The very early 45s have the writing & producing credit of Hank Medress & Phil Margo but most future writing credits include the names of all four Tokens with the production credited to either Bright Tunes or Big Time. The group discussed songs, recordings, productions and needed three out of four members to agree to a release. At least at the outset of their careers Hank & Phil contributed more to the 'behind the glass' process, arranging and producing while Jay Siegel who as well as sharing production duties would arrange and direct the vocals but deciding on a 'Athos ethos' stood the team in good stead for a decade of hits and recordings. How many other 'pop' groups can claim this level of continuity?
This loyalty was also shown to the people who worked with them Joe Venneri, Sam Lowe, Mitch 'Shenny' Brown, Brute Force et al appear on their label credits throughout the years. The Tokens discovered and nurtured many talented song-writers & musicians/vocalists and most of these artists speak highly of the experience.
Eventually personal ambitions and frustrations did creep in to The Tokens own relationship. Mitch Margo, who was a young lad when The Tokens story began was now a man whose musical ability had blossomed, he had a few solo writing and arranging credits in the 60s but by the 70s he was all over the arranging and writing with a variety of non de plumes and certainly with "Intercourse", content. Phil Margo was having solo arranger credits and Hank Medress was also finding producing as a group a constraint and began spending more time on other projects and The Tokens and David Appell credit changed to Hank Medress, Dave Appell and The Tokens until it was Margo, Siegel & Margo with Hank & Dave occasionally popping by. But what a creative, stimulating ride it had been!
My own musical tastes are of the early-mid 60s flavour so "no greater love has a man..." but it could be argued that with their hits for Tony Orlando and Dawn, The Tokens enjoyed their most fruitful period. (Hence I guess Dave Appel being often mis-written as Dave Apple...") And you can't knock success!
Anyway if you've read this far I'd guess you're a fan of The Tokens and hope a few of the tracks listed have come as a pleasant surprise and that your respect for the group who recorded 45s together (if you include their vocal work on The Sands Of Time) for over two decades, has increased even more.
With your help more info can be added to achieve a greater understanding of The Tokens recorded output. Send an email with any additions, corrections or confirmations all help given will be acknowledged in the CREDITS, likewise if you have comments to make I'd be pleased to hear them.
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| Joey Powers Flower | Land Of The Midnight Sun (Dave Appell, Joey Powers) |
So Sing The Children On The Avenue
(Rado-Ragni-MacDermot) |
Produced by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Bright Tunes Productions
Arranged by Dave Appell |
RCA 0326 | 03/70 | |
| The Chiffons | So Much In Love (Jackson-Straigis-Williams) |
Strange Strange Feelin' (Reissue)
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by Bright Tunes Productions | Buddah 171 | 04/70 | |
| Wyatt | Girl On A Swing
(Miranda) |
He Thinks He's A Hero (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell For Bright Tunes Productions (A) Arr Norm Bergen (B) Arr The Lone Arranger |
Buddah 180 | 07/70 | |
| *1 | Dawn | Candida
(T. Wine - I. Levine) |
Look At ... (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Bright Tunes Productions (A) Arr Norman Bergen (B) Musical Supervision by Philip Fredrick Margo III |
Bell 903 | 07/70 |
| Calomine Joelson | Sugar Sugar
(Jeff Barry - Andy Kim) |
Run Around Sue (Dion Dimucci - Ernest Maresca) |
Prod. by The Tokens For Three Dimension Management Corp. Arr. by Norm Bergen, Eng. by Bill Radice |
Bell 929 | 07/70 | |
| Wyatt | 80, 90, 100 M.P.H. (Roberto & Erasmo Carlos English Lyrics by Sheila Davis) |
Reach Out Lorraine
(Ardith Polley) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell, Eng Bill Radice (A) Arr Norman Bergen (B) Arr The Lone Arranger |
Bell 972 | 10/70 | |
| *2 | Dawn Candida Bell 6052 |
