Karl Thaler plays acoustic guitar and sings doom-laden lyrics on his original composition “The Storm”, and plays guitar and harmonica on the instrumental “Phoebe”.
I had no info other than what’s on the label, which includes the deadwax stamp “45 202 385” / “45 202 386”. A comment, below, informs me that this single was included with the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania’s literary magazine Esprit in 1969, when Karl Thaler was a student there. Any further info on about Mr. Thaler or the University of Scranton music scene this came from would be appreciated.
The Sleepers, from left to right, top row: Kim Murray and Tom Zinser; bottom row: Bob First, Jim Krause and Chris Davis
The Sleepers were from Mansfield, Ohio, located in the northern part of the state about halfway between Columbus and Cleveland.
Tom Zinser lead the band so they were usually referred to as Tommy Z and the Sleepers, though not on the record label which simply says The Sleepers. The label lists the members by last name, but misspells more than half of them: Murry [sic], Crause [sic], Davis, and First. Tommy Zinser’s name is spelled Zinzer on the labels.
Tom Zinser wrote to me in 2016 with more info about the band:
Tommy Z and The Sleepers was the first band I was in that played out. We played some at a club in Ashland, Ohio called the Dugout. We also played fraternity parties at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. In the picture, that’s me on the top right. Next to me is Kim Murray, our lead singer, who went on to become an attorney in Mansfield. To the right of Kim on the first row is Bob First, our drummer from Mansfield who at the time was recently out of the Navy. In the center is Jim Krause, misspelled on the record label, played guitar and did some backup vocals. He went on to become a recording engineer in Cincinnati. Next to Jim and below me is Chris Davis, who played bass. Chris, Jim and I went to Mansfield Senior High together and graduated in 1963.
“I Want a Love” combines a fuzz riff with a jangly guitar sound and unison vocals. There’s a short drum break and the fuzz repeats its riffs without trying for anything ambitious. “Time Will Tell” features hypnotic picked guitar and fine harmonies in backup and on the chorus.
Zinser and Davis wrote both songs. The single was recorded at Audio Recording in Cleveland, produced by E.R. Thomas and E.R. Garnes, and released on the Marvy label in 1966.
After the Sleepers broke up in 1967, Zinser went into the Wildlife with guitarist and vocalist Terry Van Auker. The Wildlife released one 45 on Columbia, 4-44369, “Time Will Tell” / “Hard, Hard, Year”.
Tom Zinser adds:
“Time Will Tell” and “I Want A Love” B-side, were my first efforts in songwriting and later on “Time Will Tell” was rerecorded in the Wildlife.
About 2011 we gave an interview to a guy in the United Kingdom who publishes a magazine called Fantastic Expedition. If you go to fantasticexpedition.com, we are in issue 5. That is the most complete story of the Wildlife and the subsequent band, Owen B.
Zinser and Van Auker went into Owen-B which had a self-produced LP recorded at Mus-i-col Studios in Columbus. Another member of Owen-B was Jim Krause on vocals and harmonica.
Confusingly there was another group with two earlier 45s on Columbia who are listed as the Wild Life (two words instead of Wildlife) which have similar credits, arranged by Chuck Sagle and produced by John Walsh:
“This Is What I Was Made For” / “Somes Times I’m Up (Sometimes I’m Down”) (Columbia 4-44213) “New Games to Play” / “Where Do You Go” (Columbia 4-44285)
The Sugar Beats formed in Tampa, Florida and had the first release on the Knight label, which is much better known for 45s by the Outsiders, the Tropics and the Mods. The band members were:
Roland Kent LaVoie – guitar Bill Ellington – guitar Bill Denman – bass Rick Emmert – drums
Both sides are upbeat pop cover songs, which may be why it was not included in Teen Beat Mayhem. Produced by Phil Gernhard and recorded at H & H Studios, though I’ve also read this was recorded at Charles Fuller’s studio – some overlap there? It dates from approximately 1964, with SoN #s 22541/2 in the matrix.
Roland LaVoie went into Me & the Other Guys who had two 45s, “Skinny Minnie” / “Crazy” on Hit Cat and “Runaround Girl” / “Everybody Knew But Me” on Boss.
