The Combustibles came from Bombay, India, and recorded “Watch Her” / “Some Peace of Mind” in 1970. Vocalist Everett Perry wrote both songs. “Watch Her” has vocals and rhythm that reminds me somewhat of the Velvet Underground. The songs saw release as Polydor 2067 020 in 1971.
Members on the single were Everett Perry on lead vocals, brothers George Taylor on bass and Lionel Taylor on lead guitar, Nissim Ezekiel on rhythm, and Bobby Furtado on drums.
The group participated in the Simla Beat contests in 1968 and 1969 and did well, but unfortunately those years did not see LP releases like the ’70 and ’71 contests. I would like to have heard that band at that stage, as the group had a partly different lineup, which included Christopher Valles on lead guitar and Croyden Maben on drums.
The Combustibles have a great website, www.thecombustiblesband.com with lots of photos and information on the band and the Bombay music scene. I highly recommend taking a look.
Thank you to Jörgen Johansson for providing this copy of the single.
Betty Simpson wrote both songs on this teen record on the Zundak label out of Alexandria, Louisiana, northwest of Baton Rouge. “What Is Love” is upbeat, while “Weeping Willow” is a ballad, as you’d expect from the title.
Betty was a teenager when she cut this in 1965. She worked with a band called the Argos, who were Billy Spillman (bass), Steve Smith (drums), Robert Rachel and Stan Rachel (both on guitar). They performed at the La Paloma Lounge south of Alexandria, and Betty also appeared at the Louisiana Bandstand TV show.
Photos and info come from the youtube video below, which has a few more news clippings of Betty:
They recorded the single at La Louisianne studios in Lafayette. Zundak was the label for one of my all-time favorite Louisiana garage 45s, “Baby Get Lost” by the Barracudas.
A list of red vinyl, promotional 45 rpm singles on the Epic label from 1962-1966.
Followed by other colored vinyl: blue, green, yellow.
Unlike colored vinyl on Columbia (see previous post), only about half of these have the same song on both sides.
Any additions or corrections would be appreciated.
Red vinyl:
5-9509 – Bobby Vinton - “Roses Are Red (My Love)” / “You and I ” 5-9561- Bobby Vinton - “Trouble Is My Middle Name” / “Let’s Kiss and Make Up” 5-9632 – Bobby Vinton - “O Holy Night” / “The Christmas Song” (Canada only) JZSP 76370 (other releases on 5-9640) – Linda Brannon – “Don’t Cross Over (to My Side of the Street)” / JZSP 76387 (other releases on 5-9643) – Kerri Downs – “4,003,221 Tears from Now” 5-9705 – Bobby Vinton - “Clinging Vine” 5-9730 – Bobby Vinton - “Mr. Lonely” 5-9741 – Bobby Vinton - “Dearest Santa” / “Mr. Lonely” 5-9863 – Dave Clark Five - “Over and Over” 5-9869 – Bobby Vinton – “Satin Pillows” 5-9877 – Joe Sherman and the Arena Brass – “Feeling Good” 5-10001 – The Remains – “Diddy Wah Diddy” 5-10025 – David Houston – “Almost Persuaded” 5-10045 – Donovan - “Sunshine Superman” / “The Trip” 5-10110 – Keith Relf - “Shapes in My Mind” 5-10134 – Tammy Wynette - “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad” 5-10180 – The Hollies – “Carrie-Anne” / 5-10184 – The Tremeloes - “Silence Is Golden”
Blue vinyl:
5-9593 – Bobby Vinton – “Blue on Blue” / “Those Little Things ” 9-9865 – The Goldberg-Miller Blues Band – “The Mother Song” / “More Soul, Than Soulful”
JZSP 79537 (b-side released on 5-9821) – Damita Jo – “Love Is Here to Stay” / “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” (possibly green vinyl too) 5-9885 – Nancy Ames - “Friends and Lovers Forever” / “Dear Hearts and Gentle People” (JZSP 112662) JZSP 113610 (other releases on 5-10032) – Jane Morgan - “1-2-3” / “Kiss Away” 5-10061 – Damita Jo - “If You Go Away” 5-10162 – The Marmalade - “Can’t Stop Now”
A list of red vinyl, promotional 45 rpm singles on the Columbia label from 1962-1966.
Followed by other colored vinyl: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange.
Almost all of these have the same song on both sides, but there are a few exceptions (two by Tony Bennett and promo-only singles by Steve Lawrence and Robert Horton).
Any additions or corrections would be appreciated.
