Categories: England, Parlophone, Surrey, Woking

The Pentad

February 3, 2014 Nick Warburton 9 Comments

Pentad Woking Herald 1965 June 11 — The Pentad featured in the Woking Herald and News, June 11, 1965

Terry Crowe – lead vocals
Mike Fitzpatrick – lead guitar
Roger Hanks – piano, organ
Mick Dunford – bass
Peter Garland-Jones – drums

A Woking, Surrey band that was formed around April 1965 from the ashes of The Plebs, The Pentad was led by singer Terry Crowe, who together with Mick Dunford, had been an original member of The Nashville Teens.

The band’s debut single “Silver Dagger” c/w “Nothing But Love” came out on Parlophone in June 1965. The group recorded a second single, “Don’t Throw It All Away” c/w “Too Many Ways”, which was released later that year.

Pentad’s third and final release, “Something Other People Call Love” c/w “It Better Be Me”, was issued in March 1966. Dunford later became a member of Renaissance.

The Woking Herald provided good source material.

Notable gigs

11 June 1965 – Walton Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

15 June 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with Unit 4 + 2 (Eastern Evening News)

20 June 1965 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

27 June 1965 – Sunset Ballroom, The Sandringham, Hunstanton, Norfolk (Lynn News)

16 July 1965 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

17 July 1965 – Orchid Room, Oxford with The Vibros (Oxford Mail)

19 August 1965 – Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge (Cambridge News) Billed as The Pentab

31 August 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with Them (Eastern Evening News)

31 August 1965 – Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with Stu James & The Mojos (Essex County Times)

1 September 1965 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Bob Kidman & The Dorothy Orchestra and The Dawnbreakers (Cambridge News)

15 September 1965 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

24 September 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Basildon, Essex with The Paramounts and The Transatlantics (Southend Standard)

2 October 1965 – Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge (Cambridge News)

9 November 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

22 January 1966 – King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, King’s Lynn, Norfolk with James King & The Farinas (Lynn News)

29 January 1966 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northants with The Brumbeats (Wellingborough News)

5 February 1966 – Esquire Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)

12 February 1966 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Other Five (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)

13 February 1966 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

The Pentad, Woking News and Mail, 29 May 1965

I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com

Categories: England

The Plebs

January 27, 2014 Nick Warburton 14 Comments

Terry Crowe – lead vocals
Mick Dunford – lead guitar
Danny McCulloch – bass
Chris Dennis – keyboards
Derek Sirmon – drums

An historically interesting band, The Plebs were formed around May 1964 after former Nashville Teens members Terry Crowe and Mick Dunford joined forces with Danny McCulloch and Derek Sirmon, who had previously worked together in Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages and before that Frankie Reid & The Casuals.

Mick Dunford (aka Mick Forde) had started out with Weybridge, Surrey band, The Cruisers Rock Combo while Sirmon had once been a member of The Conchords (Mungo Jerry in its early days) and then Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers with Ritchie Blackmore on lead guitar.

The Plebs were all experienced professional musicians (one of the members trained at the Royal Military School of Music) and could play anything from modern jazz to rock ‘n’ roll to ballroom.

After backing Jess Conrad and Mark Wynter on the road, The Plebs signed to Decca Records and released a lone single, a cover of The Coasters’ “Bad Blood” c/w “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”, in October 1964.

That same month, the band accompanied the internationally acclaimed American modern ballet company the Alvin Ailey dance show at London’s Shaftsbury Theatre, which proved to be a long and successful engagement. However, this took them out of the “loop” with bookers for rock venues.

The Plebs went on to become the backing band for Jerry Lee Lewis on a European tour. The band can be seen on Ready Steady Go on YouTube playing “High Heel Sneakers” and “Whole lot of shakin’” with Lewis.

In early 1965, the band played at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany and then appeared in the film Be My Guest (again with Jerry Lee Lewis).

