Penfro Sounds

The Melodians - You Have Caught Me Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - The Little That You Have Trojan THB7031 (2018) Originally recorded and released in 1967 these two tracks were issued together on this 45 as part of the Trojan50 box set. The Melodians were a rocksteady band originating from the Greenwich Town area in Jamacia. Formed in 1963 by Tony Brevett, Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton.  The band recorded during the period 1963-1973 and intermittently after that. Justin Hinds and his backing band the Dominoes originated from the Steertown area in Jamaica.  Hinds, produced by Duke Reid, recorded his first 45 in 1963. Throughout the 1960s he stayed with Duke Reid  and became one of the biggest acts in Jamaican music at that time. They finally parted company in 1972 and Hinds went on to record with others including the producers Jack Ruby and Sonia Pottinger. His final solo album was recorded in 1992 however he did work as part of the band Wingless Angels which was prod...

The Romantics Talking In Your Sleep / I'm Hip Nemperor ZS4 04135 (1983) Originating out of Detroit, The Romantics are a new wave/power pop band formed in 1977. Having released a few 45s on smaller labels, the band were signed in 1979 to Nat Weiss' Nemperor Records.  They have to date released several albums and 45s on the label gaining a large fan base especially in the US and Australia. This 45 from 1983 was one of their most popular releases reaching #3 in the US, #1 in Canada and #14 in Australia. Around the time of this release the band toured, playing arenas with The Kinks, Cheap Trick and the Cars.   In 1990 Clem Burke (former member of Blondie) became the band's drummer and stayed with them until 2004 when he returned to the re-activated Blondie. The band were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2011 and as at today continue to play live and tour. FLAC

The Mynah Birds It's My Time / Go On And Cry V.I.P. V.I.P.-25033 (2012) The Mynah Birds were a Canadian R&B/Garage band active 1964 through to 1967.   The band is notable due to a few of its famous band members, namely Neil Young, Rick Matthews (aka Rick James) and Bruce Palmer. In early 1966 the band was signed to Motown records and recorded this 45 which was scheduled to be released on Motown's subsidiary label V.I.P. that May.  The story goes that the band found out that their manager had stolen the advance they received from Motown so they fired him.   In return he informed Motown that Rick James was AWOL from the US Navy.  Rick was subsequently arrested by the Navy and jailed.  Motown shelved the single and cancelled plans for an album so Young and Palmer famously sold their musical equipment, bought a hearse to drive to LA and once there helped form Buffalo Springfield. Although James, Young and Palmer were gone the band still had a six month...

The Seekers Hits From The Seekers EP Columbia SEG 8496 (1966) The Seekers were an Australian folk-influenced pop group originally formed in Melbourne in 1962. They were the first Australian pop music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States. They were especially popular during the 1960s, with their best-known configuration of Judith Durham on vocals, piano, and tambourine; Athol Guy on double bass and vocals; Keith Potger on twelve-string guitar, banjo, and vocals; and Bruce Woodley on guitar, mandolin, banjo, and vocals. Although they were though as being too pop to be considered strictly folk and too folk to be rock this this not affect their popularity with the record buying public. This EP released in 1966 features four tracks that had all been previously released on 45s.  Someday, One Day was written by Paul Simon, The Carnival Is Over was written by Tom Springfield from the Aussie folk group The Springfields and the other tw...

The Pretty Things Private Sorrow / Balloon Burnings Columbia DB 8494 (1968) By the time of the release of their fourth album S.F. Sorrow in 1968 the band were well established on the UK and world wide music scene.  Having started back in 1962 as a R&B/60s beat band they had seen the coming decline of that style of music and had began experimenting with a more psychedelia sound.  This resulted in the concept  S.F. Sorrow album which explores the life of a single character. It delves into themes of loss, regret and the passage of time. It was billed as the first rock opera, beating The Who's Tommy by several months.   This 45 taken from the album was released in November 1968 and, although the album has been lauded as a masterpiece, this single failed to chart. FLAC