Red vinyl:
4-42417 – Jerry Reed & the Hully Girlies – “Goodnight Irene” (July, 1962) 4-42582 – Johnny Mathis – “Gina” 4-42592 – The New Christy Minstrels – “This Land Is Your Land” 4-42593 – Carl Butler – “Don’t Let Me Cross Over” 4-42601 – Steve Lawrence – “Go Away Little Girl” 4-42606 – Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs – “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” 4-42661 – Eydie Gormé – “Blame it on the Bossa Nova” JZSP 58841 (other versions use 4-42662) – Dion – “Ruby Baby” 4-42666 – Johnny Mathis – “What Will My Mary Say” 4-42699 – Steve Lawrence – “Don’t Be Afraid Little Darlin’” 4-42674 – Andy Williams – “Can’t Get Used to Losing You” 4-42776 – Dion – “This Little Girl” 4-42779 – Tony Bennett – “The Good Life” / “Spring in Manhattan” 4-42788 – Johnny Cash – “Ring of Fire” 4-42791 – Patti Page – “Say Wonderful Things” 4-42815 – Steve & Eydie – “I Want to Stay Here” 4-42827 – Ray Price – “Make The World Go Away” 4-42852 – Dion Di Muci – “Donna the Prima Donna” 4-42865 – Steve Lawrence – “Walking Proud” 4-42880 – Johnny Cash – “The Matador” 4-42888 – The Brothers Four – “The John B. Sails” (Canada only) 4-42950 – Andy Williams – “A Fool Never Learns” 4-42964 – Johnny Cash – “Understand Your Man” 4-42996 – Tony Bennett – “When Joanna Loved Me” 4-43035 – Rip Chords – “Three Window Coupe” 4-43037 – Anita Bryant – “The World of Lonely People” 4-43045 – Rene & Rene – “Angelito” 4-43067 – Linda Hall – “Hugo” 4-43082 – Eydie Gormé – “I Want You to Meet My Baby” 4-43113 – Aretha Franklin – “Runnin’ Out of Fools” 4-43120 – Billy Walker – “Cross the Brazos at Waco” 4-43128 – Andy Williams – “On the Street Where You Live” 4-43131 – Robert Goulet – “My Love, Forgive Me (Amore, Scusami)” 4-43141 – Tony Bennett – “Who Can I Turn To” / “If I Ruled the World” 4-43145 – Johnny Cash – “It Ain’t Me, Babe” 4-43171 – Mongo Santamaria – “El Pussy Cat” 4-43242 – Bob Dylan – “Subterranean Homesick Blues” 4-43271 – The Byrds – “Mr. Tambourine Man” 4-43277 – Chad and Jeremy – “Before and After” 4-43301 – Robert Goulet – “Summer Sounds” 4-43305 – Billy Joe Royal – “Down in the Boondocks” 4-43315 – Statler Brothers – “Flowers on the Wall” 4-43332 – The Byrds – “All I Really Want to Do” JZSP 110939 / JZSP 110940 (other versions use 4-43346) Bob Dylan – “Like a Rolling Stone” 4-43351 – The Liverpool Set – “Must I Tell You (I Love You)” (Canada only) 4-43375 – Paul Revere & the Raiders – “Steppin’ Out” 4-43389 – Bob Dylan – “Positively 4th Street” 4-43390 – Billy Joe Royal – “I Knew You When” 4-43396 – Simon & Garfunkel – “The Sounds of Silence” 4-43424 – The Byrds – “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” 4-43437 – Pozo-Seco Singers – “Time” 4-43461 – Paul Revere & the Raiders – “Just Like Me” 4-43465 – Billy Joe Royal – “I’ve Got to Be Somebody” 4-43469 – Barbra Streisand – “Second Hand Rose” 4-43556 – Paul Revere & the Raiders – “Kicks” 4-43589 – The Cyrkle – “Red Rubber Ball” 4-43592 – Bob Dylan – “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” 4-43595 – Susan Christie – “I Love Onions” 4-43617 – Simon & Garfunkel – “I Am a Rock” 4-43626 – Ray Conniff and the Singers – “Somewhere, My Love” 4-43648 – Tim Rose – “Hey Joe (You Shot Your Woman Down)” 4-43660 – Eydie Gormé – “If He Walked into My Life” 4-43673 – Johnny Cash – “Everybody Loves a Nut” 4-43678 – Paul Revere & the Raiders – “Hungry” 4-43728 – Simon & Garfunkel – “The Dangling Conversation” 4-43729 – The Cyrkle – “Turn-Down Day” 4-43774 – Jerry Vale – “Dommage, Dommage (Too Bad, Too Bad)” 4-43784 – Pozo-Seco Singers – “I Can Make it With You” 4-43792 – Bob Dylan – “Just Like a Woman” 4-43794 – Patti Page – “Almost Persuaded” 4-43907 – Paul Revere & the Raiders – “Good Thing” —
JZSP 78856 / JZSP 78857 (no stock or other promo copies)- Steve Lawrence – “Bluesette / People”
———— Other 1960s colored vinyl Columbia 45s:
Purple vinyl:
4-42952 – Steve Lawrence – “Room Without Windows” 4-42965 – Barbra Streisand – “People” 4-43225 – Eydie Gormé – “Do I Hear a Waltz?”
