Categories: California, Los Angeles, MGM, Unknown

The Majestics

January 13, 2011 Chris Bishop 12 Comments

Mop Top Mike suggested I cover the Majestics, an unknown group who cut this one 45 for MGM in 1965. Hopefully we’ll be able to find some more info on this band.

The A-side is “Smile Through My Tears”, a ballad something in the style of the Beau Brummels, written by Cruz-Columbo. It’s backed with “Love Has Forgotten Me”, which I find less compelling.

Tommy Smalls produced the single independently. Mastered in late 1965, MGM purchased it for release in April, 1966. Tommy Smalls is possibly the same DJ known as “Dr. Jive” who was involved in the payola scandal in 1958. That Tommy Smalls relocated to Los Angeles, where he was an R&B DJ for KADY in 1964 then back to New York at WLIB in 1965. By 1968 he was Vice-President in charge of r&b for Jubilee Records.

The publishing was through Earl Music, BMI, though I can’t find any listing in BMI’s database for either song.

The MGM Labels: 1961-1982 by Michel Ruppli and Ed Novitsky indicates “Smile Through My Tears” and the flip as “purchased titles” and “this group was listed in files as “The Mysterians”.

Other groups called the Majestics

There were many other groups by the name Majestics. I don’t think any are related to this group, but I’ll list some of them here.

The one closest in time to this group recorded the soul classic “(I Love Her So Much) It Hurts Me” b/w “Girl Of My Dreams” on Linda 121, both songs written by Arthur Robles, produced for Faro Productions and released in the fall of 1965. The same songs (minus the horn intro on “It Hurts Me”) had a second release as by David and Ruben on Warner Bros 7316, this time listing production by Eddie Davis. A third release on Rampart in 1969 reused the original Linda stampers. David and Ruben were Art Robles’ brothers. Their group was generally known as ‘Art’s Majestics’.

Interestingly, there was another release by the Majestics on Linda 111, “Strange World” / “Everything Is Going to Be All Right” (by Chick Carlton, produced by Bobby Gross), but this is on the blue Linda label, distributed by Scepter, NY in 1963. Supposedly, this was another band entirely, black, not Hispanic.

Other Majestics include: a doo-wop group from Detroit who recorded for Contour, Chex and V.I.P.; a Miami, Florida group who cut “Cave Man Rock” on Marlin; a vocal group from Massachusetts who recorded for 20th Century Fox and other labels.

Background on unrelated Majestics groups from Soulsource and Doo-Wop.blogg.org. Thanks to Mike Markesich for the scan and transfers.

Categories: Bakersfield, California, Capitol, Dot, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Penthouse, Peoria, Reprise

The Regents on Capitol, Reprise, Peoria, Penthouse and Dot Records

January 11, 2011 Chris Bishop 25 Comments

The Regents, 1966, Jerry Rosa, John Harris, Craig Boyd, Johnny Mann, Mike McDonald — The Regents, 1966, from left: Jerry Rosa, John Harris (sitting, holding his knee), Craig Boyd (sitting in front looking down), Johnny Mann and Mike McDonald (far right)
Scan courtesy of Joni Bartley

The Regents were house band at Jack Martin’s A.M-P.M. on La Cienega Blvd., one of the many discos that opened up to compete with the Whisky a Go Go.

In 1964 Capitol recorded the band at the club for an LP of standard songs of the day. I really dig their cover of James Booker’s instrumental, “Gonzo”.

Despite having a gatefold cover to fill with photos and notes, Live at the A.M./P.M. Discotheque doesn’t bother to list a single member of the band. I’ve read some members were originally from Bakersfield. Craig Boyd and Tom Baker had started in a group called the Raiders, then Tom joined the Midnight Flyers. Jerry Rosa had been in a band called the Defiant Ones.

