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
Singer Doug Stokes formed The Power Project in mid-1967 with former Roy Kenner & The Associates members Carducci and Rychlewski.
Former Mandala member Josef Chirowski and ex-David Clayton-Thomas & The Phoenix and Jon-Lee Group guitarist Larry Leishman joined around November 1967.
The band never recorded but did open for James Brown at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. The Power Project played during the evenings only as Chirowski was working for Canadian Pacific Railways during the day.
After a few months of playing live, the group changed name to Freedom Fair in January 1968.
The band reverted to The Power Project name in mid-1968. Chirowski joined Grant Smith & The Power at the end of 1968, before becoming a member of Crowbar, while Leishman ended up with Rhinoceros after a stint with The Duke Edwards Cycle and Bobby Kris & The Imperials.
Advertised gigs
10 June 1967 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
30 June 1967 – North York Centennial Centre, Toronto with Mandala, The Spirit and Livingstone’s Tripp
30 June 1967 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
14 July 1967 – Balmy Beach Club, Scarborough, Ontario
15 July 1967 – Broom and Stone, Scarborough, Ontario with The Ugly Ducklings and Trayne
26 July 1967 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
28 July 1967 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
6 August 1967 – Port Carling Surf Club, Port Carling, Ontario
8 September 1967 – The Thing, Toronto with The Jon-Lee Group
15 September 1967 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
23 September 1967 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
Chirowski and Leishman joined during November
4 November 1967 – Hawk’s Nest, Toronto with The Tiffanies
11 November 1967 – The Pavilion, Orillia, Ontario
19 November 19 1967 – Maple Leaf Gardens with James Brown (this may have been May 1968)
25 November 1967 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
2 December 1967 – Inferno, Toronto
9 December 1967 – The Bunny Bin, Toronto with The Counts and Bunny Band
30 December 1967 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
31 December 1967 – Broom and Stone, Scarborough, Ontario with Jackie Shane, Frank Motley The Hitch-Hikers
26 January 1968 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
28 June 1968 – Port Carling Surf Club, Port Carling, Ontario
5 July 1968 – Port Carling Surf Club, Port Carling, Ontario
The gigs were taken from the After Four section in the Toronto Telegram. Thanks to Larry Leishman for some background information.
Toronto’s R&B favourites, Jon & Lee and The Checkmates were originally known as Lee Jackson & The Checkmates.
The original band (formed at a local high school in 1962) comprised singer Lee Jackson (real name: Michael Ferry), lead guitarist Al Dorsey, bassist Dave McDevitt, drummer Paul Carrier and saxophone player Hilmar Hajek.
They were joined soon afterwards by classically trained keyboard player Michael Fonfara (b. 11 August 1946, Stevensville, near Niagara Falls, Ontario).
Towards the end of 1963, the group’s manager introduced a second lead guitarist, Larry Leishman (b. 4 April 1947, Dunfermline, Scotland) from local band The Tempests.
The new line-up however, was short-lived as Dorsey soon left. His departure precipitated a series of personnel changes and by mid-1964, former Esquires singer John Finley (b. 6 May 1945, Toronto, Ontario) and his cousin, bassist Peter Hodgson (b. 16 April 1946, Toronto, Ontario), also ex-The Tempests were added alongside drummer Wes Morris.
Morris’ predecessor, Dave Brown meanwhile had gone on to join Jay Smith & The Majestics. When Morris left to join The Majestics in the summer of 1964, the group added Jeff Cutler (b. Rowland Jefferies Cutler, 8 September 1941, Toronto, Ontario).
The new line-up quickly changed its name and was picked up by local booking agent, Ron Scribner, who organised concert dates in high schools across Ontario to promote the band.
Thanks to Ivan Amirault for the photo
In early 1965, the band moved up to the city’s vibrant club scene and for a while were residents at Yorkville’s Avenue Road Club and the Devil’s Den. In April of that year Jon & Lee and The Checkmates opened for The Rolling Stones at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, followed by what was probably their most prestigious concert performance, an appearance (in front of 60,000 people) at Nathan Philips Square in September supporting Bobby Curtola.
