I am following up as promised from my last posting covering Iowa Rock and Roll from Fredlo and IGL studio acts.
This week I'm showcasing some of my favorite Iowa 60's recordings. Most of these acts had one, maybe two records released. I think you'll find some real gems in here. Stuff that easily could have made national noise were it not for the remoteness of our geography. Listen and see if you don't agree!
*As Fall the Leaves - the Patriots: Out of Cedar Rapids and a personal favorite of mine is this wonderful folk/rock number. It sounds like a Byrds - or actually more like a Beau Brummels number. The source of the custom "1776" label is given away by the "Hitran Recording Company" markings below the song title. Hitran was a small recording studio in Hiawatha. The group were active from 1963-1968. I'm guessing [and that's all it is] that the Patriots name and 1776 label were influenced by the Revolutionary War costuming that Paul Revere and the Raiders were famous for at that time.
*Come On Baby - Al's Untouchables: Another Cedar Rapids based act, this record, along with GONN's Blackout of Gretely, are the holy grails of Iowa Garage Rock 45's with original copies fetching over $1,000. An incredibly tight overall performance with the guitar breaks particularly standing out as very hot. There are actually two releases credited to Al's Untouchables on the Hunt label. Sources indicates they were two separate groups with the same, allegedly crooked, manager. The earlier 'other group' release, Church Key is sorta nice but can't hold a candle to this! As a bonus, the B-Side of this one, Stick Around is an incredibly tasty blues/rock number typical of the Stones during the era.
*Kathy Ran Around - Uncle and the Anteaters: I first heard this on the compilation album "Dirty Water - the History of Eastern Iowa Rock Vol 2". The group were from Iowa City and were cleverly named to insinuate the act of cunnilingus - though some releases show the group's name as Uncle 'na Anteaters. They released this nice solid pop/rock number on the Hunt label (same as Al's Untouchables above). You must listen completely - as the way the group finishes the song is clever. This cut is not readily available on Youtube. I did only have time to upload a poorly recorded ambient sound version so you can hear it.
*My Girl Sue - The Fabulous Thunderbolts: The Fabulous Thunderbolts were from Carroll Kuemper High School. This high energy hard rocking number complete with guitar breaks, very spirited lead singer screams, and even a sax solo of sorts was recorded in Omaha circa 1965. It appears that this was the only record from the group though demo's appearing to predate this release have been found. A shame as these boys rocked.
*Psychedelic Siren - The Daybreakers: The Daybreakers, from Muscatine, were discovered at a Carnival of Bands competition at the Col Ballroom in Davenport. They were recorded in Nashville by country singer, Jack Barlow who was also from the area. Their single on the Dial Label (Joe Tex) "Psychedelic Siren/Afterthoughts" was released in 1967. It fit well into the era's fad embracing anything psychedelic. It enjoyed moderate regional success. The group's leader was none other than Max Collins, who later authored, among others, The Road to Perdition series on which the wonderful 2001 Paul Newman/Tom Hanks/Jude Law/Jennifer Jason Leigh/Daniel Craig movie was based. I also remember him from record collector shows held in the Quad Cities in the 1980's that we both attended - as he was a collector, too. But even before that as a youngster, I remember the Daybreakers' equipment trailer parked on Iowa Avenue in Muscatine, particularly on Sunday mornings as the family drove past there on the way to church. A few years later I was to become acquainted with the group's drummer, Buddy Busch. I was not a collector then and though I did know of his former status as a local rock drummer I did not know any of the specifics then.
