Categories: England, Middlesex

Orange Rainbow

December 6, 2016 Nick Warburton 35 Comments

Alan Ray – lead vocals

Kenny Surmon – lead guitar (replaced by Geoff Foster)

Terry May – keyboards

Dave Goodman – bass

Martin Hayles – trumpet

Robin Lawrence – tenor sax

Rodney Barrett – trombone

Tony Hampton – drums (replaced by Martin Bryan)

George Russell – alto sax (played on and off 1969-1970)

John Barter – tenor and baritone sax (played on and off 1969-1970)

Orange Rainbow at the Railway Hotel (Iron Bridge), Southall, Middlesex — Orange Rainbow at the Railway Hotel (Iron Bridge), Southall, west London

Orange Rainbow were a west London soul band that had worked as The Bluesville Soul Band, changing name around late March 1969.

Little is known about the group and Garage Hangover would welcome any additional information.

According to tributes to the late Dave Goodman, who went on to become sound engineer for the Sex Pistols, Orange Rainbow began as seven-piece group.

Frinton Bassett Blues in Feltham in 1967. Photo from Scot and Patricia Whetton

Goodman had started out with The Frinton Bassett Blues band, who were profiled in the 22 September 1967 edition (page 2) of the Middlesex Chronicle, Hounslow Edition.

The article lists the band’s seven-piece line up as Steve Crawford (lead vocals); Alan Cook (lead guitar); Dave Goodman (bass); Denis Smithers (drums); Pete Watson (alto sax); Ray Johnson (tenor sax) and an unnamed keyboard player.

According to the newspaper, The Frinton Bassett Blues Band had been formed around the spring of 1966 and added the sax players in the summer of 1967, prompting the slight name change to New Frinton Bassett Blues Band.

Goodman and Martin Hayles (who had joined later) subsequently worked with The Bluesville Soul Band, which formed the nucleus of Orange Rainbow.

Article on The Bluesville Show Band, Kingston and Malden Borough News, 12 July 1968

Alan Ray had started out with The Keyes (sometimes spelt Keys), who also included guitarist Geoff Foster and keyboard player Terry May.

However, around December 1967, Geoff Foster left to play with west Londoners The Casuals (Frankie Reid’s former group) and Terry May joined The James Royal Set and then The Huckle Buck Band.

Alan Ray put together The Bluesville Soul Band with lead guitarist Kenny Surmon; sax player Robin Lawrence; trumpet player Martin Hayles; bass player Dave Goodman; and drummer Tony Hampton. Terry May joined in July 1968. Rodney Barrett joined soon after.

Alan Ray and Kenny Surmon (plus Geoff Foster who was playing in The Army after Steve Priest left to join The Sweet) all auditioned for Tangerine Peel around this time but turned the offer to join down.

The Kingston & Malden Borough News, which profiled the band in its 12 July 1968 issue, lists the following gigs:

20 July 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, southwest London

3 August 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London

17 August 1968 – Apple Tree Land, Staines, Middlesex with Way In and Souvenir Badge Factory (Staines & Egham News)

27 September 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London

21 December 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, southwest London

Around March 1969, Geoff Foster took over from Kenny Surmon and Martin Bryan replaced Tony Hampton. Later this month they became Orange Rainbow.

According to Goodman’s webpages, Orange Rainbow toured the UK extensively and even worked on the continent. They also backed Ben E King, The Drifters, Nicky Thomas, The Flirtations and The Fantastics (from mid-1970 onwards after Pip Williams’ band, The House of Orange). Orange Rainbow also supported The Four Seasons and The Jackson Five on UK tours.

Left to right: Rodney Barrett, Martin Hayles and Robin Lawrence

From mid-July to early August 1969, the band was booked to perform at the Ye Ye Club in Rimini, Italy for three weeks. Geoff Foster also remembers the musicians playing at Sloopy’s Disco in Manchester, the Place in Hanley, Staffordshire and the Pavilion Ballroom in Gillingham, Kent.

Orange Rainbow played Sunday lunchtimes at the Railway Hotel in Southall, west London and were also regulars at Samantha’s in central London.

orange-rainbow-from-1968 Geoff Foster’s former band mates in the Army, George Russell and John Barter worked with the band on and off throughout 1969-1970 but never officially joined as permanent members. All three left during 1970.

Orange Rainbow continued into the early Seventies during which time the group underwent many personnel changes (see comments below). Dave Rose took over from Terry May on keyboards and Graham Board replaced Martin Bryan on drums. Eventually, the group morphed into Polecat.

