The Victoria Advocate had this interesting article about a promotional company, Double R Enterprises, Inc, announced by Rozy Saenz, a local musician.
It’s first show would be on April 8, 1967, featuring Larry and the Premiers from San Antonio, Ronnie and the Calientes, Ernest Zepeda and the Continentals, and the Rozy Saenz Combo.
He also planned to feature national and state-wide acts such as the Chessmen, the Zakary Thaks, and Leo and the Cymbals (Leo and the Prophets?).
If you have any photos or info on any local Texas bands of the ’60s, please comment below or contact me.
The Victoria Advocate ran this notice of a battle of the bands at the armory on April 8, 1968. Bands included the Winds of Change, Under 21, Glass Stairway and Love Street, none of whom I’ve heard of before, and I don’t believe any of them recorded.
Interesting name for the act at the American Legion that same evening, “Nasty & the Premiums”!
Fred Shields wrote to me with some information on the Glass Stairway:
The simple story is The Glass Stairway was originally named The What (very original, huh?) and we formed up in Victoria, Texas sometime around Fall/Winter of 1967/1968. We were a classic “garage” band because that’s where we practiced, along with living rooms during the winter months. Since the venues where we played were dance halls, country clubs, YMCA’s, and church sponsored youth events, our music was current tunes with a dance beat. “96 Tears”, “Gloria”, “Brown Eyed Girl”, Animals, Stones etc. Later on we started playing Doors, Jimmi Hendrix, Yardbirds, Mitch Ryder, etc. Our signature song for a long time was “Light My Fire” with very extended keyboard and guitar solos.
Originally there were five of us, me on keyboard, James on bass, Rob singer/rhythm guitar, Bobbie lead guitar, and Frankie the drummer. Frankie and I had formed a band with no success when we were approached by James and Rob who were currently in a very successful Country & Western band called The Zebras. James and Rob wanted to play Rock & Roll, which was unheard of in the local scene at that time although it was coming alive after the Beatles success. We became very popular playing in little dance places all up and down the South Texas Coast. The dream ended in the summer of 1969 when I had to leave Victoria and go to boarding school.
James and Rob and I all share the same strong memories of that time. Everyone else had different performing paths later on in life. James continues to play professionally around the Austin, Texas scene.
If you have any photos or info on any local Texas bands of the ’60s, please comment below or contact me.
“Why” / “Baby Get Your Head Screwed On” was the first single by the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania group the Legends, who are best known for their devastating 1969 psych single “High Towers” / “Fever Games”.
This lineup of the Legends was:
Larry Swartzwelder – lead guitar Dan Hartman – keyboards Derek Parsons – bass Ralph Schwartz – drums
Earlier members of the band included Dave Hartman guitar and vocals and Denny Woolridge bass; later members included Gene Brenner guitar, Joe Caloiero bass and vocals, Dave Cope on bass, and Larry Sadler on drums.
The Legends story is told elsewhere in some detail, but there is little about this release on the internet.
The A-side is an original by Dan Hartman, “Why”, featuring a soulful vocal over a backing dominated by the organ.
The Legends probably found “Baby Get Your Head Screwed On” from the version by the Double Feature, a British duo from Birmingham, Bill Hall and Brian Lake. Double Feature had two singles on Deram, both of which saw release in the US. It’s also possible the Legends heard the song on its composer Cat Stevens’ first album, Matthew and Son which also had a US release in 1967.
John Ulrich produced the single, and published “Why” through John Ulrich Music. Gene Eichelberger engineered the single, released on Up Records 2202-7-13. The single is styrene, with X-5291/2 etched in the deadwax.
Dan Hartman designed a picture sleeve with a crude b&w drawing very similar to the sleeve for the Blues Magoos “Pipe Dream”. It was not used for the single until many years later, when Billy S. reproduced the drawing with a discography on the back to sell a small amount of copies of the original single. Thank you to Thomas Grosh for sending in the scan.
PS made years after the original release.
Up Records was part of Bridge Society Records which had some other fine releases including:
The Shan-Dells ”Chimes” / “Little Girl” and their soul classic ” I’ve Got To Love Her” / “Idle Excursion” The Evil “I” – “Love Conquers All” / “Can’t Live Without You” The Legends second single, “Keep On Running” / “Cheating”
Info on band lineups from the Arf! Arf! compilation High Towers [1965-1973].
Dexter and the Derbies, January 1968, from left: Dexter Greenhaw, Dennis Brooks, Danny Ausley and Mark Gamble
Dexter and the Derbies came from Athens, Alabama, a small city about 95 miles north of Birmingham, and 99 miles south of Nashville, TN.
