In Dan's Garage...#29

Happy Sunday friends! I hope everyone is enjoying the day, and I hope your week went well also. I acquired some rather interesting 45s this week, which I've included in this post. I'm sure you'll all enjoy them as much as I do. I'll just keep it brief today by thanking all who made comments and much needed corrections. Thank you once again! So without further adieu....#29.....

Bobby Russell & The Beagles - Roll Over Beethoven / Right Or Wrong (1965)

Spar Records was affiliated with Hit, and Modern Sound Records, all known for recreating hits by current artists. There were a bunch of house musicians who played on these 45s using names like The Jalopy Five, and The Chellows, among others. Bobby Russell was one of the more prolific artists to record on these labels. Perhaps Bobby was best known for writing some of the biggest, (and crappiest) hits of the 60's and 70's. He wrote "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" for Vicki Lawrence who he was married to at the time, and "Little Green Apples" for O.C. Smith. He's also responsible for the hideous and depressing "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro. Fortunately he left us with some pretty cool sides as we see here, including the insane "Freakout U.S.A." by The Communication Aggregation. If you see anything on these Hit/Spar labels, pick them up. They're usually pretty cheap, and not that bad. By the way, "Right Or Wrong" is an original which is pretty scarce on these records.

Fenways - Be Careful Little Girl (1964)

One of Pittsburgh's most popular acts, they backed the Vogues on the classic "Five O'clock World" while releasing a bunch of 45s on Bev-Mar and Co&Ce. Check out their Myspace here.

Alva Starr - Light Of A 1000 Years / Anna (1967)

From Baton Rouge, LA, he had at least one other 45 titled "Clock On The Wall" which is not the same as the Guess Who classic. You can hear that one on "Obscure 60's Garage Vol. 6".

Ray Columbus & The Invaders - She's Back Again (1965)

A very popular act out of New Zealand, Ray later moved to California and recorded the crazy "Kick Me" as Ray Columbus & The Art Collection. This one here is a real cool freakbeat number with real weird timing.

New Arrivals - Let's Get With It / Just Outside My Window (1967)

Real neato garage from a San Jose area band. I really dig the reedy Farfisa organ. It almost sounds like an accordion!!! Probably a promotional item from Macy's department stores trying to get people to guzzle as much "Uncola" as they possibly can!

St. George IV - Love Has No Place For A Clown / What'cha Doin' To Me (196?)

Both sides of this real moody 45 were written by Dale Hallcom, who from what I gather (and that wasn't much) was a studio bassist for Del-Fi records, and is also credited on some Everly Bros. recordings. Aside from that, this rather obscure 45 is pretty much a mystery to me.

Fabulous King Pins - For What It Worth / More Than I Do (196?)

Here's another incredibly obscure one from who knows where. This bunch tackles the Buffalo Springfield hit, and kind of spruces it up a bit. Cool!

Toads - Leaving It All Behind / Babe, While The Cold Wind Blows (1965)

 Here's another Gary Usher folk rock production from 1965, not unlike The Devons "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" featured in #27. He was also working with The Byrds at this time. Both sides are terrific.

Mysteries - Please Agree / I Find It's True Love (1967)

A real cool one reportedly from Orlando, FL. This one features a unique "warbly" guitar sound most likely done by plugging into a Leslie speaker cabinet, or possibly a very early use of the "UniVibe" pedal later made famous by guys like Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower. There's a fuzz guitar running through the A side too!

Ellie Pop - Seventeen North Frederick / Can't Be Love (1968)

There isn't much known about this group, except they released this one 45 and an album. Fabulous power pop sounds.

Heads - Are You Lonely For Me Baby / You (1968)

Here's another head scratcher (no pun intended). Probably an east coast group, the A side was written by Bert Berns who wrote some of the best classics of the 60's as well as producing Them, and Lulu. George Goldner was a record company exec who was involved with such artists as Frankie Lymon, and The Sahngri Las. Aside from those notes, I can't tell you anything else. Perhaps they were a studio group???

One Eyed Jacks - Love / Sun So High (1967)

**sigh** Alas, another unknown 45. Fuzz, Acid, and Flowers claims that this was a Florida group that migrated to Champaign, IL., as there was a One Eyed Jacks that included future R.E.O. Speedwagon member Michael Murphy. I personally don't buy that, but hey, I've been wrong before. Great psychedelia here on both sides.

Savage Resurrection - Thing In 'E' / Fox Is Sick (1968)

Great heavy psyche from this west coast outfit. If you're into Blue Cheer, you'll love this one.

Dorians - Means And Ways / Help For My Waiting (1969)

These guys were from Windsor, ON in Canada just across the border from Detroit. Here's a very weird late 60's effort that's definitely soul influenced, but still has a lot of psyche tendencies to it.

Special Delivery - Gloria / Big Brown Eyes (197?)

Garage bands in the mid 70's????? Why not? This was recorded at 700 West Studios in New Palestine, IN, just outside of Indianapolis. The approximate date is uncertain, but the studio ran from 1972 to 1983. What we have here definitely sounds like a bunch of amateurs trying to tackle Them's "Gloria" with some rather inept results. Notice how the drummer kind of loses his place as the rest of the band chugs along. He does find his way back towards the end though. The other side is a nice folk rock type thing, I guess. That too has a real charm to it that was thought to be completely lost in that era when "progressive rock" ruled the airwaves. Bravo gentlemen! Wherever you may be today!

Enjoy!