VINYL CLASSICS - THEE MIDNITERS - WHITTIER BLVD.

Thee Midniters first album was titled "Thee Midniters" but is has become better known as the "Whittier Blvd" album. It was released in 1965 on the Chattahoochee label (CH-1001) and (CH-666).

The album was re-released on Eddie Torres' Whittier label in 1966. (Whittier W-1001)

TRACK LIST:


Side A:

01. Whittier Blvd
02. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow
03. That's All
04. Come Back Baby
05. Empty Heart
06. I Need Someone


Side B:

01. Land Of 1000 Dances
02. To Be With You
03. Slow Down
04. Giving Up On Love
05. Money
06. Johnny B Goode

The band's debut album was a combination of stomping rockers & soulful ballads. Right from the word go, Thee Midniters showed their musical versatility instrumentally and vocally. With Willie Garcia on lead, Thee Midniters recorded instant Eastside classics covering Nat King Cole's "That's All", Lenny Welch's "I Need Someone" and Jerry Butler's "Giving Up On Love"

The album also features a studio version of their first single "Land Of 100 Dances" written by Chris Kenner. Rocking cover versions include "Slow Down", "Money" and Johnny B Goode"

Thee Midniters showed their British invasion influence by covering the obscure Rolling Stones tune "Empty Heart. "Whittier Blvd" (East LA's cruising anthem) was influenced by the Rolling Stones "2120 South Michigan Avenue" and one of the band's signature tunes.

Add to all this a fine cover of Marvin Gaye's "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow", the beautiful romantic ballad "To Be With You" and the mid-tempo blue-eyed soul "Come Back Baby" and you have a real winner on your hands.

Vinyl versions of these albums are hard to find but certainly worth seeking out.