A few months later, the group went back to Germany without Derek (Degs) Sirmon who had got married. In his place, The Plebs took replacement drummer Dave Maine, who been with original Nashville Teens.

Differences in the band, however, saw its break-up in spring 1965 with Crowe and Dunford forming The Pentad. Both are now deceased.

As for the other members, Chris Dennis later moved to Italy where he teaches English.

Danny McCulloch meanwhile went on to work with singer Tony Sheridan and then spent a brief period of time in Germany in a “scratch” band with Ritchie Blackmore.

Back in the UK, he briefly hooked up with The Carl Douglas Set in the summer of 1966 before joining Eric Burdon’s New Animals later that year. He still composes and produces music and advertisements.

Derek Sirmon became a company director but is now retired.

Notable gigs

5 September 1964 – Jazz Cellar, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (Surrey Comet)

16 November 1964 – Jazz Cellar, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with Jimmy Reed and John Lee Groundhogs (Surrey Comet)

4 December 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London with Jerry Lee Lewis, Mike Rabin & The Demons and The Hideaways (Streatham News)

6 March 1965 – Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Daniel & The Emeralds (Surrey Advertiser)

Huge thanks to Derek Sirmon and Danny McCulloch for providing information on the band. I would also like to credit the Woking Herald for source material.

Categories: Netra, Port Arthur, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Spindletop, Texas

Curt Block

January 17, 2014 Chris Bishop 16 Comments

Curt Block has a great garage single in October ’65, “She’s My Kind” that I’ve been trying to find for some time now. I still haven’t found a copy of that one, but recently I picked up one I hadn’t known of before, his 45 on Spindletop with the Dreamlites.

I don’t know much about Curt Block but I did find one mention on the Port Arthur News from December 8, 1974: “the Port Arthur Merry Mixers Club will dance to the music of ‘Curt Block and the Velvets’ from 8-11 p.m on Tuesday in the K C Hall, 315 Hardy, Nederland. The club is open to all single adults 18 years or older, but all married couples who met in the single movement are invited”.

By the time of that article Curt had been in the music business over 10 years. His 45 on Spindletop SR-45010 is from about 1963, featuring a vocal ballad “It’s Raining Again” (R. Philen) on the top side, backed with one of the shortest cuts I’ve ever seen on a pre-punk 45, the sax & guitar instrumental “Hang Out”, written by Block but credited to only the Dreamlites. Both songs were published by Neches Music BMI.

I asked Curt about his time in these bands and wrote to me:

In the Dreamlites I was only 16. Ray Fallon, sax, he went on to play for Roy Orbison. The guys in my band were Billy Robbins, Bill Iron, Dwight Landry, Ronnie Maxie, Mike Duhon. I played guitar of course. A TV show called Jive at Five had me and the band on many times.
I sang some with Johnny Preston and Jivin’ Gene, really great guys. I played 4 and 5 nights a week for many many years.

Spindletop had well over a dozen releases beginning about 1961, including a couple in-demand soul discs by Talmadge Armstrong and by Al Trahan. Curt Block’s single came about halfway through Spindle’s releases.

In October of 1965 he had another 45, this time credited to Curt Block & the Vibrations. The Vibrations were:

Curt Block – guitar and lead vocals
Billy Robbins – rhythm guitar and back up vocals
Dwight Landry – bass guitar
Bill Irion – drums
Ronnie Maxey – sax
Carl Boettger – sax
Mike Duhom – trumpet

I haven’t heard the top side yet, “With This Ring”, but the flip is excellent garage as long as you’re not one of the types that prefer their r&r without saxophone.

Curtis Block wrote both songs, published by Neches Music, BMI and recorded at L & F Recording Service in Port Arthur. Both Netra and Spindletop were based in Port Arthur, which was also home to the Basic Things who I’ve covered on this site. Like the Spindletop single, the Netra 45 is a Rite pressing.

