| Beep Beep and the Road Runners formed in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1962 when the members were only adolescents 10 to 12 years old. Originally they were a quartet: Tom Falconer on bass and vocals, Ron Manley lead guitarist, Louie Dansereau played rhythm guitar and Donny Ouellette drums and vocals.
Don Ouellette lived across Grand Street from Tommy Falconer, and Don's friend since childhood, Ronnie Manley suggested to Tommy that they start a band. Ronnie knew Louis Dansereau, and the band started practicing in Tom's living room until they refurbished a room in the basement. They added their manager's son Jay Bonen as a second drummer. I asked Don Ouellette if they worked well together musically and Don said no, it was more of a gimmick, which was also what Tom Falconer said in an interview with Fuzbrains magazine. More importantly, the band also added a lead vocalist, Tim Ralston who would be crucial to the sound of their first 45. As for the 'Beep Beep' in their band name, Tom said that it did not refer to any particular member - "There was never a Beep Beep". Don Ouellette says he was 'Beep Beep' but the band kept that secret from the public for a long time. Early on the band covered surf and r&b instrumentals by the Ventures and Duane Eddy, then added Beatles songs to their repertoire, often playing Friday evenings at St. Peters (Worcester Central). The band backed Gene Pitney twice and competed with local acts the Joneses, the New Breed, the Nite Riders and the Personals at clubs like the Comic Strip, the Speed Club (Speedway Club?) on Mill St., the Red Pony Lounge on Franklin, the Peacock Club in Auburn, and Tatassitt Beach on Lake Quinsigamond in Shrewsbury. Their first 45 in May 1966 for Vincent Records had an original instrumental by Ron Manley on the A-side: the Link Wray-like "Shifting Gears". On the flip was Tom and Ron's original song "True Love Knows". It was an instant garage classic with Tim Ralston's vocals sounding desperate and at times incoherent, while his cries of 'true love knows' on the chorus are echoed by another band member. I hear some evidence of the band's two drummers in the intro to "True Love Knows", where the tom rolls sound distinct from the beat kept by the bass drum, hi-hat and snare. I'd like to know details on how the song was recorded. George Gell informs me that it was cut at Al Soyka's studio in Somers, Connecticut, home of the Glo label (New Fugitives - "That's Queer"/"She's My Baby"). "True Love Knows" was a hit locally, staying at #1 spot on the charts of WORC, 1310 AM. The band's manager Ray Bonen knew WORC station owner Bob Beyer well. In return for airplay the band appeared at many WORC events, including an opening of a Bradlees store in White City. Tim Ralston soon left the group: he was older than the rest of the band and became undependable about showing up at their gigs. Jay Bonen also left the band after the first record due supposedly to fainting spells during live shows and from friction caused by Don's increasing success as lead vocalist. By late 1966 or early '67 they added an organ player, A third 45, "Do You Remember the Way We Started" was recorded but not released. The band added horns and became the Lundon Fog with Barry Wilson on vocals then broke up in 1973. Ron Manley and Don Ouellette continued playing, first in Easy Street with Elaine Christie and then in Breez'n. Tim Ralston died in the late 70's. If anyone has photos of the group, please get in touch with me at chas_kit@hotmail.com Thanks to George and Mop Top Mike for their comments to my original post, which I've incorporated into this revised text. Very special thanks to LB Worm for helping me locate the 1983 interview that the Rev. Joe Longone and Brian Goslow did with Tom Falconer in the first issue of Worcester fanzine Fuzbrains, a major source for this article. Lastly, thank you to Don Ouellette for taking the time to speak to me and correct some errors in the article. |
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Beep Beep and the Road Runners
The 45s were released as
The 45s were released as follows
"True Love Knows" - May, 1966
"Don't Run" - August, 1967
The Vincent label name was the middle name of the dad of one of the drummers.
more info
Here's what I have...
True Love Knows was recorded at Al Soyka's studio (aka the Glo label of New Fugitives and 100+ polka records fame) in Somers, CT
Don't Run was recorded at a movie theatre in Stafford Springs, CT.
Tom said he came up with the modulation for the ending of Don't Run
The drummer's name is Don Ouelette, not Elliot. I also have Louie Dansereau as the correct spelling.
The third '45' was only mastered to a tape and never pressed. By that time, the band had changed their sound to 'soul/jazz' style. They added three horn players and changed name to Lundon Fog.
When someone would ask which one was Beep Beep, they would all point to each other.....
Beep Beep and the Roadrunners
I saw them outside at my local high school in 1968, 4th of July I believe. They were great live, they had Vox Super Beatle amps and the bass player had a Gibson Thunderbird bass. They were very well known around here (Worcester, MA) and I remember True Love Knows being played on the local radio station: WORC 1310 AM. I had the 45 when I was a kid and of course lost it. I see that someone from Spain(!) posted it on you tube, in fact they posted both sides of both singles, sergiowalrus is his you tube name.
re: Youtube
I checked Youtube and see this guy took the music and scans of the labels directly from this site. There's no doubt Beep Beep & the Roadrunners has fans all over the world.
Slight Content Correction
First of all, I have to say this is a fantastic article. As a fan of the band and their songs, this is very educational reading. I can remember seeing the Road Runners play at Webster Sqauare Plaza during the summer of 1967 and unless my memory has failed me completely, I remember being impressed at how soon they had learned music from the recently released Sgt. Peppers album. Very entertaining!
Having worked at WORC 1310 for 25 years beginning in 1969, (and listening to it religiously during the period that the Road Runners music was new), I just want to mention two quick things about the station owner. His name was Bob Bryar and from my interaction with him through the years, I don't think it's quite accurate to say the Road Runners got airplay in return for appearing at WORC events. Maybe someone has concrete evidence of this, but popular local bands appeared at station events because it was mutually beneficial to both parties. WORC was more than willing to give local bands airplay with no quid pro quo arrangement, even into my experience with these types of events as the 60's turned into the 70's. Small points, I know, but I think worth mentioning...Again great article. Keep up the good work.
Dave O'
Beep Beep
The third 45 was never released. Might exist on acetate. There were two drummers in the band. I talked to Tom Falconer and one of the other guys some years ago. I actually ran into one of them at a flea market in Worcester. The Vincent label is named after one of the member's fathers. Both these records were hits in the region and sold many 100s of copies. I can see if I can find my 'interview' notes.