By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 06:24 pm:

ralph

was this your record label?

can you recall how you/they came up with the design?

which pressing plant was used?

were you aware of the archer record pressing company on east davidson?

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 07:15 pm:

Yes David...Tera Shirma was my label. In all honesty when I saw the yellow and black design on the web site I was surprised. I seem to remember we also had like a royal purple with silver script. Fred Saxon doesn't remember it. He just remembers the yellow and black. Don't quite remember how the design came about. I suppose we were given options by the pressing service. Yes...now that you have reminded me...I do remember Archer. I'm not sure why we didn't use them. Also, in the TS story where I talk about the delayed Southbound Freeway records from RCA....that may be an error. I may have used Columbia now that I have thought about it. I think it was Motown that used RCA.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 07:36 pm:

the disc has a 'ztsc' code on it which means it was pressed by columbia in chicago.

i often wonder about the cost of manufacture and how many issues to press. can you remember detail like that?

was there only one release?

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 08:01 pm:

David,
I should have known that you would have the pressing info on the record.

Cost...hmmm...good question..for some reason $200.00 per thousand singles sticks in my mind. I may be wrong. I'll check with Fred or Harry.

It seems we released Rusty Day's I Gotta Move on Tera Shirma, but there is no record of it. Other than that, that was all that was released on TS. After that I had gotten to heavly involved in the building and the running of the studios and abandoned any musical pursuits on TS's behalf. A move which might eventually be part of my downfall.

By Ian W (213.122.41.248 - 213.122.41.248) on Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 11:13 pm:

With the website being down, I took a look at some of the earlier items!

The Rusty Day record came out on Maltese records MLT-110 with ref. given to TS. My database says the same record was released also on MLT-104 - anybody know what was on the B-side of that (poss. instr.)?

Also, what does the Southbound Freeway track sound like - it looks intriguing!

Ian

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 12:18 am:

Ian,
Maltese records may have been Al Valente's label. I think I had this conversation with the record's producer, Fred Saxon, a few weeks back. So there must have been some sort of deal between Tera Shirma and Maltese. Damned if I remember what though.

I remember very little about The Southbound Freeway record other than it had an extremely commercial quality to it. Fred Saxon, the producer of that record also,may have a copy of it.

By Ian W (213.122.74.1 - 213.122.74.1) on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 10:53 pm:

Thanks, Ralph!

You'll have to get Fred on the forum!

Ian

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, March 01, 2002 - 12:55 am:

Ian,
Fred comes on from time to time.

By Keith Rylatt (212.44.18.3 - 212.44.18.3) on Friday, April 12, 2002 - 03:11 pm:

Hi Ralph. Do you (or anyone) recall anything about the pre Bob Crewe / Dynovoice days of Mitch Ryder & Detroit Wheels? They have always been very popular in the UK. I understand they recorded at Thelma around '63. (They had a 45 released on Carrie in '62 as Billy Lee / Tempests) but it is the unissued Thelma I am interested in. Billy Lee & Rivieras seem to have been `managed` by DJ Bob Payne, early on. As Billy Lee he fronted the Fabulous Peps, who backed him at Thelma. has anyone any info on his Thelma days please?
Thanks Keith.

By Keith Rylatt (212.44.18.3 - 212.44.18.3) on Friday, April 12, 2002 - 03:25 pm:

Hi again Ralph A usually reliable source who had some connection with T J Fowler suggests that the Patti Young recording consisted of the basic Funk Brothers backing Sue Ann Jones down at Ernstrat. Does her name mean anything to you please? Keith.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, April 12, 2002 - 03:48 pm:

Keith,
I don't know much about Mitch and his earlier days other than he was Billy Lee and the Rivieras. Fred Saxon co-owned the Chatterbox with one time Sunliner manager Bob Brower. I know the Rivieras played there often, so maybe Fred will have more information.

I'm not famiiar with Sue Ann Jones. I do know that the Funks were on Head and Shoulders but just which ones I'm not sure. Fred will be coming on the forum soon and I'm sure he will answer your questions.

