VINYL CLASSICS - THE VILLAGE CALLERS LIVE

Band Members:

Joe Espinoza (bass)
Charles Masten (congas & sax)
Johnny Gonzalez (organ & piano)
Manuel Fernandez (drums & timbales)
Ernie Hernandez (guitar)
"Fuzzy" Martinez (electrified sax)
Angela Bell (lead vocals)


Released in 1968 on the Rampart records label (Rampart 3304), "The Village Callers Live" was recorded mostly in one night. At the time the band was one of the hottest on the Eastside circuit and when he heard the band, producer Eddie Davis couldn't wait to put them on wax.

The album was recorded very simply with a few overhead mikes and a "live" mix. The tracks on Side 1 of the LP claim to have been recorded live at the Plush Bunny in Pico Rivera on May 5, 1968 although "Hector" was recorded in the studio with the guys goofing around and making fun of their manager, Hector Rivera.

Side 2 of the LP was recorded at I.D. Sound Studios in Hollywood California engineered bi Ivan Fisher and made "live"during a party at Teron Recording Studios in Hollywood engineered byTerry Dunavan.

On the album Angela bell solos on "When You're Gone". Fuzzy & Ernie provide backing vocals for her on "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" " Stoned Soul Picnic" "The Frog" "Mississippi Delta" and the medley of Aretha Franklin hits. Fuzzy is the featured vocalist on "I Don't Need No Doctor" and  Ernie solos on "99 1/2"

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EASTSIDE BANDS - THE VILLAGE CALLERS

(from left to right: Johnny Gonzalez (keyboards), Charles Lueras (sax), Adolfo "Fuzzy" Martinez (sax), Joe Espinoza (bass), Ernie Hernandez (guitar), Manny Fernandez (drums)

The Village Callers were one of the finest R&B, Latin and Latin Jazz bands to come out of the east Los Angeles area.

The band began as Marcy & The Imperials in the early 1960's with Marcy Alvarado as singer, guitarist & band leader. As members came and went the name of the band was changed to the Village Callers as suggested by band member Ernie Hernandez. The name comes from a Willie Bobo album titled "Village Caller."

Some great singers had stints with the Village Callers over the 1960's & 1970's. Angie Bell from San Pedro. Ersi Arvisu befor she joined El Chicano. Al Anaya before he joined Thee Midniters and Geri Gonzalez.

Latin percussionist Chuck Masten was added to the band really giving the band an extra Latin & Jazz flavor adding to their already R&B and oldies but goodies style.

The band started playing the Eastside circuit and won The Battle Of The Bands at East Los Angeles College in 1967.

With the band now ready to record, manager hector Rivera invited Eddie Davis to hear the band play live at the Plush Bunny. Eddie really liked the band and wanted to record them live as soon as possible. They would be recorded live at the Plush Bunny on another night. The album "The Village Callers Live" would be released on July 25, 1968 on Rampart records. This album will be reviewed in a VINYL CLASSICS post.

VILLAGE CALLERS 45 RPM DISCOGRAPHY:

"Hector Part 1"/"Hector Part 2" (Rampart 659) 1968

"Hector" is a song dedicated to the band's manager Hector Rivera. It was a big local hit. "Hector" first appeared as a KHJ Hit Bound on July 31, 1968.

The record would peak at number 17 on August 14, 1968

Quentin Tarantino would thing enough of the song to include it on the soundtrack of hos 2019 movie "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood"


On the strength of local airplay Eddie Davis would re-released "Hector" with a new flip "I'm Leaving" and use the same Rampart record number 659 on July 25, 1968.

On September 3, 1968 Rampart would release another single "Mississippi Delta" and used "Hector Part 2"  Rampart 660.

On May 21, 1969 Rampart released "Evil Ways"/"When You're Gone" (Rampart 663)

Eddie Davis would do his best to make more money off the songs and sold the right to Bell Records. In September 1969 they would release "Evil Way's/"When You're Gone" (Bell

As with most bands there were some hard times and members started leaving the band. Those that remained became and rock band and changed their name to Silvanus.

Of note, Joe, Fuzzy and Manny joined Sal Chico and when Sal retired became known as the Chico Band and are still performing to this day.

For much more information on the Village Callers please visit Mark Guerrero's blog:

https://markguerrero.net/32.php

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SOLELY FOR HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES

EASTSIDE OLDIES - PART 5

RUDY & THE CRUISERS - "CRUISING BABY"

Band Members:

Rudy Madrid (lead vocals & guitar)
Felicitas Diaz (vocals & keyboard)
Abraham Vasquez (saxophone & keyboards)
Monico Flores (drums)
Art Camarillo (bass)

Band  out of San Jose, California, Rudy & The Cruisers released "Cruising Baby"/"Car Show" on
Lolita records in 1981.

