Simon K & The Meantimers

November 19, 2015 Nick Warburton 16 Comments

West London six-piece horn band Simon K & The Meantimers recorded a Hammond-drenched dance-floor classic called “Bring Your Love Back (To Me)”, which was coupled with “You Know I Do” for a UK single on the B&C label in November 1969.

Fronted by current Hot Chocolate lead singer Kenny Simon, The Meantimers had originally formed around mid-1964 in West Hampstead before linking with Simon.

Managed by Arthur Armes, father of the band’s drummer Michael, the original Meantimers also comprised lead guitarist Rick Thomas, classically trained organist Bill Pitt, bass player Warwick Rose and an Irish rhythm guitarist called Tony, who also handled lead vocals (sometimes with the group’s roadie Mick Eagan).

According to Michael Armes, his father turned the basement of his shop on Belsize Road in Kilburn into a rehearsal and recording room. It may well have been here that Simon cut some demos with West London band, The Tribe, including future Sweet guitarist Frank Torpey, that were picked up by Arthur Armes.

Former Overlanders’ bass player Paul Hewson had already taken over from Warwick Rose, who’d moved on to join The Soul Survivors, an early incarnation of The Love Affair, sometime before Kenny Simon joined on vocals.

It is not clear when Kenny Simon joined The Meantimers but he was definitely on-board by May 1966. Initially, they continued to be billed as The Meantimers but in early 1967 starting going out as Simon K & The Meantimers.

Selected gigs:

20 May 1966 – Club De Danse, Colchester, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)

30 May 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The New Jump Band and Rey Anton & The Profam (billed as The Meantimers)

9 July 1966 – House of Aden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Keith Powell Billie Davis Soul Package

30 July 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Creation

1 August 1966 – Drill Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers) Says direct from the Pontiac, Putney, London

7 August 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

15 August 1966 – Drill Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers)

21 August 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

27 August 1966 – House of Aden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Graham Bond Organization (billed as The Meantimers)

31 August 1966 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Falling Leaves (billed as The Meantimers)

24 September 1966 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with Clockwork Shots

9 October 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

14 October 1966 – Royal Albion Hotel, Walton-on-Naze, Essex with support (billed as The Meantimers)

30 October 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with Ian & Danny Eves and The Reformation (billed as The Meantimers)

3 November 1966 – Club De Danse, Colchester, Essex

5 November 1966 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with Ironsides

9 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)

13 November 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

21 November 1966 – Newmarket Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers)

26 November 1966 – Newmarket Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with The 13^th Floor (billed as The Meantimers)

Michael Armes, 1967 — Michael Armes, 1966/1967

A bass player called Terry briefly took over from Hewson in early 1967 but soon left to work in the West End as a scenery mover. Around the same time, former Quiet Five drummer Ray Hailey succeeded Michael Armes.

Selected gigs:

1 January 1967 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

6 January 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (billed as The Meantimers)

14 January 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

19 January 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)

21 January 1967 – Winter Gardens, Banbury with Phase III (billed as The Meantimers)

22 January 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

29 January 1967 – Embassy Club, Colchester, Essex with Lee Shelby Federation (billed as The Meantimers)

11 February 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Unloved (billed as The Meantimers)

19 February 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Neat Change

23 February 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Tender Trap (billed as The Meantimers)

26 February 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

11 March 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks (billed as Simon Dee & The Meantimers)

12 March 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, Essex with Pussyfoot (billed as The Meantimers)

1 April 1967 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Suffolk with The Sales Collection (billed as The Meantimers)

7 April 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (billed as The Meantimers)

9 April 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with Rick and Us (billed as The Meantimers)

11 April 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (billed as The Meantimers)

12 April 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

16 April 1967 – Klue J Klub, Saracens Head Hotel, Chelmsford, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)

22 April 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (billed as The Meantimers)

28 April 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with The Groove (billed as The Meantimers)

6 May 1967 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with The Strangers (billed as The Meantimers)

12 May 1967 – Co-Op Hall, Chesham, Bucks (billed as Simon Kay)

13 May 1967 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Just Friends, The Fugitives and The Martells

17 May 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

20 May 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex (Billed as Simon K & The Meantimers)

21 May 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as Meantimers)

Simon K & The Meantimers, circa spring 1967. Photo: Michael Armes — The Meantimers, May 1966. Photo: Michael Armes

However, the changes did not end there and in early-to-mid-1967 an entirely new line up came together, starting with lead guitarist George Teo.

