Category Archives: Clarksburg

Categories: Bridgeport, Centennial, Clarksburg, Unknown, West Virginia

The Magnums on Centennial of Bridgeport, West Virginia

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Magnums Centennial 45 One of These DaysThe Magnums had one release of R&B sounds dense with echo, both originals by Charles Collins. “One of These Days” is the uptempo side, while “Two People Against the World” is the slow ballad. Can’t tell you anything more about the band at this time.

Released as Centennial 45-1863-2, the King pressing dates it to 1964. Panhandle Pub. Co. handled the publishing, as it did for the New Mason Dixons’ single “Back Up” / “Totaled” (both by Sam Follo) on Centennial 45-1863-1. Centennial’s address was 217 Blackwell St., Bridgeport, West Virginia.

There’s also a Centennial 45-1863-3, Pee Wee & the Prophets “Let’s Work” / “Tell Me”, with the address changed to Clarksburg.

Categories: Clarksburg, Raven (Clarksburg), West Virginia

The Esquires (on Raven)

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Here’s a strange 45 by one of the many groups calling themselves the Esquires. One side is a ballad and the other a decent garage number, but neither one should be considered essential listening.

I wonder how many lyricists had passed on rhyming “make life brighter” with “like a zippo lighter” before the Esquires wrote it into the top side ballad “What Made You Change Your Mind”.

Better is the flip, “Boo Hoo Hoo”, where the band has a good stop-and-start rhythm going.

Oddly, both sides have been altered to fill out their run time. It appears that the band turned in performances of about one and a half minutes on each of these songs. The engineer deftly repeats sections to extend each closer to the three minute mark. This is especially noticeable on “Boo Hoo Hoo”, where a drum fill introduces a section that is repeated four times in the song.

Dick Welch wrote both sides, and publishing is by Pat Chipps for Panhandle Music.

I knew nothing about the band until Dick Welch commented below, so I’ll repeat it here:

This Raven label was located in Clarksburg, West Virginia in the late 60′s. I wrote both sides of this record and played guitar. It was a four track studio. I also recorded a record there with a group called Them Prodigals.

Them Prodigals’ 45 is “Icing Too” / “Cake Time”, released in February 1968 at Raven 101.

This Raven label is distinct from the Danville, VA label that released the Individuals “I Want Love” / “I Really Do” and the Lost Souls “For You” / “Minds Expressway” 45s.

Anyone have a photo of the group, or know the names of the other members?