Roburt

An old radio ad for shows held at Carr's Beach ........... ....... and the newspaper ad that goes with it (pity they didn't have a pic of Tammi Terrell) ....................

A youtube clip of them performing in recent times (2011) ............ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjqNcxrWoSg And an ad for a gig they undertook at Carr's Beach in May 66 ......... Can anyone confirm if the backing track used on their version of "Stupidity" is infact the same one as used on Solomon Burke's version ? If so, that only leaves the cut "King Of Fools" that they could have played on.

There were a number of groups that took the name of the Van Dykes. The most famous one was the one from Texas that recorded great soul sides for Mala back in the 60's. Others were groups from Brooklyn (King / Deluxe) and New Haven, CT (Green Sea) but there was a fourth one that cut for Atlantic Records. This post deals with the soul outfit from Annapolis, Maryland that only got to make one record; “Stupidity” being the 45's A side which was released by Atlantic back in 1962. In recent times this cut has been featured on 2 different CD collections; 'Right Now (Atlantic Club Soul & Deep Cuts)' plus 'Let's Soul Dance (Black Dance Crazes 1957 -1962)'. Why should I be interested in the details of an outfit that only got to cut one record over 50 years ago. Well lots of groups had long and successful lives even though they never really made much impact recording wise. The Van Dykes are one such band as in the Annaplois / Baltimore area they were a major force for around a 10 year period. Their 45 actually did well locally, gaining extensive airplay on WEBB and actually charting on WWIN, then the top local pop radio station (where it peaked at No.11). However it is for their live work that they are really remembered. The Van Dykes were at their most popular in the Annapolis & Baltimore area from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. During that time, not only did they get to record for Atlantic Records (in 1962) but they played numerous live gigs at venues such as Carr's Beach, Sparrow's Beach and the Dixie Ballroom at Gwynn Oak Park (just outside Baltimore). They even got to perform on the old Buddy Dean TV Show broadcast by Baltimore's WJZ-TV station, which was the show that inspired the 'Hairspray' movies. In fact the movies writer / director & producer John Waters recalls watching the group perform in the early to mid 60's. The band was largely a family based affair that grew out of two earlier outfits both of whom came together at Bates High School, Annapolis. The five strong Organoes singing group consisted of Albert & Lonnie Brown, Calvin Offer, Harvey Ennis and Walter Randall. The second teaming was the Van Dykes Combo who's members were Roland, Bill, John & Alvin Brown, William Jones and Joe Gidwick with femme vocalist Pat Wynn (both line-ups dating from December 1954). Roland Brown said about the Van Dykes "The group started life back around 1953 and I became a part of it in about 1954. It started with Reginald Harris, Lionel Thomas and some more young fellows that were at the time attending Bates High School. They had the idea for a band, got together like some other youngsters, and in '54, when I picked it up, we just kept on playing". The band's line-up continued to evolve and by 1962 the line-up was Calvin Offer (lead singer), Lonnie Brown (keyboards), Roland Brown (drums) Albert Brown (sax), Delbert Puschert (sax) and John Bryant (trombone), John Coates (guitar) and Joe Wood (base). Roland Brown acted as their manager and got them many bookings at top local venues. For a number of years, they backed up acts appearing on shows at Carr's Beach (located just south of Annapolis). They acted in a similar role for a big soul revue held in mid August 1966 at Baltimore's Civic Center (DJ Rockin Robin's 4th Anniversary Show – see ad). Around 1990 they decided to come back together for a few shows and they continued to play reunions through till at least 2014. For these shows, their line-up featured brothers Albert Brown, Roland Brown, Bill Brown and Lonnie Brown plus Delbert Puschert, John Bryant and John Coates with either Calvin Offer or Jobo Brown handling lead vocal duties. So a band that only enjoyed one 45 release continued to exist many years after all but a few fans had long forgotten about them. The strange thing is, that for an outfit of talented musicians that played all their own instruments, there is a lot of doubt if they even played on their own recordings for Atlantic. See article on them here ............ https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/ph-ac-cn-van-dykes-1113-20141113-story.html

Not related to this 45 at all, but it does date from the right period, details a Gino Washington live gig and is just nice (IMHO) .............. Dont forget that there was 'Police supervision at all times' at these events held at the Owosso Armory !!!

Again a bit 'off-topic' but Cathy Lynn also worked with Marsha Brody (of "Right Combination" fame). According to a youtube post, Marsha went to school in the early 60's in Chester, Pa (Smedley Jr High). Chester is just SW of Philly. On Marsha's tracks Cathy worked with Arthur Schroeck who was New Jersey born and from 1965 was a New York based studio musician. He posted a reply on the following youtube post ........... Cathy & Art Schroeck also worked together on the Preparations sides for Heart & Soul Records.

There are huge numbers of US soul 45's that refer to an upcoming LP that never actually materialised. This was usually due to financial problems the indie label experienced at the time. Many small 'new' indie labels sent out 45's to numerous distributors & / or record stores but were never paid for them as the records didn't sell initially & then were just dumped in discount bins to sell for a few cents. Thus the label never even got it's money back for the 45's that did go out to wholesale / retail outlets & soon found themselves insolvent. Mind you, sometimes labels had too much success too soon & so went into early bankruptcy. The LA based Canyon label (which distributed / ran a number of labels as well as Canyon itself) enjoyed good success with releases by the likes of Doris Duke, the Whispers, etc. But they put out so many 45's / LP's in such a short time that before the money really started rolling in, they had huge debts and so went out bust. BTW, Cathy Lynn was the Cathy in the group Jay & Kathy's Clowns and she was working with the likes of Lou Lawton ( of "Nic Nak Paddy Wack" fame) at the time (68/69). I guess that makes her & the group (+ S & K) New York based.