Band members were:

Jerry Rosa – vocals and tambourine
Mike McDonald – vocals and lead guitar
Tom Baker – 12-string and rhythm guitar, replaced by Johnny Mann, then Marilyn Read
John Harris – bass
Craig Boyd – drums

David Axelrod produced the album. Domenic Priore’s book Riot on the Sunset Strip quotes Axelrod saying “Jack Martin’s AM-PM was the kind of place where you could order steak sandwiches, and a fistfight would break out every ten minutes. A lot of tough guys went there, so it didn’t last long.” Two songs from the album, “Sugaree” / “Mojo Workout” were released in Germany.

After the A.M./P.M. club closed, the band became the house band at It’s Boss. Following the LP they cut four singles for four different labels. First up was “She’s Got Her Own Way of Lovin'”, a good original by Mike McDonald backed with “When I Die, Don’t You Cry”, released on Reprise 0430 in November, 1965 and produced by Jack Nitzsche.

Tom Baker left in 1965 and the band hired Johnny Mann to replace him.

Next came “Summer Time Blues” / “You Don’t Love Me” on Peoria 008 in March of 1966, produced by John Harris.

The Regents on stage 1965, from left: Jerry Rosa, Tom Baker, Mike McDonald and John Baker. Not pictured: Craig Boyd on drums.

Their third single has the original version of the very catchy Boyce/Hart song “Words”, later done by the Leaves, the Boston Tea Party and the Monkees, usually with a slower opening tempo than the Regents arrangement. I have a promotional copy that has “Words” on both sides of the record, but stock copies have the excellent b-side, “Worryin’ Kind” another fine original by McDonald.

This disk was produced by Norm Ratner and engineered by John Haeny and released in July 1966 on Penthouse 502, distributed by Mira. It was also released in the UK on CBS.

Their last 45 was “Russian Spy and I” written by Jackie Javellin (aka Casper Koelman) and originally done by the Dutch group the Hunters. The Regents version is probably the most well-known, at least here in the U.S. Though the Regents lift the opening riff directly from Hunters guitarist Jan Akkerman, the solo is much more intense, the tempo of the song quicker and the harmonies much more effective than the Hunters version. I bet they could have done a killer version of this live. Produced by Norm Ratner for Dot 16970 in November, 1966, the flip was a cover of “Bald Headed Woman”.

Marilyn Read joined on guitar at some point in 1966 and stayed about a year. She was also in the Ladybirds.

When the band ended, Craig Boyd joined The Hook after Dale Loyola and Dennis Provisor had left the band. Recording as a trio with Bobby Arlin and Buddy Sklar, Craig plays drums on The Hook’s second album Will Grab You. The Hook appeared on the Ironside episode “Trip to Hashbury” miming to both sides of their single “Son of Fantasy” / “Plug Your Head In”.

Michael McDonald, Craig Boyd and John Harris formed McDonald’s Farm, releasing “Excited” / “Deep Feeling” on Vital Records 2369, produced by Ron Shannon.

I’ve also read that they were the band for The Dating Game in the early seasons of that show. Tom Baker wrote to me last summer, but I haven’t had a response to the last two emails I sent. A friend of the band confirmed that they were on The Dating Game, and added that they were UCLA students who played often at Chuck Druet’s club Barnacle Bills on E. Huntington in Duarte.

There seems to be some confusion as to whether or not these are the same Regents who recorded the original version of “Barbara Ann”, but that was an entirely different band, whose members were Sal Cuomo, Chuck Fassert, Tony Gravagna, Don Jacobucci, and Guy Villari.

Nor is the Michael McDonald of this Regents the same guy who was in the Doobie Brothers (but see the Implicits entry on this site for Tom Johnston’s early band).

There are other records by groups called Regents that aren’t related to this group, including: “Cape Fear” (T. Foley) / “Summertime” (produced by J. Choate for the Ohio label Prix); and “No Hard Feelilngs” / “That’s What I Call a Good Time” on the Kayo label. The Regents with “Me and You” / “Playmates” on Blue Cat was a Canadian group who also recorded the LP Going Places with the Regents on Quality.

Some info from a phone interview with Craig Boyd.

