The old hippie from Moondog Music has retired but he still had a cache of 45s yet to be discovered.
The focus is the music from the late 60s and early 70s.
1) Bicycle Morning-Billy Sans (Atco 45-6945) 1973
Somewhere along the way, this song managed to fall past the eyes of the compilers that put together the Have A Nice Day Series for Rhino in the 1990s but even K Tel in the 70s overlooked this power pop gem that owes a lot to Daniel Boone's Beautiful Sunday. Sans recorded a couple of 45s for Invictus and Abnak but neither charted. Sans is somewhat active in the Nashville area with his band but this is the first time I actually came around. B Side is For Ever, which sounds like something Billy Vera would cover.
2) What Have They Done To The Rain-The Searchers (Kapp K-644) 1965 #29
One of the underrated British bands of all time, The Searchers have always put together some great singles and What Have They Done To The Rain is one of their all time best songs. B side This Feeling's Inside is a group original akin to a uptempo Gerry And The Pacemakers song, but the Searchers were somewhat a better band. I think I hid this 45 up there on a previous bargain hunt and forgot all about it till I came across it in a out of the way box of 45s. Record is pretty good shape.
3) Sally Can't Dance-Lou Reed (RCA Victor PB-10081) 1974
In Lou's record history he only had one single that made it to the top 20 (Guess which one) and anything else was bubbling over. I always liked the single version better than the album cut. Another single found in the far corner where The Searchers single was at.
4) Thank You Anyway (Mr. D.J.)-Lou Johnson (Big Top 45-3115) 1962
Another obscure R and B 45 that didn't chart on the top 100 (although it was a regional hits at mom and pop AM stations). Basically in a style like Ray Charles when Ray was doing modern sounds in country music at that time. But with better chart action. B Side If I Never Get To Love You is one of an early song from Burt Bacahrah and Hal David team. A bit more uptempo. BTW, Burt just turned 90 this weekend. And still going strong.
5) Casino-Jack Eubanks (Monument 45-809) 1963
I have more fun with instruments of the 60s than anybody else around. Bob Moore recorded Mexico for Monument around this time so the label thought why not another instrumental for another person right? Didn't work, but it's makes nice background music. B Side Te Juana features the unmistakable sound of Boots Randolph on sax. Professionally done right but it's still background music.
6) Bend Me, Shape Me-The American Breed (Acta 45-811) 1967 #5
Fifty years on, singles that made the top ten and what I found at thrift stores have been played to death and I try not to torture my stereo needle by playing scratchy records, but even sometimes finding 45s that look new sound like shit since the previous owner didn't change his needle. Thankfully who donated these 45s to Moondog managed to take good care of these record and I managed to find finally a decent copy of Bend Me Shape Me, a great top 5 single. B side Mindrocker bridges Paul Revere And The Raiders and Ohio Express together. The origins of bubblegum?
7) Freedom Blues-Little Richard (Reprise 0907) 1970 #47
Richard Penniman could play the blues just as well as rock and roll as this song suggest. When he puts his mind to it, Little Richard could be considered the king of rock and roll (although that Reprise album of King Of Rock And Roll was a total borefest). B side Dew Drop Inn, rocks! Sounds like Earl Palmer on drums, and Lee Allen on sax. Told you it rocks! Freedom Blues is also a classic song too. Co written with Eskew Reeder aka Esquerita, who could rival Little Richard for outrageous antics. Probably the find of the day.
8) I Ain't Got To Love Nobody Else-The Masqueraders (Bell 733) 1968 #57
One of the longest lasting but yet unknown groups of the 1960s, This band recorded for Chips Moman and American Group Productions for a series of singles, this one originally on Wand but issued later on Bell Record that charted at number 57. Charlie Moore is the lead singer on this single. While they owed their sound to the Temptations, I think they're more gritter than the Temps, more in line with the Four Tops. B Side I Got It, is another soul shouter, complete with cowbell.
9) I'm Afraid To Go Home-Brian Hyland (ABC Paramount 45-10452) 1963 #63
Brian's last charted hit for ABC Paramount. Out of all teen idols, Brian's output have actually still stood the test of time especially on this single produced by P.Udell, G. Geld team. B side Save Your Heart For Me would become a hit for Gary Lewis And The Playboys. It could have been a hit for Brian as well had ABC promoted it.
10) I Get The Blues When It Rains-The Saloonatics (Bethlehem 45-3096) 1969
The Banjo Barons meet Homer And Jethro and Johnny Bond. Nothing is much known about this band, they made an album for Bethlehem Records, originally a jazz blues label before King/Gusto bought them out and put this country band on it. If you use a search engine you will find six other bands that use the Saloonatics name, one even in Eastern Iowa. None are associated with this forgotten band. B side Sweet Georgia Brown, is even more weirder. Go figure.
11) Backtrack-Faron Young (Capitol 4616) 1961 #89
Faron's last top 100 pop single. Co written with Alex Zanetis who would write hits for Charley Pride and Jim Reeves later on. B Side I Can't Find The Time is written by Willie Nelson, to which Faron was very instrumental in helping Willie's music career in the early years. A honky honk ballad. Note how Faron phases the word like Willie used to do back then.
12) Ballad Of The Green Barets-Sgt. Barry Sadler (RCA 47-8739) 1966 #1
So we end this with a number 1 single. I had the picture sleeve but not the single itself. The ones that I did find were scratched up but this single was in fairly decent shape. Sadler would have a number 28 single with The A Team.
