Afton Records started with three releases in 1959:
Afton 616 – Frank Pizani -“Wanna Dance” / “It’s No Fun”, Pino Music Co., distributed by United Telefilm Records Afton 616 – Frank Pizani -“The Stars Will Remember” (Pino Music Co.) / “Steady Cha Cha” Afton 618 – Ted Ostling – “Shivers & Shakes” / “Girls Choice” (Keith Music pub)
I can find a listing of Afton Records as a corporation in the 1963 Illinois Certified List, with an address of 105 S. La Salle St, along with “Ohio M.S. Distribution Company” at the same address, both owned by Milton Salstone of 1700 S. Michigan Ave. In a comment below, Joel Mills points out a notice of M.S. Distributing handling Frank Pizani’s second Afton single.
Seven years later, in 1966, the label returned with a 1700 series. Publishing is usually by Vic Mil Pub or Vic Mil Music. Presumably the Mil refers to Milt Salstone, and the Vic must be Vic Faraci, who produced the Five Bucks and the Gnomes. I haven’t seen any incorporation paperwork for Vic-Mil Publishing – if anyone can dig that up I would appreciate it.
Afton V-1700 – The Strangers – “This Brave New World” (Bob Rubin) / “In the Beginning”, A-side is a top surf instrumental, flip is blander
Afton 1701 – Five Bucks – “No Use in Trying” / “Now You’re Gone” (April 1966), first press omits label # and lists b-side as “Now You’re Mine”, produced by Vic Faraci
Afton 1702 – Gnomes – “The Sky Is Falling” / “Something’s Going Wrong” (both by Carpenter, Sullivan, Vic Mil pub.), great ballad backed by first-rate garage. Produced by Vic Faraci. Anyone know this group?
Afton 1703 – Sound Carnival – “I Wish I Could Tell You” / “Dreams” (both songs by Stock, Siegel, VicMil Music BMI, September, 1967) band from Morton Grove, Illinois
Afton 1704 – Donnie Sanders & the Don Juans with Scherri St. James – “Make a Happy Home” (D. Sanders, Vicmil Music BMI / “Shing-a-Ling Baby”
I’m not sure if V-1700 is actually this Afton Records, as the credits have nothing in common with the others, but the 1700 numbering suggests it possibly is.
There are other Afton labels not connected to this one.
The Sound Extraction (from left): Terry Jones, Tommy Stayton, Randy Edwards, Lanny Hays, Donald Housman, Dee Presson and Lana Edwards. Photo courtesy of Terry Jones
The Sound Extraction had one great 45 “I Feel Like Crying” / “Tina” on J-Three Records. The band was from the town of Mayfield, Kentucky in the southwestern corner of the state, not far from the borders of Tennessee and Missouri. Mario Aguayo interviewed Terry Jones and they both are allowing me to publish it on Garage Hangover:
How did you first get interested in music?
My mother passed away when I was only 8 years old. She was a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. Lanny’s dad was also a singer and guitarist and my dad was a singer. After our mom passed away, my aunt, her sister and 2 children moved in with us to help dad to take care of us, as she was divorced. Well, you guessed it, my dad ended up marrying his sister-in-law; so we became a large family of 2 boys and 5 girls.
My aunt who became my step mother was also a singer and guitarist. She taught all of us to play instruments and we formed a family band called, “Lanny and the Skylighters.” We played as the family band for several years at sock hops, grand openings, talent contests, festivals, and such. We were even on our town’s radio station for a while.
Lanny and the Skylighters
How did The Sound Extraction form?
We had entered a contest against the Sound Extraction and came in 2nd place to them. That’s how we met them.
At the time the record was made, my stepsister, Lana and I sang with the band, but later, I replaced the keyboard player, and Lana replaced the drummer. From left to right in the picture are me, Terry Jones – singer, guitarist, and keyboard player, Tommy Taylor – keyboard, but not for long, Randy Edwards – my stepbrother, played the bass and sang, Lanny Hays – my half brother, played rhythm guitar and sang, Donald Housman – drummer, but not for long, Danny Presson – lead singer and lead guitarist, and Lana – played guitar, drums, and sang. As you can see that very soon after joining the band, we were all family except for Danny, or Dee, as he liked to be called.
Lana and Dee fell in love and got engaged. That’s how the band formed.
Where did The Sound Extraction typically play?
As the Sound Extraction, we played mostly in bars and clubs. We had regular gigs at The Eagle and Moose Clubs, and then played at bars all over the 4 state area, including Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois. We also played at picnics, family reunions, proms, festivals, etc.
Did The Sound Extraction have a manager?
Dee was the only manager we had. We enjoyed playing very much and had regular followers that would go everywhere with us and keep the people dancing and clapping! We had a blast! I was only 14 when we first started playing in the bars, but no one ever asked me my age, as I wore lots of makeup and looked older than I was. Our parents were always there, too, keeping watch on us and enjoying every minute of it. We played old rock and roll, country, and some bluegrass.
How did the band end up recording their 45 “I Feel Like Crying / Tina”?
The band recorded the 45 after we won a contest. The prize was the recording. Bill Scarbrough was the one who recorded it. He was one of the DJ’s at WNGO in Mayfield, KY where we lived.
I believe we only won 1000, but had more made. Not too many more though, so the actual records are very rare. I believe that Lanny, Dee, and I are the only ones that have one of the original records left. I have never known anyone else to tell me they have one. The 45 was recorded and released in 1968.
Danny Presson is known for his ‘cupped-hand’ harp action. What were the reasons for him doing that?
Dee was doing the hand harmonica music when we met him, so it is very hard to say how he actually learned to do that. He cupped his hands and did it with no instrument. You only heard a small portion of what he could do! He amazed people everywhere he played with that. When he opened his hand and there was nothing there, people could not believe it. He did it on a few other songs and did a great job at it.
What were your concerts / gigs typically like?
I loved the gigs and, of course, all the attention. I had always been a shy girl, but when I got on stage, I could just let it all go and I gave it all I had…. It was my identity, it was who I was. I loved wearing all the neat outfits and makeup and entertaining people. I still do to this day!
Did the group have any other recordings?
We never made any other recordings.
What year and why did the band break up?
The band broke up in 1969, because Dee and Lana broke up.
What are your fondest memories with the group?
I have so many fond memories… it’s so hard to tell you about all of them. Practices were great! We turned the music up so loud and were thrilled to learn almost every new song that came out.
Life after The Sound Extraction?
I sang in a group called Jaroboga back in the 70’s … mostly singing in bars. I would sit in with Wolfman and the Pack at a little bar in Fulton, KY sometimes. As the years went by, I gave my heart to the Lord and now sing a new song. I have lead the singing in various churches, sang with gospel groups, and done some specials at singings and homecomings. I recently started to a new church and haven’t done anything since I have been there. I do sing on the Praise and Worship team where I work. I am blessed to have a job at a Christian college where our staff meetings are more like church!
Interview conducted by: Mario Aguayo
The original Sound Extraction, from left: Tommy Taylor, Ronnie Cox, Terry Bass, Danny Presson and Tommy Stayton
Update, June 2013:
Since posting this I heard from Tom Taylor, who sent me this early photo of the group and wrote to me:
First of all, I am not in the photo [at top of article].
In the begining we were a five-piece band and one day in our home town Archie Campbell of Hee Haw fame came to judge a talent contest with the first prize being a recording contract. We won playing the songs “I Feel Like Cryin'” and flip side “Tina”. I have attached a photo from the newspaper clipping when we won the contest. That’s me on bass, Ronnie Cox on rhythm guitar, Terry Bass on drums, Danny Presson on lead vocals and 12 string and Tommy Stayton on keys.
In the contest we competed against the sisters shown in the [top] photo and our lead singer fell in love and before long they were singing backup for us.
When the actual studio work was done, Tommy Stayton the keys player couldn’t be there so Ronny Cox’s little brother played the keyboard for the recording session. And of course the sisters sang back up. By this time I had gone and most all of the original members were too, but I did play the bass guitar during the studio session. I think we sold about 100 copies before I went to the Army. I never gave it a second thought until about three months ago when a friend said I read about you and the Sound Extraction.
