The Sundowners: Baby Jane 1963

Teddy Toi, Bob Wynyard, Trixie Willoughby, Sonny Day, Lloyd Tangaio and Max Purdy

The Sundowners were formed in the late 1950’s in Auckland, New Zealand.  Originally called Sonny Day and the Sharks. They played a form of Rock and Roll that had yet to be influenced by The Beatles. They recorded three singles and an EP for local label Viking Records before signing to another Auckland label Zodiac Records in 1963. Released in the same year, Baby Jane was their second single for Zodiac. They release three more singles, one under name of Dave Henry and the Sundowners, before folding in 1964. They never recording an album. The song Baby Jane was also recorded by The Applejacks  a year after the Sundowners. The B-Side was a cover of the Little Richard’s gem Keep A Knockin’.

Produced by Dave Dunningham

Sonny Day                                  Guitar
Bob Wynyard                              Guitar
Teddy Toi                                      Bass
Max Purdy                                   Piano
Lloyd Tangaio                     Saxophone
Graeme 'Trixie' Willoughby        Drums

Baby Jane.mp3

Keep A Knockin'.mp3

Blues Magoos: (We Ain't Got) Nothing Yet 1967

Originally formed in The Bronx, New York in 1964 as The Trenchcoats. In 1966 they changed their name to Bloos Magoos, before settling on Blues Magoos. Their debut album (Psychedelic Lollipop) was released in 1966. Even though (We Ain’t Got) Nothing Yet was included on that album, it was not released as a single until 1967. Written by Ron Gilbert, Ralph Scala and Mike Esposito, it pecked at number 5 on the Billboard Top 100.  Gotta Get Away was the B-Side. Just over a year later, after releasing two more albums, they broke up.  But the band’s management and singer/guitarist Peppy Castro backed by various hired musicians kept the name alive until 1972. 

    It's fair to say Deep Purple’s 1970 hit, Black Knight owes a debit to (We Ain’t Got) Nothing Yet’s main riff.

Produced by Bob Wyld, Art Polhemus

Mike Esposito                 Guitar
Geoff Daking                 Drums
Ronnie Gilbert                  Bass
Peppy Castro      Vocals/Guitar
Ralph Scala        Organ/Vocals

(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet.mp3

Gotta Get Away.mp3

Chant R&B: I 'm Your Witchdoctor 1966

 

Chant R&B were formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1964. That same year they won a Battle Of The Bands contest at Addington Showgrounds. Their prize was time in a recording studio. They rarely played outside of Christchurch.  Only releasing two singles before moving to Australia and disbanding in 1967. I 'm Your Witchdoctor was their second single, like their first (I've Been Loving You Too Long) it was a cover.  It was written by John Mayal. At the time Witchdoctor was recorded the band included Australian Max Croke, who it turned out was really named Max Kelly and was a deserter from the Australian Air Force.

 

Produced by James Tomlin

Trevor Courtney                Drums
Michael Rudd         Guitar/Vocals
Martin Forrer                        Bass
Max Kelly                           Guitar

I 'm Your Witchdoctor

Neighbour Neighbour

The Creation: How Does It Feel To Feel 1968

In 1966, Cheshunt based Pop Art band The Mark Four changed their name to The Creation. Guitarist Eddie Phillips is credited as the first person to play his electric guitar using a violin bow. Jimmy Page, who later popularised the technique in Led Zeppelin, always cited Phillips as the inventor. By 1968 they started to introduce more psychedelic elements into their sound.  How Does It Feel To Feel was The Creation's sixth single. Released in Europe on Ploydor Records and in the US (with a different mix) on Decca Records. In the UK the B-Side was Tom Tom (released as an A-Side in German) but in the US it was Life Is Just Beginning.

Produced By Shel Talmy

Bob Garner               Vocals
Eddie Phillips             Guitar
Jack Jones               Drums
Kim Gardner                Bass

How Does It Feel To Feel
Tom Tom

Poster For Mr. Lee Grant's Farewell Concert 1968

Mr Lee Grant was a huge Pop star in New Zealand in the mid 1960’s. His real name was Bogdan Kominowski. He was born to Polish parents in a Nazi concentration camp just outside Dusseldorf. Sadly, his father didn’t survive the war. Bogdan and his mother emigrated to Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1949. Using the stage name Mr Lee Grant he had six New Zealand top ten singles including three number ones. In 1968 at the hight of his popularity he decided to leave New Zealand and try his luck in Britain. This poster is from his farewell concert. In Britain his pop star career ended quickly. He ended up moving into musical theatre. He did have a small part in the James Bond film "A View To A Kill". In which he played a Russian. 

