Category Archives: California

The Xployts

The Xployts at a high school Valentine’s Day dance in Riverside, 1965

Mike Butler sent in these photos and wrote to me about his band, the Xployts. Members included:

Berl Bartz – vocals
Mark Sherrill – guitar
Mike Butler – guitar
Ned Moore – bass
Warren Moore – drums

The Xployts played in the Inland Empire area of Southern California from 1965 through 1969. We started as a surf band then moved to a cover band for top forty songs, and ended up as a blues band.

We played local high school dances, proms, street dances, teenage night clubs, and a local concert venue named Swing Auditorium. Swing Auditorium was the first place The Rolling Stones played when they arrived in the United States in 1964. We played a couple of gigs with the Whatt Four and The Light.

The Xployts drumhead
The Xployts drumhead, photo courtesy of Warren Moore
I worked at Chauncey Romero’s House of Note in Redlands after graduating from Redlands High School. Chauncey is still a friend. 

We broke up in 1969 when three of us were drafted. The draft caught up with us before we could record.

I’m still in touch with our drummer Warren and our bass player Ned. Warren still has the drum head with our band’s name.

Mike Butler

The Xployts at Liers Music in San Bernardino, from left: Berl Bartz, Mark Sherrill, Mike Butler (sitting), Ned Moore, and Warren Moore
The Xployts at a high school Valentine’s Day dance in Riverside, 1965

Karen Verros “You Just Gotta Know My Mind” on Dot Records

Karen’s Somerset High School yearbook photo, 1964

Karen Verros made three singles for Dot Records in 1965 and 1966, her best known being “You Just Gotta Know My Mind” and “Little Boy”. She came from Somerset, Massachusetts, near Rhode Island, graduating with honors from Somerset High School in 1964.

The year after graduation she was in Los Angeles, recording for Dot Records with Jack Nitzsche arranging, and David Hassinger and Mike Minor producing. How she came to the attention of Dot Records I do not know.

For her first record, Nitzsche arranged a Donovan composition, “You Just Gotta Know My Mind”. The prominent bass and solid drumming, the tambourine, vocal chorus and twangy guitar lines, provide an exciting backing for Karen’s lead vocal.

Donovan sheet music for "You Just Gotta Know My Mind"
Donovan didn’t release his own recording of the song. It appears he made a demo version that publisher Southern Music distributed on lacquer acetate, as that was a common way for publishers to sell songs. An Emidisc acetate cut for Southern Music sold in 2010, with Donovan’s song on one side, and an obscure Carter-Lewis song “How Can I Turn Away” on the other. Audio of “How Can I Turn Away” has surfaced, but the Donovan demo has not. I would very much like to hear it!

It’s possible one of Karen’s producers found the song because Southern Music Publishing in New York issued it as sheet music in 1965, with a piano arrangement by George N. Terry. Nitzsche’s arrangement closely follows the sheet music.

Steampacket II cut a version of “You Just Gotta Know My Mind” in 1966 on a Sweden-only 45 release, and in 1968 Dana Gillespie recorded another good version of the song for a UK single and her first album Foolish Seasons. However, Karen’s version is the first and definitive recording.

Karen Verros Dot 45 You Just Gotta Know My MindReleased in October 1965 on Dot 45-16815, the labels read 1:57 on the A-side, but play a version fifteen seconds longer that repeats the first verse after the guitar solo. The B-side is the vocal-less backing track of “You Just Gotta Know My Mind” with an overdubbed lead guitar, titled “Karen’s Theme”.

There are both vinyl and styrene versions of the single. I’ve read that the first pressing of the 45 features an edited 1:57 version of “You Just Gotta Know My Mind”. However, I’ve had two vinyl copies and one styrene, and all three played the 2:12 version of the A-side despite the 1:57 time listed, and had “Re” on labels & in the dead wax.

Ace used a Sunset Sound Recorders acetate (or possibly an edited tape) for the 2006 CD release Hard Workin’ Man – The Jack Nitzsche Story, Volume 2. I believe this is the source for the 1:57 version. If someone has a Dot 45 that actually plays a 1:57 version of the A-side, please contact me!

