Category Archives: Unknown

Categories: Ariola, Cannon, Claridge, Unknown

Lord Alan and Sir Richard “Little Things”

July 6, 2010 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

Lord Alan and Sir Richard were Richard Tyson and Alan Abrahams, who co-wrote both songs on this 45. I’m not sure who the band is on this record.

“Run in the Dark” is a pretty sharp copy of the peppy English sounds of the time, something like the Dave Clark Five. “Little Things” has more substance, beginning with the arresting bend on the opening guitar chord that starts the melancholy first verse.

The ‘Slay Cannon’ production credit refers to Frank Slay and Freddy Cannon. Frank Slay had Claridge publishing going since 1963 or earlier. In 1965 he started the Claridge record label. Previously he wrote songs with Bob Crewe, and the two of them helped Freddie Cannon get his song “Tallahassie Lassie” to Swan Records. Slay became Cannon’s producer for the duration of Freddy’s Swan years.

Cannon brought his sometime backing band, the Rockin’ Ramrods to Claridge for its first 45, “Don’t Fool with Fu Manchu”, and also co-produced this 45 on the one-off Cannon label, also probably in late 1965 or early ’66.

Slay managed to get a German release for the single on Ariola, which is why “Little Things” showed up on volume 15 of Prae-Kraut Pandemonium.

Claridge lasted through 1966, releasing approximately 20 singles, including Scotty McKay’s “Here Comes Batman” and another by the Ramrods, “Play It” / “Got My Mojo Working”. Frank Slay revived the label after moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s.

Sources include: Both Sides Now for background on the Claridge label.

Categories: B.T. Puppy, New York, Unknown

The Rock Garden

June 13, 2010 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Not the Rock Garden from Arkansas who recorded “Super Stuff” for the Revise label, or the Georgia group who cut “Starry Eyed Woman” for Prophet, or even the one from Michigan (formerly Frederic) who recorded for Capitol. This Rock Garden seems to be an unknown group, possibly only a studio creation.

Released in 1968, “Sweet Pajamas”, written by Jason Schulman, was nearly forgotten for years. I could call this psychedelia-by-numbers due to the anonymity of the group, elaborate production touches like the harpsichord break, and an instrumental middle section taking after the Dead or Mad River. Despite these criticisms, the disparate parts add up to a gem of a song with an endearing hook. The musicianship is professional: the drums crack on the stop-and-start tempo changes, the bass nicely doubles the vocal melody and the rhythm guitar loosens up in the second half of the song.

The B.T. Puppy label was owned by the vocal group the Tokens. Their hit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” was recently discussed on a garage forum as being possibly the most unbearable song of the ’60s. Regardless, by 1967 the Tokens used their harmonies and writing skills to craft some fine psychedelic pop for their LP It’s a Happening World, including “For All that I Am” that the Creation would cover for one of their final singles, and a brief vignette called “Perhaps, the Joy of Giving”.

On the B-side of the Rock Garden single, “Perhaps, the Joy of Giving” is extended to two minutes, laden with effects and voices.

The 45 was produced by Elliot Weiss & Bright Tunes Productions, engineered by Wally Sheffey.

Categories: Ashland, Graves, Graves Recording Service (Eugene), Oregon, Unknown

The Ethics “She’s a Deceiver” / “It’s O.K.” on Graves

October 2, 2009 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

Another one on Graves, like the Sires I covered a couple weeks back. This group is more obscure, I don’t have any real info on them, other than that they were probably from southern Oregon: Ashland, Medford or Grants Pass possibly. Songwriting is listed to B. Watson and M. Kelsey. The publishing was listed under Arky Lewis.

Both original songs have fine arrangements, languid harmonies and excellent interaction between the two guitarists. “She’s a Deceiver” is slower and dreamier, while “It’s O.K.” is faster but still hypnotic with a raga-like guitar solo. The “It’s” of the title was left off the label and added back with a red stamp. The 45 would have benefited from clearer production.

Categories: Not garage, Unknown

Found photos – Moondog, and music on the streets of NY in the 1960’s

October 1, 2009 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

More of the photo negatives – these are various musicians on the streets of New York. If anyone can help identify any of the musicians in the photos below, I’d appreciate it. Please do not reproduce any of these without permission.