Around this time, the group cut two songs on four-track with their manager and musical director, Eddie ‘Duke’ Edwards, which led to TV appearances in Buffalo and New York.
The band also attracted the attention of American record companies RCA, Motown, Mercury, Elektra and Decca; they actually cut some demos with the latter in New York but they were never issued.
During 1966, the band traveled to New York and played at the Phone Booth and the Peppermint Lounge. The group also performed alongside Junior Walker & The All Stars, The Chiffons and The Temptations at Shea Stadium. On 21 August, the group appeared on Compass on Channel Six.
That same year, Edwards composed ‘Batman Batusi’, which the band recorded for the ABC-TV Network. The track appeared on a rare 45 with the A-side performed by another group.
Image may be subject to copyright
Shortening their name to The Jon-Lee Group in June 1967, the band travelled to New York to play at Steve Paul’s The Scene and to record for ABC Records.
The band completed four tracks, including a cover of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s ‘Girl Beautiful Girl’, which never saw the light of day.
Instead, the label chose to release the soulful ‘Bring It Down Front’ with the instrumental rocker ‘Pork Chops’ (credited to Edwards, and provisionally titled ‘Fuck Up’).
The single subsequently reached #23 on the RPM chart in October, when it was released in Canada by Sparton Records. The single also hit #10 on Toronto’s Chum chart.
On 31 July 1967, the band returned to Toronto for its final set of gigs. The band’s music started to take on a more psychedelic bent but didn’t go down so well with audiences.
Thanks to Ivan Amirault for the photo
Jackson and Finley separated from the band in mid-September 1967 and the others moved to New York to become the house band at Steve Paul’s The Scene. For a while they acted as David Clayton-Thomas’ support band, The Phoenix.
However, when Thomas was deported from the US in November for being an illegal alien, Fonfara joined The Electric Flag (in time to appear on their debut album) and toured with the group for almost a month before running into Finley and Hodgson in L.A in early December.
Both had auditioned for Elektra’s new band ‘Project Super group’ (which later became Rhinoceros) and although Hodgson missed out on the original line-up, Finley was recruited, and duly recommended Fonfara for the band. Hodgson and Leishman would later join Rhinoceros together with Duke Edwards.
Lee Jackson meanwhile remained in Toronto and reverted to his former name. He later went on to work with Bruce Cockburn briefly and became a local rock promoter. In the early ‘70s, he worked for the Toronto Stock Exchange and ran a small studio before joining a floor-covering firm in 1974.
Jeff Cutler, who briefly worked with The Holy Modal Rounders and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, later became a movie set producer.
The others (minus Cutler and Jackson and with new members) reformed as Blackstone in 1972.
