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  Kev-Lo (7273747576) 4-Laureate Username: 7273747576 Post Number: 76 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.236.36.10 |
Hi this is Kev-Lo you know back in the mid to late 60's so many groups such as the Teptations,Impressions,Smokey Robinson, and the miracles the Delfonics,The Intruders and The Moments dominated to mid to late 60's But the VanDykes was a trio group that was very much underrated and over looked.the VanDykes were from Fort Worth,Texas.Rondails Tart's falsetto voice was accompanied by two-part vocal harmony and sustained organ chords,the result is eerie and beautiful their 1966 single No Man Is An Island was not a major hit at all at least not on the big stations. But it was their biggest and most popular hit. Their other songs like Tears Of Joy and I Got To Go On Without You were sooth and very soulful and we have to put this classic soul act up there with all of the other acts that put classic soul on the map | ||
lenny (lennytone) 3-Pundit Username: lennytone Post Number: 66 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.241.87.19 |
We sold tons of their 45's when I worked at Mays in Brooklyn. Like you said, "No Man Is An Island" was the biggie, but "I've Got To Go On Without You" (my favorite), "Never Let Me Go" and "You Need Confidence" sold well, too. There were so many wonderful groups back then that never really made it big, Mad Lads, Invitations, Del-Vons, Exsayveyons, Continental 4, and on and on... | ||
Tony Russi (tony_russi) 4-Laureate Username: tony_russi Post Number: 119 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.210.10.11 |
I saw the VanDykes in person in 1966 on a big package show and they were great-sounded just like their record..."No Man Is An Island" was their record at the time. My favorite was "I've Got To Go on Without You".I can't remember who produced the records I remember they were on the Amy/Mala/Bell co.There was so much great music then...I just couldn't buy everything I liked is there now a VanDykes CD?They were influenced by the Impressions I think. | ||
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 3-Pundit Username: davie_gordon Post Number: 48 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 212.219.250.2 |
Tony, The producer for the VanDykes was Charles Stewart. Yes, there is a VanDykes CD available which compiles all their Mala singles. It was issued about 4 years ago by Sundazed and as far as I know is still in print. Check the label's website at www.sundazed.com Davie | ||
Tony Russi (tony_russi) 4-Laureate Username: tony_russi Post Number: 120 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.210.10.11 |
Thanks Davie.I'm not familiar with Charles Stewar,do you know where they recorded? | ||
Robb_K (robb_k) 5-Doyen Username: robb_k Post Number: 240 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.81.19.138 |
They were located mainly in Texas, as they were serving in the military there. I think I remember reading that their lead singer, and the main member force behind the group was from Chicago. So, his being heavily influenced by Curtis Mayfiled's Impressions is not an unlikely scenario. As far as their recording, I too, would like to find out where they recorded. I seem to remember reading that they were taken up to Chicago while on leave to record a session. But they may have also recorded locally in Texas. Their last two 45s have Aim Music sharing the publishing. Wasn't that one of the Muscle Shoals production groups? I also had a feeling they may have done a session in New York. I don't recognise any of the people's names on the records. Where did Charles Stewart operate out of? They didn't list any of the arrangers. Some of them have Phil York listed as the engineer. Anyone know where he worked? On their last Mala record, "Jon T. Bone" shared producer credits. I never heard of him. The style of their recordings sounds like a weak imitation of "The Chicago Sound", but I don't hear any of my favourite Chicago musicians in the music. I doubt that they had any of the classic Chicago Sound musicians on those recordings, and wouldn't be surprised if all the sessions had been done in Texas. They don't sound to me like the muscle Shoals regular musicians. I'm sure someone on this forum can inform us about this. I've seen several articles on The Van Dykes in British Soul magazines of the late '70s and early and late '80s. They did mention where they recorded. These are their Mala 45s I have: 520 - "No Man Is An Island"/"I Won't Hold It Against You" 530 - "I've got To Go On Without You"/"What Will I Do (If I Lose You") 539 - "I've Got To Find A Love"/"Never Let Me Go" 549 - "You Need Confidence"/"You're Shakin' Me Up" 566 - "I'm So Happy"/"A Sunday Kind Of Love" The earlier, R&B group of that name on DeLuxe and King Records, and other small independent labels was not connected with the Mala group, as far as I know. | ||
