Chevells Vs. Sea Shells

[boba]

So apparently the flip of the Sea Shells on Villige -- "another tear must fall" -- is the same recording as the Chevells "another tear must fall" on Butane. Anyone know the story behind this? They don't really sound like the same group and they don't have the same credits.

The Chevells record was produced by Roy Corwin and Tommy Moers and writing credits R. Corwin - T. Moers.

The Villige record was produced by Tom Moers. Writing credits Moers, Cohen [not corwin], Kaplan.

The Villige record a-side is clearly later in sound and the singers don't really sound the same. It looks like Moers stole the master that he partially owned and used it as the b-side of the single he produced. However, why would he had the two extra people in the writing credits? Anyone know if there really was a connection between the Sea Shells and the Chevells?

[boba]

Also, a vaguely amusing side note (and what prompted this comparison actually) was that Lovelane music (the publisher on the Sea Shells record) got the Sea Shells / Chevells song synced in a Snoop Dogg movie called "Bones". So someone got ripped off... Maybe Tom Moers even bought out the rights to the song (probably not) but the writing should not have changed.

Weirdly they managed to place "Quiet Home" in remember the titans. Bizarre. I didn't see that movie, did anyone else here see it?

[Robbk]

The original writers, Roy Cohen and Tom Moers were Detroit-based songwriters and Moers was a producer. They worked for Sammy Kaplan, whose family owned a record distributorship in Detroit, as well as Danceland Records. Tom Moers was the A&R man and chief producer of the 1960-65 operation of Danceland Records. The first operating period of Danceland Records was 1948-51, owned and operated by Sammy and Ed Kaplan's father, Morris Kaplan. Morris had started the distributorship. Roy Cohen apparently changed his name to Corwin, or used it sometimes, as a "pen name". Ed Kaplan owned MSK, Kool Kat and Village Records, thus, the use of the Kaplan's family music publisher name, Lovelane Music on the Village record, and the adding of Ed Kaplan to the song's list of writers (payment for Kaplan pressing up the record for Moers' group). Ed Kaplan's MSK (Moers/Someone starting with "S"/Kaplan) Records also distributed Detroit's Marquee Records (and Kaplan probably was a part owner in that label, and Kaplan also placed a couple productions on Dearborn Records (a company owned by their family's record and jukebox distributorship).

I've always thought that The Chevelles were a New York ( or, at least. an East Coast) group, and their record label, Butane Records, was an East Coast label. I guess that Moers' and Cohen (Corwin) may have produced a session on an East Coast girls' group in New York, and that group was NOT the same group as the Detroit-based Seashells, who clearly were recorded in Detroit, with Mike Terry arranging. The Butane cuts sound like East Coast (probably New York), and the Chevells sound VERY different from The Seashells. The Seashells sounds like late 1965. The Chevells sounds like 1964. Moers had connections to New York. He got some of the '60s Danceland records picked up by New York's Roulette Records for national distribution. So, while he was in New York, dealing with Roulette, he may have done a little recording, using local groups as an outlet for his and Cohen's songs. In addition, New York writer, J.B. Willingham, wrote some other songs that were used on other artists with Butane records, and he had also co-written a couple songs used by Detroit artist on Danceland Records in the early '60s. One of them was a mild "hit" chart record, "Tonight Is Just Another Night" by The Martiniques from 1963. So, Moers and Cohen had New York connections throughout the early '60s/

Edited October 11, 2012 by RobbK

[boba]

Thanks. Are you saying that Corwin used Cohen as a pen name just based on these credits or is it established in other works too?

I always thought Butane was Miami because the Marvells on Butane were from Miami but I think you're right, it's east coast and I think related to the Angie label.

The Chevells is '64. Sea Shells definitely sounds later than '65 to me. Deadwax has ZTSC127033 in it, does that date it? I'll look for it in now.

[Robbk]

Yes, 127000 should be 1967. The Marvells being from Miami doesn't automatically mean Butane was located in Miami. I have other Butane records that have New York connections. Angie seemed to pick up a Butane record or two, and was, in turn, distributed by Mercury, out of New York. I think I've seen a couple more Corwin-Moers co-written songs on NY labels. Whereas Moers and Cohen are the credits on Detroit labels. I don't remember Corwin co-writing with Moers on a Detroit record. But, no, I have no real evidence that Cohen and Corwin were the same person, other than conjecture, due to the fact that Roy Cohen was known to have written that song, and Corwin's first name also was Roy, and both (people) were listed as co-writers with Moers on the same song. But, I can tell you that there was a plethora of Jews changing their Jewish-sounding names to anglified names in USA and Canada starting around 1960 or so (several in my own family (I am disgusted to admit). MOST of that type of activity occurred throughout the 1960s and died out afterwards. It is interesting that so many of the R&B label owners were Jewish, and so many of the record distributors were, as well. Also, a large portion of the "White" business owners in The Black Ghettos were Jewish (which is why I ended up loving Black-American music (I grew up surrounded by it).

Edited October 11, 2012 by RobbK

[Guest Roy Cohen]

RobbK..,..You got so much of your answer so very right. I did produce and wrote "Another tear must fall." and recorded it in "Special Recordings" in Detrot, That was the Chevelles. That song was also going to be the next release by the Dixie Cups (Chapel of love) but decided to release it on my own label.(Roman). Bad move. Later Sammy Kaplan bought thr rights and changed the name of the group. So yes, both are the same. I did record under the name Corwin for the reason you suspected. Tommy and  I were producers uner the names "Skyhigh prod. and Ttiple-Eight Music."  

