The Reptiles have one cut on the Ren-Vell Battle of the Bands LP, “The Glass Toy”. It could have been a fine pop single with more polish, but the Ren-Vell studio wasn’t prepared to offer that kind of guidance or production quality.
Steve Worthy related the story of the Reptiles recording of Glass Toy to Bassman Bobb Brown:
Ron Macera was the drummer, Paul Slavin on bass, Mark Worthy on rhythm guitar and high harmony vocal on the chorus (a reversal of how we usually worked-me high harmony, him low). I played upper register rhythm guitar, because if I was doing the singing I couldn’t do any leads on guitar.
I wrote the song (probably my 3rd or 4th song ever written), full of teenage angst, and having to rhyme the works criticize, minimize and brutalize in the one bridge, shows my poetic and English major leanings. Subconsciously, I imitated my heroes the Beatles by doing something I heard said later about their songs – sad lyrics with happy music!
The only other recording session for the Reptiles was with a friend of my father named Bert Haber, who worked with Famous Music Publishing, and they were looking to get some young bands on one of their record company rosters. Bert gave us this song called “Come Take A Taste” to learn, and we so despised it, but really wanted to get in on the ground floor so we did it. I was so depressed learning it, that I wrote a song called “The Moustache Song” as a joke (“Please little girl with the moustache, blah blahh, Please don’t shave your little moustache, You’re only girl I kissed with one before”), which went on the 45 b-side. No one else had a song, so I had to sing that one as well.
Needless to say, their Broadway-type song was like a Spanky and Our Gang type tune, and our hearts weren’t in it, so it went nowhere further. The chorus sounded like “Sunday Will Never Be The Same”.
The Reptiles prided itself on always being true to the song and getting all the chords right! One of our pet peeves would be songs by bands who couldn’t get the bridge right- on “For Your Love” for example- the last two chords –they would do “A followed by Am” at the end of it, instead of C#m to B. Most bands were a little lazy that way. We used sharps and flats and major seventh chords because of our Beatle training. Me and my brother would listen to records over and over until every chord was perfect, especially with the Beatles stuff, which was our supreme role model. We even did Sgt. Pepper Stuff live like “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”, “It’s Getting Better”, “A Day In The Life”, “Lovely Rita”.
Steve also wrote about the Reptiles’ rival bands, The End and The Aliens:
“The End” had Allen Spink and guitar and lead vocals, Jimmy Indusi on Guitar, Timmy Smith on console organ-sounded almost like a Hammond, Rick Selby on left-handed drums, and Pat Giordano on bass guitar. They were the second most ferocious competitors to the Reptiles after “The Aliens”. We made a comeback and beat them in a Battle of the Bands at St. Augustine’s High School finally, after a humiliating defeat at St. Ann’s when Spink stacked the deck with all of his friends. One reason the rivalry was so raw, even though personally I was great friends with the leader Allen Spink, was young testosterone when the nine of us were in a room together. We were like the Jets and the Sharks circling each other, I swear!
The Aliens were composed of Ray Marion on lead guitar and lead vocals (playing a Gibson cherry red ES335), Curt Meinel, bass (Hagstrom?), Glen Kane on drums, and a guy named Howie on Farfisa organ. They were very popular because they could be counted on to play all the standard rock ‘n’ roll songs like “Louie, Louie”, “Wipe Out”, “Bang Bang” (Joe Cuba, not Sonny and Cher), and were not adventurous at all, which is why the Reptiles and Aliens were sworn mortal enemies. Ray would do this swagger like he was so cool and shake his ass, which drove us crazy, because our impression of music at the time did not include ass shaking! Maybe he thought he was Elvis, who I both appreciate and love now, but at the time he was kind of old news to us in 1967.
Thanks to Bassman Bobb Brown for forwarding me the comments of Steve Worthy, along with the photo and the scans and transfers of the Aliens 45.
Wow–great to get the scoop on The Ren-Vell Reptiles from Ossining-on-Hudson (home of Sing Sing prison, a.k.a. “up the river”). Hadn’t heard of The Aliens before. Were they from Ossining too?
St. Ann’s and St. Augustine’s are still operating. My daughters both attend St. Ann’s, and it wasn’t even two weeks ago that I was standing in the gym looking at the stage wondering if they hosted dances with bands back in the ’60s. It’s the kind of gym that begs that question. Oh, it’s got a new floor and lights, but other than that, it probably hasn’t changed much since 1966!
Any more details about those “battle of the bands” events? Pictures?
I’ll upload some more Reptiles photos to by buddy Bobb Brown. I just heard from an old friend who was in the ossining band called Raunch, who were probably the best musically and entertainment wise. A cross between the Vanilla Fudge and the Who.
