The Other Side came from Tulia, Texas, a small town south of Amarillo and north of Lubbock. The Tulia Herald profiled the group on November 9, 1967.
Members were:
Kennth Bean – lead guitar Paul Sharp – organ Perry Russell – bass and band “showman” Bill Cruce – drums
I don’t believe the group recorded, but it’s encouraging that they had three Kinks songs in their live repertoire.
This is NOT the same group as the Other Side who cut “I Can’t See You” / “Your Faith So Strong” on Warlock Records ACA 6250 in October, 1966. That group came from Victoria, TX, almost 600 miles away and included Tobias Henderson, Bill Gaida, Leroy Materanek, John Wells, Terry Wells, and Gary Vancleave
The New Diablos came from East Baltimore, Maryland, making two excellent psychedelic singles during their time together.
The band went through many lineup changes but included as many as eight people at one point:
Bub Deskin – lead vocals Bill Bell – lead guitar Bobby Peter – rhythm guitar Wayne Smith – bass George Dobash Jr. – drums Dave Smith – keyboards Norm Snyder – saxophone Tim Cech – saxophone
Their first single contained vocal and instrumental versions of “Land of Love”, song writing credits to Serpents Inc., Edw. E. Medcaff (or Ed Metcalffe). It seems Bob Deskin brought this song with him from his prior band, the Serpents. Saxophones are absent from both their singles, but this one has flute to accompany the lead vocal.
The New Diablos released “Land of Love” on Littlefields Records RI 2759, with Alfred L. Cullen credited for production and publishing “at White Marsh, MD”. George Dobash, Sr at 823 Lannerton Road in Baltimore has arrangement credit.
Their next single may have come as late as 1970. “Tangerine Guides” and “I’m Fake” have touches of psychedelia and soul. Bill Bell and George Dobash wrote both songs (Dodash on the label is a typo). I’m still trying to puzzle out the lyrics to “I’m Fake”.
It was recorded at Virtue Recording Studios at 1618 N. Broad St., Philadelphia and released on Frank Virtue’s Fayette label, F-9370. D. Hutch gets producer credit.
The band continued into the ’70s with some lineup changes.
All four of the Valiants songs were composed by Jerry Gillespie. The band was probably based in Lebanon, Tennesee, east of Nashville. They definitely sound like a real group, not a studio creation.
Members included Gary Gillespie, his cousin Jerry Gillespie, Jim Ladas and Donnie Scarlett.
Their first single was “I’m Getting Tired of You” / “All Night Long” MusiCenter 3102 from 1965 (RCA custom pressing SK4M-3501), produced by label owner Murray Nash.
Both songs are listed with By-Nash of Nashville BMI, though I don’t see copyright listings for either. According to an article on Mellow’s Log Cabin site, Murray Nash had Kenny Norton cover both songs, but these do not seem to have been released. Kenny Norton was a young singer from Texas who had a single on MusiCenter 3104, “To Know You” / “Oonie, Oonie, Yah, Yah, Yah”.
In May of 1966, the Valiants had their second release, “Don’t Make the Same Mistake” / “I’ll Return to You” on Dot 45-16884 (MB-20860/1).
Although “Don’t Make the Same Mistake” has song writing credits by Jerry Gillespie with Cedarwood Publishing (BMI) while “I’ll Return to You” is credited to Wayne Gillespie with Ivory Pub. Co. (Sesac), it seems likely this is the same person, Jerry Wayne Gillespie, from Decatur, Alabama who penned a good number of big country hits in the ’70s and ’80s. I suppose the Valiants were his first group, but do not have any information on that yet.
The sticker from the German division of Peer Music is interesting, however this did not see release in Europe, and even the US single on Dot is very rare now.
Produced by John E. Denny and Noel Ball as “A Jed Record Production”; they also produced the Mod Rockers “Lover’s Lane” (Kenneth Ball) / “Stop And Smell The Flowers” (David Ball) released on Dot Records 45-16907 only a month or two after the Valiants single.
John E. Denny produced the Uncalled For’s classic “Do Like Me” (by Larry Welding and Tollie Lee) for Laurie Records, as well as many country recordings.
