The Shōguns

Shoguns, Cincinnati Enquirer Aug. 27, 1966
The Shoguns in the Enquirer, August 27, 1966

The Shoguns Schworer 45 Well All RightThe Shōguns came from Latonia, Kentucky, now part of Covington, a town right across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Members were:

Dan Herzog – lead vocals
Gary Arnsparger – lead guitar
Pat Mayerchak – rhythm guitar
Fred Dishon – bass
Larry Ackerson – drums

The Shōguns had two 45 releases, first a funky, tambourine-laden version of “Well All Right” that ends with dual guitar leads, shouts and breaking glass! The flip is one I haven’t heard, “In My Time”. It came out on the Schworer label in May of ’66.

Their second single was “The Look in Her Eyes” on Lemco, which again features interesting percussion as well as fine keyboard sounds, harmonies and even horns.

The Shōguns have a new CD and a website about the band at www.theshoguns.com

Lord Byron and the Poets

Lord Byron & the Poets with Vox equipment, from left: Ed Balog, John Wheatley, Chip Woody, Danny Saxon and Jim Lacefield
Lord Byron & the Poets with Vox equipment, from left: Ed Balog, John Wheatley, Chip Woody, Danny Saxon and Jim Lacefield. Photo courtesy of John Wheatley

Lord Byron & the Poets did not release any records but did record a session at Ed Boutwell Studios like many other Birmingham area bands. Members were:

Chip Woody – lead singer
Ed Balog – lead guitar
Eddie Robinson – rhythm guitar
Jim Lacefield – bass and vocals
Danny Saxon – drums and vocals
John Wheatley III – drums

Drummer John Wheatley sent photos of the band and answered my questions about the band:

We had a great band and were well received wherever we played gigs. Our band was very unique in that we had two drummers. Our singer, Chip Woody, looked a lot like Mick Jagger and was very talented at singing Rolling Stones songs, so we did plenty of them along with the usual list of current favorite rock songs.

Several of the band members were very creative and wrote quite a few songs during my time with them in the 65/66 school year.

Lord Byron & the Poets, Danny Saxon, Jim Lacefield, Chip Woody, Eddie Robinson, John Wheatley, Ed Balog)
Lord Byron & the Poets at Canterbury Methodist Church, 1966, from left: Jim Lacefield, Danny Saxon, Chip Woody, Eddie Robinson, John Wheatley, and Ed Balog

I have a few pictures from a “freebie” we did at Canterbury Methodist Church in Mountain Brook, AL for a benefit event. My family were members at the church for many, many years.

The one other picture I have is a promotional picture made at Phipps Piano Company in Birmingham that is connected with our band’s purchase of a large amount of Vox sound equipment to amplify all of the guitars and all of the singers.

We had a really nice Vox PA system with two “sound columns” and amplifier. The lead guitar player (Ed Balog) played a Gretsch Country Gentleman gold plated guitar through a Vox Royal Guardsman amplifier accompanied by a Vox reverb unit, that actually recorded the initial sound on an audio tape and then replayed it in diminishing volume levels as the tape passed through a successive series of tape heads that progressively erased more and more of the original sound as the tape completed it’s circuit while continuously recording and playing each new audio sound on the same tape … absolutely amazing to watch it operate with the cover off of the tape component area.

The bass player also had a brand new deluxe model of a bass amplifier that had its own hand truck type of chrome rack on wheels and sounded amazing for sure. I’m not sure what amplifier Eddie used, but he probably plugged into Ed’s equipment sometimes and I think he had a classic Fender amp that he used some of the time.

We were “recruited” at one point during that tenure by a man representing himself to be a talent scout from RCA in Nashville and he had us to meet him on a weekend at the new Mountain Brook High School where we set up in a sunken carpeted area and he used an reel to reel tape recorder to tape all of the original songs that our group had to offer at that time. He kept in touch with the Balogs for some while, promising this and that. That’s about all that ever came of it, except that one of our songs came out as a hit record titled “Hey Little Girl” with only very minor changes to our original version and it did quite well on the charts and got loads of airplay. The band members that wrote the song felt ripped off but there was little they could do about it.
 