Review in Variety Magazine
Recordings
45 Batman Theme/Batman Batusi (ABC-TV Network) 1966 (B-side only)
45 Bring It Down Front/Pork Chops (Sparton P1617) 1967
Advertised gigs (as Jon & Lee and The Checkmates)
25 April 1965 – Maple Leaf Gardens with Rolling Stones, The Paupers and others
20 June 1965 – Devil’s Den, Toronto
26 June 1965 – Purple Candle Club, Wasaga Beach, Ontario
10 July 1965 – Purple Candle Club, Wasaga Beach, Ontario
11 July 1965 – Devil’s Den, Toronto
16-17 July 1965 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
18 July 1965 – Devil’s Den, Toronto
25 July 1965 – Devil’s Den, Toronto
29 July 1965 – “Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic”, Varsity Arena, Toronto with The Big Town Boys, The Paupers and J B & The Playboys
10 August 1965 – Sauble Beach Pavilion, Sauble Beach, Ontario
27 August 1965 – Club 888, Toronto
29 August 1965 – Devil’s Den, Toronto
3 September 1965 – Dunn’s Pavilion, Bala, Ontario
5 September 1965 – Lakeview Casino, Grand Bend, Ontario
12 September 1965 – Devil’s Den, Toronto
13 September 1965 – Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto with Bobby Curtola, David Clayton-Thomas & The Shays and others
25 September 1965 – Gord’s A Go Go, Oshawa, Ontario
26 September 1965 – Devil’s Den, Toronto
1 October 1965 – Mimicombo A Go-Go, Mimico, Ontario
10 October 1965 – Hop in the park, Eglington Park, Toronto
31 October 1965 – Maple Leaf Gardens with Rolling Stones and others
12 November 1965 – Mimicombo A Go Go, Mimico, Ontario
13 November 1965 – Hop in the park, Toronto
4 December 1965 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
10 December 1965 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
December 1965 – Peppermint Lounge, New York
14-16 January 1966 – The Avenue Road Club, Toronto
22 January 1966 – North Toronto Memorial Gardens, Toronto
28-29 January 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto with Majestics with Shawne Jackson (then to New York)
20 February 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
27 February 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
4-5 March 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
6 March 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
12 March 1966 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
26 March 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
1 April 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto, with Franklin Sheppard & The Good Sheppards
3 April 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto (afterwards went to New York, Detroit and Philadelphia for three months)
6-7 May 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
13 May 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
20 May 1966 – Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
22 May 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
19 June 1966 – Broom and Stone, Scarborough with David Clayton-Thomas and The Ugly Ducklings
9 July 1966 – Hunters Beach Pavilion, Lake Simcoe, Ontario
13 July 1966 – Whitby Arena, Whitby, Ontario with The Five Rogues, Bobby Kris & The Imperials and The Ugly Ducklings
13 July 1966 – North Toronto Memorial Arena, Toronto with The Big Town Boys and The Secrets
16 July 1966 – Port Carling Surf Club, Port Carling, Ontario
20 July 1966 – Don Mills Curling Club, Don Mills, Ontario with The British Modbeats, Bobby Kris & The Imperials and Dunc and The Deacons
23 July 1966 – Hidden Valley, Huntsville, Ontario with Barry Allen, Wes Dakus & The Rebels
26 July 1966 – North Toronto Memorial Arena, Toronto with The Jaybees and Wes Dakus, Barry Allen & The Rebels
30 July 1966 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
7 August 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
14 August 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
19 August 1966 – Hidden Valley, Huntsville, Ontario
20 August 1966 – Hunter’s Beach, Lake Simcoe, Ontario
21 August 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
27 August 1966 – Port Carling Surf Club, Port Carling, Ontario
28 August 1966 – Broom and Stone, Scarborough with The Just Us and All Five
29 August 1966 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
2 September 1966 – Balmy Beach Club, Scarborough, Ontario
3 September 1966 – Purple Candle, Wasaga, Ontario
6 September 1966 – Balmy Beach Club, Scarborough, Ontario
21 October 1966 – Gogue Inn, Toronto with Jack Hardin & The Silhouettes, The Five Good Reasons, Nicky Garber and Percy Dovetonsils
28-30 October 1966 – The Castle, St Catherine’s, Ontario
6 November 1966 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
11 November 1966 – Cobourg Lions Pavillion, Cobourg, Ontario
19 November 1966 – Gogue Inn, Toronto with Jaye’s Rayders and others
30 December 1966 – Villa Inn, Streetsville, Ontario
31 December 1966 – Gogue Inn, Toronto with Eddie Spencer & The Power and The Wyldfyre
22 January 1967 – Club Isabella, Toronto
29 January 1967 – Charlie Brown’s, Toronto
4 February 1967 – Gogue Inn, Toronto with The Five Good Reasons and The Paytons
22 April 1967 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
28-29 April 1967 – Avenue Road Club, Toronto
6 May 1967 – Gogue Inn, Toronto with Jack Hardin & The Silhouettes and Simon Caine & The Catch
20 May 1967 – Centennial Cool-Out, Kingston, Ontario with The Guess Who, The Esquires, The Townsmen and others
Mitzee Baker’s “Stand Up Boy” is early ’60s pop, not garage but it has a strong beat and crude production. I’m posting because it seems to be unknown, and there are some deadwax codes I am not familiar with.
