Category Archives: Unknown

Categories: Illinois, Oak Park, Salesmaker, Unknown

The Vy-Countz

March 13, 2015 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

The Vy-Countz released this great 45 single “Goodbye” / “Giant Killer” on Salesmaker Productions 6501/6502 in October, 1965.

The top side is a minor-key lament with the singer wailing downer lyrics, eerily shadowed by a deeper voice. The drummer keeps a good beat with plenty of tambourine on top, and there’s a simple guitar break. Crude, yes, but the band goes for it and comes out with an effective performance.

The flip is a simple instrumental with a Batman riff on blues changes. There were a number of bands called the Vy Counts around the country, but I have no info on the band at all other than a likely Oak Park, Illinois location – what’s the scoop?

The Vy-Countz Salesmaker 45 Giant Killer

Categories: C.P. (Chicagoan Productions), Chicago, Illinois, Unknown

Dan Marlee, Danny & the Other Guys and the Real List

January 21, 2015 Chris Bishop 18 Comments

Dan Marlee “Candy Lips” on Constellation;
Danny & the Other Guys “(You Been Givin’ Me) Hard Times”;
The Real List “Pick Up the Marbles” on C.P. Records:

What do these three songs have in common? They’re all written and sung by Daniel A. Marle, an enterprising teen who jumped from mild vocal pop to tough garage and psych within a span of two or three years.

First up is Dan Marlee singing his original “Candy Lips” (Joni Music BMI) b/w “You Left Me” on Constellation C-125 (C-63-138) from late ’63 or 1964.

In May of ’66 he’s found a new style, convincingly singing “(You Been Givin’ Me) Hard Times” as Danny & the Other Guys on C.P. Records 101. The flip is one I haven’t heard yet, “Five For Fourteen Fifty”, but the BMI credits give some names besides Daniel Marle that may have been the Other Guys: Richard Coker, Vincent Ippolito, Roger Pauly and Edmund Strom.

Finally is C.P. Records 102, with the band name changed to The Real List. They do Marle’s “Pick Up the Marbles”, a good mix of potent fuzz riffing and harmonies, with a poppier bridge. The b-side is a cover of the Beau Brummels’ “Still In Love With You Baby”.

Both the C.P. 45s produced by Chicagoans Productions, and Marle’s originals published by Dan Marle Music BMI. Pressing info is obscure, I read 1425-FT on the Danny & the Others label and 1575-31 / 1600-31 on the Real List labels.

As Daniel Albert Marle he has some other songwriting credits with Robert Nass: “Boy Can Cry”, “Could You Care For Me”, “Cryin’ Over You”, “Gorilla Again” etc, published either by Arc Music or Don-Del Music in Port Washington, Wisconsin. I’m not sure if any of those songs were released.

Dan Marle started his own company, Mid Eagle Productions with occasional releases on Mid Eagle Records and Chicago Fire, mainly with Ral Donner:

Ral Donner with the Wednesday World – “(If I Had My) Life To Live Over” (written by Dan Marle, for Eighth of May Music & Emprise Music BMI) / “Lost” (Donner) on ME 101 in 1968,

Ral Donner – “Godfather Per Me” / “The Wedding Song” Chicago Fire Records CF-7402, released 1974.

Ral Donner – “The Wedding Song” (Brooks) / “So Much Lovin'” (Paxton), on Mid Eagle IRDA-275, arranged by James L. Mack

Ral Donner – 1935-1977: I’ve Been Away For Awhile Now on Mid-Eagle ME2M7902 from 1979, where Ral sings parts of 50 Elvis songs and narrates a history of Elvis!

The Platters Recorded Live in Chicago, on Chicago Fire Records CFS 7401, 1974.

This is all I can find on any of these bands or Dan Marle.

Categories: La Belle, Unknown, Wisconsin

Anthem – Fast Suzi

January 21, 2015 Chris Bishop 18 Comments

I’m not sure how a record this good could be this obscure. When I heard “Fast Suzi” by a band called Anthem, I thought it was late ’70s power-pop. I can’t find any definite info on the record, but the release date seems to be much earlier, even as early as 1968.

Both “Fast Suzi” and the ballad flip “Not Sure She’s Mine” were written by R.E. Warner & Brown for AW Music.

The label was La Belle, and reads “A Dave Eppler Production”. Various sites on the ‘net say the band came from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, about halfway between Madison and Milwaukee. There is a La Belle Lake in Wisconsin, but not close to Oconomowoc.