Blue vinyl:
4-42810 – Dion – “Be Careful of Stones that You Throw” 4-42812 – Rip Chords – “Gone” 4-42924 – Lefty Frizzell – “Saginaw, Michigan” 4-42967 – Ray Conniff and his Orchestra And Chorus – “Honeycomb” / “Blue Moon” 4-43138 – Randy Sparks – “Julie Knows” 4-43248 – Barbra Streisand – “Why Did I Choose You”
Green vinyl:
4-42932 – Steve & Eydie – “I Can’t Stop Talking About You” 4-42805 – The New Christy Minstrels – “Green, Green” 4-43000 – The New Christy Minstrels – “Today” 4-43167 – Mel Torme – “Ev’ry Day’s a Holiday” / “One Little Snowflake” 4-43448 – Ray Conniff and the Singers – “The Real Meaning of Christmas”
Yellow vinyl:
4-42784 – Andy Williams – “Hopeless” 4-42921 – Rip Chords – Hey Little Cobra” 4-43015 – Andy Williams – Wrong For Each Other” 4-43215 – The New Christy Minstrels – Chim, Chim, Cheree” 4-43257 – Andy Williams – “‘…. And Roses and Roses'” / “Red Roses For A Blue Lady” 4-43431 – Tony Bennett – “Love Theme From ‘The Sandpiper’ (The Shadow Of Your Smile)” JZSP 117536/7 – Lotte Lenya, Jack Gilford – “It Couldn’t Please Me More” / “Married”
Orange vinyl:
4-43954 – Tony Bennett – “What Makes It Happen” JZSP 78864 / JZSP 78865 – Robert Horton – “The Very Thought of You” / “Hey There”
Black vinyl promos with same song on both sides:
4-42928 – Guitar Ramblers – “Surf Beat” 4-42971 – Ray Price – “That’s All that Matters” 4-43302 – Eydie Gorme – “Where Are You Now” 4-43666 – Black Sheep – “It’s My Mind” 4-43903 – Gene Clark – “Echoes”
The last single-sided colored vinyl release I have found is 4-43907 – Paul Revere & the Raiders – “Good Thing”
Milkwood, summer 1969. Left to right: Ron Frankel, Jack Geisinger, Louis McKelvey, Mary Lou Gauthier and Malcolm Tomlinson. Photo: Rosemary White
Mary Lou Gauthier (Lead vocals)
Louis McKelvey (Guitar, Vocals)
Malcolm Tomlinson (Guitar, Flute, Drums, Lead vocals)
Ron Frankel (Drums)
Ronnie Blackwell (Bass)
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Jack Geisinger (Bass, Vocals)
This fascinating Anglo-Canadian group was put together by former Influence and Our Generation member Louis McKelvey (b. 31 October 1943, Killorglin, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland) with ex-King Curtis sideman Ron Frankel (b. April 1947, Montreal, Canada).
Frankel had previously played in The Soul Mates (and with his wife Mary Lou Gauthier) in the lounge band, Five of a Kind, who also featured Brian Wray, Brian Edwards and Freddie Gilbert. According to the Montreal Star‘s 7 November 1967 issue, page 4, Five of a Kind played at the King’s Inn in Freeport, the Bahamas that week.
They then joined King Curtis & The King Pins in 1968. (Ed: McKelvey may have met Frankel at the Hawk’s Nest on 23 July 1968 when King Curtis & The King Pins played there).
McKelvey approached Frankel and Gauthier about putting a new band together in September 1968 after leaving Influence, but the group didn’t form properly until early March 1969.
During the interim, McKelvey returned to England for around five months and reunited with his old friend Malcolm Tomlinson (b. 16 June 1946, Isleworth, Middlesex, England), from the early 1960s west London band Jeff Curtis & The Flames.
