Esquires of Tell City and Evansville, Indiana
Tonight I received a photo of the Esquires. From left to right (front row) Bob Rossman,
Paul Bosler (second row) Steve Kaetzel, Brent Cardinal, Steve Simpson,
Jim Ashby. All were from Tell City, IN except Kaetzel who was formerly from
Tell City but lived in Evansville while the group operated.
Esquires – “Run Babe / I Still Love You” (Showboat #1519)
Fans of Indiana garage bands will know about the Phantom Five, a really cool surf-garage band from the South Bend are. They are well known in collectors circles for having one of the coolest record labels ever! Thanks to one of the band members, I now have a few photos to share with you.
Check out this YOUTUBE video for “Graveyard” that a fan made:
Wrinkled Rhapsody
Dale Brown of Wrinkled Rhapsody sent in this great promotional photo of the band. Wrinkled Rhapsody issued one great rock 45 rpm record:
Wrinkled Rhapsody – “It’s Only Time/Listen” (Mecca 103)
In Photo are Mark Kelly (drums), Doug Melton (lead guitar, vocals), seated, Dale Brown (Lead singer, guitar, percussion), and Earl Shell (bass,vocals).
One unusual 45 rpm record from Indianapolis that seemingly defies description is Squidd – “Mystic Illusion/High on the Hill” (Lamp 84). An acid rock double-sider of epic proportions, it is the only rock release on Herb Miller’s Lamp records imprint from Indianapolis. Very little is known about the group or this particular recording. The record is credited to “Agriastathes”. I’m hoping someone can step forward and provide a scan of the label for this record, or any other information leading to contact with the band so we can clear up this mystery!
I recently recovered boxes of memorabilia and rare recordings from my storage unit and I will be sharing these in the coming months. Today, I am sharing a rare promo package that came with early copies of Caroline Peyton’s great Indiana album Intuition. Enjoy!
Stoned Mace was a great rock and roll band from Attica, Indiana that featured John Mullins on base. He recently provided Indiana45s with this photo taken in June 1972-73 at a place called”The Pot Holes” in Warren County, Indiana shortly after the band cut their solitary release “C-147″/ “Tasmania” (Stoned Mace Records 1001/1002). Additional recordings were made around this time but none of them ever made it to vinyl.
As many of you already know, Oscar and the Majestics cut some of the wildest, toughest, and most fuzzed-out garage 45s to come out of Indiana. Well, more than 45 years after some of his earliest singles, Oscar Hamod is finally getting his due in a fully licensed reissue by Sundazed. The lp features some of my personal favorite Indiana tracks, “Soulfinger” and “Got to Have Your Lovin” two great garage numbers loaded with attitude and fuzzed out guitars! The package features unreleased tracks. A 7-inch recording of “No Chance Baby” is also available
If you haven’t picked this up yet, do so today!
Hi,
As you may know Sundazed Music is releasing an authentic recorded in the 1960′s garage era Oscar and the Majestics album titled “No Chance Baby” on July 26, 2011. We thought you might like to use and post the following updated and accurate descriptive information about our upcoming Oscar and the Majestics “No Chance Baby” album. Please let me know if this information is useful and satisforctory.
Thanks and best regards,
Oscar
Oscar and the Majestics
In the 1960′s Oscar and his brother, Bud, formed the band “Oscar and the Majestics”. Soon Oscar’s other brother, Sam, joined the band. It wasn’t long under Oscar’s leadership that their hard rocking sound catapulted them from growing popularity in NW Indiana to the entire Midwest. Eventually Bob joined Oscar and Sam in the band. Uniquely these three original and core members still comprise “Oscar and the Majestics”. Starting in the early 60′s the band began to record Oscar’s original material. Eventually Oscar also chose to put the hard rocking “OTM” driving rock style on a few songs such as “House of the Rising Sun” and “I Can’t Explain”. Even though their style has been called “garage rock” all the recordings were done at the famous and prestigious Chess Studios, RCA Universal Studios, and Sound Studios in Chicago. These original recordings are sought after and embraced throughout the world. Until now fans had to settle for searching for vintage recordings or purchasing compilation albums for OTM recordings. The good news is that Sundazed Music is releasing (July 26, 2011) an all “Oscar and the Majestics” authentic 60′s recordings album (CD/vinyl) titled “No Chance Baby” and a two-sided 7″ vinyl. The album and single include well known “Oscar and the Majestics” recordings and some never before released original recordings. Every one of the recordings is special to the band because they had to write, arrange, play, sing, record, and pay for it all in the 60′s garage rock era. Here is a list and short description of each song included on the Sundazed Music “Oscar and the Majestics” album.