The Pretty Things: Talking About The Good Times 1968

In 1967 the legendary wild men of the British Blues movement, The Pretty Things, sign to a new label (EMI's Columbia label). They took that opportunity to change their sound to a more Psychedelic one. Their first ‘Psychedelic’ single, Defecting Grey fail to chart. Talking About The Good Times was their second Columbia Records single. Unfortunately it also failed. Recorded at the beginning of the sessions for their S. F. Sorrow album. Although, neither it or the B-Side Walking Through My Dreams appeared on the concept album.

Produced by Norman Smith

Dick Taylor                 Guitar
Phil May                    Vocals
John Povey                Organ
Wally Waller                 Bass
John Charles Alder     Drums

Talking About The Good Times 

Walking Through My Dreams

Pipp / The Fourmyula: Otaki 1970

Formed in Wellington’s Hutt Valley in 1967 The Fourmyula were one of New Zealand’s most successful bands. Ten of their fourteen singles reached the New Zealand Top 20. In 1969 at least one Fourmyula song was in the New Zealand chants every week of that year. Otaki was the last Fourmyula single to chart. It, and the B-Side Which Way Did She Go were written by Wayne Mason. To avoid confusion with a similar named British band The New Formula. They to released Otaki under the band name Pipp (a Danish word meaning 'mad') everywhere in the world bar New Zealand. Released on HMV Records in New Zealand, Decca Records in the UK/Europe and London Records in the U.S.A. Otaki is a town in the southern part of the North Island of New Zealand. Just up the Kapiti Coast from Wellington.

Produced by Chris Andrews

Martin Hope                     Guitar Vocals
Wayne Mason    Guitar / Organ / Vocals
Ali Richardson                 Bass / Vocals
Chris Parry                                 Drums

Otaki

Which Way Did She Go

Wimple Winch: Rumble On Mersey Square South 1967

Liverpool’s Wimple Winch originally formed 1964 as Dee Fenton & the Silhouettes, before changing their name to Four Just Men, then to Just Four Men. In 1966 their sound changed from MerseyBeat to a more Psychedelic Freckbeat sound. So, they changed their name once again, this time to Wimple Winch. They got a new manager, and record label (Fontana) and moved to Stockport. Rumble On Mersey Square South was their third and final single. Mersey Square South is in Stockport. Wimple Winch were the house band at The Sinking Ship nightclub, which was near the square. In 1967 they spilt up after all their band gear was destroyed by a fire at the The Sinking Ship and they where dropped by their label.

Dee Christopholus     Vocal/Guitar
John Kelman                      Guitar
Barry Ashall                         Bass
Larry King                          Drums

Rumble On Mersey Square South
Typical British Workmanship

Gary Walker & The Rain: Come In You’ll Get Pneumonia 1969

Gary Walker was the other Walker Brother. The former The Standells drummer Gary Leeds joined The Walker Brothers in late 1964 and there after became known as Gary Walker. After their demise in late 1967 he founded Gary Walker and The Rain. Come In You’ll Get Pneumonia was their second single. Released in 1969 on Philips. It was a cover of an Easybeats song. The B-Side, Francis was written by the band.

 

 

Gary Walker                             Drums
Joey Molland                            Guitar
Charles "Paul" Crane    Vocals/Guitar
John Lawson                               Bass

***Warning recorded from vinyl. A lot of Surface Noise.***

Come In, You'll Get Pneumonia

Francis 

As a bonus here's their first single Spooky

Spooky

All Night Workers: Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket 1965

During their time at Pickwick Records Lou Reed and John Cale worked on more that just the Primitives Do The Ostrich. They also wrote Why Don't You Smile. Which became the B-Side of the All Night Workers’ 1965 Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket single. All Night Workers were friends of Lou Reed from Syracuse, New York. They were also signed to Pickwick Records’ subsidiary Round Sound Records. The A-Side written by Bill Elmiger, was a regional hit and later a Northern Soul favourite. But the B-Side Why Don't You Smile is more of a drone.  Credited to Lou Reed, John Cale, Terry Philips, and Jerry Vance. It is not known if Cale or Reed played on the single. It was produced by Lee Harridan Productions.

Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket 

Why Don't You Smile

As a bonus here's the unreleased 1962 Bob Shed produced Merry Go ‘round. Listed as by Lewis Reed

Merry Go ‘round

Or here's all three as a .zip
All Night Workers & Lewis Reed

Four Fours: One Track Mind 1967

Four Fours were formed in Tauranga, New Zealand in 1958. Guitarist Dave Hartstone was a former Police cadet. They developed a large following around the Bay of Plenty area. Before achieving national success. Maurice Greer replaced original drummer Trevor Spitz in 1966. Greer was known for singing while playing the drums standing up. Their set list was a combination of originals and covers, as is this record. One Track Mind was written by the band and was their twelve and last single (They never recorded an album). The B-Side is Hawaii a Beach Boys cover. By the time this single was released in early 1967 the Four Fours had already moved on. They were on a boat going to Brittain and had changed their name to Human Instinct. Soon their whole sound and look would also change after seeing Cream and Jimi Hendrix in London.