Boutwell Studios control room with John Wheatley at right.
Boutwell Studios control room with John Wheatley at right. Photo courtesy of Jim Lacefield
At another point, we did a recording session at Boutwell Studios in Birmingham and recorded several songs, including one entitled “Mister You’re A Better Man Than I” performed by Danny Saxon for our group. During my efforts to re-connect with our original band members recently, I learned that the bass player, Jim Lacefield, still had the original reel to reel tapes from that Boutwell recording session, but had never done anything with them since 1966. One thing led to another and he was kind enough to ship them to me and I am in the process of getting them transferred so that all of our band members can enjoy and share them as they see fit when the project is finished. It will be interesting to hear the music on the tapes and re-experience those magical moments from 50 years ago surrounded by our current families.

We never actually made any records during my tenure with the band and the group essentially dissolved at the end of the school year as all members were heading off to college, etc … similar to the Ramblers and many other groups of that era.

Our lead guitar player, Ed Balog, was only 14 at the time while most of the rest of us were seniors in high school, but Ed was an extremely talented musician who had been playing the guitar daily since age 8 and was a child prodigy for sure. We practiced every day at the Balog house. When I tried to re-connect in recent years I was saddened to learn he had passed away after a legendary career as a musician in the greater Birmingham area.

I finally located the other drummer / singer, Danny Saxon, who lives out west in a beautiful part of the Great Rocky Mountains and is very happy doing wood work along with pursuing his current hobby of singing and playing music on a frequent basis.

Jim Lacefield was our excellent bass player / singer and I reached him in recent times to learn that he had continued his musical endeavors, shifting over to a really interesting and successful string of performances for many years singing and playing acoustic guitar in a variety of venues throughout the southeast. Jim lives near Tuscumbia now.

Eddie Robinson, Johnny Robinson’s younger brother, played rhythm guitar with our group and I understand that he is alive and well in the Birmingham area these days, but I haven’t actually spoken with him since 1966.

Chip Woody (lead singer) and Danny Saxon (drummer / vocals) both went to the University of Montevallo and seem to still be active in music now, although Danny lives out west in the Rocky Mountains and has switched from drums to guitar a long time ago. Chip Woody was last known to be living in Palm Springs, California about 15 years ago.
 

John Wheatley III with Lord Byron & the Poets
John Wheatley III with Lord Byron & the Poets
Jim Lacefield was very active in music for several years after Lord Byron and the Poets, often working with well known music acts and also doing his own one man shows in small clubs in the southeast. He later got heavy into geology and became a leading professor on the subject and has written several highly acclaimed books on geology in Alabama. He and his wife now own and operate a “preserve” park near Tuscumbia where they conduct tours and he does public speaking on such matters all over the state.
 
I have continued to be pretty active as a drummer in a variety of bands in the greater Montgomery area since moving here in 1972 and really enjoy pursuing those opportunities now during retirement from my “day job”.
 
It would be really great to reunite the band, but would be very difficult due to the geographical locations of the surviving members after nearly 50 years of being apart but I would love to see it happen.

John Wheatley, 2015

Jim Lacefield and Ed Balog of Lord Byron and the Poets with Vox amps
Jim Lacefield and Ed Balog showing off their Vox amplifiers, photo courtesy of Jim Lacefield

Jim Lacefield added:

I remembered that gig we played one cold Friday night in January or February of 1966 at the National Guard armory in Decatur. Our gig was cut short by a snowstorm that night, and we had to make the harrowing drive back to Birmingham in the snow. What an adventure!