Left to right: Martin Bryan, Dave Goodman and Geoff Foster

Selected gigs

5 April 1969 – Hay Makers Hoedown, Lake Farm, Blechingley, Surrey (Surrey Mirror and County Post)

18 April 1969 – Addlestone Community Centre, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

26 April 1969 – Kingston College of Technology, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London with Episode Six and The Giant (Melody Maker)

10 May 1969 – Pavilion Ballroom, Gillingham, Kent

8 June 1969 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

28 June 1969 – Railway Hotel, Southall, west London

28 July 1969 – Ye Ye Scandinavian Club, Rimini, Italy with Root and Jenny Jackson (Poster)

6 August 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Sunnyside (Evening Sentinel)

7-8 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)

11 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)

14 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)

17 August 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

26 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)

29 August 1969 – George Hotel, Walsall, West Midlands (Walsall Observer & South Staffordshire Chronicle)

31 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)

10 September 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The All-Round (Evening Sentinel)

An article in the Horncastle Target, dated 26 September 1969, page 2, says the band are due to play in Denmark in November. It also says that they have played the Scotch of St James.

15 November 1969 – Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

16 January 1970 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

1 February 1970 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire (Retford Times/John Kirk’s book “Another Saturday Night”)

5 February 1970 – Acorn Club, RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire with The Stack (Cambridge Evening News)

14 February 1970 – Barn Dance Hall, Penzance, Cornwall (West Briton and Royal Cornwall Gazette)

21 March 1970 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with James King (Birmingham Evening Mail)

2 April 1970 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with Rare Bird (Birmingham Evening Mail)

6 May 1970 – Mackadown, Birmingham with Toyshop (Birmingham Evening Mail)

An article in the Horncastle Target, dated 8 May 1970, page 2, says the band has played gigs in Wigan, Birmingham and Wolverhampton and have just been booked to back US vocal group, The Invatations (formerly The Original Drifters).

The line up is listed as:

Alan Ray – lead vocals

Peter Wrigley – lead guitar

David Rose – keyboards/vocals

Dave Goodman – bass

Martin Hughes – trumpet/vocals

Robin Lawrence – tenor sax

Rodney Barrett – trombone

Graham Broad – drums

28 June 1970 – Up the Junction, Crewe, Cheshire (Chester Chronicle)

1 August 1970 – Starlight Room, Gliderdrome Boston, Lincolnshire with Nicky Thomas (Lincolnshire Echo)

8 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury) They play next four Saturdays

15 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

22 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

29 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

20 September 1970 – Blue Orchid, Nottingham (Guardian Journal)

December 1970 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with The Fantastics (Retford Times/John Kirk’s book “Another Saturday Night”)

7 February 1971 – Theatre Royal, Nottingham with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Fantastics and Mike Felix (Nottingham Evening Post)

19 February 1971 – Odeon Birmingham, Birmingham with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Fantastics and Mike Felix (Birmingham Evening Mail)

20 February 1971 – Odeon Hammersmith, Hammersmith, west London with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Fantastics and Mike Felix (Marylebone & Paddington Mercury)

16 May 1971 – Wallsend Rising Sun Welfare Club, Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

20 May 1971 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull with The Fantastics and The Incredible Station (Hull Daily Mail)

24 July 1971 – Whitchurch Civic Centre, Whitchurch, Cheshire with The Fantastics (Chester Chronicle)

11 December 1971 – Drill Hall, Lincoln, Lincolnshire with The Fantastics (Lincolnshire Echo)

1 January 1972 – Birtley Rex Social Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

An article in the Horncastle Target, dated 23 June 1972, page 22, lists the band playing at the London Palladium with The Four Seasons and The Fantastics

16 July 1972 – White Horse Inn, Cranswick, Hull with The Fantastics (Hull Daily Mail)

I would like to thank Geoff Foster for helping with the story and supplying the excellent photos.

Orange Rainbow, mid 1970s. Back, left to right: Bob Gorman, Graham Broad (drummer from Feltham), Robin Lawrence (sax from Hanworth) Dave Goodman (bass from Feltham), Derek ? Front, left to right: Martin Hayles, Mel Day and Paul Sheath. Photo from Mel Day.

Categories: Brooklyn, Capco, New York, New York City, Rossi Sound Studio

The Cloudwalkers “Sunglasses”

December 3, 2016 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

The Cloudwalkers came from the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. They cut one single, the harp-driven “Sunglasses” b/w
“Never Told Me So” on Capco 106 in mid-1965.