The Citations at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, 1966 From left: John Grasso, Mike Messineo Bob Oreal, Gene DiMaio, John Fichera and Michael DiResta
There were several groups called the Citations recording in the ’60s including ones from Alabama, Maine, Ohio and, most famously, the band from Milwaukee who cut “Moon Race” / “Slippin’ and Slidin'”.
The Citations I’m featuring today were from Lawrence and Methuen, Massachusetts. Though obscure, their July, 1966 release on Pre-Sav Enterprises has two excellent original songs.
“Long Time Wanderin'” was the A-side, a good upbeat cut, but most garage fans prefer the flip, “The Day That She’ll Go”, a good example of the New England sound – moody and with a dense, almost murky production but plenty of atmosphere and emotion.
I had almost no info on the group until I heard from James DiResta, the brother of guitarist Mike DiResta. He sent in the photo seen at top and gave me the names of the band members.
Gino DiMaio – bass and lead vocals John Grasso – lead guitar Mike DiResta – rhythm guitar John Fichera – keyboards Bob Oreal, Mike Messineo – drums
James wrote to me, “My brother Mike is on the right playing the single cut-away Guild guitar, and wrote the songs on the record. The Vox amps were the original tube amps from England with adapters to play in USA. The club that they use to practice out of, and were the house band for, was the Raven on the Methuen – Haverhill line in Massachusetts. The record had its debut at Turn-Style in South Lawrence and later they showcased at the Hampton Casino.”
Ram Jam Band, late 1968. Top, left to right: Buddy Beadle, Hans Herbert, Geno Washington, Keith O’Connell and Rod Baby Bottom, left to right: Steve Gregory, Pete Carney and John Culley. Photo courtesy of Buddy Beadle.
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (August 1968)
Geno Washington – lead vocals Dave Greenslade – organ Dave Tedstone – lead guitar, vocals Peter Carney – bass, vocals Lionel ‘Rocky’ Kingham – tenor saxophone Buddy Beadle – baritone saxophone Pat Higgs – trumpet Colin Davey – drums
During May 1968 Geno Washington went to Madrid on his own and played at the Stones Club with Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.
Back in the UK, during mid-August, he fired guitarist John Culley and trumpet player Pat Higgs while drummer Hans Herbert went into hospital for a hernia operation. Washington then put together a new formation around the surviving members.
Guitarist Dave Tedstone had a long pedigree, having worked with Herefordshire bands, Lee Starr & The Astrals and The Doc Thomas Group before joining Freddy Mack in London in April 1967. By early 1968, he was playing with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds with original Ram Jam members John Roberts and Herb Prestidge. Colin Davey had played drums with Tedstone in Freddy Mack’s band in 1967 and had also briefly played with Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede before that.
Original sax player Buddy Beadle returned after working with The Amboy Dukes, who’d shared the bill with The Ram Jam Band on numerous occasions.
The new line up recorded a three-hour BBC Radio 1 session at Maida Vale in late August. With Greenslade taking the lead as musical director, the group (with a session bass player) cut five tracks, including the old blues staple, “Rock Me Baby”, a cover of The Rolling Stones’ recent single “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” plus “Hi Heel Sneakers” and “Holdin’ On (With Both Hands)”, which were later picked up by collectors’ label Acid Jazz for a compilation EP.
Producer John Schroeder, however, was not happy with the new direction and with a live album lined up for August the new line up proved to be short-lived. Gigs were few and far between and while all of this was going on, Dave Greenslade began rehearsing with his new band, Colosseum.
Selected gigs (NME lists the following as the ones that Dave Tedstone line-up played):
10 August 1968 – Brighton Festival, Brighton, West Sussex
12 August 1968 – Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hants
15 August 1968 – Locarno, Bristol, Avon
16 August 1968 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Emotions
17 August 1968 – Winter Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset
23-24 August 1968 – Scene Two Discotheque, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
27 August 1968 – Royal Lido Ballroom, Prestatyn, Wales with The Informers (this is missing from NME list above so may be another month)
30 August 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with Toast (this may have been done by next line up)
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (August 1968-September 1968)
Geno Washington – lead vocals John ‘Silkie’ Culley – lead guitar Dave Greenslade – organ Peter Carney – bass, vocals Lionel ‘Rocky’ Kingham – tenor saxophone Buddy Beadle – baritone saxophone Hans Herbert – drums
In the last week of August, Dave Tedstone left to re-join Jimmy James & The Vagabonds. He later contributed recording sessions for Cartoone’s second album and then joined Tom Jones’s band, The Squires. In 1970, Tedstone joined Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers, reuniting with Buddy Beadle. The group cut an unreleased album at Trident Studios. John Culley resumed the guitar spot.