Crown Heights Affair Galaxy Of Love / Cherry Mercury 6168 801 (1978) Named after the New York neighbourhood in which they originated, Crown Heights Affair were a funk/soul band formed in 1967. The band were originally signed by RCA and in 1974 their first album (and 45) were released. During 1975 the band moved to the De-lite Records label which became associated with PolyGram Records.  This association helped the band to achieve a worldwide audience.   Several 45s (and albums) released in the late 70s achieved commercial success both in the UK and in the US charts.  This 45 was a big disco hit on the UK club scene and it reached #24 in the UK charts becoming, at the time, their most successful release to date. The flip side is a slow soul ballad which sounds dull on first listen but certainly grows on you with subsequent listens. Into the 80s they continued to release new material but one band member Bert Reid left in 1981 to pursue a career in record producing....

The Routers Let's Go (Pony) / Mashy Warner Bros. WB 77 (1962) An American instrumental group formed by Michael Zane Gordon with Al Kait, Lynn Fraiser, Scott Engel, Randy Viers.  They also used session players most notably Leon Russell and Hal Blaine.  This 45, released in 1962 reached #19 on the US billboard chart and #32 in the UK.  The song was credited to Lanny Duncan and his brother Robert Duncan. Lanny Duncan had previously recorded the original demo of the song in 1961 as a member of the Starlighters before this version was recorded. The Routers released several other 45s but none made any real impact and the band ceased to exist around 1964/65.  Gordon had previously formed the band The Marketts and had recorded with that band over the same period as The Routers existed. Post 1965 he continued with The Marketts into the mid 70s. Scott Engle changed his name to Scott Walker and of course became one of the Walker Brothers. Leon Russell went on to great succ...

The Big Three Some Other Guy / Let True Love Begin Decca F 11614 (1963) A British band whose roots began in Liverpool in 1959 with a band called Cass and The Cassonovas.  They eventually evolved into The Big Three with the line-up of Johnny Hutchinson (drums, vocals), Adrian Barber (first guitarist, lead guitar, vocals) & Johnny Gustafson (bass guitar, vocals). Signed to Brian Epstein's agency, although only a trio, they were known as "one of the loudest, most aggressive and visually appealing acts" on the Merseybeat scene.  Like The Beatles they worked the Hamburg circuit. In late 1962 Barber left the group and Brian Griffiths replaced him. Returning from Hamburg they auditioned for Decca records and this their first UK 45 was recorded and released. Although it didn't make a huge impact on the UK charts (#37) the song became a standard on the Merseybeat scene with others, including The Beatles, recording versions. In July 1963 Epstein dropped the band and in Nove...

The Ventures The 2,000 Pound Bee Liberty LIB 67 (1962) The Ventures are one of those bands that have been around forever.  Originally formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the orginal band included bassist Nokie Edwards and drummer Skip Moore.  The is was the lin-up that recorded their first hit "Walk Don't Run".  The line-up changed when Skip Moore left the group to be replaced by George T. Babbitt who in turn left as being only 17 he was too young to play in nightclubs.  Howie Johnson was brought on as the new drummer. This 1962 release was written by Don Wilson.  Around the time it was recorded Howie was replaced on drums by Mel Taylor.  I am unable to confirm which drummer played on this recording. As said the band has been around forever and they are still active today but with none of the original members.  The current line-up is fronted by Bob Spalding who became known as the 5th Venture.  He started playing with...

Hunt's Determination She's On My Mind / Rollerskate Earwax SH 200 (1978) A hunt (pun intended) on the web shows no mention of anyone called Hunt in this band so where the name comes from I am not sure. The group consisted of brothers Bernard & Johnny Brown (guitar & sax) along with trumpet player Danny Reedemar. The other members were Charles Horne - lead singer, Edward Haygood - percussion, Cornielus Jordon - Bass and Joseph Washington - drums. Originating from Flint, Michigan the band released two albums and a handful of 45s on the Detroit Earwax label. Although appreciated as a classic soul/funk band by collectors, there is little information available about the band who appeared to fade away in the early 80s.  As always if anyone knows more about the band please pass the information on and leave a comment. FLAC