By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Friday, October 26, 2001 - 07:55 pm:

here's a pic of the roostertail from belle isle.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Friday, October 26, 2001 - 08:00 pm:

should have added that the 4 tops recorded their live album on the second floor (upper deck).

they stood with their backs to the large window in the centre of that floor.

the best live album ever!!

By Ralph terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 12:15 am:

And also David, periodically large geysers of water would come up behnd that window. A great backdrop.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 08:47 am:

ralph, when you stand on the upper deck looking towards belle isle, or east down river; it's so beautiful.

thanks for the piece on the geysers. keep it coming. great stuff ralph.

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 01:19 pm:

David,
When I was living in Indian Village I was on Belle Isle all the time. I loved it there.I would lay out on a blanket facing Canada and watch the huge lake freighters wending there way to the St. Laurence Seaway or wherever they were going. they were awesome. Great memories on that island.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 01:25 pm:

ralph

lowell mentioned to me some months ago that he thought that motown acts played the bandstand next to the casino on belle isle.

do you recall this or any other musical events on the island.

sounds really feasible that there would be high quality concerts on there .

btw i was in indian village last month. it's still beautiful on seminole.

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 09:25 pm:

David,
I can't say as I remember any concerts on Belle Isle. I think that was more popular in the 40's or very early 50's but I could be wrong.It would have been a great spot for performances. I know because of the whole black-white issue in those days, many whites were terrified to go to Belle Isle anytime...night or day. To bad...their loss.
Yes David, Indian Village was special. I'll always treasure the days I lived there.

By maredda (130.49.149.44 - 130.49.149.44) on Tuesday, October 30, 2001 - 03:47 pm:

What a beautiful place, and I know it was just the happening spot in the 60s. What I wouldn't give to have been there for the recording of the Four Tops' Live album! Beautiful locale.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Tuesday, October 30, 2001 - 06:26 pm:

hope you can pick out the name on the roof.

By DeAnne James (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 04:27 am:

The first band in the upper deck was the Four Sharps" Russ on guitar, Frank Bias on drums, Ronnie Godo on organ and I can't remember the bass player. I was the feature vocalist (DeAnne James). that was the summer of 1965. We traveled to Chicago to find a replacement band and found a trio playing at a record hop in the suburbs. Tom and Jerry Schoenoff paid for the trip to find the trio. The Roostertail was only a couple miles from where I lived and the brothers treated me great. The place was beautiful. I have great memories of the Roostertail

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.188.30 - 213.122.188.30) on Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 12:39 pm:

deanne
do you have any photos of your band in the roostertail?

i will be doing a webisode sometime.

By DeAnne (24.120.38.66 - 24.120.38.66) on Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 04:43 pm:

I believe that I do. This weekend, I will be going through my scrapbooks. I think I have early pictures of Terra Shirma, McKinley Jackson and Danny Woods at The Playhouse, a picture of Babbitt with the Royaltones, and some other goodies that might interest some of you. This weekend, I'll see what I can find.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 05:12 pm:

deanne
these pics will be of immense interest.

mckinley jackson is another guy who is rarely seen in photographs.

looking forward to seeing them.

By recordboyusa (208.61.5.193 - 208.61.5.193) on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 05:14 am:

DeAnne,
I have a 45 by the Four Sharps:

U-44/Doin' The Roostertail (Gale Recording Enterprises 7978)
It's from 1965

Produced by Jerry Schoenith.

U-44 is credited to R. Sweets,
Doin' The Roostertail is credited to R. Sweets and R. Godo.

Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.113.229 - 213.122.113.229) on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 08:46 am:

jeff
it's great when things begin to make sense.

i've never heard of this label. is there an address on it by any chance?

yes i'd like to hear more about this deanne.

also john lester, my mate harry and i always wonder about the site of the pic on the front of the four tops greatest hits album (you know, the green and white cover/colour pic).

we keep thinking roostertail, but far from sure.

By recordboyusa (208.61.5.193 - 208.61.5.193) on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 05:35 pm:

Davie,
The only address on the Four Sharps single is Grosse Pointe, Michigan -- no street address given. The publishing companies were Frascato and Bajus Music Pub., BMI.

