HTF vintage instrumental 45's 1959-62 garage bands & mo

$

46

Set of Eleven Hard to Find Instrumental Singles From 1959 – 1962

1.      Topsy Turvey by Cozy Cole (Love label # 16-5016) 1959

Very Rare – not to be confused with the more readily available “Topsy”.  Big band/swing sound with Cozy on drums.  I like this one more than “Topsy”.

2.       Because They’re Young by Duane Eddy and the Rebels (Jamie Label #1156) 1960

Hard to Find-Title song from Columbia Pictures release “Because They’re Young” Duane Eddy and The Rebels actually appeared in the movie.  Eddy’s signature “twang” is a little tamed down in this full orchestra backed recording.  Sounds a bit like the arrangement from “The Magnificent Seven”.

3.       Walk –Don’t Run by the Ventures (Dolton Label #DO-649) 1960

Too sophisticated even in their early years to call them a “garage band” – but the Ventures  were  surf/rock pioneers.  This was their second single and the song that established their career.

4.       Mr. Lucky conducted by Henry Mancini (RCA Victor Label #47-7705) 1960

Hard to Find-B Side is “Floating Pad” both tracks from the Album “Music from Mr. Lucky” composed by Henry Mancini and inspired by the detective TV series of the same name.  Good example of Henry Mancini in his prime before he got schmaltzy.

The next two records are a unique pair that should be described together.  Between 1956 and 1958 Tom Shannon (popular DJ at WKBW – Buffalo) and Phil Todaro composed several songs that were recorded by local upstate New York garage bands.  These bands frequently changed both members and names.  In 1960 one of the groups recorded an instrumental version of Tom Shannon’s theme song.  It was recorded at Phil Todaro’s Buffalo studio and released on Shannon’s Marlee label but was only a regional hit.  By 1962 the band was called “The Rebels” and Swan records made a national release of:

5.       Wild Weekend – The Rockin’ Rebels (Swan Label # S-4125-W) 1962

Released in Winter 62/63 it reached   #8 on the pop charts in 1963.  Notice that the Rebels were renamed “The Rockin’ Rebels” to avoid confusion with Duane Eddy’s Rebels.  These Rebels would have 4 different sets of musicians before the band dissolved.  Some of those members can also be heard on:

6.       Rockin’ Crickets by the Hot Toddys (sounds like Todaro) on the Shan-Todd Label #ZTSP 28987

Very Rare   1960 release also composed by the Todaro-Shannon team.  Regional hit only – but similarity to Wild Weekend is unmistakable.     

7.      Back Beat No. 1 by the Rondels (Amy Label # 825) 1961

More garage band surf/rock sound – good drums!

8.       Like Long Hair by Paul Revere & The Raiders (Gardena Label #G-116-1) 1961

Very Rare - Title track from the debut album by Paul Revere & The Raiders.  Released years before this group would become a polished pop/rock group.  Band leader Paul Revere plays piano and future vocalist Mark Lindsay plays sax on this boogie-woogie arrangement of Rachnaminoff’s “Prelude in C-sharp Minor”

9.       Let’s Go by the Routers (Warner Brothers Label # 5283) 1962

More garage band surf/rock

10.   Wiggle Wobble by Les Cooper and the Soul Rockers (Everlast label #5019) 1962

       Great sax– reminds me of Boots Randolph.

11.   Last Night by the Mar-Keys (Satellite Label #1014) 1961

This was regionally released on Stax in 1960 then released nation-wide in 1961.

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There are several genuine collectors items here.  I purchased each of these records while they were on the charts between 1959 and 1962.  Unfortunately, I was a Junior High School student back then and the equipment that my friends and I used to play these records (many times) was rather crude.  There are no skips, cracks, chips or major scratches - but there is a lot of wear, especially on "Like Long Hair", "Let's Go" and  "Back Beat".  Some labels have my name written on them and some have the remains of price stickers.  I can't rate any of the vinyl above very good and the more worn ones only get a good.

Thanks for looking.  Even if you don't bid, I hope that you found some of my trivia interesting.  But if you tap your foot to the drummer's beat, feel like you gotta boogie when you hear a tenor sax, or even just play the air guitar, this could be a mini-collection for you.