| This is the same Del Counts of Minneapolis who had a couple 45s on Soma, Bird Dog / Let the Good Times Roll and What is the Reason / With Another Guy. They also recorded a full album at Dove Studios that was never released.
Charlie Schoen, bass player and vocalist, wrote both songs on this 45, produced by their manager, Marsh Edelstein. I really dig Ain't Got the Time's whining guitar bends, fast beat and drum break. The flip is the less convincing Don't Ever Leave. The Del Counts had a long career playing at the Marigold Ballroom and around the Minneapolis area. They continued into the early 70's, releasing a final 45, Who Cares / Don't Let the Green Grass, in 1972, and were still playing live in recent years. Charles Schoen contacted me about the band recently:
The Delcounts - Ain't Got the Time Sources include: Birdland Revisited article in City Pages. |
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The Del Counts
Ain't Got The Time
smokin' track. agreed 100% on your description, those guitar whines are truly nasty. welcome back!
Memories of the Marigold
Does anybody have any memories of the Marigold Ballroom in Minneapolis to share? The Byrds played the Marigold Ballroom in the fall of 1967, probably mid to late September, maybe later. Supposedly, it was a three night stand and featured a brief return of Gene Clark to the ranks as replacement for David Crosby. I am looking for any kind of details in conjunction with a book project on The Byrds.
Kindest regards,
Christopher Hjort
hjort@gazette.no
Byrds at the Marigold
Hi Larry and thanks for the memory of the Marigold. The Byrds also played the area in 1965 but it is that elusive visit to the Marigold Ballroom in late 1967 that still remains unverified. Gene Clark made a quick return to the group at that time, so the group lined-up Gene, McGuinn, Hillman, and Clarke --- but no Crosby.
Christopher Hjort
Byrds 1967 Concert
I can verify that the Byrds played at the Marigold and I am pretty certain it was 1967. Had to be since I drove there and didn't have a car or license in 1965. Sadly, time has not been great with memory and I don't remember if Gene Clark was with them or not.
Byrds at Marigold Ballroom
I can personally confirm that THE BYRDS played the Marigold Ballroom in 1967 because, through a series of odd coincidences that particular evening, I and my friend, Tim Stubbs, wound up getting paid by their manager to help set up and break down their equipment, as well as stand on stage with them for the two-set concert and act as quasi-guards.
The Byrds were my musical heroes, so I was absolutely "blown-away" to walk into an opportunity like this. Sadly, this turned out to be the night that rock and roll -- at least the worship of rock-and-roll stars -- died for me.
Before the concert, all but one of the band had dropped acid (Jim McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, am I missing another?), and Gene Clark -- not into drugs -- came drunk on Jack Daniels. They got through the first set okay. We got to go to their dressing room during break to say "hi". By then the acid was coming on, they were fighting and miserable. (So much for "hi".) By the second set they were so gone they couldn't play the same song. At one point, they were so confused about what to play I leaned over to McGuinn and whispered "Eight Miles High" -- they suffered through it,just barely. ..............
Well, a short version of the story ............ By the way, listen to Tim Kerr.
BYRDS AT THE MARIGOLD
A local Mpls. publication of those times, "CONNIE'S INSIDER: The Upper Midwest's Weekly Music Trade Journal", states in it's Vol. 1, No.15, November 18, 1967, issue:
"BYRDS CONCERT-DANCE SUCCESSFUL" "The Byrds appeared at the Marigold Ballroom in Minneapolis on Friday, the 10 (of November), and played before 1,500 teens. // The show was a financial success for the promoter Arnie Sagarsky, but left much to be desired in the way of good, exciting entertainment. Instead, the show was something of a drag, as the Byrds appeared bored with the whole affair. // The Del Counts, who appeared on the same bill, came across with more personality and color, while jpresenting a very tasty musical sound. Their material was current and familiar, and the kids danced up a storm.// ..." This was a one-night affair, and in another issue of the INSIDER it states, "It seems the band did a date the night before in some Southern Minnesota town, and Sagarsky had a chance to latch onto them for his Twin City promotion."