“Sunglasses” isn’t the same song as the Cramps’ “Sunglasses After Dark” but I’d like to think there was some influence there. The single made it to #49 in Record World’s “Singles Coming Up” chart.

Members included Chris Welch and Peter Polizzano, who wrote both songs on their single, plus Pete Frias.

“Never Told Me So” is a fine Buddy Holly influenced rocker.

George Napolitano of the Ox-Bow Incident told me that Pete Frias was the guitar instructor and mentor of many musicians in the neighborhood, and also was guitarist for Jimmy & the Jesters, a group that often played the Peppermint Lounge. George also thought the Cloudwalkers single was recorded at Rossi Sound Studios at 2005 West 8th Street and Avenue T in Brooklyn.

The labels note “A Billyjo Production”. The engineer for the session was Joe Venneri, who was a guitarist for the Tokens during their early days, then became an engineer at Incredible Sound Studio, Mira Studios and Mercury Records.

Chris Welch and Peter Polizzano registered both songs with the Library of Congress on July 2, 1965. Publishing came through Calboy Music, BMI, owned by Joe Calcagno who also owned the Capco Records label.

An ad in Billboard in November 9, 1965 lists Capco Hitsound Records at Southard Ave in Rockville Center, NY. The label was promoting Capco 108, Irv Goodman’s “Hava Nagilah” / “Sugar Blues au Go Go” produced by Jimmie Haskell.

Singles by the Crossfires, the Don Rays and others on a green Capco label, circa 1963, come from a Los Angeles company probably not associated with Joe Calcagno.

I’d appreciate any further info on the Cloudwalkers.

Categories: Kentucky, Lebanon Junction, Music Mountain

The Sound of the Zounds

December 2, 2016 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

The Zounds released their only single in June of 1967. “Me and My Girl” is the more uptempo side, while the organ leads the melody for “Love Has Found Me”. Both have fine performances by the band and singer, though the lead guitar and rolling drums on “Me and My Girl” stand out. The horn sounds a little out of place on “Me and My Girl” but fits in better on the flip.

The group came from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky, about 25 miles south of Louisville.

I’ve seen a photo of the group as a six-piece. I had an incomplete lineup listing until Roger Smith commented below. Members were:

David Berry – bass & vocal
Roger Smith – guitar
Wayne Hawkins – organ
Doug Hawkins – drums
Wayne Fernback – trumpet

Michael Giorgio – backing vocals
C.W. Warden – backing vocals

I’d read Thomas Troutman was a member but Roger did not recall him.

David Berry and Roger Smith wrote “Me and My Girl”; Doug Hawkins and W. Hawkins wrote “Love Has Found Me”. Both songs published through Falis City Music Co. BMI.

The Music Mountain labels list the band as The Sound of the Zounds. Music Mountain was a recording studio in Lebanon Junction run by Bill Masden with Grant Watson engineer. It was active into the 1970s. The U4KM-9950 shows this was a custom RCA pressing.

I looked for mention of the band in local newspapers and could only find one reference from the Louisville Courier-Journal on August 6, 1967. The discussion of the ‘combo contest’ lists a number of local groups, but limits coverage to the winner, the Frogs from Jeffersonville, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville. The Frogs never recorded to my knowledge but their performance on WHAS is sometimes available on youtube.