18 March 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Irma Thomas and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)
23 March 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)
17 April 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham News)
1 May 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hampshire (Camberley News)
14 May 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Dianne Ferraz, Nicky Scott & The Untamed and The Anzaks (Lincolnshire Standard)
11 June 1966 – Unknown venue, Cromford, Derbyshire (Poster)
12 June 1966 – Bluesette Club, Leatherhead, Surrey (Poster from John Treais)
19 June 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
25 June 1966 – Co-Op Hall, Chesham, Bucks with The Framed (needs source)
10 July 1966 – The Micronest, Swiss Cottage, London with The Pieces Fit (Melody Maker)
In mid-July Ralph Denyer split with The Rockhouse Band and linked up with The Uptown Band, who were remnants of The Arthur Brown Union
15 July 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham with Solomon Burke (backed by Bluesology) (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Ralph Denyer’s Uptown Band
16 July 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Ralph Denyer’s Uptown Band
5 August 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club (Nottingham Evening Post)
6 August 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Says from Rufus Thomas tour
The Rockhouse Band
16 September 1966 – Mick’s Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Kentish Express) Billed as The Original Rockhouse
I know very little about this band and would welcome any further information in the comments below
The original Just Four. Left to right: John Towell; Kenny Davis; Alan Chamberlain and Bernie Jory. Thanks to Alan Chamberlain
Alan Chamberlain – lead vocals
Bernie Jory – lead guitar
Colin Cookson – rhythm guitar
John Towell – bass
Hans Herbert – drums
This was as Dalston, north London band and also included two sax players, including one called Graham either before or after Herbert worked with them.
They were formerly known as The Just Four and featured a drummer called Kenny Davis. Herbert hailed from Ealing and had previously worked with The Flexmen. Before joining, he worked with The Rumours.
Herbert recalls how he came to take over from Kenny Davis: “I got a call which must have been from Alan Chamberlain,” he says. “They had a radio show to do in London in a studio on Tottenham Court Road or somewhere and they didn’t have a drummer. My name popped up somehow, probably through Jim Marshall’s shop. I did the session and they asked me to stay with them, which I did.”
In early 1966, Herbert says he did a studio session with The Animals when John Steel left but Barry Jenkins from The Nashville Teens got the job.
The Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette ran a story on The Guests in its 24 June 1966 issue, page 2. The newspaper notes that the group recorded two tracks at Decca Recording Studios in mid-June; a cover of Ray Davies “When I See That Girl of Mine” c/w “Solitude”. It says the single is due for release in late July/early August.
The paper says The Guests have already played at Tiles Club, Oxford Street, Wimbledon Palais, High Wycombe Town Hall, Leystonstone Baths and the Rambling Rose Club. It also says they practise at Southall Community Centre every Tuesday evening.
Herbert recalls that during his time with The Guests, the group backed Edwin Starr, and (possibly) Ben E King and The Drifters, including at the Twisted Wheel in Manchester (most likely 18 October 1966). He also says that his mother helped secure some of the gigs.
11 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (Melody Maker)
24 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Fleur De Lys and C-Jam Blues Band (Melody Maker)
8 October 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Robert Parker and Wynder K Frog (website: https://www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/gigs-1966.htm) Alan Chamberlain remembers they appeared backing Robert Parker
15 October 1966 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with Bluesology (Kentish Express)
16 October 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Backed Edwin Starr for a week around this time
4 November 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Graham Bond Organisation (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
30 January 1963 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Eleanor & The Sapphires (Luton News)
2 March 1963 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Johnny & The Starliners (Stevenage Gazette)
27 March 1963 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Johnny & Mike & The Shades (Stevenage Gazette)
22 November 1963 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Valiants (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
7 March 1964 – Rex Ballroom, Cambridge with The Inmates (Cambridge News)
5 April 1964 – Starlite Club, Penge, Kent (Clapham Advertiser)
18 April 1964 – Corn Exchange, King’s Lynn, Norfolk with The Puppets and Larry Bond & The Trojans (Lynn News)
27 June 1964 – Corn Exchange, King’s Lynn, Norfolk with The Verdicts (Lynn News)
4 July 1964 – Cherry Tree Hotel, Welwyn, Welwyn Garden City, Herts with Annette & The Keymen (Welwyn Times & Hatfield Herald)
13 November 1964 – Polydor Club, Town Hall, Berkhamsted, Herts (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)
A very obscure band that came from the Egham, Surrey/Staines, Middlesex area, which is west of London.
According to the Staines & Egham News paper, the roots of Jeep Rongle can be found in Group Four, who came together in January 1964.
This group comprised Brian Shepherd (lead guitar), Alan Welch (keyboards), Glen Curran (bass), Jim Park (drums) and two other musicians – Phil Rodgers and Geoff Hartman.
After personnel changes, they became The Motives in early 1965 and then The Method before changing name to Jeep Rongle in January 1966.
In March 1966, the line-up comprised:
Ron Prior – lead vocals (ex-The Legends)
Roger Tinkler – lead guitar (ex-The Legends)
Glen Curran – bass
Jim Park – drums
Later that year, Glen Curran left to form The Trendbender Band, who later recorded for Decca as Barney J Barnes & The Intro (where he was reunited with Brian Shepherd).
