Sunset Strip ravers on Hanna-Barbera Records
The Guilloteens – “I Don’t Believe” / “Hey You!” (HBR 446) August 1965
The Guilloteens | “For My Own” | (HBR) 1965 | This entry is the first in a three part look at The Guilloteens HBR singles. They hailed from Memphis and were fortunate to have ’The King’ as a supporter who used his contacts to get them a regular booking at the Red Velvet Club in Hollywood.
Now that they were in Folk-Rock City and making money and meeting girls, the next step was to find a record label to release their sounds. This came in the unlikely form of HBR, a recently formed label mainly associated with cartoons.
The Lewis Paul Jr original ’I Don’t Believe’ was their first 45 and sold well in Los Angeles. The song is notable for it’s dense production and solid lead vocals by Lewis.
It’s interesting to note that The Guilloteens recorded an earlier demo of ’I Don’t Believe’ with help from Phil Spector. This version was never completed when the group signed to HBR.
The Moonrakers released their version of ’I Don’t Believe’ on Tower Records.
The flip ’Hey You!’ written and sung by Laddie Hutcherson is a solid Kinks style guitar rocker. They performed this song on Los Angeles TV Show Shiveree.
The Guilloteens – “For My Own” / “Don’t Let The Rain Get You Down” (HBR 451) October 1965
The Guilloteens follow up to ’I Don’t Believe’ was the superb punk jangler ’For My Own’. . . HBR even sent out some copies resplendent in a psychedelic picture cover. ’For My Own’ was, in my opinion, their finest two and a bit seconds of coolness. Strong vocals, chiming guitars, clattering tambourine and uncluttered production equals greatness in my book.
The flip ’Don’t Let The Rain Get You Down’ is a Brit Invasion ballad and is similar in sound and style to the slow paced ballads The Searchers churned out.
It was therefore no surprise to learn from Mike Markesich’s sleeve notes from The Guilloteens ’Complete Singles Collection’ released on Misty Lane Records, that the Memphis trio performed with The Searchers on TV Show Shindig playing the R’n’B standard ’I Got My Mojo Working’ and by all accounts out performed them.
The Guilloteens – “I Sit And Cry” / “Crying All Over My Time” (HBR 486) July 1966
Lead guitarist and main vocalist Lewis Paul Jr quit The Guilloteens in 1966 and the group also left Hollywood and returned to Memphis. According to Laddie Hutcherson ”He was frustrated with the management.”
Budd Delaney was brought in on bass guitar and Laddie Hutcherson switched to lead guitar. Drummer, Joe Davis continued as the enigmatic sticksman.
Their third and final HBR release was the rockin’ garage bliss ’I Sit And Cry’ written by new member Delaney. This one pounds away at the senses from beginning to end. The flip ’Crying All Over My Time’ ain’t no slouch either and was compiled on Highs In The Mid Sixties – Volume 8.
misc information:
Laddie Hutcherson died 2009
Joe Davis died 2008
discography:
I Don’t Believe / Hey You! (HBR 446) 07/65
For My Own / Don’t Let The Rain Get You Down (HBR 451) 10/65
I Sit And Cry / Crying All Over My Time (HBR 486) 07/66
Wild Child / You Think You’re Happy (Columbia 4-43852) 11/66
Dear Mrs. Applebee / I Love That Girl (Columbia 4-44089) 04/67
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