As for the photo you show [at top of article], it must have been taken much later when the band had broken up. The boy playing drums in your photo is now a really good friend of mine named Donald Housman. I do not know the other people pictured.
I have 2 copies of the original 45 record. Just listened to it and not bad after all these years. Right now I’m back in the business with my own recording studio and I also do live sound for our 6 piece country/rock band. I would like to hear from any one in the photo or original group.
There are two garage 45s in these lists, Shep & The Downbeats “Girl, Girl” / “You’re Never There” on the Roulette-distributed Satin label from NY, and Gary & Kyle “Stay With Me” / Smaller Than You” from San Antonio.
Any help with completing these discographies would be appreciated.
I could also use good quality scans of the San Antonio label 45s, and of the Adophus Bell
1st pressing distributed by Roulettelater West Coast pressing
New York:
All labels read “Exclusively distributed by Roulette Records” except for a green label with plain black text version of S-400, Annabelle Fox’s “Getting Through to Me”, which Mike Markesich states is a West Coast pressing and not the first issue.
The first three releases come in promo white label and two-tone green labels. 402 and 403 only seem to exist with promo white labels.
Satin S-400 – Annabelle Fox – “Too Good to Be Forgotten (Bell 40,004) / “Getting Through to Me” (mastered at Bell Sound 40,002) Satin S-401 – Al Hibbler – “Good for a Lifetime” / “Once Before” (Bell Sound 40,005) Satin S-402 – Annabelle Fox “Lonely Girl” / “Humor Me” (Bell Sound 40,003) Satin S-403 – Shep & The Downbeats – “Girl, Girl” / “You’re Never There” (both by Ted Kobran) (produced by Rama Wilson Associates, Bell Sound 40,009/10)
All except Shep & the Downbeats produced by Teddy Rendazzo, and published through South Mountain Music, BMI.
Most of the Rendazzo produced 45s have song writing credits to some combination of Rendazzo, Bobby Weinstein, R. Allison and L. Stallman.
Kurt L. sent me the scan of Shep and the Downbeats. Kurt remembers hearing that the band won the WABC Battle of the Bands, with a recording contract with Satin being the prize. The group played at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens Village, and likely were students at that school. The only name I can find in connection with the group is Ted Kobran.
Teen Beat Mayhem says the band was from Union City, New Jersey and gives a release date of August, 1966. Although “You’re Never There” rates higher than the flip in TBM, I think “Girl, Girl” is the better song.
Shep & the Downbeats has a “Rama Wilson Associates” production credit. This should read Ramal-Wilson, as in Bill Ramal and Marty Wilson. They had previously produced singles for Diamond.
A notice from Billboard’s October 22, 1966 issue states”new artists added to Ramal-Wilson Associates are Shep and the Downbeats, the Upper Crust, Gary Criss, Bruce Bruno and Carole Colby.”
Another Billboard notice from May 21, 1966 mentions Ramal-Wilson Associates producing the Ramblers on Red Bird and the Perfect Strangers on Capitol. “All sides were arranged by Joe Scott, staff arranger for Ramal-Wilson.” However, I’m not aware of any releases by these other artists.
New York (probably no connection to the later Satin label, above):
Satin 921 – Rhythm Rockers featuring Johnny Serrano – “Oh Boy!” / “We Belong Together” (Norvojak Music BMI) (October 1960)
New Orleans:
Satin 2-100 – Tammy McKnight – “What’s Her Name” (E. Darder – Allen Orange) / ? (SoN 1591, Chavis Music BMI, A Hi-Liter Production) Satin 2-101 – Al White & The Hi-Liters – “Johnny B Goode” / “Let That Guitar Roll” Satin 2-102 – Alex Spearman – “Mama-ka-toko-laka-poo-poo-yay” (L. Bonds) / “On Our Wedding Day” (Emelda Music BMI, SoN1561))
San Antonio, Texas:
Owned by Emil Henke, who also owned Warrior and part of Harlem. Mr. Henke passed away on February 22, 2002.
pink label with ribbon “S” in Satin. 411 S.W. Military Dr., San Antonio and “Emil J. Henke Production”:
Satin SA-001 – The Satin Kings – “Let’s Go, Let’s Go” (Ballard)/ “Matilda” Satin SA-002 – Charlene – “Rock Bottom”/ “Let’s Try Once Again” Satin SA-003 – The Mavericks, vocal: Moe Bandy – “Lonely Girl” / “Too Many Times Before” Satin SA-004 – The Trochais – “Give Me An Answer” / “Phantom” (both by Francis Akeroyd, 1966, B-side is a surf instr) Satin SA-005 – The Mavericks, vocal: Moe Bandy – “What Would You Do” / “As Long As There’s A Chance” Satin SA-006 – Satin Kings – “Mil Veces” / “Echale un cinco al piano” Satin SA-007 – Gary & Kyle – “Stay With Me” / “Smaller Than You” (both by Gary Young, Satin Music Pub SESAC, June ’66, duo from Poteet, TX) Satin SA-008 – Bailey Anderson – “Folsom Prison Blues” / “They’ll Never Take Her Love From Me” (6-66 1) Satin SA-009 – Moe Bandy & the Mavericks – “You’re Part of Me” / “Hey There My Friend” Satin SA-010 – Paul & Chuck – “House Of Blue Lovers ” / ? Satin SA-011 – Playboys – “Dame Licencia” (Hazme El Milagro) / “Nomas Por Quererte” (7-66-2) Satin SA-012 – ? Satin SA-013 – Playboys – “All I Do Is Cry” / “Little Playgirl” (Robert Suarez) 8-66 PB-3/4
pink label with a script “Satin” and no ribbon:
Satin SA-014 – Bailey Anderson & the Satin Gentlemen – “What Will The Answer Be” (Dayton Smith) / “The Satin Gentlemen” (1066 BA 4) Satin SA-015 – Playboys – “Falling In Love With You” / “Let Them Talk” (Joe Seneca) (LH-2836/7, December 1966) Satin SA-016 – Conjunto Los Navegantes – “Te Fuiste” (Rosendo Torres) / “Navegando” (Adolf Garcia) (167-CLN-1/2, LH-2876/7 “Spanish Series” Satin Music Pub)
stylized Satin logo on left with two lines above and below:
Satin SA-021 – The Ones – “Sure Gonna Miss You” (often marked up to read “Sure Gonna Miss Me”) / “What’s It Like To Be In Love” (LH-3299, 1967)
Satin SA-024 – Jimmy Payne, The Country Boys – “Standing at the End of My World” / “A Wound Time Can’t Erase”
two-tone label with Satin Records in box (except for SA-028 which reverts to the original ribbon S):
Satin SA-025 – The Lively Set – “Soul Diggin'” / “Blues Get Off My Shoulder” (vocal by Earl Adams)
Satin SA-027 – Jim Faber – “Just for a Moment” / ? (country) Satin SA-028 – The Casino Royal – “Don’t Mistake Me for a Fool” (D. Cruz, T. Zamudio) / “Return Of The Prodigal Son”
Satin SA-030 – The Three Dudes – “Sad Little Boy” / “I’m Beggin’ You” (Jan 1968, group aka Four Dudes, Images) Satin SA-031 – Michael Lord – “(Life’s a Ball) Lovin’ It All” (H.M. Byron) / “Its Only Make Believe” (Twitty)
Satin SA-033 – Nat y Los Music Makers – “Una Eternidad” / “Por Ultima Vez”
Satin SA-035 – Bailey Anderson – “The World’s Youngest Naughty Old Man” / “There Goes My Everything” (1969)
Satin SA-037 – The Satin Souls (vocal by Madison Mitchell) – “Gimme Some Lovin'” / “I’d Rather Go Blind”
Satin SA-041 – Michael Lord & the Romainaires – “St.James Infirmary” / “Take Five” (1969)
Satin SA-047 – Clique Camarilla – “The Ride” (Donny Leavitt) / “The Hello Song” (Prod. by M. Montgomery for Sabra Prod., Riviera Music BMI, 4-69-1)
Satin SA-061 – Ty Lemley – “Ramblin’ Ways” / “One Day at a Time” (country 45)
The Casino Royal is the same group as the Casino Royale on Key-Loc.
