EASTSIDE BANDS - THEE MIDNITERS

             
MEMBERS:

Willie Garcia (vocals, trombone)
Larry Rendon (sax)
Romeo Prado (trombone)
George Dominguez (lead guitar)
Danny Lamont (drums)

George Salazar (drums)
Roy Marquez (rhythm guitar)
Benny Lopez (bass)

Jimmy Espinoza (bass)
Ronnie Figueroa (keyboards)

Little Ray Jimenez (vocals)
Al Anaya (vocals)


Called "The Best Latino Rock Band Of The 1960's," Thee Midniters were to those of us growing up in East Los Angeles our equivalent of The Beatles. Thee Midniters were a crossover group influenced by the British Invasion (i.e. The Rolling Stones), soul and rhythm & blues. Their music spanned all of the diverse genres of music in the late 1960's including, pop, garage, psychedelia as well as Latin jazz and Mexican bolero. They were the first Eastside band to have a greatest hits album as well as a compact disc box set.

Thee Midniters evolved from a nucleus group called "The Gentiles" which included Willie Garcia on vocals, Romeo Prado on trombone, and Larry Rendon on saxophone.

 In 1963 the group became jnow as Benny & The Midniters named after conga player and manager Benny Ceballos.

LITTLE WILLIE G & BOBBY COCHRAN AT A BATTLE OF THE BANDS, ST ALPHONOS AUDITORIUM CIRCA 1963

BENNY & THE MIDNITERS REHEARSE FOR BATTLE OF THE BANDS

Bobby Cochran, Larry Rendon,  Danny LaMont, Benny, Unknown, Lil Willie G.

Benny & The Midniters went through many personnel changes and at one time icluded Little Ray Jimenez and Frankie "Cannibal" Garcia.

Yet another version of the band had members Benny Ceballos (congas), Larry Rendon (sax), George Salazar (drums), Raul Ceballos (guitar) and Willie Garcia (vocals). Bass player, Benny Lopez who had been playing with Johnny Gamboa's Crowns and Romeo Prado (trombone) were next to come aboard. They were students of Salesian High School's music teacher, Bill Taggert.

The band's name was eventually changed to Thee Midniters by Eddie Torres who became their manager after hearing the band at St Alphonsos. They used the word "Thee" so as not to be confused with one of their favorite groups Hank Ballard & The Midnighters. Eddie was a tireless promoter and got the band gigs all over the Southern California area. The band was in high demand and played every major venue on the Eastside circuit.

In 1964 Thee Midniters performed  at the Salesian High School Rock & Roll Show and shortly therafter Eddie negotiated a record contract with Chattahooche Records, a small Hollywood label.

The band's first single was released two ways. First, "Land Of A Thousand Dances (Part 1)" and "Land Of A Thousand Dances (Part 2)" released by Chattahoochee (Chattahoochee 666) in January 1965.is a live version.

This record was recorded live at a high school show. Little Ray Jimenez who was still in the band at the time was supposed to be the lead singer didn't show up because he was stuck up north near Fresno. Willie Garcia sings lead & does a masterful job. This would be the band's highest charted record peaking at number 67 on Billboard's pop charts.

Quality Records in Canada released the two tracks in 1965

For the second version of the single, Thee Midniters would go into the studio and re-record "Land Of A Thousand Dances" and Chattahoochee would release in backed with a instrumental track, "Ball Of Twine" under the same record number (Chattahoochee 666) also in January 1965.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Land Of A Thousand Dances" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md0WsKC-IvU

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Ball Of Twine" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4oJWW5e0Vg

For their second single, Thee Midniters recorded "Sad Girl" (a cover of the Jay Wiggins penned classic) backed with "Heat Wave" (a cover of the Martha & The Vandellas smash hit) and released by Chattahoochee CH-674 in 1965. "Sad Girl" would become one of the band's signature tunes and Little Willie G's soulful vocal make it one of the best of the Eastside classics.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Sad Girl" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns3x2HiDqbs

In France, Disques Vogue released on EP (EPL 8314) combining the "Land Of 1000 Dances" single with the "Sad Girl" and "Heat Wave" single.