By Fred Saxon (204.210.5.240 - 204.210.5.240) on Monday, April 15, 2002 - 06:35 am:

Mitch Ryder was Billy Levise. I hired him and his band to play at my club, "The Chatterbox" in Garden city. It was a teen club, the year was 1964. Billy was great, but he used to abuse his vocal cords.

By Keith Rylatt (195.92.194.19 - 195.92.194.19) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 10:11 am:

Hi Fred Thanks for this info. We in the UK are honoured that you have taken time to come on to the Forum. It must have been very exciting for young white performers such as Mitch, to get involved and accepted on the Soul scene. In the UK we were constantly surprised when we would find out that a classic Soul cut was infact by a white artist. eg half the Reflections have close Scottish roots! Dean Parrish, R Dean Taylor, Doni Burdick etc. 50% of the marvel was down to guys like you, Ralph, Russ etc who created the package. Talking about `Out of left field` stuff, there is a UK recording that never got issued in the US by black Jamaican artist, Jackie Edwards, called `I Feel So Bad` it is a classic Soul record, any US Forum fans heard it? Keith.

By john lester (213.1.131.142 - 213.1.131.142) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 10:18 am:

Keith.....I got White Christmas from him ...on Island

Tony Blackburn got me on to this one...one of my favourites too..

Good ole Tone....!

By Keith Rylatt (195.92.168.173 - 195.92.168.173) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 12:46 pm:

Hi Ralph. I live in a small rural village in Kent, England. and in my local pub, The Royal Oak, most of the `regulars` are honest farming folk. The following type of small talk can be heard over pints of real ale most nights of the week....."Hey Jethro did you know that Ernstrat Productions Inc. was also called the 350 Corporation. Organised by Ernie on 13th Aug. '65. On 9th March '66, the name, studios,production & publishing were sold out and it became a public corp known as the Terra -Sherma Sound Studios, it boasted the following personnel - a mighty good looking (at this point the pub ladies swoon) 24 yr old Ralph as President, Director & Treasurer. 54 yr old Al as Vice pres & Dir. 27 yr old Ira Jaffe Company Sec & Dir. Fred Koterko as Dir & Prod Manager and Milan as Chief Eng. It was regarded as having the best production facilities in the city!" (everybody in the pub shouts in agreement here) Your newly increased hire charges are then discussed - " Hey Ralph, were you buying a Roll Royce EVERY week? $20 to $40 and $35 to $55 per hour. Gross studio rental rose from $1701.25 for Feb '66 to $2766.50. for July and then to $4335.27 for Sept.
They owned 4 record labels, publishing rights to 40 songs, and are looking at buying 3 further labels. Their new ultra modern 8 track studio cost $250,000 but things started to get a bit sticky arond '69. That Bogdan guy wanted out and started Bumpshop & GM, Ralph and his mate went to Motown. In the summer of '70 their studio was bought by Gold Soul but they faulted on the payment so it went back to the lawyers, they ended up auctioning all of that gear that Ralph & Korky had installed."(cries of shame ring out!) At this point an old shepherd asks his dog to go to the old Seeburg juke box and put on the pub's scratchy anthem, 'Head & Shoulders'. The old man reminds us all that Ralph's mate, Ernie sold the song to smart assed business men in a big town called New York on 29th Dec. '65 because he needed $$$$. "The song went to Goal Productions Inc. His Dynamics tune "Yes I Love You baby" also ended up in the city too." By now it's 11.30 pm, Patti Young has been spun to death and the old pub goes to sleep once again.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 01:10 pm:

Keith,
One of these days I need to get to that pub and have a pint or two with you guys. I wouldn't mind meeting the ladies either. I wonder if they're still interested? You guys constantly amaze me on all you know.Hell...you guys just constantly amaze me period and one of these days, I shall meet all of you.

By Keith Rylatt (195.92.168.171 - 195.92.168.171) on Sunday, April 21, 2002 - 03:57 pm:

Ralph There is a seat in the corner near the log fire with your name on it. Does anyone know (I bet John will) EXACTLY which members of the Temps & Marvs, made up the Darnells please?? Keith

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, April 21, 2002 - 04:25 pm:

Put another log on Keith. i'lll be there as soon as possible.