Colin Davey also departed at this point to join Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and Hans Herbert returned. However, Buddy Beadle remained; Pat Higgs did not return.
The revised line up cut a lone single, “Bring It To Me Baby” c/w “I Can’t Let You Go” (Pye 7N 17649), which was released in November 1968.
Selected gigs:
31 August 1968 – Leas Cliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent
1 September 1968 – Bank Holiday Bluesology Festival, Chateau Impney, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire with The Move, Fleetwood Mac, Freddie Mack, Chris Farlowe, Wynder K Frogg, Family and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
1 September 1968 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire
1 September 1968 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham
2 September 1968 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
7 September 1968 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with The Soul Difference
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (September 1968-December 1968)
Geno Washington – lead vocals John ‘Silkie’ Culley – lead guitar Keith O’Connell – organ Peter Carney – bass, vocals Buddy Beadle – baritone saxophone Steve Gregory – tenor saxophone Rod Baby – trumpet Hans Herbert – drums
In early September, Dave Greenslade formally departed to play with his new band, Colosseum. Longstanding member Lionel Kingham also departed and later worked with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds before doing sessions for Henry McCullough and Geoff Muldaur among others.
With Greenslade gone, the band recruited Manchester musician, Keith O’Connell, who’d played with local groups The Raging Storms and Glass Menagerie.
Beadle recommended his former band mate from The Amboy Dukes, Steve Gregory, who’d played with The Alan Price Set before that. The band also added trumpet player Rod Baby.
Selected gigs:
13 September 1968 – Mayfair, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Idle Race
14 September 1968 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire
27 September 1968 – Church Elm, Discotheque, Dagenham, London with supporting group (confirmed by Jim Smith)
27 September 1968 – Falkirk Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland with The Brian Marshall Foundation and Absolute (Herbert recalls that Geno got laryngitis during one of the Scottish tours and he had to cover lead vocals from the drum kit. This date was probably 28 September)
28 September 1968 – Ayr Ice Rink, Ayr, Scotland with Vanity Fayre and supporting groups
29 September 1968 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland with The Shadettes (also played Maryland Ballroom, Glasgow around this time)
30 September 1968 – The Beach, Aberdeen, Scotland
4 October 1968 – Top Rank, Leicester
7 October 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire
11 October 1968 – Salford University, Salford, Greater Manchester
12 October 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire
15 October 1968 – Top Rank, High Wycombe, Bucks
17 October 1968 – RAF Hollyhead, Anglesey
18 October 1968 – Bridge Place Country Club, Bridge near Canterbury, Kent
19 October 1968 – The College, Chester, Cheshire
21 October 1968 – Top Rank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
2 November 1968 – The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with Jigsaw
2 November 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
15 November 1968 – Romanos, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The Sands
16 November 1968 – New Arcadia, Bray, Republic of Ireland with The Trixons
22 November 1968 – Leicester College of Education, Leicester
23 November 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with Apricot Brande
25 November 1968 –Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales
28 November 1968 – Top Rank, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
6 December 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
12 December 1968 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions, Mr Poobah’s Chicago Line, Georgia Quintet
20-21 December 1968 – Scene Two, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
22 December 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Birmingham, West Midlands
24 December 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, Essex with Ruby James & The Trifle and The Purple Dream
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (December 1968-April 1969)
Geno Washington – lead vocals John ‘Silkie’ Culley – lead guitar Keith O’Connell – organ Peter Carney – bass, vocals Buddy Beadle – baritone saxophone Steve Gregory – tenor saxophone Rod Baby – trumpet Malcolm Wolffe – drums
Hans Herbert did not stay long on his return. After leaving Geno Washington he worked with country-rock bands Jamie’s People and Lincoln Park Inn among others.