Originally, from Singapore, Teo had migrated to the UK in the early 1960s with friends Sam Young on bass and brothers Andrew and John Gwee on guitar and drums respectively and formed The Etceteras. After two singles on the Oriole label in 1964, Teo next joined the Ying Tongs before hooking up with The Meantimers.

Also on board were siblings, bass player Mick Glyde and drummer Tony Glyde (brothers of Major Glyde, the lead sax player from Sounds Incorporated) and sax players Brent Carter, Alan Wherry and Ken Hendy, who was later replaced by former Cliff Bennett Rebel Rousers’ baritone sax player Sid Phillips in late 1967/early 1968.

Tony Glyde had previously worked with Southeast London bands, Bob ‘N’ All, The Loose Ends and Bern Elliott’s former group, The Fenmen while Alan Wherry had come from The Richard Henry Sensation (with David O’List) and Harlem Shuffle (with Alan Shacklock). Brent Carter had also been a member of Harlem Shuffle.

Wherry remembers that the group also had a keyboard player but it wasn’t Bill Pitt. Mick Glyde confirms that the keyboard player’s name was Terry Vandenburgh. Vanenburgh however had left before Sid Phillips joined in late 1967/early 1968 and the group recruited a Russian Hammond organist.

Wherry left in early 1968 and later moved in to publishing, as director of Corgi, Penguin and then as co-founder of Bloomsbury in London in 1986.

The remaining members stayed until about late spring/early summer 1968, during which time former Quiet Five drummer Roger “Tex” Marsh took over the drum stool from Tony Glyde.

Simon K & The Meantimers, late 1967. Left to right: George Teo, Brent Carter (shades), Mick Glyde, Kenny Simon, Alan Wherry, unknown organist, Tony Glyde. Ken Hendy is not pictured. Photo: Alan Wherry — Simon K & The Meantimers, late 1967. Left to right: George Teo, Brent Carter (shades), Mick Glyde, Kenny Simon, Alan Wherry, Terry Vandenburgh, Tony Glyde. Ken Hendy is not pictured. Photo: Alan Wherry

Selected gigs:

3 June 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Groove

4 June 1967 – Klue J Klub, Saracens Head Hotel, Chelmsford, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)

6-7 June 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

10 June 1967 – Victoria Cross Gallery, Wantage, Berkshire (Meantimers)

24 June 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (billed as The Meantimers)

1 July 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

2 July 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as Meantimers)

22 July 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Poor Boys Soul Band

29 July 1967 – Memorial Hall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk with The Blueprints (billed as The Meantimers)

5 August 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

6 August 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (billed as The Meantimers)

9 August 1967 – Penny Farthing Club, Southend, Kent

11 August 1967 – Windmill Club, Upminster, east London

20 August 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London

25 August 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (billed as The Meantimers)

2 September 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

8 September 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

9 September 1967 – Framlingham Assembly Hall, Framlingham, Suffolk with The Wild Oats

17 September 1967 – Sunday’s Flower Scene, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire with Jeanette and Abee

23 September 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks

24 September 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

28 September 1967 – Wexham Lea Youth Club, Slough, Berkshir with Rick Marston

7 October 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

8 October 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

10 October 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

22 October 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

28 October 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

29 October 1967 – Embassy, Colchester, Essex

4 November 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

10 November 1967 – Kennet School, Thatcham, Berkshire with The Roosters

11 November 1967 – Casino, Leicester

12 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

19 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

26 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

28 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

2 December 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

3 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

10 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

17 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

24 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

31 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

20 January 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

21 January 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Huckle Bucks (billed as The Meantimers)

27 January 1968 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire

13 February 1968 – Public Hall, Witham, Essex

17 February 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

24 February 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex

14 April 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Foursome

20 April 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

27 April 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

11 May 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

25 May 1968 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with Mr Lucifer (billed as The Meantimers)

1 June 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire

8 June 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

14 June 1968 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent

21 June 1968 – Victoria Ball, Dartford, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

22 June 1968 – Gig in Brighton, West Sussex (billed as The Meantimers)

23 June 1968 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

24 June 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)

6 July 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

13 July 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Trax

2 August 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (billed as Meantimers)

3 August 1968 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex (billed as Meantimers)

4 August 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Oval, south London (billed as Meantimers)

6-7 August 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (billed as Meantimers)

24 August 1968 – Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London

31 August 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Rocky Rivers

14 September 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

21 September 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

28 September 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with Faux Pas

29 September 1968 – Silver End Hotel, near Witham, Essex

By the autumn of 1968, Kenny Simon had reshuffled the pack, bringing in Marsh’s former band mate from The Quiet Five, Roger McKew on lead guitar. Sid Phillips had already left by this point to go on to Redwind and his place was taken by Tony Hall, whose CV including Peter’s Faces, Wainwright’s Gentlemen and Rupert’s Spoon.

