Even years after first posting about the Clear Blue Sky, I haven’t been able to find much info about the band.
“Morning of Creation” is a mystical psychedelic number by John Kessler, with dense harmonies and a finely-wrought guitar solo.
The never-before-comped flip “Ugly Girl” is cruder, with the interesting refrain “There’s a place / behind that face / for a girl.” It was written by Douglas Hardie (D.E. Hardie on the 45 label).
Like other Romat 45s this was recorded at Pitt Sound Studios, located northwest of Greenville, on the way to Falkland.
Thanks to Carroll Jenkins for the label photo of “Morning of Creation” and transfer of “Ugly Girl”, and to Ken Friedman of Tobacco a Go Go, for the transfer of “Morning of Creation” and info about the Romat label.
Pitt Records was one of the labels for Pitt Sound Studios, originally at 906 S. Washington Street in Greenville, North Carolina. The most notable song cut at Pitt Sound Studios was the O’Kaysions “Girl Watcher”, though the original label was North State.
Pitt Records had a number of gospel releases, a couple of country singles by Larry Anderson, and garage cuts by the Inspirations and the Empalas. I’d like to know more about the Royal Charmers, which I’ve read is garage.
Under different ownership the Pitt Sound Studio moved northwest of Greenville, on Highway 43 towards Falkland, where it was still in business as of 2008.
Romat Records was owned Roy Matthews, now deceased. He was a DJ and barber from Robersonville, north of Greenville. All of the Romat releases were recorded at Pitt Sound.
One source told me Roy sang on the 45 by the Forbes Brothers on Pitt, “Arkansas Jail” / “Idaho Red” which included members who went on to the Supergrit Cowboy Band. Roy’s daughter says that was incorrect, and the label seems to bear this out, with lead vocals by Ola Forbes, Jr. That 45, like most of the Pitt and Romat releases was produced by Carl Lineberger, with publishing by Roy Matthews Music.
Pitt discography: any help with this would be appreciated
Pitt 657 – Larry Anderson – “On The Losing End” / “After You Leave” Pitt 658 – Royal Charmers – “Hey Girl” (Greg Williamson) / “Midnight Hour” Pitt 659 – Summitts – “On My Knee’s” (David Erdman) / “Mercy, Mercy” Pitt 661 – The Singing Spiritual Heirs (Bill Harris and Lloyd Adams) – “A Higher Mansion” / “I Need A Blessing” / “One More Valley” / “Cast Your Cares Upon The Master” Pitt 662 – Forbes Brothers featuring Ola Forbes, Jr. – “Arkansas Jail” / “Idaho Red” Pitt 665 – Larry Anderson – “Memories of the Past” (Vernal Gaskins) / “Absent Without Leave” (produced by Patrick Woodard) Pitt 667 – The Inspirations – “Loving Man” / “I Had You Always” Pitt 669 – The Empalas – “Girls, Girls, Girls” / “Gentle On My Mind” Pitt 670 – Elder Lanier and the Zion Travelers – “Yes I Know” (N.L. Lanier) / “Christmas Gift” Pitt 675 – Terry Carraway – “Put Your Hand In The Hand” / Deborah Wooten – “Reach Out to Jesus” Pitt 678 – Robert Fuller and the Southern Spirituals – “It Won’t Be This Way (Always)” / “Thinking Of A Friend” (Andrew Herring) Pitt 680 – Waterside Male Chorus – “Wave On The Water” / “I Know The Lord Will Make A Way” Pitt 682 (?) – The Uptighters featuring Tyron Green – “Smoke” / “I Need Some Magic” Pitt 11197 – Dan Marshburn – “Disc Jockey’s Last Show” / “Round and Around”
Is the Summitts release the same group with the 45 from 1970, “I Can’t Get Over Losing You” (Joe Tate) on Dontee? That was supposed to be a DC group.
LP: PSS-LP 1006 – The Gospeletts – Hand in Hand, recorded at Pitt Sound Studio Greenville, NC; Roy Matthews Audio Engineer.
Romat discography:
Romat 1001 – The Sound System – Take A Look At Yourself / Serenade Romat 1002 – The Soul Twisters – Swingin’ on a Grapevine / Soul Fever Romat 1003 – The Scotsmen – Down and Out / A Groovy Place Romat 1004 – The Soul Twisters – Doing Our Dance / If It Takes A Year Romat 1005 – Clear Blue Sky – Morning of Creation / Ugly Girl
Thanks to Doug Pickette for the sleeve to the Scotsmen 45, below. Doug tells me the lead guitarist was Harold Stephens, and the keyboardist was Wilbur Weeks (RIP), who ran a music store in Scotland Neck, NC.
former location of Pitt Sound Studios, 906 S. Washington St., Greenville, NC
Thanks to Ken Friedman of Tobacco a Go Go for info about the Romat label, to Brad Hufford for info on the Gospelettes album and to Lightnin’ Wells for filling in many of the gaps in the Pitt Records discography.
Thank you to Chris Matthews for correcting the location of the original Pitt Sound studio.
The Soul Twisters had two singles on Romat Records out of Greenville, North Carolina. Their first was “Swinging (On a Grape Vine)”, written by J.R. Daniels, Florence Farmer and E. Perkins, and “Soul Fever” by J.R. Daniels and J. Early.
It was recorded at Pitt Sound Studios in Greenville and produced by James Perkins. The Soul Twisters had a second 45 on Romat, #1004, “Doing Our Dance” / “If It Takes A Year”.
I didn’t know anything about the group until James Early and Johnny Ray Williams left comments.