Delcounts
The first time I saw the Delcounts was at a Hopkins High School dance in 1966. They used to also play at "The Barn" which was located, on a farm in a real barn, on old highway 169 and 494 in Eden Prairie. In the 1970's the band used occasionally play in dowtown Minneapolis at the "Cascade 9 Club". In the early 1980's myself and three other guys formed a band, a non-professional garage band called TREAD, and one of our members was the older brother of Steve Miller the lead guitarist of the Delcounts. Tony Miller played with our band until the mid 1990's, retired and moved to Arizona. Tony returns to Minnesota, in the summer, and our band still gets together with him to jam. Tony has formed a bluegrass band in Arizona. TREAD continues to jam and plays a few gigs "just for fun" usually in Bloomington. The Delcounts continue to play in the Minneapolis area with Charles Schoen who is till with the band. They even cut a cd with a remake of "What Is The Reason". Steve Miller, and maybe one or two of his brothers, formed a band call "Dancer" that also played locally in Minneapolis.
The Delcounts Twin City Garage Band Music
Hi WOW COOL. This is Great, glad I found this site. I got a lot of info some unknown about The Delcounts. Also, I can vertify evrything is true in the original post too. I was their driver for a short while in the early 70s when they had a long standing gig at Diamond Jims in downtown MPLS., which I remember that seems to be just off from Hennepin Ave on 9th or 10th Street. At that time I met them thru a friend of mine they were living with in Hopkins. I also remember them playing at The old Dance Land Ballroom which was across the street from the Old Excelsior Amusement Park in Excelsior MN. Also I heard them play in the late 60s in a small dance hall for Kids above a bar in Loretto MN. They were MOST known for The song by Shirley & Lee "Let The Good Times Roll" using lots of a new device in Bands Called a Reverb they produced a real COOL echo effect & where they played that song you could hear it echo form one side of town to the other & back again. Only Band I know of that made such good use of the Reverb or The Echo effect. I believe one of the Guys in the band when I knew them was a short mecican type person? Don't remember his Name BUT he was my fav member of The Delcounts. I hope somebody starts up a regular site for all Old Twin Cities Garage Bands, MN was lucky to have so many really good Garage bands. We also used to have a really good small Oldies Station from New Prague MN known as KCHK 95.5 FM that featured MN Gold Music & had some concerts locally BY MN Gold Garage Bands. I wish they would have kept their MN Gold Format BUT like all good things it came to an end. Well, I hope others like this post or reply as much as I did their Music. Thank You DJ-SirDuke. Formerly AKA The Duke Of Rosemount. (Eric)
The Delcounts
Hi Again I finally think I remember the Name of The short mexican type member of The Delcounts Band, that was my favorite member of the Delcounts Band. I think His Name was known as Chico. Thank You For The Memories Eric AKA DJ-SirDuke.
XL-5
This band is mentioned in my first Wisconsin book because I cover Chet Orr & the Rumbles as a Superior, WI band. Chet Orr later joined XL-5, but he referred to it as XL-5 Minus One. They had a release on Cove. It was '94 when I spoke with him.
Gary E. Myers / MusicGem
http://home.earthlink.net/~gem777
I remember dancing to the
I remember dancing to the Del Counts at "the Barn" or was it the Purple Barn ? in
1968 or 1969 ? It's hard to remember the year . . .
Also, I think they played at Richfield High School . . . I think Bob Phalen was from Richfield . . . So many good memories . . .
Cool Site
Great Site....The Delcounts - Ain't Got Time will not play in the curent version 10 of the WMP due to the fact its in mono. I cant believe that the Delcounts don't have any mp3s avail on the net. I can remaster it for n/c and add some stereo. Send me an email. Going to see them play live tonight in a small town club...very cool.
The Del Counts
Could you please e-mail me the Del Counts schedule
Thanks
WMP & Delcount's MP3s
First of forget about any version of WMPs they aren't worth the effort to figure out go with something good & easy to use such as Winamp Players. Why don't you take a Delcount's record tape or CD & rip your own MP3s? There are many GOOD Free Rippers available on the internet, my fav is called AudioGrabber. BTW, Winamp is also a very good audio program to listen to the many good Internet Radio Station available to listen to free of charge. Thank You DJ-SirDuke (Eric)
Delcounts
Could you e-mail me a current schedule where they'll be performing.