The new formation then comprised:

Kenny Simon – lead vocals

Roger McKew – lead guitar

Tony Hall – saxophone

Brent Carter – saxophone

Mick Glyde – bass

Roger ‘Tex’ Marsh – drums

The new-look formation resumed gigging. In March 1969, Brian Johnston from The Fantastics’ backing band, The House of Orange joined on Hammond organ. Two months later, however, Mick Glyde left and was replaced by another bass player.

Later that year, original keyboard player Bill Pitt returned to take over from Johnston. Simon also added Irish trumpet player Ron Carthy, who’d previously worked with The Blue Aces and Wynder K Frog (among others) to the six-piece line up that came together in time to cut the group’s lone ‘45 in November 1969.

In March 1970, however, Brent Carter and Tony Hall also departed at this point and joined Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.

When the band finally splintered in the early 1970s, Pitt ended up working with Espirit de Corps, while Carthy joined Gonzales and also did a multitude of sessions for artists like Freddie King, Slade and Suzi Quatro.

Selected gigs:

5 October 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Cuby & The Blizzards

18 October 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with Amen Corner and Plagel Cadence

19 October 1968 – Elms Court, Botley, Oxford with Granny’s Intentions

19 October 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Showstoppers

26 October 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

16 November 1968 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

17 November 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London

23 November 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London

30 November 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

8 December 1968 – Embassy Suite, Sunday Club, Colchester, Essex with The Outcasts

10 December 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with Olaf Groups Kneed

14 December 1968 – Corn Exchange, Bedford with Luther Morgan & JD with The Red Russo

21 December 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

22 December 1968 – Le Metro, Birmingham

28 December 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

29 December 1968 – Byron, Greenford, west London

5 January 1969 – Embassy Sunday Club, Colchester, Essex with Peach Umbrella

11 January 1969 – Savoy Club, Catford, southeast London

18 January 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire

1 February 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

16 February 1969 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London

22 February 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jon James & The Swamp and The Western Kind

14 March 1969 – Maxi Scene, Angel Hotel, Godalming, Surrey

22 March 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

4 April 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

12 April 1969 – John D’Milton’s Discotheque, Birmingham

19 April 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sir Percy Quintet

20 April 1969 – New Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

26 April 1969 – Savoy Room, Catford, southeast London with Lee Hawkins

2 May 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Consortium and Octopus

17 May 1969 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire

22 May 1969 – Klook’s Kleek, West Hampstead, north London

6 June 1969 – Chelmsford City Stadium, Chelmsford, Essex

7 June 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

14 June 1969 – Il Rondo, Leicester

28 June 1969 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London

6 July 1969 – New Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

11 July 1969 – The Crown, Marlow, Bucks

26 July 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

28 July 1969 – Soul Club, Plaza Ballroom, Newsbury, Berkshire with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

30 July 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

2 August 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sir Percy Quintet

4 August 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with The Original Principals, The Headline News and Wall City Jazzmen

5-6 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London

9 August 1969 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London

17-19 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London

23 August 1969 – Trocadero Ballroom, Hamilton, Scotland (Wishaw Press says that the band are straight from a continental tour)

25 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London

31 August 1969 – Up The Junction, Crewe, Cheshire with Scotch Corner

6 September 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

7 September 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

19 September 1969 – Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire with J J Jackson & The Greatest Little Soul Band in The Land and The Ray King Soul Band

4 October 1969 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London

8 October 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

11 October 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

20 October 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Freedom Train, Pendulum and The Wall City Jazzmen

25 October 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Lovin’ Spoonful

8 November 1969 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire

21 November 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

23 November 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

25 November 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

29 November 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

7 December 1969 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands

13 December 1969 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Acoustics

31 December 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

7 February 1970 – Cloud 9, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

Many thanks to Kenny Simon, Michael Armes, Tony Hall, Alan Wherry, Ken Hendy, Sid Phillips, Mick Glyde and Bruce Welsh for their help. Thank you Michael Armes and Alan Wherry for the photos.

