The Sandmen

Sandmen Studio City 45 I Can TellCalling themselves the Sandmen was the right move, ’cause you’re likely to be hit with a wave of sleepiness while listening to these dragging versions of “I Can Tell” and “You Can’t Judge a Book by Looking at the Cover.” They managed to make Bo Diddley tunes sound boring twice in one session. Should have laid off the cough syrup before hitting the studio!

I’m sure I’m being too harsh – I know some people like this 45, so judge for yourself. Cut on the Minneapolis, Minnesota Studio City label in 1965.

Almost certainly not the same Sandmen from West Bend, Wisconsin, who cut the excellent World Full of Dreams on Night Owl.

0 thoughts on “The Sandmen”

  1. C’mon Chas, ain’t nothing amiss about The Sandmen’s You Can’t Judge A Book. The guitarist twangs and solos real boss, and the drummer moves right along, doing a fill now and then, and the singer does a decent Mick Jagger impersonation without doing an Al Jolson routine and that was typical of beat group singers at the time. Ain’t nothing wrong. Ok, maybe they could’ve picked up the tempo with some energy courtesy of Mr Pharmacist. Now, if at least one of the Sandmen happened to be a virtuoso musician he was most surely slumming here but in this situation given all the conditions virtuosity was uncalled fo(u)r and wasnt’ where it was at.

    As for I Can Tell, you’re closer to the mark there, as it’s definitely not the best beat version of that swaggering Bo ripper. And yes, you’re right, The Rolling Stones put down The Zephyrs’ version on the telly, and The Sandmen’s version is not even as good as The Zephyrs (who, yes you’re right, fellow hangover person, included one of the early British longhairs).

    But again, You Can’t Judge A Book ain’t that bad. It’s boss, hoss, it ain’t trash.

  2. I wonder if someone out there can help me. Back in the 1960s–as a child–I had a 45 rpm record on the Studio City label. I got it in a grab-bag–as they were called–from the Woolworth store in Ashland, Wisc. I am searching for another copy of it–the copy I had somehow got “lost” through the years. Sure am sorry that is the case because I like the two songs on this 45 so much: LONELY SUMMER and YOU’RE STILL IN MY HEART. I have no idea what the Studio City label number is nor who the artists were. Only that these were the songs on that 45. They sounded like folk music, esp. You’re Still In My Heart. Please, is there someone out there who can help me with this? Even if I can get the artists’ names. Or the Studio City label number. I’ve searched–literally–for decades. Nothing has shown on eBay, although who knows?? One day a copy could appear. Please email if you have any information on this 45. RLBENNEY@comcast.net. Thanks so much . . . Russell Benney, Battle Creek, Mich.

  3. I’ve neither seen nor heard the record, but my discographies database has “You’re Still in My Heart” on the Studio City label, by The Country Kids.

  4. Thank you, thank you for this information. Okay, The Country Kids. At least I have that much to go on. And someone now has verified this for me. I only just now found your reply. Thanks again, you’ve made my day. Russ Benney, Battle Creek, MI

  5. Finally getting to comment on this site after being a long-time lurker. Well, to be fair the Sandmen could stand to use more energy in their performances, but this isn’t as boooooooring as the Keymen, for instance, who stunk up one of those Green Crystal Ties volumes with their good-as-Valium covers of “Shop Around” and “Little Latin Lupe Lu”. I agree with the above comments. These songs may not be the best covers of each song, and perhaps the boys might have benefited from a coffee break before recording, but they’re quite passable. Also agree that the lead in “Can’t Judge A Book…” isn’t bad at all.

    Anyway, keep up the good work, Chas! This is a great place to counter-check the often dubious information on THAT other online garage rock reference…

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