The Shaggs: Bottom Left/Clockwise: Jim Gilliam/bass; Stan Burger (glasses)/drums; Perry Rouse/guitar and lead vocals, bottom center; Roy Rouse, guitar and lead vocals; Doug Preston/lead guitar, right corner In March 2024—ironically, on the 50th anniversary of the release of the Phantom’s Divine Comedy effort—we received an email from drummer Stan Burger, in response to our March 2023 posting regarding his band, the Revolvers, and their connection to that infamous “Jim Morrison solo album” from 1974. Stan tells us that, prior to their joint tenure in the Revolvers, he and guitarist Don Hales, a ..read more

The Villagers came from Sarasota County in Florida, just south of Tampa. Some or all of the members graduated from Riverview High School class of ’65. They cut one fine record “Joann” / “Glad You’re Back” on Dale Records 107. “Joann” is a fine teen-type original by Jim Spoto. “Glad You’re Back” is an excellent fast-tempo original by Neal Larson, with neat harmonies and driving drumming. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune featured a photo of the band on July 7, 1964, describing them as: … a recently reorganized ensemble … a formerly all male group, now includes the talents of Gretchen Holland at the ..read more

The Dynamics recording at Atlanta Sound Studios, 1967. From left: Steve Diehl, Bruce Allen, Stanley Newman, Ronnie Osborne, and Bob Garrett The Dynamics Unlimited released one 45 on the Rose Records label, the melancholy “The Tide Rises” (lyrics taken from the poem by Longfellow) b/w “Baby Let’s Wait” on Rose 2890. Publishing is through Margie Music, BMI. The RCA custom press # U4KM-4910/1 points to a 1967 date. The band then backed Jerry Ashley for his single on Rose 2091, “Don’t Tell Me Why” / “Come to Me”, two originals by Ashley also published by Margie Music. The Dynamics on break at an ..read more

L-R: Derek (last name unknown for now) lead guitar, Roger Semon, Alan (last name unknown for now) keyboards, Alan Brown (drums) (Ed: Mick Tucker (Sweet) used to work for his dad at a car showroom in West Harrow) and Mac Bruce (rhythm guitar). Front: Martin Cheeseman (bass) Roger Semon (lead vocals) Derek ? (lead guitar) Alan ? (keyboards) Mac Bruce (rhythm guitar) Martin Cheeseman (bass)                                    ..read more

6 Tickets to Shangri-La and The Ides of Love each had one 45 on Talmu Records. The groups sound alike, and all four songs were written by the team of Ed Malinowski and Tom Flynn. 6 Tickets to Shangri-La released “Lovely People” / “I’ve Got To Find A Way” on Talmu 311 in February, 1968, with Leroy Kirkland arranging and Fred Giachino producing. The Ides of Love released “Hey Mister Wise Man” / “Something So Pretty” in November on TAL 314, this time with Joe Cain producing and supervising. Cash Box reviewed both 45s. I cannot find copyright registration for any of these songs, but Talmu and Giac ..read more

Python Lee Jackson in 1966. Left to right: David Montgomery, Mick Liber, Malcolm McGee, Lloyd Hardy and David Bentley. Photo may be subject to copyright Python Lee Jackson are best known for their association with singer Rod Stewart and the hit single “In a Broken Dream”, which reached #3 on the UK charts in September 1972. First released on the Young Blood label in late 1970, the song had been salvaged, mixed and re-mixed from a track that was originally recorded during April 1969 by the late DJ John Peel for his Dandelion label. When Young Blood’s founder Miki Dallon re-issued the single for ..read more

Today I’m featuring two rockabilly artists, George Quarta Jr. and Bob Cribbie, who both grew up in Hudson, NY. In 1959 they each released a 45 on the Cool Records label out of Harrison, New Jersey. George Quarta Jr. cut “Get Loose” / “Don’t Move”, and Bob Cribbie made “Vow of Love” / “Rockabilly Yodel” on Cool Records. Cool Records attracted artists from a wide area of the east coast, so the Hudson connection might be coincidental. The records do not sound similar and may have been cut at different sessions or studios. What makes me think this could be more than coincidence is the 45s had succ ..read more

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. S ..read more

Photo card included with some copies of the Sunday Funnies 45 on Skoop. From left: John Rice, Luke Pride, Gary MacShara and Tom Sheffer. The Sunday Funnies 45 on Skoop 1070 has two excellent original songs, “Sunny Covington Avenue” an uptempo rocker, and “It Won’t Happen to You”. The labels list Gary McShara (actually Gary MacShara) as the song writer on the labels, with publishing by Buna Music. I don’t own a copy of the 45, unfortunately. A photo card included with some copies of the record has a photo that predates Pat Berry joining the group, and has the name of manager Wayne Watters cross ..read more

Dave and the Squires cut this moody original song “The Girl of My Dreams” in late 1965, released on Radex R65121. The flip is a slow version of “Ferry Cross the Merscy” [sic]. I know nothing about the group except one member’s name, Dave Lamoreux who wrote the A-side and sang lead on both sides. Radex Recording Studio was in business in Freeport, Illinois into the 1980s. Its most notable production may be the Nomadds who cut an album there, Nomads Originals Plus. Owner Dexter Witt passed away in January 2023 ..read more