The flip is a ballad with some orchestration, “No One Can Love You (More than I)”. Harry Moffitt wrote both songs and co-produced with Fred Downs, released on Dralmar 5000. Pompadour Music published the songs, but I can’t find them in BMI’s database. A Philadelphia origin is likely.
The runout codes are: “D-5000-B A” / “D-5000-B”. Both sides have “A.M.S.” followed by something that looks like a D with a couple short horizontal lines in front of it. In very small lettering on the A-side is “TV 33166”. All are etched.
An embossed stamp on both sides seems to read backwards, beginning with, possibly M.O.I. and ending with CO – but I may not be reading that correctly.
Getting out of my usual range to post about an unknown record from 1973. The label reads “Mumbled on the album Riddles from Home by Humpback Whale” but I haven’t found a trace of that album yet, if it exists.
One side contains a kazoo arrangement of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” with whistling. It predates the version by the Temple City Kazoo Orchestra by a good five years.
“The Whale Sighed” (i.e. the side with the whales on the label) has a great original song called “Passing Tone” by V. Karlsson.
The only other credits are “1973 Angel Guardian Road Service” and “Your Basic Fish Recordings, Chicago, Illinois” and BMI, though I can’t find the songs in BMI’s database.
Humpback Whale – Also Sprach Zarathustra
Randy Chance was lead guitarist for a group called the Other Half, and before that the Just Four. Note this was not the Other Half from Chicago who cut “Girl with the Long Black Hair” / “Third of January” on the Orlyn 503 in June of 1967.
There is an April 1975 copyright registration for “Search for Magicians”, words by Wade Martinow (Martinov), words and music Van Karlsson, pseudonym of Van Carson, Angel Guardian Road Service Publishing Company.
Randy Chance has a website with a timeline, dating Riddles from Home to 1972 and noting that from 1971 – 1973, he built Humpback Whale Studios in Chicago, plus “Your Basic Fish” record company and “Angel Guardian Road Service” publishing.
He also wrote and performed a musical, Turds in Hell by the Godzilla Rainbow Troupe, and a rock opera Breathe Deeply Today is Fill in Blank for the Free Theater and the Center for New Music.
Randy’s online resume includes an extensive list of composition and recording through 2016.
The GTs in the Xenia Daily Gazette Feb. 21, 1967 The GTs came from Dayton, Ohio. Members were:
John Boerstler Eddie Wells Brenda Bishop Mary McCartney Bruce Larson
The Xenia Daily Gazette featured a photo of the band in February, 1967 for their date at the Blue Moon Ballroom.
A 1966 single “Bad Girl” and “Farewell Faithless Farewell” on Nashville NV-5302 is reputed to be by this band, however neither song was written by a member of the group. Cathryn Wright wrote “Farewell, Faithless, Farewell” while “Bad Girl” was written by Earl Isble, listed in March, 1966 copyright registration as Earl Roger Isble. Tronic BMI published both songs.
The 45 was a Starday Recording and Publishing production, so the band only had to send their tape in, not travel to Tennessee.
The Essentials came from Schagticoke, New York, and cut two singles on their own Kandy label in 1969 and 1970. Members were:
Jason Wheeler – lead guitar Steve Wheeler – rhythm guitar Jeff Wheeler – bass guitar Fred “Squeekey” Stay – drums
Jeff Wheeler recalled to Max Waller:
Our ages were 13, 15, 17 and 17 at the time. We played Friday and Saturday nights and threw in a wedding now and then with the old standards on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Even went to Atlantic City and Raleigh, NC. cuz we won a few Battle Of The Bands – the Tea Berry song contest too (we didn’t win that tho). We made 2 45s in 1968. Never made a million but we sold 1000 records for $1 apiece after spending $500 to do it! It was fun.