                                  THE UNKNOWN 4 - "SAD GIRL"

A band out of Los Angeles, California, nothing is know about this band except the lead singer's
name is John. A cover of the Jay Wiggins classic that was also a hit for Thee Midniters. "Sad Gir" RPC Records year of release unknown.

   

SHORTY & THE ENCHANTING SOULS - "TEARS OF NO RETURN"/"CHEW, CHAW, CHAW"

                                                                       

                             

Band from Los Angeles, California, Shorty & The Enchanting Souls recorded "Tears Of No Return"
for Faro Records released in 1967.


                  LAS DILLY SISTERS - "SOMETIMES GOOD GUYS DON'T WEAR WHITE"

Miriam & Nelly Nunez AKA Las Dilly Sisters AKA Las Hermanas Nunez were known for their appearances on "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour" on television.

In 1968 they recorded a cover version of the Standells' classic "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White" for the Gordo label.

BERTHA TILLMAN - "OH MY ANGEL"

A huge favorite and highly requested and dedicated song by radio listeners of the Huggy Boy and Art Laboe shows, "Oh My Angel" was recorded by Bertha Tillman. It was released on the Brent label in 1962.

MISS RAYMIS (RAMOS BAND) - OH MY ANGEL

In 1988, "Oh My Angel" was released on Roe Records under the name Miss Raymis. Miss Raymis is Marilyn Ramos and the Ramos band.

ANITA MAY - TARNISHED ANGEL

An answer record to Bertha Tillman's "Oh My Angel" was recorded by Anita May and the Interstate 5 in 1968 and released on the Audio Arts label.

TOBY BEAU - "MY ANGEL BABY"

Continuing with the "Angel Baby" theme the Toby Beau Band out of Houston, Texas wrote and recorded "My Angel Baby" for the RCA label, released in 1978.

GILDA VASQUEZ Y FAMILIA - ANGEL BABY

It was also recorded by Gilda Vasquez Y Formula for the Discos Sierra label buy under the title of "Angel Baby"

605 SOUTH - "NAH NAH BABY"/ELA

Although the release date is unknown East LA Records recorded and pressed a single by the 605 South band. " Nah Nah Baby" was written and produced by Leonard Mamola. "ELA' was written by band leader Bobby Hernandez. The band was definitely out of the Los Angeles area as there is a 605 freeway that runs north and south.

THEE IN-SET - "THEY SAY"/"MY HEART CRIES"

Another band from Los Angeles, California Thee In-Set recorded a single for the Cal Omen label.
Cal Omen was a small label run by Godfrey Kerr.

"They Say" is a hard-driving, organ-based garage rock band sound and highly collectable for its sound and its rarity.  "My Heart Cries" is a cover of a tune written & recorded by Etta (Etta James) & Harvey Fuqua. The Romancers recorded the same tune and turned it into an Eastside classic. Thee In-set's version is right up there with them, a truly fine ballad.

THE SHONDELLS - "WONDERFUL ONE'

Girl group from Pomona, California and included Shirlee Brooks & Novella Simmons. Once again classic Eastside sound record.

MEEP MEEP & THE ROADRUNNER - "JUSTINE"/"B-FLAT BLUES"

The band was probably named from the cartoon Wiley Coyote & The Roadrunner.

In 1958, Don Harris & Dewey Terry would have a hit with a song titled "Justine' in 1958 for the Specialty label.

 In 1963, The Leggeriors recorded "Justine" for the Goliath label.

 In 1965, The Righteous Brother would record and same song "Justine" for the Moonglow label and so would the band Meep Meep & The Roadrunner for the Boomerang label. Oddly enough Meem Meep's B-Side was titled "B-Flat Blues", a tune written by The Righteous Brothers Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield.

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EASTSIDE BANDS - THE RUNABOUTS

Band Members:

Bobby Torres (vocals)
Ron Lemos (guitar)
Dean Lemos (bass)
B.B. Rico (Farfisa keyboard)
Jack D'Amour (drums)
Gilbert Priest (trumpet)
Ernie Salas (sax)

Thee Runabouts from Los Angeles, California recorded a parody of the Jimmy Webb penned "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" entitled "By The Time I Get To Texas"The song was never released as a single but appears on Volume 2 of the Rampart Lp "Eastside Revue" which was released in 1969.

I pressed a copy on my Eastside Sound label.

Though the year of release is unknown Thee Runabouts cut two singles for the Mod record label>

"Sacred Love"/"Skyjack"

"Chicana Girl"/"Viva Chicano"

In my collection I ran across another single released on the Del Gordo label though most likely a bootleg. "La Bamba"/"Hoy Mas Que Ayer" which is a Spanish language version of the Spiral Staircase's "More Today Than Yesterday"

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SOLELY FOR HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES!!