Side 1: 1."Candida" (T. Wine - I. Levine), 2. "Up On The Roof" (G. Goffin, C. King), 3. "Country" (Philip Margo), 4. "Look At" (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegal), 5. "Rainy Day Man" (James Taylor), 6. "What Are You Doing Sunday" (T. Wine - I. Levine) Side 2: 1. "Knock Three Times" (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown), 2. "Carolina In My Mind" (James Taylor), 3. "Lets Run Away Girl" (D. Appell - L. Negro), 4. "The Love In Your Eyes" (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel), 5. "Perhaps The Joy Of Giving" (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel), 6. "Home" (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Three Dimension Management, Inc. All Arr Norman Bergen except Side 1. track 4 & Side. 2 tracks 4 & 6 Philip Frederick Margo XIV and Side 2. track 3 Dave Appell, Eng Bill Radice |
11/70 | |||
| *3 | Dawn | Knock Three Times
(Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown) |
Home (Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Three Dimension Management, Inc. (A) Arr Norman Bergen, Eng Bill Radice (B) Musical Concept Philly Margo IV |
Bell 938 | 11/70 |
| *4 | Dusk | Angel Baby (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown) |
If We Just Leave Today
(Margo, Margo, Medress, Siegel) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Three Dimension Management Corp (A) Arr Norman Bergen (B) Arr P.F.M. 88 Also issued with "Reach Out And Speak My Name" (Ardith Polley), Arr & Cond by Dave Appell on the flip-side. |
Bell 961 | 01/71 |
| *5 | Dawn | I Play And Sing (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown) |
Get Out From Where We Are
(Ardith Polley) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Three Dimension Management, Inc. (A) Arr Norman Bergen, Eng Bill Radice (B) Arr The Lone Ranger |
Bell 970 | 02/71 |
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| *6 | Dusk | I Hear Those Church Bells Ringing (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown) |
I Cannot See To See You
(Ardith Polley) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Three Dimension Management (A) Arr Hank Medress (B) Arr The Lone Ranger |
Bell 990 | 04/71 |
| Mac Davis | Sweet Dreams And Sarah (M. Davis) |
Poem For My Little Lady (M. Davis) |
Prod. by Tokens / Dave Apple For Three Dimension Management Arr Charlie Calello |
Columbia 45404 | 05/71 | |
| *7 | Billy Joe Royal | Poor Little Pearl (M. Davis) |
The Lady Lives To Love (A. Polley) |
Prod. by Tokens / David Apple For Three Dimension Management (A) Arr Charlie Calello (B) Arr The Lone Ranger |
Columbia 45406 | 06/71 |
| *8 | Dawn | Summer Sand (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown) |
The Sweet Soft Sounds Of Love
(Ardith Polley) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Three Dimension Management, Inc. (A) Arr Norman Bergen (B) Arr The Lone Ranger |
Bell 107 | 06/71 |
| *8.5 | Love Potion | Our Love Story (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown) |
I Wish You Can Know Me (Naomi)
(Ardith Polley) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Three Dimension Mgt. Corp. (A) Arr Dave Appell (B) Likely to be Arr Mitch Margo |
Avco 4577 | 07/71 |
| *9 | Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando | What Are You Doing Sunday (Wine - Levine) |
The Sweet Soft Sounds Of Love
(Polley) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Three Dimension Management, Inc. (A) Arr Norman Bergen (B) Arr The Lone Ranger |
Bell 141 | 09/71 |
| Mac Davis | I Believe In Music (M. Davis) |
Hollywood Humpty Dumpty (M. Davis) |
Prod. by Tokens / Dave Apple For Three Dimension Management Arr Charlie Calello |
Columbia 45456 | 09/71 | |
| *10 | The Happenings | Make Your Own Kind Of Music (Barry Mann-Cynthia Weil) |
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Prod. by Tokens / Dave Apple For Three Dimension Management Arr Ron Frangipane |
Jubilee 5721 | 10/71 |
| Eureka | I Wish It Would Rain (R. Verne, J. D. Hooven, M. Charron) |
I Should Feel You Loving
(A Polley) |
Produced by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Three Dimension Mgt. (A) Arr: Ron Frangipane (B) Arr: Mitchell Margo |
Bell 148 | 11/71 | |
| *11 | Dusk | Treat Me Like A Good Piece Of Candy (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown) |
Surbia U.S.A.