The Essentials recorded at Vibra-Sound Studio in Schenectady for both their singles. The first was Kandy 101 from 1969. “Oklahoma Blues” has some falsetto vocals about a minute in, but really gets going after the guitar break, with a funky rhythm and chanting. Fred Stay and Steve Wheeler wrote “Oklahoma Blues”. Steve Wheeler wrote “Baby You Get to Me”, which I haven’t heard yet.
Their second 45, on Kandy 82042 from 1970, had two originals by Squeeky Stay. “Sunshine Baby” is light pop. I prefer “Freedom”, which starts out with wah-wah guitar over drumming and doesn’t let up for three minutes. It’s a styrene 45 and hard to find in fine shape.
Robert Barry Music published all four songs.
Squeeky Stay and Mark Galeo made another single recorded at Vibra-Sound, “Slippin’ Away” / “Mrs. Jones” on Jinhea 100.
Max Waller added, “in 2002 Jeff resided in Poestenskill, NY; Steve was in New Jersey; Jason was reported to be in Texas; and Squeeky Stay had stayed in Schaghticoke.”
Fred Stay, Jr. also played drums with a group called the World of Darkness, that back Alan Burn on two songs “Gotham City” and “See Susie Run”, released on Tuesday Records. “See Susie Run” was also on the flip of “Information (Help Me Please)” by Alan on Tuesday Records TR-1 / Tuesday Records TR-SSR.
The other members of the World of Darkness were David L. Ferretti guitar, Paul Orloski rhythm guitar, John Zullo (or John Sciuto) on bass, and Sandi La Barge on organ.
Thank you to Max Waller for help with this article.
Joe Mendelson (Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Vocals)
Mike McKenna (Guitar)
Pat Little (Drums)
Timothy Leary (Bass)
Denny Gerrard (Bass)
Tony Nolasco (Drums)
Mike Harrison (Bass)
Frank ”Zeke” Sheppard (Harmonica, Bass, Vocals)
Ted Purdy (Bass, Guitar, Vocals)
Larry Leishman (Guitar, Vocals)
Bob Adams (Harmonica)
Following a brief spell in The Ugly Ducklings, former Luke & The Apostles guitarist Mike McKenna (b. 15 April 1946, Toronto, Canada) put an ad in a local paper (around May 1968) searching for blues enthusiasts interested in forming a band.
Local singer Joe Mendelson (b. Birrel Josef Mendelson, 30 July 1944, Toronto, Canada) answered his ad, and together they formed the basis of this musically interesting group.
A very short-lived line up formed with former Luke & The Apostles drummer Pat Little (b. 10 March 1947, North Bay, Ontario, Canada) and bass player Timothy Leary (not the more famous US namesake) but it never got passed rehearsals.
Soon afterwards, former Paupers member Denny Gerrard signed up alongside drummer Tony Nolasco (b. 9 July 1950, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada), who had spent a year with The Spasstiks and was only 16 years old when he arrived in Toronto.
The quartet began advertising its talents in mid-June and recorded a demonstration tape over a few days in early September, which was subsequently issued as a “legal bootleg” by manager John Irvine, who had the legal title to the tapes but released it without the band’s approval. This line -up also became residents at Toronto’s Night Owl.
Following several early live performances, Gerrard left the group in early October (subsequently rejoining The Paupers briefly) and ex-Grant Smith and The Power bass player Mike Harrison (b. 1 November 1948, Brampton, Ontario, Canada) was recruited in his place.
This line-up opened for John Lee Hooker at the Rockpile before moving to London, England in December.
Mendelson and McKenna arrived on 10 December, Harrison on 15 December and Nolasco on 26 December.
The band built up a steady following on London’s blues circuit and also played some dates on the continent, including the ‘Flight to Lowlands Paradise 2’ concert, in Utrecht, The Netherlands on 27/28 December alongside Pink Floyd, where the Canadian band was reputedly the only group to receive a standing ovation. (Nolasco had only arrived in England on 26 December!)