Del Counts
To get information on The Delcounts and other local bands go to Midwestmusic.com
Correction
Sorry the correct address is midwesttribute.com
There you will find info. on past and present Twin City Bands.
delcounts playlist
I remember the Delcounts covering "Just Ask the Lonely" at Mr. Nibs back in the 70's/Where can i get a copy of the songs they covered in the 60's?
Looking For The Del-Counts
If the Del-Counts are not listed on midwesttribute list
how do you find out where they are playing?
I know Charles is still playing somewhere but how does one find out where they are playing?
Anyone know where the Del-Counts are playing?
schedule
I ran into Steve Miller last night at Medina , the Trashmen were there and put on a great show. I forgot to ask Steve how to find out where they are playing and how to find their schedule, does anyone have an idea>?
Del Counts circa 1969
I was introduced to the Del Counts mid-summer of 1969. They were playing at Magoo's in Minneapolis. At that time the band included, Kelly, Bob, Larry, Steve, and Terry. I don't know who Terry replaced on keyboard but that was his spot by then.
Today, August, 13,I was given a poster from that group. Talk about young looking! I do not know if it will have any meaning to anyone but me. All I know is that I was thrilled to see them all again, 40 years later! My 2 room mates and I danced a lot to their music when they played at Magoo's.
At one point in time I baby sat for Kelly and Pat's little boy Troy. I came away with a lot of really nice memories.
Delcounts
My all time favorite song The Del Count's sang ~ "Don't Let The Green Grass". I was just going through some very old business cards and found a schedule of theirs from very long ago. There is not a year on it, they had a "Good Time Line!" to call. They were playing at Grandma B's, Hopkins Bowl, Iron Horse, Mr. Nibs, Maplewood Bowl, Apple Place and Burnsville Bowl.
At that time Steve Miller - Guitar, Charles Schoen - Keyboards, Chris Castaneda - Bass, Al Miller - Guitar and Mike Kryduba - Drums.
I think the last time I heard them was at The Leaning Post in St. Louis Park, MN.
the ORIGINAL Del Counts were from Sacramento, C.A.
# The Del Counts from Sacramento, California, circa 1962 -1965
# 1964: Band evolved to R&B band opener/backup band and had a huge following in Sacramento for a few years.
# Opened shows and/or backed up: The Beach Boys, Ike and Tina Turner, Sonny and Cher, The Olympics, The Coasters, Dick & Dee Dee, Ray Peterson, The Righteous Brothers.
# Former Herbie Hancock and Headhunter drummer Mike Clark was the driving force behind the dynamite quartet.
response
The Del Counts from minneapolis are waaaaaay better than the chump stains from Sacramento....the ones from Minneapolis are still playing to this day. How bout those clowns. Herbie Hancock gimme a break, if they played for John hancock I might be impressed....
TC Music in the early 70's
I'm probably a little old for this forum but here goes. Does anyone remember the "Purple Barn" or the old "Burnsville Bowl" "The Barn" (as we called it) had an incredible number of bands pass through including: The Delcounts, Michaels Mystics, Showtime Parts 1 & 2, The Underbeats, etc etc. At one point, the Burnsville Bowl had the Delcounts and the Mystics playing as housebands on seperate stages (upstairs and down).
My question is, where can I find music from the Mystics (not the Atlanta Band) and anything from Showtime? I know this ages me I'm taking a flyer. By the way, The Barn was just west of the present day intersection of Hwy 169 and Hwy 494 on the south frontage road. Ahhhh the memories of Wayzata Girls...
Michaels Mystic's
I too remember Michaels Mystic's. That goes back to the mid 60's!
I hung around with some of the band members, Mike, Butch and Dave Steineck. They played all our high school "sock hops" and I just recently spoke with Butch who lives in Arizona now. Dave is in Woodbury. Wouldn't it be great to get those guys back to playing?