For their third single, Thee Midniters recorded "Whittier Blvd" backed with "Evil Love" released in June 1965 by Chattahoochee (CH-684). "Whittier Blvd" was inspired by the Rolling Stones' instrumental "2120 South Michigan Avenue" and became the anthem for low riders cruising the boulevard. "Evil Love" is an underrated jazzy/pop tune void of verses & bridges.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Whittier Blvd" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inYbUGaqPR8

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Evil Love" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO7Zml1NfNg

In Canada, "Whittier Blvd" and "Evil Love" were released on the Quality label (Quality 1735X)

For their fourth single, Thee Midniters recorded "Empty Heart" and "I Need Someone" released in 1965 by Chattahoochee (CH-693), "Empty Heart" was written by Nanker Phelge and recorded by the Rolling Stones and Thee Midniters do their own spin on it by using a thumping horn-rock arrangement.
:"I Need Someone" was written by Lenny Welch and the band does a superb version

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Empty Heart" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9xqE1ZvmuM

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "I Need Someone" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-EMmtGaQys

For their fifth single for Chattahoochee Thee Midniters recorded "That's All" and "It's Not Unusual" in 1965. (CH-694)

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "That's All" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGR_mxmD4EI

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "It's Not Unusual" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkRfMDH0Abo

Little Willie G does an outstanding job on on the old classic ballad "That's All" and "It's Not Unusual" is the band's version of the Tom Jones million seller. One discography lists this Chattahoochee release as a 1969 reissue but judging by the label & record number this is probably not the case.

Also in 1965, Thee Midniters would release their fist album entitled "Thee Midniters" on the Chattahoochee label (C-1001)

This album will be reviewed in the VINYL CLASSICS section.

For their sixth single on the Chattahoochee label, Thee Midniters recorded "Brother, Where Are You" and "Heat Wave (CH-695)

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Brother, Where Are You" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl11Fg10sU0

"Brother, Where Are You" is a remake of an old Oscar Brown Jr tune and "Heat Wave" is a remake of the Martha & The Vandellas' classic and previously issued as the B side of "Sad Girl"


For seventh and final single for Chattahoochee Thee Midniters recorded "I Found A Peanut" and "Are You Angry" (CH-706) released in early 1966.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "I Found A Peanut" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKk36ZsXcXo

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Are You Angry" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyEPzRHcIbo


Writer credit on both sides of the single are credited to Thee Midniters. "I Found A Peanut" is a hard-driving garage-rock track while "Are You Angry" is a superb ballad.

In 1966, manager Eddie Torres (thinking that he could duplicate the success Herb Alpert had at A&M Records in Los Angeles) started his own label, Whittier Records to further promote the band. He would re-release Thee Midniters first album on his Whittier label (WS-1001).

Thee Midniters first single on Whittier label was "Love Special Delivery" and "Don't Go Away" released in 1966 (Whittier 500). The song was written by the band & has a great garage-rock feel to it.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Love Special Delivery" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnbIfShSNds&feature=em-uploademail


Thee Midniters "Love Special Delivery" (Anaheim Stadium 1966)

"Don't Go Away" was also written by the band and is another superb Willie G vocal ballad.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Don't Go Away" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVOSTDntZd4


A Black Label reissue of the record came with a picture sleeve.

Their second single on Whittier was "It'll Never Be Over For Me" and "Thee Midnite Feeling" in 1966 (Whittier 501). "It'll Never Be Over For Me" was written by Sam Bohrich and Norm Blagman and was an R&B hit for Baby Washington. This is my favorite Midniters tune, a true Eastside classic with the soulful touch that only Willie G could deliver.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "It'll Never Be Over For Me" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDGE4UD6cgI

"Thee Midnite Feeling" was written by the band and is a garage rock instrumental.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Thee Midnite Feeling" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8W_mV9bFoY

Either this record or it's later reissue came with a picture sleeve.

The band's third single for Whittier was "Dragon Fly" and "The Big Ranch" in 1966 (Whittier 503).

"Dragon Fly" is a haunting instrumental track writen by Danny Lamont & Roy Marquez of Thee Midniters. "The Big Ranch" subtitled "El Rancho Grande" is a traditional Spanish tune.

Vogue Records in Germany would release a 45RPM single in 1966. "Johnny B Goode"/"Money" (Vogue DV144560) with a picture sleeve.

In 1967 Thee Midniters would release their second album entitled "Thee Midniters Bring You Love Special Delivery" released in mono & stereo (Whittier W-5000 and WS-5000)

This album will be reviewed in the VINYL CLASSICS section.


Thee Midniters fourth single was issued two ways in 1967 as (Whittier 504). Version one was "Never Knew I Had It So Bad" and "The Walking Song"

On this release, "The Walking Song" a simple pop tune was intended to be the A side and "Never Knew I Had It So Bad" a garage-psych tune was intended to be the B side.

On the second version "Never Knew I had It So Bad" was released as the A side and "Everybody Needs Somebody" an old Solomon Burke tune was issued as the B side.