Curt had one more single that I know of, “Hey Little Girl” / “You Were Mine” on the Gina label – if anyone has scans of this single please contact me.

Thank you to Tori and to Greg & Linda Haynes for sending in the photo of the band at top. Tori’s uncle Dwight Landry played bass with the group. Dwight passed away on April 20, 2014. Thanks also to Deborah for the caption to the photo, she reports her uncle Bill Irion passed away on August 20, 2015.

If anyone has a copy of the Netra or Gina singles for sale, or a photo of Curt Block with one of his ’60s groups, or knows any of the members of the Dreamlites or the Vibrations, please contact me.

Curt Block Vibrations Netra 45 With This Ring

Categories: La Louisianne, Lafayette, Louisiana, Montel-Michelle

The Rogues & the Dry Grins

January 13, 2014 Chris Bishop 11 Comments

The Rogues from Lafayette, Louisiana had two excellent 45s, both very rare now, I don’t own either one.

They seem to have had some lineup changes during their existence. Members included Fred Brechtel on lead vocals, Mark MacDiarmid (or McDiarmid) on lead guitar (and lead vocals on “I Don’t Need You”), Mike Schwartz on rhythm guitar, Tommy Withrow on keyboards, John Bonar on bass, and Glen Hebert on drums.

Cyril Vetter of the Greek Fountains saw the Rogues and produced a release for them on the Montel-Michelle label, though he changed the band’s name temporarily to the Dry Grins. The Dry Grins release has the teen loser lament, “She’s a Drag”, written by Fred Brechtel for Red Stick Music, backing the only slightly more commercial “You’re Through”. It was produced by Cyril Vetter & Sam Montel, and released as the Montel-Michelle M/M-959 (74 M/M 14) circa late 1965.

Well, I’m walking down the street with my left hand in my pocket,
And some chick walks up and says,
“Make a switch man, you’re on the wrong side of the street”
Well, I looked up and turned around to see the people watching,
My left hand still in my pocket,
And then she started to laugh.
I had both hands in my pocket and I said, “Baby, you’re a drag”
Well, she’s a drag, yeah, a big ole drag,
She’s a drag, yeah, a big ole drag,
Like a trip, baby
Well, I used to dig a chick … [?]
Cause I’m a stubborn fellow, you know,
And I got to get her, [?]
But that turned into a great big drag.
Well, she’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
She’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
Well, she’s a drag,
Like an albatross
Well, she said get back, come back and don’t you cry,
I turned around and said to her, “Baby, you’re a drag”
Well she’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
She’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
Well she’s a drag,
She’s gone, baby

The Rogues second 45 has “Tonight” which Teen Beat Mayhem describes as “swamp-pop ballad with crooner vocals.” on the A-side. On the flip is “I Dont Need You”, one of their best songs, the opening drum roll leading into a blast of sound that keeps up throughout the song.

Both sides written and sung by Mark McDiarmid for La Lou Music, and released on the La Louisianne label, LL-8094-B, in April of ’67.

Andrew Brown wrote that Tommy Withrow joined a group called the Swingin’ Machine, obviously unrelated to the now-legendary Swinging Machine from South Norfolk, VA.

I used to believe the band had a third single, “Put You Down” b/w a version of “Stormy Monday Blues”, but that turns out to be a group from Alabama, which makes sense as MBM was a Birmingham label and “Put You Down” does not have keyboards unlike the other songs by the Rogues from Louisiana.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Categories: Delcrest, Kentucky, Louisville

The Waters

December 29, 2013 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

The Waters was a Louisville, Kentucky group with John Burgard guitar and vocals, Ray Barrickman bass guitar and vocals, and John Mackey on drums.

Their first 45 on the Soul Blvd. label was “Lady in the Field” (Barrickman and Burgard) / “American Cheese” (Barrickman, Burgard and Mackay) – I haven’t heard it yet.