Unfortunately this single does not seem to have had any push from Dot Records, as I cannot find any promotion or reviews in the trades.

Karen’s earliest television appearance may have been on Let’s Go Go in November, 1965, with Tommy Roe, the Plymouth Rockers and John Astin (Gomez Addams from the Addams Family, who had a 1965 single on United Artists, “Querida Mia” / “Wallflower Pete”). I’m not familiar with this TV show. The episode was announced in the Journal of Jersey City, NJ.

Karen’s next 45 came in December, 1965, “I Can’t Remember Ever Loving You” backed with a remake of the Crystals “Little Boy”, also arranged by Nitzsche and produced by Hassinger and Minor.

McKeever & the Colonel, Hollywood a Go Go, Outer Limits rerun, or Nabokov interview?

This one received a good push from her management, as Karen appeared on what seems to have been the final episode of Hollywood a Go Go in February 1966, lip-synching to both sides of the record. Other performers were Freddy Cannon, the Byrds, the Bantems, the Everly Brothers, Bob Lind, David Watson and James Darren.

Cash Box reviewed the single positively on January 29, 1966, while Billboard mentioned “I Can’t Remember Ever Loving You” but not “Little Boy”. The next week Dot listed the single in an ad in Cash Box and Billboard featuring Bonnie Guitar and many other new releases.

On January 30, 1966, Karen appeared on the Danny Thomas Teen-agers’ Shindig at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium on a long lineup that included the Spats, the Sunrays, Barry Richards, the Paris Sisters, Dick and Dee Dee, Donna Loren, the Grads, and the Beauchemins, along with some who are unknown to me: Bobby Perris, Tony Dow, Paul Peterson, Tony Thomas, and the Germs (!).

She appeared on Where The Action Is at least twice, in April 1966 with Otis Redding, Steve Alaimo and Paul Revere & the Raiders, and in May, 1966 with Susan Rafey, Tina Mason and Cindy Malone.

Her third and last record on Dot was “Wish Me A Rainbow” / “So Warm My Love”, arranged by Pete King, and released in the summer of 1966. The A-side was the theme from the Natalie Wood & Robert Redford movie This Property Is Condemned, however the film & soundtrack versions were sung by actress Mary Badham.

Karen Verros at right in the Young Americans, August 1966. Also in photo: Lisa Binney, Steve Wilson, choreographer Diane Turnquist, Mary Arnold, and Ernie Becerril.

Around the time of her last Dot release, Karen joined the Young Americans song-and-dance group. The Ottawa Journal ran two profiles of the group: first on August 25, 1966, and another on September 3 that quoted Karen and described her as “a newcomer to the Young Americans.” The group appeared at the Central Canada Exhibition grandstand show.

The Young Americans originally formed in 1963 at Birmingham High School in Los Angeles. According to the Journal, M.A. Turnquist was business manager and Phil Azelton music director.

The Boston Globe ran a short item about the Young Americans on November 18, 1966:

The Young Americans, who were such a smash hit on the Andy Williams Show and the Allen Sherman special the past fortnight, will help Perry Como pry open his new season next Monday. One of its members, Karen Verros, will be watching from the home of her parents in Somerset.

On September 28, 1968, Cash Box reported:

Newest indie production firm on the coast is Raydan Prod., with Ray Katz and Danielle Mauroy partnered. Initial deal with MGM Records calls for four artists – two already released (Judd and Lisa’s “Some Other Place” and Mayf Nutter’s “Daddy Love You Boy”) with Karen Verros set to cut this week. Katz also manages a fistful of talents including Fran Jeffries and Eva Gabor. Mauroy was formerly with Barclay Records in France. Raydan is located at 9000 Sunset in L.A.

If Karen recorded for Raydan or MGM, there were no releases to my knowledge. Danielle Mauroy had produced the Lollipop Shoppe’s Just Colour album on Uni earlier that year.