After the band dis-banded in the summer of 1966 I went on to school at the University that fall. During the time I played bass with the Poets I had started getting interested in playing 12-string guitar and folk rock style music. I was just picking up the 12-string while in the Poets (you might remember I had a blue-green Vox 12-string that Ed used on some songs we played like “Gloria” and “Time Won’t Let Me”). I never got great on the 12-string, but was quite passable, and I enjoyed playing in some small bands at the University. Down there at the time everyone wanted to play “soul music” because that’s where the money was, playing for fraternity and sorority parties. I didn’t care that much for that type music played for drunks, so I shifted over to playing regular 6-string acoustic folk music with a harmonica in a holder (like Dylan and Donovan). During the summer of 1967 I went down to New Orleans and had a chance meeting with some other musicians, poets, and artists who I got in close with. I played some little coffee house style clubs down in the French Quarter that summer and liked the town a lot. New Orleans became my home during the part of the year I wasn’t in Tuscaloosa going to school.

Back in Tuscaloosa I played a little coffee house on campus called the “Down Under” several times, and met my future wife Faye there one night at a folk/blues gig I was playing with a friend. I also played a gig with the great blues man Johnny Shines right as he was making a career comeback playing before young, white audiences.

There was a 60 second or so film of me playing at an anti-war rally in front of a huge crowd at Denny Chimes on the University campus that had originally aired on national TV in October, 1969 on the old Huntley-Brinkley NBC Nightly News program. They were doing a feature on the NBC evening news on how opposition to the war was affecting college campuses, even in the South. The film was taken on October 15th, 1969 and in front of the crowd of students surrounded by FBI agents and policemen. I mention this because a tape of that anti-war mini-concert at Denny Chimes appears on Alabama Public Television whenever they have a show about the 1960s in Alabama.

I got married in the summer of 1970 and did two years of civilian service as a conscientious objector in the waning days of the Viet Nam war. I went on to be a science teacher, and later a college biology and earth science teacher, but never played music professionally after college.

from left: Chip Woody, Ed Balog, and Danny Saxon of Lord Byron and the Poets
from left: Chip Woody, Ed Balog, and Danny Saxon of Lord Byron and the Poets, photo courtesy of Jim Lacefield
I have had almost no contact with any other member of the Poets since 1966. I did run into Ed at a Jimi Hendrix concert at the University in 1969, but got to talk with him just briefly. I saw Danny Saxon once during the mid-1980s and did get to talk to him for a few minutes. I still have some reel-to-reel tapes of our Poets recording sessions, but have never had the right type machine to play them. I remember we did “Route 66” in Stones fashion and “Mister You’re a Better Man Than I” by the Yardbirds (which Danny sang the lead on) during the session.

Faye and I have lived for the past 30 years out in the country near Tuscumbia where we have gathered together some 500 acres of land through the years. We have established a nature preserve that consists of some nice canyon land, waterfalls, boulder fields, etc. that we have open to the public for hiking and recreation. I have no trouble staying busy, even though I have been retired from teaching for several years. Several years ago I wrote a book on the geologic history of Alabama called “Lost Worlds in Alabama Rocks; A Guide to the State’s Ancient Life and Landscapes.” The book has done well, and is in its 5th printing. It has been used in geology classes at nine universities, but is getting a little out-of-date. Right now I’m working on the second edition of the book, which I hope will be to print some time in the next year.

Jim Lacefield

Lord Byron & the Poets, Danny Saxon, Jim Lacefield, Chip Woody, Eddie Robinson, John Wheatley, Ed Balog)
Lord Byron & the Poets at Canterbury Methodist Church, from left: Danny Saxon (drums, obscured), Jim Lacefield, Chip Woody, Eddie Robinson, John Wheatley (not in photo: Ed Balog). Photo courtesy of John Wheatley

The Malcontents of Norwood, Ohio

The Mal-Contents, February 18, 1967
The Mal Contents, February 18, 1967. From left: Larry Groves, David White, Jan Elstun and Bob Mathis

Malcontents Gems 45 (I'm a) RoustaboutThe Malcontents (or Mal-Contents) cut an excellent single in early 1967, “(I’m a) Roustabout” b/w “Motivated Action”.

