The Nomads came from Evansville, Indiana and played live throughout the southwest part of the state. Members included:
Eddie Karges – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
Max Emmick – lead guitar
Chuck Dowd – organ
Jeff Davis – bass
Gary Varden – drums
In 1965 they recorded their only single in Santa Claus, IN, released on Skoop 1065, one of the labels owned by Ray Scrivener. One side is the disaffected “Coolsville”, written by Max Emmick and Jeff Davis, with some of the classic lyrics of the era:
Walking down the street with my baby,
In my baggies?? so tight,
Yeah, I was whistled at,
By a gang of girls.Went to a dance that night,
Danced with all my might,
Walked into the gym,
Boy what a crowd of hicks,
Yeah they were doing the Twist,
C’mon and twist, twist, twist, twist, ahhh!Strolled up to a chick,
Smiled and I said to her,
Do the Twist or (?) the Charleston?I’m a gonna leave this town,
Yeah, I’m a gonna leave this town,
I’m a gonna leave this town,
Never to return again.
The flip is the more tender “Shy Girl”, written by Max Emmick.
Despite the Buna Music BMI publishing credit on the labels, I don’t believe these songs were registered with either the Library of Congress or BMI.
I’ve read Ed Karges and Chuck Dowd later played in another Evansville group, the Misfits, who cut “I’ll Feel Better (In the Morning)” / “Please Don’t Go Away” (both by Kneeland – DeVillez) on the Showboat label in 1967.
Jeff Davis moved to Tennessee where he formed the Amazing Rhythm Aces in the early ’70s.
Photo and some of the info from the North Knox High School website.
BMI does not publish their entire record of defunct / discontinued publishing accounts. I used to have a direct contact with someone who worked in the archive department; he told me they have an info record for every BMI account but it isn’t available to the public. I was able to obtain records from many defunct accounts via his friendship, he no longer is employed by BMI.
Also, publishing credits on a record label does not automatically identify a song was registered for copyright; these are two separate paperwork filing actions.
Jeff Davis, who played bass with the Nomads, was my wife’s boyfriend at Evansville Harrison high school in 1968. Jeff went on to a career as a studio musician in Nashville, and played with the Amazing Rythym Aces from approximately 1975 to 1980. They had a hit around that time called “Third Rate Romance, Low Rent Rondevous”. Jeff is now semi – retired and living in Florida.
Jeff and I still talk occasionally .He was on my 2011 album “True Believer” along with Joe Dougherty on drums (of the Grassroots), Donnie Lee Clark (of Pure Prairie League), Erick Scales on keys and sax, and Andrea Wirth on backing vocals. We have both been recording for well over 54 years now. Jeff on ABC, Warner, Columbia and other labels. I have been on 9 labels as well, back when there were records and record stores.