat Generation. Special thanks to Mop Top Mike and Davie Gordon for help making sense of the Showcase release numbering, and to Rich, Max Waller and Ad Z. for their help.

Categories: Nassau County, New York, Tower, Wantaugh

The Minimum Daily Requirements

August 10, 2013 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

I’ve had this 45 for years but am only now getting around to covering it. I don’t recall ever reading about the band in any detail.

“I’m Grounded” is a well-known psychedelic classic written by Timmy Phelan (Jitters Music, BMI), but originally it was the b-side to “If You Can Put That In a Bottle” written by Billy Meshel for Meager Music, BMI.

The record was released on Tower 372 in October of 1967. The band came from Wantaugh, Long Island but other than that I don’t know anything about the group, nor have I seen a photo of them.

I don’t believe there’s a connection to a release by the Minimum Daily Requirement (singular) on Mercury, “Free the People” / “I Do Believe the Sun Will Shine”.

Categories: Alear, Hagerstown, Maryland, Virginia, Winchester

The Smacks

July 12, 2013 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Smacks had two primary members, Lloyd Semler from Hagerstown, Maryland, and Bill McCauley from Winchester, Virginia. Both towns are along the I-81 corridor, about 45 minutes drive apart. Other members include John Glosser on bass and David Hall on drums.

They had two singles, “I’ve Been Fooling Around” / “Say You’ll Be Mine” on Alear 109 from October ’65, and “Reckless Ways” / “There’ll Come a Day”, released in May of ’66 on Alear 116. All songs written by Lloyd Semler and William McCauley, with publishing by Alear Music and Sand-Wayne Music BMI.

The first release is somewhat basic, but the second single really shines for both songwriting and production.

According to the liner notes to the excellent CD Aliens, Psychos & Wild Things, vol. 2, “Their first 45 was recorded at Accent Sound in Baltimore. The second was done in Harrisonburg at Weaver Sound in Spring ’66. The organist on ‘Nobody Else Is Gonna Do’ may be Front Royal’s soon-to-be-semi-famous, Roger Powell. The unreleased ‘There’ll Come a Day’ is the Smacks backing up two sisters from Winchester whose names are not recalled. Both Smacks discs came out on Alear, a Winchester label run by Jean Alford.” Front Royal is just south of Winchester.

Photo of the band from Aliens, Psychos & Wild Things, vol. 2. Sorry but I don’t remember where I found the promo sheet for their first single – please write to me if it was yours!

Categories: Eugene, F Empire, Graves, Graves Recording Service (Eugene), Oregon, Tork

Graves Discography (Graves Recording Service)

June 29, 2013 Chris Bishop 11 Comments

Here’s an incomplete listing of released recordings made at Alan Graves’ studio Graves Recording Service, primarily the rock 45s:

45s:

Graves 1091 – The Dominions – “I Need Her” / “Spanish Harlem”
Graves TRK 1093 – Little John & the Monks – “Woman Take a Trip” / “All Them Lies” (demo acetate only)
Graves 1094 – The Sires – “Don’t Look Now” / “Come to Me Baby”
Tork 1095 – The Moguls – “Another Day” / “Round Randy” (Dec. 1966)
Graves 1099 – The Ethics – “She’s a Deceiver” / “O.K.” (March 1967)
Graves 1100 – The Fifth Row Bac – “Please Don’t Go” / “Destination Train”
Graves GRS 1102 – Smokey Metcalf And His Timber Toppers – “How Can You Love Me” / “Don’t Come Knocking At My Door”
Graves 1104 – The Phantoms – “Hallucinogenic Odyssey” / “Sixty Minutes To Nine” (1967)
F-Empire 1106 – The Barber Green – “Gliding Ride” / “Life” (August 1968)

LP:

F-Empire (no #) – Beauregarde (features Beauregarde on vocals, Greg Sage lead guitar, Omar Bose keyboards and trumpet, Dave Kolpel bass, Allen Robinson congas and sax, and Jay Lundell on drums.)