During their stay in London, McKenna Mendelson Mainline won a recording deal with Liberty Records and in April and May 1969 recorded the album Stink, generally considered to be the band’s best work, at Trident Studios in London’s Soho district.
By the time it was released in July the musicians were back in Toronto, where they were greeted as returning heroes.
The single, ‘Better Watch Out’ reached #47 on the Canadian RPM chart and the album sold very well.
However, despite the LP’s success, the group’s career was about to grind to a halt.
On 23 November 1969, Mendelson guested with Whiskey Howl at Toronto’s Night Owl, which was a precursor of things to come; he left abruptly [late] the following month for a solo career.
During the early part of 1970 McKenna found time to record with a revamped Luke & The Apostles and the group was put on hold.
Mendelson however, decided to reform the band in March 1970, recruiting former Franklin Sheppard & The Good Sheppards singer Zeke Sheppard on bass alongside Nolasco.
The group, now named simply “Mainline”, was invited to play at the Scarborough Fair Festival in the summer, and Mendelson decided to ask McKenna to join the band for the one show.
The concert was a great success and McKenna was invited to rejoin full-time. The new line-up embarked on a tour of Australia in 1971 as opening act for Frijid Pink.
During this period the band scored another hit with the single ‘Get Down To’, from the 1971 GRT LP Mainline: Canada Our Home & Native Land. The single hit #45 in April 1972.
In late 1971, bassist Ted Purdy replaced Sheppard and appeared on the 1972 GRT album The Mainline Bump & Grind Revue. This version of Mainline dissolved in late 1972.
In March 1973, a new entity formed, “King Biscuit Boy Meets Mainline”, with Richard “King Biscuit Boy” on vocals and harmonica, Mike McKenna on guitar and vocals, Mike Harrison on bass, and Tony Nolasco on drums. In May, former Rhinoceros/Blackstone guitarist Larry Leishman was added on guitar and vocals.
“King Biscuit Boy Meets Mainline” was booked for an Australian tour, but Richard Newell’s fear of flying prevented his participation.
In June 1973, Joe Mendelson replaced Newell for the Australian tour, so the Stink album quartet of McKenna, Mendelson, Harrison, and Nolasco was reunited (with Larry Leishman added) for the first time since December 1969.
After the Australian tour, the Biscuit Meets Mainline band reassembled for several months, but dissolved later in the year. Contrary to legend, this band never recorded or released any material.
On 31 December 1973, the quartet of McKenna, Mendelson, Harrison, and Nolasco presented “The Mainline Bump & Grind Revue” at Toronto’s Victory Burlesque Theatre. The show was broadcast the same evening on TV Ontario.
In 1974, Mendelson decided to reform the band. McKenna and Nolasco agreed, but Harrison opted out, and female bassist Leslie Soldat was recruited. This line-up, most notable for opening for Rush at Toronto’s Massey Hall, dissolved in less than a year.
In 1975, McKenna and Mendelson recorded No Substitute for Taurus Records. Produced by Mendelson and Adam Mitchell, the LP included an assortment of players including Ted Purdy on bass and Jørn Anderson on drums. The album didn’t sell; soon after McKenna and Mendelson went on to pursue separate careers.
Mendelson resumed his solo career while McKenna had brief spells with The Guess Who and The Downchild Blues Band.
In 1997, McKenna and Gerrard formed Slidewinder and recorded an LP for the Pacemaker label.
A new line up of the band was formed in late-April 1999 featuring Mike McKenna (guitar, vocals), Tony Nolaso (drums, lead vocals), Mike Harrison (bass, vocals), Ted Purdy (guitar, vocals) and Bob Adams (harp).
The band recorded a CD, Last Show @ The Elmo for Bullseye in November 2001. The CD release party was at Toronto’s Hard Rock Café in December 2002.