‘Frogs’ Jump to Win ‘Crusade’ Combo Spot
If their Jeffersonville neighbors knew what 17 teen-age talent judges know, they’d be more tolerant when The Frogs roar into a practice session. This guitar-banging, organ-pounding, drum-beating quintet last night topped seven other finalists in the second annual WHAS Crusade for Children combo contest, combining the loud and the soft in today’s Mod music taste. The selection by the teen-age panel on an hour-long WHAS program makes them the best among more than 90 area combos which auditioned for a place among the eight finalists.
Popular as they may be among the younger set, the “Monkee-suited” group has its problems with the older generation. “It’s kind of tough to find a place to practice,” leader Douglas Decker, 18, of 608 Kewanna Drive, Jeffersonville, said. They’ve tried basements and backyards, but the sound of The Frogs isn’t always in tune with the neighbors. Right now they’re practicing in Doug’s basement. “The folks don’t mind, as long as we practice and don’t goof around,” Doug said. “Of course they bug out when we start to play.”
Other finalists were The Zounds, of Lebanon Junction; the Cavaliers, The Silhouettes, The Dynamic Imperials and The Dark Shadows, of Louisville; The Exotics, of Leitchfield; and… “I thought The Dark Shadows were going to win,” Decker, the base guitarist, said. But the other members of his group were convinced that The Dynamic Imperials were the combo to beat.
Other members of the winning Frogs are: Rhythm guitarist Rob Roby, 16, of Utica Pike, Jeffersonville; lead guitarist David Rowan, of 210 Spickert Knobs Road, New Albany; organist John Shaughnessy, 17, of 716 Roma Ave., Jeffersonville; and drummer Richard Wolfe, 17, of 401 Chippewa Drive, Jeffersonville. While they reluctantly admit- their zany outfits are patterned after the famed Monkees, The Frogs’ favorite big-name groups are The Beatles and The Young Rascals. They organized their group only six months ago, although most of them had played with other combos which drifted apart. Shaughnessy had been a member of the Centrics, last year’s winners, before that group competed in the 1966 Crusade combo contest. The Frogs will be one of the acts to perform on this year’s WHAS and WHAS-TV Crusade for Children program Sept. 23-24. Last year’s Crusade provided $415,592 in charity for handicapped children of Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

The Marquis from Louisville could be the Marquee Monsters who recorded “I Love The Beat” (B. Cason) b/w a favorite of mine, “Laws and Restrictions” (Mac Gayden and Bill Fennell) on Our Bag Records in Sept. 1966.

Categories: Iris, Salt Lake City, Utah

Blue “Anything For You” on Iris Records

December 1, 2016 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Blue came from Salt Lake City, Utah. An ad with a photo of the group appeared in the Deseret News on June 5, 1968 and the Salt Lake Tribune on June 6:

“Blue” appearing in person at Kmart
Friday … 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. – June 7th
Starring – Scott Peterson, Fred Lampropulas, Aaron Boswell and Jerry Seare
“Blue” will play their new recording “SAD ‘BOUT US” and “EVERYTHING FOR YOU.”
also autograph their new 45 R.P.M. recording
OUR REG. 77c ea. – 63c ea.

Blue do a fine version of the Who’s “Sad ‘Bout Us” keeping the harmonies and frantic drumming of the original. Not many bands covered this song at the time, at least on record.

For the flip they have a good original song, “Anything For You” (by Fred Lampropoulos, Jerry Seare, Aaron Boswell and Scott Peterson) featuring two strong instrumental breaks. The production of the record doesn’t do justice to the performances.

Released on Iris Records IR-1036 with a BMI credit on “Anything For You”.

Iris Records also released the Sounds Unreal’s “Scene of the Crime” (Tom Wright) / “On and On” in January 1967 on Iris 1005, and the Starks “Shelly Belly” / “Hop Skippin Lulu” (both words by T. Sandquist, music by the Starks) on Iris IR-1003.

More info or better photos of Blue would be appreciated.

Categories: Century Custom, Kentucky, Paducah

The Blazers “Poison”

November 30, 2016 Chris Bishop 12 Comments

Blazers Photo: Harry Alexander, Bob Houghland (obscured), Ronnie Griffith, John Adler — The Blazers, from left: Harry Alexander, Bob Houghland (obscured), Ronnie Griffith and John Adler

The Blazers were an obscure group who cut one fine instrumental single “Poison” / “Blue Blazin” with a Century Custom franchise out of Paducah, Kentucky, in the far west of the state.

Members were:

Bob Houghland – drums
Ron Griffith – rhythm guitar
John Adler – lead guitar
Harry Alexander – bass

Lead guitarist John Adler sent in the photo at top. Check out the skull in front of the bass drum, not to mention the instruments: a Kay Value Leader bass, a Danelectro Shorthorn double-cutaway, and a Gibson SG.

“Blue Blazin” was the original A-side, a bluesy guitar workout with plenty of room echo, written by Bob Houghland and Ron Griffith.

“Poison” has achieved some fame since appearing on an early volume of Strummin’ Mental (available now through Crypt Records). John Adler and Harry Alexander wrote “Poison”.

Bob Houghland passed away in 2014.

The Blazers recorded through the Century Custom Recording Service of Thomas F. Morris at 3029 Oregon St., Paducah, Kentucky. Fellow Paducah band the Moxies recorded their great last single, “I’m Gonna Stay” / “Drinkin’ Wine” through Century.

The Century Custom release number 18054 dates it to 1964.