Jeff Curtis & The Flames, London, 1963. Louis McKelvey (far left) and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums). Photo: Dave Wigginton
Tomlinson was currently playing with Gethsemane (featuring future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre), and had done a BBC radio session with Elton John in October 1968.
McKelvey and Tomlinson both auditioned for the guitar position in Jethro Tull, but when Barre was offered the place and Gethsemane split up, Tomlinson returned to Toronto with McKelvey around March 1969 to put together Milkwood.
Adding ex-Five Bells bass player Ron Blackwell (b. 27 July 1948, Montreal, Canada), the band played at the Penny Farthing in Toronto in early May. They also played regularly at the Electric Circus.
The band sent a four-track demo to Polydor Records around this time and, according to Billboard, the label signed the band before it had played a single show.
Left to right: Ron Frankel, Jack Geisinger, Louis McKelvey, Mary Lou Gauthier and Malcolm Tomlinson
In mid-June 1969, former Influence member Jack Geisinger (b. March 1945, Czech Republic) joined replacing Ronnie Blackwell in time for sessions at the Hit Factory in New York.
Kicking off on 20 June, the week-long sessions were overseen by famous producer and song-writer Jerry Ragavoy who produced the LP and also played piano on some tracks.
Cashbox, 28 June 1969
While in New York, the band took part in the Polydor Benefit gig at the Village Gate with Dutch band, The Golden Earring on 23 June.
Sessions were completed in July. Members of The Band were at the Hit Factory when the group cut “There’s A Man” and complimented Mary Lou Gauthier on her vocals.
RPM Weekly, 28 July 1969
Back in Toronto, the band signed to the Frederick Lewis booking agency and embarked on Canadian dates.
Meanwhile, the LP was slated for release in September to coincide with an American tour, which never happened.
A disagreement between Milkwood’s manager and Polydor resulted in the LP being shelved. In November 1969 the group split up.
The band’s greatest claim to fame is that it appeared at Toronto’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival concert on 13 September. Although the group wasn’t billed, they performed just before John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band, according to roadie Dave Mandel.
McKelvey and Tomlinson (and later Geisinger) stuck together to work in Damage during 1969-1970.
McKelvey also briefly worked with Powerhouse in late 1970, before retiring from the music business.
Tomlinson later recorded with Rick James and Bearfoot and issued two solo LPs. Geisinger played with Charlee and Moonquake among others.
Frankel later did sessions for Jesse Winchester while Mary Lou Gauthier recorded a solo single, “In The Summertime” c/w “Come Run” for Polydor and later sang with Celine Dion at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Blackwell is a computer consultant and lives in Las Vegas.
Thanks to Carny Corbett for the supplying the image
Malcolm Tomlinson died in April 2016. Louis McKelvey died in November 2017 and Jack Geisinger has also passed away.
Advertised gigs
3 May 1969 – Penny Farthing, Toronto (possibly when Jimi Hendrix dropped in to listen)
25 May 1969 – Rock Pile, Toronto with Kensington Market, Grand Funk Railroad and Leather
June 1969 – Electric Circus, Toronto (this is where Rubbott Management spotted them)
21 June 1969 – Rock Pile, Toronto with Brother Brent
Record World, 28 June 1969
23 June 1969 – Village Gate, New York with The Golden Earring
18 August 1969 – Penny Farthing, Toronto (Led Zeppelin played this night at the Rock Pile and Robert Plant and John Bonham dropped in at the club afterwards)
13 September 1969 – Toronto Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival, Varsity Stadium with John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band, Gene Vincent, Alice Cooper and many others
19 September 1969 – York University, Toronto with Teegarden and Vanwinkle
11 October 1969 – Electric Circus, Toronto
17 October 1969 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
21 October 1969 – Van Morrison at Le Hibou This may be evening that Mary Lou and Malcolm jumped up on stage
14-29 November 1969 – Laugh-In, Montreal, Canada
Many thanks to Louis McKelvey, Mary Lou Gauthier, Ron Frankel, Ronnie Blackwell, David Mandel, Malcolm Tomlinson and Jack Geisinger for information.
Toronto gigs were taken from the After Four section of the Toronto Telegram. Also Ottawa Citizen and Montreal Star
RPM Weekly, 19 August 1967. Thanks to Ivan Amirault for providing
James Houston (Guitar, Vocals)
Al Palmquist (Guitar, Vocals)
Al Spencer (Bass)
Roz Parks (Drums)
+
Colin Walker (Drums)
The Magic Circus were best known for containing future Paupers’ members Roz Parks (b. 15 April 1945, Picton, Ontario) and James Houston (b. 25 May 1946, Belfast, Northern Ireland).
