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The earlier A & R deal with Columbia isn't mentioned but do check out Artie Wayne's interview with Hank Medress for Spectropop in which Hank talks about The Tokens deal with Capitol Records for 5 singles and recalls in great detail meeting the Chiffons and their manager & song writer Ronnie Mack in one of Capitol's office and the subsequent recording session, a must read.
Capitol Records turned down The Chiffons "He's So Fine" and ended their A & R deal. The Tokens had recorded the track with money from their demo budget supplied from the publishing company. So off they went to get the cut pressed with another label. All the majors and most of the minor record labels turned them down before Laurie Records clutched the cut to their bosom and Bright Tunes took The Chiffons to Number 0ne in Billboard's pop and soul charts. For the rest of 1963 the hits just kept a'coming. No wonder as soon as their recording contract with RCA was up they had set up their own B.T. Puppy Record label, it must have all seemed so easy! Of course they knew it wouldn't be but for creative types the chance to have control over what they recorded must have seemed irresistible.
They were given an early warning of the type of problems they may have to face when less than a year after taking the Chiffons to the top of the heap, attorney Seymour Barish president of Bright Tunes, after receiving a letter from Stan Allen the personal manager of The Four Seasons, charged The Chiffons with a breach of contract and warned Vee Jay Records that to affect a breach in this contract would have serious financial repercussions. In a move that didn't appear to help either side The Chiffons 'won' their court fight but stayed with Laurie Records and to a lesser degree the musical direction of The Tokens.
With the start of B.T. Puppy most of The Tokens productions except of course for The Chiffons were for there own label until they signed to Warner Bros. They were though approached to produce for artists signed to other labels and as with all their mid-sixties productions the quality was exceptional.
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| *1 | The Companions | I'll Always Love You (P. Margo-H. Medress) |
A Little Bit Of Blue (Dressed in White) (Bob and Jerry) |
A Bob and Jerry & Margo-Medress Prod. | Columbia 42279 | 55741 55740 |
01/62 |
| The Revlons | Dry Your Eyes (Margo-Medress) |
She'll Come To Me (Someday) R. Mandel-B. Hawkins |
Prod. By Bright Tunes Production Arr & Cond. Sammy Lowe |
Capitol 4739 | 24083 24084 |
04/62 | |
| Bobby Kalina | Two Loves (Neval Nader, Bob Kalina) |
When Saturday Night Becomes Sunday Morning (Margo-Medress) |
Prod. By Bright Tunes Production Arr & Cond. Sammy Lowe |
Capitol 4747 | 24077 24076 |
05/62 | |
| Rubin Williams | Blow Out The Sun (A. Resnick-J. Barry) |
Burning Memory (Margo-Medress) |
Prod. By Bright Tunes Production Arr & Cond. Sammy Lowe |
Capitol 4769 | 24074 24075 |
05/62 |
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| Bobby Brookes | Timber (H. Miller-J. Shapiro) |
Say Goodbye To Heaven (D. Kalina-B. Kalina) |
Prod. By Bright Tunes Productions Arr & Cond. Sammy Lowe |
Capitol 4780 | 24126 24128 |
06/62 | |
| *2 | The Tradewinds | If I Had A Hammer (G. Sappir-E. Brandon) |
Daddy Roll 'Em (G. Sappir-E. Brandon) |
Prod. By Bright Tunes Productions | Capitol 4801 | 24121 24122 |
07/62 |
| *3 | The Galaxies | Little Man (Alan Harvey) |
Just Another Date (Alan Harvey) |
Ronnie 201 | 62 | ||
| *4 | The Revlons | Moonlight Angel |
You Don't Love Me | Crystal Ball 138 | 62 |
*1 *2 *3 *4 Click here for Notes
| *1 | Signed to an outside producing pact with Columbia Records in November 1961 Hank Medress & Phil Margo were released from the label and then signed for Capitol Records in February 1962. Columbia Records retained the rights to the masters recorded by the two Tokens for Columbia or Epic Records, at least one was slated for release. Is this the only single or are there more to find? As with the instrumental released at RCA as by D.D.T and The Repellents the producing & writing credits were shared with Bob Feldman & Gerry Goldstein (two thirds of the famed Feldman, Goldstein, Gottherer trio) |
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| *2 | Both sides of this 45rpm are credited as written by G. Sappir-E. Brandon. The same recording of "If I Had A Hammer" but in stereo and correctly credited to Seeger-Hays was also released as by The Town Criers on their "From Shore To Shore" album (B. T. Puppy 1009) in 1970. For more information check out the notes to The Town Criers B.T. Puppy album (Also see the notes for the Lenny & Dick 45 on Laurie) |