Categories: Evansville, Indiana, Skoop

The Nomads “Coolsville”

November 29, 2016 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

Jeff Davis of the Nomads on stage at the Washington, Indiana YMCA

The Nomads came from Evansville, Indiana and played live throughout the southwest part of the state. Members included:

Eddie Karges – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
Max Emmick – lead guitar 
Chuck Dowd – organ 
Jeff Davis – bass 
Gary Varden – drums 

In 1965 they recorded their only single in Santa Claus, IN, released on Skoop 1065, one of the labels owned by Ray Scrivener. One side is the disaffected “Coolsville”, written by Max Emmick and Jeff Davis, with some of the classic lyrics of the era:

Walking down the street with my baby,
In my baggies?? so tight,
Yeah, I was whistled at,
By a gang of girls.
Went to a dance that night,
Danced with all my might,
Walked into the gym,
Boy what a crowd of hicks,
Yeah they were doing the Twist,
C’mon and twist, twist, twist, twist, ahhh!
Strolled up to a chick,
Smiled and I said to her,
Do the Twist or (?) the Charleston?
I’m a gonna leave this town,
Yeah, I’m a gonna leave this town,
I’m a gonna leave this town,
Never to return again.

The flip is the more tender “Shy Girl”, written by Max Emmick.

Despite the Buna Music BMI publishing credit on the labels, I don’t believe these songs were registered with either the Library of Congress or BMI.

I’ve read Ed Karges and Chuck Dowd later played in another Evansville group, the Misfits, who cut “I’ll Feel Better (In the Morning)” / “Please Don’t Go Away” (both by Kneeland – DeVillez) on the Showboat label in 1967.

Jeff Davis moved to Tennessee where he formed the Amazing Rhythm Aces in the early ’70s.

Photo and some of the info from the North Knox High School website.

Categories: Catoosa, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Pla Me Records, Tulsa

The Standels on Pla-Me Records of Muskogee

November 28, 2016 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Standels of Muskogee Photo — The Standels, from left: Tom Bradley, Blaine Trumbold (in back), Boyd Bogle (front), Ronny (surname?), Eddy Cortner, and Ron Cortner

The Standels “Let’s Go” turns the Animals’ “I’m Crying” into edgy, forbidding territory:

Well me and my baby go to a show
And we get there … (?)
And me and my baby leave the show,
And we go out on this dark road.
Well here comes someone down the road,
They’re comin’ up behind us, not too slow.
Oh go, I see a red light flashing.
Well I guess we’d better get out of here fast.
Let’s go

According to Teen Beat Mayhem, the Standels came from Catoosa, Oklahoma, just east of Tulsa. I knew nothing about the band, nor any of the members names, but Max Waller alerted me that according to an interview with Ron Cortner, the band was originally called the Roustabouts. By the time of the 45 the group consisted of:

Boyd Bogle – lead vocals
Tommy Bradley – lead guitar
Ron Cortner – rhythm guitar
Blaine Trumbold – bass guitar
Eddy Cortner – drums

The band’s members changed frequently, so please check Blackwell & Lake’s research for the full story.

Pla-Me Records was located at 903 Louisiana in Muskogee, 40 miles to the southeast.

The original A-side “Love Comes Once In a Lifetime” is a fine, slow ballad.

The T4KM-9713/4 RCA custom pressing code indicates a release date from the first half of 1966. The labels credit Bobby McBride and Curtis Long with A&R, both had their own singles on Pla-Me Record. Curtis Long ran the publishing for Vilena Pub. Co. BMI, but neither of these songs were registered with BMI or the Library of Congress.

Pla-Me Records of Muskogee is not related to the Ohio label Pla Me, though both were releasing records at the same time. The Muskogee label had a 666P prefix to its RCA custom pressings, while the Ohio label’s account was 804B.

Jim O’Bryan sent in the photo at top and wrote to me:

Their lead singer, Boyd Bogle, was my cousin. He also played drums. Boyd passed away a few years ago and is buried in the National Cemetery in Muskogee. Here is a photo of the band, recently posted by Boyd’s twin sister. No info yet on the one who signed as “Ronny.” I haven’t heard either song on the record since the last time Boyd played it for me in probably 1968 or ’69.

Thank you to Jim and to Boyd Bogle’s sister for providing the photo of the Standels.

Of course, this band is not the Standells of “Dirty Water” fame.

