The Younger Brothers | “Go Away”

“Go Away” / “This Feeling In My Heart” (Wendy 101) August 1967

The Younger Brothers | “Go Away” | (Wendy) 1967 | This is quite a magical number by a group of teenagers compiled on the sought-after Brain Shadows – Volume 1 LP, released in 1990/91, with a very limited pressing of 300 copies.

It’s something of a DIY affair, with a very thick card cover with art / details pasted on both sides of the LP cover. The compilers provided an insert with details of the records and anything known at that time about the groups under the spotlight.

This is what they said about their series ‘Brain Shadows‘.

“Brain Shadows is a series dedicated to rediscover great pieces of music which never reached the popularity they deserved in their own time. For further information consult the books of Tom Tourville upon Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Chicago, North & South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.”

The Younger Brothers | “Go Away” | (Wendy) 1967

From the compilation I’m focussing my attention on a little known group called the Younger Brothers who hailed from Statesboro / Sylvania, GA, according to Teenbeat Mayhem reference book.

Even now, after over 30 years since ‘Brain Shadows’ seemingly very little has been written about the Younger Brothers in fanzines or blogs online.

I’ve checked out the handful of YouTube uploads of “Go Away” and from various comments left have sourced the following information.

line-up:

Bill Lane (organ / backing vocals)
Rick Freeman (lead singer / rhythm guitar)
Steve Chester (lead guitar)
Skip Hardy (bass / backing vocals)
Dennis Kaney (drums)

The Younger Brothers | “Go Away” | (Wendy) 1967

“Go Away”, penned by Steve Chester, is a haunting lament with faltering drum patterns, spooky organ, backwards psychedelic studio effects and a morose vocal delivery, which is almost hypnotic.

As far as I can tell, the song is loosely based on the Castaways tune “Liar, Liar”, although admittedly the pace is a little slower.

If anyone has any more information about the Younger Brothers and / or group photographs please contact me via the contact form.

Larry Waters has provided accurate information and kindly submitted his archived photos and ephemera for inclusion.

The Younger Brothers History:

In the fall of 1966 Bill Lane (organ, guitar & vocals) and Rick Freeman (guitar & lead vocals) from Sylvania, with Dennis Kaney (drums & vocals) and Steve Chester (lead guitar & vocals) from Statesboro, all formerly in The Cannibals, were joined by Statesboro’s Skip Hardy (bass & vocals) , formerly in The Grapes of Wrath, to form The Younger Brothers.

They were known for their excellent musicianship and tight vocals. The name was suggested by road manger and light show man Larry “Schwartz” Waters’ father. The name could be for the outlaw gang or that all members were younger brothers in their families.

The band played mostly in south Georgia but many trips to South Carolina and Alabama were made. The venues were usually rec centers, teen towns, Jr-Sr’s, low country bars, fraternity parties, or birthday parties. They made frequent appearances at the Hullabaloo Clubs in Atlanta and Macon.

Also, they opened for Neil Diamond and The Box Tops concert, The Impressions concert, and Dee Clark in Augusta, for Blues Magoos and 1910 Fruitgum Company in Savannah, and for The Hombres at the Dothan Peanut Festival.

Their original song “Go Away” produced by Jim Youmans (The Apollos) was released on Wendy Records in 1967. The band appeared WJBF’s Top 10 Dance Party to showcase the new single. They also did sessions with Ray Whitley (songwriter of hits by the The Tams), Freddy Weller (Paul Revere & the Raiders), and Rodney Mills (The Bushmen).

This band line-up continued until winter 1968 when first Rick and then later Skip left. John Tootle (Jesup) replaced Skip on bass. This was the last version of the YB’s until Steve departed in late1969. Mike Reeves (Sons of Bach) then joined with Bill, Dennis, and John to form the first Wheatstone Mission.

Some background about how “Go Away” came about. Most everything correct but . . . I wrote the lyrics to ‘Go Away’ (in my bedroom in Sylvania) and basic chords. Steve added a lot on the instrumental side and Bill added some extra lyrics.

Steve was a master at playing guitar licks backward so they would be correct when then recorded backward. The flip side “This Feeling in My Heart” was all mine. After we finally finished ‘Go Away’ (about 2 am) we then recorded ‘Feeling’ in about 30 minutes. Drummer Dennis Kaney found the old set list.