Lets Talk Fenton Records

Submitted by Samantha Stephens on Sun, 10/22/2006 - 2:04pm

The legendary Fenton Records in Grand Rapids where various bands from that city and around Michigan came to record in the Great Lakes studios in GR is back. Wayback Records is putting out a 3LP/2CD set called Sceam Loud The Fenton Story loaded with great and forgotten slabs of Michigan rock this end of Hideout Records in Detroit.
Here is the track list
The Quests-I'm TemptedTonto & The Renegades-Little Boy BlueThe Beaux Jens-She Was MineThe Jujus-I'm Really SorryThe Chancellors-5 Minus 3The Saharas-They Play It WildThe Jades-We Got Something GoingThe Chentelles-Be My QueenHeadhunters-Times We ShareThe Assortment-First I Look At The PurseThe 9th Street Market-You're GoneThe Blokes-All American GirlThe Sheffields-Nothing I Can DoThe Ardvards-I Dont BelieveThe Blues Company-She's GoneThe Soul Benders-7 and 7 IsBlack Watch-Left BehindThe Penetrators-What Went WrongThe Jades-Surface WorldThe Ardvarks-I'm Higher Than I'm DownThe Mussies-12 0'Clock JulyThe Jujus-You Treat Me BadThe Tribe-Fickle Little GirlThe Plagues-Why Cant You Be TruePeter & The Prophets-Dont Need Your Lovin'Tonto & The Renegades-I Knew This Would HappenThe Barons-Try A Love With MeThe Quests-Shadows In The NightMe and Dem Guys-Come on Little SweetheartRenegades V-Wine, Wine, WineThe Plauges-I've Been Through This BeforeThe Mussies-Louie Go HomeThe Fugitives-You Cant Blame That On MeThe Legends-I'll Come AgainThe Jujus-Do You Understand MeThe Quests-PsychicThe 9th Street Market-I'm A BabyPeter & The Prophets-Johnny of DreamsThe Pedestrians-Its Too LateThe Beaux Jens-Trouble BabyBed of Roses-I Gotta FightThe Ardvarks-Thats Your WayThe Barons-Dont Come Back No MoreThe Jades-Confinded CongregationsThe Fugitives-I'll Hang AroundThe Blokes-Slander's ChildLyn & The Invaders-Boy Is GoneTonto & The Renegades-The Easy Way OutThe Jades-Please Come BackThe Pentagons-Try and FindThe Plauges-(Clouds Send Down) Tears From My EyesPoor Boys Pride-The PlaceChancellors-Dear JohnThe Assortment-Bless Our Hippy HomeThe Plauges-Through This WorldThe Ardvarks-I Dont Need YouThe Blues Company-Experiment In ColorThe Jujus-Hey Little GirlTonto & The Renegades-Anytime You Want Some Lovin'The Quests-Sceam LoudThe Pedestrians-Think Twice

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Mickey, you are deep. I had no idea there was anything going on in Grand Rapids….ever (except for Al Green and DeBarge) (Just kidding about DeBarge). I wasnt to hear that for sure.

yeah, I read that and had no idea… looking forward to hearing this stuff!

A few of these tracks have turned up on other comps such as Back From The Grave, Pebbles, Teenage Shutdown etc. The mid 60's GR/Lasing/Benton Harbor scene didnt get much notice because largely these were local bands who didnt get any attention outside their hometowns, so its not as well known as the mid 60's Detroit scene(which dosent get the attention it deserves thanks to Motown, The Stooges, and the MC5 but thats another thread). Anyways this should be out hopefully before the end of the year. Once I get more details I will pass them along.

Yeah, I'll be curious to hear some of this.

The Soul Benders-"7 and 7 Is" is an insane cut. Kicks Love's wispy lil' California heinies,and ENDS WITH AN ATOMIC EXPLOSION!!!!! Sweeeeet!

Wasn't the Left Banke from one the the lakeshore "Haven" towns?

For more info on this go here:

http://www.rimpo.de/fenton.htm

Just found out the vinyl version is only a limited 900 copies so when this comes out and if you want it on 33 1/3 you gotta act fast

My frist attempt at a website was Grand Rapids Rocks: http://www.grandrapidsrocks.com/

I rarely update it anymore, but lots of members of the original bands add comments all the time.

I was happy to hook up the label who's putting out that comp with some of the original band members, who provided unseen photos (and permission). It's a great comp. So many badass songs.

The GR scene was definitely poppier than the punk Detroit scene, but it's still great. Not all of the Fenton-related bands were from GR; some were from as far away as Grand Ledge and Traverse City.

"I'm Tempted" by the Quests (mp3) is one of my favorite songs of all time (definitely my favorite stalker/daterape song): "I'm tempted to take you…NOW!" My other fave 60s GR track was left off this comp: "Ya Ha Be Be" by the Bel-Aires (mp3).

The Left Banke was from New York.

THe Left Bank I know about are the guys who did "Walk Away Renee". About this Fenton comp there is a band from South Haven called the Mussies, Ponky you know anything about them? Also recently found out(and this is uncomfirmed) that the three LP set is going to be around $70 hopefully it wont be that much, if it is I am going to have to get the CD version. This is great stuff but thats too much for three records

Back in my dog days, at Karamazoo Korrege, we were listening to the Nuggets record that had the Mussies song on it. The liner notes described them as "West Michigan's mystery band". Someone had heard that they had been students at said academy. Same someone knew the lead singer's name. We dug out a "Boiling Pot" from what we determined to be the year of the Mussies. The singer was indeed a student… he was wearing granny glasses and a nehru jacket in his pic. I'll check with my homey John Ball–he'll member the name, fo sho.