Regents Capitol LP Live at the A.M.-P.M. Discotheque gatefold

The Regents opening for the Lovin' Spoonful at It's Boss, 1965 — The Regents opening for the Lovin’ Spoonful at It’s Boss, 1965
Photo from the collection of Nancy Kuehl

McDonald's Farm: John Harris, Mike McDonald and Craig Boyd — McDonald’s Farm: John Harris, Mike McDonald and Craig Boyd
Scan courtesy of Joni Bartley

Categories: Billings, Jamestown, Montana, National, North Dakota

Gered & Dodique of the Gremlins

January 10, 2011 Chris Bishop 14 Comments

Collin Pruitt of Ink Mathematics suggested I cover this super-obscure acoustic 45 by Gered & Dodique of the Gremlins that he found in Montana. At first listen you might peg them as hippies, which may be correct, but the songs are not light-hearted, even if “Silent Meditation” mentions “free love” and “I’ve taken LSD so I can fly”. Both were written by Krueger and Smith – Gered Krueger and Dodique Smith?

“Store Away These Thoughts” is the more uptempo song, asking people to listen to their words that “one man may have thought he had the answer, but we’ll never know because he died.”

“Silent Meditation” opens with harmonies reminiscent of “Homeward Bound”. Searching for some knowledge that “will some day bring my way life’s happiness”, the writer says he might “end it all” and finishes with “I couldn’t pass away my cares and my tribulations, so you won’t have to help me anymore, because I won’t be here tonight.”

I can’t find any info on Gered & Dodique, or any reference to a Gremlins with members Krueger and Smith. Mid-America Production (M.A.P.) booked other groups across the upper midwest, like the Trenchmen, so a Montana location for this duo is a likely possibility.

The National Records number 8-8821 is a code of the Kaybank plant in Minneapolis, though that doesn’t mean the songs were recorded there. Mike Markesich’s breakdown of the Kaybank codes indicates a date of April-May, 1968.

Categories: Baton Rouge, Bofuz, Louisiana

Bofuz discography

January 10, 2011 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

Greek Fountains Bofuz 45 That's the Way I Am — An underrated gem from the Bofuz label

Any help with this Bofuz Records discography would be greatly appreciated

1100 – Bonnie Fussell – Tell the World About You / Keep Walking On (Bofuz BF-1100, both written by B. Fussell)
1101 – Ernest Jackson – Our Love Will Always Be the Same / It’s You I Love
1102 – ?
1103 – Ernest Jackson and the Tytans – A True Love Is Hard to Find (J. Wells) / I Miss You (Bofuz EJ-1103, February 1965, Dover presss, matrix # 207-1249, Bofuz Pub)
1104 – Greek Fountains – Well Alright / That’s the Way I Am (Bofuz B-1104)
1105 – ?
1106 – The Tempos – Why Don’t You Write Me (L. Hollins) / A Thief in the Night
1107 – The Interpreters* – Stop That Man (Sylvia Heilig) /I Get the Message (Elsie Childers) (Bofuz AM-1107, Oct. 1965, SO #2616; same matrix is on the Gemini OO release, a Bofuz Production)
1108 – Doug Stanford – Same Old Crazy Me / Think of Me
1109 – Bud Fisher – Blue Highway / You Stopped My Wheels From Rollin’
1110 – Greek Fountains – Howlin’ For My Darlin’ / Go Back Home (Bofuz No. 1110, “Collectors Series”, Nov. 1965, Dover press & matrix # 207-1538)
1111 – ?
1112 – ?
1113 – Jimmy and the Offbeats – Stronger Than Dirt (T. Guarino, B.G. Fussell, D. Short) / Miracle Worker (Bofuz BF-1113, “Collectors Series”, February 1966, Dover press, marix #s 207-1639/40)
1114 – The Lost Generation – Let Me Out (Rhodes-Keating) / They Tell Me (BF-114)
1115 – The Moon-Dawgs – Baby As Time Goes By / You’re No Good (BF-1115)
1116 – ?
1117 – The Neurotic Sheep – I’m Free / Seasons of the Witch (May 1968)

