Vic Cook and the Echos (Adventure)

I thought I would highlight this 45 by Vic Cook. I've had it in my collection for several years and would like to learn more about him.  He does a good classical guitar instrumental cover of Ernesto Lecuona's "Malaguena". "What Will Happen To Me?" on the other side of the record is an extremely depressing lament of a lost love. The label reads "Where there is new sound, there is Adventure". Let me know what you think of the record.

                                                                                          Malaguena

                                                                          What Will Happen To Me

The Nu -Trons (Spot)

The Nu-Trons release their one and only record in 1965. I'm unsure were the band was from. The Spot Record Corporation was located in Johnson City, Tennessee so I'm assuming the group was from this area of the United States. The group's "I Told You So"  has a cool moody garage sound. I like "From Now On" on the flipside as well.

                                                                                      I Told You So

                                                                                     From Now On

The Fugitives (Clevetown)

There were a bunch of groups in the 1960's that called themselves the Fugitives. Mike Markesich documents in his book "TeenBeat Mayhem" that the Fugitives featured today were from Warren, Pennsylvania. The record was released in 1965. I like the British sounding vocals on both songs especially "I miss you girl" which is outstanding.

                                                                                    I Miss You Girl

                                                                                         This Is It

Richardson-Daves and Tumbling Dice (RanDom)

Here's a nice 45 that I found a couple years ago by a group called Richardson-Daves and Tumbling Dice. The label shows that the group was from Providence, Kentucky. I decided to post the record on the blog to spur conversation and hopefully learn more about the band. Both songs on the record " Keep Me In Your Eyes" and "Anna"are very good.

Keep me in your eyes

Anna

The Iconoclasts (Larami Ltd)

Very little is known about the Iconoclasts. My best guess is the record might be from the 1963-1964 timeframe. The only letters/numbers in the dead wax are LM-4231. These are the same numbers that are on the record label. On side one the group recorded the song called "I Fell For You Baby (And Skinned My Knee)". It has a catchy beat. I notice that there are a few parts in the song that have unintelligible lyrics. This makes you wonder what was he trying to say. I guess this only adds to the uniqueness and mystery of the song. Side two "City Woman" is completely different. It has a calmer folk sound similar to that of the Kingston Trio. If anyone might have information about the band it would be appreciated.

                                                                                I Fell For You Baby

                                                                                         City Woman

November Notables

I really like this record by Billy and the Kids. It was released in 1969. I posted the B side "Won't You Love Me Please" on the blog way back in 2011. Its great, the group was very talented. While organizing  my man cave recently I came across the 45 again and gave it a spin. I had forgotten how enjoyable  "Only You" on the A side was so I decide to post it on the blog as well.

                                                           Only You

The Cross Tie Walkers released this record in 1970. Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) was one of the most popular groups in the world at this time. As you can tell the Cross Tie Walkers "Days I Recollect" was heavy influenced by CCR. Strangely the flip side "Girl We Got A While Yet" has a pop sound, totally different.

                                                            Days I Recollect

The Liverpools (Wyncote)

In 1964 Cameo-Parkway started the Wyncote record label. Unfortunately the label did not have the same quality as that of Cameo-Parkway. Record jackets were inexpensively made and there was no inner paper sleeve for the albums. The albums were also pressed poorly. This resulted in the vinyl having pops and other background noise when played. A group called the Liverpools released two decent albums on Wyncote Records in 1964, “Beatlemania” and “The Hit Sounds From England”. Both albums featured mostly British invasion or Mersey sounding songs that was popular at the time. As far as I know the group never released a 45 single.

Additional information on the Wyncote Record label can found here.

Never Mind

Whenever I'm Felling Low

Chuck's Monster

Be My Girl

Hey Quiet Down There

Did You Ever Get My Letter 

Pat - N - Vic (Trill)

Little is known about this girl combo. The record label shows that writers of both songs on the 45 were written by P and V Wilkinson aka Pat N Vic. The record was released in 1964 on Trill Records located in Beverly Hills, California. Both songs "Frustration" and "I Remember" are great. "Frustration" was included on the compilation "Beatlerama" that was released in 1995 on Coronet . Any addition information about the group would be appreciated.