Houston, Parks and Spencer (b. 7 March 1947, London, England), had previously been members of The Creeps but changed name in early 1967 when guitarist Al Palmquist replaced Dave Morgan.
Thanks to Ivan Amirault for the photo
The band was best known for the 50-minute rock symphony, ‘March of The Mushroom’, written largely by Houston. Aside from playing other original material, the group also played Beatles, Beach Boys, Association and Mamas & The Papas covers.
The band was popular on Toronto’s club scene and opened for many of the top artists of the day, including Del Shannon, Wilson Pickett, The Turtles, Mitch Ryder, Eric Burdon & The Animals, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Ronnie Hawkins and The Left Banke. They also toured widely throughout Ontario playing high schools and dance halls.
Parks left in July 1968 to play with Edward Bear briefly before replacing Skip Prokop in The Paupers in October.
Australian Colin Walker from the Australian band, The Flying Circus joined in his place. The band then played as The Carnival (apart from a couple of shows, including the ‘Time Being’ held at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto in September where they played as The Magic Circus).
Houston also joined The Paupers in April 1969 after turning an offer down from Skip Prokop to play bass in Lighthouse (he may also have fronted Wizard’s Hand for a while).
Palmquist and Spencer carried on as The Carnival on TV shows and then resumed the Magic Circus name.
Photo from Ivan AmiraultPhoto from Ivan Amirault
Thanks to Ivan Amirault
Advertised gigs
18 March 1967 – Lakeshore Lions Arena, Toronto with The Strays
24 March 1967 – Queen’s Park, London, Ontario
25 March 1967 – Hidden Valley, Huntsville, Ontario with The Left Banke
Thanks to Ivan Amirault
27 March 1967 – St John’s Church, Niagara Falls, Ontario
28 March 1967 – The Night Owl, Toronto
29 March 1967 – The Castle, St Catherine’s, Ontario
30 March 1967 – Brant Inn, Burlington, Ontario
31 March 1967 – Royal Plaza, Clarkson, Ontario
1 April 1967 – Huntingdon Park Commercial Centre, Hamilton, Ontario
3 June 1967 – The Flick, Toronto
10 June 1967 – Scarborough Arena Gardens, Scarborough, Ontario with Eddie Spencer & The Mission, Roy Kenner & The Associates, The Tripp, Bobby Kris & The Imperials, The Lords of London and others
5 July 1967 – Muskoka Pavillion, Bala, Ontario
21 July 1967 – Huron Park Recreation Centre, Cooksville, Ontario
9 August 1967 – Cobourg Pavilion, Cobourg, Ontario
27 August 1967 – Summer Gardens, Port Dover, Ontario with The Federations
1 October 1967 – Paradise Gardens, Guelph, Ontario with Three to One
16-18 October 1967 – The Flick, Toronto
19 October 1967 – The Flick, Toronto
2 November 1967 – Stratford College Institute, Stratford, Ontario
3 November 1967 – Crosby High School, Forthill, Ontario
4 November 1967 – Belleville Arena, Belleville, Ontario
5 November 1967 – Club Shingaling, Welland, Ontario
21 December 1967 – Annandale High School, Ontario
22 December 1967 – Brampton High School, Brampton, Ontario
23 December 1967 – Pelham District High, Fenwick, Ontario
26 December 1967 – St Nick’s Church, Hamilton, Ontario
27 December 1967 – Kitchener College Institute, Kitchener, Ontario
28 December 1967 – The Night Owl, Toronto
29 December 1967 – St Martin’s Church, Niagara, Ontario
30 December 1967 – Haileybury High School, Haileybury, Ontario
31 December 1967 – Kirkland Lake, Ontario
6 January 1968 – Broom and Stone, Scarborough, Ontario
12 January 1968 – York University, Toronto with The Paupers and The Last Words
12 January 1968 – Brantford Collegiate Institute, Brantford, Ontario
1 February 1968 – University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
2 February 1968 – Forrest Hills Collegiate, Forest Hills, Ontario
3 February 1968 – Forest Hills CI, Kitchener, Ontario
4 February 1968 – St Martin In The Field Church, Toronto
6 February 1968 – St John’s Church, Niagara Falls, Ontario
5 April 1968 – Cayuga High School, Cayuga, Ontario
