Category Archives: Unknown

Categories: AAA Recording Studios (Boston), Massachusetts, Musicor, Rhode Island, Unknown

The Grand Jury on Musicor’s New Talent Series

July 20, 2022 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Grand Jury made one single, “Lovely Lady” / “Rollin” on Musicor Records’s New Talent Series NTS 417. The New Talent Series is an interesting set of records, including some experimental singles that I haven’t covered before, like the Lemon and Lime.

The Grand Jury single is not as adventurous, but both are original songs by Moore and Spitrini. Of the two, I prefer the B-side, “Rollin'”. Like others in the series, it is a styrene 45 that is easily worn.

I can’t find any information on where the group is from or who the members were. I am guessing Rhode Island only because Spitrini is an unusual surname, but is found in Rhode Island.

Joe Saia owned AAA Recording Studio and Parsay Pub. Co. Parsay appears on many New Talent Series 45s like the Lemon and Lime, the Lost Souls, and LSD, as well as other AAA productions like the Collage’s “Best Friend” / “Girl Don’t Tell Me”.

However, most of these songs do not appear in BMI’s database, or in the Library of Congress list of registrations.

I’d appreciate any further info on the Grand Jury or other acts that recorded at AAA.

Categories: Chicago, Illinois, International Recording Co. (Chicago), IRC, Unknown

Tamara’s New Generation “Just Flowers” / “Traffic” on IRC

June 1, 2022 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

This post is dedicated to the memory of Max Waller, my fellow music researcher who helped me with many articles over the years, for which I am grateful.

Tamara’s New Generation is an obscure Chicago-area group with just one single to their name, released on IRC 6943. The A-side “Just Flowers” is a Gabor Szabo style number with flute, a two-note keyboard line, and some fine raga guitar work.

I prefer the flip, “Traffic” with it’s pulsating bass line, beatnik vibe, and crashing end. Interestingly, the dead wax codes reverse the A & B sides, which makes more sense to me.

Members included:

Tamara – lead vocals
Pete Ianni – ?
Tom Miller – bass
Ollie – ?
Denny – ?
Brian – ?
Paul – ?

Although this may be the only International Recording Company credit for Perry Johnson, he did writing and arrangement for related labels like Royal Blue (the Paniks “Look Twice”, the Wild “Monkees”, Lou Capri “Love and Kisses”) and Redd Robb (Edges of Wisdom “Past”, Holocaust “Savage Affection”).

This is the first time I’ve covered a band from the IRC (International Recording Co.) label, which released a number of great 45s by the Little Boy Blues, Danny’s Reasons and others; and was the studio for the Crees 4 acetate “Misunderstanding” / “Looking at Your Picture”, released in 2021 by Mojo-Bone.

Categories: Dove Recording Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Unknown, Westchester

The Novells “Go Now” on Westchester

February 1, 2022 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Novells recorded a great lament “Go Now” for Dale Menten’s Westchester label of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Other than a writing credit to Steve Johnson, the Novells are a mystery to me.

“Go Now” was released on Westchester DR-271, as the B-side to a version of “Billy Boy”. The DR-271 number on the label indicates this was recorded at Dove Recording Studios in Bloomington.

Producer Dale Menten is most famous as guitarist of the Gestures, and writer of “Run, Run, Run”.

The Minneapolis Tribune on Sunday, June 2, 1968 ran an overview of the local rock business that included this paragraph:

Candyfrost Productions is a two-year-old firm that manages about 16 bands and does promotion for them as well. The firm did about $400,000 worth of business last year. Dale Menten and Peter Steinberg, the owners, are both 23. Steinberg is also a major stockholder in Dove Recording, a 3 1/2-year-old rock recording compoany that grossed more than $50,000 last year.

More info on the Novells would be appreciated.

Categories: Dayton, Ohio, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Unknown, Wildwood Sound Productions

Last Exit “The Fast One” on Wildwood

January 24, 2022 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Last Exit came from western Ohio, perhaps Montgomery County, near Dayton. The only name I have is K.K. Petty, who wrote both sides.

“The Fast One” gives the lead guitarist plenty of time to solo. “The Slow One” is, as the title suggests, a ballad, with lines like “The best foundation for true love is simply a little trust / But the whole thing can be shattered, with a sudden burst of lust”!

The band cut their single at Wildwood Sound Productions in Brookville, where the Centrees, and Captain Crunch and the Crew also recorded.