Categories: Graco, Kentucky, Phyllis, Pikeville

The Vibrators

November 27, 2016 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

The Vibrators came from Pike County in eastern Kentucky, including the towns of Pikeville and Phyllis. Circa 1968 they cut the fine single “Bad Girl”, written by Stevie Justice. There’s a lot to like about the song, including a good guitar solo, excellent drum fills and lyrics like “I’ll get even with you before I die”.

The single came out on Graco Records 45-507, with deadwax markings repeated on the labels, 5650/1. The Vibrators would have traveled some distance to find a pressing plant for the singles. Lexington, Kentucky was 140 miles away, and Charleston or Huntington, West Virginia were not much closer. Max Waller suggests the 5650 code indicates Southern Plastics / United Record Pressing in Nashville, which is likely, though there is no etched “SO” or Nashville Matrix stamp in the deadwax. If the 45 is from Southern Plastics, the code would indicate a January, 1969 release.

Richard Hunt produced both sides. The labels indicate BMI for both songs but I can find no evidence of copyright registration for either song.

I only know of two band members’ names, Steve Justice and Fonso Fields. Fonso Fields wrote the flip, the bluesy instrumental “Keep a Dreamin’”.

Categories: Livingston, Re-Echo, Tennessee

The Madhatters on Re-Echo Records

November 16, 2016 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Madhatters have the earliest single on the Re-Echo Records label out of Livingston, Tennessee, about 100 miles northeast of Nashville. The A-side was a better-than-average version of “Unchain My Heart” b/w a breezy garage pop song, “That Kind of Girl”, released on Re-Echo Records 1003-45 in 1966.

T. Bradford, M. Peterman, J. Holloway wrote “That Kind of Girl” and were probably members of the band. I can’t find any further info on the group.

The Madhatters – “Unchain My Heart”
The Madhatters – “That Kind of Girl”

The label reads published by Middle Tenn. Music Co. BMI and Atwell Studio Production. Unfortunately, though many other songs published by Middle Tennessee Music were registered in the ’60s, I can find no copyright notice for this song or the writers.

Like many early releases on Re-Echo, this is a Rite pressing 17843/4, account number 1810. Other than the Madhatters, all other releases on the Re-Echo label seem to be either country or white gospel music.

Livingston, TN also had the Breeze Records label, based out of 209 South Church Street, with a connection to Atwell Publishing on 704 Bennett St. in Lafayette, TN, and featuring Dickey Cherry and Lonnie Holt, among others.

Re-Echo Records discography (probably incomplete)

1003 – Madhatters – “Unchain My Heart” / “That Kind of Girl”
1004 – Jim Edwards – “Talk to Your Heart” (James E. Hensley) / “If You Were My Darling”
1005 – Crownsmen Quartet – “Sweet Jesus” / “When God’s Chariot Comes”
1007 – Herman Hatfield and the Tennessee Valley Boys – “Sweet Memories of You” / “He Is The Master of Us All”
1008 – Sharlet Sexton & the Tennessee Valley Boys – “I Ain’t Good For Nothin ‘cept Pickin and Singin” / “Boys Like You”
1010 – Leon and Earl & the Bluegrass Mountain Boys – “There Could Never Be Another” / “False Dreams”
1011 – The Poston Family – “I Remember Daddy” / “It Might As Well Be Me”
1012 – Vic Jason & the Lonely Ones – Home Again” / “To Be Free” (both by Charles ‘Clint’ Cravens)
1014 – Dickey Cherry and the Common People – “All But Me” (Terry Muncy) / “Anita, You’re Dreaming”
45-6-2328-69 – Lonnie Holt – “Overton Hanging” / “One Little Things At a Time”

plus a spiritual album by the Four J’s Keeper of the Door.

Categories: JnJ, Unknown

Paul & Emile and the Brighter Side

November 15, 2016 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Paul & Emile were Paul Carrubba and Emile Daniel. Backed by the Brighter Side the duo cut a neat and very obscure single, “I Can’t Take It” b/w “My Love For You” on JnJ 501. I don’t know the date of release. I’ve read the group was from Indiana, but Mississippi seems possible to me from name searches.

The Brighter Side takes “I Can’t Take It” at a fast pace, with some nice guitar work and quick drum fills. Paul Carrubba wrote “I Can’t Take It”, while Emile Daniel wrote the drearier “My Love For You”.

The labels list “the Brighter Side conducted by B. Haik” and produced by J. Allen. I can find no copyright info on either song.

The site for '60s garage bands since 2004