Brand X - two is better than one

 This 45 has been on the radar for quite some time. A couple of Motown hit covers, probably 1968. Jason had a hit with a member that claimed they attended "Penn High School", South Bend, IN, but we don't have any names. 

Stop in the Name of Love
Come On Home

Showed up on Ebay a few times, then seemed to dry up.

While searching for Brand X, I happened upon a 1966 band of no relation.

Don Douglas
Rob Swaynie
Jack Verstijnen
Mike Couchman

Ron was in quite a few mid 60's Indianapolis based bands including:
Clarence Brown Memorial String Band
The Urge
Waterproof Candle
and many more.
Alas, this Brand X did not make the later recordings.
Another mystery to be solved!

Whiteland Barn Reunion - one last time

Saturday is the FINAL installment of the Whiteland Barn reunions.  This is a great opportunity to come and see a great band  - BVD - and meet some of the musicians that made the 'Barn one of the most famous venues in the early '60s. Did I mention that the Ventures played the Whiteland Barn?

 Expected guests:

Keith Phillips - Keetie of Keetie & the Kats - generally known as the house band of the 'Barn
Ronnie Haig (Hege) -
Larry Goshen - Historian & musician - Crowns & more
Dan Ware - Vlasics
Bill Harding - Vlasics
Chris Henricks -Vlasics
Val Muylle - Good Cheer - BVD
Jerry Lee Williams - Crowns
Ron VanLandingham - the reason the reunions exist at all!
Don Holt - Whiteland Barn owner

And hopefully many more I can't name here! Don't miss this opportunity to see guys and gals that lead the parade at the Whiteland Barn!

And faithful readers, if anyone can help with a Whiteland Barn chronology, we are attempting to get one together. Tragically, a fire wiped out all the records, photos, and memorabilia of the 'Barn. The "Dawn Five" ad is from March '67, altho I'm leaning towards an early '68 shutdown, I'm not certain and would like to have it documented.

Did I mention the Ventures played the 'Barn? And the Amimals, and Jerry lee Lewis!

Dynamic Apollos - South Bend

I love this job! Come home from work, fire up the e*mail and:

"They (Dynamic Apollos) were active in Indiana in the mid-60s and recorded this demo in1965 in Gary, IN. They eventually toured Europe and played the Star Club in Hamburg where the Beatles got their start."

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the Dynamic Apollos from South Bend!

Ned Farry - guitar
Albee Bearman - organ
Tom "Duck" Drake -  drums
Jim Alexis - bass and lead vocals

I'm checking any connection to the Apollos that recorded on Orlyn. Probably not, but worth checking out!
Special thanks to Mike Alexis for the heads up and tribute to his Dad's band!

Indiana Beach - Monticello, Indiana

The Indiana Beach amusement park was quite the szene in the 60's. Check out this slice of history, August '68, and look at the treasure of bands that performed there. For three bucks or less, you could be rockin' to the likes of the:

Cryan' Shames - Illinois band with hit record "Sugar & Spice" altho the flip "Ben Franklin's Almanac" is the superior tune! Several 45's released.

Stamp Machine - unknown

Iron Butterfly - San Diego, CA - a world away from Indiana in the '60's. In-a-gadda-da-vida could have been the whole set!

REO Speedwagon - Illinois - not the mid '70's powerhouse with Gary Richrath yet.

SRC - Scott Richard Case - Detroit - several 45's recorded

Rituals - unknown - common band name

Brand X - Could be one of two known bands. One recorded a great 45 on Steel-Breeze, two motown tunes from a Chicago(?) band, or an Indianapolis band that included Rob Swaynie


Guess Who - Canadian - if you don't know these guys, I can't help you.

Cavaliers - Several to chose from also. Could be the one from Greenwood.

Basooties - One 45 on Muffin - Gary, IN label. General wisdom is Indiana based band.

For $3 you could see Iron Butterfly AND REO Speedwagon - where have all the good time gone?

Thanks Brad Long for the flyer!

Swagmen - Mishawaka

1802 W. 6th Street Mishawaka, Indiana, the address of the short-lived Americana imprint. The band, The Swagmen, left plenty of clues on the label, but are so far unknown.

Who are "B. Trace - Wagner - Abrams - Phillips"? Brian Kough? Anyone? I have found many bands with much less to go on.

What I do know is that the a-side - "Mendocino" - was released by the Sir Douglas Quintet in December '68. Credited here to "Doug Sahn", maybe that wasn't the only typo on the label.

Mendocino - groovy cover, sounds like a talented bar band.
So Long Baby - original tune I'm guessing, interesting.

Fire up those brain cells friends, we have a band to find!

Glass Dagger - Logansport

Behold the Glass Dagger! Another entry from Logansport.

Terry Fry - vocal
John Goodrich - guitar
Tom Minniear - bass
Dave (J. D.) Hatton - Drums

These photos and names graciously contributed by Brad Long of Logansport. Brad has amassed a spectacular history of the bands of Logansport, and I thank him for his assistance in making 60's indiana band szene a groovy place to read about the bands.

Cameros - Logansport

Hailing from Logansport, Indiana, meet the Cameros.

John Wingo - guitar - vocals
Jon Schirm - guitar - vocals
Kenny Holcomb - bass - vocals
Tom Morehead - drums - vocals

Since the Chevrolet Camaro was introduced in late 1966, we can assume that these lads came after that.

This photo and names graciously contributed by Brad Long of Logansport. Brad has amassed a spectacular history of the bands of Logansport, and I thank him for his assistance in making 60's indiana band szene a groovy place to read about the bands.