Category Archives: Troy

The Vibra-Sound Recording Studio and label

Changing Times Vibra Sound 45 Free As The WindThe Vibra-Sound Recording Studio and label started in Schenectady or Rotterdam, New York circa late 1966. I’m not sure where exactly the studio was, but New York State business records list a residential address on Crestwood Drive in Rotterdam for Vibra-Sound, and also include a later starting date in 1969, with the business closing in 1992. However, several of the singles listed here such as the Heathens and Delirium are earlier, from sometime in 1967.

Nate Schwartz appears as engineer and also as a representative of the label in an local news item from the early ’70s. Initially the studio was located in Schwartz’s garage, with the control room in the basement without a window between.

Vibra-Sound had its own Vibra label, plus variations like Vibra-Sound, VSS, and others that were customized for the artist. Later productions often share publishing by Robert Barry Music BMI.

Below is a general discography in approximate chronological order of records made at Vibra-Sound / Vibrasound, with my comments.

Any additions or corrections would be appreciated, as well as info on any of the artists listed here.

45s:

Vibra L-103 – Elaine Brooks & the Pushers (Albany/Schenectady) “I’m So Blue” (Brooks) / The Pushers – “The New Thang” (C. Nelson) both published by Kama BMI
“The New Thang” is a cool instrumental with saxophone, tambourine and plenty of echo. I’m surprised to see what must be some connection to Kama Productions of Utica, NY in the publishing company (see the end of my article on the Roosters for more info on Kama and related productions).

Vibra L-104 – The Heathens (Schenectady, NY) – “The Other Way Around” / “Problems” (both written by Michael Dellario, arranged by Hooker-Stahl, Petticrew, Sheer & Marquez)
Maybe the most well-known garage single of the NY capitol region.

Delirium Vibra 45 Never Comin' Home
45 scan from the unparalleled collection of Bosshoss

Vibra L-136 – Delirium (Mechanicville, NY) “I Need Your Lovin'” / “Never Comin’ Home” (both songs by T. Sullivan, Wall Music BMI)
A very rare single, and musically as good as the Heathens. If anyone has info on this band please contact me.

Vibra L-137 – The Dimensions (Latham, NY) – “The Pilot” / “Dimension Beat” (both by Federici, Federici, Olson and Speciale for Wall Music, BMI)
Another fine garage single, According to copyright records from February, 1967, The Dimensions were Martin Federici, Arthur Federici, Dominick Speciale and David Olson. I’ve also found a new clip from 1965 verifying the members of the group.

Vibra Sound 423702 – Sound with Brass – “Shine Down on Me” / “Lollypops and Roses / Wall St. Rag”

Vibra-Sound 121969 – The Changing Times – “Free As The Wind” / “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” 1969
Good versions of both songs, the capitol region being one of the few places where the Myddle Class had extensive radio play. Label credits for “Free As the Wind” give S. Trimochi, S. Lane in error, as the original song was a collaboration between Gerry Goffin & Carole King, and Rick Philp & Dave Palmer of the Myddle Class.

The Changing Times were from Mohonasen High School, Rotterdam, NY, with members Kurt Eastman, Mark Eastman, Gary Esposito, Bob Launders. and David Cilberti on vocals (thank you to David for his comment below)

USS 102 – The Chimes of Freedom (Scotia, NY) – “Did You Ever” / “Jungle Rock” (Hamilton, Francis, Pytlovany)
For more info on the Chimes of Freedom see my post on the group.

unreleased demo – The Concepts (Ravena,NY) – “Faces Come, Feelings Go” 1968. Presumably from an acetate, this track is on the Garage Beat ’66 vol. 2 CD

Hemlock VSS-2/09 – Art Anderson and the Anderson Family – “Don’t Come Knockin’ At My Door” / “I’ve Been Searchin’ in My Dreams” (both by A. Anderson, Robert Barry Music, BMI, ZTSP 140404, 1968)

Marshall Hanson and the Hamps Knight 45 Dark CloudsKnight Records KN-1 – Marshall Hanson and the Hamps – “Dark Clouds” / “Waiting for My Love” (1966, State Music Productions, ZTSC122592/3)

Governor VSS-910 – Bob “Rebel” King and the Knights of Music – “Suspicious Illusions” (R. King) / “For the Good Times”

Al Knight Records VSS 2704 – Al Knight ”Dreaming Dreams of Yesterday”

Zep Records KN-4 Tim Ryan ”Angels in the Front Row”

Bob "Rebel" King - Governor 45 Suspicious Illusions
Scan courtesy of Brian Kirschenbaum
W.S. Highway 2710 – West Side Highway – “Spring Song” (J. Hochanadel) / “I’ve Got a Way” (D. Vroman) (both Robert Berry Music, BMI, Vibra-Sound 2710, ZTSP 140682/3)

Cobb 81935 – The Universal Set – “Ballad For Linda” / “Memphis Express” (both by E. Locke, Robert Barry Music, ZTSP 144640/1)

Darec VSS 81943 – The Dignitaries – “Steppin’ Out” (R. Gigliotti) ZTSP 144740

Hemlock 81946 – Cathy Lee, Anderson Family – “The Dark Side of the World” / “Our Side” (ZTSP 144893, Vibra-Sound 81946)

Kandy 101 – The Essentials – “Baby You Get to Me” (S. Wheeler) / “Oklahoma Blues” (F. Stay, S. Wheeler) both Robert Barry Music BMI, 1969

Kandy 82042 – The Essentials – “Sunshine Baby” / “Freedom” (both by Squeeky Stay for Robert Barry Music BMI, Vibra-Sound 82042, ZTSP-221980, 1970)