Back in the Fleepside days, there was a Rickman resident who was a regular—very quiet, retiring guy, huge fan of classical music (as well as inexplicable subject of a Br*ce Wh*te poem that went “T*rry P*tts has lots of spots.”). He looked rather like a really tall version of young Truman Capote. Anyway, one time some little 60’s scene fanzine came in that had an article about a Michigan group from this side of the state called THE AARDVARKS. There were photos of said edentata on the beach at Lake Michigan, etc., and one of them looked extremely familiar. In fact, the photo was labeled with his name….the name of the fellow whom Br*ce Wh*te claimed to have “lots of spots.” When asked, T*rry denied that it was him, but Sc*tt and I are still convinced……the Aardvarks experience was somehow tied in with his mental downfall…Love to hear the stuff sometime!

Thats an iteresting story. When I get this set I am willing to share for those who are interested.

I…forgot

Great seeing something featuring all Fenton stuff! Got a couple of singles plus cuts on Teenage Shutdowns. There's a guy who'd visit the liberry and rave about seeing some of those bands - I think he recommended the Grand Rapids Rocks site to me when I told him there was a lot of interest in that stuff… in Europe. .de of course!

Did you ever pick this compilation up, Mickey? Do tell.

As always, I’m a day late and, well, many many dollars short.

I love you guys.

-Dadmin

I’ll let you in on the progress bar of Mickey: nein, Er hat keine Musik! Corner Records has like 10 of those fuckers, but at $65 they’re too pricey. I believe he is going to trade goods in (Beatles boots, actual boots, not bootlegs) for the whole thing. I want the fucking hot box set too, truth be told.

Not yet but I so want this. As Useless mentioned they have like 10 copies of this on vinyl but they’re $65 a pop. Keep in mind only 900 copies were pressed on vinyl. Going to get up there in the next week or so with a few things to trade.

When I get it I will be sure to let yall know.

To let yall know I picked up the Fenton box today at Corner Records. They told me they ordered 50 copies of this on vinyl so there are several left.

Our good friend Michael Hurtt just reviewed this set in Mojo 162. The review gives some nice background info on the Fenton operation:

… (In 1963,) Dave Kalmbach decided it was high time he expanded his budding recording operation beyond his basement. By setting up shop at the Our Theater in nearby Sparta, he inadvertently followed in the footsteps of Memphis’s Stax and Hi, who had recently located their studios in former cinemas… (W)hen Great Lakes Recording Studio moved in, the Our Theater was still screening movies, so Kalmbach and his sundry bands did business between the latest western and beach flicks. With recording equipment crammed into the projection booth and bands blasting forth from between the screen and the first row of seats, they recorded either before the first matinee or late at night, after the popcorn had been swept up.

Again, if you missed Jake’s earlier post, his Grand Rapids Rocks site offers even more Fenton info and interviews with participants. Not even a month ago, someone offered this info in a comment on one of the interviews:

In 1965 you would take your band’s tape and money to the rear of a storefront on Division in downtown Sparta. They would then place the order for your records with the "American Record Co." pressing plant in Owosso, MI. The plant would put whatever label name you wanted on the product. The Fenton name was the most requested one. That wonderful factory burned to the ground in a massive fire on October 29, 1972. So sad! In 2002 I went to the corner where the plant once stood and poked around. Found some surviving burnt remnants of old 45’s at the edge of the foundation! Some pieces still had some readable print on them. (Sigh!)

Does Corner still want $65 for the LP, Mickey?

Yes they do want $65 but I think its worth it even though the price is steep. You can do what I did and take some stuff up to Corner Records and sell it to them. The Stooges, The MC5 and the Beatles had to be sacrificed in the process but it was a nice trade.

Came across this thread quite by accident. In 1964ish I lived in South Haven, MI next door to I believe his name was Paul Nabb of The Mussies and actually took guitar lessons from him but I was very young at the time (around 5 or 6) and was friends with his younger brother Neal. He gave me a copy of their demo 45 of A side "Louie Go Home" B side "12 O’Clock July" which I have had ever since. It is in pretty rough shape and certainly hasn’t seen any play since the 1970’s. I am going to put it up for sale on Fleabay and see what I can get for it. Anyone know what happened to these guys???

Give us the link to your 45, and I bet someone would buy it.

Belly up and start bidding, boyeeez.

Just to let anybody know but the vinyl version of the Fenton box is sold out(then again they only pressed 900 copies which is probably why it was so expensive). You can still get this on CD. You probably wouldnt have to go to Corner, I imagine you could get it online.

Its worth it to me!

People: The vinyl version of this box set has been (from the beginning) and still is available on Amazon.

Just stumbled onto 4 newly made videos (by Aris, lead singer of the SoulBenders from Grand Rapids) including ‘7 & & Is’ now on YouTube.

Check em out! They’re a lot of fun.

Lets Talk Fenton Records

Mickey, you are deep. I had

whoa

A few of these tracks have

should be good

Wasn't the Left Banke from

For more info on this go

Just found out the vinyl

Grand Rapids Rocks

Left Banke

THe Left Bank I know about

Back in my dog days, at

lots of spots

Thats an iteresting story.

***

surface world

Shining some light

I'll let you in on the

Not yet but I so want

To let yall know I picked up

"****" - Mojo

Yes they do want $65 but I

The Mussies

Fleabay link...

I bet somebody right in this thread would buy it.

Just to let anybody know but

Box set and videos

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