Monocled Alchemist

Detroit late-60s garage band The Just Luv are under the spotlight: Frank Rossi confirms the details.

THE JUST LUV – ’Valley Of Hate’/’Good Good Lovin’ (M-S Records 216) 1970

Just Luv: Detroit – Valley Of Hate: This band released just this one obscurity then were gone.

It’s thought that they were from Detroit, Michigan but apart from that they’re a  mystery.’Valley Of Hate’ is a primitive garage protest with strong late 60s folk rock overtones.

There are some killer fuzz guitar breaks over a two note organ riff and judging from the lyrics it’s most likely about an encounter in Vietnam.

”I walk alone, no place called home,
In the valley of hate”.

The flip ’Good Good Lovin’ is a James Brown cover version, also recorded by English band The Merseybeats.

This time around The Just Luv make this tune into a frat style mover with another killer guitar break (this cat could really play) and instead of the two note organ they utilize piano.

’Valley Of Hate’ has been compiled a few times but not since the mid 80s. You’ll find it on Pebbles – Vol 16 & Punk Ballads Sampler. ’Good Good Lovin’ is yet to make a comp appearance.

Since I wrote my review almost two years ago Frank and Dave Rossi have been in touch by email.

Frank kindly answered my questions about The Just Luv and provided me and fellow garage fans much needed and accurate information about the all time classic anti Vietnam War song ’Valley Of Hate’  

Just Luv: Detroit – Valley Of Hate

Frank Rossi:

”We all were from Detroit but more on the edge of Detroit we were in bands together while in High School.

Just Luv line-up:
Joe Nazelli (guitar)
Rick Hoffman (keyboards)
Dave Rossi (drums)
Frank Rossi (bass and vocals)

“The Just Luv name was only used for the record but we played regularly under various names such as The Crestwoods, Great Plains Band and The Variety Pack.

I don’t remember how the name Just Luv came about,  probably something silly like being in love or getting married.

No photographs exist of the original four of us from back in the day.

The lyrics and music for ’Valley Of Hate’ were written whilst I was serving in Vietnam during 1969 and when I returned back to the States we recorded it in January 1970 at a studio called Sound Patterns in Farmington, Michigan.

Joe Nazelli came up with that great guitar lead.

As far as I know only 100 records were pressed. The group kept some copies and the rest were sold at gigs or given away.

By the way there is a 5 minute version of ’Valley Of Hate’ on acetate – we had to re-record the vocals and shorten it for 45 release”

Originally posted on ’Flower Bomb Songs’ March 2011

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Comments:

Hey, thanks for this post. I now have a bit more insight into my father (Dave Rossi – drums) and his misspent youth as he likes to call it. It was so cool to hear the song too — I’d never heard it before! (Jenny)

One note of correction: My brother Frank mentions that we recorded this in January of 1970.

I believe it was more like 1972 or 1973.

I was married in 1972 and living in Lincoln Park (Detroit downriver suburb) and remember spending all night in the studio and crashing on my parents couch in Detroit. (Dave Rossi)