2nd Foundation JC 45 Wipe OutJC 82017 – 2nd Foundation – “Wipe Out” / “I Am The One” (D. Spensley, Robert Barry Music) (ZTSP 221697/8) – instrumentals produced by Johnny Cefala

Katy VSS 2705 Dusty Atcher and River Valley Boys – ”Right, But I Think It’s Wrong”

Little Records VSS-82043, Jimmy Lane and the Incredible 5 – “Deal With It” (J. Lane) / “What Kind of Man” (S. Brooks, J. Wortham) (both Robert Barry Music, BMI, A Little-Mickens Production, ZTSP 222378, Vibra-Sound 82043)

The Lightning Brothers Brothers Two 45 Wild Smoke
“Wild Smoke” is an excellent 70s rock song
Brothers Two 6023-13 – The Lightning Brothers – “Crazy Jane” (W. Braemer, S. Hansen, M Ilnicki, P Ilnicki) / “Wild Smoke” (W. Braemer, P Ilnicki) (both Robert Baby Music, an Albert Perrone Production, pressed by Queen City Album in Cincinnati)

Jinhea DC-100 – Squeeky Stay and Mark Galeo – “Slippin’ Away” / “Mrs. Jones”, early 1970s

Rambler 2712 – Jerry Madore and the New Prairie Ramblers – “Wishing” / “Blue Blue Eyes”

EROS Records VSS 1239 – The Ridgerunners – “Stop, Look and Listen” / “King and I” (Robert Barry Music, produced by Watrobski Enterprises Broadalbin, NY 1973)

CMS 5105-40 – Billy D. Hunter, the Country Joe Revue “My Heart’s Still Doin’ Time” / “Old Five & Dimers” A Conway-Murray Production

476-45P – Bunz Rock Show – “Doctor Rock & Roll” / “Raw Power” (both by S. Atwood, C. Cirrone, B. Deitz, R. Hull, 1976)

Neon Records 6084-24 – Skip Johnsen – “My Friend John” / “I Like You” (1976)

Sit’ n Bull 6072-31 – Night Conference – “I Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)” / “Kansas City” (1976)

Alan 7054-25A – Alan Burn “Unless You’re Born Again” / “Jesus the Healer” with James Caulfield (backup vocal), and musicians Ernie Burnell, Joe Latorra and Mark Carnival

Also many square dance records on the Jay Bar Kay Records label by the Rustlers and others

LPs:

Vibra-Sound 8014N5 – The Common People – Come Rest In My Heart (need confirmation of this one)

VRS-741 – Yankee Doodle Band – Yankee Doodle … Comes To Town

Vibra-Sound 82031 – Birdcage Beat: The Moods & Sounds of Go Places with General Electric 1969

82055/6 – The Golden Fox Steakhouse Presents Live the Vito Mamone Trio and Carlos & Rosita (The Chaynas); Lou Mauriello, technical assistant.

Brian Kirschenbaum and Max Waller provided many additions to the discography.

Changing Times Vibra Sound 45 We Gotta Get Out Of This Place

The Kynds – “So If Someone Sends You Flowers Babe” / “Find Me Gone” on Mo-Foag

The Kynds, from the Schenectady Gazette, September 16, 1966

Kynds Mo-Foag 45 So If Someone Sends You Flowers BabeThe Kynds were a Capital region trio with members from Hudson, Troy and Schenectady, New York, and bookings throughout the area. They recorded their only single “So If Someone Sends You Flowers Babe” / “Find Me Gone” at Kennett Sound Studio in Kinderhook, NY.

Members included Joseph Cirincione, Jerry Porreca and Dan Wood. They were a trio of organ, bass and drums, which may explain why the organ is loud in the mix on both of these songs.

Jerry Porreca wrote to me “the band actually formed in Hudson. It evolved from the Del Tones to the Kynds and then Bits & Pieces.”

A short article in the September 16, 1966 Schenectady Gazette promoted one of their engagements. It gave a different bass player’s name, along with a different spelling of Joe Cirincione’s name:

The Kynds, featuring (from left) Jerry Porreca on drums, Denny Connolly, bass and Joe Cerincione, organ, are appearing nightly at Loreno’s Restaurant, 2235 Broadway. The group has worked at the College Inn, Saratoga Srpings, Excelsior House, West Sand Lake, and the Rose Garden, Amsterdam. They will be appearing with a second band, “The Four Most.”

In a comment below, Rick Piester states that he “was the original bass player in The Kynds. Had worked with Jerry Porreca earlier in the Del-Tones”.

The Kynds released this great 45 on what must be their own Mo-Foag label in the second half of 1966 (RCA custom pressing number TK4M-5296).

“So, If Someone Sends You Flowers, Babe” has become a favorite of mine, with its repetitive organ lick and quiet vocals. As far as I can make out, some of the lyrics are:

Kynds, Good Times Troy Record 1966 April 9
The Kynds at the Excelsior House, ad from the Troy Record, April 9, 1966

It really makes no difference if you like what you see in me
Not a chance babe,
‘Cause I’m happy,
That we are free (?)
What you say girl,
It don’t have no effect on me
So, if someone sends you flowers, babe,
You know it wasn’t me.

It was written by Dan Wood and Joe Cirincione, Jr.

The b-side is the fast “Find Me Gone”, with its famous shout near the end of the song, written by Joseph Cirincione, published by Upstate Music BMI.

Thanks to Brian Kirschenbaum, and to Jonas Carlsson for help finding the clipping from the Gazette.

Kynds Mo-Foag 45 Find Me Gone