[Interesting side note, Zoot Fenster, the artist credited to the record, The Man on Page 602 in 1975, was none other than Jack Barlow.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFldEzcb4kc
*Whose Who - Don't Let Her See You Cry: Many on-line sources say this group was from Dayton OH, but they were in fact from Des Moines. I have no idea of the source of the misinformation. They did record for the Arizona based label SplitSound because of a tie between a former member of the group who moved to Arizona and the man who owned the label; and who was also was program director at a local radio station. The B Side, The Fun We Had, to me sounds vaguely similar in both style and performance to the Critters' Mr. Dieingly Sad. I prefer Don't Let Her See You Cry so that's what I'll post. You can easily find the flip on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJuWz83w7iw
*Stompers - I Know: Hailing from Mt Vernon the Stompers traveled to the Twin Cities to record and press their single in 1965 at Studio City Records. Based on the result it was definitely worth the trip. This is a full blown rocking shouter. Sounding to me like a jacked up variation on the Yardbirds' take on Train Kept A Rollin - but it can't be as this was released in February of '65 and Having a Rave Up didn't come out until November! This number never lets up from beginning to end. Truly a majorly HOT slab of vinyl! The B-side is their interesting group take on the classic Bruce Channel classic, Hey Baby [and can be found on YouTube for those interested.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn1RUgSj5AA
*Flairs/Velaires - Roll Over Beethoven: This doesn't truly fit here as the Velaires were an active national labels act for a decade. Out of Sioux City their first recording was a cover of the Chuck Berry classic, Roll Over Beethoven, pressed on the Palm label out of Phoenix Arizona. At that time they were the Flairs. Later that same year (1961) they were picked up by national label Jamie (Duane Eddy, Ray Sharpe, Crispian St. Peters ) who re-released the track. Again, as there was already a group recording as the Flairs, the record company required the group come up with a new name. They had just performed at the Val Air ballroom in West Des Moines so decided the name Velaires was it. The single zoomed to the number 1 position in Los Angeles but did not break in enough locations to become a huge national hit, peaking at #51 on the Billboard chart. Everyone who hears it for the first time automatically thinks, "sounds like the Everly Brothers." I did too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij7ycahTLzs
*Royal Flairs Suicide/One Pine Box: A bit of a stretch this one. The Royal Flairs WERE from Council Bluffs and did some backing work and appearances in the Omaha/CB area. Mostly a surf cover band, the core of the group moved to Chicago and in 1966 recorded this fantastic little garage number. So they were from IA, but living in Chicago at the time of the recording. Interesting subject matter as the singer is longing to go be with his lover who killed herself over him. The B-side One Pine Box is a Ventures style instrumental and also a bit, um creepy, as it contains the sound effects of what must be a hammer nailing a coffin closed. And some scraping or shovel digging sounds, to boot, maybe? [The A Side always sounded so familiar to me but I could never put it together. Finally I did. Another obscure record, by Alexander and the Greats, called Hot Dang Mustang. Purely coincidental, has to be. ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnISx_lbBQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qASHk6s7cvE
I was planning to include GONN's incredible garage classic Blackout of Gretely but it got posted 2 weeks ago as a comment. I might post it as an add on as it definitely fits here. I also might post something from the 'Ad' Label out of Oelwein as a followup.
This week I'm showcasing some of my favorite Iowa 60's recordings. Most of these acts had one, maybe two records released. I think you'll find some real gems in here. Stuff that easily could have made national noise were it not for the remoteness of our geography. Listen and see if you don't agree!
*As Fall the Leaves - the Patriots: Out of Cedar Rapids and a personal favorite of mine is this wonderful folk/rock number. It sounds like a Byrds - or actually more like a Beau Brummels number. The source of the custom "1776" label is given away by the "Hitran Recording Company" markings below the song title. Hitran was a small recording studio in Hiawatha. The group were active from 1963-1968. I'm guessing [and that's all it is] that the Patriots name and 1776 label were influenced by the Revolutionary War costuming that Paul Revere and the Raiders were famous for at that time.
*Come On Baby - Al's Untouchables: Another Cedar Rapids based act, this record, along with GONN's Blackout of Gretely, are the holy grails of Iowa Garage Rock 45's with original copies fetching over $1,000. An incredibly tight overall performance with the guitar breaks particularly standing out as very hot. There are actually two releases credited to Al's Untouchables on the Hunt label. Sources indicates they were two separate groups with the same, allegedly crooked, manager. The earlier 'other group' release, Church Key is sorta nice but can't hold a candle to this! As a bonus, the B-Side of this one, Stick Around is an incredibly tasty blues/rock number typical of the Stones during the era.
*Kathy Ran Around - Uncle and the Anteaters: I first heard this on the compilation album "Dirty Water - the History of Eastern Iowa Rock Vol 2". The group were from Iowa City and were cleverly named to insinuate the act of cunnilingus - though some releases show the group's name as Uncle 'na Anteaters. They released this nice solid pop/rock number on the Hunt label (same as Al's Untouchables above). You must listen completely - as the way the group finishes the song is clever. This cut is not readily available on Youtube. I did only have time to upload a poorly recorded ambient sound version so you can hear it.
*My Girl Sue - The Fabulous Thunderbolts: The Fabulous Thunderbolts were from Carroll Kuemper High School. This high energy hard rocking number complete with guitar breaks, very spirited lead singer screams, and even a sax solo of sorts was recorded in Omaha circa 1965. It appears that this was the only record from the group though demo's appearing to predate this release have been found. A shame as these boys rocked.