                                                               Frustration 

                                                                                            I Remember

The Rejects (Audio Art)

In late 1965 the Rejects out of Rapid City, South Dakota released their only record  on the Audio Art label. The group did a cover of The Renowns  1961 song "Wild One". The flipside is a rocking instrumental called "The Reject".

                                                                                       The Reject 

                                                                                         Wild One

The Inner Depths (Hitmaker)

The Inner Depths release two records in the 1960's. The 45 featured on the blog was the groups first release in 1968. I would describe the genre as maybe Folk/Garage . Heavy Farfisa organ thru out on both songs. The "B" side "Grenhilda" is the better of the two.    Addition information about the band can be found on the great 45CAT vinyl website.  The Inner Depths 

                                                                    Nowhere 

                                                                                              Grenhilda

Jerry Kay and the Galaxies

Obscure 45 by a group called Jerry Kay and the Galaxies. It looks like a private pressing. The label suggest that the group consisted of Jerry Kay, Jerry Wells and the writer of both songs on the record Gaylord Poe.

                                                                     Why can't you see that I love you 

  I will you love you till I die

Rusty and the Driftwoods (Rainbo)

Nice garage record from the California group Rusty and the Driftwoods. It was released on Rainbow Records in early 1966. Rusty Straughn is the writer of both songs "Helpless" and "Cold Cold Shot".

                                                                     Helpless

                                                              Cold Cold Shot

Tall Paul and the Thunderbirds (Twilight)

Obscure rocker from 1964. Paul Boyd aka Tall Paul penned both songs on the 45. Twilight records was a small independent record label out of Cincinnati                                                                                

                                                                                       Be Mine 

                                                                                        Monkey Shiner

The Five Keeys (Bangar)

I have always enjoyed this one by The Five Keeys. From the numbers in the dead wax it looks to be a Kay Bank pressing from maybe 1964. The Five Keeys song " I Tell My Heart " is a excellent moody ballad while the flip "Run Around" has a slight  Bobby Fuller 4 sound.

                                                                                             Run Around 

                                                                                         I Tell My Heart

Steve Robbins (Lemco)

With the 50th anniversary of the landing on the moon I thought it would be fitting  to repost a record by Steve Robbins. His 1970 song "Armstrong" pays tribute to the first person (Neil Armstrong) to walk on the moon.

                                                                                            Armstrong

                                                                                      Natural To Be Gone

Jeff Cain (Altera)

Very little is known about Jeff Cain or the Altera record label. All copies of the 45 that I have seen have "Demo" stamped on the A side. Both songs are great."Lonely Boy" has a good beat with haunting vocals and "Oh Tomorrow" has a jangly folk sound. Nice record!

                                                                                             Lonely Boy

         Oh Tomorrow

The Kordels (Young)

The Kordels hailed from the Long Beach, California area. In 1966 the Kordels released their only record. The best song on the record is side two."That Girl Of Mine" has a similar sound to the Turtles "Your Maw Said You Cried".

                                                                                        That Girl Of Mine

The Septors (DOME)

Dome records released several 45's of Baltimore, Maryland area groups in the 1960's but the record label is mostly remembered for the 1966 compilation album "Baltimore's Teen Beat A Go Go". Featured today is a 45 that came out in early 1966 by The Septors. Songs on the record are "Little Sandy" and "Den of Thieves" written by Jim Harrelson. The A side "Little Sandy" is a very good teen ballad , the B side "Den of Thieves" has horns from beginning to the end..

                                                                                            Little Sandy

June Tunes

The Deadbeats  (Croquette):
The Deadbeats were from the New England area. In 1966 the band recorded the catchy song "Hungry Monday" The flip side has the song "Will You Love Me". This was groups only recording.