Photo: Ron Prior
Pete Pentis took over bass and was with the band when they were profiled in January 1967. The group continued to at least July of that year before splitting.
Very little is known about this group, which I think came from Croydon in south London. Singer Patrick Dane had previously sung with The Quiet Five.
Patrick Dane & The Mark 7 recorded a lone 45 “When You Lose The One You Love” c/w “Home” which was issued on MGM in the UK on 19 April 1968. The two sides were arranged by Keith Mansfield and produced by Richard Swainson.
In late 1968, the group I believe morphed into the Front Line Band. At some point, former Warren Davis Monday Band member Bruce Usherwood played bass with the group.
I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add more about the group.
Billed as Patrick Dane & The Mark 7
26 July 1968 – International Students’ House, Great Portland Street, London (Melody Maker)
28 July 1968 – Tabby’s, Ealing, London (Melody Maker)
9 August 1968 – Harrow Inn, Abbey Wood, southeast London (Melody Maker)
Billed as Patrick Dane & The Front Line Band
15 November 1968 – ICL Ltd, Letchworth (Melody Maker)
30 November 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London (Melody Maker)
2 December 1968 – Tithe Barn, South Harrow, northwest London (Melody Maker)
4 December 1968 – Blighs Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent (Melody Maker)
5 December 1968 – City of London College, Moorgate, central London (Melody Maker)
6 December 1968 – International Students’ House, Great Portland Street, London (Melody Maker)
7 December 1968 – Holborn College, central London (Melody Maker)
22 December 1968 – King Alfred, Bellingham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
26 December 1968 – Surrey Room, Kennington, Surrey (South East London Mercury)
9 March 1969 – Crystal Palace Hotel, Crystal Palace, south London (South East London Mercury) Billed as The Front Line Band
29 March 1969 – Greenwich Town Hall, Greenwich, south London (South East London Mercury) Billed as The Front Line Band
5 July 1969 – British Council Portland Place, central London (Melody Maker)
24 July 1969 – Crystal Palace Hotel, Crystal Palace, south London (Melody Maker)
Billed as The Front Line Band:
23 September 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (Melody Maker)
19 October 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (Melody Maker)
Formed as The Richard Henry Sensation around April 1966 with the following line-up:
Richard Henry (aka Richard Henry Dejohnette) – lead vocals
David O’List – lead guitar (ex-Little Boy Blues)
Colin ? – Farifisa organ
Alan Wherry – tenor saxophone
Don Stuart – tenor saxophone
Dave Aldhouse – bass
Mick Mitchell – drums
July – Café des Artistes, Earls Court, London (Tuesday nights)
30 July 1966 – Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex (Melody Maker)
Around this time, the band brought in a new keyboard player from Rickmansworth
25 September 1966 – New Crawdaddy, Casino Ballroom, Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex (Melody Maker)
15 October 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Blue Aces and Nite People (Melody Maker)
16 October 1966 – Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex (Melody Maker)
26 November 1966 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts (Luton News)
Soon after, David O’List joins The Soul System and renames them The Attack. Wherry joins The Harlem Shuffle (which had been formed in May 1966 by Alan Shacklock) and then Simon K & The Meantimers.
Richard Henry joins Timebox around early January 1967. He later joins The Cat Soul Packet before recording as a solo artist
The Burgundy Blues were the recording name of a Miami, Florida group called the Amen. Members included:
Tim Yero – lead guitar, lead vocals Bob Lewis – bass Bill Sabella – organ Keith Van Schaick – drums, replaced by Burt Compton
Tim Yero wrote “I’ll Get You Back Again” and “Nothing Without You”, published by Artrec BMI with copyright registrations on September 27, 1966.
Ron Deeb produced the band’s sessions at Dukoff Recording Studios in North Miami. They were well known locally as the Amen, but Deeb changed their name to the Burgundy Blues as more commercial; the band only played two or three shows with that name. Yero estimated a pressing run of 500 copies, on Deeb’s Argee Records 100. From what I’ve read, many demo recordings of the Amen performing Tim’s original songs exist, including a very different early arrangement of “I’ll Get You Back Again” recorded at Voice Incorporated studio, but I haven’t heard any of them.
The band broke up when Tim Yero was drafted.
Eric Sabella would join Jerald Cohn, Ronald Chassner, Ken Thomas, Rick Thomas and Alberto DeAlmar in the Leaves of Grass who cut two singles on Platinum in 1968. From that group came the Metaphysical Animation with Sabella, Alberto DeAlmar, Steve Margolis and Robbie Hansen. In 1973, Metaphysical Animation recorded about 60 minutes of music at Ben Scott Studios, which was pressed up on two LPs in a plain sleeve, now very rare.
Anyone have photos of the group?
Source: much information is available through searching in the Limestone Lounge.
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