6 April 1968 – Barton High School, Hamilton, Ontario
11 April 1968 – Port Dover Composite School, Port Dover, Ontario
12 April 1968 – Club Shade Blue, Toronto
13 April 1968 – Wallaceberg Teen Club, Wallaceberg, Ontario
18 May 1968 – Sauble Beach Pavilion, Sauble Beach, Ontario
13 June 1968 – Waterford Arena, Waterford, Ontario
14 June 1968 – Elmiria District HS, Elmiria, Ontario
15 June 1968 – Crystal Beach Pavilion, Crystal Beach, Ontario
16 June 1968 – St Gabriel’s Church, Burlington, Ontario
18 June 1968 – Glenbriar Arena, Kitchener, Ontario
20 June 1968 – East Hamilton Kiwanis Club, Hamilton, Ontario
21 June 1968 – Brantford Collegiate Institute, Brantford, Ontario
22 June 1968 – Rideau Ferry Inn, Smith Falls, Ontario
25 June 1968 – Dundas Arena, Dundas, Ontario
26 June 1968 – Georgetown Arena, Georgetown, Ontario
27 June 1968 – Stratford Arena, Straford, Ontario
28 June 1968 – Cobourg Pavilion, Cobourg, Ontario
29 June 1968 – The Gette, Oshawa, Ontario
Thanks to Ivan Amirault for the photo
2 July 1968 – Toronto City Hall, Toronto
3 July 1968 – Wallaceburg Arena, Wallaceburg, Ontario
5 July 1968 – Pav-Orillia, Orillia, Ontario
6 July 1968 – Kee-to-Bala, Bala, Ontario (Roz Parks’ last gig?)
10 August 1968 – Sauble Beach Pavilion, Sauble Beach, Ontario
1-2 September 1968 – ‘Time Being’ at CNE, Toronto
14 February 1970 – The Get (O’Neill Collegiate), Toronto
7 March 1970 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
16 May 1970 – Hidden Valley, Huntsville, Ontario with Beadree
17 May 1970 – Hidden Valley, Huntsville, Ontario
5 June 1970 – Jubilee Auditorium, Oshawa, Onatario with The Poor Souls (billed as Majic Circus)
Most of these gigs were taken from the After Four section of the Toronto Telegram. Thanks to Roz Parks, James Houston and Al Spencer for their input.
Left to right: Gord Fleming, Frank De Felice, Fred Keeler and Denny Gerrard. Photo may be subject to copyright.
Fred Keeler (Guitar, Vocals)
Gord Fleming (Keyboards, Accordion, Vocals)
Denny Gerrard (Bass, Vocals)
Frank Di Felice (Drums)
+
Scott Cushnie (Keyboards)
Danny Marks (Guitar, Vocals)
Bob Yeomans (Drums)
This musically interesting band was formed in March 1970 by former Paupers member (turned manager) Chuck Beal, who teamed Fleming and Keeler, both of whom had worked together in the mid-1960s with The Shays with former Paupers’ bass player Gerrard and ex-Grant Smith & The Power drummer Di Felice.
Between The Shays and Jericho, Fleming had played with Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks, John Hammond and Gord’s Custom R&B Sound, while Keeler had been in The Majestics. Gerrard had done stints with McKenna Mendelson Mainline and Luke & The Apostles.
The group recorded an album, produced by Todd Rundgren, at The Band’s Bearsville Studios. Rundgren incidentally also worked with The Band around this time and is also featured on guitar.
The sound not surprisingly then is reminiscent of The Band’s Stage Fright period and is thoroughly recommended. Rundgren’s production is top notch, particularly on tracks “Make It Better” and “Lonely As Me”.
“Make It Better” reached #80 on the Canadian RPM chart in July 1971 by which point Fleming and Keeler had lost interest and left. Gerrard left too to join Heaven and Earth.
Di Felice quickly reformed the group with ex-Tundra member Scott Cushnie and former Edward Bear and Mama Lion member Danny Marks.
Bob Yeomans replaced Di Felice in late 1971 but the band broke up soon afterwards. Cushnie subsequently played with Mudlark (and also worked with Aerosmith) while Yeomans was one half of Jackson Hawk.
Fleming subsequently joined Great Speckled Bird and also did stints with Cat Stevens and the McGarrigle sisters. He died in February 1996.
Gerrard played with Heaven and Earth and recorded two singles for RCA Victor before forming Great White Cane (both groups were fronted by Rick James).
Marks subsequently joined Rick James & The Stone City Band after a brief stint with Zig Zag.
