I knew little about the Trademarks until drummer Jerry Warren’s son Zack commented below.
Members were:
Alan Nathanson – lead guitar and vocals
Neil Faigenbaum – bass guitar and vocals
Dave Levitt – organ, replaced by Eric
Jerry Warren – drums
According to Teen Beat Mayhem, the band was from Oak Park, Michigan.
“If I Was Gone” is superb performance, featuring a catchy guitar riff, good harmonies, fine drum and bass playing and a sharp solo. It was written by Alan Nathanson and Neil Feigenbaum, arranged and produced by Ed Nelson, and released on the great Palmer label out of Detroit in 1967.
The flip, “I Need You (By My Side)”, light pop with strings and horns, is labeled the “Action Side”, which couldn’t be further from the truth. If Palmer promoted “If I Was Gone”, the Trademarks would have had a better chance of a hit.
Producer Ed Kaplan’s name shows up on a number of Detroit rock and soul records, including the Chomps “Lookout World” on Kool Kat.
Other bands on Palmer include the Grifs, the Canadian Rogues, and the Moriticians.
The band played on Robin Seymour’s Swinging Time show, so there’s an outside chance video footage still exists. The Trademarks broke up in 1968, and Zack says his father Jerry passed away in 2012.
Anyone have a photo of the group?
You are so correct about which side should have been promoted. I have found 3 out of every 10 records I listen to the B side should have been the hit not the A side. Who determined which side should be the hit side, the band or the record company?
Alot of the songs on here are so awesome keep up the good work. I just wonder how many records out there by local bands from the 1960-1970 have not been found? I bet there are a few gems hiding somewhere in a closet, basement, warehouse, or flea market.
My father, Jerry Warren was the drummer for the Trademarks. He passed away recently, thus I’ve been doing some research on his past. A few years ago, he re-connected with some of the guys from the band. Here’s their bio from their myspace page:
.. ………. .. .. …. This Detroit area group got together in early 1965 as The Minor Keys, later changing their name to The Bare Necessities. The group performed cover songs as well as their own material. Alan and Neil composed the two songs that can be heard on this site in early 1966 and the group recorded them sometime that year. They went on to play at local venues including appearing on Windsor’s CKLW Swinging Time television program hosted by local DJ Robin Seymour. The group opened for such talent as Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels at the Walled Lake Casino and Bob Seger at other clubs. The group played once or twice a week at private parties or local dances. The group consisted of Alan Nathanson playing lead guitar and vocals, Neil Faigenbaum playing bass guitar and vocals, Jerry Warren playing drums, Dave Levitt playing organ and later Eric playing organ. The group broke up in 1968. Alan and Neil formed a group Everlon Nevermore and played locally and then moved to New York and eventually broke up. Alan moved to California formed a group Greydog http://www.greydogmusic.com and is still active jamming away today. Neil was involved with the group Howl the Good and pursued a recording contract in England. Jerry pursued other interests, and after 40 years purchased a drum set and formed a new rock group http://www.MainSwitchclassicrock.com. Eric can not be located at this time. After 40 years of no contact, the members have had phone conversations and the result is this site. If you have any memories of the group or know the whereabouts of Eric, send us an email.
Members
Alan Nathanson – Lead Guitar and Vocals, Neil Faigenbaum – Bass and Vocals, Jerry Warren- Drums, Dave Levitt- Keyboard, Eric – Keyboard.
Howl The Good had an album on Motown’s Rare Earth label
in 1972 produced by Gary Wright of Spooky Tooth.
You can see scans of Howl The Good’s only single here
http://www.45cat.com/record/r5045f.
Thanks to Zack for letting us know the background history.