Categories: Hillsdale, Michigan, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Stonehenge, Unknown

Goodly Rubenson

December 14, 2014 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The only info I could find on Goodly Rubenson was an article from September 6, 1968 that mentioned they would be playing the second dance at the Hillsdale Teen Club on 77 N. Broad St. in Hillsdale, Michigan the next day. I suppose they were local to the south-central area of Michigan around Hillsdale.

This 45 comes from the same month as that show, released on a Rite Press, Stonehenge 22889/22900. It is a low-fidelity recording, but has a lot of appeal, especially the top side, “Inside Outside”. That song and the flip “Crystal Love” were both written by Gaulin, no publishing info listed. Ray Lantz produced the 45.

Categories: Azusa, California, Los Angeles, Sidewinder, Unknown

The Christian Brothers on Sidewinder

December 9, 2014 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Christian Brothers 45 on Sidewinder has excellent instrumental backing by a heavy group with two guitarists (plus overdubbed fills), bass and drums. The vocals on “Feeling Bad” are nasal and muddied to the point of making the lyrics nearly indecipherable.

The flip “The Last Hour” starts with a solo singer who sounds almost folky, and the lyrics are clear even when sung in unison. About 55 seconds in the song comes to life as the lead guitar blasts in and the tempo picks up.

I thought there might be some religious aspects to these songs due to the group name, the titles and the unusual vocals, but there’s nothing explicit that I can make out in the lyrics. Besides, there’s a serpent on the label.

I don’t have any info on the band. Both songs were written by D. Edison and J. Carter for King Midas BMI. The record was produced by J. Branton and arranged by F. Lange, released in March 1968 on Sidewinder Records LL-003.

I don’t know of any other releases on Sidewinder. The label’s location was 739 W. Gladstone, Azusa, CA. Azusa is on the east side of Los Angeles, near Glendora.

Update, February 2018:

A recent record show in Albany, NY turned up an Alco Research test pressing of the Christian Brothers doing “If I Knew” / “Playing Songs Our Way”. The sound is so different from the Sidewinder release that I didn’t think it was the same band until I saw that Jack Carter is listed on one label and made the connection. The Delta number of 81081 suggests a pressing date about the end of 1970, over two years after “Feeling Bad”. I hear some similarity in the vocals and drum sound; take a listen to a minute excerpt of “Playing Songs Our Way”.

As yet I can’t trace either of these songs to a released single, unusual for a test pressing. Thank you to John for the clip and photos of the Alco release.

Categories: Unknown, US

Unknown Audiodisc Acetate

October 7, 2014 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

Audiodisc Acetate Have Faith — “Have Faith”

Audiodisc Acetate Little By Little — “Little By Little, Fallin’ Apart”

Here’s an Audiodisc acetate (actually an aluminum disc coated with lacquer, not made of acetate) from an unknown group who may have been from the New York area. There’s no info on the disc at all, so I don’t think this group will ever be found. No one I know has ever heard these songs on any released 45, so this seems to be a one-of-a-kind demo that was never issued.

From the lyrics, the titles seem to be “Little By Little (Fallin’ Apart)” and “Have Faith”. Both songs are great mid-60s garage, I only wish the condition of “Have Faith” was a little better as it’s a quiet song so the wear is audible.

Thank you to Barry T. for the demo and transfers.

Categories: Hempstead, Nassau County, Ultra-Sonic Recording, Unknown

The Cisum V

August 1, 2014 Chris Bishop 6 Comments

Kevin Longendyke sent me the transfers and scans of this demo acetate by the Cisum V. I have no info on the band, other than it was recorded at Ultra-Sonic Recording Studios at 149 North Franklin Street in Hempstead, NY, on Long Island. Both sides are moody winners, though “I’m So Glad” may have the edge on “You Told Me”.

The Cisum V – I’m So Glad
The Cisum V – You Told Me

Any info the band would be appreciated.

Mike Markesich suggests this is the same group that recorded the single “Medal of Honor” / Mrs. Orange” on Epic 5-10362, both songs by David Brightman and Phil Galdston for Brigand Music ASCAP. The label credits Stu Krane with production.

However that 45 features keyboards, unlike this demo, besides being a much more sophisticated production.

The Epic group Cisum (‘music’ spelled backwards) were Phil Galdston (keyboards, vocals), Dave Brightman (lead guitar, vocals), Rich Bronsky (rhythm guitar, vocals), Gary Mandel (bass, vocals) and John Glowa (drums, percussion).

Engineer & producer Jim Reeves has a website dedicated to his work at Studio 3 on East 57th Street and at CBS Columbia studios on East 52nd Street, including some (very small) photos of the band, about a third of the way down the page. On another page he writes that Cisum recorded an entire LP, Myriad Marvels at Studio3.

