Category Archives: Rite Record Productions custom pressings

Categories: Action, Kingsport, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Tennessee, Trail Records, Unknown

The Sound Track on Trail and Action

September 2, 2016 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

The Sound Track are another unknown group, probably from the area around Kingsport, Tennessee, more than four hours east of Nashville.

Their first single has two cover songs, including one of the best versions of the Music Explosion’s “I See the Light” (E. Chiprut) b/w “Groovin’”. It came out on Trail Records TSRC-1706 in November 1967. It’s a Rite pressing, #20781/2, account #400.

Trail Records came from Kingsport, TN, and had many other releases, mostly gospel. Early releases such as the Grim Reapers “Under My Thumb” / “See See Rider” (Trail TSRC-1702) have a diamond logo and list Tri-State Recording Co. and 1767 Fort Henry Drive. Some later releases such as the Downbeats “Pain” / “Got To Get You Into My Life” (Trail SRC-1736) have a rustic logo with pine trees and “Trail” spelled out in wood logs.

Over a year later the Sound Track put out their second single, this time featuring two band originals. “Face the New Day” has distorted guitar riffs repeating throughout, and solid backing of organ, bass and drums. It sounds almost like an English freakbeat track. Ron Allgood and Jerry Melton wrote the song, they were probably members of the band.

The flip “People Say” is also good, and the composer credits give six names, probably most of the band: Ron Allgood, Jerry Melton, T. Melton, Layton Bentley, Kim Dillard and B. Richmond. Copyright records give B. Richmond’s full name as Randy Richmond. The release came on Action 101, with the codes WS 1000 and PRP 7731/2.

The Sound Track went to Nashville to make their Action single. It was produced by Hoss Linneman and Al Gore, two country musicians with many recording credits to their names. Washington Square Music, BMI published both songs. This was a very rare single until 15 or more copies turned up in August, 2016.

Categories: Chatham, Columbia County, New York, Ram, Rite Record Productions custom pressings

The Classics of Chatham, NY

March 5, 2016 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

The Classics came from Chatham, New York, a town about 30 miles southeast of Albany. I live not far from the village and my daughter goes to the local public school, so I’ve been very interested in learning more about this band. Donnie Mettauer was the only member’s name I knew of until a comment below noted Richie Muller played bass and Rich Fiero drums.

In March of 1966 the band released four songs on a Rite-pressed 7″ EP with the Ram Records label. I’ve heard all four songs and can attest to the veracity of the old G45 description:

The four songs cover a lot of ground stylistically from the cute pop-fantasy (not psych) of “Pink Cats” through sweet harmony pop (“I Don’t Wanna Be Around”), and a restrained, double-speed rendition of the “Bo Diddley” classic. However, it’s “Mean Woman” that we’re here to talk about…a chunky, chugging riff-driven garage mover further propelled by clean stuttering electric lead lines, rumbling toms and call-and-answer vocals. A stunning release, rare as hen’s teeth.

In June of 1966 the band traveled to Nola Recording Studios at 111 West 57th St. in Manhattan. Also known as Nola’s Penthouse Studio or “The Penthouse Sound Studios of V.J. Nola” on the early acetate labels, the studio was a capacious room that opened circa 1940 on the 17th floor of Steinway Hall. The studio was owned by Vincent Nola and his son Tommy Nola. It closed in February 2014 due to construction to extend the building’s height.

Almost no one has heard any of the four songs the Classics cut on two unreleased demos recorded at Nola. I’ve been fortunate to hear one, “The World Can’t Take Time” which was backed by a song called “Bright Orange Clown” on one of the discs. The second demo has “Little Bo Peep” / “Baby Baby”.

There has been talk of a re-release of all eight songs, but so far nothing has come through. It seems Don Mettauer has passed away.

There weren’t many bands in the Columbia County area in the 1960s. There were the Del-Tones led by David Osborn with members including Rick Piester, Jerry Porreca, John Frentino, John Rundell, Peter Post and Richard Leavitt, and the Fownds (or the Founds) from Hudson who had two releases on Reeb. Another notable single is by the Kynds, also partially based in Hudson. The Kynds recorded at a studio in Kinderhook run by Earl Kennett, but I have yet to find any other recordings from that studio.

