There were plenty of bands called the Wild Ones in the ’60s, but this group doesn’t seem to be related to any of them. A Massachusetts location is possible. The “200,608” number on the label refers to a Decca custom pressing, usually, but not always used by bands in New England. There was a group called the Wild Ones from Shrewsbury/Worchester MA with the single “Number One Girl” / “Surfin’ Time Again” on Camsul.
Mike Markesich wrote: “September, 1965 release. They are not related to the NYC discotheque performing group on United Artists & the Sears label, even tho I’ve seen that mentioned somewhere before. Nothing in copyright matches the titles, songwriters or producer name.”
The highlight is the A-side’s “Please”, a sharp rocker with a desperate singer and a very simple guitar break. “Just Me” is faster, with an even simpler, but effective guitar solo. Good, spare production with a booming sounds to the drums and clearly audible descending bass lines.
Both songs were written by Pratt and Scheurer, and produced by M.A. LaGrotte for the Tiger Productions label.
Info on the Camsul release from Till the Stroke of Dawn by Aram Heller. Thanks to Mike Markesich for the info and label scans, and to Davie Gordon for pointing out the connection to AAA in his comment below. Thanks also to the Eggman for bringing this subject up!
Scheurer might be Tony Scheurer, he was guitarist in the Ultimate Spinach – he’s on their third album “Ultimate Spinach” (MGM, 1969)
– it would fit geographically.
There’s a whole batch of New England 45’s which have 200xxx numbers – apparently most of them were recorded at AAA Studios in Boston.
The Wild Ones 45 on CAMSUL features some guy named Bill Stocker on vocal. And it’s a great twosider surf rocker.
You can listen to soundclips on Rockin Country Style.
Hard to say if it could be the same group.
The Camsul Wild Ones were a fictitious name created by writer/producer Dick Campbell. Both Campbell and singer Billy Stocker were from Monroe, WI. Campbell had involvement with several WI bands and he also spent some time in Shrewsbury, MA with his cousin, Artie Sullivan (hence Cam – Sull). Stocker & Campbell did a few other things together and then Campbell relocated to Hollywood where he had considerable success in music publishing. He died in April 2002 after having moved back to Monroe. Stocker died in July 2001. Both artists are covered in my book, “On That Wisconsin Beat”. I believe Campbell’s son still maintains a website about him.
Gary E. Myers / MusicGem
http://home.earthlink.net/~gem777