The Limestone Democrat newspaper featured this photo of Dexter and the Derbies on the front page of the January 23, 1968 issue. The band was part of the International Rodeo Association convention in Nashville. The members were:
Dexter Greenhaw – lead guitar Dennis Brooks – drums David (Danny) Ausley – rhythm guitar Mark Gamble – bass guitar
Dexter and the Derbies cut only one single, released in August 1967 according to Teen Beat Mayhem. The band members would have been about 12 years old when recording the songs.
The top side is the intense “Time”, written by J. Greenhaw who seems to be Dexter’s brother Johnny Greenhaw. I can’t make out all the lyrics but one verse goes “Everybody wants to be loved and romanced, but nobody, I mean nobody will give a second chance”.
Rochelle Frazier and Buck Peddy wrote “They Wouldn’t Dare”, registering the song on December 9, 1965, almost two years before Dexter & the Derbies recorded it. The lyrics tred similar ground to the Barbarians’ “Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl” from earlier that year.
The girls wear pants now and also shirts, Pretty soon the boys will be wearing skirts. Now don’t tell me that they wouldn’t dare, If you don’t think they would take a look at their hair.
Now you don’t touch when you dance these days, In fact your partner moves far away. How can you hold anybody tight, When they twist and turn right out of your sight.
You ask your neighbor if that’s his girl, She looks so pretty with her long blonde curls. That’s when you feel when like you ought to run, When he says “that’s not my daughter, it’s my teenage son!”
Now don’t tell me that they wouldn’t dare, If you don’t think they would take a look at their hair.
Buck Peddy wrote songs with Mel Tillis among others. He seems to have produced this single, and his Peddy Music published both songs. Released on Derby Records 1313 out of Nashville, Tennessee, the labels show Sound of Nashville master numbers SoN 48941/2.
Dexter Greenhaw graduated high school in 1973, then studied music at the University of North Alabama. He directed the band at Clements High School, and also had a band called Denim. Dexter passed away in March, 2007 of ALS at the young age of 52.
The 1967 Levi Strauss & Co. Salesman’s Record is well-known for its tracks by the Jefferson Airplane, Sopwith Camel and West Coast Natural Gas. That was a 10″ LP, and certain of the Airplane’s tracks were also released in 7″ and 12″ formats. Levi Strauss & Co. was based in San Francisco so it made sense to use local bands for their ads.
In 1968 Levi Strauss released a 7″ Salesman’s record with five short songs, this time without any artist credits that I know of. It was released with an art sleeve of a pattern of horses & cowboys arranged in rings. I don’t know what was on the back of the sleeve as I do not own it.
The 1968 record has some good music, but the songs and ad concept are more generic in style than the 1967 record. Two of the songs sound to me like they were recorded by an actual rock band, not studio musicians. Each music track seems to have been recorded separately from the vocals, as each commercial is followed by 20 seconds or so of music tracks without the vocals, unfortunately at a lower level. Here excerpts from each side below.
I have on good authority that the backing track for “Levi Slim Fits (White Levi’s)” was the Family Stone without Sly, with Freddie Stone leading the band.
I’d be interested to know who played on this record. There could be some local artist connections as on the 1967 record. If you have any information or even an educated guess please comment or contact me. Also please contact if you have a good scan of the sleeve.
I can’t find any information on Bobby and the Blue Denims, who cut this single of sax-and-guitar instrumentals. “Stop and Go” is a good bluesy original by Robert B. Hardy. The flip is “Rail Road Rock” arranged by W. Pierce. Cedarwood published both songs.
Released on Statue SR-7637, the L8OW code indicates this was an RCA custom pressing from 1960.
Statue had an address of 146 7th Avenue, North Nashville, Tennessee, which was simply the address of Cedarwood Pub. at the time.
The Aggregation cut two fine originals, “Candlestickstomp” and “You Lied to Me” for the Dynamic Sound label of Long Island, NY.
Members were:
Russell Javors – lead guitar Bob Wenmouth – rhythm guitar Ken Rosenberg – lead vocals and bass Jim Carey – drums
As you can see, my copy did not arrive in very good condition.
The Aggregation playing at a school dance
There was very little information about them until I heard from Ken Rosenberg, who sent in the photos seen here and wrote to me about the band:
This is Kenny Rosenberg, better known now as Kenny Owens since 1981, ’82. The group came out of Plainview, NY right next to Hicksville. I was the lead singer & bassist, Russell Javors played lead guitar, Bob Wenmouth played rhythm and Jim Carey played drums. We were pretty young, Jim was I think 13 the rest of us a little older. Russell a year younger than Bob and me. Jim and Bob are no longer present on earth.
The band used to play high school dances and parties and town pool events. Entered the battle of the bands, came in 2nd the first time, next year came in 1st.
We used to practice at 30 Eldorado Blvd in the Carey’s converted garage. We were big fans of the Mersey Sound.