I’d appreciate any more information about the Classics.

Categories: Jackson, Key, Michigan, Rite Record Productions custom pressings

The Beech Resorts

February 11, 2016 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Beech Resorts give us two sides of teen anguish, pining for a girlfriend left behind in the maudlin “Springtime” while wondering why he’s in a relationship in the crude rocker “Distortion Don’t Know”. Why is “Distortion” part of the title? I don’t know.

According to Teen Beat Mayhem, the Beech Resorts came from Jackson, Michigan, a town 36 miles west of Ann Arbor and 66 miles east of Kalamazoo.

I can’t find any publishing info, but D. Williams wrote “Distortion Don’t Know” while “Springtime” is credited to T. Resor (anagram of Resort – a band composition)?

1609 Miles Ave, Kalamazoo was the home of Key Records. Key Records had at least 15 releases during the ’60s, mainly religious or country in nature, but with one other rock single, the Counts “All Night” / “Sittin Here Wonderin'” released in 1965 with a picture sleeve.

This is a Rite pressing from March 1967, 18829/30. Like other Key releases it lists “Raebet’s Productions” on the label.

Categories: Cincinnati, GEMS, Norwood, Ohio, Rite Record Productions custom pressings

The Malcontents of Norwood, Ohio

December 23, 2015 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Mal-Contents, February 18, 1967 — The Mal Contents, February 18, 1967. From left: Larry Groves, David White, Jan Elstun and Bob Mathis

The Malcontents (or Mal-Contents) cut an excellent single in early 1967, “(I’m a) Roustabout” b/w “Motivated Action”.

Members were all Norwood High School students:

Larry Groves – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Bob Mathis – lead guitar, harmony vocals
David White – bass guitar
Jan Elstun – drums

Bob Mathis wrote “(I’m a) Roustabout”, and lead singer Larry Groves wrote the great guitar instrumental, “Motivated Action”. With one side appealing to garage rock fans and the other a winner with the surf and rockin’ instrumental set, this record is in high demand these days.

Issued on the band’s own GEMS Records label and pressed by Rite Record Productions, which was based in Cincinnati. The release number 18347/18348 would date it to late 1966, but early 1967 seems more likely – fellow Norwood High student Joe Morgenroth wrote a letter to the Enquirer published March 4, 1967 about the Malcontents upcoming record.

Ivan & the Sabres, the Mal-Contents and the Missing Links at the Lakeridge, Sunday, April 2, 1967

Notices show bookings at Granny’s on Lytle Ave in Elsmere, Kentucky for a show on Friday, October 28, 1966 opening for the Denems, and a show on Sunday April 2, 1967 at the Lakeridge with Ivan & the Sabres and the Missing Links.

The Enquirer’s Teen-Ager supplement featured Jan Elstun on its August 20, 1966 cover, with a short article inside noting the band played regularly at the Millstone in the basement of the Zion United Church of Christ and the Footprint, a teen club on Montgomery Road.

March 4, 1967 letter regarding The Malcontents upcoming record

Jan Elstun of The Mal-Contents, profiled in the Enquirer on August 20, 1966 — Jan Elstun of The Mal Contents, profiled in the Enquirer on August 20, 1966

The Mal-Contents, August 20, 1966 — The Mal Contents, August 20, 1966

Categories: Dayton, Ohio, Rite Record Productions custom pressings

The Livin’ End of Dayton, Ohio

June 12, 2015 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

Despite the band members’ names on the label, this group is still something of a mystery. Members were Doug Dehart, Ron Riddle, Jim Frizell, Don Jones, and Ray Reade.

“You’re My Woman” has a murky, dirty sound to the rhythm guitar that flashes throughout the song. It has a dim, psychedelic aura from the last days of 1967. The flip side, “Our Love Was Strong” is a strange number alternating long harmony aahs with a plain, almost recited vocal.

