Jerry Rivera and the Generations released this single on the Kim Records label, probably in the early 1970s.
“Baby Be Mine” was supposed to be the A-side, it starts with a recitation and moves into an easy-listening ballad.
I’m more taken with the flip, “Lovin’ Man” which starts quietly and gets a good psychedelic groove going, but refrains from cutting loose. In nearly four and a half minutes, we get several repetitions of the chorus, a long undistorted guitar solo and some overdubbed trumpet, and I did like how the lyric “let me ease your mind” sounds like “let me eat your mind”!
Jerry Rivera and the Generations – Lovin’ Man (2 minute excerpt)
Both songs are originals published by Help Me Music BMI, and recorded at Triple “A” Studios, on Walnut Street in South Amboy, New Jersey with Marty Ruszala as the engineer.
The release on Kim Records 20605 included the cool picture sleeve with notes on the back (“LOVIN’ MAN also projects a meaning but of a different nature”). The runout on this single is etched ARP-2097/8, I’m not sure the plant, but it would not be American Record Pressing Co. in Owosso, Michigan.
Max Waller informs me of another single by Jerry Rivera, “Fortunata” / “This World” on Kim ULT 70011 from about 1970, which indicates “written by Gerald D. Rivera” on the label. Neither of us has heard this single.
This is not the same Kim Records who released an excellent Night Crawlers sounding single by Ron Starr (aka Ron & the Starfires) with the Chuck Conlon penned “Crawl Into My Shoulder” in 1967.
Jerry Rivera Was my cousin – The band changed it’s name to Times and Trouble – The band consisted of Jerry Rivera, guitar and vocals – His brother Roger River, Drums and My Brother Richard Frisch, Hammond organ and pedal bass – All the members have passed over the last few years with Jerry being the last to pass last year – I have recordings of all the songs including Fortunata – Also Jerry and I were working some of the songs by adding mixing in another keyboard track of me playing keyboards alongside of my brother who passed – unfortunately we only got loving man somewhat perfected when Jerry took ill with cancer and passed on.
That is absolutely incorrect. The band, the Generations existed prior to and after Jerry came in. My brother was the lead guitarist, Mike Thompson and actually wrote the music for both the A side and B side. The rest of the band consisted on Stanly Barto on keys (my brother in law), Nancy and Ron Barto on horns, Bill (sp) Kallman on drums and Tom Thompson on bass guitar, also an older brother of mine. Jerry wasn’t in the band ver long before he left, so you must be recalling a follow up band, but it was definitely not “the Generations”. I have no vested interest -as all of this is not well documented and everyone ended up fairly obscure…I just wanted to clarify, I lost both my brothers over time, but they stayed in music, so form time to time, I kick around the internet to see if I can trip across something they did. Because there were no other credits on the 45 (something the band wasn’t happy with but Jerry had the “connections” and so, that was that….but I do remember my brother Mike (who was 17, smoking guitar solo from a 17 yr. old back in the day) was upset he didn’t get his writing credit.
Also – you mention trumpet in lovin man – I believe the trumpet was in baby be mine – The trumpet player I think was used only on one record – I would have to listen to the songs again to be sure.
Found an autographed and personalized (by both Jerry and his brother) picture sleeve with a near mint 45 in Batavia, NY this morning. Wish I’d asked the lady if she was “Sandy.”