EASTSIDE BANDS - THEE IMPALAS

BAND MEMBERS:

Al Anaya (Vocals)
Ronnie Reyes (Guitar)
Joe Alvarez
Willie Alvarez
Ruben Diaz - Baritone Sax

I don't know much about this band but would love to hear from any memebers, their family or friends. Please e-mail me at gaversa@aol.com Thank you.

I did however have the good fortune of sharing a Physical Education class with Al Anaya in 1968 at East Los Angeles College. By then, he was a member of Thee Midniters and sang on two tracks on the "Giants" album.

The first Impalas record was "Power Glide" which appeared as the B-Side of The Slauson Brothers "Rosalie" for Godfrey Kerr's Gee Kay label in 1964. (Gee Kay 1003)

The band's second record, "2 O'Clock Blues" was also the B-Side to another Slauson Brothers record "Baby Come Home" for Godfrey Kerr's Kay Gee label also in 1964. (Kay Gee 102).

In 1966, The Impalas recorded "Yes I'm Ready" and "Band Of Gold" for Eddie Torres' Whittier label. (Whittier 502). "Yes I'm Ready is a cover version of Barbara Mason's 1965 smash hit. "Band Of Gold" is a cover version of Don Cherry's 1955 hit.

You My Listen To Thee Impalas sing "Bamd Of Gold" here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOUd4g4zyPU

In the late 60's, early 70's it was released on the Mem-O-Ree label in yellow and in green

                You May Listen To The Impalas "Yes I'm Ready" Here:


                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pqUIUy-BsE

You May Listen To The Impalas "Band Of Gold Here:

The Whittier single would be reissued/bootlegged on the Mem-O-Ree label.

Later in 1966, The Impalas would record their second and final record for Whittier. "Come On Up" and "Oh Yeah (Whittier 506) "Come On Up" is a cover version of a Young Rascals tune.

You May Listen To Thee Impalas "Come On Up" and "Oh Yeah!" Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlQI36m8Fwk&start_radio=1&list=RDtlQI36m8Fwk

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!! 

SOLELY FOR HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND FOR LISTENING PLEASURE.

THE ROOTS OF THE EASTSIDE SOUND 1955-1965

The Eastside Sound comes to the Casa 0101 Theater in Los Angeles beginning tomorrow November 12, 2015 and features a photo exhibit from the collection of David Reyes, co-author of the book "Land Of 1000 Dances. Also there will be scheduled panel discussions and lectures. Please check out this flyer and you may also go to their website at:

http://www.casa0101.org/photo-exhibit-roots-of-the-eastside-sound-2015

VINYL CLASSICS - GODFREY PRESENTS

Godfrey Kerr was a Los Angeles disc jockey and record producer and entrepreneur. He started the Gee Kay, Kay Gee and Flashback record labels. See my post THE EASTSIDE SOUND HITS THE RADIO WAVES - GODFREY KERR.

In 1965 Godfrey released four record albums entitled GODFREY PRESENTS: courtesy of local record companies in Los Angeles. The albums feature a mix of Mexican-American recording artists and black R&B artists. The albums are ala Art Laboe's OLDIES BUT GOODIES series

In 1968 I bought two of his albums at Sounds Of Music, a record store in East Los Angeles to play on my radio show at East Los Angeles College. I now have all four albums to complete this post.

Album Discography:

1965 - Godfrey Presents - 18 R&B Flashbacks, Flashback 601

1965- Godfrey Presents - 18 R&B Flashbacks, Volume 2, Flashback 602

1965 - Godfrey Ppresents - 16 Successful Sounds, Flashback 603

1965 - Godfrey Presents -  20 Blast-Backs, Flash-Back 401

GODFREY PRESENTS: 18 R&B FLASHBACKS:

Tracks of interest to Eastside collectors are "Tonight" by The Carlos Brothers, "Symbol Of Heaven" by Little Julian Herrera and "Bring Me Happiness" by Ron & Rosie.

GODFREY PRESENTS: 18 R&B FLASHBACKS VOLUME 2:

Tracks of interest to Eastside collectors are "Sad Girl" by Thee Midniters, "Dream A Little Dream" by The Perez Brothers, "So Dearly" by Ron & Rosie and "Darling Dear" by Alfred & Joe. Another favorite track is "Split Personality" by The Resonics which was the main reason I bought the album.


GODFREY PRESENTS: 16 SUCCESSFUL SOUNDS:

Tracks of interest to Eastside collectors are '"Land Of A 1,000 Dances" by Cannibal & The Headhunters, "It'll Never Be Over For Me" by Thee Midniters, "la La La La La by The Blendells, "Farmer John" by The Premiers and "I Need Someone" by The Ambertones. Two other noteworthy tracks are "Let's Get Together Again" by Carol Hughes and "Unlucky Girl" by Chris Teller.


GODFREY PRESENTS: 20 BLAST-BACKS:

Only "Let's Dance" by Chris Montez may be of interest to Eastside collectors. The other 19 tracks are doo wop & R&B hits.


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!!

SOLELY FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES!!!

EASTSIDE BANDS - THE ALDERMEN

EDITORS NOTE:

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALDERMAN'S DRUMMER LEE MARKS FOR SUPPLYING THE MISSING NAMES OF THE BAND MEMBERS!!