Members were all Norwood High School students:

Larry Groves – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Bob Mathis – lead guitar, harmony vocals
David White – bass guitar
Jan Elstun – drums

Malcontents Gems 45 Motivated ActionBob Mathis wrote “(I’m a) Roustabout”, and lead singer Larry Groves wrote the great guitar instrumental, “Motivated Action”. With one side appealing to garage rock fans and the other a winner with the surf and rockin’ instrumental set, this record is in high demand these days.

Issued on the band’s own GEMS Records label and pressed by Rite Record Productions, which was based in Cincinnati. The release number 18347/18348  would date it to late 1966, but early 1967 seems more likely – fellow Norwood High student Joe Morgenroth  wrote a letter to the Enquirer published March 4, 1967 about the Malcontents upcoming record.

Ivan & the Sabres, the Mal-Contents and the Missing Links at the Lakeridge, Sunday, April 2, 1967
Ivan & the Sabres, the Mal-Contents and the Missing Links at the Lakeridge, Sunday, April 2, 1967

Notices show bookings at Granny’s on Lytle Ave in Elsmere, Kentucky for a show on Friday, October 28, 1966 opening for the Denems, and a show on Sunday April 2, 1967 at the Lakeridge with Ivan & the Sabres and the Missing Links.

The Enquirer’s Teen-Ager supplement featured Jan Elstun on its August 20, 1966 cover, with a short article inside noting the band played regularly at the Millstone in the basement of the Zion United Church of Christ and the Footprint, a teen club on Montgomery Road.

March 4, 1967 letter regarding The Malcontents upcoming record
March 4, 1967 letter regarding The Malcontents upcoming record

Jan Elstun of The Mal-Contents, profiled in the Enquirer on August 20, 1966
Jan Elstun of The Mal Contents, profiled in the Enquirer on August 20, 1966
The Mal-Contents, August 20, 1966
The Mal Contents, August 20, 1966

The Clue of Midland, TX

The Clue Byron 45 Bad TimesThe Clue of Midland, Texas cut one of the classic garage numbers “Bad Times”, featuring swinging drumming, screams and a sputtering lead vocal, pumping organ and a good guitar break. Despite the single’s fame in recent years, I found very little info about the Clue until Steve Thomas commented below. Members were:

Steve Thomas – lead singer and bass
Larry Grubb – vocals and lead guitar
John Kasson – keyboards
Billy Morris – drums

Steve Thomas wrote “Bad Times”, and Steve Thomas and Larry Grubb wrote the flip side, “She’s the Reason”, an eerie ballad that borrows some of the melody from the Beatles “I’ll Be Back”. Recorded and released circa 1967 on Byron BR 101. I can’t think of any other releases on the Byron label.

Byron Barber (“Bo”) was drummer for the Sensations who cut “Sweet Little Rock and Roller” / “Big Boss Man” in 1965 as the Sensations Sound on Kingco Records. In 1966 Barber produced the Clue 45 for his own Byron label, engineered by Ken Hall.

The Sensations members included Bill Thomas on bass and Dennis Grubb on guitar and vocals. According to Steve Thomas, Bill Thomas was not related, but Larry Grubb was the younger brother of Dennis Grubb of the Sensations.

Anyone have a photo of the band?

Info on the Sensations and Bo Barber from LoneStarStomp.

The Clue Byron 45 She's the Reason

Golden State Records singles discography

Custer and the Survivers Golden State 45 I Saw Her WalkingGolden State Recorders used the Golden State Records label for acts that did not have a deal with another company. The music can range from soul to hard rock to gospel, but Custer & the Survivers, Zorba & the Greeks and the Poor Souls all have good garage sounds.

The changing numbering system makes it difficult to put in exact chronological order without knowing the dead wax of each release. Early singles have white labels with simple black print or yellow and greenish blue labels with bridge logo. This changed to red, green, purple, etc in later years without the bridge logo.

I’m sure there are many more releases than I have listed here, any help with this discography would be appreciated.