Phil (phil) 3-Pundit Username: phil Post Number: 63 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 212.129.36.193 |
Kev-Lo, funny that you mention the Van Dykes, I just listened to their LP, yesterday ! Even if I'm not a great fan of falsetto singers, the Van Dykes for me are very special.I have their LP on Bell, and also another one on Solid Smoke (1982), which has 7 of the 11 tracks on the Bell LP, plus 7 unissued tracks. It has also detailed liner notes, and here are some answers to your questions : " In 1964, Tandy (originally from Owenboro, Kentucky) settled in Fort Worth, where he met 3 singers, Eddie Nixon (falsetto lead), Wenzon Mosley (tenor) and James May (baritone). After a while, Dixon departed, and was not replaced. They continued to sing a mixed bag of doo-wops and soul tunes with an Impressions flavor. "Curtis Mayfield was my idol" admits Tandy. when the Van Dykes started playing talent shows at Fort Worth's Araby Night Club, they were introduced to Charles Stewart, who would eventually become producer for all their sessions. Their first record,"No man is an island/I won't hold against you" was initially issued on Stewart's Hue label. Like so many other Van Dykes songs, both sides were originals written by Tandy." "Tandy did most of the arranging for the Van Dykes sessions" All the tracks were produced by Charles Stewart, and recorded 1965-1967 at Sound City recording, Fort Woth, Texas. | ||
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 3-Pundit Username: davie_gordon Post Number: 58 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 212.219.250.5 |
Phil's pretty much thoroughly covered the group's sixties' history. Robb mentioned "John T-Bone" as their final producer - I think is a Texan musician usually known as T-Bone Burnett who worked with Bob Dylan in the seventies and also led an outfit called the Alpha Band on Arista. He was in a few Texan garage bands in the sixties - if I remember rightly he was from Fort Worth which would neatly tie up this query. What is less well known is that the Van Dykes reformed in the eighties and had an album on a local Texan label called Marquee. I have all their albums but it would take a while to dig it out storage. I haven't listened to it in years but I remember it as good but not exactly essential. Finally, Robb's correct about them being unconnected to the VanDykes on labels other than Mala. There was a VanDykes group on Atlantic around '63 who were from Connecticut. Offhand I'm not sure where the King / DeLuxe group came from. There's also a VanDykes group on Decca from the late fifties who may well be unrelated to any of the others. Davie | ||
Tony Russi (tony_russi) 4-Laureate Username: tony_russi Post Number: 122 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.210.23.202 |
Thanks Phil & Davie for the info.I want to get the CD with the Mala singles. | ||
lenny (lennytone) 3-Pundit Username: lennytone Post Number: 70 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.241.87.19 |
I hope I'm not pushing my luck here but.... we have it in stock!! www.cdornotcd.com ;) | ||
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 3-Pundit Username: davie_gordon Post Number: 65 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 212.219.250.4 |
Robb, you've got me curious ... you say that the last Mala single credits "Jon T-Bone" as co-producer. The Sundazed CD booklet has scans of some of the Mala singles including "Save My Love For A Rainy Day" but only Charles Stewart's name is mentioned. Is yours a different pressing - if so can you tell me the matrix numbers so I can update my Amy-Mala-Bell lists. I finally remembered the name of T-Bone Burnett's sixties group - The Loose Ends - who had two singles - one on Mala then a second on Bell - so I think my guess as to the identity of "Jon T-Bone" is probably right. Davie | ||
Phil (phil) 3-Pundit Username: phil Post Number: 68 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 212.129.37.6 |
You're right, Davie, in his book on garage and psych music "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers", Vernon Joynson writes that T. Bone Burnett was in The Loose Ends, based in Fort Worth. | ||
Flynny (anoraks_corner) 3-Pundit Username: anoraks_corner Post Number: 55 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 213.122.3.228 |
Here's a promo of the group's NSoul favourite...a classic even...great vocal and instrumental productions imo.  |