Peace,
Steve Worthy
The Raunch rang a bell so I checked, and sure enough they’re on the Ren-Vell “Battle of the Bands” album as well, although Briarcliff (nextdoor to Ossining) is given as their hometown. Pics would be very cool, as would any further reminiscences about the youth scene in this area in the ’60s. Teen hangouts, clubs, carnivals, events… it’s all good.
I mean… a few “east county” bands from Westchester are documented (Traits, Dolphins, Weird Street Carnival), and several from Yonkers… but north of Yonkers and west of White Plains (except this post, basically!), Westchester County is a big black hole when it comes to info on the scene ’66-9. C’mon! Tarrytown, Peekskill, Mohegan Lake, Mahopac, Yorktown… these towns hadda have had some serious garage band action in the ’60s, right??? Westchester is New York’s “O.C.” for heaven’s sake!
Hey Steve,
How are you, where are you now? I sold my photography studio and moved to upstate NY.
Curt Meinel
The Aliens
Whwn the Worthy brothers were playing Battle of the Bands in the 60’s….so was I.
WE had a band called Thunder and played all of the same dances…the band members
were Glen Kane on drums..Bruce Williams on keyboards..Howie Johnson on rythm guitar
Norbie Walters on bass…I sang lead and we had a number of lead guitarists…it was a great time
to be in a garage band and the Worthy brothers were legendary in Ossining.I’d love to
see more photographs from that period.
Best Wishes
Scott Williams
Hey, Scott! I thought *I* was your one and only lead guitarist!! Oh. my feeling are soooo hurt!!!
Curt,
Wasn’t that the name on the band we had, after the Synners? Where are you now? I’m in Fort Myers, Florida after many moves. Get in touch please. I’m in contact with Alan Raycraft and Dave Perugini. Email is JayPManning at JayPManning dot Com.
Jay Manning
Curt,
Wow, this is a blast from the past, as they used to say! I hope you are well, Curt!
I haven’t logged on this page for awhile, so I wasn’t ignoring your post. I live in Croton-on-Hudson, and joined the Ossining Historical Society, and was President of the Ossining Arts Council, President of the Westchester Songwriters Guild, and hosted an Open Mic at an Ossining club called Dannyscafe.com for almost 3 years. I videotaped a lot of the Open Mics, and got into photography in college, as editor-in-chief of my Colgate University yearbook, called Salmagundi. I finished writing a book called “Heads of Bronze, Hearts of Gold: The Kress Family Legacy”, about a family of art collectors, one of which who lived in Ossining at the old 52 Association property on Cedar Lane for over 40 years, 1915 to 1959. They donated over 3000 paintings, sculptures and decorative art to the national Gallery of Art in Washington DC and over 90 institutions in the US. Check out flickr.com for the S. H. Kress and Co. Five Dime and A Quarter chain of variety stores they built and owned from 1896 to 1980s. Amazing story! I’ve taken hundreds of photos of the property, and found almost 60 glass plate negative photos from the Kress days there. I also play music, guitar and percussion for autistic adults and pre-school kids for Hero Inc. 3 or 4 times a month-very rewarding.
I volunteered to play for an Ossining music festival in August 2010, organized by bass player Kendall Buchanan of Ossining, called Sankofa Homecoming. My brother Mark, me, and some others volunteered to participate.
John Eurell (formerly of the Lost Souls-with Larry Robinson, George Angelini, Charlie Patton, etc.) now plays in a new Age/Fusion duo called Sundad, with his son John Jr. as an acoustic guitar and percussion band.
I hope to include a story and photos of my last true Ossining band, Electric Abraham, or Abraham, as we were later known, soon.
Peace, check me out on Facebook for more photos as well. Say Hi to Ray Marion if you hear from him. Peace! Steve
Wow, what a great picture Steve. I remember some of those bands so well. I use to look at you guys play in those bands and just dream that one day that would be me up there. Fortunatly I held on to the dreams. After completeing Junior College I went out and bought a $54 Kingston bass guitar. Most of the guys on my side of town didn’t have instruments when we came up so basketball skill became a right of passage. But the ones that did own them, Steven Speller(Abe), Claude Ford, Ricky Selby, Larry Burts and maybe a couple of other guys were revered by all. You guys probably never realized how in awe most of us were when watching you play. As far as we were concerned you were on the same level as the bands music that you were playing. Even now that I’ve been playing since “74” there’s something a little special about playing with you.
Good Stuff,
Kendall-
Hi Curt; How are you? It’s been a long time. I’m still playing Guitar. I was in The Mersey Downs with you and Roy E. and I forget the drummers name back in 1965. I’m playing a lot better now. I was in The Attitudes with Roy from 1989-1993. Also teaching Guitar and Music part-time. Send me a note, Yours truly, Bob Pavelka.