BAND MEMBERS:

L-R (Front Row):

Bruce Gilbert (Keyboards)
Tad (Lead Guitar)
Joe Chapman (Bass Player), later Greg Kricheff
Lee Marks (Drummer)

Seated In The Middle:

Jesse Acuna (Lead Vocals)

Standing:

Russ (Rhythm Guitar)


Keyboard player Bruce Gilbert met a band called The Aldermen at the 1965 Teen Fair at the Hollywood Palladium. They played mostly surf music  but soon became very versatile playing in the style of the East LA bands which was a mix of R&B and doo wop rock with a Latin flare.

The band played private parties, dances in East LA, schools and teen clubs. They also played El Monte Legion Stadium, the 1966 Teen Fair, the Salesian Rock & Roll Show and East LA City College.

 They would soon be on the same bill with bands such as Thee Midniters and Cannibal & The Headhunters.

Singer-songwriter Chick Carlton (see my post EASTSIDE BANDS- CHICK CARLTON & THE MAJESTICS) heard the band and became their quasi-manager.

In 1967, the band recorded two Chick Carlton penned tunes "House Of Wax" and "In My Upper Room" released on the Sir Graham label.

"House Of Wax' is a fuzz and Farfisa organ-fueled swinger with great soulful vocals.

You May Listen To The Aldermen "House Of Wax" Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UncrF79XCI

"In My Upper Room" features a neat bassline and has a brief but cool keyboard break to finish.

Lee Marks went on to play in a number of bands that can be found on line. BETTY, GOOD DOG BANNED, FOX and currently THIEVES. His son Christopher born in northern California moved to Los Angeles in his 20's to help form & still plays drums for Hoobastank.


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!! SOLY FOR HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND FOR LISTENING PLEASURE.

VINYL CLASSICS - THEE MIDNITERS - GIANTS

Thee Midniters fourth and final album for Whittier Records was GIANTS released in 1967. It was intended to be a greatest hits compilation but new tracks were included. It is my favorite Midniters album and I played the grooves out of it while I was a disc jockey at East Los Angeles College 1967-1969.

SIDE 1:

Side 1 opens with the East LA cruisin' classic "Whittier BLVD". Track 2 is "Goin' Out Of My Head" with new group member Al Anaya singing lead on this cover version. Track 3 is the band's cover version of the Cannibal & The Headhunters hit "Land Of 1000 Dances". Track 4 is an instrumental version of "Walk On By" Closing out Side 1 is the Eastside classic "Sad Girl".


SIDE 2:





Side 2 opens with the Solomon Burke classic "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love". Track 2 is the moody cover of jazz singer Oscar Brown Jr's "Brother Where Are You". Track 3 is a psych-pop tune "Breakfast On The Grass" Track 4 is a cover of Frank Sinatra's "Strangers In The Night". Track 5 is the blue-eyes soul-horn-rock original 'Love Special Delivery". The closing track is the band's excellent cover of "That's All"


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!! SOLELY FOR HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES!!!

VINYL CLASSICS - THEE MIDNITERS - UNLIMITED

Thee Midniters third album was "UNLIMITED" released in 1967 on Eddie Torres' Whittier label. By this time the band had been writing more of their own material. Eight of the twelve tracks on the LP are originals. The album features some fine cover songs as well as jazz-soul, soul and Latin-jazz-soul tunes.

SIDE 1:

Side 1 of the LP opens with a cover of the Solomon Burke classic "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" Track 2, "Cheatin' Woman" is a band original credited to Willie Garcia, Danny Lamont and Jimmy Espinoza. Track 3, "Could It Be" was written by Roy Marquez and is a great soulful ballad. Track 4, "Thee Walking Song" is a band original. Track 5, "Dreaming Casually" is a true Eastside classic written by Willie G and Larry Rendon. The closing track on side 1 is "Never Knew I Had It So Bad", another band original.

SIDE 2:

Side 2 of the album opens with a cover of the Beatles' classic "Yesterday" Track 2 is a cover of the Mitch Ryder classic "Devil With A Blue Dress"/"Good Golly Miss Molly". Track 3 is another Willie Garcia-Larry Rendon penned tune, "Making Ends Meet" and is another true Eastside classic. Track 4, "Chili Con Soul" is a band original and is a jazz-Latin-soul instrumental. Track 5, 'Welcome Home Darling" is a fine ballad written by Danny Lamont & Willie Garcia. Side 2 closes with a superb version of the McKinley Mitchell classic "The Town I Live In"


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!! SOLELY FOR HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES!!

VINYL CLASSICS - THEE MIDNITERS - LOVE SPECIAL DELIVERY

Thee Midniters second album, "Love Special Delivery" was released in 1966 on manager Eddie Torres' Whittier records label. Eddie had been urging the band to write their own material and this album includes four Jimmy Espinoza-William Garcia tracks. The other eight tracks are cover versions.

SIDE 1:

Side 1 starts with the Garcia-Espinoza original and title track "Love Special Delivery" This track is blue-eyed soul-horn-rock at it's finest. Next is a cover of the Holland-Dozier-Holland classic "Love Makes Me Do Foolish Things" Tracks 3 thru 6 are also covers, "Do You Love Me", "Soul & Inspiration", "Good Lovin" and "When A Man Loves A Woman"

SIDE 2:

Side 2 opens with a nearly five minute version on Sinatra's "Strangers In The Night" followed by a powerful James Brown screaming-like version of Van Morrison & Them's "Gloria". Track 3 is a cover of Deon Jackson's  "Love Makes The World Go Round" Tracks 4-6 are all originals. "I Found A Peanut" with it's peculiar lyrics. "Are You Angry" is an Eastside classic and "Don't Go Away" is a solid sultry soulful ballad.

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!
SOLELY FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES!!