Bill Ward                           Guitar
Dave Hartstone                 Guitar
Frank Hay                           Bass
Maurice Greer      Vocals/Drums

***Warning recorded from vinyl. Some Surface Noise***
One Track Mind
Hawaii

House Of Nimrod: Slightly-Delic 1967

When Auckland, New Zealand’s House of Nimrod released Slightly-Delic in October 1967 they had only been together for a couple of weeks. They only really knew two songs, Slightly-Delic and the B-Side Reflections Of Our Time. The single was a hit in Auckland. So the band got a set together and hit the road. The following year they released their second and final single Psychothartic. The band fell apart shortly after it was released. Both Slightly-Delic and Reflections Of Our Time were written by Bryce Peterson.

Producer  Bruce Barton

Bryce Peterson          Guitar / Vocals
Tony Pilcher                    Lead Guitar
John Breslin                             Guitar
Billy Lawton                            Drums
Larry Latimer                Bass / Vocals

***Warning recorded off of vinyl, surface noise and some clicks.***       
Slightly-Delic 
Reflections Of Our Time
 

The Clique: Sugar On Sunday 1969

 

The Clique were a band from Houston, Texas. Formed by record producer Gary Zekley in 1966. Although their recordings featured mainly session musicians Jerry Cope, Sid Templeton and Tommy Pena formed the core of the touring band. Sugar on Sunday was their third single. It was a cover of a Tommy James & the Shondells song.  It was released on White Whale Records in 1969 and reached number 22 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the highest chart position they ever reached. They released one album and several more singles before disbanding in 1972. The Clique might have stayed an obscure little known 60’s Texan band. But in 1986 a group form Athens, Georgia called R.E.M. covered the B-side of this single (I am Superman) and now The Clique are famous for that. Forever linked to R.E.M.

***Warning recorded off of vinyl. Surface Noise***

Sugar On Sunday

I am Superman

As a bonus, here's their first single. A cover of the 13th Floor Elevators Slash 1.

Splash 1 

Raw Meat: Stand By Girl 1972

First up, thanks to Glorify The Turd for this very obscure gem. Raw Meat released Stand Up Girl on the label Blue Hour. Which was a small Milwaukee based label. I ‘m not sure how but 1972 has been agreed on as its release date. And that’s all the information known about this release. Nothing is known about the group. To me they sound like a band waiting for Punk to happen. There’s energy, aggression and attitude. They play Garage Metal with intent. The middle eight has the strangest backing vocals I have ever heard. He sings la la la but it’s the way he sings it. Both songs are played with a lot of energy and swagger. Should be huge.

***Warning recorded off of vinyl. Surface Noise***
Stand By Girl
Out In The Country

The Original Barbara Ann : The Regents 1961

 

This is the original Barbara Ann later made famous by The Beach Boys. The Regents recorded their version in 1958 but it wasn't released until 1961. It was written by Fred Fasser, whose brother Chuck sang in the band. They were called The Regents because when they where choosing a name they were recording at Regent studios and lead singer Guy Villari smoked Regents cigarettes. They saw that as a sign.

Guy Villari                                 Lead
Sal Cuomo                      First Tenor 
Chuck Fassert            Second Tenor
Tony Gravagna           Sax, Baritone
Don Jacobucci                         Bass

***Warning recorded off of vinyl. Surface Noise***
The Regents - Barbara Ann

The Monks: Complication 1966

The Monks were one of those bands that were unlike any one else. In 1966 they had their hair cut very short with a tonsure (like real Monks). They wore nothing but black and had a noose for a necktie.  On top of that they had a "electrified banjo" player. They were also different in that they were not hippies they were ex-G.I.s. Original formed as the 5 Torquays, when all the members were stationed at the same U.S. Army base in Germany.  But they weren't red necks either. They were not a clean cut wholesome band and conservative was not a word used to describe The Monks.

 This is their 1966 debut single as The Monks (in 1964 they released There She Walks as The 5 Torquays). Complication was their take on the escalation of the Vietnam War. There’re no flowers in their hair. Fuzzbox guitars and lyrics about death and killing sung by some who knows what they’re talking about. The B-side was Oh, How To Do Now. 