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| *3 | Patrick G. has already added two releases to The Tokens discography and I was delighted to receive another email with another addition recently. Quite a bit harder finding this one and I've copied his research below. Thanks Patrick. "While searching through copyright records on Copyright.gov I made a series of discoveries that led me to believe the following record is a Tokens production from when they had the production deal with Capitol in 1962, Discogs.com. Both 'Little Man' and 'Just Another Date' are songs published by Bright Tunes Music in 1962, both written by Alan Harvey. And I came across the following website on Google that claims the Galaxies recorded these plus an additional cut, "Why Does It Hurt So" (this remains un-released) on February 27, 1962 in New York for Capitol, Popculture Fanboy Blogspot. I think it’s reasonable to assume that the Tokens produced the session, one of the their first for their new deal with Capitol Records." | |
| *4 | These cuts aren't actually credited but both cuts on this 45 are accepted as being produced by The Tokens during their Capitol tenure. Hank Medress noted that The Tokens deal with Capitol Records was for 5 singles, unless there is another 45 out there this would seem to confirm the two Revlons cuts on Crystal Ball were produced by The Tokens. |
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| *1 | The Chiffons | He's So Fine (Ronnie Mack) |
Oh My Lover (Ronnie Mack) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod | Laurie 3152 | 01/63 |
| *2 | The Carnations | Funny Time
(Floyd Lewellyn-Hardy Martin-Edward Humphreys) |
Punctuation (Floyd Lewellyn-Hardy Martin) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod | Laurie 3163 | 02/63 |
| The Chiffons | Lucky Me
(Ronnie Mack) |
Why Am I So Shy (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod | Laurie 3166 | 02/63 | |
| *3 | Randy & The Rainbows | Denise (Neil Levenson) |
Come Back
(Neil Levenson) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod | Rust 5059 | 04/63 |
| *4 | The Four Pennies | My Block (Radcliffe-Spencer) |
Dry Your Eyes
(Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod (A) Arr & Cond. Sammy Lowe |
Rust 5071 | 05/63 |
| *5 | The Chiffons | One Fine Day (C.King-G. Goffin) |
Why Am I So Shy
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod | Laurie 3179 | 05/63 |
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| *6 | Andrea Carroll | It Hurts To Be Sixteen (Ronnie Grossman) |
Why Am I So Shy
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod | Big Top 3156 | 07/63 |
| *7 | The Chiffons | A Love So Fine (C. Kerr-S. Barnes-The Tokens) |
Only My Friend
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
(A) Engineer-Brookes Arthur | Laurie 3195 | 08/63 |
| *8 | The Wonders | Say There (K. Ferguson) |
Marilyn
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
A Bright Tunes Production | Colpix 699 | 08/63 |
| *9 | The Summits | Hanky Panky (E. Greenwich. J. Barry) |
He's An Angel
(J. Barry. A. Resnick) |
A Bright Tunes Production | Harmon 1017 | 09/63 |
| *10 | The Four Pennies | When The Boy's Happy (The Girl's Happy Too) (J.Barry-E.Greenwich) |
Hockaday Part 1
(J. Hamiph) |
A Bright Tunes Production (A) Engineer: Brooks Arthur |
Rust 5070 | 10/63 |
| *11 | The Chiffons | I Have A Boyfriend (Barry-Greenwich-The Tokens) |
I'm Gonna Dry My Eyes
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Produced by Bright Tunes Prod Inc (A) Engineer Brookes Arthur |
Laurie 3212 | 11/63 |
| *12 | Randy & The Rainbows | Why Do Kids Grow Up (Neil Levenson) |
She's My Angel
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel, Kalina) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod | Rust 5073 | 11/63 |
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| *13 | The Chiffons Laurie LLP 2018 |
Side 1: "He's So Fine" (Ronnie Mack), "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" (G. Goffin, C. King), "Oh My Lover" (Ronnie Mack), "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" (Lymon, Goldner), "My Block" (Radcliffe-Spencer), "ABC - 123" (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel, Venneri) Side 2: "Lucky Me" (Ronnie Mack), "Why Am I So Shy" (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel), "See You In September" (Burgess - Based on Traditional Air), "Wishing" (Margo, Margo, Medress), "Mystic Voice" (Ronnie Mack), "When I Go To Sleep At Night" (Margo, Margo, Medress, & Siegal) Produced By Bright Tunes Productions, Inc. |
05/63 |
| The Chiffons One Fine Day Laurie LLP 2020 |