Pennsylvania (?):
Satin SAT-1111 – Adolphus Bell & the Up Starts – “Black Eye Peas” (C.A. Bott, W. Hutchingson, Joy Boy BMI) / “Lafin Gas” (C.W. Powell, D. Bell, S. Godfrey, Cevet BMI) (1031-45-SAT1111)
Blues Art Journal has an article on Adolphus Bell but the author seems unaware of this recording.
Plainview, Texas:
Satin RHB-1120 – Harry Bray & the Wheels – “I Lost My Love” b/w “Way Down South in San Antonio” (SoN 84892) country with drum machine!
Ogdensburg, NY:
Satin SR-561 – The Four Satins – “Drop Off” (Larry Costigan) / “Hip Hop”, possibly Jimmy Massia lead vocals (see this post on Utica entertainment for a little more info)
There was also a Satin label out of Washington state in the 1970s that had a 45 by the Main Attraction.
Thank you to Max Waller, Kent Chatellier, Michael Recendez, and Martin Hancock for their additions to this discography, and to Max for the Gary and Kyle scans.
The Passions came from Sherman, Texas, a town northeast of Dallas that had several bands including the Jack Rafters, the Five Coachmen and the Marquees.
Unlike those other bands, the Passions made a record, cutting the excellent “Lively One” / “You’ve Got Me Hurtin'” for Huey Meaux’s Pic 1 label, released in June 1965.
One person I spoke to referred to the band as Bill Galleon & the Passions. I thought Donald R. Mask may have been a member, as he wrote “You’ve Got Me Hurtin'” (his name is listed simply as Don Mask on the demo).
However, Alec Palao tells me the members were Gordon Eatherly, Bill Galyon, Larry Jannash, Roger Burkitt, Bill Shearin and Jerry Mullins, and that Eatherly was likely the leader of the band.
Besides the two songs on the single, the band recorded two cover songs that Big Beat will include on a compilation of bands on Meaux’s labels to be released Spring, 2013.
Does anyone have a photo of the group?
Mark Taylor supplied the scans seen here. Of the Sellers demo cut, he says “‘Lively One’ has an extra 40 seconds of harp wailing with an extra chorus, and ‘You Got Me Hurtin” has about 20 seconds extra of ‘yeah yeah yeah'” compared to the Pic 1 versions.
The Contents Are (post-LP lineup) from left: Paul Staack, Mick Orton, Dave Neumann and Craig Hute
Dave Neumann – lead guitar and vocals Craig Hute – 2nd lead guitar and vocals Larry Smith – bass and vocals, replaced by Mick Orton – bass, keyboards, vocals Paul Staack – drums and vocals
The Contents Are came from the Quad Cities area by Davenport, Iowa. High school students Dave Neumann and Craig Hute were in the Blazers when they decided to form a new group to pursue a more original and harmonic direction. Adding Larry Smith and Paul Staack, they started playing live shows in the area, including Cedar Rapids, IA and Rock Island, Illinois.
In April of 1967 they entered the Fredlo studio in Davenport and recorded “I Don’t Know” and “Direction of Mind”. Craig Hute wrote both songs, with arrangements by Dave Neumann. The 45 did well locally, selling as many as 1,000 copies, though it’s pretty scarce nowadays. It’s one of my favorite 45s, I don’t think there’s anything else quite like this band in the ’60s. They have a calm, melancholy sound and their lyrics really stay with me.Once the band was out of high school and mostly attending college, they played shows as far away as Champaign, Illinois and Minneapolis.
Later in 1967 or early ’68 they returned to Fredlo to cut an album of originals by Craig Hute. These are just as good as the single, my favorite being “If You’re Relaxing”. Marianne Dean played piano, oboe and sang on the album.
The band pressed 100 copies and gave them away, and it is now incredibly rare. This record was mostly a rumor until a demo copy surfaced in 2005. Shadoks reissued the album, adding a little color to the line drawing that was the front cover. The original back cover was bland, but the Shadoks release has a photo of the band and and info on who sang or played on each song. There’s also an insert with entertaining notes by Craig, but he doesn’t mention many details of the recording sessions. He does say Mercury bought the Rok 45 for national release which never came about.
The Contents Are had one last single release, “Future Days” / “New Mexico” on Rok Records 6907, which has the same harmony qualities even though the guitars are heavier.
The Contents Are, later promotional photo
The group stayed together for four years then split amicably as members went in various directions. Larry Smith and the band’s road manager Christy Peake moved to Portland, Oregon to work on acoustic guitars. Mike Orton (Mick) of the Todd Beat Group replaced Larry Smith, and in the early ’70s the band moved to the Denver and Boulder Colorado area where they changed the band’s name to Tabernash.
Their second bassist Mick Orton sent in the later promotional photos seen here and wrote to me about the group:
The CD liner notes made it sound like the band broke up after Larry left which was not the case at all. But I didn’t play on that album, so I kind of understand leaving me off.
When I joined The Contents Are: we were basically a cover band doing a few original tunes that Craig wrote. We only did a few of the songs they had previously recorded; “Country Roads”, “No Chance to Choose” (which I have live on the tapes I am transferring), “Recurring Changes” (also on the live tape, I think), “I Don’t Know” (one of my favorites), and “New Mexico”. There may have been others, but they don’t come to mind. Anyway, I think Craig wanted to leave the old music behind and focus on the new stuff.
Then we started doing some of mine (“All Around”, “Old Man”, “Grey, Cloudy Skies” and a few others), and finally some of Dave’s.
We put together a bunch of original tunes which we recorded in Appleton, Wisconsin and later we recorded others at Columbia Studios in Chicago. It was amazing what a difference that made in the quality. By then, Dave Neumann was writing, and the A&R man at Columbia really liked all of Dave’s songs. Somewhere there are tapes of us doing Neumann originals like “JTK” and others. “JTK” was about James T. Kirk, as Dave was an avid Star Trek fan.
Tabernash:
By the time we moved to Colorado, we were trying to emulate Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Allman Brothers and Steely Dan. All of the band but me wanted to do “non-commercial” stuff. My feeling was, if it’s non-commercial, who is going to buy it?
When we moved to Westminster, Colorado, our first house, we all lived under one roof: Craig, Marianne, their young son Aaron, Dave, Paul and me. Eventually the girlfriends from Davenport came out; Teresa for Dave and Pam for me. Paul met Dave’s cousin, Donna. Everyone split up to have their own households.
We didn’t play much, so I had to get a job working in factories. Lange Skis was hiring, so I ended up running a bunch of riveting machines and met our eventual road guy, John Zimmer (now deceased). He introduced us to his friend, Clay who also helped out. There also was Colin who did our sound.
We were playing very little when Jon Ludtke called me to join Silver Laughter. I guess my leaving broke up Tabernash. We never recorded any music, I am sorry to say.
“Grey, Cloudy Skies” we revised and recorded on Silver Laughter’s “Handle With Care” album.
Paul Staack would also join Silver Laughter after their first drummer departed. Craig Hute continued writing music and recording on two-track and, more recently, digitally.
The Contents Are have little presence on the internet, other than some reviews of their album and the titles of their songs. The album has one photo of the band, are there others out there?
Information on Silver Laughter from Mick Orton’s website. On that site you can also hear a couple of the demos the band recorded in Chicago, including Craig Hute’s excellent, rocking “Head Collect”, and a live version of Mick’s “All Around”.
Update 2017: info on an obscure 45 single by Tabernash is now at this post on the site.
Despite the Hollywood, CA address on the label and the classic California garage sound, the Todes were from Provo, Utah. They traveled to Los Angeles to cut their only single, released on Emanon E-102 in the fall of ’66.”Good Things” (written by Steven Thomas) is a syncopated fuzz cruncher with the waltz bit of the Beatles “We Can Work It Out” thrown in towards the end of each verse. “One Hundred and Thirty Seven Degrees Below Zero” was filler the band assembled in the studio so as not to give up one of their better songs on a b-side (not an unusual practice at the time). Both sides list Zulu Publishing, BMI, production credited to “A Todell Production”.
