Category Archives: Top Dog

Categories: Kentucky, Louisville, Top Dog, Unknown

Nite Owls

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The Nite Owls had this one 45 on the Top Dog label of Louisville, Kentucky. Both songs sound very different from each other. “Act Your Age” is a good put-down song, written by Robby Burnfin and published by Fall City Music of Louisville.

“Act Your Age” sounds up-to-date for 1966. The flip is definitely from an earlier era, a cover of “Nite Owl”, written by Bernice Williams and originally done by the Dukays (who would later hit with “Duke of Earl” with Gene Chandler on vocals). Featuring a horn section instead of swirling organ, it could have been recorded at an earlier session.

I don’t think there’s any connection to the Illinois-based Nite-Owls who released “Come On Back” / “It’s a Hassle” on Rembrandt. I really don’t have any info on the band or their members.

Categories: Kentucky, Louisville, Top Dog

Top Dog 45 discography

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There Keyes Top Dog 45 She's the Onewere two Top Dog labels. This one, based in Louisville, Kentucky in 1966 and 1967 had nine releases, all with 2300 series catalog numbers. It was owned by Ray Allen (Floyd Lewellyn) and Hardy Martin as were Boss, Bridges, Jam, Rondo and Tilt.

The Louisville Top Dog label had some good releases, like the Keyes “She’s the One”, the Merseybeats U.S.A. “Nobody Loves Me That Way”, and two bands I’ve covered on this site, the Rugbys and the Nite Owls.

Top Dog (Louisville) discography:

2313 – Mersey Beats U.S.A. – You’ll Come Back / Nobody Loves
2314 – The Keyes – Can’t Win For Losing / She’s The One
2315 – The Rugbys – Walking The Streets Tonight / Endlessly
2316 – The Nite Owls – Act Your Age / Nite Owl
2317 – The Scavengers – I Don’t Need Her Now / It’s Only So Long
2318 – Mersey Beats U.S.A. – Does She Or Doesn’t She / Stop Look & Listen
2319 – The Mags – Can’t Get Enough / Go On and Leave Me
2320 – The Premiers – The Ali Shuffle Parts 1 and 2
2322 – Mersey Beats U.S.A. – 30 Second Lover / Nobody Loves Me that Way

The other Top Dog label was based in Detroit Michigan, owned by Artie Fields, with some soul and pop acts. These labels have a bull dog with top hat and cigar. No connection to the Louisville label.

Top Dog (Michigan) discography:

100 – Camel Drivers – The Grass Looks Greener / It’s Gonna Rain
101 – Don Rondo – Just Before The Battle /
102 – Kris Peterson – Just As Much / Unbelievable
103 – Camel Drivers – Sunday Morning Six O’Clock / Give It A Try (also issued on Buddah)
104 – Camel Drivers – Forgive Us /
105 – Joe Towns – Together We Can Make / Down and Out World
106 – Joe Towns – Take Momma Out Of That Shack/ Down And Out World
107 – Joe Towns – You Can’t Hold Me Back / Busy Signal
108 – Joe Towns – Look Around And You’ll Find Me / Down and Out World
109 – The Pushcart – Yo Te Amo / I’ve Got A Ticket To The World
200 – Camel Drivers – Give It A Try / You Made A Believer Of Me

Top Dog Louisville discography from 45rpmrecords.com. Thanks to Jeff Lemlich for help with the Michigan Top Dog discography.

Categories: Kentucky, Louisville, Top Dog

The Rugbys

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Updated December, 2009

The Rugbys formed when all the members of the popular Louisville group the Oxfords left that band except the drummer, Jim Guest. Guest kept the Oxfords name and brought in members of the Spectres, soon releasing a good 45 on the Mala label.

The Rugbys took the Spectres’ drummer, Glenn Howerton to replace Guest; the other members being Steve McNicol on lead guitar, his brother Jim McNicol on bass, Chris Hubbs on guitar and Doug Black on sax. The band’s name supposedly came from wearing rugby shirts onstage.

At least, that was what I had read, but then Susan Harkins sent in this photo of the Rugbys signed by Jim Guest on the back, and Glenn Howerton’s signature is not included. Perhaps the Oxfords changed their name to the Rugbys, then Guest left or was kicked out and restarted the Oxfords with new members.

In any case, their first release is this great version of a Doug Sahm song, “Walking the Streets Tonight”, on the Top Dog label, from July, 1966. The flip side, “Endlessly”, a ballad original by Steve McNicol, has been ignored until now, though mellow it’s very good.

The Rugbys continued on until 1970 with some personnel changes, releasing several 45s and an album in a hard rock style.

Thanks to Susan Harkins for sending in the photo of the group.

The Rugbys – but with Jim Guest?!