*Psychedelic Siren - The Daybreakers: The Daybreakers, from Muscatine, were discovered at a Carnival of Bands competition at the Col Ballroom in Davenport. They were recorded in Nashville by country singer, Jack Barlow who was also from the area. Their single on the Dial Label (Joe Tex) "Psychedelic Siren/Afterthoughts" was released in 1967. It fit well into the era's fad embracing anything psychedelic. It enjoyed moderate regional success. The group's leader was none other than Max Collins, who later authored, among others, The Road to Perdition series on which the wonderful 2001 Paul Newman/Tom Hanks/Jude Law/Jennifer Jason Leigh/Daniel Craig movie was based. I also remember him from record collector shows held in the Quad Cities in the 1980's that we both attended - as he was a collector, too. But even before that as a youngster, I remember the Daybreakers' equipment trailer parked on Iowa Avenue in Muscatine, particularly on Sunday mornings as the family drove past there on the way to church. A few years later I was to become acquainted with the group's drummer, Buddy Busch. I was not a collector then and though I did know of his former status as a local rock drummer I did not know any of the specifics then.
[Interesting side note, Zoot Fenster, the artist credited to the record, The Man on Page 602 in 1975, was none other than Jack Barlow.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFldEzcb4kc
*Whose Who - Don't Let Her See You Cry: Many on-line sources say this group was from Dayton OH, but they were in fact from Des Moines. I have no idea of the source of the misinformation. They did record for the Arizona based label SplitSound because of a tie between a former member of the group who moved to Arizona and the man who owned the label; and who was also was program director at a local radio station. The B Side, The Fun We Had, to me sounds vaguely similar in both style and performance to the Critters' Mr. Dieingly Sad. I prefer Don't Let Her See You Cry so that's what I'll post. You can easily find the flip on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJuWz83w7iw
*Stompers - I Know: Hailing from Mt Vernon the Stompers traveled to the Twin Cities to record and press their single in 1965 at Studio City Records. Based on the result it was definitely worth the trip. This is a full blown rocking shouter. Sounding to me like a jacked up variation on the Yardbirds' take on Train Kept A Rollin - but it can't be as this was released in February of '65 and Having a Rave Up didn't come out until November! This number never lets up from beginning to end. Truly a majorly HOT slab of vinyl! The B-side is their interesting group take on the classic Bruce Channel classic, Hey Baby [and can be found on YouTube for those interested.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn1RUgSj5AA
*Flairs/Velaires - Roll Over Beethoven: This doesn't truly fit here as the Velaires were an active national labels act for a decade. Out of Sioux City their first recording was a cover of the Chuck Berry classic, Roll Over Beethoven, pressed on the Palm label out of Phoenix Arizona. At that time they were the Flairs. Later that same year (1961) they were picked up by national label Jamie (Duane Eddy, Ray Sharpe, Crispian St. Peters ) who re-released the track. Again, as there was already a group recording as the Flairs, the record company required the group come up with a new name. They had just performed at the Val Air ballroom in West Des Moines so decided the name Velaires was it. The single zoomed to the number 1 position in Los Angeles but did not break in enough locations to become a huge national hit, peaking at #51 on the Billboard chart. Everyone who hears it for the first time automatically thinks, "sounds like the Everly Brothers." I did too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij7ycahTLzs
*Royal Flairs Suicide/One Pine Box: A bit of a stretch this one. The Royal Flairs WERE from Council Bluffs and did some backing work and appearances in the Omaha/CB area. Mostly a surf cover band, the core of the group moved to Chicago and in 1966 recorded this fantastic little garage number. So they were from IA, but living in Chicago at the time of the recording. Interesting subject matter as the singer is longing to go be with his lover who killed herself over him. The B-side One Pine Box is a Ventures style instrumental and also a bit, um creepy, as it contains the sound effects of what must be a hammer nailing a coffin closed. And some scraping or shovel digging sounds, to boot, maybe? [The A Side always sounded so familiar to me but I could never put it together. Finally I did. Another obscure record, by Alexander and the Greats, called Hot Dang Mustang. Purely coincidental, has to be. ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnISx_lbBQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qASHk6s7cvE
I was planning to include GONN's incredible garage classic Blackout of Gretely but it got posted 2 weeks ago as a comment. I might post it as an add on as it definitely fits here. I also might post something from the 'Ad' Label out of Oelwein as a followup.