2005 – The Velvets with Louis Presean – Estelle Parker / I Love You (A Thousand Ways) – soul with a Lefty Frizzell cover!?
2006 – Louis Prejean and the Velvets – Nine Pound Steel / Tell It Like It Is

19691 – Sam Euggino & The Quotations – Get Caught / ? (Bofuz BF-19691) – rockabilly!
19692 – Cold Grits – Mellow Man / Mr. Doolittle (both by J. O’Rourke, Bofuz BF-19692, January 1969, LH-5204/5)
19693 – Bill Wray and his Showband Royale ** – Ooo Baby Baby / Morning Dew (Produced by Tom Guarino, Jan. 1969, LH press, #5364/5)
19694 – Joe Degrinda – Smokestack Lightnin’ / She Belongs to Me (1969/70, LH press, #6377)

I don’t know why the changes in numbering, or the reason for the different prefixes to the catalog #s on the labels.

Bofuz Enterprises, Inc. 2274 North St., Baton Rouge, LA

Owned by Tom Guarino and Bonnie Fussell, who had his own single in 1961, Bonnie Fussell and the Jives – “Too High Class” / “Where Are You” on Swan 4070 and Hammond 104 (Luke Thompson pub).

*The Interpreters also issued on the Gemini 00 label with a picture sleeve “Direct from Frankfurt, Germany … Sylvia and Beate”, with publishing by Irene Music, Nosark Pub, BMI.

** Bill Wray and His Show Band Royale also issued on Warner Bros 7317

Sources: thanks to the Sir Shambling site, Max Waller and ‘Joe’ for help with this discography.

Categories: Louisiana, N-Joy, West Monroe

N-Joy Records discography

January 6, 2011 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

Any help with this discography of the N-Joy Records label of West Monroe, Louisiana would be appreciated.

1001 Lance Farr and The Beltones – “Mona Lisa” / “Too Much Ain’t Enough” (1964)
1002 Syl Sims – “Lovemist” / “Landslide”
1003 Randy and The Rockets – “Doggin'” / “Let’s Just Say Goodbye” 1964
1004 Bill Dunnam and The Playboys – “Back To School” / “Anna Belle Lee” 1964
1005 John Fred & the Playboys – “Boogie Children” (Lynn Ourso) / “My First Love” (produced by Rocky Robin, 1965)
1006
1007
1008 Huey Darby – “Rockin’ Robin” / “Secret of Love” (1965)
1009 Duane Yates – “Passin’ On By” / “Anyone”
1010 Duane Yates & the Capris – “Here I Stand” / “Hold It” (C. Scott & B. Butler)
1011 Jody Daniel – “At the Go Go” / “Quando Caliente el Sol”
1012 Billy John & the Continentals – “Ooh Pooh Pah Doo” / “Does Someone Care (for Me)”
1013 Ron Gray & the Countdowns – “No More” / “Ajax The Tin Knight” (1966)
1014 Billy John & the Continentals – “Lover Boy Blue” (B & B. Babineaux) / “Put the Hurt on You”
1015 The Countdowns – “Cover Of Night” (Don Griffin – Don Strickland) / “Can’t You See” (Ron Gray, A&R also Ron Gray)
1016
1017
1018 Don & Jerry – “Too Much Confusion” / “Better Run & Hide”
1019 Thursday’s Children – “Running Around on Me” / “I Don’t Need Your Love” (J. Dunn & S. Farmer)
1020 The Spectres – “No Good, No Where World” (Ron Gray & J. L. Carraway) / “High Stepper”
1021 The Rogue Show – “Look to Me” (Larry Jefferson, Jay Boyott Music BMI) / “Little Lonely Summer Girl” (D. Box, R. Rush)

Compiled with help from Global Dog Productions though I took off their listing of Penny Gilley at 1016 as I believe that’s a different N-Joy label.