Recordings
45 True Fine Girl/Back Track (Ampex 1303) 1971 (Canada)
45 Make It Better/Cheater Man (Bearsville X31003) 1971 (US)
LP front cover. Left to right: Gerrard, Fleming, De Felice and Keeler
The Twilighters came from Kirksville, Missouri, a small city about 165 miles from Kansas City and 200 miles from St. Louis. In 1967 they cut two originals, “Spellbound” / “My Little Angel” at Technisonic Studios in St. Louis.
“Spellbound” is a fast-paced rocker, driven by Dave Daniels’s fantastic drumming. There’s a great guitar break and a double-time ending, and it’s over in less than two minutes.
The chant of “Spellbound” has a distinctive sound that may come from some other song but if so, I can’t think of it. It reminds me of a later cut, Steve Miller Band’s “Living in the U.S.A.” where the group chants “Stand Back”. I’d be interested if anyone has heard something very similar in another song from the era.
The B-side, “My Little Angel” is a ballad with fine vocals, and good recording production.
Released on Red Flame Records 45-1005, the labels show a 1966 copyright date, but the U4KM indicates a pressing date in the first half of 1967.
The Twilighters, from left: Everett Cassidy, Gary Blurton, David Daniels on drums, Bob Harbur, and Randy Elmore. Photo courtesy of David Daniels.
David Daniels wrote to me:
The Twilighters band began in 1963 with Gary Blurton (rhythm guitar and vocals), David Daniels (drums), Everett Cassidy (bass), and Bob Harbur (lead guitar). Randy Elmore joined the band in 1964 because Gary was leaving to join the National Guard and the band would be needing a lead vocalist. Randy played lead guitar as well.
Eventually Bob moved to the St Louis area and Everett also moved away from the Kirksville area. At that point Richard Hudson, also a local boy and friend of Randy and David, came on to play rhythm guitar.
The Twilighters, from left: Everett Cassidy on bass, Randy Elmore on guitar, David Daniels with drumsticks, and Gary Blurton, guitar. Photo courtesy of David Daniels.
This configuration of The Twilighters (Randy, David, and Richard) placed an ad in the local paper seeking a keyboard player, to which Carl Foultz responded and that was the group that made the record “Spellbound” / “My Little Angel”. Carl Foultz was the song writer and organ player, and the bass was covered by the bass pedals on the organ.
Randy Elmore – lead guitar and lead vocal Richard Hudson – rhythm guitar Carl Foultz – organ (and bass pedals) David Daniels – drums (background vocals for “My Little Angel”)
There were no headphones to monitor in the recording room and “Spellbound” was recorded in one live take. The band could not hear the vocal work at all until listening to the playback in the control room. Likewise for “My Little Angel.” It was the first recording the band had made and their first experience in a recording studio.
Randy, Richard, and David were local boys, born and raised in the Kirksville area. Carl was from Pennsylvania and came to Kirksville to attend university at Northeast Missouri Teachers College (now Truman State University).
The band members changed off and on over subsequent years with a total of about 20 different players having done some time with The Twilighters during their run (1963 – 1971).
Randy and David continued to play in many other bands in the NE Missouri area from 1971 – 2011, often times together, other times not, under the names: Country Flavor, Fox, Survival, Loose Louie, Twilighter’s Rockin’ Reunion, BJ Allen Band, and Blue Voodoo.
These photos are of the original players. There are no pics with Richard or Carl, so neither of these are the exact group of players that were on the recording.
David went on to buy Circle M Music in Kirksville in 1974 and operated the music store and built his own recording studio where he recorded many local musicians and vocal groups. David mentored many young kids over the years, sharing his love of music and recording. He retired in 2014 after serving the NE Missouri music community for 42 years. As an honor to his Grandpa David, Black Daniels & The Bears did a cover of “Spellbound” live at David’s retirement party in 2014, the 3rd generation of musicians in the Daniels family, carrying on the tradition.
Randy retired from SW Bell and now lives in Columbia, MO.
Richard did not continue with music but went on to other employment, was a private business owner, and has retired to Lake of the Ozarks.
Carl graduated from NE Missouri Teachers College and moved away, the other band members having lost touch with him.
Gary is retired from local employment in the Kirksville area.
Bob and Everett are now both deceased.
Dick Lawrence (deceased) was owner of Red Flame Records and was an avid music promoter throughout the NE Missouri area his entire life.
Carl Foultz was also a member of an r&b group called the Del-Fis or Del-Phis with Ed Corte, Frank Gantt, T.J. Jackson, Mac Pendelton, Nick Romanetz and Gary Smyth, some of whom were students at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now known as Truman State University).