Side 1: "One Fine Day" (G. Goffin, C. King), "It's My Party" (W. Gold, J. Gluck Jr., H. Wiener), "The Loco-Motion" (G. Goffin, C. King), "Tonight I Met An Angel" (Margo, Margo, Medress, & Segal), "Only My Friend" (Margo, Margo, Medress, & Siegal), "Da Doo Ron Ron" (P. Spector, E. Greenwich, J. Barry) Side 2: "I Wonder Why" (Weeks & Anderson), "Foolish Little Girl" (H. Greenfield, H. Miller), "I'm Gonna Dry My Eyes" (Margo, Margo, Medress, & Siegal), "Did You Ever Go Steady?" (Margo, Margo, Medress, & Siegal), "When Summer's Through" (Margo, Margo, Medress, & Siegal), "Love Is Like A Merry Go Round" (Ronnie Mack) Arranged And Conducted By Sammy Lowe, Produced By Bright Tunes Productions, Inc. |
09/63 |
| *14 | Johnny Crawford Rumors Del-Fi 1224 |
Side 2: 2. "Janie Please Believe Me" (A. Harvey-R. Drayer) | 01/63 |
*1 *2 *3 *4 *5 *6 *7 *8 *9 *10 *11 *12 *13 *14 Click here for Notes
| *1 | Billboard chart No. 1, 6th April 1963. Billboard R & B Chart No. 1, 6th April 1963. |
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| *2 | Both sides are instrumentals. | |
| *3 | Billboard chart No. 10, 24th August 1963. Flip is instrumental. | |
| *4 | Billboard chart No. 67, 13th July 1963. Later releases add Bert Berns, name to the writer credits. Some promo copies list Margo-Medress-Siegel as writers. Flip is instrumental. |
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| *5 | Billboard chart No. 5, 13th July 1963. Billboard R & B Chart No. 6, 13th July 1963. | |
| *6 | Billboard chart No. 45, 31st August 1963. Ronnie Grossman is aka Neil Sedaka. | |
| *7 | Billboard chart No. 40, 19th October 1963. | |
| *8 | "Say There" was also released on The Satans Four & The Cinnamon Angels "Mixed Soul" album (BTP/S 1010). The same recording but in Stereo. The Del Satins recorded for B. T. Puppy as The Satans Four, so does that mean The Wonders are also The Del Satins? It is strange that it should be included on the LP but I don't think so. I'd guess The Tokens just thought it was too good a track not to re-use. | |
| *9 | Later released on Rust 5072. | |
| *10 | Billboard chart No. 105, 23rd November 1963. Flip is instrumental. | |
| *11 | Billboard chart No. 36, 4th January 1964. | |
| *12 | Billboard chart No. 97, 21st December 1963. | |
| *13 | Billboard Album Chart No. 97, 20th July 1963 Naturally the LP is known by it's lead track and chart topper "He's So Fine" but the album is simply called "The Chiffons". |
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| *14 | "The song, "JANIE, PLEASE BELIEVE ME," was written especially for Johnny by THE TOKENS..." writes Bob Keene in the albums sleeve notes. The latest copyright lists the song as by Alan Harvey, Roger Drayer & The Tokens. Published by Bright Tunes Music |
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| The Parlettes | Because We're Very Young (Kusik, Weiss) |
Tonight I Met An Angel
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Big Time Productions inc. | Jubilee 5467 | 01/64 | |
| The Chiffons | Easy To Love (So Hard To Get)
(G. Goffin - C. King) |
Tonight I Met An Angel (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod Inc | Laurie 3224 | 01/64 | |
| Andrea Carroll | The Doolang
(H. Greenfield - H. Miller) |
This Time Tomorrow (V. Millrose - L. Rosenblatt) |
Bright Tunes Productions | Big Top 515 | 03/64 | |
| *1 | Lenny & Dick | Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream (E. McCurdy) |
Talking Supermarket Blues
(L.Roberts - R.Reicheg) |
Prod. by Big-Time Prod Inc | Laurie 3216 | 05/64 |
| Randy & The Rainbows | Dry Your Eyes (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Happy Teenager
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Arr. & Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod Inc | Rust 5080 | 05/64 | |
| *2 | The Chiffons | Sailor Boy
(Goffin, Titleman) |
When Summer's Through (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod Inc Engineered by Brooks Arthur |
Laurie 3262 | 07/64 |
| The Chiffons | Strange, Strange Feelin'
(Margo - Margo - Medress - Siegel) |
What Am I Gonna Do With You (Goffin - Titleman) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod | Laurie 3275 | 10/64 | |
| *3 | Randy & The Rainbows | Little Star (Benosa, Picone) |
Sharin'
(Steve Friedland) |
A Bright Tunes Prod | Rust 5091 | 11/64 |
| *4 | The Teenettes | Story (N. Abel-M. Schwartz) |
Go Go (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Big Time Prod Inc | Goal 704 | 64 |
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| *5 | The Bitter Sweets | What A Lonely Way To Start the Summertime (Brute Force) |
Mark My Words
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
A Bright-Tunes Production | Cameo 368 | 03/65 |
| *6 | The Chiffons | Nobody Knows What's Goin' On (In My Mind But Me) (Brute Force) |
Did You Ever Go Steady?