LP Canada, Our Home And Native Land (GRT 9230-1011) 1971
LP The Mainline Bump And Grind Revue – Live At The Victory Theatre (GRT 9230-1015) 1972
45 Get Down To/Pedalictus Rag (GRT 1233-22) 1972
45 Games of Love/O Canada (GRT 1233-32) 1972
45 Sometimes/Do My Walkin’ (Taurus 005) 1975
LP No Substitute (Taurus TR103) 1975
Advertised gigs
5-10 August 1968 – The Night Owl, Toronto
16-17 August 1968 – The Night Owl, Toronto
24-25 August 1968 – El Patio, Toronto
31 August 1968 – The Night Owl, Toronto
5-8 September 1968 – El Patio, Toronto
6 October 1968 – Massey Hall, Toronto with The Fugs and Transfusion (Gerrard’s final show as Toronto Telegram’s 19 October issue reports he’s back with The Paupers)
22-27 October 1968 – El Patio, Toronto (Harrison’s debut)
2 November 1968 – Grande Ballroom, Detroit, US with Jeff Beck, Toad and Joyful Wisdom
14-16 November 1968 – The Flick, Toronto
17 November 1968 – Rock Pile, Toronto with The Leigh Ashford Group
18-20 November 1968 – The Night Owl, Toronto
22 November 1968 – The Night Owl, Toronto
23 November 1968 – Rock Pile, Toronto with John Lee Hooker
30 November 1968 – Rock Pile, Toronto with Transfusion
1 December 1968 – Rock Pile, Toronto (“Going to England party”)
8 December 1968 – Rock Pile, Toronto with Buddy Guy (probably last show for leaving for UK)
27-28 December 1968 – Flight to Lowlands Paradise II, Margrietel Jaarbeus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Nottingham Evening Post lists the band as coming from San Francisco! Photo may be subject to copyright
26 January 1969 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham, England (debut UK gig)
Photo: Western Evening Herald. Photo may be subject to copyright
8 February 1969 – Van Dike, Plymouth, Devon
This is noted in Jonathan Hill’s book ‘Van Dike – The Life & Times of a Plymouth Club 1968-1972’
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
19 February 1969 – Speakeasy, central London
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 February 1969 – South Parade Pier, Southsea, Hants, England with The Pretty Things and The Deviants
20 February 1969 – Concorde Club, Bassett Hotel, Southampton, Hants
27 February 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire, England with Family (needs confirmation)
1 March 1969 – Van Dike, Plymouth, Devon
This is noted in Jonathan Hill’s book ‘Van Dike – The Life & Times of a Plymouth Club 1968-1972’. The group replaced Led Zeppelin who were due to play
6 March 1969 – Concorde Club, Bassett Hotel, Southampton, Hants
8 March 1969 – Bay Hotel, Sunderland, England
Photo: Surrey Advertiser. Photo may be subject to copyright
16 March 1969 – Mad Gin Mill, Angel, Godalming, Surrey, England with Six Bob Cheep
22 March 1969 – Kimbells Club, Southsea, Hants, England
26 March 1969 – Rambling Jack’s Blues Club, the Railway Hotel, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, England
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
28 March 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands, England
30 March 1969 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham, England
According to Melody Maker, the group played at the Mistrale Club in Beckenham Junction, south London before 19 April.