                                                                                       Hungry Monday


Johnny, Gil and Bobby  (FM): 

Johnny, Gil and Bobby were a singing Folk Trio in the early 1960s. The band consisted of Johnny Marsi (Lead Vocals), Bobby "Ziggy" Andriani (First Tenor) and Gilbert Rivera (Second Tenor). The story goes when opening for the Beach Boys in Long Island, New York. Johnny, Gil and Bobby sang the song "Sloop John B". Shortly after The Beach Boys, inspired by the song went into the studio and recorded their own version of the song. Interestingly Mama Cass's group The Big Three also recorded on the FM label. The groups  "Banjo Song" some have said was the inspiration for Shocking Blue's smash hit "Venus".

                                                          Sometimes I feel like a motherless child


The Young Tigers  (Foto-Fi)
Very little info on this 45. Both sides of record are good. The A side has the song "I have Nothing" and the B side "I Never Told You".

                                                                                        I Never Told You

David Bell and the Holidays  (Del Norte)

The dead wax shows this 45 is a SJW-Wakefield pressing from 1967. The record label list the band members as Roger Mesta, Sammy Gonzalez, Amador Tucson and David Bell. Songs on the record include "Blue Monday" (instrumental) and "If you Ever". The Del Norte record label was located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and featured mainly Latino artist. 

                                                                                           If You Ever

Verdicts (O'Dell)

The Verdicts were believed to be from the Baltimore, Maryland area. If you like the moody sound of the 1960's you will enjoy both sides of this record. The group's "Turtle Neck Sweaters" on side 2 is probably the most known of the two songs on the 45.  I like "Love Is Vain" on side 1 as well. It has a slight Gerry and the Pacemakers sound.

                                                                                   Turtle Neck Sweaters 

                                                                                        Love's In Vain

The Sunsets ( K D R )

In late 1974 The Sunsets from Elgin, Illinois released this 45. As you can tell from my copy of the record it is well used but even so the groups talent still shines thru. "I'll do whatever you want" starts off low and gradually builds to have a thumping beat. The flipside "Sunrise in Eden" is slower and has haunting vocals. Both songs are excellent.

I'll Do Whatever You Want 

Sunrise In Eden

St. George and The Dragons (Dragon)

Hello to all. In the mid 1960's the music scene in the Sacramento, California area had many good bands. One of those I wanted to highlight on the blog today. In 1965 the group St. George and the Dragons released their only record. The band's song "Trust Me" was featured on the compilation album The Sound Of Young Sacramento. For some strange reason the flip side "Donna Alone" which is quite good was not. Hope you enjoy the record as much as I do.

                                                                                             Donna Alone

                                                                                                 Trust Me

The Pebbles (RPH)

I always enjoyed the Florida Rocks Again podcast hosted by Mal Thursday. Good stuff! The Pebbles from St. Petersburg was one of the 45's featured on the show. It was released in 1965. The Group consisted of Joe Camuccio (Vocals), Dennis Downey (Rhythm Guitar), Bill Berthold (Drums), Ray Griffin (Bass) and Ralph Straight (Lead Guitar). The song "Endless Tears" was popular regionally and was included on the Psychedelic Crown Jewels Vol.3 compilation album that came out in 2000. The Flipside "Vicki" has a Mersey beat sound. Unfortunately for us it was the groups only record. There is a really good story on the Southern Garage Bands website about the Pebbles . Check it out

                                                                                       Endless Tears

                                                                                                  Vicki

The Gems (Century)

Featured today is another obscure group from the 1960's called the Gems. Other than the two outstanding garage songs for us to enjoy there is very little known about the group. Michaelvee of the popular "Mostly Uncomped" blog site pointed out that in Mike Markesich's book "Beyond Teenbeat Mayhem" Mike's  research found that the band was from Jackson, Tennessee and the 45 was released in November 1967. If any one can provide additional details about the group to help to remember them better would be greatly appreciated.

                                                                                      I Just Couldn't See 

                                                                                   What Have I Done To You