We did a lot of east coast work also (you were right) Richard"Popcorn" Wiley  Come to me" / Weddin' bells. (epic) Richard was the first a&r man and original piano player with the Funk bros.(Motown)

Also just to add: Sammy Kaplan (Lovelane Music. was a publisher of many of my songs. He at this date is one of the oldest independent Music Publishers in America. I think he celebrated 50 years in business. Thanks, Roy

Edited January 15, 2014 by Roy Cohen

[Robbk]

Thanks, Roy,  for coming to our forum to clarify things for us.  Many of us are big collectors of Detroit R&B and Soul music, and I, myself. appreciate your productions very much.

[Guest Roy Cohen]

Thanks for those kind words. Ive been pretty obscure all these fifty or so years mostly writing for inserted music for film or tv situational scenes. Not much recognition in that, but that's ok. Never wanted the limelight. Live in Fla. Last thing done was the theme 

for the show "The wedding Bells" by David E. Kelly. Show was cancelled after 5 episodes. Now writing comedy. Thanks again, Roy.

[Robbk]

Thanks for those kind words. Ive been pretty obscure all these fifty or so years mostly writing for inserted music for film or tv situational scenes. Not much recognition in that, but that's ok. Never wanted the limelight. Live in Fla. Last thing done was the theme 

for the show "The wedding Bells" by David E. Kelly. Show was cancelled after 5 episodes. Now writing comedy. Thanks again, Roy.

Ha! Ha!  That's what I do!  Although, I did work for Motown in the 1970s, and I was co-owner of a Soul Record label in the 1980s.

 

Do you have contact anymore with Tommy Moers?  Did he stay in Detroit?  Is he still with us?

[boba]

Hi Roy. I think you said this already, but just a clarification -- you are saying that the Chevelles and the Sea Shells are exactly the same group, just with a name change, correct? Do you remember the names of the members of the group? Do you know if any of the members recorded in any other groups?

 

A couple more questions: the Chevelles record came out in 1964 and the Sea Shells record came out in 1968. If the second record was supposed to be a follow up, do you know the reason for the 4-year gap? Also, you said that you released the Chevelles 45 on your label instead of having the Dixie Cups record it. Are you saying that Butane was your label? The other Butane record I know are by the Laddins (who were from New York) and the Mar-Vells (who were from Miami).

 

Thanks so much for coming on here and asking questions, it's so rare that we get to talk to the producers / writers themselves and get first hand accounts of what happened. I hope you are doing well.

[Guest trickbag]

Discography :

1963 - Another Tear Must Fall /  It's Goodbye (Butane 777)   



Biography :

This is another one of those records with little-to-no history. "Another Tear Must Fall" /  "It's Goodbye" on Butane 777 is a Detroit record (and label) due to the producers, Roy Corwin and Tommy Moers. They both were producers and had ties to radio in Detroit throughout the 60s.

  

Moers also had some mild success producing for rockabilly tunes, most noteworthy would be first sessions for Johnny Powers, who Moers then hooked up with a deal at Sun records.
https://www.secondlinesocial.com/2010/08/aug-21st.html


Songs :

   
It's Goodbye                                Another Tear Must Fall
some more info boba, until Roy gets back.

 

ricky.
 

[Guest Roy Cohen]

Yes, " Butane" and "Roman" were my Labels. I recorded the Chevells (Only remember Jackie the lead singer. Don't knoe if she sang in other recording)) released in around the time Pres. Kenedy was shot. End of Nov? Consequently all music stopped on radio and the record died. Sold the rights to Lovelane Music and than Sammy released it on his own label. renamed the group.

 

I sang under the name Corwin (Preachin' Talk  Roman Rec.) And recorded the same version for other labels. You might notice that the backround on one had male voices and on another female. This song was written by me for Tennesse Earnie Ford, but once again made the wrong decision by putting my record out.

 

Tommy Moers passed away about 12 yrs. ago. He incidently played piano on all my productions. He was a great musician with many big bands but never credited.

 

You might be interested to know that Berry Gordy and I started recording labels around the same time. His first writing was for Jackie Wilson  (Lonely Teardrops) and the results from that song enabled him to start Hittsville U.S.A. on Grand Blvd.

 Richard 'Popcorn' Wiley was his original A&R man and Funk Bros. piano player.

Richard and I worked together for years, and recorded for Epic "Come to me" and "Weddin' Bells" to name a few.

Thanks again for your interest. Always great to talk 60's music. Roy

[boba]

Hi Roy, thanks so much for answering my questions, i really appreciate it. One last follow up question -- are you saying that you recorded "Quiet Home" in 1963 with the other two cuts, and it wasn't released until you sold Sammy the masters and he released it? Or are you saying that you only sold him the masters of "another tear must fall" and "it's goodbye" and Sammy himself recorded "Quiet home"? And if the latter is the case (Sammy recorded "quiet home"), do you know that it was the same girls singing?

 

Sorry to be confused, I just want to get all the facts clear. Thanks again for your help.

[Guest Roy Cohen]

I don't know who i'm responding too (Please advise.)

Hello:

"Quiet home" was not my session. Listening to it again as I just did, it is clear to me that it is Jackie's voice, so I must conclude that it is the Seashells.(Chevells.)  Roy

[boba]

Hi Roy, thanks so much for the clarification. My name is Bob Abrahamian, I do a radio show in Chicago called "Sitting in the Park" (archived online at www.sittinginthepark.com) as well as just being a general soul music collector / fan, etc. I've played records you've produced on my show. Thanks again!

[Ron Cobert]

Hey Folks,

Love that we are speaking about Lovelane and such.

Where are you Roy? Get a hold of Sammy and I. Sammy will be 87 tomorrow.

Ron Cobert

Lovelane Music Group

https://lovelanemusicgroup.com