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. Bright Tunes Productions Inc (A) Engineered by Bob Arnold |
Laurie 3301 | 05/65 |
| Beverly Warren | Let Me Get Close To You (G. Goffin-C. King) |
Baby, Baby, Hullabaloo
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Big-Time Productions |
Rust 5098 | 05/65 | |
| The Chiffons | Tonight I'm Gonna Dream
(Brute Force, Parsons) |
The Heavenly Place (Brute Force) |
Prod. Bright Tunes Productions Inc (A) Arranged Leroy Glover |
Laurie 3318 | 10/65 | |
| Randy & The Rainbows | Joyride (Brute Force) |
Little Hot Rod Suzie
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright-Tunes Prod Inc | Rust 5101 | 11/65 |
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| The Boys Next Door | There Is No Greater Sin (A. Kooper-I. Levine) |
I Could See Me (Dancin' With You)
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
A Bright-Tunes Production | Cameo 394 | 01/66 | |
| *7 | The Chiffons | Stop Look And Listen
(Doug Morris, Eliot Greenberg) |
March (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright Tunes Production Inc | Laurie 3357 | 03/66 |
| *8 | The Chiffons | Sweet Talkin' Guy (Doug Morris, Eliot Greenberg) |
Did You Ever Go Steady
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod by Bright Tunes Production Inc | Laurie 3340 | 04/66 |
| *9 | The Chiffons | Out Of This World (Doug Morris, Eliot Greenberg) |
Just A Boy
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod by Bright Tunes Production Inc | Laurie 3350 | 07/66 |
| The Boys Next Door | Mandy (Koss) |
One Face In The Crowd
(Force) |
Prod. by Bright Tunes Productions A Dunwich Production |
Atco 6443 | 09/66 | |
| *10 | The Chiffons | My Boyfriends Back (Feldman, Goldstein, Gottehrer) |
I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
(Gershwin-Heyward-Gershwin) |
Prod. by Bright Tunes Production Inc | Laurie 3364 | 12/66 |
| *11 | The Chiffons Sweet Talkin' Guy Laurie SLP 2036 |
Side 1: "Sweet Talkin' Guy" (Morris, Greenberg), "Up On The Bridge" (Maresca, Zerato), "Nobody Knows What's Goin' On (In My Mind But Me)" (Force), "Thumbs Down" (Friedland), "Just A Boy" (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegal), "Down, Down, Down" (Liebert, Miranda) Side 2: "Out Of This World" (Morris, Greenberg), "My Boyfriend's Back" (Feldman, Gottehrer, Goldstein), "Open Your Eyes (I Will Be There)" (Maresca), "March" (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel), "Keep The Boy Happy" (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegal), "See You In September" (Edwards, Wayne) Produced By Bright Tunes Productions, Inc. |
05/66 |
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| The Chiffons | If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) (Doug Morris-Eliot Greenberg) |
Keep The Boy Happy
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. Bright Tunes Productions Inc (A) Arr. Eliot Greenberg & Doug Morris |
Laurie 3377 | 02/67 | |
| The Cookies | Wounded
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
All My Trials (Adapted by J. Hamiph) |
Prod. by Bright Tunes Productions | Warner Bros. 7025 | 05/67 | |
| *12 | The Big Guys | Hang My Head And Cry
(Kenneth Ruffin) |
Mr Cupid (Don't You Call On Me) (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright Tunes Productions | Warner Bros. 7047 | 05/67 |
| *13 | The Arbors | With You Girl (G. Robinson) |
Arr & Cond by Hutch Davie Special production thanks to Al Kasha of Bob Crewe Inc. & The Tokens of Bright Tunes |
Date 1570 | 08/67 | |
| Lou Gossett | Where Have All The Flowers Gone
(Pete Seeger) |
Just A Girl (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright Tunes Productions Inc Arr & Cond Herb Bernstein |
Warner Bros. 7078 | 09/67 | |
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| The Chiffons | Just For Tonight
(L. Kusik-R. Adams-W. Farrell) |
Teach Me How (N. Sedaka-C. Bayer) |
Prod. Bright Tunes Productions Inc | Laurie 3423 | 02/68 | |
| Astrud Gilberto | Come Softly To Me / Hushabye
(Christopher-Ellis-Troxel / Pomus-Shuman) |
Lillies By Monet (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod by The Tokens for Bright Tunes Productions Arr & Cond by Norman Bergen |