Malcolm Wolffe, who’d previously played with The Tribe and then Happy Magazine took his place.
Selected gigs:
4 January 1969 – Whitchurch Town Hall, Whitchurch, Wales with Shady Lane and The Antrix (Saturday)
17 January 1969 – Central Pier, Morecombe, Lancashire
18 January 1969 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire
20 January 1969 – St Matthew’s Hall, Ipswich
25 January 1969 – Bradford University, Bradford, West Yorkshire
25 January 1969 – Gaeity Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire
26 January 1969 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
29 January 1969 – Oldham College of Further Education, Oldham, Lancashire
30 January 1969 – Riverton Barn, Bolton, Lancashire
31 January 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear with Cupid’s Inspiration
2-10 February 1969 – Showboat Variety Club, Middlesbrough
12 February 1969 – Top Rank Ballroom, Cardiff, Wales
13 February 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands
15 February 1969 – Winter Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset
23 February 1969 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland with Alan Jordan & The KB Showband
3 March 1969 – Ice Rink, Liverpool
5 March 1969 – Winter Gardens, Morecombe, Lancashire
7 March 1969 – College Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
8 March 1969 – Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
12 March 1969 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, Humberside
14 March 1969 – Public Baths, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
15 March 1969 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire
16 March 1969 – Pop World ’69, Empire Pool, Wembley, Middlesex with Fleetwood Mac, Amen Corner, The Move, The Gun, Barry Ryan and others
21 March 1969 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London
23 March 1969 – Railway Hotel, Wealdstone, London
5 April 1969 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland with Alan Jordan & The KB Showband and The Shadettes
7 April 1969 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Revolver
18 April 1969 – Kinema Ballroom, Stranraer, Scotland with Systems Go Most likely date for John Culley’s final gig
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (April 1969-September 1969)
Geno Washington – lead vocals Keith Field – lead guitar, vocals Keith O’Connell – organ Peter Carney – bass, vocals Buddy Beadle – baritone saxophone Steve Gregory – tenor saxophone Malcolm Wolffe – drums
John Culley departed after a Scottish tour in March-April 1969, playing his final gig in Stranraer (see above). After working in the Ivory Coast with The Crazy Fingers, he joined Cressida in 1970 and later played with Black Widow. Rod Baby departed at the same time.
Guitarist Keith Field, formerly with The Blue Aces, and, more significantly, Ferris Wheel, took over from John Culley after cutting a solo single, “The Day That War Broke Out” c/w “Stop! Thief” for Polydor in September 1968.
The new line up recorded a lone single, “My Little Chickadee” c/w “Seven Eleven” (Pye 7N 17745), which was released in June 1969.
Selected gigs:
April 1969 – Gigs in Netherlands (according to Billboard)
25 April 1969 – White Lion, Edgware, London
26 April 1969 – Winning Post Hotel, Twickenham, London
20 May 1969 – Bradford University, Bradford, West Yorkshire with The Idle Race, The Honeybus, Clouds and others
23 May 1969 – Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester
24 May 1969 – The Pavilion, Buxton, Derbyshire
26 May 1969 – Skegness Seaside Soul Festival, Skegness, Lincolnshire with Amen Corner, Inez & Charlie Foxx, The Fantastics and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
30 May 1969 – Newmarket Discotheque, Bridgwater, Somerset
31 May 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Tract and Virgin Hearse
June 1969 – Scottish tour (includes gigs with Jo Jo Gunne and Three Dog Night)
13 June 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Sweet and Pedestrian Crossing
6 July 1969 – Citation Hotel, Perth, Scotland
6 July 1969 – Grand Hall, Kilmarnock, Scotland
8 July 1969 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon
11 July 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
13 July 1969 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with Canterbury Tales
19 July 1969 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with supporting acts
19 July 1969 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (unlikely if Guildford date took place unless one is incorrect)
21 July 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Roundabout with Wild Duncan and Syrian Blue
27 July 1969 – Start week at Fiesta, Stockton
August 1969 – Short tour of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland (around now)
5 August 1969 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon
9 August 1969 – Three-day Swedish tour starts (advertised in music press)
29 August 1969 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with The Zoo
1 September 1969 – Pop and Blues Festival, Pennycross Sports Stadium, Plymouth, Devon with Fleetwood Mac, The Move, Dave Amboy, Rod Mason Jass Band and The Nashville Teens
12 September 1969 – Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay with supporting group
20 September 1969 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Shy Limbs
The Coventry Evening Telegraph’s 29 September issue notes that Geno Washington has split from the group. The band were due to appear at Chesford Grange, Kenilworth tonight and were replaced by The Drifters.
