Category Archives: Unknown

Categories: Cranston, Rhode Island, Unknown

The Night Walkers on Viscount Records of Cranston, RI

January 20, 2021 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

Viscount Records was based in Cranston, Rhode Island, releasing three singles in 1968.

I don’t know anything about the Night Walkers other than Bob Carey wrote the band’s original song, “In Our Time”, which is slow, moody and a little psychedelic.

The flip is a somewhat busy version of “Things We Said Today”. The Basement Walls site lists Warwick, just south of Cranston, as their base.

Released on Viscount VR4503, about 1968, this is a styrene record. The labels include a six-digit code 112681/2.

Prior to the Night Walkers, Viscount Records released Ken Lyon “Lonesome Trip” (Lyon – Bill McQuade) / “Rock Island Line” with his brother Don Lyon on harmonica. The picture sleeve has notes by the Rev. Donald Lavallee suggesting he was the owner of Viscount Records. Ken Blumberg took the photo and Leonard Hardisty designed the cover.

Categories: Fort Worth, Music Mill, Texas, Unknown

The Images “My Kinda Woman” on Music Mill

December 31, 2020 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Images at Panther Hall, March 12, 1965

The Images played often around the Fort Worth, Texas region, including shows at Panther Hall and Holiday Skating Rink with the Motovators.

They released one excellent single on Music Mill 404, “My Kinda Woman” / “A Swingin’ Summer”, both by T. Martin and G. Carter, publishing by Levelland BMI.

I don’t have much info on the group, other than those two names T. Martin and G. Carter. Their drum head has a location, a short word ending in “t” – Hurst, TX maybe?

The Images came in third place out of 11 bands, at the July 25, 1965, Panther-a-Go-Go “Battle-of-the-Rock N Roll Bands”.

Thanks to the meticulous scrapbook kept by the mother of Motovators bassist Terry Hungerford, I can present the photo of the group and their set list from the July 25 battle-of-the-bands.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

The Images set list at Panther Hall, July 25, 1965

Categories: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Unknown

Mitzee Baker – “Stand Up Boy” on Dralmar

November 18, 2020 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Mitzee Baker’s “Stand Up Boy” is early ’60s pop, not garage but it has a strong beat and crude production. I’m posting because it seems to be unknown, and there are some deadwax codes I am not familiar with.

The flip is a ballad with some orchestration, “No One Can Love You (More than I)”. Harry Moffitt wrote both songs and co-produced with Fred Downs, released on Dralmar 5000. Pompadour Music published the songs, but I can’t find them in BMI’s database. A Philadelphia origin is likely.

The runout codes are: “D-5000-B A” / “D-5000-B”. Both sides have “A.M.S.” followed by something that looks like a D with a couple short horizontal lines in front of it. In very small lettering on the A-side is “TV 33166”. All are etched.

An embossed stamp on both sides seems to read backwards, beginning with, possibly M.O.I. and ending with CO – but I may not be reading that correctly.

Categories: Nashville, Tennessee, Unknown

Fire, Rhythm & Smoke – Sissie’s Uptown Lounge

October 16, 2020 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Here’s an obscure one out of Nashville, from the early-70s I would guess. Fire, Rhythm and Smoke do a good hard rock number called “Fire & Rhythm” with very gravely vocals, released on Sissie’s 001.

The flip is “Sissie’s Place”, kind of a ’60s Sam the Sham sound to advertise Sissie’s Uptown Lounge on 125 6th Ave N in Nashville. I can’t find any mention of that lounge in news archives or on the web, and the site may be a parking lot now. For decades it was the address of Rock City Amusement Co. which advertised jukeboxes and pinball machines in Cash Box.

James Snell gets song writing credit on both labels, but BMI lists Dave Sunderland and Gary Turner on both songs, as well as Snell.

Desert Trash published both songs. The only other songs in their catalog are “Lay Me Down By Your Side” & “Cheatin’ on Him” by Ellen Daley, but I can’t find a recording of those.

John Shepherd produced and has his name etched in the runout.

That’s all I can find out. Surely these musicians had some roots in earlier groups.

Categories: Chanté Records, Unknown

The Little Indians on Chanté Records

August 1, 2020 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Here’s an obscure one, the Little Indians doing two original songs, “No” / “Wait a Minute”. It may also be the first release on Chanté Records, as it is release 101 and has master numbers CH-1 and CH-2.

Richard D. Tellier and Edward Martin composed both songs, and registered copyright in March 1965. They have other copyrights that may have not been recorded, “Blind Date”, “Life Was So Lonesome” and “Anymore”.

Tellier and Martin registered “Wait a Minute” and “Blind Date” in 1964 with © Sigma Seven Productions, Inc., but that production credit is dropped for the ’65 copyright and the Chanté release. Sigma Seven Productions turns up on singles by the Irridescents on Fleetwood, and the Fabulaires on Chelsea, among others.

Chanté Records labels usually have a Lou Alfieri production credit, but this one reads “A Pabodi Production”. Alfieri Music and Eastwick Music published both songs. A trademark application from 1965 lists a West Moorestown, New Jersey address, not far from Philadelphia.

Anyone have more information on the Little Indians or these song writers?