Verve 10580 | 03/68 | |
| Lou Gossett | San Francisco Bay Blues
(Jessie Fuller) |
You're In A Bad Way (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bill Cosby and The Tokens for Bright Tunes Productions | Warner Bros. 7201 | 06/68 | |
| The Chiffons | Up On The Bridge (Ernie Maresca, Lou Zerato) |
March
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. Bright Tunes Productions Inc | Laurie 3460 | 08/68 | |
| *14 | The Next Exit | I'm The Only One (Brown, Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Break Away
(Brute Force, Paul Khan) |
Prod by The Tokens for Bright Tunes Productions Inc | Warner Bros. 7220 | 08/68 |
| Brute Force | Adam And Evening (Brute Force) |
The Purpose Of A Circus
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod & Arr by The Tokens for Bright Tunes Productions Inc | Warner Bros. 7224 | 08/68 |
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| *15 | Brute Force | King Of Fuh (Brute Force) |
Nobody Knows (Brute Force) |
Produced by The Tokens | UK Apple 8 | 05/69 |
| Power's Flower | Pushy
(Dave Appell-Kal Mann) |
You Loser, You Fool (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Produced by The Tokens and Big D. Appell for Bright Tunes Productions | Warner Bros. 7312 | 08/69 | |
| *16 | The Train | Pamela (Alfred & Arnold Infanzon) |
Produced by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Bright Tunes Productions | Avco Embassy 4507 | /69 | |
| Joey Power's Flower | Hard To Be Without You
(Tony Powers-George Fischoff) |
You're In A Bad Way (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Produced by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Bright Tunes Productions Arr. Mitchell Margo |
RCA 9790 | 12/69 |
*1 *2 *3 *4 *5 *6 *7 *8 *9 *10 *11 *12 *13 *14 *15 *16 Click here for Notes
| *1 | "Last Night..." was also released as by The Town Criers on the (B. T. Puppy 1009) album "From Shore To Shore" in 1970. (See also the notes for The Tradewinds Capitol 45.) |
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| *2 | Billboard chart No. 81, 15th August 1964. | |
| *3 | Billboard chart No. 133, 19th December 1964. | |
| *4 | Accordingly to the sister of the lead vocalist this 45 was planned to be released on B.T. Puppy. I'm not sure why it wasn't or why it was released on what I guess is a Laurie subsidiary label. The Tokens provided the backing vocals. |
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| *5 | Afraid all the 1965 record release dates are very approximate. A-side production credit actually reads "A Bright-Tunes 'Cave Sound' Production" | |
| *6 | Also issued with "The Real Thing" (V.Simpson-N.Ashford-J.Armstead), Engineered by Bob Arnold on the flip-side. | |
| *7 | Billboard chart No. 85, 8th October 1966. | |
| *8 | Billboard chart No. 10, 25th June 1966. | |
| *9 | Billboard chart No. 67, 27th August 1966. | |
| *10 | Billboard chart No. 117, 3rd December 1966. | |
| *11 |
Billboard chart No. 149, August 1966. Album shown is on UK London, re-issued after "Sweet Talkin' Guy" charted at No. 4 on the UK charts in 1972. |
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| *12 | I can't recall where I first read of one of the most sought after girl group rarities The Cookies "Mr. Cupid" / "Hang My Head And Cry" (Warner Bros 7047), think it may have been on J. D. Doyle's want list from the 70s. However as can be seen from the label scan, correct titles (and producers) but wrong artist, it is in fact recorded by The Big Guys. | |
| *13 | The A-side flip "A Love For All Seasons" has no credited Tokens involvement. | |
| *14 | The Next Exit were aka The Fabulous Four, not as has been claimed The Tokens. Full story here on Garage Hangover The Fabulous Four - Next Exit. | |
| *15 |
Only a few promo copies of this 45 were issued in the UK. "George Harrison, Living In The Material World" by Olivia Harrison reveals that George hired eleven string musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra to play on "The King Of Fuh" and he edited the final mix. |