Their second 45 features two excellent originals by Burgard and Barrickman, the upbeat pop song “Day In and Out” and the stupendous freakbeat of “Mother Samwell”.

Released on the one-off Delcrest label in January of ’69, all copies I’ve seen have white labels with black print. Promo copies exist on the Hip label, a Stax subsidiary from March of ’69, but that issue seems to be much rarer. Production was by Paine-Baker. Paine was Stuart Paine, who owned the Soul Blvd label.

John Burgard had an earlier group called Jonah and the Wailers with Chris and Courtney Johns that opened for the Rolling Stones at Memorial Auditorium. Burgard visited San Francisco in ’67 then returned to Louisville to form the Waters.

The Waters broke up in 1972 and Burgard went on to form CoCo Morgan and other groups.

Ray Barrickman previously played bass and sang in the Oxfords. He later played bass in Hank Williams Jr.’s band for a couple decades, and more recently was in a reformed version of another legendary Louisville group, Soul, Inc..

Thank you to Brian Talley for sending in the photo of the band – if anyone has other photos of the group please contact me.

Background on John Burgard from “I’ve Got A Mind To Ramble” by Keith S. Clements.

Categories: Delaware, Ken-Del Studios, Knight (DE), Wilmington

The Spectrums “I’ll Never Fear” on Knight

December 21, 2013 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

The Spectrums cut this one excellent single. “I’ll Never Fear” is a beautiful, soulful original song, written by Douglas Stewart. The flip is a good cover of “Wine, Wine, Wine”.

Douglas Stewart registered copyright for “I’ll Never Fear” in May, 1966. The band recorded at Ken-Del Studios in Wilmington, which is still in existence. The Spectrums released the single on Knight 4969. Knight was a label from Wilmington, Delaware, not the Knights Records label from Texas that I’ve featured before.

This is a group I’d like to know more about.

Categories: Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

The Myddle Class – clippings, business cards, newsletters

August 29, 2013 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Danny Mansolino sent these newsletters, business cards and other clippings to me. Enjoy!

Myddle Class - 4 Classics Business Card — 4 Classics card featuring Rick, Dan and Mike (all later of Myddle Class) with Kurt on guitar

Myddle Class - Classics Business Card 3 — early business card featuring Rick, Dan & “Myke”, plus Doug on sax and Kurt on bass

Myddle Class - Classics Business Card 2 — early business card featuring Rick, Dan & Mike, plus Doug on sax and Kurt on bass

King Bees Myddle Class Photo w. signatures — The King Bees

Myddle Class Summit High December 11, 1965 — Summit High December 11, 1965
The first public performance of the Velvet Underground

Myddle Class Pitchfork Photo — the infamous pitchfork photo – scanned from a photocopy

Blues Project Myddle Class Richie Havens Cafe Au Go Go March April — The Blues Project, The Myddle Class and Richie Havens at the Cafe Au Go Go, March and April, probably 1966

Myddle Class Plainfield Courier News May 19, 1966 — Plainfield Courier News May 19, 1966

Myddle Class, Shadows & Forty Fingers, May 20, 1966 Summit Junior High — The Myddle Class, The Shadows & The Forty Fingers, May 20, 1966 Summit Junior High

Myddle Class Newark Sunday News, June 19, 1966 — Newark Sunday News, June 19, 1966

Myddle Class Dougboys Renaissance Fair Springfield, July 15, 1967 — The Myddle Class, the Dougboys and Renaissance Fair Springfield, July 15, 1967

Myddle Class Unganos — Undated flyer for the Myddle Class at Unganos

Danny Mansolino Cartoon — cartoon of Danny Mansolino

Myddle Class - Jazzmasters Card — hand drawn card for Dennis Mansolino’s band the Jazzmasters with Steve and Mick. Dennis was Dan’s younger brother

Thank you to Dan Mansolino for his help.

If anyone has photos, flyers, the other newsletters or any other material on the Myddle Class please contact me.