Categories: Newark, Ohio

The Glass Menagerie

January 6, 2011 Chris Bishop 15 Comments

I was a drummer for one of those bands way back when. Newark, Ohio was our Liverpool. We had The Sticks and Stones for many years – they had their own bus and competed in the national battle of the bands a couple times and I think got a recording deal. Then there was The Lyte Brigade who also had a bus, AND Mel Royster who was a great singer. They put out a record, I think it was called “Showtime”.
Then there was my band – Glass Menagerie that was together till ’70. The members were Steve Risbon (lead), Steve Hideg (bass), Bob Reynard (guitar) and Fred Schonberg (drums).
We were on Jerry Razors’ “Dance Party” and recorded a cover of “Delta Lady” by Joe Cocker which got some airplay. We didn’t have a bus and rented a U haul every weekend. We opened at “Someplace Else” in Mt Vernon I think it was, for the “Ohio Express” after they came back from England and didn’t want to be bubblegum anymore. We also did the Holiday Swim Club, and played from Norwalk to Cadiz and south to West Virginia – with a lot of gigs in Zanesville, not bad when you’re 15.
The photos were taken fall of ’70 with two of the members who were on the record. We all came from garage band roots and the band had been together since 1967.
Fred Schonberg

Categories: El Paso, Frogdeath, New Mexico, Texas, University Park

The Imposters

January 4, 2011 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Writing about Danny and the Counts has brought in a lot of information about the Coronado and Frogdeathlabels, so I’ll feature some more artists from these companies, starting with the Imposters.

The A-side is “Wipe In”, their take on the surf standard “Wipe Out” of course, with plenty of reverb and a deranged introduction. It was written by E. Teleheny, published by Conte Music. The flip is a standard blues, “Tulsa”, written by L. Miller.

I can’t find any info or photos of the band, if anyone has one, please let me know.

Although a DJ in El Paso, Steve Crosno’s Frogdeath label was based in University Park, New Mexico. At least some records were cut at his house. He usually put a witty quip on the label, this one has “Produced by Shteve [sic] Crosno”.

Thanks to Sam Stephenson for the scans and transfers of this 45.

Categories: Odeon, Peru

Los Destellos

January 4, 2011 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

“Guajira Sicodelica” by Los Destellos is a fine example of the mesmerizing effect of electric guitars in Peruvian cumbia. The ‘sicodelica’ may refer to the bluesy licks (including the signature line from “Out of Limits”) and discordant tuning.

I can take or leave the A-side, “La Ardillita”. They have dozens of singles and albums. I’m not sure which LP of theirs, if any, these songs appear on. Both sides written by Enrique Delgado, guitarist and leader of the group, and the label was Odeon.

Supersonido has a good quick overview of their career, and some more info and music is available at Murky Recess..

Categories: Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Michigan, Wheels 4

The King’s Court “Don’t Put Me On” on Wheel’s 4 Records

December 28, 2010 Chris Bishop 14 Comments

For years I’ve seen white-label copies of the King’s Court record with only stamped titles and the words “Test Pressing”. Until recently I assumed they were bootlegs. I’ve since read they are originals, pressed at the same time as the standard green label copies. There even exist some copies with blank white labels.

I don’t have a green label 45 to compare, but I’ll list the deadwax info from my stamped copy: both sides of the dead wax have the Nashville Matrix stamp, and “95” etched into the vinyl. “Don’t Put Me On” has “WH 3613-A” etched into the dead wax, along with a separate etching of “WH 6̶3̶1̶3̶A̶” (partially crossed out). The flip has the Nashville Matrix stamp, the “95” and “WH-3613-B”. The 95 is code for the Archer Record Pressing in Detroit.

“Don’t Put Me On” has the band playing a steady groove behind a repetitive, buzzing guitar figure. The opening line is “Girl you better not cheat on me” and the lyrics alternate between warning the girl and pleading with her. “Don’t Put Me On” is an original by Holowicki, Suba and Grihorash and published through Jamaica Pub, BMI. The flip is a cover of “Midnight Hour” that’s better than most versions I’ve heard.