The Buckeye Beat site states it was recorded at Commercial Recorders in Dayton, Ohio. This is a Rite pressing, with account # 1190 in the dead wax of both sides.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

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

Goodly Rubenson

December 14, 2014 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

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

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

Categories: Netra, Port Arthur, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Spindletop, Texas

Curt Block

January 17, 2014 Chris Bishop 16 Comments

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

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

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

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

In the Dreamlites I was only 16. Ray Fallon, sax, he went on to play for Roy Orbison. The guys in my band were Billy Robbins, Bill Iron, Dwight Landry, Ronnie Maxie, Mike Duhon. I played guitar of course. A TV show called Jive at Five had me and the band on many times.
I sang some with Johnny Preston and Jivin’ Gene, really great guys. I played 4 and 5 nights a week for many many years.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Curt Block Vibrations Netra 45 With This Ring

Categories: Akron, Buccaneer, Cleveland Recording, Faux Pas, Ohio, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Suburban

Bobby Runnel’s Faux Pas “True Love – Heartaches”

September 3, 2010 Chris Bishop 40 Comments

Given Bobby Runnel’s career as a lounge act during the mid-late ’60s, you’d think it unlikely that one of his songs could become something of a classic of mid-60s rock. His original song “True Love – Heartaches” has been a favorite of mine since hearing it on Teenage Shutdown vol. 11. He certainly must have believed in the song, as he recorded it three times in as many years.

Bobby Runnel was born Robert Wilson, the son of a Southern Baptist preacher, and raised in eastern Arkansas, a rural area now part of Little Rock. Across the river was Memphis, where he picked up some of the early rock ‘n roll styles of the ’50s. He moved to Miami and started the Faux Pas trio, touring the east coast and mid-west.

In Nashville he recorded “True Love – Heartaches – False Love” as the b-side of his first single, released in September 1965 on the Buccaneer label from Jackson, Mississippi. The A-side is what I’ve heard is a soul ballad featuring flute, “If Your So Mart”. The artist is listed as Bob Runnel’s Faux Pas III with John Sherwood and Ivano Comelli (sp? – Ivann Comelli?). He had a second 45 on Buccaneer (509) “For My Baby” / “Where’s Willie Walker” that I haven’t heard.

I recently heard a clip of this first version of “True Love – Heartaches – False Love” and it’s pretty cool, slower with piano as prominent as the guitar and good drumming. If anyone has sound transfers or label scans please email me.

In 1966 the band found long-term work in northern Ohio, based mainly in Akron at Ninos’ restaurant and lounge. The clientele was older and Runnel’s repertoire ranged to all kinds of pop styles from folk to mainstream pop. The Faux Pas trio changed personnel from time to time, but always with Runnel playing lead guitar and singing. The two records I’ve heard also feature piano, so at least in the studio they were more than a trio.

Runnel cut “True Love – Heartaches – False Love” for a second time at Cleveland Recording (not in Little Rock as noted elsewhere) in 1966, released on Suburban Records CRC 2031 (white labels). On this release the band is listed as simply the Faux Pas III. It was the b-side of “Baby What You Gonna Do”, a good New Orleans-type r&b.

Songwriting credits on both sides are listed as Runnel, Comelli and Lott. Also on Suburban is another single featuring the Faux Pas backing a Janet Stewart, “What Can I Do” / “Brand New Love”.

In January 1968 he released the third and best version of “True Love – Heartaches”, recorded at Akron Recording and released on his own Faux Pas label (a Rite pressing: 21131/21132 with black labels). The A-side this time was a cover of “Black Cloud”, a hit for Me and Dem Guys on Palmer from late 1966. It’s a song I’m not very fond of but the Faux Pas do a great job, especially the drummer who lays down a beat like a locomotive. Whatever the limitations of their lounge act, this band could rock when it wanted to.

On this 45 the band is credited as Bobby Rúnnel’s Faux Pas, with an accent over the “u” in Rúnnel. Rúnnel is also listed as sole song writer on “True Love – Heartaches”, as well as producer.