Categories: Alear, Virginia, Winchester

Alear Discography

August 10, 2013 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

Below is an incomplete discography of Jean Alford’s Alear Records label from Winchester, Virginia.

Most of the disks are country, except the Don Dupree is supposed to be doo wop backed by a girl group. Only the Smacks are garage rock as far as I know.

Publishing is usually either Alear Music or Pamper Music.

incomplete – any help would be appreciated

45s:
Alear no #: Don Dupree & Palisades “Phyllis” (Petty & Greer) / “Power of Love” (R4KM-2381, 665A-2381, early 1964)
Alear A-103: Teenie Chenault “I’m So Alone” (Chenault & Tipton) / “It’s a Big Old Heartache” (Chenault & Overman) (R4KM-8016/7, early ’64)
Alear A-105: Carroll Bridgeforth “Next Fool in Line” (Jean Alford) / “The Magician” (RK4M-7356, second half of 1964)
Alear A-106: Teenie Chenault “Make Me Laugh” / “Forgetting”
Alear A-108: Jean Alford “First Man on the Moon” (Harvey Price, Jean Alford) / “The Great Society) (SoN-24015)
Alear A-109: Smacks “I’ve Been Fooling Around” / “Say You’ll Be Mine” (SK4M-0953, Oct. 1965)
Alear A-111: Dean Greer “I Can’t Throw the Ashes Away” (Curley Putnam, Don Wayne) / “I’ve Got a Hold on You” (Jean Alford, Harvey Price) (T4KM-5063/4, March 1966)
Alear A-112: Teenie Chenault “She Tried Hard To Love Me” (Lee Emerson) / “Pushed In The Corner” (Jean Alford) (T4KM-5066, April 1966)
Alear A-113: Vicki Day “Another Hurt” / “Don’t Wake Me”
Alear A-114: J. D. Dawson – “I’ve Got A Hold On You” / “I’m Number One (With My Mary)”
Alear A-116: Smacks “Reckless Ways” / “There’ll Come a Day”
Alear A-117: Tommy Lake “Out of the Dark” / “(If You Want Some Lovin’) Get It From Me” (Jean Alford) (T4KM-2355/6, 655A-7355)
Alear 665A-117: Teenie Chenault “Where Happiness Ends and Heartbreak Begins (Fred Carter) / “(You’re No Inspiration Gracie for) A Hit Song” (Jean Alford) (U5KM-4601/2, first half of 1967)
Alear A-118: Tommy Lake “The Magician” / “Don’t Wake Me”
Alear AL-121: Lone Star “Assumed Love” / “I Write This Letter” (820748) (need confirmation of this one)
Alear A-202: Al Hogan “The Key That Fits Her Door” / “He Didn’t Become Famous For His Song”
Alear A-221: Frank Darlington “You’re My Girl” / “Have a Little Patience” (July, 1969)
Alear A-222: Jim Miller “If You Can Eat The Cake” / “The Other Lover”
Alear A-350: Dave Elliott “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” / “Other Lover”

Alear 665-??: Ned Davis “Organtar” / “Jungle Fog” (piano & pedal steel instrumentals)

Alear AL-108 – Gloria Jean Megee – “This Woman” (Megee) / “Slightly Used” (1978, Alford/McCoy production credit)

LPs:
Alear ERS-517: Teenie Chenault & the Country Rockers
Alear SLP 198: Leroy Eyler & the Carroll County Ramblers – Mr. Bluegrass Here’s to You
Alear SLP 200: Leroy Eyler & the Carroll County Ramblers – Sing Gospel

Gloria Megee wrote to me about her Alear single from 1978, “This Woman”, “Jim McCoy Studios, Buddy Charlton, steel; Roy Justis, fiddle; and John Kaparakis, guitar. It was well received on Big K [WKCW] when the old Tom Cat played it.”

