There were a number of groups called the Villagers around the country, but these Villagers came from Dayton and cut only one record, the endearing garage original “He’s Not the Same” b/w the melancholy “Sunshine My Way”. I’ve come to like both sides of the record, the songs are quite different from each other.

Released on Hamlet Records V-1000 in 1968, with authors J. Mills and M. Copp, publishing by Counterpart Music, BMI, the code 813L which was Counterpart Records account number with RCA custom pressings, and W4KM-6004/5 (indicating a RCA custom pressing from the first half of 1968).

The only clipping I can find was from the Dayton Daily News on January 20, 1968 and listed the band members names:

Two local groups caught more than passing attention recently. They’re both very sharp, play well and pack ’em in. The Villagers include Janis Miles, Brian Blacker, Mike Copp, Bob Fowle and Mike Wendling. Sounds Unlimited is the other … New group about to debut shortly: the Yellow Springs … Captain Crunch and the Crew have a pretty good sound with their new disc …

The Villagers were something a mystery until Brian Blacker wrote to me:

The original group was started by Janis Miles and myself, Brian Blacker. We we’re 13/14 years old. Janis taught me how to play guitar. I learned on a regular acoustic guitar. My Dad got me a Silvertone electric guitar solid body and small amp.

Janis had a Silvertone Hollow body Gretsch style guitar and a Fender Princeton amp. We had several others in the group in the beginning, originally calling ourselves the Neons, played at home parties. Gary Hanes, former sheriff of Montgomery county Ohio was in our group briefly when we we’re still so young.

At some point maybe 1964-65 we added Bob Fowle as drummer. He was good and his dad went out and bought a full set of Ludwig drums in red sparkle. We also added Lee Stansbury as the bass player. He was a local friend in the neighborhood. We all lived around Airway shopping center in Dayton, Ohio. Lee did not work out too well so we added Mike Wendling. He and I sang backup together.

My parents moved to Huber Heights when I was going into 10th grade. That is where I met Mike Copp. He became out lead singer and his parents bought him a PA system. The brand was called University and was supposed to be like the PA the Beatles used at the time.

Mike played the trumpet and played a few songs with it, but mostly was the lead singer and front man. He also started managing the band and started getting us bookings. He was a good showman.

We played as various parties, high schools, roller rinks, WING Island. And a few nightclubs: Sycamore club in Cincinnati, LT club in Dayton. Wright Patt Airmen’s club.

We played in Battle of the Bands at WING Island which was a venue downtown somewhere sponsored by W I N G radio and worked with DJ Steve Kirk.

That place looked like it had aluminum foil on the walls and had a lot of echo. We we’re featured on a Saturday radio show called the Coca Cola Noon… something or another. We played “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tommy James. We heard ourselves over the radio later on that program.

During 1968 we decided to make a record. Janis was the song writing talent and had written many songs and had them copyrighted. We saved our money from gigs and raised $1000, which is what it cost us to do a recording session at Queen City Recording Studio in Cincinnati Ohio. We had 1000 records pressed and Mike Copp sent 2 copies to 300 radio stations in the Tri-state area. The record did not get very far and we eventually broke up the group not too long after.

Bob Fowle and I started up another band with an organist whose name I can’t remember but nothing much came of it. Then I got engaged and that was it for me in the band, late 1969. I got married in Feb 1970 and started working for Ohio Bell Telephone Co., then I got drafted. My number came up 30 in the drawing. I knew I would be going so I joined the Air Force in Oct of 1970.

Was that the group’s only recording session?

Yes that was our only record.

Are there any photos of the group?

I don’t have any photos … I wish I did.

Library of Congress copyright records give one name, Janis R. Mills, who copyrighted “He’s Not the Same” on January 5, 1968, and “Sun, Shine My Way” (notice the different rendering of the title) on May 20, 1968. M. Copp is not in these copyright listings.

BMI’s database lists Janice Mills and Michael Copp. The spelling of her name as Janice certainly is a mistake on BMI’s part, as BMI attributes two recent country songs by Janice S. Mills from Alabama to the author of “He’s Not the Same”. It wouldn’t be unlike BMI to conflate two similar names.

Strangely, BMI lists “He’s Not the Same” and “Sunshine My Way” as registered to Piagneri Music in Astoria, NY, even though Counterpart Music is still active in Cincinnati.

It’s interesting how the labels and copyright list Janis’ name as Mills, but both Brian and the contemporary Daily News item spell it Miles.

Anyone have a photo of the group?