On January 8, 1971 the Concord Transcript ran this notice:

Leather and Lace has top billing in the Topaz Room of Nevada Lodge … Leather and Lace has four men and one woman. All members are good enough to be considered lead singers. But Karen Verros – who is the lace of the group – is a stand-out as they perform a fast, exciting act.

An evening of Leather and Lace almost always includes the full assortment of entertainment hor d’eourves [sic]: rock ‘n’ roll, folk songs, pop numbers, spiritual songs, show tunes, comedy material and flashy dance routines.

Two members of Leather and Lace were formerly on the Doodletown Pipers television series, another was a member of the Kids of the Kingdom at Disneyland, and two were performing with a well-known rock group.

Leather and Lace record for Mercury records. The male contingents are Craig Ward, Chet Cook, Larry Walker, and J.C. Ferris.

I can’t find any recordings on Mercury Records for Leather and Lace, and I wonder what was the “well-known rock group” that the clipping mentions. The Reno Gazette also reported on Leather and Lace on June 11, 1971. That is the last notice I can find of Karen’s musical career.

Karen Verros was one of ten child performers including Chris Barnes (Turner Doyle in The Bad News Bears) who had money in savings bonds held by the Los Angeles Family Court, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times on April 26, 1998.

Karen Verros at left with members of the Young Americans, 1966.

The Lady Birds “Sweets for My Sweet” / “Why Must I Be Lonely” on M.P.I.

The Lady Birds featured in the Los Angeles Times, December 13, 1964
The Lady Birds featured in the Los Angeles Times, December 13, 1964
The Lady Birds came from Fullerton in Orange County, CA. Members were:

Lois White – lead guitar
Marilyn Read – rhythm guitar
Sharon Acree – bass
Dede Bagby – drums

From a comment by Marilyn Read on my Wickwire discography, this is the same Lady Birds who made the 1964 single on Wickwire 45-13010, “A Girl Without a Boy” / “To Know Him Is to Love Him”.

Lady Birds M.P.I. 45 Sweets for My SweetThe Lady Birds cut this version of “Sweets for My Sweet” backed with an original by Marilynn Read [sic] “Why Must I Be Lonely”, released on M.P.I. 45-6501/45-6502 circa 1965. “H” stamped into the runout indicates a pressing from RCA’s Hollywood plant.

Ralph Hinds produced the record. Dodson – Heumann, two names I’m not familiar with, did the arrangements. Dorothy Music Publ. Co. published Marilyn Read’s original song.

The Los Angeles Times featured a photo and article on the group on December 13, 1964.

Lady Birds M.P.I. 45 Why Must I Be LonelyThe article quotes Miss Sybl Acree “adviser to the group” who wrote to Mrs. Lyndon Johnson asking permission to use the name Lady Bird for the group and received a reply from Bess Abell, social secretary for the White House.

“How flattered she (Mrs. Johnson) was to learn of the name you chose for your group. Mrs. Johnson’s name is in the public domain and for this reason you may name your group the Lady-Birds. The White House, however, does not officially grant this permission.

“Please know you have Mrs. Johnson’s best wishes for much success in your endeavor.”

The combo is made up of Lois White, 18, lead guitar, a graduate last June from Glendora High School; Marilyn Read, 17, rhythm guitar, senion at Fullerton Union Hight School; Sharon Acree, 14, bass, 8th grade student at Fullerton’s Nicolas Junior High School; and Dede Bagby, 18, drums, sophomore at Fullerton Junior College.

Vern Acree of Fullerton, father of Sharon, and Jim White of Azusa are co-managers of the foursome…

Their first album, “Come Fly With Us,” will be released soon, according to Acree.

Next date in the county for the quartet is Dec. 19 when they will perform for the Fullerton Teen Center’s annual Christmas event.

The group continued at least into 1966. On September 6, 1966, the Van Nuys News ran a photo of Sharon Acree with national guardsmen from Camp Roberts where the Lady Birds performed with Johnny Rivers, “who is private in Headquarters Company of Division’s 2nd Battalion.”