I should mention that the Roostertail is where the Shaggs (from Miami) played while they were in Detroit. They're the band that recorded "Ring Around The Rosie" for the Palmer label. They went to Detroit as a Beatles-influenced harmony band, and returned to Miami totally into soul music!

They told me that one of the bands they played with was the Lourds, a pre-Amboy Dukes band.

Their manager at the time, Ray Skop (who was one of their high school teachers back in Miami), stayed in Detroit and became involved with Punch Andrews of Hideout fame.

Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com

By DeAnne (24.120.38.66 - 24.120.38.66) on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 06:41 pm:

That's Russ Sweets. My goodness I sang backgound on u-44...."u-40 forty four." I think that was the number of the race boat that Jerry Schoenoff raced in the Hydroplane races during the 60's. Gale was the name of the corporation that started the Roostertail. The father of the twins owned Gale Electric...that was the money source I believe. You guys are incredible.

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.40.173 - 62.31.40.173) on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 06:52 pm:

DeAnne -
pray tell us more, even.......

Now I am going to have to scramble and buy all these records that are being mentioned!

David - I did listen to that Mary Love track. It starts slightly weak, then picks up. It is good though. I tell you, this is such a buzz reading all this stuff. And I nearly believed friends, when they tell me I'm living in the past. I always remind them, in that case, to throw away all their photo's, if it is that much of a problem.

DeAnne - are you still singing now? Pardon me if you have mentioned that already.

By John Lester (213.122.201.206 - 213.122.201.206) on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 07:24 pm:

David

I have only been to the Roostertail once and that was in the dark evening.

It could well be the Roostertail and I am sure I have seen the picture credited to the roostertail but I dont want to be the one to give you a 100% answer. Sadly its a UK picture sleeve so we can't ask the Detroit guys this one....

By DeAnne (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 11:07 pm:

I now work for four radio stations in Las Vegas. Two album rock fm's and two sports am's. Yes, I am still singing. I do a big show every year called "The Advertising Community Talent Show" which I founded (It's in it's 7th year.) Proceeds go to battered women. Anyway, I do the San Genero feast show each year, and there's a blues band here in town that I sit in with occasionally, and an old rock band that always gets me up to sing as well. Mostly, fun stuff. I have a new band that we are working on to do lounge stuff around town too. I have a full lounge in my family room (stage and all) with a great sound system that everyone comes over to jam on. I guess you never really get it out of your system. Thanks for asking.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.19.9 - 213.122.19.9) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 08:32 am:

have you ever seen mr wingate in vegas?

By Ritchie Hardin (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 10:04 am:

Carl...

"Living in the past"...?

Two thoughts:

- We're not living in the past. We're saving it for the future, or it will be lost forever.

- and how come nobody accuses people who enjoy Opera or Beethoven of "living in the past"?

By Carl Dixon (62.31.40.173 - 62.31.40.173) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 11:12 am:

Ritchie H-

Excellent point - I will try the 'Opera' one. That should raise a few eyebrows and shut 'em up! Is that Opera Winfrey by chance?

By DeAnne (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 02:54 pm:

I have never seen Ed Wingate in Vegas...and by the way, the past is a beautiful part of who we are. This website makes me feel good and makes me happy. Thanks for the "Hi" Babbitt.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.30.121 - 213.122.30.121) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 03:11 pm:

carl
if you had to comply with how others wanted you to lead your life - you'd have one lousy life.

stick with this, you're helping to unravel the musical mysteries of one of the greatest cities in the world - detroit.

By Davie G (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 05:16 pm:

Jeff,

Thanks for pitching in with the info. on the
Four Sharps - I can alway rely on you to come up
with details of records that are almost completely
unknown.

Incidentally the question about the address was
from David Meikle. On this forum I use "Davie G"
to try to avoid confusion over which David is which ( Jeff and I are on a few other lists
and he's always known me David Gordon ) - Hope
that clears that up - we don't want a Bob Babbitt
"who played bass" scenario.

By recordboyusa (208.61.5.193 - 208.61.5.193) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 12:02 am:

Thanks Davie G -- actually, I did think that was you with both log-ins. Hard to keep track of!

Sorry David for the confusion.

Jeff Lemlich