The Moguls had two previous 45s: “Avalanche” / “Ghost Slalome” on Century 20449 in Feb. ’65, and “Ski Bum” / “Try Me” on Panorama 29 in March of 1966.

The Phantoms 45 on Graves lists the band members: Rudie Muller, Steve Reiter, Dennis Chu, Brian Ashbrough and Geoff Soentpiet. Rudie Muller sings lead on “Sixty Minutes to Nine”, Geoff Soentpiet sings lead on “Hallucinogenic Odyssey”. The Phantoms had an additional 45 on Ridon 859, “Story of a Rich Man” / “Our Great Society” both by Ashbrough and Soentpiet.

I asked Alan Graves about the bands that recorded in his studio in the 60’s and sent him a list of what I knew had been cut there:

The only record I can add is one done on the F-Empire label, GRS 1106, “Gliding Ride” and “Life” by the Barber Green.

There may be other “garage” bands, but most of the stuff I did was local schools, etc – some gospel and dixieland jazz band stuff.

None of the records pressed were released by me, but were the property of the individual bands -who either gave them away or sold them. Most were done in a limited press of 500 copies each. So if you have any of them, I guess you could say they are rare. Since the records were the property of the bands, I rarely kept any copies – and have none now.

I re-activated the studio by acquiring a Scully Mastering record cutting Lathe, and under the name of “The Audio Lathe” cut lots of “acetate” records for DJ’s and juke boxes.

I sold that last November, and now back to just hosting the History of the Presto Recording Corp on the internet.

Update: Alan’s Presto history at www.televar.com/grshome/Presto.htm is now defunct, but is available on the Internet Archive.

To right, the Phantoms’ second 45, recorded at Ridon by Rich Keefer Thank you to Barry Wickham for the scan. Thanks to Dale for pointing out the Smokey Metcalf.

Categories: California, Current, Impression, Los Angeles, Rally

The Current Records label

June 21, 2013 Chris Bishop 8 Comments

In 1964, John Fisher was president of Crusader Records, where he produced a sizeable hit, Terry Stafford’s “Suspicion”, the second release on the label, as well as a 45 by Johnny Fortune. A notice in Billboard on August 15, 1964 announced that Fisher departed Crusader suddenly, to be replaced by Harry Maselow.

The notice doesn’t say why Fisher left, but in October, Billboard announced his formation of Current Records. Fisher’s name is on almost every Current single as producer.

The first release on Current Records was Bob Moline’s “Forbidden”, in September or October ’64, which was soon picked up on Imperial label for national release. Fisher produced and Bob Summers did arrangments.

Johnny Fortune (John Sudetta) was a fine guitarist with a number of surf recordings prior to his Current singles, first on Emmy Records out of Paul Buff’s Pal Studios in Cucamonga
(same label for Johnny Fisher’s own 45, “Tell Me Yes” / “Dream Tonight”). Johnny Fortune’s biggest was “Soul Surfer” on Park Ave Records, also produced by Fisher.

Johnny had three 45’s on Current. I’ve heard both sides of the first, the light pop songs “Say You Will” / “Come On and Love Me”. Better is the top side of Current 104, “Don Stole My Girl”. I haven’t heard the flip to that or his third 45, “I Am Lonely For You” / “I’ll Never Let You Go”.

Two other singers represented on the label include Carl Otis, who has what I believe is a soul 45, “Let It Be Me” / “Never Take Away My Love”, and Bobby Jameson, whose “All Alone” is a fine Stones-y r&b with harmonica, backed with the poppier “Your Sweet Lovin'” came out in early ’65, after his Talamo singles.

The Avengers were from Bakersfield, and are best known for their 45 on the Starburst label, “Be a Caveman”. Both sides of their Current 45 are also excellent, “Open Your Eyes” / “It’s Hard to Hide”. You can read the full story of the Avengers at Flower Bomb Songs.