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (October 1969-November 1970)
Geno Washington – lead vocals Alan Griffin – lead guitar, vocals Tom Duffy – bass, vocals Winston ???? – keyboards Tony Hall – tenor saxophone Brent Scott Carter – tenor saxophone Frank Charlton – trumpet Larry ???? – drums
The Ram Jam Band split with Washington after working at the Neago Club in Majorca in October 1969.
Beadle and Gregory would go on to play a multitude of sessions with artists as diverse as Ginger Baker’s Airforce, Babe Ruth, Bell & Arc, Chicken Shack, Andy Fairweather-Low, Alan Hull, Otis Spann, Suzi Quatro, Freddie King and Lindisfarne. They also became members of Gonzalez and recorded a string of albums in the 1970s.
NME announced in the week ending 4 October 1969 that Geno Washington had split from The Ram Jam Band and returned to The United States. Fabulous 208 magazine mentioned in its 25 October issue that the group had split in the same week as Amen Corner and The Marbles.
The singer duly returned from the United States this month and put together an entirely new version of The Ram Jam Band.
Tom Duffy came from Newcastle and had previously played with The Sect. The group’s new drummer was another American, from California. Alan Griffin had previously played with Croydon, south London band, The Subjects.
Londoners Tony Hall and Brent Scott Carter both came in from Simon K & The Meantimers. Tony Hall had a long pedigree having previously worked with West London outfits, Peter Nelson & The Travellers, Peter’s Faces, Wainwright’s Gentlemen, The Flowerpot Men and Rupert’s Spoon.
Selected gigs:
1 November 1969 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with BZN and Heaven
29 November 1969 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire
21 December 1969 – Top Rank Suite, Birmingham
24 December 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Candy Choir
29 January 1970 – Crescendo Club, Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
5 February 1970 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with Sonic Invaders
6 March 1970 – Carousel, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Derrick & Sounds
28 March 1970 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands
4 April 1970 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
1 May 1970 – Flamingo, Ballymena, Northern Ireland
2 May 1970 – Romanos, Belfast, Northern Ireland
24 July 1970 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset with Tension
14 August 1970 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon
2 October 1970 – Fresher’s Ball, Liverpool Polytechnic Guild of Students, Liverpool with Stack Waddy
8 November 1970 – Up the Junction, Crewe, Cheshire
13 November 1970 – Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn, Scotland
14 December 1970 – Wall City, Chester, Cheshire with Satisfaction with Mike Cotton, Wall City Jazzmen
Around December 1970, Tom Duffy left and went on to record with Arc and Bell & Arc before playing and recording with Lindisfarne. Frank Charlton also left and later recorded with The Avant Gardeners.
Roger Flavell joined on bass after working with Grand Union (Bandwagon’s backing band) and Judd. Further personnel changes took place in early 1971 before the musicians broke away from Geno Washington.
Flavell subsequently played with The Tommy Hunt Band and recorded with The Byron Band among others. Brent Scott Carter later appeared on an album by Babe Ruth while Tony Hall did sessions for Dana Gillespie among others.
Selected gigs:
26 December 1970 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
Sources include:Melody Maker, NME, Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Fabulous 208, Kent Herald, Wrexham Leader, Berkhamsted Gazette, Birmingham Evening Mail, Southend Standard, Time Out, New Ross Standard, Wicklow People, Aberdeen Evening Express, Belfast Telegraph, Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle, Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Wells Journal, Liverpool Echo, Torbay Express and South Devon Echo, Cheshire Observer, Wigtownshire Free Press & Galloway Advertiser.
Huge thanks to Peter Carney, John Culley, Dave Tedstone and Tony Hall for helping with line ups.
