Category Archives: Unknown

Categories: MTA Records, New York, Unknown, Westchester, Yonkers

The Descendants “Lela” and “Garden of Eden” on MTA

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High schoolers reputedly from Yonkers, NY, they had this one 45 then disappeared. They may have been local competitors of the Chain Reaction who had a 45 on Date, “When I Needed You”.

The catchy “Lela” was produced by Ted Varnick, a veteran in the music biz who also produced the Forsaken, on MTA, a group I covered just a short while back.

Varnick co-wrote “Lela” with J. Lynch. Copyright registration from September 21, 1966 shows the title was supposed to be “Leila” with words and music by Jimmy Lynch & Ted Varnick.

Varnick also wrote the b-side, a flimsy piece of harmony pop called “Garden of Eden” with a certain paisley charm – prescient too, considering this was released in October of 1966. CBS picked it up for release in the UK, but I don’t know of this making the charts anywhere.

Yonkers and Westchester bands generally had very good coverage in Westchester newspapers at this time. However, I have not found any listings for the Descendants from the area, or for James Lynch / Jimmy Lynch in regards to bands or music at this time.

Categories: Houston, Pasadena, Shane, Texas, Unknown

The Actioneers “It’s You” on Shane

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The Actioneers recorded these two songs in just two hours on November 15, 1965 at Huey Meaux’s Recording Service Studios in Pasadena, Texas. You can tell they went straight from the garage or rec room into the studio, this 45 is about as unpolished as garage gets.

“It’s You” is a great fast rocker, with a repetitive guitar line. I think it’s amazing that there’s no bridge or break, or change of chords for the chorus! The band gets the riff down and stays with it to the finish. The drum kit might be nothing more than a tom tom and a snare!

“No One Wants Me” is also simple, but has a tom tom and tambourine break. I’ll bet they didn’t do many takes of this one!

Both sides were written by Ray Gilburn. The band was probably from Houston, but they were pretty much unknown until boxes of unplayed copies of their 45 were found in Huey Meaux’s studio.

I did find a couple mentions of them in the Baytown Sun from 1965, but no lists of band members.

The only other 45 I know about on the Shane label was by the Eccentrics – “Baby I Need You” / “She’s Ugly” on Shane 60, both songs written by L.J. Swift.

Categories: Manhattan, New York, New York City, Sanders Recording Studios, Unknown

Mystery Jazz Acetate from Sanders Recording Studio on W. 48th St.

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This is an unidentified 12″ Sanders Recording Studios acetate featuring a somewhat free jazz ensemble whose sound and instrumentation remind me of Sun Ra or Mingus. I’m hoping some listener will be able to help me identify the artist. If you have any friends who are into this kind of jazz, please have them give these samples a listen.

Neither side has any information on it other than the printed label with the studio’s address and phone number, at 167 West 48th St., off Times Square in New York City. I would guess this dates to about 1961 or 1962.

It’s a very low fidelity recording, but I think the music is interesting enough to make a listen worthwhile. It’s noir, well-composed but not totally straight either. Track 13 may be the most polished composition on the acetate, so you may want to start with that first.

Someone commented the trombone sounded like Bob Brookmeyer, though I didn’t hear it.

Track 4
Track 5
Track 9
Track 12
Track 13

Categories: MTA Records, New York, Unknown

The Forsaken

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Forsaken MTA 45 Babe
 

Forsaken MTA 45 She's AlrightFor the most part, the MTA label (Music – Talent – Artistry!) signed California bands, but there were a few east coast groups on MTA as well. The Forsaken put out two singles on MTA in the second half of 1966. I have no idea where the Forsaken came from or who was in the band, but I suspect they were from the New York area. Ted Varnick is listed as songwriter and producer on all their sides; he also produced and wrote songs for the the Descendants.

“She’s Alright” is an uptempo pop number, where the singer is defending his painted-up, long-haired girlfriend from slander. The flip, “Babe”, is pretty good despite a dirge-like tempo.

I haven’t heard the Forsaken’s second single on MTA 111, “Frantic” / “Gotta Get Movin'”. It also has Varnick’s name in the credits and Varona Music, BMI as publisher.

