'Ladro' begins with intense beats and the tension builds as instruments and elements are added. 'Nel cuore, nell'anima' (In the Heart, the Spirit) is an especially fine Sgt. Pepper-inspired pop number. Lucio Battisti co-wrote both of these songs with 'Mogol.'

They had about a dozen releases before this single, and were one of Italy's most popular bands in the 60's since beginning in the northern Italian city of Modena around 1960. They broke up in 1974.

The band at this time consisted of Maurizio Vandelli and Franco Ceccarelli on guitar and vocals, Victor Sogliani on bass and vocals, Alfio Cantarella on drums and vocals. Joining the band on vocals only for this record was their frequent songwriter, Lucio Battisti.

Equipe 84 - Ladro
Equipe 84 - Nel cuore, nell'anima

Sources include: http://equipe84.too.it/ for extensive scans and text in Italian.

Don't know a thing about the American Express. 'When the City Sleeps' was written by Mani and Fournier. I'm sure there's a tie to some other group, but who? Delta # in the dead wax dates this to February 1969.

The American Express - When the City Sleeps

Besides this 45 they had a full LP and the songs 'It's You' and 'Letting You Know' were also released on 45.

The Challenger's - Emily

Both sides written by Jimmy Tillmann. Two other members named Roger and Danny have signed my copy of the 45. There must have been at least one more member, as the lineup includes guitar, bass organ and drums.

The 45 was produced by Alex Posniak, and seems to be their only recording. The Target label was based in Appleton, Wisconsin, but I've read the band was from Milwaukee, about a hundred miles south of Appleton.

The Glass Candle - Light the Glass Candle
The Glass Candle - Keep Right on Living

Lionel Kennedy, drummer for New Zealand's Sundowners gives his history of the band.

Wayne Roworth, guitarist for It's All Meat answers my questions about how he came to join the band and memorable events from the time.

Mustang has a nicely tremoloed guitar setting up riffs for a sax to finish off while engines rev in the background. Heads Up is a great r&b guitar workout originally done by Freddie King.

As for the Pace-Setters, they seem to have been a faceless group of studio musicians. Shows how much talent was around in LA in 1964 - two well-produced instrumentals like this get buried in obscurity.

Mustang was written by Gary Moulton. Steve Benson produced both sides.

The Pace-Setters - Mustang
The Pace-Setters - Head's Up

Frank wrote, "I had a band the American Tragedy out of Philadelphia from 1965 to '68. We played all the hops and were in the Battle of the Bands and came in 2nd. I went on from there to form a group called Valentine with John Oates.

"Also the Hangmen are from Maryland, I'm from there as well. I saw them open for the Lovin' Spoonful at the Shady Grove Music Fair, Rockville MD in 1965."

For more on Frank and his music and film careers check out FrankStallone.com

The highlight is the great Can't You Stop It Now, featuring a bass player who hits all the right notes, a singer who's halfway between being hurt and not caring a bit (I like how he tosses off the line "I need a little peace!"), and a guitarist with an ill-sounding fuzz tone. "Go Jerry, do it," says the singer right before the solo.

The flip is a mellow, bluesy original, I'll Fade Away. This was released in the summer of '68 on the Kustom Kut label out of nearby Grand Bay.

The Mixed Emotions - Can't You Stop It Now
The Mixed Emotions - I'll Fade Away

That's as much as I know about them. Studio City was the in-house label of Minneapolis' Kaybank Studios.

The Yes It Is - Walkin' the Dog
The Yes It Is - Little Boy