The Originells 4, "Nights" c/w "I Can Make You Mine," Apt 45-25074 (rel. 1/1965)
The existence of The Originells 4 was unknown to me until I took a second look at the record. The Apt label usually means “Little Star” by The Elegants, a 1958 pop hit in the white doo-wop vein. Nice record, blah blah blah, thanks, seen it. Little did I know that ABC-Paramount, Apt’s parent label, revived the imprint after a three-year hiatus and just for this UK import. The record, as “Cash Box” chirped, had all the ingredients of a Top 100 smash. It was about four months too late—not the band’s fault.
The single, by Tyneside
band The Originells 4, was recorded in the early fall of 1964 and issued on
EMI’s Parlophone imprint that October. Its appearance in the US in February
1965 hit at a moment when UK-mania had ebbed a bit. British records still
peppered the US charts, but American musicians had time to react to the new
bent in pop music and our efforts felt revitalized. A glance at the “Cash Box”
Top 100 chart for 2/13/65, the date they reviewed today’s record, shows just
six UK artists in the top 20. American artists dominate the 100 hit records. A
few months earlier or later, this single might have made it.
Little is known
about this group. Promotional photos show the typical lot—a nerdy-looking guy
with Ernie Douglas glasses, short, perky percussionist, lumbering, hunky
bassist and chipper anyman on second guitar. Parlophone allotted them two
singles, which didn’t succeed on their home turf although the band kept gigging
for a few years after their disc debut.
Two original
songs with buoyant energy and charm, an eccentric lead guitar style and loud
mastering sound great today but were excess baggage in the most intense year of
popular music. More great records that didn’t make it were issued in 1965 than
I could ever hope to hear. We’ve been through this bit already, so let’s get to
the record.
“Nights” is an up-tempo anthem to the joys of the evening, celebrated in two
minutes flat. Its exuberant melody and brash vocal harmonies deliver a
memorable lyric (penned by group members Les Coates and Dave Allan). It’s a
winning, warm record that, at a difference of a few weeks could’ve been an
American hit. It gets at the good-vibes feeling of The Beatles without sounding
copycat-ish and we get a taste of their lead guitarist’s curious approach to
his instrument. Great fun, sez I.
If only Cash Box's word was reality, we'd all know this group instead of uttering: huh?
“I Can Make You
Mine” is the type of cocksure song only a guy in his 20s could write. The
guitarist gets to noodle more on this slower, more melodic song that has
someone (the producer?) playing piano. The innocence and optimism of this side
is almost poignant. Though I’m fond of “Nights,” this side has proven the real
grabber for me. Sad to think this was it for a group of obvious talent and
potential, but that’s the record biz for ya.
Tomorrow: teen rock delight with Joel Hill pretending 1956 never ended, via a rare 1960 small-label single.
Thanks, Frank! Great to hear these for the first time. I really enjoyed them both but especially "Night." Strong, likable vocals, nice harmonies employing a favorite device where the lower harmony and the higher harmony often equally as "lead" and come together in unison at times...as you know a time-honored Everly's device later taken into new lands by the Beatles and others. Hard to see if the Ricks in the photo are 12 or 6 string because most Rickenbacker 12's have 6 tuning pegs on the back of the head, but I think one is likely a 6 and one a 12 (and I think that may also be a Rick 4001 bass to the right of the drummer). To my ear the lead guitar parts in on the second track sound 6 string Rick-y (that certain plunky tone) and the solos on first sound like a 6 string guitar but maybe not a Rick, but what do I know.
ReplyDeleteYou know your guitars, sir! That's impressive! Makes since they'd use Rickenbackers--those were so associated with The Beatles in late '64. I always welcome and enjoy your thoughtful comments, Dean!
Deletesorry once again for the typo: "...and the higher harmony often function equally as "lead" and..."
ReplyDeleteI maek my srhae of typos heer--no worrise!
DeleteThanks Frank, and also for kind words above--it'a always my pleasure to drop by and chat!
ReplyDeleteBill H.
ReplyDeleteAnother one of those records where you wonder—if they could have had a better producer and then, of course, if ABC-Paramount had got behind these fab 4 talented guys who were ALSO from Liverpool, where would they be today? Possibly a catchier one -word band name would have helped too? You find such cool records!
ReplyDeleteIf time travel is ever a thing, you have a second career as a counsellor for young rock 'n' roll combos. As you say, it's baffling that the record label didn't capitalize on the obvious radio appeal of these unknown lads. The concept of cross-promotion was still uncommon in 1964/5!
Delete