Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Sounds Unlimited - Indianapolis

 The Sounds Unlimited was truly a tale of two bands that shot across the Indiana sky and is fondly remembered by fans who requested some info.

In the beginning there was a band, and it was good. The Sounds Unlimited strove for the english beat and a definite change in the look of most bands in the mid '60's. Most bands of the day wore suits and ties to the gigs, but few had to be louder, more colorful, have longer hair, and (gasp!) play songs that weren't on the radio! Shameful as it was, the band stood out in Indy.
Wayne Wilson - drum
Phil Brandt - lead guitar
Steve Foster - rhythm guitar
Ken Mahlke - bass- voice

While most local bands were in the early Beatles mode, the Sounds concentrated on the Yardbirds, Who, and Kinks. The Sounds opened for the likes of  the Byrds, Mitch Ryder, the McCoys, and Sir Douglas Quintet.


The Sounds recorded a few songs in Chicago and Philadelphia, some to be used for an audition for the Monkees TV show that was coming up, that ended up on a Sundazed 4 song EP. Fuzz and interpretation was the formula, and it lasted until November 1966.

Four Score made a name for itself when they won the Young America band contest at the State fair in '66. Terry & John Talbot, Ted DeLang, and Bill (Will) Brecht were soon in a studio recording with Jim Koss and Skeet Bushor (Boys next door) writing and producing. Somehow that recording became credited to the Sounds Unlimited, Bill and Ted were out, and  the band was now:
Steve Foster
Wayne Wilson
Terry Talbot
John Michael Talbot

New musical direction, short hair, and changing times. Mid '69 was the last show for Sounds Unlimited, as the Talbot boys morphed into Mason Proffit, a country rock outfit.

Hear the Sounds Unlimited:

Little Brother  - vocal Bill Brecht
A Girl as Sweet as you - John Michael Talbot

I'm fairly sure the Sundazed 45 is still in print, so I can't share it here.

There is more to the story, so stay tuned!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is fantastic. My name is Toby Myers and I went to Pike High School with Phil Brandt and Ken Mahlke, Phil rode my buss. I went to a few rehearsals after school at Ken;s house(I think)and being a year behind Phil and Ken in school I really looked up to these guys. The bass in the top of the picture is my very first bass, I sold it to Ken and they smashed it up during a Who tune.I went on to play with Roadmaster and John Mellencamp, the sixties in Indy was my education. My club deal was The Flame Club, Whiteland Barn, Shelbyville Skateland, House of Sound Plainfield, Le Scene, Indiana Beach, Riverside Park,and someI forgot. Loving this site.

oldladygator15 said...

STEVE FOSTER DIED 2018.

Unknown said...

John Ryan was the drummer during some great years with the Sounds. John lived in the same neighborhood as the Talbot brothers and played first with them in a hootenanny group, The Quinchords.

vinylfool said...

Check out the Quinchords! https://indiana-bands-60s.blogspot.com/2009/11/quinchords-1965.html

I didn't know about John Ryan though.

John Melcher said...

I took guitar lessons with Phil Brandt (of the original band) at Arthur's Music in Broad Ripple in 1965-66.

Unknown said...

Phil was also my neighbor when we were kids, on Lakeside Drive in New Augusta. I heard he later became a firefighter.

Anonymous said...

I dated Wayne briefly in ~1964, my friend Jeannine dated Steve. We met them while buzzing the Teepee.