I haven’t heard the Torments or the Profiles yet, but the others are all excellent, if primitively recorded.
The Torments came from northern Kentucky. The Classics came from Paintsville, Kentucky – for more on them see the separate post. The recordings were likely made in a backroom of a radio station or very basic studio in Louisville, KY or Jeffersonville, IN, and the tapes were sent to RCA’s custom service for pressing.
This discography may be incomplete – any help with info and scans would be appreciated!
The Octives – “Love” (Bob Burton, Bruno Music BMI) / Laughing At Me” SK4M-6174/5 (second half of 1965)
The Classics – “Trisha” / “I’m Hurtin'” (Garland, Titlow,& Donahue, Playridge Music BMI) (825M-4956, T4KM-4956, first half of 1966)
The Emotions – “Every Man” (John S. Hodge, Playridge, BMI) / “I Just Do It” (825M-4957, T4KM-4957/8, first half of 1966)
The Profiles – “If You Need Me” (Golden & Bateman) / “Please Come Back” (Marion Howard and Mike Howard, Playridge, BMI) 825M-5840, T4KM-5840/1, first half of 1966, Mel-O-Dee Entertainment, Inc.)
The Torments – “Lying to Me” (Buddy Perryman – Tim Feldman, Playridge Music, BMI) / “I Love You More Each Day” (824P-3715, TK4M-3715/6)
If anyone has photos or info on any of these bands please get in contact with me at chas_kit [at] hotmail.com
Sources include www.45rpmrecords.com/KY/Amway.php
The Profiles : “If You Need Me” is a revival of a ballad which
was Wilson Pickett’s first hit in 1963.
the classics-i’m huntin a classic garage punk of 1965.interesting,thanks. 🙂
Perhaps of interest –
While researching a 45 record of mine, trying to see if it fit into my area of collecting local Louisville recording, I have found what may be a connection with the AMWAY label. The record is a rockabilly tune by Gene Morgan on one side titled “Ten Wheeler Blues” b/w “Lonesome Soldier” on GEMINI Records (824P-3713 / TK4M-3713). Both sides are credited to “PLAYRIDGE MUSIC BMI”. The only search finding I found for “Playridge…” was on some of these AMWAY discs. Maybe GEMINI was related to AMWAY RECORDS…
Looks like some connection between the two. Good catch Marty.
RCS has an entry on that disc with label scans, but not much more info:
http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/label.php?key=3244
I have been working on a long story on the Swingin Sting Rays (who recorded on an Elkhart label (Teen Queen). But one of the members said they recorded several songs in Louisville also. I have copies of an acetate recording copies of two songs from the Louisville sessions, but there may be more. I’ll send you the story when I am done with it.