(Ardith Polley) |
Prod. by The Tokens and Dave Appell for Three Dimension Management Inc (A) Arr Ron Frangipane (B) Arr The Lone Ranger |
Bell 148 | 11/71 |
| *12 | Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando Bell 6069 |
Side 1: 1."Runaway - Happy Together" (D. Shannon-M. Crook / A. L. Gordon - Bonner), 2. "Who Did a Number On Me" (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown), 3. "Carmen" (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown), 4. "Get Out From Where We Are" (Ardith Polley), 5. "The Good Life" (Jack Reardon, Sacha Distel), 6. "Love the One You're With" (Stephen Stills) Side 2: 1. "I Didn't Mean To Love You So Good, Juanita" (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown), 2. "Summer Sand" (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown), 3. "I Get Ideas" (D.Cochran, Sanders), 4. "In The Park" (Ardith Polley), 5. "Sweet Soft Sounds of Love" (Ardith Polley), 6. "I Play and Sing" (Irwin Levine, L. Russell Brown, Norman Bergen) Prod. by Hank Medress, Dave Appell and The Tokens Arranged Side 1. tracks 2, 3, Side 2. tracks 1, 2 & 3 Ron Frangipane Side. 1 track 4, Side 2. tracks 4 & 5 The Lone Arranger |
11/71 | |||
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| Mac Davis I Believe In Music Columbia 30926 |
Side 1: 1. "I Believe In Music" (Mac Davis), 2. "Hollywood Humpty Dumpty" (Mac Davis), 3. "A Little Less Conversation" (Mac Davis-Billy Strange), 4. "In The Eyes Of My People" (Mac Davis), 5. "Watching Scotty Grow" (Mac Davis) Side 2: 1."Yesterday And You" (Mac Davis-Larry Collins), 2. "Christmas Carol" (Mac Davis), 3. "Sarah Between The Lines" (Mac Davis), 4. Something's Burning (Mac Davis), 5. "Poem For My Little Lady" (Mac Davis), 6. "I Believe In Music" (Mac Davis) Prod. by Tokens / Dave Appell For Three Dimension Management |
12/71 | ||||
| *13 | Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando | Runaway - Happy Together (D. Shannon-M. Crook / A. L. Gordon - Bonner) |
Don't Act Like A Baby
(Ardith Polley) |
Prod. by O. Henry Medress, Dave Appell & The Tokens | Bell 175 | 01/72 |
| Dusk | Point Of No Return (Thom Bell - Linda Creed) |
- | Prod. by Hank Medress, Dave Appell and The Tokens Arr Glen Spreen |
Bell 207 | 04/72 | |
| *14 | Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando | Vaya Con Dios (L. Russell-I. James-B. Pepper) |
I Can't Believe How Much I Love You
(Ardith Polley) |
Prod. by Henry Medress, Dave Appell and The Tokens (A) Sweetening by John Abbott |
Bell 225 | 06/72 |
| *15 | Lenny Welch | A Sunday Kind Of Love (B. Belle, L. Prima, A. Leonard, S. Rhodes) |
I Wish You Could Know Me (Naomi) Ardith Polley |
Prod. by Hank Medress, Dave Appell & The Tokens (A) Thom Bell (B) Arr Mitchell Margo |
Atco 6894 | 07/72 |
| *16 | Mac Davis | Poem For My little Lady (M. Davis) |
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Prod. by Tokens/Dave Apple for Three Dimension Management Arr. Charles Calello |
Columbia 45618 | 07/72 |
| Robert John | The Way You Do The Things You Do (William Robinson - Robert Rogers) |
To Touch, To Feel (Ardith Polley) Prod Hank + Dave arr Mitch |
Prod. by Hank Medress, Dave Appell & The Tokens Arr. Ernie Wilkins |
Atlantic 25052 | 09/72 | |
| *17 | Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando | You're A Lady (Peter Skellern) |
Prod. by Hank Medress, Dave Appell and The Tokens | Bell 285 | 10/72 | |