At the time of recording members of the band were Steve Thomas (lead guitar and lead vocals), Dan Doty (bass and harmony vocals), Mike Hart (keyboards), David Donahoe (rhythm guitar and lead vocals, harmonica on “Good Things”), and Danny Murphy (drums). Prior members included lead vocalist Danny Davis and two keyboardists, Bill Jemisen and Bob Jetter. After the session for Emanon, Ralph Geddes joined on keyboards and Al Thomas on drums.
Dave Donahoe came from the Remnants with vocalist Jerry York, who had cut a 45 at Goldstar Studio in LA just prior to the Todes traveling there. Released on Gini 103 as Jerry & the Remnants, it features the excellent “I’ve Wasted My Time” plus “If I Love You Girl”.
60s Garage Bands has the full story on the Todes, and features both songs from their single along with two unreleased cuts, including the incredible “Heartbreaker”.
The only other artist on Emanon that I know of was Mike Lyman from Las Vegas, Nevada, a young teen backed with a quality band. Credited to Mike Lyman and the Little People, Emanon E-101 has a cover of Love’s “Message to Pretty” backed with “I Need You” an original that opens with the line “you make me kinda glad I love you”. There was also an unrelated Emanon label from Rochester NY.
Zebra, from left to right: Jerry Beasly, Noe Cruz, Bob Silvert, Timo Laine and Bruce Bordon
10″ acetate from Gold Star Studios with both songs from the 45One of the final releases on the Miramar label was Zebra’s “Helter-Skelter” released in 1969. The b-side was an original by Bruce Bordon and Timo Laine titled “Wasted” that in my opinion is the better side.
Zebra’s guitarist Timo Laine sent me the photos above and told me about the group.
Zebra members were:
Timo Laine: lead guitar Noe Cruz: bass Bruce Bordon: vocals Jerry Beasley: drums Bob Silvert: keyboards
Zebra was together for about 5 years. Everywhere we played there would be a line around the building to get in. We were loved by the dance crowd, and the club owners kept us busy.
Zebra opened for the Rolling Stones and the Byrds in the late ’60s in Fresno. We also played with B.B. King, Ballin’jack, Zephyr, Ike and Tina Turner and many other name acts, but I don’t remember them all. We were a full time club band, 5 nights a week.
Our main clubs were Pier 11 (Newport Beach), Finnegan’s Rainbow (Newport Beach), The Interlude (Santa Cruz), Odyssey Theatre (Phoenix, AZ), Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Ichabods (Fullerton), Saint George and the Dragon (Tustin), and the Forum in Fresno.
We met Tony Cary at the Forum, where he first saw the act. He kept coming in every night and buying us drinks. Finally he said he was a record producer, and wanted to produce Zebra. Tony had a lot of industry contacts, and radio station friends like the Drake-Chenault radio station owners.
He moved the band to the Marriott in Studio City, and started recording the act at Pat Boone’s Lion and the Lamb Studio. We were almost finished recording the album when we got a telegram that Tony had died. We were told he had overdosed. This was a huge loss for us.
The album was never mixed or mastered, except the single “Helter Skelter” and “Wasted”, that was done first. I don’t know whatever happened to the masters.
After his death, I was offered a recording contract to record an album I wrote called Space Rangers with Neil Merryweather. It was recorded in Capital Records studio, and released by Mercury Records out of Chicago. After Space Rangers, I signed to A&M Records and released Symphonic Slam.
I had a new release this year, and another in 2011. I’m currently working on a new production: Jimmy Haslip (Yellow Jackets, Alan Holdsworth, Robin Ford) will be on bass, Mark Stevens on drums, me on guitars and guitar synths. Talks are in the works that Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge) may do the keys.
Q. Was your band the same Zebra who released “Christmas Morning Parts I & II” on Blue Thumb in Nov. 1969, written, produced and arranged by Sean Bonniwell of the Music Machine.
Timo Laine: No, we were before they came out.
Thanks to Timo for his help with this post. See the page on Just Us for info on Neil Merryweather’s first bands in Ontario.
Here’s a real oddity, two anonymous and unrelated cuts packaged on one 45. For Miramar label completionists only!
The A-side has the Miramar Soul Band doing a bossa-nova. sax-led instrumental version of “Mr. Tambourine Man”. Somehow I couldn’t get a very good transfer out of this side, but it could be ’cause the cartridge I use for transferring needs to be balanced, and my old Thorens is picking up all kinds of hum in my new house.
I did better on the flip, “Party a Go Go”, labeled as by Friends of the Miramar Soul Band. It’s not bad listening, a fair instrumental along the lines of “Off the Hook” overdubbed with fake party goers cackling and pretending to be hip. Publishing on this one is by Carjone, BMI, which appears on other Miramar releases produced by Tony Cary (real name Tony Luton).
Though given a release number of Miramar 127, “Party a Go Go” has master number 111-B, suggesting it was mastered much earlier, likely meant for release just prior to Tony Cary’s one-sided 45 of “She Belongs to Me”.
It turns out “Party a Go Go” also appears on Miramar 110 by Glenn & the Good Guys, with master number 111. Perhaps it’s not the same take, as I haven’t heard it yet. The writing credit on that label reads Burton, Jones, Osborn, so it’s likely James Burton was playing on this 45.
“Party a Go Go” also appears on Nick Hoffman’s 45 for Roman Records, this time titled “Christmas Party”, backing “Santa Claus Is Back in Town”.
I wonder if the version of Mr. Tambourine Man here is the same as the flip to Sonny Firmature’s single “Love Lost” (Miramar 128)?
If anyone has good transfers of some of the early Miramar releases by Jimmy Burton, the Memphis Men and Tony Cary, please contact me. Also please take a look at the list of Miramar releases I’ve posted and see if there are any gaps to be filled.
Someone I know is looking for this 45 by the Grains of Time on the Chyme label (if anyone has a copy for sale please get in touch). I realized I haven’t seen any detailed info on the band, so I’m posting here looking for their story.
TeenBeat Mayhem gives the release date as May of 1968, and the band coming from Albertville, Alabama, a small city near Guntersville Lake, northeast of Birmingham.Johnny Striplin (J. M. Striplin) wrote the fine “No Matter What They Say”.The flip, “This Little Girl” is equally good and has a great overdriven solo. It was written by Johnny Striplin and Cecil Matthews. Both songs were published by Mrs. F. Matthews, BMI.
The Manchester Playboys, Hamburg, 1967. Photo from Graham Sclater. Left to right: Malcolm Tag-Randall, Stuart Fahey, Graham Sclater, Peter Simensky, Alan Watkinson and Kerry Burke
The Manchester Playboys (line up from July/August 1965)
Kerry Burke – vocals
John Denson – organ/lead guitar/vocals (left mid-1966)
Stuart Fahey – rhythm guitar/trumpet
Malcolm Tag-Randall – saxophone
Alan Watkinson – bass
Mel Preston – drums (left May 1967)
Jim Warhurst – lead guitar (joined mid-1966, left June 1967)
Peter Simensky – drums (joined May 1967)
Graham Sclater – organ (joined June 1967)
Kenny Anders – lead guitar (joined early 1968)
This tragically overlooked British soul/R&B outfit were authors of the infectious, horn driven soul classic, “I Feel So Good” c/w “I Close My Eyes”, which was released on Fontana Records in September 1966.
The group’s roots can be found in St Helens, Lancashire band, [Mike] Cadillac & The Playboys, who included Stuart Fahey and Alan Watkinson from around 1963. Both hailed from nearby Newton-le-Willows in Lancashire.
Former Classics’ drummer Mel Preston had joined during 1964 and when singer Mike Cadillac departed, another former Classics member John Denson came in on keyboards and vocals. They also added singer/guitarist Les Stocks.
In spring 1965, the band briefly backed singer Lorraine Gray but the partnership was short-lived. Soon after Gray and Stocks (who later got married) emigrated to Australia. By this point, they had adopted the name The Manchester Playboys as the city had become their base and that’s where their management was based.