Categories: LeJac, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Unknown

The Motifs

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Another band about which I know nothing, other than the fact that they were on the LeJac label of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I don’t believe there’s a connection to a band called the Motifs in Idaho, and they sound nothing like the New Jersey group with that name.

“Someday” is excellent upbeat garage pop with nice drum breaks and guitar solo. “Telling Lies” is more conventional but worth a listen if you like “Someday”. Both songs credit the band as songwriters.

One member was John Rusinyak, according to Jay, who had played with John in another group in the 1980s and 90s. He reports John passed away at the age of 58.

Categories: California, London American, Tip, Unknown

John and Paul

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I wonder how many Beatles fans this one confused? If they dropped the needle on the record before purchasing, the answer would be zero, I’m sure, as this sounds nothing like the Fab Four, and is obviously a very American production.

This was released on a California label, TIP, then picked up by London for release in the UK, unusual for 1965 when records were more likely to be traveling the other direction.

The band delivers a tough sound for “I’m Walkin'” even though it’s not much more than a mediocre love song. “People Say (Love Is Blind)” is of less interest but it still shows the competence of the band and has nice reverb on the guitar.

Who is behind this 45 is definitely a mystery. The songwriting credits for both sides are S. Szigeti and P. Lichterman. The band sounds like more than a studio conglomeration so they were probably a professional group working under an alias just for this release.

Categories: Fargo, New York, New York City, Unknown

The Vi Dels

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Lou Fargo started the Fargo label in 1957, recording doo-wop acts for the most part.

The last record released on the label was in 1964, which sounds about right as a date for “Walking Down the Street”, this frantic slice of r&b by the Vi Dels.

This was an unknown 45 up til now. No songwriting credits on either side of the 45, but as Euphonic points out in his comment below, Sebastian Zimmardo and Vito Ingoglia wrote the A-side, “Ya, Ya, Ya, Ya”, and Joseph A. DeAngelis and Zimmardo wrote “Walking Down The Street” for Instant Music Co. – Casgol Pub, BMI.

The Fargo label had offices on Broadway in New York City, but I don’t know where the Vi Dels came from.

I don’t know if there is any connection with an earlier vocal group called the Videls who released the doo wop single “Be My Girl” / “Place in My Heart” backed by the Frank Spino Orchestra on the Rhody Records label. M. Bouchard and P. Andreoli were the song writers for that disk, published by Starfire-Peer, BMI.

Categories: Oregon, Unknown, Vanco, Washington

The Bystanders

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Vanco was a label from Vancouver, Washington, near Portland, Oregon, so bands on the label could be from either side of the Columbia River.

The Bystanders had at least two 45s on Vanco, but I haven’t been able to find out much else about the band. The label credits Rick Keefer as engineer – he later went on to produce the New Tweedy Brothers among others. “Just Exactly Off” is pretty fine garage. The b-side is a ballad, “Flower Song”. Songwriting credits for both songs are Robinson – Tobius.

Another band on the Vanco label was the Twilighters.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Categories: Bakersfield, California, Unknown, Zen

The Epics “Louie Come Home” / “Give Me a Chance” on Zen

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The Epics, Bakersfield Californian, Nov 20, 1965
Poor quality photo of Howard Dumble of the Epics, Jeff Gustafson of the Addams Family, Karl Haas of the Glanz, and Ron Sackmann of the Amoebas, in the Bakersfield Californian, Nov 20, 1965

The Epics have one of the best Louie Louie takeoffs titled “Louie Come Home”.Epics Zen 45 Louie Come Home

It’s a very danceable number as I found out when I played this to a packed house at Pop Gear some months ago.

The band was from California, perhaps Bakersfield. It’s leader was Howard Dumble, according to a clipping I found in the Bakersfield Californian. Howard Drumble who would become a legendary builder of guitar amplifiers?

The flip was “Give Me a Chance”, written by Dumble, Ward, Concelez and Iger for Shindig Music BMI. I assume Ward, Concelez and Iger were the other members of the group.

Produced by Lou Bowden, the single was released on the Zen label in April of 1965.

Anyone have a photo of the group or more info on this band?