Ahhhh, let the good times roll.
Michael's Mystics
I think I still have a copy of their 45; "Pain". If i can find it, I'll digitize it and post it here.
From Steve Miller - Lead Guitarist Del Counts -1965 - 1983
Interesting to hear some of the memories regarding the Del Counts. I have some great memories myself Yes, there appear to have been a Minneapolis and Sacremento version of the Del Counts. Without the internet no one would have ever known. I did know until last year when I Googled "Del Counts."
Charles started the Minneapolis version in 1963. Wow, that was 46 years ago (wonder if the Sacremento group lasted that long) and he still is going strong.
I heard the Del Counts the other night at the Champlin Legion and had chance to play a few songs with them. Charles and the band really sounded good and they played a lot of the songs we used to play years ago. My brother Al is currently playing bass for the group.
If you want to find out where the Del Counts are playing, my understanding is that their schedule is on either Mybook or YourFace or whatever they call those sites. Check ahead of time because the site removes the date the morning of the gig. So check a least a day ahead when you want to see the band.
Also,It was quite a kick to hear the recording "Ain't Got The Time" again. Thanks to whoever put that song on this site. I told Charles we must have been a little excited when we recorded that song because it really sounds fast to me.
If anyone has any questions regarding the '65 to '83 period of the band please do not hestitate to ask.
Steve Miller
re: Del Counts
Hi Steve,
I'd like to know more about the group, especially about the early years when you recorded the Soma 45s and "Ain't Got the Time". Also are there any photos of the band from that period?
Chris
chas_kit@hotmail.com
Ain't Got The Time
I believe the members of band when we recorded "Ain't Got The Time" were Bob Phalen, Kelly Vincent, Charles, and Dave Mrocek(keyboards). Marsh Edlestein (DelCounts Manager / Booker) and Bill Roslanski (I believe he owned Magoo's at time) produced the session, hence the record label Mar-Bil. Charles wrote the song kind of in the fashion of the Spencer Davis song "I a Man." Believe we recorded the song at Dove Studios with Rod Eaton as the engineer. Same set up as the "What Is The Reason" session. (Charles or Marsh please correct me if I am wrong but that was 40 some years ago).
Sorry, I don't have any pictures from that period I can post. Our manager, Marsh had us take some pictures in something like knights or buckaneer outfits but they are too embarassising to let anyone see. We were 5 men in tights. They will remain in a cardboard box in my closet for my children or grandchildren's enjoyment some day.
"Ain't Got The Time" got a little bit of air play on KDWB and WDGY but nowhere near as much as "What Is The Reason" which went all the way to number 3 on KDWB's top 40.
The "What is The Reason" session was really interesting. Ira Heilicher, Amos' son, who owned Mucicland produced the session. (Amos spelled backwards is SOMA). Ira said if we recorded the song he would promote it, which he did. (Thanks Ira). The song has very difficult drum breaks at the end which our drummer played OK but tended to rush so we brought in another drummer who was not able to play them either. Charles even tried and was so close but Marsh said we should try a drummer from on of his other groups. Kelly Vincent had never heard the song but after listening to the song a couple of times he nailed it. Marsh said we had found ourselves a new drummer.
I see some our recording on Ebay once in awhile. In fact, a copy of the 45 "Don't Let Green Grass Fool You / Who Cares" sold for over $220 dollars. I think we only pressed aout 700 copies and sold them offstage at the Cascade 9 in Minneapolis. KUXL played the song for awhile but that was the only air play that the song received.
Recording is those days could be very difficult. The engineers would make you turn down to the point that your guitar would have no sustain. The only time I have ever been pleased with the way my guitar sounded was on the "Who Cares" session which was engineered by Dave Rifkin at Sound 80. Although in "Ain't Got The Time" I thought the guitar sounded OK thanks to my Boss Tone which made the guitar sound like a bee.
Signing off,
Steve M.