John Fisher’s earlier promotional work in Arizona and other western states may have helped bring two groups from Tucson, Arizona to the Los Angeles based Current Records. For more on The Five of Us see the separate entry here.

The Tongues of Truth were really known as the Grodes and also came from Tucson. Manny Freiser of the Grodes had long-standing connections in L.A., first with Jerry Kasenetz who produced his first recording, “I Won’t Be There”. Kasenetz’s roommate Jerry Bruckheimer brought in a the Hustlers to work with Manny and they became the Grodes. Though the band made Tucson their base for live shows, they made further L.A. connections including the disc promoter Mike Borchetta, actor Cass Martin and KRLA DJ Emperor Bob Hudson.

Emperor Hudson had his own 45 on Current, also released on RPR records, the very demented “I’m Normal” (“I fill my bathtub with strawberry jam, and feed my squirrels sugar-cured ham and I spread rumors that Stalin is dead, has to do with wearing a sheepskin when he died in bed … made that up!”), The Emperor’s Friend may be Ron Landry.

For an interesting look at Bob Hudson check out George Lucas’ student film The Emperor.

The Tongues of Truth is of course, the Grodes, and “Let’s Talk About Girls” was the original version of the song later covered by the Chocolate Watchband. The Grodes fired their manager Dan Gates for changing their band name for the single. To add to John Fisher’s connection with the Impression label, the Grodes also issued a 45 on Impression, “What They Say About Love” / “Have Your Cake And Eat It Too” (anyone have a good scan of that 45?).

Current Records 45 discography (any help to make this complete would be appreciated)

Current 100 – Bob Moline “Forbidden” / “If I Were An Artist” (need a scan for this one, either side)
Current 101 – Johnny Fortune “Say You Will” / “Come On and Love Me”
Current 102 – Carl Otis “Let It Be Me” (E. James, Carl Otis for Lightswitch-Jinco BMI) / “Never Take Away My Love” C-1115 prod John Fisher
Current 103 – Bobby Jameson “All Alone” / “Your Sweet Lovin'” (Monarch press #54578/9, Oct. ’64)
Current 104 – Johnny Fortune “Don Stole My Girl” (J. Sudetta, Lightswitch/Algrace BMI) / “You Want Me to Be Your Baby” prod. J. Fisher (Feb. 1965)
Current 105 – Johnny Fortune “I Am Lonely For You” / “I’ll Never Let You Go”
Current 106 – ?
Current 107 – ?
Current 108 – ?
Current 109 – Avengers “Open Your Eyes” (G. Blake) / “It’s Hard to Hide” (G. Likens) both songs Lightswitch Music BMI, prod. by J. Fisher, distributed by Periphery Prods., Inc
Current 110 – Five of Us “Hey You” (L. Hucherson) / “Need Me Like I Need You” (July ’66)
Current 111 – The Emperor “I’m Normal” (Bob Hudson) / The Emperor’s Friends “The Crossing Game” (E. Mackinon), prod. by Fisher
Current 112 – The Tongues of Truth “Let’s Talk About Girls” / “You Can’t Come Back” both by Manny Freiser for Lightswitch Music BMI (prod by John Fisher, May 1966)

This is not to be confused with the Current label out of Nashville in the ’70s.

John Fisher may have also owned the Rally label – I’d like to know more about this, if true. It seems he went back into promotions, as a John Fisher was working for Atlantic Records in the early ’70s.

Categories: California, Los Angeles, Rally, US

The Rally Records label

June 21, 2013 Chris Bishop 6 Comments

I can only find half a dozen releases to list for the Rally Records label. In the notes from the Bacchus Archives CD Let’s Talk About Girls! Music from Tucson Manny Freiser of the Grodes recalls John Fisher as a disc promotion man who owned the Rally and Current Records labels. Current was definitely Fisher’s, but I can’t find Fisher’s name on any of Rally’s labels, but he did produce the Grodes on Current.