I’ll be spinning 45s at the next SmashCrashBash at the Half Moon in Hudson, NY on Friday, September 5, with bands the Luxurious Faux Furs and the Beech Creeps. It should be an insane night of crude garage rock!
The Mustangs backstage with the Byrds from left: Mike Clark, Larry Hutcherson (partially hidden), Mike Johnstone, Jim McGuinn, Paris Aiken (with glasses), Norm Lawrence, Brad Tinglehoff, Rick Farrar, and Chris Hillman (with back to camera). Photo credited to Bob Scott.Mustangs business card and caption to the Byrds and the Mustangs backstage photo
The Mustangs in the photo above consist of:
Larry Hutcherson – vocals Mike Johnstone – lead guitar Paris Aiken – drums Norm Lawrence – bass guitar Rick Farrar – rhythm guitar
Brad Tinglehoff was the roadie for the group.
According to the Tidewater Virginia Hippies site, other members of the Mustangs included Steve Swenson and Ronnie Hall. I don’t believe this group released any records, and if there were any unreleased recordings, I haven’t heard them.
Mike Johnstone went on to play with Headstone Circus, whose recordings circa 1968 were eventually released by Shadoks. Paris Aiken joined Dennis & the Times, and later played drums with Billy Joe Royal on his recording of “Down in the Boondocks”.
James Mrdutt sent in the photos seen here and reported that Paris passed away on December 24, 2009.
Thank you to Mike Johnstone for correcting the mistakes I made in transcribing the IDs for the photo.
Mickey Ward – keyboards Dan Walker – guitar Glen Mikaland – bass and saxophone George Neuhoff – drums
This is a 45 I’d been trying to track down for a few years, and finally found a copy through Buckeye Beat, whose website has the full story on this Lorain, Ohio band.
“Turning to Stone” has a sharp fuzz riff and gloomy vocals, with a shift to a bright chorus with tambourine. The flip, “I Need You” comes from a doo wop or vocal group era, it sounds like a different group entirely, though it is well done. “I Need You” is an original by Mickey Ward, “Turning to Stone” was a group original.
The Gladiators name was only used for this one single from September, 1966 on the Donnie label run by Donnie Barden. The group was actually known as Mickey & the Clean Cuts in live shows and on their first 45 from October, 1965, “Soapy” / “Static Electricity”, also on Donnie and picked up by Wand. I’m not sure why they changed their name for the release of “Turning to Stone”. They had a good sound on that song and I wish they cut more in that style.
Anyone have a photo of the group?
The band continued as Mickey & the Clean Cuts, and backed the other two artists on the Donnie label for their releases: Dave Charles’ excellent soul 45 “Ain’t Gonna Cry No More” / “My Love”, and Tillie Wow’s “I Wanna Tell You A Thing Or Two” / “The Sway”, but had no other releases under their own name. Mickey Ward kept the Clean Cuts act going with different members into the ’80s.
Cori Records was the house label for Continental Recordings studio in Framingham, Massachusetts. I discussed the studio in some depth in an article on the Balladeers, who had the first two 45s released by Continental. Max Waller and I put together this discography of the label. It’s incomplete, especially in regard to the LPs, so if you have any additional information please contact me.
All 45s after the first have matrix codes for Capitol Custom pressings. The first letter of the code refers to the year (T=1965, U=1966, W=1967).
Most publishing is either Hyannis Music Co, BMI or Donna Music Pub. BMI.
On “You’ve Got Me Cryin'” BOSS TODES is written below The Mauve but marked out on all copies I’ve seen. The band had a second 45 as the Boss Todes on the Sound City label in 1967, “Have Certainty” / “Sally the Pollywog”.