Very little is known about the personnel in Simon K & The Meantimers. The author would be interested to hear from anyone that can provide more detail on the group for a future, updated version. Please email the author, Nick Warburton at Warchive@aol.com

Categories: Brent, California, Capitol, Cleveland, Dimension, Highland, Houston, Los Angeles, Mainstream, Ohio, Rosco, Texas

The Bushmen, War Babies and Euphoria

November 16, 2015 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

Much has been written about Euphoria’s legendary album A Gift from Euphoria. This article focuses instead on the various releases the band members did prior to the LP and the connections to other bands I’ve covered on this site.

Euphoria had its start as a Cleveland band with David Potter and Wesley Watt called the Bushmen. Although it was thought that the Bushmen was a separate group from Wesley Watt’s projects prior to Euphoria, David Potter’s bio states:

After playing drums at the club [the Clinton Bar in Cleveland, OH] for three months, Wesley Watt, a guitar player came in looking for a drummer for a group he wanted to put together, The Bushman [sic]. When he heard David he knew he was the one. David turned sixteen in January and in May, David, Wesley, Paul Armstrong, and Carl Johnson left for Los Angeles to make their mark. On arriving in L.A. they immediately became the house band for the club, Guys and Dolls.
After only eight weeks they signed a contract with Colpix records, also signing with Buck Ram, the manager of the Platters. Their first single was “Baby” with “What I Have I’ll Give to You” on the flip side.

The Bushmen had one release “Baby” / “What I Have I’ll Give to You” on Dimension 1049 in June of ’65. Dimension Records was part of the Columbia Pictures / Colpix company at this time.

Bill Lincoln had relocated from Seattle to Los Angeles. He must have been in the group at this point as he is the composer of “What I Have I’ll Give to You”.

Bill Lincoln and Mike Dood are credited with writing “Walk on the Surf Side” by the Nova-Tones, released on Rosco 417 circa 1963, and backed with “Lost Love”. I’m not positive it’s the same Bill Lincoln, but it seems likely as the time and place are right. I haven’t heard either song, so if you have the 45 or sound files, please contact me.

Potter’s bio continues:

The Bushman [sic] were getting a lot of notoriety and attention from all over, including film producer David L. Wolper. He was looking for bands for a documentary about to start filming, Teenage Revolution. They approached Buck Ram about The Bushman being the premiere band for the documentary. Wolper wanted to show what bands went through while traveling around the country from gig to gig. (Along with The Bushman being were about four other bands, one being The Lovin’ Spoonful.) About a month later Buck set up a live gig in Lancaster CA where they filmed their part of Teenage Revolution.

A portion of Mondo Teeno aka The Teenage Revolution is online. I hear music that may be the Bushmen, but haven’t seen any footage of the band.

In addition to the Bushmen single, Watt and Lincoln recorded their original songs as the War-Babies “Jeanie’s Pub” / “Love Is Love” (Highland 4000, August 1965).

The War-Babies recorded another two songs, “Now It’s Over” / “So Little Time” but these came out under the name The Word on Brent 704.

Although I’ve read that the Bushmen came after the War-Babies and Word singles, release dates suggest the Bushmen single came first.

Potter’s bio continues:

After filming the documentary, David, Wesley, and Bill Lincoln wanted to do their own thing. Now seasoned professionals and highly respected musicians they wanted to play and record their own music. With the chance so did their name, to Euphoria. The newly named group spent all their time playing, touring, and recording material that would lead to two of the groups albums. During a successful tour in Texas, their single. “Baby”, released when they were The Bushman [sic], went to #7 on the charts, staying there for seven weeks.

The newly-named Euphoria added Pat Connolly of the Surfaris on bass by the time they toured Texas in 1966. Bill Lincoln left the group when he married and moved to England, though he would rejoin Wesley Watt within a year or two for Euphoria’s 1969 album on Capitol. Connolly also left so Watts brought in James Harrell on guitar and Peter Black on bass, both of the legendary Houston group the Misfits. I believe David Potter was still playing drums with the group at this point, but it may have been Steve Webb of the Misfits.