Other photos from the collection include acts at the Apollo Theater and Bud Powell’s funeral procession.

Moondog in front of the Underwriters Trust Company, 1340 - Sixth Ave? — Moondog in front of the Underwriters Trust Company, 1340 – Sixth Ave?

Jimmy Nottingham on trumpet in Harlem, late 1960's — Jimmy Nottingham on trumpet in Harlem, late 1960’s

Unidentified group in front of Chock Full o' Nuts - 125th St? — Unidentified group in front of Chock Full o’ Nuts – 125th St?

Unidentified musician in (I believe) Washington Square Park

Many thanks to all who have helped with IDs.

Categories: Massachusetts, Planet, Planet Studios (Providence), Rhode Island, Unknown, Walpole

Essex St. Journal

September 8, 2009 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

Essex St. Journal Planet 45 Progression 256 The Essex St. Journal were from Walpole, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston but but this one 45 on the Planet label out of Providence, Rhode Island.

The A-side “Walk On” showcases a bleary vocal matched with the guitarist’s wah wah; it’s never been comped. I prefer the flip, “Progression 256” an adaption of “Money” with plenty of excellent sustained and occasionally out-of-tune lead guitar (not a bad thing in this case).

Both songs are by David Rediker and Dave Norton and published by Ramford Music (sic – I believe the company’s true name was Ranford Music).

I’ve read this is from 1967, but I’d say they recorded this in 1968, after many listens to Disraeli Gears and Wheels of Fire.

According to Barry Parquette in a comment below, other members included his brother Mark Parquette on lead guitar.

Essex St. Journal Planet 45 Walk On

Categories: Check Mate, Unknown

The Catsanovas

September 1, 2009 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Catsanovas may have been from California, but otherwise they’re a total mystery to me. They had this one great 45 on the Check Mate label in cool blue vinyl.

I doubt these were teens in a garage, more likely a professional show band, as the flip side sax instro “Flight Stewardess” sounds like vintage ’62 roadhouse, even if it was recorded in ’65 or ’66. That song’s never been comped by the way.

Top side is the great reverb groover “I Want to Be Loved”, where maybe the horn player puts down his sax to take a shot at singing. He does a good job, but the guitarist shines on the chorus, plus the rhythm section is solid.

Songwriting credits go to the band, production by Shirley Mallory Enterprises, published by Jakk Music.

The Checkmate label had at least one other 45, also on blue vinyl, “Rock-a-Bye Baby” written by Shirley Mallory b/w “I Don’t Love You Now”. The label lists Johnny Fiore below the song title, and he is almost certainly the vocalist on the track, but it also lists “Linda and the Majestics” at the top: they might be the backing band. It’s certainly not the soul group the Majestics who recorded on Linda.

And that’s all I know right now…

Categories: Indiana, La Porte, Riviera, South Bend, Unknown

The Sigma Five “Comin’ Down” / “Pop Top” on Riviera

May 15, 2009 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

Sigma Five Riviera 45 Comin' Down The Riviera label was created for the Riveras, who scored with their first single, “California Sun”, released in October ’63 and hitting the national top ten in early ’64. Bill Dobslaw owned the label and also managed the Rivieras, occasionally singing with them as well.

Besides the Rivieras, the label released one 45 each by the Kastaways and the Sigma Five, one and the same group according to Otto Nuss of the Rivieras, who recalled in an interview with Kicks magazine that the original name of the group was the Sigma 5. This group was from La Porte, Indiana, a few miles west of South Bend. The Sigma Five’s keyboardist uses the electric piano instead of the organ sound that the Rivieras made popular.

“Comin’ Down” is a cool adaption of “Money”, credited to their producer Bill Dobslaw. The neat instrumental “Pop Top” was written by Banicki, who also wrote the Kastaways b-side “You Never Say”, which I haven’t heard yet.

Categories: Bailey, Greenville, Sound City, Unknown

The Monarks

April 11, 2009 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Here’s an obscure 45 by a band out of North Carolina.