45s / 7″ EPs:
E.P. Scroggs CR-0001 – The Balladeers – “Cape Cod (Here We Come) / “Land of the Sea and Sun” (ZTSP-94612/3) (Summer, 1964) Cori CR-31001 – The Balladeers – “Words I Want To Hear” / “High Flying Bird” (TB 631/2) 8/1965 Cori CR-31002 – The Royals “I’m All Alone” / “The Lady’s Bad” (June 1965) Cori CR 31003 – The Valkyries “Love You Like I Do” (Curtis) / “Blues For Cookie”(TB 476) 1965 Cori CR 31004 – Al Gay “Soldier’s Last Letter” / “Over and Over” Cori CR 31005 – The Riffs “Outside That Door” (Paul Iannazzo) / “Holy Ravioli” (UB 276) March 1966 Cori CR 31006 – The Mauve “You’ve Got Me Cryin'” (Ford-Weeks) / “In The Revelation” (Arranged by Eric Sample, UB 238) March 1966 Insegrievious CR 31007 – The End “Bad Night” / “Make Our Love Come Through” (IAM 45-UB-388/6-P1) 1966 Cori CR 31008 – Sole Survivors – “Love Her So” (D. Cormier) / “There Were Times” (R. Pieroni) PS (UB 423, both sides Hyannis Music BMI) 1966 Cori CR 31009 – Notations – “Mr. Ringmaster” (Bruce Chaput) / “I Need No Misery” (Bob Allain) Cori CR 31010 – C.C & the Chasers “Two And Twenty” / “Hey, Put The Clock Back On The Wall” (WB 144/5) 1967 Cori CR 31011 – Shyres “Where Is Love” (Cox) / “My Girl” (Beckmann) (WB 218/9, both sides Hyannis Music BMI) May 1967 Cori CR 31012 – Jerry Seeco Sextet “That’s All” / “Teach Me Tonight” Cori CR 31013 – The Kumbaya Singers “To My Brothers” / “Ruben Harte”
Continental Recordings CR-337001: Central Park Zoo – “Help Me Girl” / “Set You Free This Time” / “Louie Louie” / “Monkey Time” / “Painted Black” / “Mustang Sally” (1967)
Cori CR 222: Brownie Macintosh with the Harry Gronki Corale “Rye Whiskey Joe” (Bill Staines) / “The Call” (Gene MacLellan) – 1971
LPs: Remnant Records RBA 3571 – The Rising Storm – Calm Before… Cori CRLP 31002 – The Passports and the Tabooz – 66 (split LP – Bradford Junior College) Cori CR 3101 – Bobby Orr – The Two Sides Of Bobby Orr Cori CR 3111 – Paul Wayne – Live At The Garage Cori CRLP 31007 – The Passports and the Tabooz – 1968 / Ragged But Right (split LP) Cori CS 31009 – Endless Knights – Something For You (1971) Cori CS 31016 – Endless Knights – Back For More (1975) Cori CS 31017 – Brownie Macintosh – Coastline Brownie (1975) Brownie Macintosh wrote to me about his recordings on Cori:
I met Dan at probably the most troubled time of my life. I was about 19 and had been kicked out of boarding school a year and a half earlier. I used to drive by the studio on my way from Wayland, MA to Hopkinton to see my then girlfriend. After about a year I got up the courage to knock on the door and Dan was very nice and showed me around. I was absolutely in love with the possibility of working in a studio, and after two or so years, Dan hired me to sing on two jingles … I was hooked.
I did first a single “Rye Whiskey Joe” b/w “The Call” which Dan loved and we had some action on radio, but could not get major Boston airplay, even though we came close. We did the single in 1971. It was exciting as Dan and Pudgie knew a lot of DJs and everyone who came through Continental was forced to listen to it. “Rye Whiskey Joe”, the A-side, was four minutes long, unheard of for an unknown at the time.
I have since produced countless recording sessions, commercial jingles, corporate pieces, records, etc, and written songs for and with The Kingston Trio, The Irish Rovers (which produced my first and only gold record) and many large music publishing companies.
Thank you to Brownie Macintosh, Max Waller, Erik Lindgren, C. Benanti, and Jeffrey Davison for their help with this discography.
The Passports posing with a Confederate flag.
The Passports were Linda Moody, Alice Haynsworth, Mimi Walz, Cibby Thomas, Mary Shartle, Carolyn Smith, Ann Detweiler, Elaine Dart, Nancy Byloff, Muff McDonald and Betsy Thurlow. The Tabooz were Margaret Bingham, Susie Grace, Suki Augenblick, Margo Jones, Sarah Miller, Sarah Williams, Muffy Gibson, Liz Thayer, Susan Paul, Bibi Kinney, Debbie Dent, Barb Davis and Robin Boak.