This group recorded some tracks at Andrus Productions in Houston, including “Pick It Up”, “In Time”, “Walking The Dog” and “Oh Dear, You Look Like a Dog”, none of which surfaced until Texas Archive Recordings released the LP Houston Hallucinations in 1982. The band had other unreleased Texas recordings which await reissue, including “People You and Me” which has some similarity to Da Capo era Love.

Back in L.A., Bob Shad of Brent & Mainstream Records brought the group into United Studios in Hollywood to record four songs in one session. Shad issued two of these (with vocals re-recorded at additional sessions), “Hungry Women” and “No Me Tomorrow” on Mainstream 655, but two originals by James Harrell, “I Realize” and “It Could Do Us No Wrong” were left unreleased and eventually lost. The single would reappear on the Mainstream compilation LP With Love – A Pot of Flowers in 1967.

Despite a good push from Bob Shad, the single didn’t make much of an impact and the group broke up. James Harrell and Pete Black went back to Texas and rejoined the Misfits, changing the name to the Lost and Found.

Potter and Watt joined Lee Michaels band where they played on Michaels’ album Carnival of Life with Gary Davis and John Keski.

Potter joined the East Side Kids in time to play on their album The Tiger and the Lamb, which featured one of his original songs as well as two by Wesley Watt, “Heavy Love” and “Can’t Feel Love”.

Bill Lincoln had returned by this time. He and Watt worked for almost two years on what would become their album A Gift from Euphoria on Capitol in 1969, produced by Nick Venet. According to his bio, Potter also played on the album. Guitarist Doug Delain is also listed in credits for the LP.

After recording the East Side Kids The Tiger and the Lamb album, Potter moved to Houston and joined with Endle St. Cloud (Alan Mellinger) for his album on International Artists, which also included Pete Black and James Harrell of the Lost & Found. They moved back to LA to for the Potter St. Cloud LP on Mediarts in 1971.

David Potter passed away in 2011, but there was a detailed biography about him at his website, davidpottermusician.com (now defunct but viewable on the Internet Archive).

Watt and Lincoln co-produced and played on Bernie Schwartz’s solo album The Wheel, released on MGM in late 1969, which features a version of their song “Sunshine Woman” that had been on Euphoria’s Capitol LP.

Potter, Watt and Lincoln all continued in music into the early ’70s. For example, Potter and Watt played on Daniel Moore’s 1971 ABC album, and Watt played guitar on Dory Previn’s 1971 Mediarts album Mythical Kings and Iguanas.

Hamilton Wesley Watt, Jr. passed away on February 20, 2015 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Bill Lincoln recorded an album with his wife Lynda and friends as Addie Pray. Late for the Dance went unreleased for years but is now available on www.cdbaby.com/cd/addiepray.

Sources include Alec Palao’s liner notes to the Big Beat CD release of With Love – A Pot of Flowers.

Categories: Kiski, New Apollo, Oakdale, Pennsylvania, Vandergrift

The Coachmen Five and the Kiski label of Pennsylvania

November 13, 2015 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

The Coachmen Five have this one obscure release from May of 1966 on the Kiski label. The band was from Oakdale, Pennsylvania, a small town about 20 minutes west of Pittsburgh. The Kiski label was located in North Apollo, PA, an even smaller town about 45 minutes drive northeast of Pittsburgh.

The singing is somewhat eccentric, but the band ably rocks out on both songs, originals written by Horpenska. A comment below lists members of the band as including Joe Horpenska on vocals, Jeff Thomas on bass and Denny Singer on drums.

I can find almost no info about the band, but this seems to be one of the later releases on the Kiski label, at least of the 20xx series. Kiski had over a dozen 45 releases in the early ’60s ranging from country to religious to soul to garage. Kiski started with Vandergrift, PA listed on the labels, then Freeport, PA, then New Apollo, PA.

Any help with this discography would be appreciated.