You May Listen To "Everybody Needs Somebody" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afI98d8tYxI



Thee Midniters fifth single on Whittier was "Look Out A Window" and "Jump, Jive And Harmonize" released in 1967 (Whittier 507)

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Look Out A Window" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzSIYvvonWw

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Jump, Jive And Harmonize" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzNesrOrU50

This double sided garage-soul record is highly sought after by collectors not for the A side but for the B side "Jump, Jive & Harmonize" considered a classic by those with knowledge of this genre of music.

Eddie Torres would release Thee Midniters second album on Whittier "Love Special Delivery" in late 1966 issued as (W-5000)

This album will be reviewed in the VINYL CLASSICS section


Thee Midniters fifth single for Chattahooche was "Chile Co Soul" and "Tu Despedida" (Whittier 508). "Chile Con Soul" is another of the band's signature instrumentals. "Tu Despedida is an earnest romantic Spanish-sung bolero.

The band's sixth single was "Breakfast On The Grass" and "Dreaming Casually" for Whittier (Whittier 509) also in 1967. "Breakfast On The Grass" with lyrics written by Eddie Torres is further proof that the band could play the music of the times as they ventured into psychedelic rock. " Dreaming Casually" written by Willie Garcia & Larry Rendon is a dreamy ballad and a true Eastside classic.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Dreaming Casually" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9nA-z76nHU



In 1967, Thee Midniters would release their third album entitled "Unlimited" in mono (Whittier W-5001) and stereo (WS-5001)

In 1968 Thee Midniters recorded their seventh single for the Whittier label. "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" and "Making Ends Meet" This is the rarest and most sought after Thee Midniters single. "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" is a lively uptempo soulful tune that every Northern Soul collector has on their want list. "Making End Meet" is another of Willie G's outstanding vocal ballads.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0mlsgDCXnM

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Making Ends Meet" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXbitnrqGmA



Thee Midniters' eigth single for Eddie Torres was "The Ballad Of Cesar Chavez" and "La Copla de Cesar Chavez" (Whittier 512) in 1968. The band recorded this song as a favor though their hearts were not in it. Eddie Torres became involved in the Chicano movement of the late 1960's and the recording of this song was on his agenda possibly trying to capitalize on the notoriety of Cesar Chavez. After this recording Willie Garcia would leave the band. Without their lead vocalist, the band's popularity would suffer.

Their ninth single was "Chicano Power" and "Never Gonna Going To Give You Up" first released on Eddie Torres' La Raza label (La Raza 711) and also on Eddie's Whittier label (Whittier 513). "Chicano Power" was written by Romeo Prado while he was in the Army and recorded after he left the service to rejoin the band full-time. The tune is a fusion of Latin jazz, soul & rock. "Never Going To Give You Up" is a cover of the Jerry Butler classic.

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Chicano Power" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1JqZFNe-3A

You May Listen To Thee Midniters "Never Going To Give You Up" Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzYMEMDQW5w

Also in 1968, Thee Midniters would release a compilation album entitled "Giants" (Whittier WS-5002) which I believe was issued in stereo only.

This album will be reviewed in the VINYL CLASSICS section.



In 1969, Thee Midniters sans Willie G, would move to the Uni label for one release, "She Only Wants What She Can't Get" and "I've Come Alive"

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Please note the spelling of the bands' name as Midnighters on the UNI records. Try to use both spellings when searching for any Midniters records.

COMPILATIONS:


In 1983 Rhino records released a compilation album and cassette entitled "Best Of Thee Midniters"
 (Rhino RHLP 063)

Track Listing

1. Whittier Blvd.
2. Empty Heart
3. Love Special Delivery
4. That's All
5. Dreaming Casually
6. Land of a Thousand Dances
7. The Town I Live In
8. Everybody Needs Somebody
9. Sad Girl
10. It'll Never Be Over for Me
11. Chicano Power
12. Are You Angry
13. Giving up on Love
14. Jive and Harmonize Jump

In 2003, Thump Record released "Thee Midniters Greatest Hits" a compact disc compilation 

(Thump TH 9089)

Track Listing

1. Land of a Thousand Dances
2. Whittier Blvd.
3. That's All
4. Empty Heart
5. I Need Someone
6. Giving Up on Love
7. Sad Girl
8. Brother Where Are You?
9. It'll Never Be Over for Me
10. Love Special Delivery
11. Are You Angry?
12. Don't Go Away
13. Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
14. Dreaming Casually
15. Never Knew I Had It So Bad
16. Making Ends Meet
17. Welcome Home Darling
18. The Town I Live In
19. Jive and Harmonize Jump
20. Chicano Power

In 2006, trombone player Romeo Prado passed away.