"Follow Through" is a gudun ................. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmQda8brd0

After moving to LA, Wally & his mates (Dee Erwin, etc.) also worked with the likes of Ray Charles. One of the lovely records he had a hand in was Alex Brown's Tangerine outing "I'm In Love" ......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COKge0zoKSU Wally (along with Monk Higgins) cut the original (ABC) version of Tyrone Davis's "Can I Change My Mind" at Ray Charles Tangerine Studios in LA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjB16WhyPPc

Just found this Obit in the Chattanooga Times Free Press but no link to him being in the Impressions at all ............ Arthur Brooks, 82, passed away Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in a local hospital. Arrangements by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue. That seems strange as they ran stories about his involvement in the group just over a year ago .... https://www.chattanooganow.com/news/2014/jul/22/a-lasting-impression/ ........ & this one less than 3 years ago ...... https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/life/entertainment/story/2012/dec/02/rb-trio-with-two-chattanooga-members-still/94000/ Along with his brother Richard, he recorded in Detroit (as the Brooks Brothers) after quitting the Impressions.

It has been reported on Facebook that Arthur Brooks of the Impressions has passed away. However, I can't find details of this anywhere else, including in the local Chattanooga press. Anyone know anything about this sad happening ?

This clip from youtube has a few bits about the Mojo Club .......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDZJpOHpNAE

There seems to be little or nothing about the Attic in Doncaster on-line, which is a great pity as lots of top soul acts played the venue till it morphed into more of a skinhead hangout. The Attic was 'housed' in the old Co-op building ballroom (top floor of the building I seem to recall). As the Co-op Ballroom it had been around for ages and it had a link to the early UK R&B (Beat) group era via the live acts booked to play the venue around 1962/63. By the mid 60's it was seen by local mods as very un-hip and not the sort of place we would have frequented. That only changed when it took on it's Attic identity. Back in 1962 the likes of Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers (May) & the Beatles (August) played the Co-op Ballroom ............. Strangely, the most popular place for Dony Mods to hang out in 1966 was the disco room in the Excel Bowling Alley, right next door to the Horse & Groom (another place we wouldn't have frequented back then).

The guy on the left looks like Herb Reed to me, so that would make this outfit one of his 70's incarnations of the Platters. Here's a picture of one of his outfits ..........

Well Chuck Jackson is still around & I'd say he was always up there in the Premier League of soul singers. Also Garnett Mimms is still living though he has refused to sing anything but gospel for many years ............. https://articles.philly.com/2008-01-10/news/25253632_1_garnet-mimms-jerry-ragovoy-gospel William Bell made a great number of fine recordings as well.

The Jackie Opel sides were released on a King label 45 in the UK in 1965 and escaped in Jamaica on Studio One & Coxsone (but with a WIRL matrix). Don't know if the 1st Jamaican release was actually on WIRL though.

One of the gems he was involved with ...... Irma Thomas .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNZFbgszrVY Another one ...... Diamond Joe ........ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LRy9gbC00E

It has been reported by WWL-TV in New Orleans that Allan Toussaint passed away on Monday ......... Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full

Seems that an auction house in Stockport is selling a box of 47 different BBC Radioplay LP's towards the end of this month (29th/30th Nov). https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/omega-auctions/catalogue-id-srom10031/lot-a032d4c4-7a06-4aa2-abf8-a43b0116c9f4 Their web site doesn't list what the individual LP's are but the front one in the box is titled 'Living For The City' so may contain Stevie Wonder 70's tracks. I'd guess that some of the albums in the box will contain soul cuts and it may be worth locally based 'Soul Sourcers' looking in at the auction house ahead of the sale to check out just what is in that box.

I got in touch with Gwen Owens and she confirmed that the 4 tracks by her included on the 'Ruler Of The Hunt' LP were cut for Woodford / Ivey's Wishbone Inc. Terry Woodford tells me that not all of the tracks (Rudy Love; Gwen Owens) were 'owned' by Motown but that he himself gave the BBC permission to include some of the cuts on these LP's. So it seems that some must have been released with Motown's permission and some with Terry Woodford's OK.

Another posting on a youtube video of the song states .......... Brenda McGregor was the lead singer, Delores McGregor, and Shirley Cook (the other members), I know because I'm Sandra McGregor the younger sister of Brenda. RE: Brenda then joining the Vonettes .......... the voices on the Vonettes 45 are supposed to be those of Sandi Sheldon & Van McCoy (according to Sandi / Kendra Spotswood), so maybe Brenda was only in the 'live' version of that group and not the studio version.

Info you want here (in the comments) ......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mL23kfGh1M ........... The Dynells - 'Call On Me' The Dynells are one of many girl groups left out of music's history books. Frontwoman Brenda McGregor went on to join The Vonettes before tragically dying at just 25, but little else is known about the group aside from their corking songs. 'Call On Me' is a mind-blowing Northern Soul number that's utterly beautiful.Read more at https://www.nme.com/photos/20-forgotten-60s-girl-groups/290505#/photo/5#vMkzF6xUFPC3LlfG.99

James Lewis, a long time fixture on the Jackson music scene, has passed... Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full

One of the General Johnson tracks featured on this BBC LP ........ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgkO7XGUJyA