During July 1965 while playing in Duisberg, West Germany, The Manchester Playboys crossed paths with Beau Brummell & The Noblemen and their sax player Malcolm Randall (aka Tag-Randall), who was originally from Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, jumped ship. Tag-Randall had started out with Twickenham band, Jeff Curtis & The Flames in early 1963.
Later that month (back in England), they finally persuaded Kerry Burke to join as lead singer, within days of a return trip to West Germany. Like drummer Mel Preston, Burke was originally from St Helens. Burke had started out as singer/harmonica player with St Helens band The Denims and had been earmarked for the group several months before.
“I was an apprentice electrician,” remembers the singer. “The Playboys were out looking for a lead singer and approached me after watching me at a local gig. I turned them down as I already had a good band and apprenticeship. They wouldn’t let go and in the end I joined up. In no time at all, I had a passport, no work permit and we were off to Frankfurt for a month at the Storyville Club.”
As Burke recalls, the band made a number of trips to Germany over the next few years, appearing at Hamburg’s Star Club and Top Ten Club, the Savoy Club in Hanover and the Liverpool Hoop in Berlin to name just a few (see gig list below for more details).
At the end of October 1965, The Manchester Playboys became the second British band to tour Romania after The Federals and spent six weeks there. While in Romania, the band recorded an ultra-rare 10″ album with Carol Kay (aka Karol Keyes) and Bobby Shaftoe, which was released as The Playboys on the Electrecord label.
“Romania was a hard place to live in those times,” says Burke. “Although we were being employed by the Government, they would try and undermine us at any opportunity via photos and articles in the press. We were deemed to be a bad example from the West. They would jam Radio Luxembourg on a regular basis and would greatly restrict the amount of tickets made available to the young people. I didn’t witness much joy there at all.”
Back in England in mid-December, the group met session drummer Bobby Graham who took over the band’s management. Graham was also a producer for the French Barclay recording company.
Sometime in early 1966 the band recorded a four-track EP at Pye Studios near Marble Arch with Bobby Graham at the helm.
The EP featured covers of “Woolly Bully”, “Lipstick Traces” and two James Brown covers – “And I Do Just What I Want” and “Tell Me What You’re Gonna Do”. The EP allegedly topped the French charts. It was also released in Brazil (see below).
Thanks to David Sheldon for providing the image
From February 1966, the band started playing regularly in Belgium, particularly at the Shark Club in Ghent.
“We played [the Shark Club] numerous times along with Tony Blackburn as guest DJ,” says Burke. “Dave Berry was huge in Belgium due to a performance in the Eurovision song contest. He turned up at the Shark and he did get up and do a set with us.”
Sometime in mid-1966, The Manchester Playboys played on the same bill as Manchester band, The Meteors in Oldham and asked their guitarist Jim Warhurst (Hyde) to replace John Denson who was leaving.
The new line-up recorded the group’s lone UK single, an excellent blue-eyed soul number, which was released on Fontana Records that autumn.
At the end of May 1967, Mel Preston also left to concentrate on the family business and Jim Warhurst asked his former band mate from The Meteors, Peter Simensky to join.
Simensky had reformed The Meteors with new members as The Hobo Flats in the interim.
“I did my first gig at the Belle Vue in Manchester on 3 June 1967,” says Simensky.
“We left for Hamburg on the 4 June. I remember the day. It was a Sunday morning and as we drove through Stockport, we heard the news that a British Midland flight had just crashed in the centre of Stockport.”
Later that month, The Manchester Playboys saw Graham (Sandy) Sclater playing Hammond organ with The Birds and The Bees at the Star Club. The two bands frequently met in the Bier Shoppe along with other musicians and it was at that time that Jim Warhurst’s father was taken ill and Sclater, who’d been playing in Germany since 1964 with a number of bands, took his place and returned to England with them.
Back in England, The Manchester Playboys rehearsed for a few days in Manchester before travelling down to London to play at Tiles in Oxford Street and the Scotch of St James in Mayfair. They then returned north to play gigs at venues like the Bolton Nevada, the Bolton Palais and The Place in Hanley plus several airforce bases around the UK.
A show from late April 1967 at the Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
Joined by Tag-Randall’s former band mate from Jeff Curtis & The Flames Jeff Lake (who was acting as road manager) the group then traveled to Sweden in mid-August (via Belgium and Denmark) for a tour, and for most shows they backed the female “hit” duo The Caravelles.
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
“In Sweden we played mainly open air gigs in volk parks,” says Burke.
“Two notable events while we were there. The Swedes were in the state of changing which side of the road they drive on. At that time they used the left hand side. We went out in the van… I believe 3am… and if I remember correctly we just drove to the other side of the road. It all passed very easily without any problems.”
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping. Pop Inn Gothenburg (see gig list below)
Burke also remembers The Manchester Playboys jamming with some special guests at the Cue Club in Gothenburg.
“The owner of the club asked us to take our kit to the lift to the basement club for a party,” says the singer.
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping. This gig may be from 2 September 1967 (see gig listing below)
“The party turned out to be for Jimi Hendrix and his entourage. We already knew Noel Redding from Germany when he was lead guitarist with Neil Landon & The Burnetts. Noel didn’t show up but Jimi, Mitch [Mitchell], the drummer, Chas Chandler and a large group arrived at the party. We were providing the live music. Graham asked Jimi and Mitch up for a jam. They agreed and Jimi took Stuart Fahey’s Baldwin Burns guitar, turned it around as it was strung for a right hander and just played along with the rest of the band, no showmanship, just jamming.”
Back in the UK, Simensky remembers the band doing some further recordings. “We did some recordings for Les Reed; cover versions of current hit records,” he recalls. “Someone said the label eventually became K-Tel.”
These tracks, which included a cover of “Knock on Wood” and “You Got What It Takes” appeared on an EP for Avenue Records in late 1967.
The Manchester Playboys also cut some tracks in West Germany during early 1968.
“When we were playing in Berlin, we were approached by Hansa and asked if we would like to go in the studio and record something,” continues Simensky.
“It would have to be original and the studio was booked two days hence. Alan and I wrote a couple of not very good songs which we recorded and promptly sank without trace, only to surface several years later alongside Georgio Moroder on a compilation album!”
By May 1968, however, Stuart Fahey, Malcolm Tag-Randall and Graham Sclater had all left and the remaining trio carried on briefly with guitarist Kenny Anders from The Chosen Few and Hush. Fahey died in the mid-2000s.
After leaving the band, Malcolm Tag-Randall moved to Cambridgeshire and ended up working with Red Express during the 1970s (who featured several future Shakatak members). However, he is currently suffering from poor health.
Graham Sclater played on sessions for James Taylor’s Apple recordings.
Of the other band members, Kerry Burke currently lives on the Isle of Wight, Alan Watkinson lives in the Manchester area and Pete Simensky lives in Duckingfield.
Watkinson later played with Petrus Boonkamp and The Kaystones. Simensky meanwhile played played with Treetown.
Simensky is also a songwriter and has signed a lot of his songs to Tabitha Music Limited, which is run by Graham Sclater, who lives in Exeter and has his own website: http://tabithabooks.webs.com/authorgrahamsclater.htm.