Kiski 2050 – Jacklads (arr. Dick & Jack Tody, sax Dick Tody) – “Alouette” / “Hot Toddy”
Kiski 2051 – Men From Mars – “I’ve Been With Jesus”, “Lord Build Me a Cabin” / “Previous Memories”, “The Fourth Man”
Kiski 2052 – Faulkner Bros., Gary & Dick – “In The Chapel In The Moonlight” / Gary & Dick Faulkner – “Guitar Boogie” 1961
Kiski 2053 – Jack Cartwright & the String Kings – “I’ve Lost You Forever” / “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”
Kiski 2054 – ?
Kiski 2055 – Barnes Brothers – “All Mixed Up Inside” / “Don’t Blame Me”
Kiski 2056 – The Alma-Keys (vocals) with the Citations – “Please Come Back To Me” (Roland Hayden) / “Jumpin’ Twist”
Kiski 2057 – Tawni Simms – “Will You Please Be Mine” / “Goodbye My Love”

Kiski 2063 – Ed “Tex” Belin & the Bel-Marts – “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You)” / “I Overlooked An Orchid” 1963
Kiski 2064 – The Renditions – “That’s When I Cried” (David M. Wells) / “Time Goes By” (Thomas B. Kennie & David M. Wells) 1964
Kiski 2065 – The Chevrons – “Who Does He Cry To” / “Jones Girl”
Kiski 2066 – The Thundermen – “Thunderbeat” / “Conjagua”
Kiski 2067 – The Marauders – “Slidin’ In” (Ronald Misejka) / “Kosta Rica”
Kiski 2067 – The Royal Rebels – “Drive In” / “Mojo Workout”
Kiski 2068 – The Kruisers – “C’mon Sweet Baby” (James Robeson) / “Karen”
Kiski 2069 – The Four Dimensions – “Moe’s Cast” / “I’m In Heaven”

Kiski 2072 – The Coachmen Five – “I Will Cry Today” / “I’m Comin’ Home”

Possibly DJ Bob Livorio of WKPA in New Kensington had something to do with the label.

The Royal Rebels came all the way from Cortland, Ohio, and had another recording as the Rhythm Rebels on Sunburst, “The Things You Do” / “Littlest Hobo”.

The Kruisers came from the towns of Sarver and Butler, PA, about 40 miles to the northwest of North Apollo. The Kruiser had another single on the Process label “It’s the Way She …” / “Panther Walk” in December of 1965, and another as the Lost Ones “I Can’t Believe You” / “I Wanna Know” on Mersey 002 in 1966.

In addition there are at least two LPs on Kiski, the Kiski Area High School Second Annual Choral Spring Concert and the Men From Mars Music From Out Of This World. Kiski also released at least one LP and single of polka and Slovakian music by Eddie Mack & His Orchestra, but with a different numbering system than the singles above.

Categories: Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia, Virginia Beach

Adrian and the Sinsations

November 13, 2015 Chris Bishop 64 Comments

Poster for Adrian and the Sensations at Nags Head Casino, March 22, 1969, submitted by Richard Dawes

James Shott wrote to me about a group he was in during the late ’60s, Adrian’s Sensations, or Sinsations. James wrote:

I played in a band called either Adrian’s SInsations, or Adrian and the SINsations (it was called both by audiences) in the Hampton/Newport News/Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. People knew me as “Smokey.”
The SINsations was a very good band, and played a good bit at the Peppermint Beach Club, filling in for Bill Deal and the Rhondells when they were gone.
Adrian Brandt played keyboards, Wayne Beckner played guitar, Joe Smith played drums, Jean Lynch sang, Jim Williamson and I played trumpet, Mike Minguez and Tom Gallucci played tenor sax, Dickie Dawes and David Champagne played trombone (at different times), Curly (can’t remember last name) played bass for a while and then another bass player, too. Gary Church was a singer in the band before Jean Lynch.
The Sinsations business card listing Gary Church on vocals with phone numbers for Adrian Brandt and Wayne Beckner
The band was quite good. We played soul, but also the top tunes of the day. Somewhat like Blood, Sweat & Tears, Chicago and Tower of Power, the Sinsations employed elements of jazz into the arrangements.
We spent a good bit of time in Virginia Beach at the Peppermint Beach Club, and played in clubs in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News and Norfolk, and also played military bases. The horn players were music majors in college, and the rhythm section was mostly self taught, but quite good. Jean Lynch was a very thin girl with a big voice; sounded like Aretha Franklin.
I was in the band from either late 67 or early 68 until I was separated from the USAF (Jim Williamson, David Champagne also in AF, Mike Minguez in Army). I believe the group continued to work for a while after that, but lost contact with the guys.
I’d like to get some feedback from other members and anyone who heard/saw the group.

Thank you to Richard Dawes for sending in a photo of the rare poster of Adrian and the Sensations at the Casino at Nags Head and the scan of the Sinsations business card..

