Soulbody “I See You Crying” on Vintage

Here’s a 45 by a group called Soulbody that I’m curious about. I don’t own a copy, but was alerted to this by Mike Hadenfeldt who found one with an address label from a suburb of Los Angeles. Mike reports the following info on the labels:

Vintage Records (A Chess Recording) WJZ 51147
“I See You Crying” / “Then Came The Winter”
Both songs written by Bill Zurowski
Both sides have a date of 1966 under “BMI”

Deadwax info:

“I See You Crying”: F1191 WJZ 51147-2 (no dashes [just spaces] between groups of digits except the last one)

“Then Came The Winter”: F1190-WJZ-51477-1 (dashes between all groups of digits)

Band member Bill Zurowski put the video on Youtube (listing the band name as two words, “Soul Body”) and gave me some background on the band:

We were a band made up of Milwaukee and Chicago musicians in the mid 60’s. We recorded 2 songs at Chess Records in Nov 1966. We recorded in the historic studio where all the hits of the Chess artist were recorded, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Water, Howlin Wolf, Little Walter and Willie Dixon etc. Doug Brand was the engineer. Doug was Chess’s main engineer. We used Fender black faced amps and a Gibson fuzz tone (that’s what Richards used on Satisfaction); my guitar was an ES 335.

I asked Bill if the band ever had their original tape or demo pressed to 7″ 45 vinyl, but have not heard from him yet.

The song sounds like a ’60s recording, but I’m almost certain this is not a ’60s pressing. The fonts on the label point to a graphic style from a later period, and the label name “Vintage” also suggests a later issue. Not to mention a stereo pressing for a private 45 would be extreme unlikely in 1966. Mike Markesich suggested the five digit number code could be a 70s Universal pressing.

Also, despite the labels saying “BMI” and “1966”, Mike Markesich could not find a copyright listing for the writer or song titles from 1964-1972.

14 thoughts on “Soulbody “I See You Crying” on Vintage”

  1. Bill and I both wrote those songs in my parents basement. We recorded them at Chess on 2120 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago. How did it start? Bill was a wannabe and followed my Band the Coachmen. Eventually, he learned hw to play Guitar. He was working with me in the basement of my parents house and hit a lick and I filled in with I See You Cryin’ The words and Music came out. Then came the Winter was the same thing. He was tuning his Guitar and I came in with my Guitar and the words. We tweaked it but most of that song is mine. It really doesn’t matter. Not now. I just wish Bill the best.

    1. Hi Joe,

      Was the record pressed just after recording, or years later? Do you have any photos from that time, either of you and Bill or the Coachmen?

      Thanks

      1. Leonard didn’t like me. I’m a Jew and so was he. Leonard didn’t like white musicians. Willie Dixon however liked me and I did several sessions as s studio musician at Chess. I think ARC was the publishing company. The record was pulled after a few weeks due to low sales. I have photo’s of the Coachmen. We actually produced our first record which was recorded in my parents basement! We made a LOT of money by self producing! Bill has not returned my calls. It’s not the money. There is no money in records by the band. I’m just dismayed why I didn’t get even half credit for songs I wrote most of the words and some of the music.

  2. Good evening! I just found this website and recording and after I came out of shock that this recording still existed, I believe it is time to set the record (no pun intended) straight.

    The band “Soul Body” was from Genoa City, WI, a small town of 700 people just south of Lake Geneva, WI an hour southwest of Milwaukee. It was formed by three childhood friends, Bob & Fred Ingiald, and Rich Watson, all from Genoa City. Lynn Aavang from Woodstock, IL, joined the group early in its beginning in 1963-64. The band was known as “The Chozen Few” in its early days playing often at Majestic Hills Bandstand many times during the mid 60’s as well as throughout Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.

    During this period the Chicago Garage Band scene became bigger and better than ever. Some of the groups actually became famous and had national hits. The Buckinghams, Cryin Shame, Chicago, Ides of March, Shadows of Knight, to name a few were all part of this crazy scene as were we. However, we did perform more in the Southern Wisconsin area, but did play with many of these Chicago bands at one time or another at some local bandstand location that were all over the area in those days.

    Sometime in 1965 Bill Zurowski from Greendale, WI, joined the band at which time we renamed it “Soul Body”, getting more and more into blues and original music. In, I believe, November of 1966 we had the opportunity to record two of our original songs at the world famous Chess Records Studio in Chicago, IL. To my knowledge nothing ever happened with the recordings. If you didn’t know somebody and had the right connections to get air time on the very influential AM Chicago radio stations, your record would go nowhere.

    However, it now seems that Bill seems to have made vinyl 45’s of our two songs and attempted to get them on the air. To the best of my knowledge neither of these songs, and certainly the actual recordings were never registered, BMI????

    The band, like so many in those days, broke up for ???? reasons in the summer of 1967. The four of us, minus Bill, kept close for years. Bill disappeared off into the sunset never to be heard from again…. until now!

    Whatever is posted on this website is NOT true! Bill was the primary lyrics author, but I collaborated extensively with him modifying the lyrics to get what is the recorded copy on this site. (I have an earlier version done in a local recording studio to prove that this is our song.)

    The musical arrangement is as much, or more the work of the band as a whole, NOT Bill’s original arrangement!