Gene Turner’s Gene O Music published the songs but I cannot find registration for either. It is a Rite pressing, account # 1850, from 1967.

Categories: Corsicana, Texas, Unknown

The Souncations “Exit” by Jerry Rojas

January 7, 2022 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Souncations made only one single, a version of “Respect” with a fine original song “Exit” by Jerry Rojas on the B-side, released on Head 1001 in 1967.

“Exit” features organ dominating the melody, but there’s a fine guitar solo and t he vocalist drawls his lines something like Jagger.

Earl Slocom produced, and the address 844 Pilot Dr, Dallas may have been his home. Usually spelled Earl Slocomb, he had been bassist with the Big Beats, who had cut instrumentals for Columbia, Liberty and other labels going back to 1957.

Despite the Kendall Pub. credit I cannot find a registration of copyright on “Exit”.

The origin of the Souncations is unknown, but I can find two notices on a guitarist named Jerry Rojas from Corsicana, TX, about 60 miles south of Dallas.

Both concern Navarro Junior College talent shows. The first show on December 2, 1965 is described:

Carol Kennermore was featured twice – singing … “Summertime,” and dancing to the strains of “Malaguena.”
Jerry Rojas on guitar, Danny Espedal on organ, and Roger Ballew on bass accompanied her song. The shaggy-maned Rojas himself later belted out a rock tune.

The second on March 24, 1966 notes:

Jerry Rojas, accompanying himself on his electric guitar, dipped into modern jazz for vocalizations of “Run for Your Life,” “Tombstone Blues” and “Ballad of a Thin Man.”

But so far I have no confirmation this is the same Jerry Rojas, or that the group actually came from Corsicana.

Thank you to Michael Robinson for alerting me to the Audiodisc acetate of the single.

Categories: Arizona, California, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Unknown

The Sect – photos with Deborah Walley, band from Los Angeles or Arizona

April 11, 2021 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

Unknown Los Angeles band the Sect — The Sect – unknown Los Angeles area band

I have photos of a group called the Sect according to their drum head. I don’t know the names of any members, or where they were from other than possibly the Los Angeles area.

Two of the photos feature actress Deborah Walley. Someone suggested it was her husband John Ashley in the white suit in one shot, but Chas Gibson informs me this is Jimmy Hawkins, who had roles in TV shows like The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It to Beaver, and The Donna Reed Show. Hawkins and Walley were in the Elvis movie Spinout, which would date these photos to about 1966.

Arizona is another possible location. There was a group called the Sect from Mesa, Arizona, just east of Phoenix & Tempe, that included J.R. Lara, Tom Smith, Buford “Corky” Allred, Brad Reed and Rusty Martin. That Sect recorded two songs at Audio Recorders that were not released until 2003, “Simply Sunday” / “Just Can’t Win”.

Two people have identified the guitarist in the white hat as Kenny Vaughn of the Superlatives, Marty Stuart’s band. Perhaps someone can confirm or refute this possibility.

If it is Kenny, it is possible these photos were taken in Denver, Colorado, where he was based in the ’60s.

I like their look that mixes western and rock styles. Any info on the Sect would be appreciated.

This isn’t the first time Deborah Walley crops up in Garage Hangover. She and John Ashley appeared at an opening of Sergeant Deadhead with the Jerks in Birmingham, Alabama.

Thank you to Chas Gibson for help with identifying Jimmy Hawkins.

The Sect guitarist, possibly Kenny Vaughn — Two people have identified this guitarist as Kenny Vaughn of the Superlatives, Marty Stuart’s band.

Unknown Los Angeles band the Sect, Deborah Walley — Is this actress Deborah Walley ?

Unknown Los Angeles band the Sect photo with Jimmy Hawkins and Deborah Walley — Jimmy Hawkins in white suit at left, and actress Deborah Walley in front of him.

Categories: Connecticut, Hartford, Unknown

The Stitch in Time – Fiesta Recording Studio, Hartford

April 2, 2021 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

A band that may have the name Stitch in Time (Stuck in Time or Stich in Time? It’s difficult to read the writing) cut a four-song demo acetate at Fiesta Studio in Hartford, CT.