Sharon Acree would join her brother Dirk Acree in the Heathens, who backed John English III on his great single on Sabra (probably before Sharon was in the group).

Marilyn Read would join the Regents in 1966.

The great Hollywood a Go Go site has more photos of the Lady Birds.

This was not the Ladybirds trio from the UK who had a 1964 US 45 on Atco, “Lady Bird” / “Memories; and definitely NOT the Ladybirds from New Jersey that played topless at the Blue Bunny Club in Hollywood, and other locations.

Thee Society “That Girl” / “Determined Mind” on Revolvo

Thee Society Revolvo 45 Determined MindI don’t know if Thee Society were a working band or a studio group. They released only one single, “That Girl” / “Determined Mind” on Revolvo RV-45-217, probably in 1968 or 1969, out of Hollywood, CA.

The A-side is pop, the flip a stomping dance number. E. Nagatoshi wrote both sides, published by Earthquake Music, like other later Revolvo releases.

Not much to go on, but I found a copyright registration to Edward Nagatoshi for a song “We’ll Live On” from February 1966. I’m not sure if this was recorded or if Ed Nagatoshi had any other involvement in music.

Revolvo released a good psychedelic 45 by the Glass Managerie [sic] “End of the Line” / “Troubled Mind” that I’d like to know more about. Dennis Hardy wrote both songs.

Grayson Izumi of Beaudry Express, who commented below, added in a message to me that Thee Society had three vocalists including John Hubbard, and David Akiyama on keyboards. He also recommends the book Chronicles of a Sansei Rocker by Harry Manaka.

The Truths “Pending” / “Why” on Circle Records

Truths Circle 45 PendingThe Truths made this one fine Byrds-influenced 45, “Pending” / “Why” on Circle Records 45-953, in August 1965.

Roy Harris wrote “Pending”, and co-wrote “Why” with James Pettey, with publishing by Chu-Fin Music, Inc.

I can find almost no info on the group online. I’ve read the band came from Riverside, California. However, the Playground Recording Studio site notes:

Playground Studios originally built and completed in 1969 by Finley Duncan is located in the heart of old downtown Valparaiso, Florida.

It was the home of Minaret Records, Turrett Records, Choctaw and Circle Records.

Playground also administers Chu-Fin Music.

“Pending” charted on WNVY in Pensacola, Florida.

Roscoe Mitchell and Malachi Favors Maghostut / Horace Tapscott and Roberto Miranda at James Moore Theater, October 16, 1993

Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut, Horace Tapscott, Roberto Miranda at the James Moore Theater, Oakland Museum, October 16, 1993 ticket stub

I came across this ticket stub for a “Double-Up” concert produced by Koncepts Cultural Gallery on October 16, 1993 at the James Moore Theater in the Oakland Museum. The concert featured two duos, Roscoe Mitchell & Malachi Favors Maghostut; and Horace Tapscott & Roberto Miranda.

I can still hear Roscoe playing the soprano sax (or was it sopranino) without pause using circular breathing.

I’m posting this in the hope that photos or a recording of the event exists.

The Venus Flytrap “The Note” / “Have You Ever” on Jaguar Records and Mijji

Venus Flytrap Redwood City Tribune August 3, 1967
The Venus Flytrap came from Redwood City, CA. Info on the group is a scattershot, so I’ve decided to compile what I’ve found in the hope of getting more information.

Venus Flytrap Jaguar 45 Have You Ever

They made one great single, “The Note” / “Have You Ever”, released on two different labels.

The original release came on Jaguar Records J-103, owned by Barry Wineroth. It was a hit in the Santa Barbara area, but the band also had a following in the South Bay, which may be why Mijji repressed it on Mijji M-3005, adding a production credit to Gilbert Day, drummer with the Bundles.

The Redwood City Tribune announced the release of the single on August 3, 1967, but copyright registration came later. Both songs have words by Don Danielli (not sure of the spelling – Donald Danelli ?), and music by Dan Sanchez, copyrighted on April 15, 1968 with publisher by Wren Music BMI, and again a week later with new publisher Guard Music BMI, part of Golden State Recorders.