| *18 | Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando Tuneweaving Bell 1112 |
Side 1: 1. "Freedom For The Stallion" (Allan Toussaint), 2. "Jolie" (Al Kooper), 3. "When We All Sang Along" (Richard Snyder), 4. "Runaway - Happy Together" (D. Shannon-M. Crook / A. L. Gordon - Bonner), 5. "Easy Evil" (Alan O'Day) Side 2: 1."Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree" (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown), 2. "You're A Lady" (Peter Skellern), 3. "Lazy Susan" (Linda Creed), 4. "Watch A Clown Break Down" (Dave Appell, Sandy Linzer), 5. "I Can't Believe How Much I Love You" (Ardith Polley), 6. "I Don't Know You Anymore" (Sandy Linzer, Stephen Reinhardt) Prod. by Hank Medress, Dave Appell and The Tokens |
12/72 | |||
| Blue Tattoo | Medicine Man (T. Cashman-G. Pistilli-T.P. West) |
I Feel Like Being Alone Ardith Polley |
Prod. by O. Henry Medress, Dave Appell & The Tokens (A) Arr. Glen Spreen (B) Arr. Mitch Margo |
Paramount 0153 | 72 | |
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| Robert John | You Don't Need A Gypsy (Robert John, Michael Gately) |
You And Me (Mitch Margo) |
Prod. by Hank Medress, Dave Appell & The Tokens, Eng Bill Radice (A) Arr. Hank Medress & Dave Appell (B) Arr. Mitchell Margo |
Atlantic 2930 | 12/72 | |
| Mac Davis | Sweet Dreams And Sarah (M. Davis) |
Poem For My Little Lady (M. Davis) |
Prod. by Tokens / Dave Apple For Three Dimension Management Arr Charlie Calello |
Columbia 45404 | 05/71 | |
| *19 | Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando | Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown) |
I Can't Believe How Much I Love You
(Ardith Polley) |
Prod. by Hank Medress, Dave Appell and The Tokens Arr Frank Hunter |
Bell 285 | 02/73 |
| *20 | Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando | Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown) |
The Spark Of Love Is Kindlin' (Mitchell Margo) |
Prod. by Hank Medress-Dave Appell and The Tokens (A) Arr Frank Hunter (B) Arr Mitchell Margo |
Bell 374 | 07/73 |
| Silverbird | That's Why You Remember (Remember When You Were A Kid) (E. Lubumski) |
You And Me (M. Margo) |
Prod. by Margo, Siegel, Margo (B) Arr. Mitch Margo |
Columbia 45924 | 09/73 | |
| Joe And Bing | Alaska Bloodline (B. Bingham) |
- | Prod. & Arr. Margo, Siegel, Margo | Kirshner 4257 | 74 | |
| *21 | Tony Orlando & Dawn Skybird Arista AL 4059 |
Side 2: 2. "Dance To The Music" (Irwin Levine - L. Russell Brown) Prod. by The Tokens & Dave Appell Arr. Norman Bergen |
11/75 | |||
| *22 | Sands Of Time | A Tribute To The Beach Boys '76 (S. Sawyer - P. Fornatale) |
- | Prod. by Tokens, Al Steckler and Ron Frangipane | Kirshner 4263 | 76 |
| Joe And Bing | Barnstormer (B. Bingham) |
- | Prod. Margo, Siegel, Margo | RCA 10705 | 76 | |
| Joe And Bing
Joe And Bing RCA 1499 |
Side 1: 1. "Catchin' Hearts", 2. "Barnstormer", 3. "Oh Elizabeth", 4. "Alaska Bloodline", 5. "Library" Side 2: 1."Changing", 2. "Looking For Camelot", 3. "Hockey Player", 4. "Ripple In The Water (Hear The Loon)", 5. "You Didn't Have To Go", 6. "YouCan Dance To My Song" Prod. by Margo, Siegel & Margo |
76 | ||||
| Tom Damphier | Mister Radio Man (Thomas William Damphier) |
- | Prod. by Margo, Siegel & Margo Eng. Joe Venneri |
Kirshner 4264 | 76 | |
| Elliott Randall | High On Love (Mitch Margo) |
- | Prod. by Margo, Siegel & Margo | Kirshner 4269 | 77 | |
| Elliott Randall | Samantha (E. Randall) |
- | Prod. by Margo, Siegel & Margo Arr. Elliott Randall |