Two of the songs are “Visions of a Dream” and “Darkness of My Mind”. The other label only has “Wayne” written along the edge. The acetate is in terrible condition, with severe flaking on those two songs, but I was able to salvage one track on the other side. I don’t know the name of the song, maybe “I Want to Live”. Hear an excerpt below:

The Stitch in Time – I Want to Live (excerpt)

Fiesta Recording Studio was located at 922 Main Street in Hartford, Connecticut. The best thing cut at Fiesta that I know of was the Bends “If It’s All the Same to You”.

Fiesta also seems to cut a number of polka LPs by Johnny Menko, Ted Nowack’s Harmony Kings, and Ed Podolak & his Polka Cats.

More info on Fiesta would be appreciated.

Categories: Pennsylvania, Unknown, Virginia

The Monic Depression “Wondering Why”

March 4, 2021 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

The Monic Depression released one single, “Wondering Why” / “Midnight Hour”. I wish I could tell you more about the band but nothing is known at this point.

“Wondering Why” is an excellent original by K. Ellmer. The organ, guitar, bass and drums blend into a near-perfect garage sound, even if the record was made in 1969, as someone wrote on my copy.

Kevin Ellmer, Keith Ellmer, Ken Ellmer, Knox Ellmer?!

The flip is a good version of “Midnight Hour”

Teen Beat Mayhem lists the band’s location as possibly Virginia, while I’ve seen Pennsylvania on the internet, possibly Scranton.

Released on HRS 45-218, possibly HRS stands for a recording studio. Harrisburg?

I love the band name, was the spelling of Monic intentional or was it supposed to be Manic Depression?

Categories: Unknown, Washington DC

The Cobras with Link Wray, Bob Rubino and WPGC DJ Dean Griffith, 1965

February 13, 2021 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Cobras WPGC photo 2 tambourine player and drummer

Here are photos of a 1965 WPGC show featuring the Cobras, a group that is unknown to me. They have a great look, and I’d love to know who they were and if they recorded.

Cobras WPGC photo Link Wray — Link Wray at the WPGC Good Guys show, 1965

It’s interesting to see Link Wray at the show, along with Bob Rubino, who was recording his single “A Rose and a Baby Ruth” / “Lonely Boy” at Link’s studio in Accokeek about this time.

Link would record a number of teen groups in 1966 for his Gray Ant label and the Vermillion label, including:

The Dead Beats -“She Don’t Love Me” (Rick Maske) / “I’m Sure” (Bob Coleman)
The Hard Times – “I Can’t Wait Till Friday Comes” / “(Old Wine) New Bottles”
The Suburbans – “The Love That I Had” (Roby, Murphy) / “Talk to Me” (Murphy)

I haven’t found any mention of the Cobras in connection to Link.

WPGC DJ Dean Griffith is represented. Dean Griffith was a house name at the station, and this was one of four people that had that moniker – anyone know his real name?

I’m not sure the venue, maybe a gymnasium in the Washington, DC area, or perhaps the DC Armory which did host some shows during these years.

I could not find a newspaper listing for a show with the Cobras, but the Daily Times of Salisbury, Maryland announced a teen dance on April 17, 1965 at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, sponsored by Pocomoke High School and Pocomoke City station WDMV.

Joey Reynolds of WKDW, Buffalo, NY acted as host. The bands were the British Walkers, Link Wray and the Wraymen “with Rob Rudino, guitarist, and a local group called the Astro-Tones”.

The Astro-Tones also played a dance at the Boggs-Disharoon American Legion in Berlin, MD on April 3.

Categories: California, Golden Sound, Knoxville, Lenoir City, San Francisco, Tennessee, Unknown

The Trophies on Golden Sound

January 27, 2021 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Trophies released one single in October, 1965, “With a Love” backed with the uptempo “C’mon Little Lady”.

If the members were also the song writers, then the band included:

George Jevicky
Andy Martin
Daniel Nasimento

Geo. Jevicky, Andy Martin wrote the moody “With a Love” published by Blue Coast Music, administered by SESAC. Daniel Mascimento wrote “C’mon Little Lady” published by Duval BMI.

This is the only release on the Golden Sound label that I know of, GS 1011.

Teen Beat Mayhem lists the band’s location as San Francisco, California, but the label credits read “produced by Suwanee Songs, Lenoir City, Tennessee”.

I’d like to know how a San Francisco band wound up on a label out of Lenoir City, a small metropolis southwest of Knoxville.

The site for '60s garage bands since 2004