7 April 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London
Photo: Bournemouth Evening Echo. Photo may be subject to copyright
11 April 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
21 April 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Van Der Graaf Generator, Peter & The Alphabet, The State Express and Wall City Jazzmen
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
23 April 1969 – Toby Jug, Tolworth, Surrey, England
24 April 1969 – Concorde Club, Bassett Hotel, Southampton, Hants
25 April 1969 – Blues Loft, Nags Head, High Wycombe, Bucks, England
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
27 April 1969 – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, London with White Trash, Third Ear and many others
Photo: Swindon Advertiser. Photo may be subject to copyright
1 May 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire, England with Caravan
Photo: Bucks Free Press. Photo may be subject to copyright
9 May 1969 – Blues Loft, Nags Head, High Wycombe, Bucks, England
18 May 1969 – Mad Gin Mill, Angel, Godalming, Surrey, England with Six Bob Cheep
22 May 1969 – Concorde Club, Bassett Hotel, Southampton, Hants
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
23 May 1969 – The Lyceum, Strand, central London with The Soft Machine, Harvey Matusow’s Jews Harp Band, Mighty Baby and Procol Harum,
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
29 May 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Howlin’ Wolf and The John Dummer Blues Band
12 July 1969 – Rock Pile, Toronto (probably the band’s first show after returning from the UK)
21-24 August 1969 – Rock Pile, Toronto
26 August 1969 – Glenbriar, Waterloo, Ontario
29 August 1969 – Huron Park, Mississauga, Ontario
9-14 September 1969 – Electric Circus, Toronto
19 September 1969 – St Gabe’s, Willowdale, Ontario
20 September 1969 – Barrie Rock Festival, Barrie Central Auditorium, Barrie, Ontario with Teegarden and Vanwinkle, Leigh Ashford, Neon Rose and Milestone
1 November 1969 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
8 November 1969 – Scorpio Youth Concert, North York Centennial Centre, Toronto with Manchild, East West Project, Buckstone Hardware and Life and Creation
28 November 1969 – The Workshop at Seneca College, Toronto
30 November 1969 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
30 November 1969 – The Night Owl, Toronto
13 December 1969 – Cedabrae Collegiate, Toronto
23 December 1969 – Kiwanis Club, Hamilton, Ontario
31 December 1969 – Grande Ballroom, Detroit, US (without Mendelson) Advertised but didn’t happen
3 January 1970 – Le Hibou, Ottawa (without Mendelson) Advertised but didn’t happen
4 January 1970 – Notre Dame Hall, Ottawa with Whiskey Howl and Brimful (without Mendelson) Advertised but didn’t happen
6 January 1970 – St Gabe’s, Willowdale, Ontario
7 February 1970 – Our Lady of Fatima Hall, Toronto (without Mendelson)
Advertised gigs (As Mainline)
3 April 1970 – Dunbarton High, Toronto
11 April 1970 – Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
24 April 1970 – Electric Circus, Toronto
15 May 1970 – St Gabe’s, Willowdale, Ontario
30 May 1970 – Electric Circus, Toronto (McKenna rejoins after this show)
6 June 1970 – Scarboro Fair, Scarborough, Ontario, with Richie Havens, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Lighthouse, Edward Bear, Fludd and others
4 July 1970 – Memorial Gardens, Toronto with The Guess Who, Manchild and Balazar
17 July 1970 – Jubilee Auditorium, Oshawa, Ontario
18 July 1970 – Hidden Valley, Hunstville, Ontario
14 August 1970 – Jubilee Auditorium, Oshawa, Ontario
22 August 1970 – Le Hibou, Ottawa (as McKenna Mendelson Mainline)
I don’t think this tour of Australia and New Zealand happened. They toured in 1971 and then again in 1973
2 September 1970 – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
3 September 1970 – Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
4 September 1970 – Brisbane, Australia
5 September 1970 – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
9 September 1970 – Perth, Western Australia, Australia
11 September 1970 – Wellington, New Zealand
12 September 1970 – Auckland, New Zealand
3 October 1970 – Runnymede Secondary School, Toronto
24 October 1970 – St Gabe’s, Willowdale, Ontario
1 November 1970 – York Masonic Temple, Toronto with Mudflat (advertised but didn’t happen)
19 November 1970 – U of T Convocation Hall, Toronto with Jason
26 December 1970 – Markham United Church, Markham, Ontario
29 December 1970 – Huron Heights High School, Toronto with Jason
Huge thanks to Mike Harrison for his help with this entry. Thanks also to Mike McKenna and Tony Nolasco.
Thanks to Cole Mathieson for the Concorde Club, Southampton gigs at the Bassett Hotel.
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
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.
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).