The studio was in a modest house in Hicksville, recorded in the basement and the owner had his own pressing machine. That’s how I remember it.
We also recorded a 5 song acetate. Bob’s wife has a copy. Jim’s family has a copy. I let mine go years ago, in some landfill in Oyster Bay. One of the songs exists with “Candlestick Stomp” in a ten minute indie film … called American Sugar. “In This Placing” was the tune. The Careys tracked me down so they could use it in the film. I do remember we did a version of the stones “The Last Time”.
In answer about other 60’s bands I was in, I was the lead singer for a band called The Clique, we opened for The Young Rascals at Plainview High School, fun show.
Currently I’m an Americana singer-songwriter living in Hendersonville, TN. I record and make records and CD’s when I can. My site is kennyowensthewheatpennies.com .
Ken Rosenberg wrote “Candlestickstomp”. Russ Javors, Ken Rosenberg and Wenmouth collaborated on “You Lied to Me”.
Russ Javors later played guitar in Billy Joel’s band for many years.
The Aggregation at a battle-of-the-bands
The Dynamic Sound label
The “WElls 8-7108” phone number on the labels indicates Dynamic Sound was based in Plainview, Jericho or Hicksville, NY.
I know of two released 45s:
Dynamic Sound DY-105 – Aggregation – “You Lied to Me” / “Candlestick Stomp” Dynamic Sound DY-106 – Born Mean – “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” / “Shapes of Things” (a Rite vinyl pressing)
I’ve heard four acetate demos from Dynamic Sound, these three have the Wells exchange on the Dynamic Sound label:
The 5 of Us – “One of a Kind” / “But He Promised” Satan & the Body Snatchers – “Little Young Girl” / “In the Summertime” The Un-Called Four – “Since You’ve Been Gone” / “Masters of War”
This acetate I’ve heard (and both cuts are excellent) but haven’t seen the label:
The Gothics – “Mover” (instrumental) / “Watch Me Now”
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There was a Dynamic Sound label that released singles such as James Ray’s “I’ve Got My Mind Set On You”. Those usually have a “Hutch Davie” production logo and date to a few years earlier.
I doubt there’s any connection with the Dynamic Sound label of Milwaukee, WI.
There are at least two releases from Ohio that feature a Dynamic Sound label. The Born Mean cut “Shape Of Things” / “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” in 1966. The band may have been from New York but the release on Dynamic Sound 1068 was a Rite pressing from Cincinnati. Then in 1969 comes the Crystal Rain with “You & Me” / “World On Fire” on Dynamic Sound 91101.
My broken copy of the Aggregation was shipped from Ohio so I wonder if there could be some connection?
The Rimfires had one great single, featuring the rocking vocal “Bandstand Step” backed with “Un-Gowa”.
Members probably included:
Robert Wantuch – drums Theodore Michael Broskey Ted Niemann
Ted Broskey is credited with writing “Un-Gowa” on the label, but BMI’s database for Cedarlane publishing also has Bob Wantuch listed as writer.BMI shows “Bandstand Step” written by all three members.
Released on Sounds of the Rimfires, the code R3KM-9159/60 indicates the 1964 date. I don’t have the record but I assume there is an “I” in the deadwax to indicate RCA’s Indianapolis pressing plant.
The band came from South Bend, Indiana.
Bobby Wantuch’s LinkedIn profile shows he drummed with the Rivieras, Clark Terry, Thad Jones and others besides the Rimfires. In more recent years he is listed as Team Leader at Musicians Friend.
A notice in the South Bend Tribune from May 1, 1964 advertises a “Teenage Rock n Roll Dance” with music by the Rimfires.
A January 1966 article in the same paper lists local bands: the Rimfires, Ravens, Teen- Tones, Trade Winds, Fugitives and Soul Seekers.
The Tradewinds cut “Oop Oop a Doo” / “Floatin'” on Destination 620 in March, 1966.
There was a Fugitives band from Bloomington that released “Sticks and Stones” / “Lonely Weekends” on Dust 1050, but this may be a different band – Fugitives, like the Ravens, being a common band name.
That’s All Rite Mama has an article on the Teen-Tones, listing their three 45s and members: “Mike Ryan on vocal and sax, Ken Kidder on Wurlitzer Piano, Tom Hemminger on Lead, Roger Lacky on Rhythm, Lew Kimble on Drums.”
T&T stands for Tune and Talent Productions, Paul E. Hertel’s publishing and promotion company. That’s All Rite Mama mentions Paul Hertel also managed the Rimfires and that the band became the Music Project.
I could use quality scans of the Rimfires 45 labels.
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 Victoria Advocate had this interesting article about a promotional company, Double R Enterprises, Inc, announced by Rozy Saenz, a local musician.