Selected gigs
15 November 1964 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent (Kent Messenger)
10 January 1965 – Ashton Palais, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester (North Cheshire Standard)
15 January 1965 – Bodega, Manchester with The Beat Benders (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
17 January 1965 – Mr Smith & Sum People, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
26 January 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with The Crowds (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
30 January 1965 – Corn Exchange, Bedford, Bedfordshire with The Trespassers (Biggleswade Chronicle)
5 February 1965 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester with Lorraine Gray and Reg Coates and The Tuxedos (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) With Lorraine Gray
5 February 1965 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with Lorraine Gray and Reg Coates and The Tuxedos (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) With Lorraine Gray
13 February 1965 – Strand Theatre Club, Winsford, Cheshire with The Vincents (Runcorn Guardian)
4 April 1965 – Mr Smith’s, Manchester with Lorraine Gray and The Hornets (Manchester Evening News & The Chronicle) With Lorraine Gray
10 April 1965 – The Limit, Middleton, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
13 April 1965 – Hen & Chickens, Langley, West Midlands with The UK Bonds (Birmingham Evening Mail)
15 April 1965 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (Andover Advertiser) With Lorraine Gray
16 April 1965 – Mecca, Royal Pier, Southampton, Hants (Southern Echo) Billed as Lorraine Gray & The Manchester Playboys
22 April 1965 – Manor Lounge, Stockport, Greater Manchester with The Marauders (Stockport County Express) Supporting Lorraine Gray
24 April 1965 – New Century Hall, Manchester with Lorraine Gray and The Crestas (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) With Lorraine Gray
25 April 1965 – Strand Club Ballroom, Winsford, Cheshire with Lorraine Gray and The Slants (Winsford Chronicle) With Lorraine Gray
2 May 1965 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester with Lorraine Gray (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) With Lorraine Gray
2 May 1965 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with Lorraine Gray (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) With Lorraine Gray
5 June 1965 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Mighty Avengers (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
5 June 1965 – Carlton, Rochdale, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
Rugby gig in May/June 1965. Photo: Rugby Advertiser
7 June 1965 – Mecca Dancing, Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester with The Solitaires (Bolton Evening News) With Lorraine Gray
16 June 1965 – Jungfrau, Manchester with The Merseybeats, Kris Ryan & The Questions and Lorraine Gray (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) With Lorraine Gray
24 June 1965 – Manor Lounge, Stockport, Greater Manchester with The Jacobeats (Stockport County Express)
29 June 1965 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
3 July 1965 – Mecca Locarno, Sale, Greater Manchester with Ralph Barnes Showband (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
4 July 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester with The Solitaires (Bolton Evening News)
11 July 1965 – Jungfrau, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
(Most likely 12-16) July 1965 – The Storyville Jazz Club, Duisberg, West Germany (Kerry Burke recollections)
While The Manchester Playboys are performing at the club in Duisberg, they share the bill with Beau Brummell & The Noblemen. Sax player Malcolm Randall (aka Malcolm Tag-Randall) is blown away by the group and jumps ship
19 July 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News) Beau Brummell & The Noblemen play in Stockport this evening and it’s possible Malcolm Randall played this date and then joined Manchester Playboys
26 July 1965 – The Cavern, Liverpool (Benefit Show, 12 hour session) with The Five Aces, The Boomerangs, The Cresters, The Clayton Squares, The Dimensions, Earl Preston’s Realms, The Escorts, The Lancastrians, Lorraine Grey, The Merseybeats, The Powerhouse Six and The Richmond Group (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book/Liverpool Echo)
The group asks Denims singer Kerry Burke to join them for their residency in Frankfurt. The group leaves England in the last week of July, within days of the Cavern benefit show
July/August 1965 – The Storyville Jazz Club, Frankfurt, West Germany with The Chants (Kerry Burke recollections)
1 September 1965 – Group arrives in Belgium (Kerry Burke’s passport) Unless this is exit stamp for return to England from Frankfurt
4 September 1965 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Advert says they are back from Germany
5 September 1965 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Presidents (Evening Sentinel)
6 September 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
14 September 1965 – Gay Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
15 September 1965 – Bull’s Head Hotel, Hanford, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
17 September 1965 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Verbs and Richmond Group (John Warburg research/Liverpool Echo)
20 September 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
21 September 1965 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle) Billed as The Playboys
24 September 1965 – Mecca, Ashton Palais, Ashton under Lyne, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
26 September 1965 – Jungfrau, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
30 September 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Yardbirds (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
3 October 1965 – Royal Pier, Southampton, Hants (Southern Daily Echo)
5 October 1965 – Peppermint Lounge, Liverpool with Dave the Rave (Liverpool Echo)
9 October 1965 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
18 October 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
22 October 1965 – Grand Naval Dance, Royal College of Advanced Technology, Salford, Greater Manchester with The Original Checkmates, The Meteors and The Fat Sound (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
23 October 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with The Graham Bond Organisation (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
26 October 1965 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Earl Preston’s Realms (John Warburg research/Liverpool Echo)
30 October-14 December 1965 – Romanian tour (Kerry Burke’s passport). The band recorded as The Playboys while there and a ‘10 was issued in 1966
15 December 1965 – Bulls Head Hotel, Hanford, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
16 December 1965 – Ashton Palais, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
17 December 1965 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with Major Lance and Bluesology Incorporated and Jonathan Good Tweed (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
24 December 1965 – Top Twenty Club, Droylsden, Greater Manchester with The Power House Six and Johnny Peters Set (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
24 December 1965 – Jungfrau Dance Club, Manchester with Power House Six and Frankenstein’s Monsters (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
26 December 1965 – Jungfrau Dance Club, Manchester with Richard Kent Style (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
26 December 1965 – Mr Smith’s, Manchester with The Fugitives (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
27 December 1965 – Club Creole, Wilmslow, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Advert says direct from Rumania and billed as The Playboys
30 December 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
1 January 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Advert says they are direct from a continental tour (Romania)
2 January 1966 –Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with Group One (Evening Sentinel)
6 January 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
7 January 1966 – Greenways, Baddeley Green, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
8 January 1966 – Queen’s Hall, Burslem, Staffordshire with Group One (Evening Sentinel)
17 January 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
21 January 1966 – Faculty of Building, Trentham Gardens, Stoke Staffordshire with Jack Kirkland’s BBC Broadcasting Band (Evening Sentinel)
24 January 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
29 January 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Accrington, Lancashire (Accrington Observer)
30 January 1966 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (Burton Evening Mail)
31 January 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
3 February 1966 – Park Ballroom, Beat Centre, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon (Western Evening Herald)
5 February 1966 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Torbay Express and South Devon Echo)
12 February 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
19-20 February 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
24 February 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
25 February 1966 – Club Creole, Wilmslow, Cheshire (Alderley & Wilmslow & Knutsford Advertiser) Says direct from the Scotch of St James
28 February 1966 – Entry date into Belgium, possibly to play the Shark Club, Ghent (Kerry Burke’s passport)
Record Mirror reports in its issue, week ending 16 April that Dave Berry had a TV show in Belgium so this period seems highly plausible. Looks like they may also have played some German dates
3 April 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Sounds of Three (Evening Sentinel)
4 April 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News) Says back from German tour
9 April 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Says back from tour of Germany
11 April 1966 – New Elizabethan, Belle Vue, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
12 April 1966 – Top Twenty Club, Droylsden, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
16 April 1966 – King’s Hall, Stoke, Staffordshire with The Small Faces, Roy Grant & The Kingpins and Barmy Barry (Evening Sentinel)
23 April 1966 – Mersey View Ballroom, Frodsham, Cheshire with The Optimists (Cheshire Observer)
24 April 1966 – Mecca Dancing, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire with The Blue Thunderbirds and The Rocking Vicars (Evening Sentinel)
28 April 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Sounds of Three (Evening Sentinel)
30 April 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with Yes and No (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
2 May 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
6 May 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire with Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions, Kris Ryan & The Questions and Wednesday’s Child (Evening Sentinel)
7 May 1966 – College of Building, Deansgate, Manchester with Karol Keyes & The Big Sound and Tom’s Rigg (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
9 May 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
14 May 1966 – The Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Kinks and Tony Terrett (Evening Sentinel)
15 May 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex (Caterham Weekly Press)
21 May 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Accrington, Lancashire (Accrington Observer)
22 May 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Barry Lee & The Planets (Eastern Evening News/Yarmouth Mercury)
26 May 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
27 May 1966 – Club Creole, Wilmslow, Cheshire (Alderley & Wilmslow & Knutsford Advertiser)
28 May 1966 – Mersey View Ballroom, Frodsham, Cheshire with The Dodoes (Runcorn Weekly News)
29 May 1966 – Top of the Town, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
4 June 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Keith Powell and Billie Davis, The End, The Humperdinks and The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard)
