Category Archives: Subtown

The Collage “Best Friend” on Coliseum and “Mystery Woman” / “Closing in on Me” on Subtown

Collage Coliseum 45 Best FriendThe Collage are a mystery to me. They cut two singles, the first (as Mike pointed out in his comment below) was “Best Friend”, an original by band member John Phillips, published by Parsay Pub BMI. The flip is a charming cover of Brian Wilson’s “Girl Don’t Tell Me”.

The Collage recorded at AAA at 835 Dorchester Ave. in Dorchester, MA. Released in 1967 as Coliseum Record Productions 201,468/9, the 201 prefix to the release number indicates this was a Decca custom pressing.

Collage Subtown 45 Mystery WomanTheir second single on Subtown may be the best on the label.

John Doran wrote “Mystery Woman”, a good song with an arrangement that blends the groups’ harmonies with tasteful instrumentation.

John Phillps wrote the flip, “Closing In On Me”, with its opening line “As I look around and all I can see, my own shadow overshadowing me”. The band turns in an exciting performance, with some frenetic drumming. I love the song but the bright blasts of trumpet bother me after repeated listens and wish they’d left the horns off.

Neither song writer name appears on other Subtown releases.

Released on Subtown ST-101/2, with publishing by Echo, BMI but I can find no trace in BMI’s repertoire.

The label was part of Subtown Record Sales located at 169 Bank St. in New London, Connecticut. Subtown had other good releases by the Apple Corps and Davey And The Dolphins, among others.

Collage Subtown 45 Closing In On Me