Rally Records labels show other producers: Bob Todd, George Motola, Joe Saraceno, Tony Butala and Dan Gates.

Billy Quarles’ “Bringing Up What I’ve Done Wrong” was picked up by Columbia (as “Quit Bringing Up What I’ve Done Wrong”. The flip is listed as by Billy & the Ar-Kets and is an excellent r&b popcorn number.

Beverly Noble’s “Better Off Without You” is a Gold Star studio production, with string arrangements and Spector-like effects.

Hillary Hokum’s 45 is very pop. I have confirmation that this is Suzi Jane Hokum (it does sound like her).

The Agents were an obscure band from somewhere in the Los Angeles area. I don’t know who was in the group. I had a post on them up for years that received no comments, so maybe the name is a front for another band or studio group. “Gotta Help Me” is a stomping couple minutes of garage pop. The flip is a ballad, “Calling An Angel”.

Each side has its own set of producers and are very different in sound, I could doubt it’s the same group of musicians. “Gotta Help Me” was written by Richards, Todd, Markey and Shay, and produced by Markey and Todd. “Calling An Angel” was written by Johnny MacRae and Bob Todd, and produced by Todd and Tony Butala.

The Grodes’ “Love Is A Sad Song” / “I’ve Lost My Way” comes about mid-way in their discography. The flip is one of my favorite slower-tempo garage songs.

The Perpetual Motion Workshop single comes over a year after the previous Rally release, and possibly represents a different label altogether. In any case, it’s a great single.

Rally Records 45 discography
possibly incomplete – any help would be appreciated

Rally 501- Billy Quarles “Bringing Up What I’ve Done Wrong” (Lanny and Robert Duncan, Wrist Music BMI) / Billy & the Ar-Kets “Little Archie” (prod. by Joe Saraceno, arr. by Rene Hall) Δ 56140 / Δ 56140-X in the deadwax indicates March of 1965 pressing date.

Rally 502 – Beverly Noble “Better Off Without You” (George Motola – Ricky Page, Wrist-Rickland Music BMI)) / “Love of My Life” (G. Motola) – produced by Motola & Saraceno, arranged by Don Ralke. Δ 56866 / Δ 56866-X indicates May, 1965.

Rally 503 – Hillary Hokom (aka Suzi Jane Hokum) “Can’t Let You Go” / “Tears of Joy” (Lanny Duncan, R. Duncan, Tonto Music, BMI) Prod. by Tony Butala and Bob Todd. Δ 58838 / Δ 58838-X indicates September 1965.

Rally 504 – The Agents “Gotta Help Me” / “Calling An Angel”. Δ 59279 / Δ 59279-X indicates October 1965.

Rally 505 – Grodes “Love Is a Sad Song” (M. Freiser, Lightswitch BMI) / “I’ve Lost My Way” (M. Freiser, Ramhorn Music BMI) (prod. by Dan Gates, May, 1966)

Rally 507 – The Senate – “Slippin’ And Slidin'” / “Mary-Go-Round” (prod. Bob Todd & Bob Duncan)

Rally 66506/7 – Perpetual Motion Workshop “Infiltrate Your Mind” (Simon Stokes, Fifth Avenue Music BMI) / “Won’t Come Down” (Dave Briggs, Cannon Music ASCAP) Prod. & arr. by Dave Briggs and Simon T. Stokes, Sept. ’67)

Likely an unrelated label:
Rally R-1601 – Rico & the Ravens – “Don’t You Know” (J. Foust, R. Martin) / “In My Heart”

Thank you to Max Waller for his continuing contributions to this discography, and to Tony Butala for correcting some misspellings.

Categories: Amway, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Sellersburg

Amway Discography

May 2, 2013 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

Amway was the label of Alpo Music Productions of Sellersburg, Indiana, across the Ohio River and north of Louisville, Kentucky.