Response from Marsh
Steve,
Your memory is very good. I just want to add that I took the song 'Ain't Got The Time' to New York and shopped major record labels. We did get a lot of interest especially from a company called Laurie records and at that time they had two major acts Snoopy Versus The Red Baron and Gary and The US Bonds........things just didn't work out and we didn't get singned but we got a lot of attention for our future!!!!
Your Manager & Friend, Marsh www.marshproductions.com
P.S. See you at your Birthday Party's
Top 10 Club appearance by the Yardbirds
The messages about the Byrd's at the Marigold got me thinking about seeing various bands on Saturday morning's WDGY Top 10 Club at Dayton's auditorium. I remember the Yardbirds playing as part of the "British Invasion"....Am I right? Not sure if it was 1965 but I think so. My sister took a photo of the stage and they had this kind of shiny (tin foil looking) shapes on the stage. Was anyone else there? Also, my friends and I loved the Remo Four out of Liverpool who played a couple of successive weekends at the Top 10 Club. Colin Manly who was a beloved Mersy Beat artist (passed away in 2000) and Phil Rogers are the two I remember most from the Remo's. I saw lots of memorabilia of the group when I visited the Casbah Coffee Club in Haymes Green (Liverpool) and The Beatles Story museum at Albert Docks.
Yardbirds At Daytons Downtown
I saw the Yardbirds in the Daytons auditorium. Clapton was not with them by then, but lead guitar was Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page was playing bass in a (purple??) jumpsuit.
Memories
Wow -cool site and I just found it by Googling DelCounts. I first heard them in late 1972 when they were the house band at the Cascade 9 on 9th and Hennepin. I met Michael and was his girlfriend for about 6 years. At that time, the band was Charles, Steve, Tom, Chris and Michael. Reading all these comments is so cool. And, Steve, if you see this, how the heck are you??? I, too, took the bus from Robbinsdale down to the WDGY Top 10 at Dayton's. I had forgotten all about it until I read the comments about it here. Something about how the stage was decorated when the Yardbirds was there is jogging my memory. I may have seen them. A picture of that would really be great.
DelCounts
The DelCounts were doing 5:00 - 8:00 shots at the Cascade 9 from March of 1970 through June of 1970. After their matinee performance at the Cascade 9 they would proceed to the Chalet in Robbinsdale to finishe out the evening. Then they were hired full time to take the place of the XL-5 as the regular house band at the Cascade 9 from 6-20-70 through 8-21-1972. After that stint they made their residence at the Burnsville bowl for 2 years. After the burnsville Bowl the DelCounts Resided at "The President Cafe" and from ther I finished my career with them after 10 years at "Mr. Nibs" on 36th Ave, and 36th St, in Minneapolis.
Tom Hoth. Drummer, Delcounts - 1970 - 1973
Correction
Tom Hoth. Drummer, Delcounts - 1970 - 1979
Link to Del Counts MP3's
Below are links to three of the Del Counts songs that were included on the the compilation CD "The Big Hits of Mid-America - The Soma Records Story", released in 1998, which contained tracks from a number of other local bands from the 60's. I'd be interested in getting an mp3 of "What Is The Reason" is anybody happens to have this lying around.
Let the Good Times Roll
http://www.lakesnwoods.com/delcounts/Del%20Counts-%20Let%20The%20Good%20Time.mp3
Bird Dog
http://www.lakesnwoods.com/delcounts/Del%20Counts-%20Bird%20Dog.mp3
With Another Guy
http://www.lakesnwoods.com/delcounts/Del%20Counts%20-%20With%20Another%20Guy.mp3
I followed the Del Counts for years in the 70's and 80's, although my 'home base' was the old Mr. Nib's bar at 26th Street and 26th Avenue in South Minneapolis, which burned in the late 1990's.
Does "Dancer" still exist, and if so, any place on the web to find a schedule?
Battle of the Bands at Aldrich Arena 1965-1967
Anyone out there remember going to Aldrich Arena in St Paul MN (Summer) 1965 -1967
for the Battle of the Bands? If I remember right, Bands would play from 12:00 in the afternoon to 12:00 at night.
Bands like Danny's Reasons the Ides of March and many more would play.
great song, with a little
great song, with a little flavour of glam!