GSR 653 – The Astros – Space Walk” (B. Please, Rap Music ASCAP and DeGar Music ASCAP)

654 – Lanny Duncan – “I Didn’t Lie” / “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me”

GSR – 656 – Weyland Jennings – “Nashville Bum” / “Gulf Coast Belle”

GSR-657 – Custer and the Survivers – “I Saw Her Walking” / “Flapjacks” (both by J.B. Pavseni, Mark Nine Music BMI, produced by Arvey Andrews) (Nov. 1965, also released on Vardan and Ascot)

Arvey Andrews also produced the Mystic “I Get So Disgusted” / “Weekend People”, D. Witherspoon & the Future, and the Lovers “Without a Doubt” on Frantic Records, and the Emotions “Love of a Girl” / “Do This For Me” on Vardan.

453 – The Lo-Kals – “Look Out Baby Here I Come” / “I’m So Tired” (Bobby King, Guard Music BMI) (J.H. Lewis Production)

GSR-597-A – Zorba and the Greeks – “One and Only Girl” / “You’ve Had Your Chance” (Nov. 1966)

GSR-597-B – Zorba and the Greeks – “Shockwave” (Myrin, Guard Music BMI) / “Memories of You” (Johnson) (Nov. 1966)

GSR-45-606 – The Donnybrookes – “Time Will Tell” / “You’re Gonna Cry” (Nov. 1966)

GRS-1721 – The Poor Souls – “Baby Let’s Wait” / “It Ain’t Enough” (Frank Marseguerra, Degar Music ASCAP) (Oct. 1967)

GSR-1351 – David London – “Tomorrow’s OK By Me” / “Lara’s Theme” (produced by Leo Kulka)

GSR-501 – Gold – “Summertime” / “No Parking” (production: A-side Country Joe McDonald, b-side George Benz)

GSR – 4-69 – Mel Davis – “Just Another Smile” / “The Life I Live” (1969)

GS106 – Spyders – “I Can Take Care of Myself” / “Make Up Your Mind” (W. Cox) (1968)

GSR-1969 – The Voices of Victory Choir – “I Feel Good” / “There’s No Hiding Place”

GSRC-2452 – Seventh Dawn – “Don’t Worry Me” (Phillips, Phillips, Noyer; Guard Music BMI) / “Wings of Flight” (1970) gold label, G.S.R. Custom Records, band from Oroville

GSR-7695 – Swinging Granny – “Irall Waltz” / “Da-Dippty” (both by Irral Berger, 1969)

GSRC 437 – Joy Higgins – Come Back Big Jack” / “Shoulda Told You” (1978)

recent pressings of unreleased soul recordings:

GS-2001 (GSR346) – The San Francisco TKOs – “Make Up Your Mind” / “Send My Baby Back”
GS-2002 (GSR352) – George & Teddy – “Oh Yeah” / “Lover”
GS-2003 GSR362) – Spyders – “I Don’t Care” / “I Can Take Care of Myself”

33 and 1/3 rpm 7″ custom pressings:

M-1967 – Leo & Flora de Gar Kulka – A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
GSR-1562 – Garland Dudley & the Voices of Frederick of the Third Baptist Church – “He Touched Me”, “Touch the Hem of His Garment” / “Sweet Sweet Spirit”, “You Must Live Right” (7″, 33 1/3rd rpm)

LPs on Golden State include Paul LaMont – Psychedelia (Opus 1 & 2), War Songs of the Third Reich, and Joel Andrews – Harp Soundings.
Poor Souls Golden State 45 It Ain't Enough

The Donnybrookes

Donnybrookes Golden State 45 You're Gonna CryThe Donnybrookes came from Fairfield, California, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento.

Members were:

Terry Gifford – vocals
John Tipton – lead guitar

Jim Ladd – rhythm guitar
Ric Eittreim – keyboards

Larry Pindar – bass

Pat Sheridan – drums


In late ’66 they entered Golden State Recorders at 665 Harrison St. in San Francisco to record their only single, “Time Will Tell” / “You’re Gonna Cry”, released on Golden State 608 in November, 1966. Terrry Gifford wrote both sides, but the labels credit Sneaky O’Fenneman with the lead vocals.