I haven’t heard the Torments or the Profiles yet, but the others are all excellent, if primitively recorded.

The Torments came from northern Kentucky. The Classics came from Paintsville, Kentucky – for more on them see the separate post. The recordings were likely made in a backroom of a radio station or very basic studio in Louisville, KY or Jeffersonville, IN, and the tapes were sent to RCA’s custom service for pressing.

This discography may be incomplete – any help with info and scans would be appreciated!

The Octives – “Love” (Bob Burton, Bruno Music BMI) / Laughing At Me” SK4M-6174/5 (second half of 1965)

The Classics – “Trisha” / “I’m Hurtin'” (Garland, Titlow,& Donahue, Playridge Music BMI) (825M-4956, T4KM-4956, first half of 1966)

The Emotions – “Every Man” (John S. Hodge, Playridge, BMI) / “I Just Do It” (825M-4957, T4KM-4957/8, first half of 1966)

The Profiles – “If You Need Me” (Golden & Bateman) / “Please Come Back” (Marion Howard and Mike Howard, Playridge, BMI) 825M-5840, T4KM-5840/1, first half of 1966, Mel-O-Dee Entertainment, Inc.)

The Torments – “Lying to Me” (Buddy Perryman – Tim Feldman, Playridge Music, BMI) / “I Love You More Each Day” (824P-3715, TK4M-3715/6)

If anyone has photos or info on any of these bands please get in contact with me at chas_kit [at] hotmail.com

Sources include www.45rpmrecords.com/KY/Amway.php

Categories: Bermuda, Duane

Duane Records discography

March 25, 2013 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

Duane Records discography

any help with this would be appreciated – contact me)

Duane catalog numbers run consecutive with that of the Edmar label, which is why there are so many gaps in this discography. Edmar had many more releases than Duane, and tended to be calypso and steel band music, so I’ve chosen not to include those releases in this discography. It’s possible there are some Duane issues I haven’t included in this discography – if you find one please let me know.

45s:

Duane 1021 – The Silvertones – “Hurricane” (Pereira – deMello, Edmar-Ken BMI) / “Groovy Baby” (produced by Everest DeCosta for Edmar Productions, R4KM-0481, 1964)
Duane 1022 – The Ebbtides – “Star Of Love” / “First Love” (both sides Phillips-DeMello, Maredken Music, BMI 1964)
Duane 1023 – Lee Curtis – “My Love Don’t Go” / “I’d Do Anything For You” (both by Ware, prod. by Ware-Astwood, 1964, RCA custom RK4M 0263/4)

Duane 1042 – The Weads – “Don’t Call My Name” / “Today”
Duane 1043 – The Savages – “No No No” / “She’s Gone”
Duane 1046 – Bishop Kane – “Tenderness of You” (A. McNally) / Any Time That You Are Lonely” (rec. Jan 6, 1966)
Duane 1048 – The Gents – “If You Don’t Come Back” (W. Cabral) / “I’ll Cry”
Duane 1049 – The Savages – “Roses Are Red My Love” / “Quiet Town”
Duane 1054 – The Savages – “The World Ain’t Round, It’s Square” / “You’re On My Mind”

Duane 101 – The Invaders – “Lost Time” (Richardson) / “Bossa Blue” (recorded February 5, 1970, produced by J.P. Salvatori, Maredken Music BMI)

Duane DX 500 – Stone Foxx – “Gypsy Lady” (Leon Elton, Chris Rowe) / “Agamemnon”

LPs:

Duane LP-1047 – The Savages – Live n’ Wild

Duane LP-1101/1102 – The Invaders – Spacing Out

The Weads, the Savages and the Gents are all the great garage records. See my pages on the Savages and the Weads for more info on those bands.