James Early wrote to me:
I joined the band after it started. James Perkins, Samuel Perkins, and Ernest Perkins can tell you more about its beginning.
James Perkins was manager during the time of these recordings….not drummer!
The members of the group on the 45s were:
Johnny Daniels – lead vocal on “Doin’ Our Dance”, background on “If It Takes a Year” and guitar player on all songs.
Fred Farmer – lead vocal on “If It Takes a Year” and background on “Doin’ Our Dance”. He is deceased.
Johnny Williams of Farmville, NC was drummer on all songs.
Joe Daniels was bass player on all songs.
I was on the two 45s as keyboard player.
We all called Roy Mathews (studio owner) “Zeke” jokingly.
I have a sleeve of the 45s with the picture of the group at that time.
We played beach, soul and could adapt to any audience. We played all surrounding areas. We had a female vocalist (Ella Daniels) that could take a dance crowd [off] their seats to pay attention.
The Soul Twisters was the first group I played in. I played an Olympia organ and a Fender Jazz bass. Chapter Three (later name used for our band) did not make any records or tapes.
I played in other groups Jazz Plus, Blues Plus and Poison. I have done and still doing studio sessions with other artist and groups.
James “Bro” Early
Romat was run by Roy Matthews, its first release was the Sound System, which I reviewed here a few months ago.
The Sound System, circa 1969-1970. Standing left to right: Barry McNeill, Ray Barnes, Teddy Ray and Jimmy Harris. Seated from left: Ralph Melvin, Faye Williams and Lynn JenkinsSound System Romat 45 Take a Look at Yourself
The Sound System had the first 45 on the Romat label. The label credits this as a Carl Lineberger Pitt Sound Studio Production, from Greenville, North Carolina. Band members on the 45 were Barry McNeill on keyboards, Alan Knight drums, Alan Wright bass, Faye Williams guitar and Lynn Jenkins lead singer.
The haunting organ sound, solid drumming and buzzing psychedelic guitar work give the b-side, “Take a Look At Yourself” great tension to match Lynn Jenkins’ excellent vocals. I think it’s safe to say the top side, “Serenade”, will never be resurrected.
In 2009, Lynn Jenkins gave me some background to the band:
The first band that I was a member of was called the Intruders (not to be confused with the band who recorded “Cowboys to Girls”). Later I joined the Sound System. There were four members; Barry McNeil on keyboards, Alan Knight on drums, Alan Wright on bass guitar, Faye Williams playing lead guitar.
They were searching for a lead singer and I was approached for the position. As rehearsals continued for many weeks, we began to receive numerous bookings. Our band played at many locations including Duke University, Williams Lake, YMCA, local clubs, Fort Bragg’s Dragon Club, Pope Air Force Bases’ Officers’ Club, E-4– E-9 Drop Zone Club, the local skating rink and recreation centers. We felt we were gaining when we made several appearances on The Homer Briar Hopper Show hosted by Clyde Moody. Great times!
The Sound System won several Battle of the Bands, the most memorable was at the Hope Mills High School in Fayetteville, NC. Competition included Chico Carter and The Playthings, Digger Odell and The Undertakers, and numerous other groups.
Our manager Bernie McNeil (Barry’s dad) approached me and Barry on a Sunday afternoon and asked how quick we could write a song. Thirty minutes later “Take A Look At Yourself ” was complete, including the music. The following Monday it was recorded in Greenville, N.C. at Pitt Sound Studio. Our producer was Roy Matthews. It was a pleasant experience to work with Mr. Matthews. Several members of the band; “The O’Kaysions” who recorded “I’m a Girl Watcher” were present at the time of our recording.
Our record was sold at live gigs, at all of our schools, and distributed throughout the state of N.C. One copy was even sent to Viet Nam and was played over the air in DaNang. Radio play was unbelievable! The DJ’s were overwhelmed with requests, that the record was broken over the air waves … literally (WFLB radio station in Fayetteville).
The band broke up upon my entrance to the U.S. Army in which I have retired Sgt. first class after 22 years in 1993 (82nd Airborne Paratrooper). I have no information about Alan Wright, Barry McNeil is the NC Assistant State Attorney General, Faye Williams has been teaching music in Iraq for several years and Alan Knight owns and operates a recording studio in Lenoir, N.C.
The Romat label lists the song writers’ names incorrectly: “Take a Look at Yourself” is listed as by J. Jinkins and B. McNeal, which is also rendered as Barry McNeil on the credits to “Serenade”.
After a few years together they evolved into a larger soul/top 45 revue with horns. Barry McNeill sent me some examples of this later sound including a version of the Tams “Untie Me” and “Love Is a Beautiful Thing”.
Barry wrote:
These recordings were made in a small sound studio on Haymount Hill in Fayetteville NC, probably circa 1969 or 1970. Lynn Jenkins is the lead vocalist; Faye Williams is on guitar; Ray Barnes is on bass guitar; Alan Knight is on drums; Barry McNeill is on organ; Jimmy Harris is on trumpet; and Teddy Ray is on tenor saxophone. Ralph Melvin replaced Alan Knight for a period of time as the drummer.
The Sound System eventually changed their name to the Expressions, which included Warren McDonald as a member.
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
Even years after first posting about the Clear Blue Sky, I haven’t been able to find much info about the band.
Pitt Records was one of the labels for Pitt Sound Studios, originally at 906 S. Washington Street in Greenville, North Carolina. The most notable song cut at Pitt Sound Studios was the O’Kaysions “Girl Watcher”, though the original label was North State.