Venus Flytrap Mijji 45 The NoteAt the time of the single, the Venus Flytrap members were:

Nancy Morgan – lead singer
Peter Sessions – lead guitar
Dan Sanchez – rhythm guitar
Ken Czapkay – bass
Debbie Binetti – drums

Bard Dupont of the Outfit replaced Ken Czapkay when he was drafted, and Michele Sevryn replaced Nancy Morgan shortly before the band split.

The Venus Flytrap after the single: from left: Bard Dupont, Debbie Binetti, Pete Sessions, Nancy Morgan and Dan Sanchez

The Venus Flytrap recorded two other songs, “California” and “Gentle Breaker” at Pacific Recording Studios in San Mateo, with Karen Jenson on backup vocals.

Venus Flytrap Redwood City Tribune, August 22, 1969

There is also a live recording from Redwood City (which I have not heard) with a different lineup: Nancy Morgan and Dan Sanchez joined by Jacque Aknin on drums, Charles J. Ashton on bass and Ralph Pena on organ. Songs include “Whiskey Train”, “Paraphenalia” and “Brand New Dress”.

The group played many venues in the area, including the Mt. Carmel Teen Club on December 1, 1967 with the Mourning Reign, and Light show by the Brothers Grimley. I can find notices for the band’s shows as late as May, 1970.

Darline Elswick, Bonnie Borelli and Marge Boutwell headed fan clubs for the group.

Members would join other groups such as the Great Society, Phoenix, New Generation, and Howl & the Raven.

Nancy Morgan (now Nancy Coggins) sent a pdf with b&w collages of photos, business cards etc. Hopefully the originals will be located for better quality images. There’s also a somewhat blurry photo around of Peter Sessions and Nancy Morgan standing in front of the hieroglyphics wall of the Matrix.

The Bay Area Bands site reprints Alec Palao’s article on Bard Dupont from Cream Puff War No. 2, February 1993.

Nancy Morgan was no longer in the Venus Flytrap by the time of this May 29, 1970 article in the Tribune for the People Helping People festival in San Mateo, with Smoke, Clover, and Cousin Roberts and Friends, plus the Illegitimate Theatre.

Fenwyck with Jerry Raye / Cal Raye on DeVille Records

Jerry Raye Fenwyck - Away, I'm Spinning DeVille Records, Hit Talents, Aldo Distributors promo sheet

I found these promo sheets for Jerry Raye with Fenwyck on DeVille Records. Jerry Raye has a long and complex story. He started his career as Cal Raye, with about half a dozen singles on various labels. The fabulous “I Cry” on Runay RY-101/111 from 1966 would be reissued as Jerry Raye on DeVille.

The band Fenwyck came from Arcadia, California, just east of Pasadena. Members at one point included:

Pat Robinson – vocals and guitar
Pat Maroshek – bass
Keith Knighter – drums

The Monrovia CA Daily News-Post mentioned “Fenwyck”, “the Fenwyck Combo” and “Fenwyck’s Band” three times between August and December, 1965, including at the Citrus College Homecoming in November 1965.

The Los Angeles Times mentions Fenwyck playing a month-long battle of the bands at Pacific Ocean Park (POP), against the Grope, the Ives of Redwing, the Debris, the Tyfoo Five, Me and the Rest, the Quool “and hundreds of others”.

Fenwyck backed Jerry Raye on six songs released over four singles on DeVille, Challenge, and Progressive Sounds of America. Fenwyck are pictured on the album The Many Sides of Jerry Raye.

The back cover credits other musicians, including Jerry Cole, Ernie Freeman, and “the all-time personal friend from his hometown, Bristol, Rhode Island, Kenny Marshall”.

Considering “Mindrocker” is one of the iconic songs from this time period, I surprised I can’t find any detailed information on these sessions or Fenwyck.

In the 1970s, Pat Robinson formed Back Pocket with Patrick Maroshek, who also played with Hardchoir.