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| *16 | This group is aka The Sundae Train. Only promo copies, with the same song on both sides, are known to exist. I assume Dave Appell brought the group to The Tokens attention, previous to the B.T. Puppy and Avco releases Dave Appell co-produced The Sundae Train's "I Wanna Be" / "Wake Up (Sleepy Girl)" (20th Century 6693). |
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| *1 | The Dahills | Do You Want To Go Steady (Lambert, Lambert, Bayne, Cennamo) |
Please Be My Girlfriend
(J. Powell,E. Navarro) |
Clifton 13 | 64? | |
| *1 | The Dahills | She's My Angel (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel, Kalina) |
I Who Love You
(?) |
Crystal Ball 107 | 64? | |
| *2 | Randy & The Rainbows | "Don't Worry I'm Gonna Make It (Take It Like A Man)" (Neil Levenson), Angel Face (Bruce - Vignari - Pearl) | Better Than Ever CD | Trust CD 5059 | 64 | |
| *3 | The Chiffons | Dream, Dream, Dream (E. Maresca, J. Curtis) |
Produced by Bright Tunes Prod. | Laurie 3648 | 67 | |
| *4 | The Chiffons |
"He's A Bad One" (Goffin, King) |
The Chiffons - Flips, Flops & Rarities LP | Act 007 | 67 | |
| *5 | The Chiffons |
"Soft Spoken Guy" |
Unreleased Available as a YouTube video |
67? | ||
| *6 | Various Artists |
The Tokens, The Happenings, The Chiffons, Dusty Springfield, The Yardbirds, Spencer Davis Group, The Who and Blues Magoos. "Great Shakes" Commercial. (S. Friedland - M. Margo - P. Margo - H. Medress - J. Siegel) |
Great Shaken' with Groups from The 60's | Mo-Donna EP#1 | 67 | |
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| *7 | The Shirelles | March (You'll Be Sorry) (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Produced Stan Green-Steve Tyrell Arr Ed Martin |
Scepter 12101 | 65 |
| *8 | Reparata & The Delrons | "In My Diary" (Jamiph, Kalina, Friedland) Whenever A Teenager Cries (LP) |
Prod. by World United Productions Arr John Abbott |
World Artists 3006 | 65 |
| *9 | Bonnie Herman | Hush Don't Cry (S. Friedland - H. Jamith - R. Kalina) |
Prod & Arr John Simon | Columbia 43833 | 66 |
| *10 | The Monkees | Laugh (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
More Of The Monkees LP Prod & Arr Jeff Barry |
Colgems 102 | 67 |
| The Angels | What To Do (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel, P. Khan) |
Prod Pierre Maheu & Ted Daryll Arr Pete Dino |
RCA 9129 | 67 | |
| Johnny Loren | Personality Defect Study I (M. Margo - P. Margo - H. Medress - J. Siegel) |
Produced by Peter Shekeryk | Columbia 44199 | 67 | |
| The Cowsills | The Impossible Years (From The M-G-M Picture "The Impossible Years") (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel,) |
Prod Bill & Bob Cowsill Arr Charlie Calello |
MGM 14011 | 68 |
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| Sonny Campbell | Goodbye Helen, Hello Heartbreak (N. Nader - T. Silva) |
Carlton 585 | 63 | ||
| Ria And The Revellons | She Fell In Love (Lynn Leone) |
Prod Lenny Vaccaro and Ronald Kelly | RSVP 1110 | 65 | |
| *11 | Chubby Checker | All Through The Night (S. Friedland - R. Kalina) |
Arr & prod Dave Appell | (Canadian) Parkway 936 |
65 |
| Joe Graves | Beautiful Girl (Brute Force - David Rockefella) |
Arr. and Prod. Dave Appell | Parkway 964 | 65 | |
| The Cyrkle | "There's A Fire In The Fireplace" (S. Friedland) Why Can't You Give Me What I Want (S. Friedland, T. Dawes) |
Red Rubber Ball LP
Prod. by John Simon |
Columbia LP 2544 | 66 | |
| *12 | Unsung Heros | Grey City Day (P. Khan-S. Friedland) |
Arr & Prod Dave Appell | 20th Cent 6656 | 66 |
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| *13 | Gerry And The Pacemakers | Girl On A Swing (Ralph Miranda) |
Laurie 3354 | 66 | |
| Chubby Checker | Her Heart (Brute Force) |
Prod Billy Jackson Arr Dave Appell |
Parkway 112 | 66 | |
| *14 | Soulful Bowlful | For All That I Am (Brute Force, Paul Khan) |
Prod & Arr Dave Appell | 20th Cent Fox 6688 | 67 |
| *14 | I, Brute Force Confections of Love |
"Side 1: 1. In Jim's Garage (with - P. Kahn) 2. The Sad Sad World Of Mothers And Fathers 3. Tierra Del Fuego (with J. Fishman) 4. No Olympian Heights 5. Cudd'ly Side 2: 1. To Sit On A Sandwich 2. Brute's Circus Metaphor 3. Brute's Party 4. As Long As My Song Lives 5. Tapeworm Of Love 6. Making Faces At Each Other All wr. Brute Force, Prod. John Simon Arr. John Simon - Side 1: 3, Side 2: 2, 3, 4 Arr Pat Williams Side 1: 1, 2,4 & Side 2: 1. 6 The CD reissue of this LP by Bar/None Records features three Bright Tunes published bonus recordings from the album sessions: "Hello Moscow", "Doughnut" (wr. with Paul Kahn) and "Conjugation. |