After Carl Foultz left the Twilighters, Bill Daniels joined on guitar and Ray Beets on bass, as Ray states in his comment below.
Dick Lowrance owned Red Flame Records which released three singles by the group he was a member of, the Red Blazers, usually with Ike Haley as leader.
In 1966 Lowrance released a single by Friar Tuck and the Merrymen’s “Peanut Butter” / “Try Me” (Mike Barger) on his Sherwood Forest Records subsidiary. That band may have been from western Illinois though I’m not sure which town. I’ve found newspaper ads for a “new Friar Tuck and the Merrymen” playing at the Wayside Inn in Moberly, Missouri, about an hour south of Kirksville; not sure if this is the same group.
When singers John Finley and Lee Jackson left The Jon-Lee Group (aka Jon & Lee and The Checkmates) in mid-September 1967, Toronto singer David Clayton-Thomas picked up their backing band, renamed it The Phoenix and moved to New York.
After a month’s rehearsals, the group debuted at the Bitter End and then briefly played at the East Scene in October before working as the house-band at Steve Paul’s The Scene.
The band’s career, however, was cut short during early November when Clayton-Thomas was deported for being an illegal alien.
Leishman also returned to Toronto at this point and played with several groups, including The Power Project and Bobby Kris & The Imperials before joining The Duke Edwards Cycle in late 1968.
Hodgson meanwhile was offered a place in Project Supergroup (later Rhinoceros) in December and flew out to Los Angeles to audition.
After being passed over for the group in early 1968, he briefly rejoined David Clayton-Thomas in his group, David Clayton-Thomas Combine. When that split in mid-1968, Hodgson moved back to the US and became a member of the Paxton Ranch Band, playing on Jackson Browne’s early recordings (aka Baby Browning).
Cutler stayed in New York and worked with an embryonic version of Hot Tuna and then did a stint drumming and managing The Crazy World of Arthur Brown during the band’s summer ’68 North American tour. He later worked as a manager for The Holy Modal Rounders.
When Clayton-Thomas had previously worked in New York in March 1967, he had shared a flat with former Bob Dylan bass player Harvey Brooks, who was in the process of putting The Electric Flag together.
Apparently Brooks had offered Thomas the original vocal slot in the group, but he declined.
Fonfara however, did accept an invitation from the Flag’s drummer Buddy Miles to replace Barry Goldberg when the latter got busted in November 1967.
Fonfara duly appeared on the group’s debut album, before becoming a member of Project Supergroup the following month, which soon changed name to Rhinoceros.
Hodgson and Leishman both rejoined Fonfara in Rhinoceros in 1969.
David Clayton-Thomas joined Blood, Sweat & Tears in June 1968.
Advertised gigs
19-22 October 1967 – Steve Paul’s The Scene, New York with The Carnival Connection
David Clayton-Thomas formed this band in Toronto in February 1968 with former Bossmen guitarist Jack Mowbray, who had been playing in Italy for six months backing pop singer Nicola di Barri.
He also brought in former Jon-Lee Group (aka Jon & Lee and The Checkmates) bass player Peter Hodgson for his new band and drummer Pat Patterson who was quickly replaced by ex-Luke & The Apostles and Edward Bear drummer Pat Little.
The group recorded the original versions of “Spinning Wheel” and “Father Dear Father” for Arc Records, which were pressed for a single but it’s not clear if any copies were released.
In June, Clayton-Thomas was asked to be Al Kooper’s replacement in Blood, Sweat & Tears and the band split up. Hodgson moved out to LA and joined Jackson Browne’s band (recording an unreleased album) and later Rhinoceros.
Little and Mowbray joined another ex-Bossmen, Tony Collacott in The Georgian People, which soon changed name to Chimo!
Advertised gigs
2 March 1968 – LC Dance in Kingston, Ontario with Soul Mine (Kingston Whig-Standard newspaper)
16-24 March 1968 – El Patio, Toronto, Ontario (After Four section of Toronto Telegram)
24 March 1968 – Carls A Goo Goo, Hamilton, Ontario with Them (Hamilton Spectator)
19 April 1968 –BCI, Brantford, Ontario (The Expositor)
Thanks to Pat Little and Peter Hodgson for help with the entry
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.
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The Combustibles came from Bombay, India, and recorded “Watch Her” / “Some Peace of Mind” in 1970. Vocalist Everett Perry wrote both songs. “Watch Her” has vocals and rhythm that reminds me somewhat of the Velvet Underground. The songs saw release as Polydor 2067 020 in 1971.
