This will be my third and final excursion into our state's early Rock/Pop recording history.
So what sub-genre of Rock/Pop would seem least likely to be coming out of Iowa? If you said Rhythm and Blues, you stumbled onto the theme of this week's offering. Yes, Iowa produced some interesting R&B and Soul recordings, which I will just, metaphorically, scratch the surface of this time.
Probably the most prolific local R&B label was "Success" out of Des Moines. Yes, every pressing says, "Des Moines, Iowa" right there on the label. 819 Sixth Avenue if you want specifics. Success released a total of 10 singles, of which the last six were gathered together and offered on a promotional compilation album entitled, Only For Teenagers and Real Swinging Adults. By my reckoning I must be one of those swinging adults, because I have my very own treasured copy of the LP! The releases are in the 1962/63 time frame so right in the sweet spot for the transition from vocal groups to a more soul-ish style.
The first Success single, from the Blendtones, was the most successful. Lovers charted at number 3 in the Los Angeles market and also had some other regional success. Four separate postings of the song on Youtube have a combined total over 40,000 views - so it is well remembered. While a fairly straightforward Vocal/Doo-Wop performance it does have a certain charm.
Their followup did not fair as well. Another common theme of the era was the dance craze record. In their case it was The Slide. It has more of that popcorn soul style similar to very early Motown and other Detroit/Chicago soul offerings of the time, with hand claps and the sax solo. Very nice.
In the spirit of diversity I will point out that Jimmy McHugh was of the Caucasian persuasion. From Hammond IN, Jimmy was a student at Drake University when signed to the label. His single is quite good, but not to be a one and done guy, he was also a song writer and his creation, I Want to Know by the Extensions is one of my favorites of the label. Another in the popcorn style, and a solid female lead vocal, I feel it can stand with any soul record of the period and style.
Cicero Blake was to become the most successful of the Success artists, long term. His first ever single appears to be See What Tomorrow Brings. Probably my other favorite of the label, it has a more fully realized production, similar to what the Impressions were putting out. Which is logical as Johnny Pate was the producer of all the Success singles and is credited with creating the Impressions lush sound on their first top 10 single It's Alright. Check it out:
Success Singles Discography
101 The Blendtones Lovers/Dear Diary
102 The Casualtones Summer School/The Very End
103 Little Larry Ride With Me/Loretta
104 Tiny Dee and the Dots Telegraph/My Honey
105 The Blendtones The Slide/Come On Home
106 Jimmy McHugh I Don't Want Everything/Do the Kangaroo
107* Oscar Boyd When Things Get A Little Better/Little Sweet Things You Do
108 Cicero Blake See What Tomorrow Brings/Don't Do This To Me
109 The Extensions I Want To Know/My Need
110 The Martinels Baby, Think It Over/I Don't Care
* Pressed with a Hermes label instead of the Success label
Beyond the links I have provided, virtually every song listed can be found on YouTube for anyone interested in delving deeper.
Moving away from the Success story (pun intended) I wanted to feature this single from the late 60's by another Des Moines based act, The Houserockers - one side featuring Chuck Singleton and the other The Meditations. While both are covers, the performances are as good as the original versions in my opinion, but slightly different with an original take on the songs. I particularly like the Singleton side, Peace of Mind. And the other side is also out there on YouTube.
Thanks for letting me share some of my interest in Iowa acts from early Rock and Roll history. Every region produced good stuff and there is no reason to think Iowa's acts weren't up to snuff, even though nation fame was rarely glimpsed.
So what sub-genre of Rock/Pop would seem least likely to be coming out of Iowa? If you said Rhythm and Blues, you stumbled onto the theme of this week's offering. Yes, Iowa produced some interesting R&B and Soul recordings, which I will just, metaphorically, scratch the surface of this time.
Probably the most prolific local R&B label was "Success" out of Des Moines. Yes, every pressing says, "Des Moines, Iowa" right there on the label. 819 Sixth Avenue if you want specifics. Success released a total of 10 singles, of which the last six were gathered together and offered on a promotional compilation album entitled, Only For Teenagers and Real Swinging Adults. By my reckoning I must be one of those swinging adults, because I have my very own treasured copy of the LP! The releases are in the 1962/63 time frame so right in the sweet spot for the transition from vocal groups to a more soul-ish style.
The first Success single, from the Blendtones, was the most successful. Lovers charted at number 3 in the Los Angeles market and also had some other regional success. Four separate postings of the song on Youtube have a combined total over 40,000 views - so it is well remembered. While a fairly straightforward Vocal/Doo-Wop performance it does have a certain charm.
Their followup did not fair as well. Another common theme of the era was the dance craze record. In their case it was The Slide. It has more of that popcorn soul style similar to very early Motown and other Detroit/Chicago soul offerings of the time, with hand claps and the sax solo. Very nice.
In the spirit of diversity I will point out that Jimmy McHugh was of the Caucasian persuasion. From Hammond IN, Jimmy was a student at Drake University when signed to the label. His single is quite good, but not to be a one and done guy, he was also a song writer and his creation, I Want to Know by the Extensions is one of my favorites of the label. Another in the popcorn style, and a solid female lead vocal, I feel it can stand with any soul record of the period and style.
Cicero Blake was to become the most successful of the Success artists, long term. His first ever single appears to be See What Tomorrow Brings. Probably my other favorite of the label, it has a more fully realized production, similar to what the Impressions were putting out. Which is logical as Johnny Pate was the producer of all the Success singles and is credited with creating the Impressions lush sound on their first top 10 single It's Alright. Check it out:
Success Singles Discography
101 The Blendtones Lovers/Dear Diary
102 The Casualtones Summer School/The Very End
103 Little Larry Ride With Me/Loretta
104 Tiny Dee and the Dots Telegraph/My Honey
105 The Blendtones The Slide/Come On Home
106 Jimmy McHugh I Don't Want Everything/Do the Kangaroo
107* Oscar Boyd When Things Get A Little Better/Little Sweet Things You Do
108 Cicero Blake See What Tomorrow Brings/Don't Do This To Me
109 The Extensions I Want To Know/My Need
110 The Martinels Baby, Think It Over/I Don't Care
* Pressed with a Hermes label instead of the Success label
Beyond the links I have provided, virtually every song listed can be found on YouTube for anyone interested in delving deeper.
Moving away from the Success story (pun intended) I wanted to feature this single from the late 60's by another Des Moines based act, The Houserockers - one side featuring Chuck Singleton and the other The Meditations. While both are covers, the performances are as good as the original versions in my opinion, but slightly different with an original take on the songs. I particularly like the Singleton side, Peace of Mind. And the other side is also out there on YouTube.
Thanks for letting me share some of my interest in Iowa acts from early Rock and Roll history. Every region produced good stuff and there is no reason to think Iowa's acts weren't up to snuff, even though nation fame was rarely glimpsed.