“Gonna Miss Me Girl” has a cool, dense garage sound and a crude guitar solo. The original a-side, “I’m Gonna Be Glad” is kind of a blue-eyed soul number. Chuck Eatmon wrote both songs, though his name is spelled Chuck Eatman on the labels. I believe Chuck is still active in music with his own band in Greenville.

A lyric sheet for copyright registration has a handwritten note, “Tripp Walls, pianist and back up singer”.

The Monarks recorded at Sound City Studios in Bailey, North Carolina, about 10 miles west of Wilson. This is the same studio that the Challengers would record “Moon Send My Baby” a few years later, and also where the Kallabash Corp recorded their LP.

Categories: California, Discovery, Los Angeles, Unknown

The Missing Links “You’ve Got Your Rosies On” / “They Say You Lie” on Discovery

October 6, 2008 Chris Bishop 7 Comments

The Missing Links have this one excellent 45 on Discovery Records, released possibly in October, 1965. The band is unknown. This record was erroneously listed as from Texas, but California is much more likely, as the Discovery label was from the Los Angeles area.

On the top side is “You’ve Got Your Rosies On”, a nicely produced tune where the singer makes it clear his girl shouldn’t expect much of him, while the girl’s voice chimes in asides like “too bad.” It was written by R. Jarrard and James Hilton and arranged by James Hilton, and published by Jarhill Pub. Co., BMI.

I never thought I’d make a record babe, but look at Sonny and Cher,
They had something to say, now I’ve got something to say to you,
Babe, you’re expecting too much, so take off your rose-colored glasses,
See me as I really am.
You’ve got your rosies on …
Spend all day writing songs, changing worlds, righting wrongs,
Everyday it’s ‘get a job’, but I can’t see this working hard,
Ain’t me babe, that ain’t me babe..
Wear those funny way-out clothes, my girl says ‘what are those?’
What I am, no I explain, cause your ideas can’t make me change
It’s me babe, ah it’s me babe.
Expecting things from a guy like me, causes problems can’t you see,
Wear my hair mighty long, need that hair to sing this song to you babe,
Just to you babe, oh yeah,
What I’m saying in this song, is maybe I’m right, maybe you’re wrong
And just because my pockets are bare, that don’t mean I ain’t going nowhere.
I’m going somewhere, oh yeah, I’m goin’ somewhere …
If you don’t want me you don’t have to come at all,
But if you want me, you better take off your glasses babe,
See me as I really am…

“They Say You Lie” is the opposite of the light-hearted top side. It’s a brooding song, with slashing guitar chords, pounding toms and self-pitying vocals that rise for the chorus “but they say … you lie, you lie”. The guitar solo has a matching intensity. It was written by D. Abrahamsen and N. Nissenson. Both sides were produced by James Becht.

Categories: California, Los Angeles, Miramar, Unknown

The Fellowship

October 6, 2008 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Here’s an obscure 45 by the Fellowship, one side a version of Dylan’s “Just Like a Woman” with a full band, the other a more fanciful number with only acoustic instruments backing the vocals. “Palace of the King” was written by J. Treese, possibly Jack Treese, an american musician who had a long career in France.

One notable thing about this release is it’s on the Miramar label, most famous for releases by the Dovers. See the separate article on Miramar for more info.

Tony Cary produced all the Dovers 45s as well as the Road Runners, Nick Hoffman and Fellowship records on Miramar. He went on to produce the Alexander’s Timeless Bloozband Lp on UNI, released 1968 and Charles Lamont’s solo LP from 1969, A Legend In His Own Time.

This 45 came from a collection of 45s owned by Bob Buchanan, who co-authored “Hickory Wind” with Gram Parsons and played in the New Christy Minstrels for some time, as well as the International Submarine Band. Perhaps he played on this session? The other 45s in the collection were by the New Christy Minstrels, Brewer and Brewer, and Mike McGinnis.

Max Waller suggests there may be a connection to another Fellowship 45, “You Laughed At Me” / ? on Film Town 6169 from July 1969.

Thank you to Jason Sweitzer for help with information about Tony Cary.

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