Categories: Detroit, Gee-Bee, Michigan, Unknown

Bob London and the Bobbies

July 11, 2014 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

BobLondonBobbiesGeeBee45TimesInMyLife When I found this 45 by Bob London and the Bobbies, I thought it might be Robb London, who came out of San Antonio with his band, the Rogues. A quick listen tells me it’s someone else, plus the names on the credits are different, suggesting this singer’s real name is Robert Vinson.

He seems to be trying to fake a London connection, but “Times In My Life” / “Don’t Know Where To Start” are both light folk-rock songs and not English-sounding at all. Of the two, I prefer “Times In My Life”. Unfortunately my copy is badly scuffed, so I’m looking for a better one.

Both sides were written by R. Vinson for Ernstrat Music BMI, and arranged by G. Brown and Vinson, a Theo-Sax Production. The 45 was pressed at RCA’s plant in Indianapolis in 1966.

Bob London & the Bobbies, Gee-Bee 45 Don't Know Where to Start The only reference to a Bob London I can find is a DJ at K-CUB in Tucson. However, a more likely location is Detroit, where Ernie Stratton owned a publishing company called Ernstrat Enterprises, with the same account number (927) as this 45.

Stratton usually recorded soul music, but occasionally did other styles, even country. He released singles on a wide variety of labels. Tommy & the Starlighters “So Long Motor City” on Meadowlark and the Royal Playboys “Arabia” / “Bring It Back” on DoDe both have Ernstrat credits on at least one side.

Bob London, DJ with K-CUB, Tucson Daily Citizen, Dec. 14, 1965 — Tucson, December, 1965
probably not the right Bob London

Categories: Airtown, Indiana, Randolph, Unknown, Winchester

The Shooting Stars

May 13, 2014 Chris Bishop 6 Comments

Still an obscure band, the Shooting Stars had two very good 45s in 1967 and 1968 then disappeared. Their location is sometimes given as Winchester, Indiana, a small town north of I-70, about halfway between Indianapolis and Dayton, Ohio.

Their first single is the very catchy “I Love Her Anyway”, written by Robbins and published by Bo-Ann Publishing, BMI. The flip is a blues workout, “After 3 A.M.”, credited to Huff, Perry and Sipe, those names likely members of the band. Teen Beat Mayhem dates the 45 to 1967.

It was released by Randolph Records of Winchester, which may be the reason the band is usually cited as from that town. Randolph had at least a couple other releases, notably “Cherrie – 42553” / “Come Back Baby” by the Ferris Wheel (formerly the Ecstatics) of Union City, Indiana. Members of the Ferris wheel included Danny Percolosi, Tim Skiver, Dick Gaddis, Roger Graham, Bob Lykins, and Nick McNutt. Producer on that 45 was Ed Roehling, Captain Bob Jinkins was engineer, and Jim Dempsey did A&R.

The Shooting Stars 45 on Randolph lacks all these credits, but like the Ferris Wheel, the labels read “Distributed by Sims Recordings.” Randolph also released a country gospel single by Harold Hawley.

I’m not sure I’ve heard the Shooting Stars’ second release, “I Watch the Clock”, an original by the group published by Club Miami, BMI. The flip is a version of Ritchie Valens’ “Donna”.

Airtown Custom Records started in Dayton, Ohio, but had moved to Richmond, Indiana by the time of the Shooting Stars 45. According to Buckeye Beat, here were about a dozen other releases on the label. The Shooting Stars may date to about 1968.

Information on Randolph label from Indiana45s.com

Categories: San Antonio, Texas, Unknown

The Invicta Way and Shades McRay

May 10, 2013 Chris Bishop 7 Comments

It’s not certain if the label is The Invicta Way and different artists are listed at the top, or the group was The Invicta Way, and each side of the record has its own label name, or sub-artist.

“What Am I to Do” has Someone Else listed at the top. The keyboard sound is a combo organ, possibly a Gibson Kalamzoo, with distortion effect or overdriven amp (thanks to Mike’s comment below for the info).

“Things As They Should Be (Two Flowers Spreading Love)” has ‘Du Rango La Platz’ where the label name would usually go. I’m not sure what this refers to.

Dead wax reads INVICTA 45-2301/2 BRS. However, both songs were written by McRay for Kery Pub, BMI which suggests this was the work of one group. Ron Kery was producer for both sides. Released circa 1968.

As Westex points out in his comment below, Shades McRay was a San Antonio musician, who had a release on Domar DM-1111 as McRay and the Invictas: “Son-of-a-Gun” (written by Richard Dodd) b/w “Cheryl”.

Garage Hangover