Hi Jay; How are you? I’ve trying to get in touch with you. I was in the battle of the band’s at O.H.S. Raunch was The best. I was in The Vandels, we came in last place, Raunch came in 1st. You took down The house with “High Heeled Sneakers” I’ve got to say you were The Best Guitarist back then. I loved the way you played “Journey To The Stars” I’m still playing a Les-Paul, (a lot better than back then). I hope that all is well with you. (I still have my 45 of “A little While Back”) Respectfully, Bob Pavelka, Rgoldtop@aol.com, 914-439-6815.
Hi Steve; This site is Great. I’ve misplaced your e-mail addr. I want to keep in touch, to continue this Quest. Your Garage Band Buddy, Bob Pavelka
I don’t mean to contradict Scott Williams…but my name was (and is) Norbie Stracker not Walters. We had a great time…miss those days…still playing my EB-0 in Simply Weasels (www.simplyweasels.com)
Dear Jay,
Wow, this stuff is great. I was a photographer from 1972-2003, we sold our studio in Ossining and moved upstate NY to Otego ( next to Oneonta). Love it up her. I hope all is well.
Curt Meinel
Hi Curt,
I found this site thru a Facebook post by Lewis Ward. Reading about the Aliens brought back so many memories! I hope you and your family are well. I am still living in NY with John and our family. Linda
I wanted to share a new development in time travel-by way of the Internet. My latest “Garage Hangover,” which is a great name for a band, by the way, has to do with some videos I upload to YouTube, the online video craze that has only grown and become more loved with time. I personally believe it is the next “Underground FM Station!” Around 2001, I moved back to Ossining and fell in with the new club owner of Dannyscafe.com. By the time this cybercafe/restaurant/ closed three years later, people from as far away as Washington state, Florida, and Europe (folks find out about it through the Web) had passed through its doors in the heart of Ossining’s downtown, a National Historic Downtown District, protected by the Federal government (your tax dollars at work, folks). Anyway, an ever-growing network of musicans of all persuasions developed into annual Wall-To-Wall- 60s Reunion shows, first in Pleasantville NY (site of the recent Pleasantville Musical Festival, which just finished its 9th year, also borne out of this group) where we chose our favorite singles and album cuts, and reproduced them in the spirit of the old, with the technology of the new. In nearby Croton-on-Hudson, the Clearwater Music Festival is in its 34th year as the premier music and environmental concert series, this year featuring musical legends Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Mavis Staples and Buffy Saint-Marie. So I like to think all Westchester musicians in the 60s paved the way for the music scene
of today. Nuff said!Please check out http://www.youtube.com/channelseetv/ for several live videos featuring songs by the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Doors and the ultimate 60’s music legends, The Beatles, with a few original songs thrown in. My roots were in the garage! Enjoy!
I recently had a chance to take the Ren-Vell Battle of the Bands LP and convert it to digital. I believe I have one of the only CDs in existence although I sent 2 of my Reptiles band mates copies. I even reproduced the cover of the original LP with all the info on the twelve bands who performed on the LP. It gave me a chance to listen to the music all over again after many, many years. One thing I realized is The Reptiles as well as The Henchmen and The Traits were the only three bands who performed original material. The Traits get most of the accolades given them being on Ted Mack and all but I think all three bands should be given credit for going for original songs vs covers. I can only speak from the perspective of The Reptiles, that although we might not have had the best sound equipment, the one thing we did have was the balls to play what we thought was great music. We played The Beatles, The Byrds, The Buffalo Springfield, The Moby Grape, songs that other area bands never tried to cover. Especially The Beatles. A lot had to do with the ability of our two guitarists Mark and Steve Worthy to deconstruct these songs; get the chords right. Very few were easy. I think the only other band in Ossining and surrounding area at the time that were as adventuresome was Psychosis. The Reptiles and Psychosis defined Ossining music. It wasn’t The End or The Aliens and certainly never Raunch. Reading Raunch’s story about being in the Ren-Vell studios before the B of B LP was realized, and the fact they were working original songs, I have to ask one question. Why did they choose to include a Paul Revere and The Raiders tune on The B of B LP that even that band covered? And one that was not all that difficult to deconstruct.
Greetings to all of you who believed “Rock ‘n’ Roll Is here to stay” and still do. It is being embraced by a whole new generation of musicians, audience, producers and distributors (although most of those are “digital delivery platforms). it still comes down to love of good music, that sometimes soothes and sometimes challenges through strong emotions, ambition and the will to survive with one’s humanity intact.
I am happy to announce here, for the first time, that the members of the Ossining Rock ‘n’ Roll band, The Reptiles, have all agreed to a reunion weekend, comprising a set of shows sometime in the Fall of 2018, and further updates will be posted here. Rumors of my death and the death of this site have been greatly exaggerated, and I hope to make up for the gap in time, since my last post, to supply you all with new photos, song charts, musici clips, and videos! Thank you for this opportunity to celebrate with my rock ‘n’ roll brothers, Mark Worthy, Ron Macera, Paul Slavin, and myself, Steven Worthy to do what we love and still do! Until next time!