Gloria Jean Megee live in Wheeling, 1978

Thanks to Max Waller, Graham, Dale from 45cat, Bob Perry, and Gloria Jean Megee for their help with the Alear discography.

Categories: Majestic Studios, Showcase

Showcase Discographies

August 10, 2013 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

A partial discography for Showcase shows the styles and production credits to be all over the map, with soul, folk, and even show tunes. Mop Top Mike wrote to me “The S400 series was the 1965 release numbering for Showcase. They switched it to 98xx in 1966; 99xx in 1967.”

S-401 – Gary Burghoff – As I Am / Rainbow
S-402 – Little Freddie & the Gents – Betty / Push, Kick & Shout (group from Ft. Lee, New Jersey)
S-403 – The Wouldsmen – What’s The Use Of Crying (Adler-Ross, pub. by George Paxton, Inc., ASCAP) / Summer’s Over
S-404 – Shan Dels – Please Stay / Treat Me Like a Man

9800 – Mat Matthews – Milk and Honey / Shalom
9801 – ?
9802 – Sonny Stevenson – Night Stroll (parts 1 and 2)
9803 – ?
9804 – ?
9805 – Beverly Ann – Great Pretender / We Got Trouble
9806 – Adam & Eve – The Game of War / Hang Me From The Highest Tree
9807 – Johnnie Shepherd – Coming Home / Mr Weather Man
9808 – ?
9809 – The Parris Mitchell Voices featuring Chips Murphie – We Need a Little Christmas / Mame
9810 – Henry the IX – Don’t Take Me Back, Oh Nooo! / Don’t Take Me Back (part 2) (Beducci)
9811 – Lost In Sound – You Can Destroy My Mind / Stubborn Kind Of Fellow (August 1966)
9812 – Yesterday’s Children – Feelings / Wanna Be With You (September 1966)
9813 – Larry Benson – I Do, I Do / Together Forever
9814 – Don Goldie – Popcorn / Summertime

9901 – Maurice Bower – What’s More American / America The Beautiful
9902 – Beechnuts – Nature’s Company / My Iconoclastic Life

The Beech-Nuts (not the Lou Reed group the Beachnuts – even though he did plenty of work for Pickwick) cut their Showcase 45 at Majestic Studios in Manhattan, a studio also used by the Lovin’ Spoonful. I’ve read the Beechnuts record was bootlegged years ago.

There were at least two other Showcase labels, unrelated to the Pickwick one. Davie Gordon writes, “The 2500 series was from Nashville … the label changed its name to Sound Stage 7 and became Monument’s R&B subsidiary. There was another Showcase label using a 10xx series but it has no connection to the others. It’s from the early sixties.”

2500 – Barbara Grindstaff – Have Mercy (Mr. Lonely) / Where the Red Roses Grow
2501 – Delcos – Arabia / Those Three Little Words (Distributed by Monument Records, Nashville)

Sources include: Beech-Nuts info from Beyond the Beat Generation. Special thanks to Mop Top Mike and Davie Gordon for help making sense of the Showcase release numbering, and to Rich, Max Waller and Ad Z. for their help.

Categories: Nassau County, New York, Tower, Wantaugh

The Minimum Daily Requirements

August 10, 2013 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

I’ve had this 45 for years but am only now getting around to covering it. I don’t recall ever reading about the band in any detail.

“I’m Grounded” is a well-known psychedelic classic written by Timmy Phelan (Jitters Music, BMI), but originally it was the b-side to “If You Can Put That In a Bottle” written by Billy Meshel for Meager Music, BMI.

The record was released on Tower 372 in October of 1967. The band came from Wantaugh, Long Island but other than that I don’t know anything about the group, nor have I seen a photo of them.

I don’t believe there’s a connection to a release by the Minimum Daily Requirement (singular) on Mercury, “Free the People” / “I Do Believe the Sun Will Shine”.

Garage Hangover