Shaddows, Insights, Universal Joint

[George G]

Since you were interested in the brief backstory on the Originals of "Ain't No Sun" fame, here's the brief background on some similar bands that haven't been covered here at least in the 3 years that I've been active

Shaddows ("Together Again") - white band from Warren, OH (near Youngstown) - started as a rock band and changed to soul, adding a horn section with nine members. They played until 1972, but by that time they were playing rock and soul. Some of the members later played in the recording bands Moms Apple Pie and I Don't Care

Insights ("Love Is a Game") - From Youngstown, OH - unlike the Shaddows the Insights were all blue eyed soul. They played local bars and clubs and like the Shaddows were well known and respected. The flip side of their United Audio 45 - "That's All" - was the hit side and was heard on local radio into the 1970s.

The Youngstown area had many other bands who were of the 'blue eyed soul' variety. The most well known were the Jaggerz from PA, the Bellboys from PA/Youngstown, and the Hi-Guys (who recorded on Columbia as the Loading Zone).

Universal Joint ("Love Won't Wear Off") - from Steubenville, OH which is in the SE part of state sharing the Ohio River with West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Another white band - that included future members of Wild Cherry and Crack The Sky (a band that was probably never heard in the UK but were big in several areas of the US and released many LPs).

- George

[Chalky]

George, as always great info and the sharing of it is much appreciated

[Bigsoulman]

The Shaddows track is brilliant, Kenny Burrell was telling me on Saturday he had it covered up for many years, I managed to get a copy recently, thanks for the info on it George.

Lenny

[Guest sigher the gutter snype]

great info on the shaddows, great record for sure

thanks for the info george

[George G]

Sure - glad to do it.

I have a couple pics of the early Shaddows. The record was financed by a local lawyer. It got some local ariplay and probably sold several hundred copies. Unfortunately they recorded at WAM studios which was not much more than a shoebox with two mikes and an Ampex tape deck, the record doesn't have a lot of punch. Later the group made some professional recordings. In 1971/2 they played a lot in Cleveland and played opposite bands like the Raspberries and Damnation of Adam Blessing.