Columbia LP 2615 | 67 | |
| Brute Force | In Jim's Garage (B. Force - P. Khan) Cudd'ly (B. Force) |
Prod John Simon (A) Arr Pat Williams |
Col 44091 | 67 | |
| Bernadette Peters | Will You Care What's Hap'nin' To Me, Baby (B. Force, P. Khan) |
Prod & Arr John Simon | Col 44106 | 67 | |
| Brute Force | Toy's For Tots (B. Force) Brute's Party (B. Force) |
Prod & Arr John Simon (A) Arr Pat Williams |
Col 44371 | 67 | |
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| *16 | Connie Francis | Tommy (Hunter-Vincent) |
Arr & Cond. Stan Vincent | MGM 13237 | 64 |
| *17 | Dean Randolph | "It's All Your Fault" (), "She Knows I'm True" () | The Dean Of Philly CD | Crystal Ball 1092 | 64? |
| *18 | Ronnie Michaels | I'm Stickin' With You (Bowen - Knox) |
A Stan Shulman Production Arranged by "Calello" |
Mala 495 | 65 |
| Del Shannon | She Still Remembers Tony (Brute Force-Charlotte Parsons) |
Producer Harry Balk An Embee Production | Amy 937 | 65 | |
| Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited LP (Bob Dylan) |
Producer's Bob Johnson and Tom Wilson | Columbia 2389 | 65 | |
| *19 | Keith | 98.6 (G. Fischoff-T. Powers) |
Producer: Jerry Ross arr by Joe Renzetti |
Mercury 72639 | 66 |
| *20 | The Whispers | Knowin' (W. Schatz) |
Produced by Warren Schatz | Fontana 1564 | 66 |
| *21 | Teddy And The Pandas | Smokey Fire (W. Dewart) |
Produced by Bruce Patch | Musicor 1190 | 66 |
| *22 | The Romeos | The Tigers Wide Awake (Peretti, Creatore, Weiss, Stanton - Special Lyrics by Keller & Colber) |
Produced by Jack Keller Arranged by Alan Lorber |
Amy 840 | 62 |
| *23 | The Heatwaves | I'll Do My Crying Tomorrow (Margo-Margo-Medress-Siegel) |
A Billy Jo Production | Josie 941 | 65 |
| *24 | Vivienne Chering | I'll Do My Crying Tomorrow (arr Chering) |
Prod Mike Leander | UK Decca 12360 | 66 |
| *25 | Gerard | Animal (Margo-Margo-Medress-Siegel) |
A Laurie Production Arranged Dave Mullaney |
Laurie 3507 | 69 |
| *1 | The Doo-Wop Blogg notes that most of The Dahills 45s were produced by The Tokens. However the only 45 issued at the time of recording, "Michelle" / "Why Do We Have To Say Goodnight" (Musicor 1041)'64, was produced and arranged by Alan Lorber. None of these tracks recorded in the 60s but not released until the 70s have a producer credit. "She's My Angel" the Randy & the Rainbows song and "Do You Want To Go Steady" published by Bright Tunes have a confirmed Tokens connection. Whilst "Please Be My Girlfriend" and "I Who Love You" share the same rocking mid-sixties doo-wop feel that the Tokens captured so well. File under most likely produced by The Tokens but either way all are well worth a listen. |
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| *2 | The sleeve notes to this CD list "Take It Like A Man" as being the only un-released track from the groups Laurie Records tenure but then notes that the previously un-released "Angel Face" was recorded March '64. Two other undated sixties demos "Open Skies" and an acappella "I Wonder Why" have been released on a Crystal Ball LP and 45 respectively. Tokens connection unknown |
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| *3 | Not released on Laurie until 1976. | |
| *4 | First released on a UK Ace Records subsidiary label in 1985 the songwriter's were later identified and its 1967 production date noted in the credits to Stateside double CD "Sweet Talkin' Girls - The Best Of The Chiffons". No producers are listed on the CD and if the '67 production date is correct this may not be produced by the Tokens but well worth a listen all the same! | |
| *5 | No writers, producer or date information supplied but go to The Chiffons - Soft Spoken Guy (YouTube Video) and give it a listen. Since I posted a link to this video Patrick G has been in touch. The song's writer and arranger, Norman Bergen has posted a recent comment confirming 'Produced by The Tokens for Bright Tunes Productions'. Thanks Patrick |