Categories: California, Long Beach, Los Angeles

The Royal Knights

November 7, 2015 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

Royal Knights Photo 1965 — The Royal Knights, 1965. From left to right: Phil Whitson, Ric Zacher, Jim Wilson and Steve Werner

Lead guitarist Eric Zacher sent in these two photos of the Royal Knights, one of the many bands who played the Retail Clerks Auditorium and were listed on a flyer I had posted in 2014.

Members were:

Phil Whitson – lead vocals
Eric “Ric” Zacher – lead guitar, 2nd vocal
Mark Drawbolt – 2nd lead guitar and rhythm
Steve Werner – rhythm guitar
Jim Wilson – bass
Terry Buckman – drums

Eric writes:

The Royal Knights on the bill with Limey and the Yanks, the Saints, and the Things at Retail Clerks Auditorium, Nov. 12, 1965

We started in Terry’s garage as a lot of bands did in 1965. We all went to Millikan high in Long Beach, CA. My dad was our band manager and represented us very professionally unlike other bands. We got lots of gigs (most weeks after we got going were 2 per week!).

We played Retail a Go Go as the flyer said (did about 3 gigs there), Cinnamon Cinder in Long Beach, the Elks club and many “joints” (off campus clubs having Friday and Saturday parties).The songs we did included Stones, Zombies, Beatles, Yardbirds, Byrds and others from the mid 60s.
We broke up in 1967, all went our separate ways. I was in a college band called the Woods – very professional and made lots of money! I still play weddings and am jamming with several local bands. I really got into blues after the 70s. I have cut several CDS of 60s and 70s folk rock.
The Gibson 335 that you see me holding in the pics was purchased used for 250.00 in 1965. It is an original limited edition dot neck 1961 cherry – I still play it as my blues guitar!

Categories: Mexico

Los Locos del Ritmo, 1966

October 29, 2015 Chris Bishop 7 Comments

I didn’t know the identity of this photo until Francisco Candia of Phoenix recognized the band as Los Locos del Ritmo, Mexico’s premier rock ‘n roll group who have been recording since 1957 and who still perform today. Enrique Ochoa Calderón confirmed this and provided the identities of each member in his comment, below.

The photo was taken by Green Pig Studio, a name for John A. Kurtz and Walt Walston, photographers in the Navy, stationed at at Miramar Naval Air in San Diego. I’ll post more photos John sent to me in the near future.

Categories: Denim, Holiday, Indiana, Muncie

The Jades of Muncie, Indiana

October 28, 2015 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

The Jades came from Muncie, Indiana, a college town about 60 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Kathy Knecht sent in the photo above asking for more information about the Jades.

Members were:

Gary Royer – lead guitar
John Terhune – bass
Greg Hood – organ
David Smith – drums

The Jades had two singles, both with excellent original songs.

The first was “I Cried” / ” Once Upon a Time” in December 1965 on Holiday, a label from Union, Kentucky, just southwest of Cincinnati.

The second was “Come Back” (Greg Hood) / “Change My Ways” (Gary Royer) on the Denim label, release #1078 in March of 1967. Denim Records would go on to release four singles by the Chosen Few and one that I haven’t heard by the Affectionate Armpit.

Greg Hood sent in the two photos seen below and commented:

We all were singers. Gary and I wrote the songs we recorded but the whole band had input on the final product. The greatest thing about this band is that we were such good friends.

Greg would go on to join the December’s Children, who recorded “Keep on Runnin'” and “99 and A Half” on the Classic Records label.

The Jades, from left: Gary Royer, David Smith, Greg Hood and John Terhune

Categories: Arkansas

The Restless Men

October 23, 2015 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Restless Men were James J. Healy and Russell LeJeune (mispelled LeJune on the label), from possibly Arkansas.

In November, 1965 they released their only single, the ballad “Man of Mind” b/w “Somebody Knows Me Now” on RM Records 51132.

No drums, but bass and acoustic guitars and a tambourine in a bath of echo propel “Somebody Knows Me Now”, a song about finding companionship in prison! Unlike the loneliness of being free (“each in his shell, in his own little scene, each one alone, only fish in the sea”), now they are “locked behind bars, each know the game, hold the same cards”. Some bluesy runs in the guitar break shows an r&b background for at least one member. This was the b-side of the single.

The ostensible A-side could be described as a folky paean to the Christian concept of god.

The songwriters James J. Healy and Russell LeJeune copyrighted both songs on March 9, 1966 under their own names, no publishing company listed.