    I was the lead singer in the group. And that, for better or worse, was me and band SOUL BODY on this recording attached to this website and on You Tube.

    I would certainly entertain further discussion and comments. Feel free to view my Facebook page, Richard Watson. I just posted two of our band pictures. For those of you that care to learn the truth, I have more information on Facebook.

    Thank you for whoever posted this website. After almost 48 years since our Sunday afternoon at Chess Records in Chicago, it brought back many, many great memories!

    God bless y’all!

    Rich Watson, Lake Wales, FL
    Lead Singer, The 1960’s band SOUL BODY

    1. Thank you Rich. You made it very clear. You know that I wrote in congress with Bill and actually played drums on Then Came The Winter. What makes me sad is that I am not given credit on the songs written in my parents basement.

  3. 6-13-2015
    My copy of this 45 is now for sale on ebay through a large volume seller from Wisconsin.
    Mike

    1. Hi Mike,

      I believe it was your copy that was for sale on eBay. Are from the St. Paul, MN area? The person who had the 45 for sale told me he had it on consignment for a guy he used to work with. I told him I’d give him $35-$40 for the record, not the $350-400 he had it listed at. (I can’t remember the exact amount.)
      I’d love to talk to you on how you found the record, where, when, etc. Feel free to contact me via email.
      Thanks.
      Rich

      1. Rich, I have no idea where the Soulbody 45 came from other than to say it likely was here in Minnesota. Have not purchased record lots off ebay for over 10 years and only did that a couple of times.

        I am in the Minneapolis area. The 45 was sold to a customer in a record store in Milwaukee when the person selling it for me went there with the record.

        I have never seen another copy of this 45 on or off line.

        Mike

  4. June 15, 2017 – Said news… One of our founding members and rhythm player, Fred Ingiald, passed away last week. Fred was 73 years old. Fred was our band leader and one super guy! He was like my big brother and loved by many. Rest in peace my friend.
    Rich Watson

  5. I recently came upon this site and the issue of this record. I’m the one who knows how it came to be. Let me explain. Bill Zurowski did not disappear off into the sunset. Bill and I were married in 1967 after all this band stuff took place. For years I heard his side of the events and I have read the accounts of the individuals here. I’m sure the truth is somewhere in the middle….I really don’t care. I realize being able to have a recording session at Chess Records was a big deal for “the band”. I know Bill thought so. As stated in the comments here, nothing came from it, no record contract, no fame. Just memories and dreams of what could have been. Bill had a copy of the original recording and, no, I don’t know where it is or if it still exists. One year, in the 1980’s, I don’t remember the exact year, I thought it would be “fun” to have a 45 made of the two songs as a birthday present for Bill. I found a guy in the Yellow Pages (remember those) who agreed to make, or press, whatever you call it, the record. He said we would need a label. Our children and myself looked at other labels as reference and came up with the label as is appears. Honestly, I cannot believe anyone would take what is on the label seriously. Since the music was from the 60’s the kids considered that “vintage”…thus the name of the label. The “number code” is Bill’s birthday and the WJZ are his initials. The “Billy Hi-Fi Music” was just silliness from them. The label is NOT real, we made it up as a birthday present. To the individual who felt his name should have been included in the “credits”…it wasn’t a present for you.

    I only wanted one copy of this record but the guy had a minimum of 100, so I had to get 100. Bill did not share our enthusiasm for his present and the records sat in the box they came in for years. I don’t think we were even able to play one, we didn’t have a record player that would play 45’s. At one point I took some to use as table decorations for a Gala fundraiser. It was a rock & roll theme and we used them for table numbers. We made new labels and stuck them on and hot glued them to sticks. Believe me, they could not have been used for anything after that. They were thrown in the trash after the event. The rest that I had were in my garage until I moved in 2013 at which time I threw them away. They are in a landfill somewhere.

    If there is one floating around perhaps it was one that the guy who made the records had. Maybe he kept one. I’m thinking this because it was stated that it had our address on it. He did mail them to me. Perhaps he closed his business and what he had transferred hands. I don’t know this as a fact, I’m just speculating.

    These records were never meant for the public. To my knowledge they were never promoted, distributed or offered for sale by us. To my knowledge no money was generated or earned by us. These were made for our personal use. If the one that exists was being sold, I had no knowledge or any part of that.

    The information I am sharing is in regards to the record as it is shown above, with that label. Any other use of the songs in any other form or in any other format I have no information about.

    I don’t know any of the individuals who have commented here, but I hope this puts to rest, regarding this record, the resentment and conspiracy theory that this was done behind anyone’s back for gain.

    1. Christine, your husband Bill was my guitar teacher when he was still in greendale high school. My sister Jane hooked us up. Bills enthusiasm for music lit the fire inside me. I have such great memories from this time in my life . Started a band in 7th grade and stuck with it through high school. I’ve left a message on Bill’s Facebook page, but no response. In my eyes, Bill was a guitar God. Wished I could’ve enjoyed many more years together. I still play almost everyday for my own enjoyment. Please give Bill my “best regards”.

  6. Hi Christine,
    Thank you very much for your explanation on the record. Your story is pretty much what I had heard previously. I have had some communication with Bill the last couple of years regarding the band and the record. FYI – I’m Rich Watson, lead singer, harmonica player, founding member of the band.
    Thanks again for sharing the history of the record.
    Rich Watson

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