The Gents included Andy Newmark, Glen Mello (I’m not sure if there’s any relation to Eddy DeMello) and drummer Frank Chiappa, and possibly Winston Cabral. The Gents is one band I’d love to know more about.

Spacing Out was reissued (legitimately?) on the Duane label and also booted on Baadasss Records. Originals etched Duane 1101-A/1101-B, with small “lw” in script and small stylized “sr”

Eddy DeMello owned the Duane Records (named for his son) and Edmar Records labels and operated out of the Music Box record store in Hamilton, Bermuda. Eddy passed away on March 6, 2013 (see Royal Gazette artlcle).

Note: No connection to another “duane” (all lower case letters on the labels) which had country releases by Roy Montague produced in Memphis, TN, and a good garage 45 from a Boise, Idaho band, Wm Penn & the Quakers: “Coming Up My Way” (Gerald D. Tucker) / Care Free (Lanny Gunther); produced by Gerrie Thompson.

Thanks to Steve Kahn for informing me about the Ebbtides release.

Categories: Arkansas, Foundation, Malvern, Yardley

The Yardleys

March 23, 2013 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

Recently I bought the Yardleys first 45 and found the band was listed as unknown in the liners to Lost Souls vol. 1, from Pine Bluff in Teen Beat Mayhem, and from Alabama in Gear Fab’s Psychedelic States CD series!

Billy Bob Thornton had his own garage band, the McCoveys, in his hometown of Malvern, Arkansas, about 40 miles southwest of Little Rock. He wrote about the Yardleys in his autobiography, The Billy Bob Tapes: A Cave Full of Ghosts:

The big band in my town was called the Yardleys … Steve Walker, Larry Byrd, Bo Jones, Bucky Griggs and Butch Allen. They had a Farfisa organ, bass, guitar, drums and Bo Jones played the trumpet. They played original songs and actually made a couple of 45s that were played regionally, but they may as well have been the fucking Rolling Stones or the Beatles as far as I was concerned.
The Yardleys used to have these street dances and they would rope off the main Dollar Store and Safeway parking lots. It cost fifty cents or a dollar to come inside the rope and dance in front of the band … Most of my days in junior high and high school were spent trying to figure out how you get chicks that looked good, and just standing there watching these bands like the Cadets, LSD and the Illusions, the Senates, the Yardleys and the Beethovens.
The Yardleys were playing a cover of “Cold Sweat” by James Brown. Steve Walker, the guitar player, landed on a nail on the wooden stage during his guitar solo. When he got back up, his pants were ripped and he had this bloody knew but he just kept playing …

In 1966 the Yardleys released their first 45 on the Foundation label, the top side featuring the subdued original by Bucky Griggs and Larry Byrd “Come What May”, backed with Butch Allen’s excellent and upbeat “The Light Won’t Shine”. Both songs published by High Fidelity Oleta, BMI, which also published the Lost Souls on Leopard.

Butch Allen wrote both songs on their second 45 from January, 1967 on their own Yardley label, the very Stones-inspired “Your Love” backed with the gentle “Just Remember”, both songs published by Quinvy, BMI.

Joan H. sent in this poster of the group that was posted to a website about Malvern.
She writes:

Standing on left is Bucky Griggs, on right Larry Byrd, seated on left is Butch Allen and right Steve Walker. Although Billy Bob is correct, Bo Jones did play in the band, it was not for the full time and he was added at some point. Don Hicks was the photographer but he has not been in business in the Malvern area for a very long time. The bench Steve Walker rests against was used in many of the photographs for local brides.

If anyone has a better photo of the poster or other photos of the Yardleys or other groups in that area, please contact me.

Thank you to Joan for forwarding the photo.

Garage Hangover

Category Archives: Label

Alear Discography

Showcase Discographies

The Minimum Daily Requirements

The Smacks

Graves Discography (Graves Recording Service)

The Current Records label

The Rally Records label

Amway Discography

Duane Records discography

The Yardleys

The site for '60s garage bands since 2004