“You’re Gonna Cry” starts slow, reminiscent of Them with Van Morrison, but quickly picks up steam. When the organ kicks in the sound has an awesome power. There’s a fuzz guitar solo, and Larry Pindar’s bass lines stand out in both songs.

Early in ’67 the band had changed members and names, becoming Stonehenge, who would do some recordings that would not see release at the time. By 1968, Ric Eittreim was the only member remaining from the Donnybrookes, the band becoming Maze, with the LP Armageddon released on MTA.

Larry Pindar ended up in the Portland, Oregon group Total Eclipse.

Anyone have a photo of the Donnybrookes?

Donnybrookes Golden State 45 Time Will Tell

Phil Briscoe & the Sessions

Phil Briscoe and the Sessions
Phil Briscoe and the Sessions

Phil Briscoe And The Sessions Pic 1 45 You're No GoodPhil Briscoe and the Sessions cut two of Briscoe’s original songs “You’re No Good” / “Dream of Me” at Recording Service Studios in Pasadena, Texas. The single came out on Huey Meaux’s Pic 1 label in October, 1965, one of over 40 releases on that label. “You’re No Good” is a good rocker in something of a Doug Sahm style.

Philip Charles Briscoe copyrighted both sides with Crazy Cajun Music in January 1966, but that’s the last mention I can find of him in the music world. I don’t know who else was in the Sessions band or where they were based.

The photo above came from a Pic One discography by Doug Hanners for his 45 RPM column in Discoveries in July 2000.

Phil Briscoe And The Sessions Pic 1 45 Dream Of Me

Boss Records of Tampa discography

Me and the Other Guys Boss 45 Everybody Knew But MeCharles Fuller owned Boss Records in Tampa, Florida, along with other labels like CFP, Fuller and Tigertown. John Brummage did much of the production work for all of these, at least some of the time at H&H Productions studio. Fuller Music BMI or Fulprod Music Publishing Co. ASCAP published the original songs.

Boss only lasted for a couple years, 1966 and 1967.

See separate posts on the Rovin’ Flames, the Ravens, the Trojans, and the Souldiers for more info about those bands.

Me & the Other Guys included Frank “Dutch” Walton, Billy Aerts, Chuck Doughtery, Kent LaVoie, and Leon Massey, and had an earlier single on Hit Cat Records “Skinnie Minnie” / “Crazy” (J. Wilson, D. Walton, Redrah Music BMI).

I haven’t identified 001 or 005 yet. Any help with this discography would be appreciated.

BOS-001 – ?
BOS-002 – Rovin’ Flames – “I’m Afraid To Go Home” / “I Can’t” (Feb. ’66)
BOS-003 – Ravens – “Reaching For The Sun” / “Things We Said Today”
BOS-004 – Berkley Five – “You’re Gonna Cry” (M. Newman, Yubash Music BMI) / “In the Midnight Hour”
BOS-005 – ?
BOS-006 – Trojans – “The Kids Are Allright” / “Leave Me Be” (Dec. ’66)
BOS-007 – Souldiers – “Would You Kiss Me” / “Lemon Sun” (Jan. ’67)
BOS-008 – Journey Men – “She’s Sorry” / “Short And Sweet” (both by McMillan) FulProd Music ASCAP
BOS-009 – Me And The Other Guys – “Runaround Girl” (C. Dougherty, D. Walton) / “Everybody Knew But Me” (J. Wilson, D. Walton)
BOS-0095 – Purple Underground – “On Broadway” / “Rain Come Down”
BOS-010 – Purple Underground – “Count Back” / “Soon” (Aug. ’67)

La Salle and Lauren Records discography

The Shandels La Salle 45 Shades of Blue

Here’s a start at the discography of Carl Edelson’s La Salle and Lauren labels, along with related singles by the Shandels and Eddie T. Burke.
Much of the talent came from Long Island including the Shandels of Levittown and Wantaugh, and the Taboos.