House of the Rising Sun (1966): Our hard rocking arrangement showcases and demonstrates why we are called one of the original early hard rockers of the 60′s garage era. We were looking to the future (futuristic) so we used 1969.
My Girl is Waiting (1964): Oscar wrote this melodic song describing someone who is missing his loved one through no fault of his own. It could be a mistake or injustice that he is in prison or a soldier across the sea far from home.
No Chance Baby (1965): In this song Oscar describes in a relationship one partner may be done and finished. The other person realizes that in life there is “no chance” to get this loved one back. Also in life many times there is just “no chance baby” to get many things back. It is one of our favorite songs and recordings. It is the title of our album.
Soul Finger (1966): A hard rocking blue-eyed soul arrangement with lyrics by Oscar. It stole the show on the 2131 album.
Got to Have Your Lovin (1966): This lover’s lament is led by a fuzz guitar and hard rocking bass.
Baby Under My Skin (1965): This original is loaded with trash talking and singing lyrics.
I Can’t Explain (1966): Our hard rocking version of a great 60′s song.
Why-O/Jungle Beat (1964): Acappella singing and a drum beat lead the hands on conga line!
Jackie Jackie (1964): This early Oscar original is based on a true story of justice done.
Come On Willie (1964): A song about a fella who is dumped by his chick and is told “come back Willie”
Top Eliminator (1964): This is a hard rocking instrumental drag racing recording.
Dawn (1964): Oscar liked the chords changes and put them to his rock style guitar work.
Fanny Brown (1964): Oscar tells the story of a girl running all over town and now her boy friend is done with her.
I Feel Good (1965): Features the unforgettable sounds of Oscar’s ’58 Gibson Explorer guitar.
We would like to thank and recognize the entire Sundazed Music team for doing an outstanding job on the entire Oscar and the Majestics “No Chance Baby” album package. Also, we would like to thank our worldwide fan base for their support and tell them “this is just the beginning, Baby”. Now we will let our music speak for itself.
Rockabilly fans have known of Jimmie Dale’s epic two-sider “Baby Doll” / “Darlin” (Saber #708) but little was known about Jimmie Dale himself. A limited edition reissue of this famous track comes just in time to rescue Jimmie Dale from obscurity and return him to his rightful place as one of Indiana’s rockabilly masters.
Jimmie Dale Wilcoxson was born in New Albany on May 16, 1941. He grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry and even hitch-hiked to Nashville when he was 13 years old. In 1953 he began playing music regularly with Bill Wright, a Kentucky transplant who played the “talking harp”. Looking for adventure, he forged his birth certificate and entered the US Air Force when he was only 14 years old. After his mother found out, she produced his true birth certificate and he was on his way home.
The reissue is a limited edition and only 750 copies are being released so get it while you can. The pink vinyl EP features two additional songs by Jimmie Dale released around the same time, “Man Made Moom” / “For A Day” (Farrall 687). In addition, the gatefold EP features an amazing 12 page color booklet giving a full breakdown of Jimmie Dale’s career in Southern Indiana and Kentucky. Now, if I can only get my hands on a copy of this record! I’ve been looking for one since I first heard this in the early 2000s but have had no luck yet.
Left to right: Doc Lockridge, Dennis O'Neal, Patter McLaughlin and Steve Lewis
Heavy Water was a group of high school and post high school friends from Madison, Indiana. The band performed regularly from mid 1970 till early 1972. Several of the band’s songs were written by Doc Lockridge . Lockridge had a friend that was a DJ at the local radio station, that played a “garage recording” of one of the songs, and the positive response from listeners caused the band to pursue the possibility of getting it recorded. Fultz Recording Studio, in Fairdale Kentucky, offered a 45 single recording package, and the band recorded 2 songs there, in May of 1971.
Heavy Water – “Let’s Go For A ride” / “She Sees You” (White Horse Records F-7)
Heavy Water promoted the single at gigs, and carried it from town to town, trying to get airplay.
The band broke up in early 1972 as members began to move on to their post high school lives.
Heavy Water was: Dennis O’Neal – drums and vocals, Patter McLaughlin – guitar and vocals, Steve Lewis – bass and vocals, and Doc Lockridge - guitar and vocals.