Patrick Robinson cut some solo 45s and worked with Gene Clark on Under The Silvery Moon and So Rebellious a Lover.

Besides Fenwyck, Raye also cut a couple DeVille singles with another band called the New Trend. Pete Apodeca wrote “Pray for Me” and also helped write “Children” / “Comin’ Back” for Pete Martin and the Features, also on DeVille. Tom Quilty wrote “I’ll Wait”.

A TV clip from circa 2011 has Cal crooning a couple numbers, mentioning he lived in Hollywood seven years, and that he appeared in a couple movies including Monte Walsh with Lee Marvin and Jack Palance.

Cal Raye advertising in the Tennessean, March 27, 1978

After leaving Los Angeles, Jerry Raye cut a few additional singles based in Nashville. He returned to the Cal Raye name with other records, “Sensuous Woman” on Laurie maybe his biggest seller.

Hit Talents letter from Charles W. Cabot accompanying Jerry Raye and Fenwyck promo sheets to Joe Dimaggio’s Restaurant in Houston
Cal had one LP You Tell Such Lovely Lies that has the DeVille Records name on the front cover, but may not have been connected to the Hollywood company.

He seems to have ended up in Florida in the 2000s. The Cal Raye Connection Trio played at the Top O’ Mast in Fort Myers, and Cal Raye ran karaoke nights in Orlando.

The Hit Talents letter of August, 1969 to Sam Dimaggio in Houston seems to be looking for investment in return for pressing, distribution and/or promotion. This Joe Dimaggio’s Restaurant was not connected to the baseball player, by the way.

Charles W. Cabot is Chuck Cabot, whose true last name may have been Charles Cascoles. Chuck was a band leader and vocalist, owner of Hit Talents and either owner or A&R man of DeVille Records.

Jerry Raye Fenwyck - State of Mind, Mind Rocker DeVille Records and 4 Star Music promo sheet

Pat ‘n’ Al – “I’m Still in Love” / “Meant to Love” on Pleasure Records

Pat 'n Al Pleasure 45 Meant to LovePat ‘n’ Al were Pat Bowers and Al Hittle, with Steve Marley on drums and Jim Gonzales on guitar. Al Hittie and Pat Bowers wrote both songs on their single, “I’m Still in Love” / “Meant to Love” released on Pleasure Records 45-1050, with Sunnyvale, Calif on the label.

Bowers Music published the songs, with copyright registered by Patrick D. Bowers and Alvin R. Hittle on October 4, 1965.

There is some incorrect information on the internet that this is a stereo record from 1968. It is a mono record, and the date was probably late 1965 to match the publishing.

The Las Gatos Times-Saratoga Observer on March 5, 1965:

Young performers from area high schools will have their turn to appear in the Villa Montalvo Carriage House Theatre March 12 and 13. The cultural center’s drama committee will present “A Folk Festival”, featuring local folk singers and instrumentalists … Pat Bowers and Al Hittle, Buchser High School, will sing many of their own songs.

Steve Marley commented on youtube:

This was recorded in 1965 at Pacific Recorders in San Francisco. The instrumentals were put down live and just the vocals were overdubbed. Pat Bowers, Jim Gonzales and Steve Marley (me) attended Santa Clara High School together. Pat, Al and Jim were seniors, while I was a kid freshman. Pat n’ Al played regularly at Ricardo’s Pizza in Willow Glen in the summer of 1966.

After Pat n’ Al, I joined a couple of other bands, before landing the Teddy and his Patches gig in 1967 – the year we recorded “Suzy Creamcheese” at Tiki Studios in San Jose.

One note though – Pacific Recording Studios in San Mateo did not open until 1968. The runout code CR-2711/2-RE suggests the group went to Coast Recorders at 960 Bush St. That code could also mean the single was recorded elsewhere but mastered at Coast.

Commercial Recorders at 149 Natoma St. is another possibility. Engineer Dan Healy recorded his friends’ bands after hours by invitation. During the day the studio was busy producing radio ads, but did record and master some garage singles like the Ethix “Bad Trip” / “Skins” on Mary Jane.