In 1969 they released a pop 45 as the Faux Pas that I haven’t heard, and also during the late ’60s Runnel had two LPs featuring his typical lounge repertoire and probably sold as souvenirs of his club act. Bobby Runnel, A Winning Streak Of One on the Hawk label features a photo of Bobby with an acoustic guitar, and lists some of the songs: “Big Boss Man”, “A Place in the Sun” and “Malaguena” along with original jokes!

In the early ’70s he broke up the Faux Pas and did well as a songwriter in Nashville.

All info cribbed from Buckeye Beat, with some 45 release info from Mop Top Mike.

Categories: Aurora, Band Box, Colorado, Denver, Rite Record Productions custom pressings

The Lidos “Since I Last Saw You” on Band Box

August 31, 2010 Chris Bishop 18 Comments

The band’s names are on the song credits – G. Nole, G. Fick, D. Silvis and R. Saunar. I didn’t know anything about the group until J.C. commented below, which I’ll excerpt here:

The band was from Aurora, Colorado (suburb of Denver). All 4 original members attended Aurora Central High School and included bandleader Gary Nale on vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Fick on vocals and bass guitar, Dwight Silvis on vocals, keyboards, lead and rhythm guitar and Robert Sauner on drums.
The 2 songs were primarily written by Gary Nale.

I’ve read that the Lidos disc predates the British Invasion, but from the Rite pressing number, 13555, it dates to mid-late 1964. So the Invasion had started, but the Lidos weren’t really paying attention. “Since I Last Saw You” is repetitive and crude, with its cool opening bass line, pounding drums and a great shout before the guitar break, which comes earlier than usual. I think this would make a great instrumental. The ensemble vocals are a little bizarre. It ends with a fantastic drum break and repeat of that sliding bass line.

The chorus of serenaders on “Trudi” turns it into a parody of the doo-wop style. The band must have been disappointed in the absolutely crappy fidelity they got out of the Band Box studio, even though that cloudy sound is part of the charm of “Since I Last Saw You”. However, I do like the intense decay on the last chord of “Trudi” – so, you have one reason to take a listen to it.

Anyone have a photo of the Lidos?

Vicky Morosan started Columbine Records in Denver Colorado, changing the name to Band Box Records when Columbia objected. After starting on East Sixth, she moved locations to 220 S. Broadway. Releases started with drummer Ronnie Kae’s “Boom Boom” in the late ’50s and continued into the late ’60s, totaling almost 200 singles altogether.

For more info on Band Box check out this article from the Denver Post on the documentary Gears, Grease and Guitars, as well as Rockin’ Country Style, and this extended, though partly incorrect list of releases (the Lidos are not listed and #359 is attributed to “The Royals and The Shades”).

Categories: Alco, Dayton, Ohio, Rite Record Productions custom pressings

Tom and the Tempests

April 24, 2010 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

Tom & the Tempests Alco PS It's Over Now

Tom Fortener, keyboard player for Tom and the Tempests sent me this incredible 45 and sleeve and a short bio on the group:

Tom and the Tempests were formed in 1963 by Tom Fortener. Original members were, Randy Debord, rhythm guitar and vocals, Frank Hall, lead guitar, Bill Muncy, drums, Fred Nagle, bass and Tom Fortener, piano, organ. The band was managed by Toms’ Dad, Ray Fortener.
They wrote and recorded “It’s Over Now” and “Play It Cool” in 1964. They sponsored Sunday afternoon dances at GBU hall in Dayton, Ohio. They hired disc jockeys from WING and WONE. A popular promotion there was the Battle of the Bands. In 1965, they played the New State Pavilion, New York World’s Fair in Flushing, New York. They played throughout Ohio and was considered by many the best band in the area.
Tom Fortener

This is a Rite pressing from 1964. Alco’s first two releases were by Sonny Flaharty and His Young Americans, so the Young American Productions credit on the labels of this indicate Flaharty’s involvement. Alco was owned by Arvey Webster on Springboro Ave in Dayton.

Info on Alco from 45rpmrecords.com.

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