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| *6 | Not sure when I bought this EP, mid 70s I think. Picture cover, clear yellow vinyl 'grey area' EP: Mo-Donna Presents 8 "Great Shakes" Commercials Three productions I'm fairly sure, The Chiffons, The Happenings and The Tokens and it would be cool to know if they had any 'hands on' involvement with the other artists. Also included are 2 bonus cuts Stone Poney's jingle for Pepsi and Troggs for H.I.S. |
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| *7 | The Tokens did produce "March" for Beverly Warren and The Chiffons but The Shirelles was the first version released. | |
| *8 | This LP also includes a version of the Greenwich, Barry, Tokens written song "I Have A Boyfriend". | |
| *9 | The 'writer' H. Jamiph was earlier identified on this site as being H.(Hank) Ja(y)mi(tch)ph(il) = The Tokens. I'm assuming the 't' in H. Jamith is a mis-printed 'p'. | |
| *10 | The Tokens version was later released on their and The Happenings "Back To Back" LP. | |
| *11 |
Also released in March by Billy Harner (Parkway 950), arr by Leroy Glover, prod Wes Farrell and in May by Tom Burt (Cameo 363) prod & arr Dave Appell. The Billy Harner release, well at least my copy has the publishing credits on the wrong sides. |
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| *12 |
The Tokens recorded both these cuts, released on their "It's A Happening World" album. "Grey City Day" was also cut later by Denny Belline on RCA 9041, prod by Andy Wiswell. While I'm on the Tokens Warner Bros. LP, another cover version that may be of interst is The Young Americans "Sunset See My Sadness" on ABC 10998, prod Anita Kerr. |
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| *13 | Later released by Bob Miranda, the writer on B.T. Puppy 544. | |
| *14 |
Alright, I know The Tokens released the original version on their "It's A Happening World" album the month before The Soulful Bowlful but what's a few weeks amongst friend? UK group The Creation covered the track, produced by Shel Talmy and first released in '68 as a 45 in Germany. |
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| *15 | Worth noting The Other Voices, Ellie Greenwich and Mike Rashkow's produced cover of "No Olympian Heights". | |
| *16 | As mentioned earlier The Tokens supplied backing vocals on most of their productions, so these are not noted. If there is male backing on any of their productions it's most probably a Token or two/three or even four. When they weren't working on their own recordings they were often helping friends on theirs. Hardly any documentation for backing vocalists so this list can really only be taken as a guide to artists they backed on record. It would be interesting to hear folk's guesses as to b-vox but I'd really need confirmation before the track would be included on this list. | |
| *17 | Ed Engel provides the info on his Crystal Ball CD for The Tokens vocal backing on these recordings, possible productions also. | |
| *18 | 'Ronnie Michaels' contacted the Flower Bomb Songs website. | |
| *19 | The Tokens also backed Keith's on his earlier 45 (Mercury 72596) "Ain't Gonna Lie". | |
| *20 | Warren told me that The Tokens backed him on this and most of his recordings. | |
| *21 | Interviewed by Mike Dugo for his website 60sgaragebands.com group leader "Teddy" Dewart recalled "We used the Tokens on every song that required a male chorus." | |
| *22 | Love this, a sort of answer song, great fun, so good it wouldn't suprise me if The Tokens helped out. | |
| *23 | The Billy Jo Producer credit stands for Billy (Carl(ucci) of and The Essentials) & Jo(seph John Venneri). Flips a goodie also. Keeping in The Tokens mode the same producing team, with the addition of Sammy Lowe as arranger, also released a 'tokenish cover' version of Kornfeld & Duboff's "Don't Cry (Sing Along With The Music)" as Billy & The Essentials. | |
| *24 | Love this, a very different arrangement but still doesn't give the label a right not to credit the writers! | |
| *25 | A very sympathetic cover of The Tokens W. Bros cut. Gerard is Gerrard Kenny, very well known in England, song writer. |
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