Gary Burger                  Guitar, vocals
Larry Clark                   Organ, vocals
Dave Day                       Banjo, vocals
Eddie Shaw                     Bass,vocals
Roger Johnston            Drums vocals

Produced by Jimmy Bowien

Complications

Oh, How To Do Now

The Zombies: Whenever You're Ready 1965

Whenever You're Ready was The Zombies’ sixth single. It was written by singer/organist Rod Argent and bassist Chris White. Released in August 1965, exactly one year after the release of  their debut  single (She's Not There), and like the previous four singles it failed to chart. But the song on the B-side, I Love You (written solely by Chris White) had a life of its own. It was included on the Japanese version of the album The Zombies and it became a hit there and in The Philippines. In 1968 it was translated into Japanese by Kenji Sazanamias as Sukisa Sukisa Sukisa (好きさ好きさ好きさ) and recorded by Japanese band The Carnabeats. Who had a hit with it. A year later a cover by American band People! was a huge international hit. It reached number one in Japan, Israel, Australia, Italy, South Africa, and the Philippines. It also peaked at #14 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Since then it has been covered many times. It was been sung in Spanish and Portuguese, as well as, several versions in Japanese.

Colin Blunstone             lead vocals
Rod Argent                 organ, vocals
Paul Atkinson             guitar, vocals
Chris White                 bass, vocals
 Hugh Grundy                       drums

Whenever You're Ready

I Love You

As a bonus here's People!'s version of I Love You

People! - I Love You

Three Lost Singles From The 1960’s

Hugh Barrett & The Victors

There Was A Fungus Among Us

1961

In 1961 Chicago DJ Dick Biondi started using the phrase “there was a fungus among us” on his WLS radio show. It quickly became a favourite local schoolyard saying. Biondi had borrowed it from Terry Noland's 1958 song of the same name.  Chicago label Madison records saw an opportunity. They hired Hugh Barrett, Debbie and Sandy, and the some other local musicians to re-record it. It became a hit in the Chicago area. Thanks in part to Biondi's heavy promotion. First time I heard this, I thought The Cramps must have covered it, but I can’t find a version by them.

Hugh Barrett & The Victors - There Was A Fungus Among Us

The Poets

Now We're Thru

1964

The Poets were a Scottish band managed by Andrew Loog Oldham. Between 1964-67 they released six singles, but no albums. This is their 1964 debut single Now We’re Thru.

The Poets - Now We're Thru

The Soup Greens

Like A Rolling Stone

1965

This is the only record Brooklyn, New York’s The Soup Greens ever released. 1965’s Like A Rolling Stone. The song is a cover of half of a Bob Dylan song.  They don’t play the verses (too hard), for two and half minutes they just repeat the chorus over and over again with guitar brakes in between.

The Soup Greens - Like A Rolling Stone

The Parliaments: Heart Trouble 1965

The Parliaments were the precursor to Parliament, the George Clinton led 70’s funk band. This is the George Clinton led 60’s soul/doo-wop quintet. Heart Trouble was their third single. It was released in 1965 on Golden World Records.  Like the flipside (That Was My Girl), it was co-written by George Clinton and Sidney Barnes. A few years later George Clinton rewrote Heart Trouble as You Can't Miss What You Can't Measure for his other band Funkadelic, it appears on their 1973 Cosmic Slop album. The B-side, That Was My Girl, was also later reworked by George Clinton and features of Funkadelic’s 1972 double album America Eats Its Young.

George Clinton      vocals
Grady Thomas       vocals
Ray Davis              vocals
Fuzzy Haskins       vocals
Calvin Simon         vocals

Produced by George Clinton, Sidney Barnes, Mike Terry

Heart Trouble

That Was My Girl

As a bonus here's there biggest hit I Wanna Testify

I Wanna Testify 

Mighty Sparrow & Lord Creator: West Indies Federation 1962

In 1962 the short-lived West Indies Federation was dissolved after Jamaica decided on independence over federation. Many in the Caribbean though it was a case of sour grapes because Kingston wasn’t picked as the capital. The Jamaicans said it was because they wanted independence and The Federation was a financial burden on Jamaica. How do I know this? Through these two songs, both released in 1962. I knew nothing about the West Indies Federation or Jamaican independence until I heard these songs.
The first is Might Sparrow’s Federation. Trinidadian Might Sparrow was known as the "Calypso King of the World". He was clearly annoyed at the break up of The Federation and he layed the blame squarely on the shoulders of Jamaica.  Even going as far as to tell Jamaica “don’t behaviour like a blasted traitor”. The second track, Lord Creator’s Independent Jamaica, tells the story of Jamaican independence and how great it was to escape federation. It was officially adopted as Jamaica’s song to commemorate independence from Britain on 6 August 1962. It was the first release on the U.K. based label Island Records (Island 001).

Mighty Sparrow - Federation

Lord Creator - Independent Jamaica