Track List:

Whittier Blvd. (Thee Midniters) Jump, Jive And Harmonize (MarquezEspinoza-Garcia) Gloria (Morrison) 3:17 Love Special Delivery (Garcia-Espinoza) I Found A Peanut (Garcia-Espinoza) Welcome Home Darling (Garcia- LaMont) Land Of AThousand Dances (Chris Kenner) Down Whittier Blvd. (Kerr-Torres) Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (Berns-Burke-Wexler) Never Knew I Had It So Bad (GarciaLaMont -Dominguez) Empty Heart (Jagger-Richards) Hey Little Girl (Lewis) Looking Out A Window (Dominguez-BagliazoGarcia) Money (BradfordGordy) Thee Midnite Feeling (LaMont-Rendon) Devil With A Blue Dress/Good Golly Miss Molly (LongStevenson/B lackwellMarascalco) Dragon-Fly (LsMont - Marquez-RendonGarcia) Do You Love Me (Gordy, Jr.) Down Whittier Blvd (Kerr-Torres)  This album includes the never before released "Hey Little Girl' and a a bonus cut Godfrey's Down Whittier Blvd" On July 7,2009 Micro Werks released a four CD boxed set entitled "Thee Complete Midniters: Songs Of Love, Rhythm And Psychedelia (1965-1969). This long awaited box set is any Thee Midniters fans' dream come true. The 69 track compilation features all four albums and includes rare B sides and previously unreleased recordings. Tracks on Disc 1: 1.Whittier Blvd. 2.Stubborn Kind of Fellow 3.That's All 4.Come Back Baby 5.Empty Heart 6.I Need Someone 7.Land of a Thousand Dances 8.To Be with You 9.Slow Down 10.Giving Up on Love 11.Money 12.Johnny B. Goode 13.Evil Love 14.It's Not Unusual 15.Heat Wave 16.Land of a Thousand Dances, Pt. 1 [Live] 17.Land of a Thousand Dances, Pt. 2 [Live] 18.Heat Wave [Instrumental] 19.Ball o' Twine Tracks on Disc 2: 1.Love Special Delivery 2.Love Makes Me Do Foolish Things 3.Do You Love Me 4.Soul and Inspiration 5.Good Lovin' 6.When a Man Loves a Woman 7.Strangers in the Night 8.Gloria 9.Love Makes the World Go Round 10.I Found a Peanut 11.Don't Go Away 12.Are You Angry 13.It'll Never Be Over for Me 14.Thee Midnite Feeling 15.Hey Little Girl 16.Are You Angry [Alternate Take] Tracks on Disc 3: 1.Everybody Needs Somebody to Love 2.Cheatin' Woman 3.Could It Be 4.Thee Walking Song 5.Dreaming Casually 6.Never Knew I Had It So Bad 7.Yesterday 8.Devil with a Blue Dress / Good Golly, Miss Molly 9.Making Ends Meet 10.Chile con Soul 11.Welcome Home Darling 12.Town I Live In 13.Big Ranch (El Rancho Grande) 14.Dragon-Fly 15.Looking out a Window 16.Jump, Jive and Harmonize 17.Tu Despedida 18.You're Gonna Make Me Cry 19.Ballad of Cesar Chavez [English Version] 20.Copla de Cesar Chavez [Spanish Version] Tracks on Disc 4: 1.Whittier Blvd. 2.Goin' out of My Head 3.Land of a Thousand Dances 4.Walk on By 5.Sad Girl 6.Everybody Needs Somebody to Love 7.Brother Where Are You? 8.Breakfast on the Grass 9.Strangers in the Night 10.Love Special Delivery 11.That's All 12.Chicano Power 13.Never Give You Up 14.Balla Cinderella

Thee Midniters were undoubtedly the best band to come out of the Eastside area. Their musical versatility, onstage presence and volume of work attest to that fact. There is no telling what kind of stardom they could have attained had they not stayed with Eddie Torres' Whittier label and signed with a major label. They never got the distribution and publicity that a major label could offer but they will forever remain near & dear to our hearts and the best that the Eastside Sound had to offer.


It's hard to imagine a Midniters band without Willie Garcia but the band has continued to perform under the leadership and management of bassist Jimmy Espinoza and saxophonist Larry Rendon. Since 2006 the band has featured Greg Esparza as lead vocalist,

Willie Garcia would go on to other musical project and join the band Malo. He continues to perform today and sounds as good as he ever did. He reunites with some of the original members from time to time. I will feature Willie's post-Midniters career in another post.


For more information on Willie G & Thee Midniters please check out Mark Guerrero's article at this link.

http://www.markguerrero.com/13.php


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!!!

For Historical & Educational Purposes Only And For Listening Pleasure.