6 June 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
7 June 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
10 June 1966 – Worsley Civic Hall, Walkden, Worsley, Lancashire with This Generation (Bolton Evening News)
11 June 1966 – Ashton Palais Mecca, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
13 June 1966 – Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Ambassadors (Express & Star)
16 June 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
20 June 1966 – Casino Club, Bolton, Greater Manchester with The Crestas (Bolton Evening News)
25 June 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with support (Evening Sentinel)
27 June 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
Jim Warhurst has joined in time (replacing John Denson) to appear on the group’s lone 45 for Fontana “I Feel So Good” c/w “I Close My Eyes”, which is released in September 1966
7 July 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
9 July 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Says back again from Germany
12 July 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire with Dene Wayne & The Exiles (Evening Sentinel)
14 July 1966 – Locarno, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)
16 July 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with Dynamos (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
18 July 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
23 July 1966 – Navada, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
27 July 1966 – Belle Vue, New Elizabethan, Manchester with The Semitones (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
28 July 1966 – Entry date into Belgium on way to Storyville Jazz Club, Cologne, West Germany (Kerry Burke’s passport) The group most likely played at the club for one month
3 September 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with The Wheels and Frankenstein (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
3 September 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Times, The Hideaways, The Mixture, The Dollies, The Dark Ages and The Prowlers (John Warburg research/Liverpool Echo)
4 September 1966 – Burnley Locarno, Burnley, Lancashire (Burnley Express and News)
8 September 1966 – Bradmore WMC, Bradmore, West Midlands (Express & Star)
12 September 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
15 September 1966 – Barrow Public Hall, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria with The Warriors (North Western Mail)
16 September 1966 – Paradise Club, Wigan, Greater Manchester (Liverpool Echo)
17 September 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
19 September 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
20 September 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
23 September 1966 – Hull College of Technology’s Fresher’s Dance with Birds Groove (Hull Daily Mail)
29 September 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Georgia Germs (John Warburg research/Liverpool Echo)
1 October 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
3 October 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
4 October 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
7 October 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The James Royal Set (Luton News)
9 October 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with support (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
10 October 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
10 October 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News) Looks like they cancelled or the gig was pushed back three days
13 October 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
16 October 1966 – Beachcomber, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
18 October 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
27 October 1966 – Entry date into Belgium, possibly to play Shark Club, Ghent (Kerry Burke’s passport)
4 November 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
5 November 1966 – The Thing, Oldham, Greater Manchester (Oldham Evening Chronicle)
6 November 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
7 November 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
11 November 1966 – Crystal Club, Glossop, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
11 November 1966 – Student Union, Manchester with Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Big City Sound Manchester (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
13 November 1966 – Swinging Sinking Ship, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
14 November 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
17 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)
18 November 1966 – Entry date into Belgium, possibly to play the Shark Club, Ghent (Kerry Burke’s passport)
25 November 1966 – 7 Club, Shrewsbury, Shropshire with The Silvers (Express & Star)
26 November 1966 – Flamingo, Redruth, Cornwall with Circuit 5 (West Briton & The Royal Cornwall Gazette)
27 November 1966 – Flamingo, Redruth, Cornwall (West Briton & The Royal Cornwall Gazette)
3 December 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with Unchained (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
6 December 1966 – The Place Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
7 December 1966 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
10 December 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
11 December 1966 – Burnley Locarno, Burnley, Lancashire (Burnley Express and News)
12 December 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
14 December 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
21 December 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Factotums (Evening Sentinel)
23 December 1966 – St Bernadette’s, Withington, Greater Manchester with The Children (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
24 December 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Children (Evening Sentinel)
25 December 1966 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
25 December 1966 – Belle Vue, New Elizabethan, Manchester with Mommies Darlings (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
26 December 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with The Chuckles and Some Other Guys (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
26 December 1966 – Stockport Town Hall Ballroom, Stockport, Greater Manchester with St Louis Union and Cock-a-Hoops (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
27 December 1966 – Peppermint Lounge, Liverpool with Nog (Liverpool Echo)
29 December 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
31 December 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
1 January 1967 – Jung Frau, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
4 January 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
6 January 1967 – Entry date into Belgium on the way to play Hans der Musik, Wuppertal, West Germany for one month (Kerry Burke’s passport)
24 February 1967 – Blackpool Tower, Blackpool, Lancashire with The Graham Bond Organisation, The Easybeats, The Iveys and The Cryin Shames (Kerry Burke’s recollections) This was the band’s first gig back in the UK after the Wuppertal residency
25 February 1967 – Navada, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
4 March 1967 – White Bicycle, Maple Ballroom, Northampton, Northamptonshire with The Legal Matter (Northampton Chronicle)
5 March 1967 – Takis Times, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
10 March 1967 – SBYC, St Bernadette’s, Withington, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
11 March 1967 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
13 March 1967 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with New Way of Life (Birmingham Evening Post)
14 March 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
17 March 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire with The Executives (Warrington Guardian)
19 March 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker)
26 March 1967 – Entry date into Belgium (Kerry Burke’s passport)
6 April 1967 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
7 April 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester with The Iveys (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
13 April 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands with PP Arnold and The Nice (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
15 April 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Back from a European tour (see Belgium entry date above)
22 April 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Jaguars (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette/Cornish Guardian)
26 April 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Cheetahs (Evening Sentinel)
29 April 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Silverstone Set (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
3 May 1967 – Entry date into Belgium (Kerry Burke’s passport)
12 May 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)
19 May 1967 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, West Yorkshire with The Screen (Yorkshire Evening Post)
27 May 1967 – Staffs Volunteer, Bushbury, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Express & Star)
30 May 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Shell Shock Show (Evening Sentinel)
Mel Preston left at this point and Peter Simensky joined, playing his first show on 3 June at the Belle Vue
3 June 1967 – Belle Vue, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
3 June 1967 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle) They left for Hamburg next day
6 June 1967 – Entry date into West Germany (Kerry Burke’s passport)
6 June-2 July 1967 – The Star Club, St Pauli, Hamburg, West Germany (Ian Hamilton contract) Shared with various acts including The Equals, The Hi-Fis and The Birds and The Bees from 30 June to 1 July
Jim Warhurst leaves during late June/early July and Graham Sclater joins from The Birds and The Bees
3 July 1967 – Entry date into the Netherlands (Kerry Burke’s passport)
7 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Graham Sclater’s diary)
8 July 1967 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, London (Graham Sclater’s diary)
10 July 1967 – Bolton Nevada, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
12 July 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
13 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with Chas Stevens (Melody Maker) The group was advertised playing in Melody Maker but this gig did not happen
14 July 1967 – Gig in Huddersfield (Graham Sclater’s diary)
15 July 1967 – Ritz Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
16-17 July 1967 – Bolton Mecca, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
18-20 July – Mr Smith’s, Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
21 July 1967 – Gig in Freshwater (Graham Sclater’s diary)
22 July 1967 – Gig in Swansea, south Wales (Graham Sclater’s diary) Port Talbot Guardian has the group appearing at Ritz, Skewen, Wales on this date with The King B’s
23 July 1967 – Gig in Blackburn, Lancashire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
26 July 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Milton James (Evening Sentinel)
27 July 1967 – Gig in Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
28 July 1967 – Gig in Prescott (Graham Sclater’s diary)
29 July 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
1 August 1967 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, London (Graham Sclater’s diary)
2 August 1967 – Gig in Preston, Lancashire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
3 August 1967 – Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
4 August 1967 – RAF High Wycombe, High Wycombe, Bucks (Graham Sclater’s diary)
5 August 1967 – Gig in Mildenhall (Graham Sclater’s diary)
10 August 1967 – YMCA Ipswich, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
11 August 1967 – Entry date into Belgium, possibly to play the Shark Club, Ghent (Kerry Burke’s passport)
Graham Sclater’s diary has The Shark Club listed for 11-16 August but he’s not sure they did play. However, the dates do tally with Kerry’s passport stamp above, although it is unlikely they played 16th July if this did happen as they arrived in Denmark that day.