The Tiger’s Head was a popular music venue in Downham, Southeast London (near Catford and Bromley) during the 1960s. The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band played here many times during their early years. The gigs below are taken from the Southeast London Mercury.
I would welcome any additions or memories of this venue.
3 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)
6 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
10 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)
13 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
17 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)
27 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
3 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)
6 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
10 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)
13 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
17 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)
20 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
27 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
31 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)
10 April 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
14 April 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)
17 April 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
24 April 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
29 April 1966 – The Anzaks (Friday)
1 May 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
7 May 1966 – Bill Seney & His Modern Jazz Band (Saturday)
8 May 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
15 May 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
22 May 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
29 May 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
5 June 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
12 June 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
19 June 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
26 June 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
3 July 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
10 July 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
17 July 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
24 July 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
30 July 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Saturday)
7 August 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)
21 October 1966 – The Overlanders (Friday)
28 October 1966 – The Loose Ends (Friday)
11 November 1966 – Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Friday)
18 November 1966 – The Shotgun Express (Friday) (Fabulous 208)
24 November 1966 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Thursday)
2 December 1966 – The Symbols (Friday)
16 December 1966 – The Riot Squad (Friday)
23 December 1966 – The Shevelles (Friday)
30 December 1966 – The Downliners Sect (Friday)
6 January 1967 – The New Loose Ends (Friday)
13 January 1967 – The Amboy Dukes (Friday)
25 January 1967 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Wednesday)
3 February 1967 – The Herd (Friday) (Fabulous 208)
10 February 1967 – The Shevelles (Friday)
17 February 1967 – The Shotgun Express (Friday)
2 March 1967 – The Gass (Thursday)
8 March 1967 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Wednesday)
31 March 1967 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Friday)
14 April 1967 – Coloured Raisins and Honey Darling (Friday)
21 April 1967 – The James Royal Set (Friday)
28 April 1967 – The New Mojo Band (Friday)
5 May 1967 – The Spectrum (Friday) (says Bellingham so could be King Alfred’s instead)
12 May 1967 – Marmalade (Friday)
19 May 1967 – Davey Sands & The Essex (Friday)
26 May 1967 – The Spectrum (Friday)
2 June 1967 – St James Infirmary (Friday)
9 June 1967 – The Spectrum (Friday)
16 June 1967 – Linda Layne & The Sin (Friday)
23 June 1967 – Freddie Fingers & The Upper Hand (Friday)
30 June 1967 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Friday)
19 July 1967 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Fabulous 208) (Wednesday)
28 July 1967 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)
18 August 1967 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)
12 January 1968 – The Shell Shock Show (Friday)
26 January 1968 – The Love Affair (Friday)
2 February 1968 – The Delroy Williams Show (Friday)
9 February 1968 – Hamilton’s Movements (Friday)
16 February 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)
8 March 1968 – Cymbalines (Friday)
15 March 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)
12 April 1968 – The Riot Squad (Friday)
19 April 1968 – The Good Time Band (Friday)
26 April 1968 – Sugar Simone & The Programme (Friday)
17 May 1968 – Joyce Bond Revue (Friday)
14 June 1968 – The Epics (Friday)
21 June 1968 – Hopscotch (Friday)
28 June 1968 – Moon’s Train (Friday)
5 July 1968 – The Joyce Bond Revue (Friday)
12 July 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)
13 July 1968 – The Wild Angels (Saturday)
2 August 1968 – 1958 Rock Show with Freddie Fingers (Friday)
16 August 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)
23 August 1968 – Tony Rivers (& Harmony Grass) (Friday)
30 August 1968 – Episode Six (Friday)
6 September 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)
13 September 1968 – Hopscotch (Friday)
20 September 1968 – The Joyce Bond Revue (Friday)
11 October 1968 – The Epics (Friday)
18 October 1968 – Gene Latter (Friday)
1 November 1968 – Tony Rivers (& Harmony Grass) (Friday)
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
I’ll be spinning 45s at the next SmashCrashBash at the Half Moon in Hudson, NY on Friday, September 5, with bands the Luxurious Faux Furs and the Beech Creeps. It should be an insane night of crude garage rock!
28 April 1967 – The New Mojo Band (Friday)