Members of the King’s Court were:

John Holowicki – lead vocals
Aaron Dytiniak – lead guitar
Craig Suba – rhythm guitar
Brian Cramer – keyboards
Mike Grihorash – bass
Bill Barent – drums

Anyone have a photo of the band?

Bill Barent, drummer for the band wrote:

Craig Suba one of the guitar players was installing drapes at our house and heard me playing the drums down the basement. When I came up he asked me if I would be interested in playing in a band. That’s how it all started. The recording studio was in a basement in Dearborn it was a great experience. Grew up in Dearborn Heights, Michigan that’s where all the members of the group lived.
After the Kings Court I played in 10 piece Soul Band called Dan Riley and the Soul Review. I played in the U. S. Army, we put a group together and won 1st Army Entertainment Contest. Later on after I was married I just did weddings and some club work.

The Wheels 4 Records label had a tag, “The Dearborn Sound”, but since that city is just west of Detroit the Kings Court and other bands on the label could have come from anywhere in the area. The records I’ve seen list Bryan Dombrowski as engineer, and I’ve also read he owned the label, though I see Jim Walters is credited as producer on several Wheels 4 sides.

Some of the better Wheels 4 releases include:

3609 – House of Commons “Til Tomorrow” (Tony Franciosi) / “Love Is a Funny Thing”
3611 – Innsmen “I Don’t Know” (Vince Goldsmith) / “Things Are Different Now”
3619 – Hearsemen “I Get That Feeling” / “Christianne” (both by Chris Brent)

There was a three CD set of Wheels 4 recordings, including many unreleased sides, issued in 1994.

Categories: England, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent

The Colour Supplement

December 28, 2010 Nick Warburton 12 Comments

Colour Supplement, early 1967, from left: George, Paul, Phil, Ricky and Pete

from left: George, Paul, Mike, Rick and Phil

The Colour Supplement were a Staffordshire, UK band formed around 1965/1966 as The System by keyboard player George Glover and bass player Paul Stevenson with guitarist Gerald Brooks and drummer Ricky Ballan. By early 1967, Pete Wainwright had succeeded Brooks and Phil Tunstall had come in on lead vocals.

In October 1967, Mike Nixon took over from Pete Wainwright on guitar. Nixon had previously been lead singer with The Gospel Truth, which also featured future Climax Blues Band members Colin Cooper, Peter Haycock, Arthur Wood and John Cuffley.

Within days of his joining, The Colour Supplement got the opportunity to tour Sweden on a 14-day tour and shared two shows with Hedgehoppers Anonymous before doing further dates with the Troggs.

Back in England, the band briefly gigged around the Stoke-on-Trent area before landing a three-week stint at the Star Club in Hamburg in November where they met Ritchie Blackmore, who sat in on several occasions.

The Colour Supplement then headed to Cologne for two weeks to play the Storyville Club, followed by another fortnight at the Frankfurt Storyville Club.

A second tour of Sweden in April-May 1968 was a disaster. In December, Tunstall was tempted away with an offer to join a new version of Hedgehoppers Anonymous.

The band continued briefly as a four-piece but then brought in a singer called Hutch (aka Bernard Hutchinson). The group underwent further changes in the 1970s and worked with singer/songwriter David Parton (aka Des Parton), who later achieved songwriting success with Sweet Sensation, penning the UK #1 with ‘Sad Sweet Dreamer’. He also had a UK top 5 hit with a cover of the Stevie Wonder song, ‘Isn’t She Lovely?’

Glover later joined The Climax Blues Band and still plays with them to this day.

Thank you to George Glover, Mike Nixon and Paul Stevenson for passing on details about The Colour Supplement and to Joe Toriati for the photos of this band.

Email: Warchive@aol.com

Early 1967, from left: George, Ricky, Phil, Pete and Paul

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