In November 1965, Patrick David Bowers and Alvin Robert Hittle registered three additional songs, “Why, Oh Why?”, “Yes I Do” and “You Say”. Alec Palao tells me there is another, folkier, Pat ‘n’ Al single, which I have not seen yet.

After leaving Teddy and His Patches, Steve Marley and David Conway would record another single as The Change: “The Time Traveler” / “Things Aren’t What They Seem to Be” on Chance 670.

I am not sure if Pat Bowers, Al Hittle or Jim Gonzales continued in music.

Thank you to Alec Palao for help with this post.

The Electric Tomorrow “Sugar Cube” on World Pacific, Clem Floyd, and the Sound Machine on Canterbury

The Electric Tomorrow World Pacific 45 The Electric TomorrowThe Electric Tomorrow single is one of only two record credits I can find on musician Clem Floyd. The Electric Tomorrow was likely a studio concoction from early 1966. At the time Clem was a member of the Sound Machine, a group in the middle of the mid-’60s Los Angeles music scene.

Clem Floyd and Jack Millman co-wrote “Sugar Cube” and “The Electric Tomorrow”. Both are captivating instrumentals, despite an odd warble that could be considered a defective tape transfer. Dan Daniels did “sound coordination”, perhaps manipulating the tape to give these songs their strange sound.

Jack Millman and B. Elder “of Music Industries” produced the single for Banyan Productions, released on World Pacific Records 77860.

I can find no listing of musicians on the single, nor do I know if Clem Floyd played on it.

B. Elder and Dan Daniels also have credit for sound coordination on the Mira LP New Directions of the Afro Blues Quintet Plus One, also recorded in 1966. Jack Millman produced three cuts on that album, which has special effects credited to David Diller. Some of the cuts on the album have a passing resemblance to the Electric Tomorrow single, such as “Incantations” and portions of “3/4-5/4-7/2 (Liquid Landscape)” and “Freaks”.

The Afro Blues Quintet Plus One included Joe DeAguero, Jack Fulks, William Henderson, Jim Keltner, Michael Davis, Norman Johnson and Moises Obligacion. It’s possible some of these musicians play on the Electric Tomorrow single.

BMI’s database also lists “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” published by Irving Music, and another collaboration with Jack Millman, “Minute Freakout”.

Sound Machine Canterbury 45 Gotta Ease My MindThe Sound Machine had one single: “Gotta Ease My Mind” / “Spanish Flash” on Canterbury C-511 from March, 1967. Clem wrote both songs and Gerald Curland (who has no other credits I know of) produced.

In Hollywood Eve, published 2019, Lili Anolik describes Clem Floyd as band mate to David Crosby in an unnamed group, and also as part of the Sound Machine with John Densmore. The book has more detail about Clem’s relationship with Mirandi Babitz (sister of Eve Babitz) and their leather clothes business, but nothing further about Clem’s music.

In the July 29, 1966 Los Angeles Free Press, Jerry Hopkins mentioned “Clem Floyd’s newly reorganized Sound Machine” opening for the Factory and the Mothers of Invention, in a review of the Great Underground Arts Masked Ball and Orgy (GUAMBO).

In late 1966, Mojo Navigator #11 mentioned the reorganized Sound Machine with “Gary Marker, formerly of the Rising Sons on bass”.

Grant Johnson played keyboards with the Sound Machine around the same time he was part of the Psychedelic Rangers with John Densmore, Robby Krieger, and Billy Wolff.

On his website, Bruno Ceriotti mentions the Sound Machine playing an after-hours show at Dave Hull’s Hullabaloo on January 14, 1967.

That is all the info I can find on Clem Floyd and the Sound Machine to this point.

“The Train” / “You Put Me Down” on San Mateo’s Action Records is a different Sound Machine altogether, with Wayne Ceballos (later of Aum) on guitar, Ty Tolomei playing organ, and Lee Better on drums.

Special thank you to Mike Dugo for pointing out the Sound Machine single I had missed. Info on Wayne Ceballos from Hooterollin’ Around.