Cardell Music C-510 – The Shandels – “No Way Out” / “Treat Me Like a Man” both by Johnny Melnick & Eric Stern, C-101/C-102, 1966

La Salle L-370 – David Leigh – “Blowin’ in the Wind” / “One More Town”, L-1/2
La Salle L-371 – The Lemon Sandwich – “Give Me Love” (Eddie Hileman) / “I Must Be Dreaming”, L-3/4

La Salle L-381 – The Shandels – “Shades Of Blue” / “Fifteen Children” (both by John Melnick & Eric Stern, engineered by Joe Dulberg, Feb. 1967), C-165/6
La Salle L-382 – The Taboos – “All My Life” / “So Sad” (T-1, T-2)
La Salle L-383 – Elsie Dixon – “It Had to Be You” / “How Ya Gonna Keep em Down on the Farm”, C-167/C-168
La Salle L-384 – The Shandels – “Think About You” / “Barnyard Blues”, C-169/C-170

La Salle L-386 – John Goodman – “First Star” / “Stranger at the Dance”
La Salle L-387 – John Goodman – “Think About You” (John Melnick, Eric Stern) / “Rainbow”, produced by the ShanDels, C-182

La Salle L-390 – Carol Durrell ‎– “Shadow Of Your Smile” / “The Look of Love”

Ellen and the Shandels La Salle 45 Gypsy

La Salle 25 – Ellen & the Shandels – “Gypsy” / “Try A Little Tenderness” (1969 or 1970, also released as Dry Well on Lauren Records 2515)

Tommy Burke Lauren 45 Give Me Love

E.T.B. Records ETB-113 – Eddie T. Burke – “I Must Be Dreaming” / “So Sad” (both by Eddie Hileman for Carldell Music BMI, engineered by Joe Cyr at Variety Sound Studios, CE-15/16

Lauren L-2513 – Tommy Burke – “Give Me Love” / “I Don’t Want to Be Your Keeper” (both by Tommy Burke for Carldell Music BMI, engineered by Joe Cyr at Variety Sound Studios)
Lauren L-2514 – Johnny Hayes – “Greenback Dollar” / “Blowin’ in the Wind”
Lauren L-2515 – Dry Well – “Gypsy” / “Try A Little Tenderness” (reissue of Ellen & the Shandels 45 above), CE-20/21
Laruen L-2516 – Branded “X” – “Society And Me” (Tommy Burke) / “Tribute to Uncle Sam” (Herner-Auwaerter-Furbich, Carldell BMI, prod. by Tommy Burke at Variety Sound Studios), CE-23/24

I’m not sure if this is the same Lauren label as the ones listed above:
Lauren CO 2930 – The Out of Order – “Lonely Sentry” / “It’s Alright” (prod. by B. Jolie, L. Litchfield, T. Messier, Allegro Sound Studios NY, engineers Bruce Staple and Mike Consi, Ranford Music Co., BMI, distributed by Planet Records out of Providence, RI)

Branded "X" Lauren 45 Society and Me

Eddie T. Burke ETB 45 So Sad

The Taboos on La Salle Records

The Taboos La Salle 45 So Sad

The Taboos La Salle 45 All My LifeThe Taboos came from Long Island, New York, cutting only one single in 1967 for La Salle Records. I don’t have much info on the band other than song writer names.

“All My Life” has a subdued start, the keyboard and bass making a three chord vamp while the drummer keeps a steady roll of toms going in the background. The chorus is more conventional, but a real surprise comes halfway through the song, when the bass picks up the pace and the lead guitar starts a Jeff Beck-style psychedelic solo. The song was written by Von Ressler and DeBonis.

Brennan and Palazzo wrote “So Sad”, which has a typical ballad format and singing style but it’s still an effective song.

Larry Hiller engineered the session at Murlyn Studios. La Salle Records owner Carl Edelson published both songs with his Cardell BMI.

A footnote to the group would come a couple years later, when Eddie T. Burke overdubbed a new lead vocal (inferior in my opinion) over the original recording of “So Sad” and released it on E.T.B Records ETB-113. See the post on La Salle and Lauren records for more on Eddie Burke’s release.

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