I do not believe this was the same Richard Tellier who played guitar with a Canadian group called Octopus.

Categories: Ford, Unknown

The Incidentals with Bill Ervin on Ford Records

June 27, 2020 Chris Bishop 3 Comments

I cannot find much information on the Incidentals, who were primarily an instrumental band. They released three singles on the Ford Records label out of New York.

The first is the excellent “All Night”, a band original, backed with a version of the Ventures “Driving Guitars” (including drum solo), on Ford Records 134. Cash Box reviewed the single in October, 1964, giving the sides B+ and B grades. These instrumentals are primarily guitar-driven melodies, but the group did have a pianist. The entire band plays very well.

Rest-A-While Music Company (ASCAP) published “All Night”. Rest-a-While Music appears on other Ford and Merry-Go-Round releases, including Ford 117, The Gallant Men’s “Lost Romance” by Foti and O’Donnell, and Dolores Rodell “Go For Broke” written by Vin Roddie, on Ford 132. The company had a New York City address.

I haven’t heard or seen their second single as the Incidentals, two more instrumentals, “Fireside” / “Lucille” on Ford 138. Cash Box reviewed it in January 1965, awarding the same B+/B grades as their first single.

A third 45 “Walkin’ the Dog” / “If You Go” on Ford 143 is credited to Bill Ervin & the Incidentals. The Library of Congress has a May 1965 registration for “If You Go” written by William Ervin, published by Merry-Go-Round Melody Co. I’d like to hear these, and would like to know if Bill Ervin was an added vocalist or if he played an instrument on the earlier records.

Billboard listed Sherman Ford Jr as the Incidentals personal manager, he was also president of Ford Records and Merry-Go-Round.

This Incidentals almost certainly was not the group from Ocala, Florida with a single on Paris Tower “baby I Want You Back Again” / “It’s All in Your Mind”. Members of that Incidentals were Ed Barnett, vocals; John Winter on guitar; Steve Fordyce on bass; Tony Cummings and Biff Ruff on organ; and Mike Barnett on drums.

Nor were they the group who cut “Baby Shake” / “Till the Ending of Time” on Gold Standard.

Categories: Kentucky, Louisville, Trump, Unknown

Unit VI “About That Time” on Trump Records

June 15, 2020 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Unit VI is an unknown group, possibly from the Louisville, Kentucky area, but also possibly from southern Indiana.

“About that Time” is a good garage original, danceable but relaxed. “Mother May I” has a chunky rhythm. R. Bundy and A. Stultz wrote both songs.

I’ve searched for info on the group but have no leads yet.

The publishing of both songs is Brownsboro Music SESAC, unusual for Trump singles, which usually have Falls Music publishing.

The Precision Record Pressing codes of PRP-211/2 date this to early or mid 1967.

Categories: Louisiana, New Orleans, Unknown

Blackwater “It Doesn’t Matter” on Bernwald Records

June 15, 2020 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Blackwater is an early ’70s obscurity from the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans.

“It Doesn’t Matter” is the rocking side, a successful performance. I like how the lead singer repeats “It don’t matter” but the title uses the more proper “Doesn’t”. I hear two lead guitars, piano, organ, bass and drums, plus the vocals.

The flip is a ballad with an uptempo middle, “Paper Airplanes”, written by Al Bernard and D. Stipp.

I have no info other than what is on the labels. Al Bernard arranged both sides, with Werdina Music publishing.

I don’t know of any other releases on Bernwald Records; the address was 2621 Gallinghouse St, New Orleans.

Categories: California, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Unknown

The Sounds of Phase III – “Special Citation”

June 4, 2020 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Here’s a mystery outfit, possibly a studio creation, from the Los Angeles area. With folk and pop strains, neither of their two singles is garage or rock, but each has some interesting moments.

I’m not sure of the order of release, but I have The Sounds of Phase III doing “Special Citation” and “La Bamba” on KarMil Records ‎631. Δ65687 in the runout dates it to February or March, 1967. The flip is “La Bamba”, arranged by Karlton, Miller and del Carmen, which interestingly has a Kavelin publishing credit.

I prefer “His Song” on their other single, Karmil Records presents The Sounds of PHASE THREE. Karl Karlton wrote “His Song”, backed with one I haven’t heard, “Lissy” (by Gooding-Nutting) produced by Gerry Nutting, on Karmil 2500. Publishing by Aim Co.

There is also a one-sided acetate I haven’t heard, The Sounds of Phase III from HR Recording Studios in Hollywood, with three songs, “Jamestown”, “Bill Bailey”, “So Fine”.

Categories: Canada, Ontario, Unknown

The Rapids, unknown group possibly from Ontario, Canada

May 16, 2020 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Rapids – a quintet from possibly Ontario, Canada. I bought these photos from a seller in Williamsford, but the group could have come from anywhere in the Toronto or Hamilton area, or beyond.

It would be nice if one could read the headstocks on the guitars. One looks to be a Höfner 173, according to G45 member ShyC, which would date to about 1963 or 1964. I don’t know of any Canadian groups called the Rapids that recorded.

I’d appreciate any clues or info.

Garage Hangover