Categories: Columbus, Musicol Recording Studio, Not garage, Ohio

Gun Shy

October 18, 2015 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

I come across many singles out of the range of the ’60s garage I usually cover on this site. When something is very obscure, with little or no info on the ‘net, I post it to satisfy my own curiosity.

Such as this single by Gun Shy, Ohio rock that sounds mid-70s but actually dates to 1981. It’s a Musicol press out of Columbus, with lots of EQ notes in the dead wax.

The A-side is “Gun Shy”, straight-up rock with plenty of cowbell, and a professional sound. The flip “Rymes and Reasons” is a power ballad with a good solo. B. Whitlatch and J. Cremeans wrote both sides. No publishing info, but production was by L. Smith and W. Withrow.

Categories: Austin, Texas, Totem

Leo and the Prophets

October 16, 2015 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

Leo and the Prophets cut one of the legendary Austin singles of the ’60s, “Tilt-A-Whirl” b/w “The Parking Meter” on Totem Records T-105 in April, 1967.

The band members were:

Leo Ellis – vocals and lead guitar
Travis Ellis – tambourine
Dan Hickman – rhythm guitar
Rod Haywood – bass
Bill Powell – drums

In January or February of 1967 they recorded their first songs with Sonobeat’s Bill Josey Sr. and Rim Kelley, resulting in a finished vocal, “Flowers on the Hill” and two instrumentals “Ozone Forest” and “Prophecy of Love”. Unfortunately none of which were ever released, but you can hear about half of “Flowers on the Hill” at the impressive Sonobeat website. Thirty seconds of “Ozone Forest” used to be on the old Sonobeat site but I can’t find it now. It’s a pity these songs weren’t finished and released, but at the time Bill Josey and the band felt there was too much distortion in the recording.

Andrew Brown published interviews with Dan Hickman, Rod Haywood and Bill Powell on his site 1966: Texas Music in the Sixties, which makes the best history of the band. I don’t have much to add to that.

My copy of the single is signed by Leo W. Ellis, Bill Powell, Haywood and “To the Roman Nose … Danel Boone” which I believe is Daniel Hickman as he signed the copy on the 1966 site in the same manner.

A possibly complete discography of Totem Records:

Totem T-101 – Rix Slaughter “Listen Little Girl” (Rix Dale Slaughter and James O. Glass)/ “Shades of Dawn” (Slaughter), November 1964
Totem T-102 – Rix Slaughter “Bright Lights” / “Everybody’s Fallin’ In Love”
Totem T-103 – Damon Meredith & the Western Caravan “Don’t Interfere With Love” / “(I Know That) You’re Trying to Forget Me” (WAM-45-66126, copyright reg. May 1966)
Totem T-103 – Cecil Moore & The Diamondbacks “Wind It Up” / “Stuff” (WAM-45-66125, copyright reg. June, 1966)
Totem T-105 – Leo & the Prophets – “Tilt-A-Whirl” (Ellis, Haywood) / “The Parking Meter” (Ellis, Hickman), April, 1967

Totem Records and KCFH advertisement for Rix Slaughter "Listen Little Girl" — Totem Records and KCFH advertisement in the Cuero, Texas paper in November, 1964

J.O. Glass (James Otto Glass) and J.C. “Scat” Hamilton produced all the singles.

Totem advertised Rix Slaughter’s first single in conjunction with KCFH in the Cuero Record on November 3, 1964.

The Meredith and Cecil Moore singles have a code I’m not familiar with, WAM, the Moore reading WAM-45-66125, while the Damon Meredith notes WAM-45-66126. Both singles share catalog number Totem T-103.

The singles list Totem Records at 4307 Speedway, Austin, with publishing by Fathom Pub. Co.

James Otto Glass copyrighted other songs in 1963 and ’64 that may not have been recorded, including “Halfway to Heaven (I Can’t Believe In You)”, “Window In My Heart”, “Fleeting Love”, “Just a Tear Away” and “What Doesn’t Show (I’ll Feel in My Heart)”.

Garage Hangover

Simon K & The Meantimers

The Bushmen, War Babies and Euphoria

The Coachmen Five and the Kiski label of Pennsylvania

Adrian and the Sinsations

The Royal Knights

Los Locos del Ritmo, 1966

The Jades of Muncie, Indiana

The Restless Men

Gun Shy

Leo and the Prophets

The site for '60s garage bands since 2004