Malcolm Tag-Randall’s old friend and former band mate from Jeff Curtis & The Flames, Jeff Lake was road manager on the Swedish tour and recalls the band playing a club just outside Ghent
18 August 1967 – Entry date into Sweden via Denmark (Kerry Burke’s passport)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
18 August 1967 – Pop Inn, Gothenburg, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
19 August 1967 – Gig in Virestom, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
20-21 August 1967 – Gig in Gaule, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
22 August 1967 – Gig in Stockholm, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
23 August 1967 – Globe Club, Gothenburg, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
25 August 1967 – Saffle, Gothenburg, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
26 August 1967 – Ellos-Hunnebo, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
27 August 1967 – Uddevalla-Trollhatt, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
28-31 August 1967 – Gigs in Gothenburg, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
2 September 1967 – Cue Club, Gothenburg, Sweden with The Rebels and The Shamrocks (Mats Jarl clipping) Exact date needs confirmation
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
2 September 1967 – Globe Club, Gothenburg, Sweden with The Patch (Mats Jarl clipping) Exact date needs confirmation
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
3 September 1967 – Hoffrekullen, Romelanda, Gothenburg, Sweden with The Hill Billy Five (Mats Jarl clipping)
3 September 1967 – Cue Club, Gothenburg, Sweden (Kerry Burke recollections) Jammed with Jimi Hendrix
7 September 1967 – Left Sweden to return to UK via Denmark (Kerry Burke’s passport)
8-9 September 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
10-11 September 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Graham Sclater’s diary)
15-16 September 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
17 September 1967 – College Club, Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
21 September 1967 – Imperial, Darlington (Graham Sclater’s diary)
22 September 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire with The Do-Does (Warrington Guardian)
23 September 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Avalons (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
24 September 1967 – Plaza Huddersfield (Graham Sclater’s diary)
27 September 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Drifters (Evening Sentinel)
28 September 1967 – Cinysey, north Wales (Graham Sclater’s diary)
29 September 1967 – SBYC, St Bernadette’s, Withington, south Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
30 September 1967 – Menwith Club, Yorkshire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
1 October 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
5 October 1967 – Entry date into Belgium (Kerry Burke’s passport)
9-14 October 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Graham Sclater’s diary) Graham isn’t totally sure about this one
19 October 1967 – Beachcomber, Luton, Bedfordshire (John Warburg research)
Graham Sclater has Dunstable not Luton
22 October 1967 – Birdcage, Harlow (Graham Sclater’s diary)
25 October 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Waterboard (Evening Sentinel)
26 October 1967 – Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
27 October 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
28 October 1967 – NCO gig in Crighton (Graham Sclater’s diary)
This is probably RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire. The Coventry Evening Telegraph also lists the band playing at the Flower Pot Club in Digbeth, Birmingham on this date with The Junction. The Flower Pot Club gig is also confirmed by the Birmingham Evening Mail (see picture below)
30 October 1967 – Town Hall, Spennymoor (Graham Sclater’s diary)
5 November 1967 – Two Bar Egremont (Graham Sclater’s diary)
8 November 1967 – Penny Farthing, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
10 November 1967 – Entry date into Belgium, possibly on the way to West Germany for gigs. This must be a mistake as the band played UK dates around this period unless the UK gigs were cancelled?
10 November 1967 – Caesar’s Club, Bedford (Graham Sclater’s diary)
11 November 1967 – Navada Bolton, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
12 November 1967 – Sloopy’s, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle) This gig was advertised in Manchester Evening News so perhaps the UK dates did happen?
24 January 1968 – New Century Hall, Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary) This date needs confirmation. Sclater recalls that the group played two Manchester gigs on the same night at short notice backing singer Madelaine Bell. Status Quo were supposed to do the honours but were appearing on Top of the Pops.
26 January 1968 – Queens Rink Ballroom, Hartlepool with Mark Aynsley Big Beat Band (Graham Sclater’s diary/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
27 January 1968 – Il Rondo Ballroom, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
28 January 1968 – Clayton Lodge Hotel, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
28 January 1968 – Bamboo Club, Wilmslow, Cheshire (Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser) Missing from Graham Sclater’s diary
1 February 1968 – Drokiweeny, Manchester (Manchester Evening News) Missing from Graham Sclater’s diary
2 February1968 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire Evening Press) Missing from Graham Sclater’s diary
7 February 1968 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk or Casino, Leigh (Graham Sclater’s diary)
8 February 1968 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
9 February 1968 – Gig in Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary) Could possibly be Drill Hall, Woodbridge
10 February 1968 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
14 February 1968 – Entry date into the Netherlands on the way to West Germany (Kerry Burke’s passport)
15 February 1968 – Entry into East Germany on the way to West Berlin to play the Liverpool Hoop for one month (Kerry Burke’s recollections/passport)
March 1968 – Top Ten Club, Hamburg, West Germany with Floribunda Rose and then Bluesology (Graham Sclater’s recollections)
4 April 1968 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton News) Missing from Graham Sclater’s diary
9 April 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
13 April 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Gospel Garden (Warrington Guardian)
Malcolm Tag-Randall remembers that he left after this gig or shortly after and briefly reunited with Jeff Lake in Tommy Bishop’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival Show for a gig in Barry, south Wales. Tag-Randall later played with The Red Express and Sindy & The Action Men among others.
14 April 1968 – Lower Chambers Town Hall, Rochdale (Graham Sclater’s diary)
21 April 1968 – 101 Club Scene, Carlisle, Cumbria (Evening News & Star) Missing from Graham Sclater’s diary
22 April 1968 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
24 April 1968 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
27 April 1968 – Gig in Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary) Could possibly be Drill Hall, Woodbridge
27 April 1968 – Rainbow Suite Co-op, Birmingham with Ultra Sound (Birmingham Evening Mail)
Graham Sclater doesn’t have the Birmingham gig in his diary and says he left after the Woodbridge date. He thinks Malcolm Tag-Randall left at the same time as did Stuart Fahey. Kenny Anders joined on lead guitar
3 May 1968 – Winter Gardens, Morecambe, Lancashire with N.S.U. (Morecambe Visitor)
4 May 1968 – Navada, Bolton, Greater Manchester with Phil Foster and his Orchestra and The Falcons (Bolton News)
11 May 1968 – Windsor Ballroom, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
12 May 1968 – Clayton Lodge Hotel, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
2 September 1968 – Penny Farthing, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)
3 October 1968 – Penny Farthing, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)
17 October 1968 – Penny Farthing, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)
26 October 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo)
31 October 1968 – Penny Farthing, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)
2 November 1968 – Wellington Manor Country Club, Crowthorne, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
Many thanks to the following for their generous input: Kerry Burke, Peter Simensky, Graham Sclater and Malcolm Randall. To add further information, please email the author at Warchive@aol.com.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
Afton V-1700 – The Strangers – “This Brave New World” (Bob Rubin) / “In the Beginning”, A-side is a top surf instrumental, flip is blander
pink label with a script “Satin” and no ribbon:
The Contents Are came from the Quad Cities area by Davenport, Iowa. High school students Dave Neumann and Craig Hute were in the Blazers when they decided to form a new group to pursue a more original and harmonic direction. Adding Larry Smith and Paul Staack, they started playing live shows in the area, including Cedar Rapids, IA and Rock Island, Illinois.
The group stayed together for four years then split amicably as members went in various directions. Larry Smith and the band’s road manager Christy Peake moved to Portland, Oregon to work on acoustic guitars. Mike Orton (Mick) of the Todd Beat Group replaced Larry Smith, and in the early ’70s the band moved to the Denver and Boulder Colorado area where they changed the band’s name to Tabernash.
Despite the Hollywood, CA address on the label and the classic California garage sound, the Todes were from Provo, Utah. They traveled to Los Angeles to cut their only single, released on Emanon E-102 in the fall of ’66.”Good Things” (written by Steven Thomas) is a syncopated fuzz cruncher with the waltz bit of the Beatles “We Can Work It Out” thrown in towards the end of each verse. “One Hundred and Thirty Seven Degrees Below Zero” was filler the band assembled in the studio so as not to give up one of their better songs on a b-side (not an unusual practice at the time). Both sides list Zulu Publishing, BMI, production credited to “A Todell Production”.
Dave Donahoe came from the Remnants with vocalist Jerry York, who had cut a 45 at Goldstar Studio in LA just prior to the Todes traveling there. Released on Gini 103 as 
Someone I know is looking for this 45 by the Grains of Time on the Chyme label (if anyone has a copy for sale please get in touch). I realized I haven’t seen any detailed info on the band, so I’m posting here looking for their story.