Kirshner 4271 | 77 | |
| Elliott Randall Elliott Randall's New York Krishner 34351 |
Side 1: 1. "High On Love" (Mitch Margo), 2. "Just A Thought" (Mitch Margo), 3. "Samantha" (Elliott Randall), 4. "It's Gonna Be Great" (Elliott Randall & Philip Namanworth), 5. "I Give Up" (Mitch Margo) Side 2: 1."I Only Wanna Make You Feel Like A Woman" (Mitch Margo), 2. "Radio A-E-O" (Mitch Margo), 3. "When You Got The Music" (Mitch Margo) Prod. by Margo, Siegel & Margo, Arr Mitch Margo Except Side 1 tracks 3 & 4 Arr. Elliott Randall |
77 | ||||
Click here for Notes *1 *2 *3 *4 *5 *6 *7 *8 *9 *10 *11 *12 *13 *14 *15 *16 *17 *18 *19 *20 *21 *22
| *1 | Billboard chart No. 3, 10th October 1970. Philip Fredrick Margo III, Philly Margo IV, The Lone Ranger et al are all AKA Phil Margo. Ardith Polley however IS Ardith Polley! It's been written that Ardith Polley was an allias for Phil Margo and even a Ardith Polley written song is listed on a copyright site as an alias for P. Margo but Ardith Polley is a real person. Ardith was the wife of Lou Christe's manager Stan Polley. This info comes from Harry Young, so I know it's true! |
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| *2 | Billboard album chart No. 35, 31st January 1971. | |
| *3 | Billboard chart No. 1, 23rd January 1971. | |
| *4 | Billboard chart No. 57, 27th March 1971. | |
| *5 | Billboard chart No. 25, 24th April 1971. | |
| *6 | Billboard chart No. 53, 21st August 1971. | |
| *7 | Billboard chart No. 33, 10th July 1971. | |
| *8 | Billboard chart No. 111, 14th August 1971. | |
| 8.5 | All known copies are promos, same song on each side but you can buy this and I assume the proposed flip on Apple Music. Download of course but cool! Thanks to Patrick G. for the info. | |
| *9 | Billboard chart No. 39, 13th November 1971. | |
| *10 | This was Jubilee Records final 45rpm release, it appears only a DJ pressing, mono one side, stereo the other, was released. | |
| *11 | Billboard chart No. 106, 11th December 1971. Surbia U.S.A. is an instrumental. | |
| *12 | Billboard album chart No. 178, 18th December 1971. | |
| *13 | Billboard chart No. 79, 19th February 1972. | |
| *14 | Billboard chart No. 95, 8th July 1972. | |
| *15 | Flip is "In The Park" prod Hank Medress & Dave Appell, wr Ardith Polley, arr The Lone Arranger. It's not included in the main discography because it features only two Tokens. | |
| *16 | Billboard chart No. 96 | |
| *17 | "Poem..." had been the flip of "Sweet Dreams And Sarah", how lucky that this should have been picked over a year later to be the B-side of "Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me". A record that topped the Billboard Top 100 POP and MOR charts for three weeks and a Top 30 charter in the UK. Gosh the boys must have been saying their prayers. | |
| *18 | Billboard album chart No. 30, 16th June 1973. | |
| *19 | Billboard chart No. 1, 28th May 1973. | |
| *20 | Billboard chart No. 3, 15th September 1973. Later pressings of this 45 remove The Tokens from the production credit. "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose?" is included on "Dawn's New Ragtime Follies" LP but again The Tokens are not credited with co-production. |
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| *21 | That man Patrick G. has come to the aide of The Tokens Productions site again with another uncredited production. Take it away Patrick and thank you. "Norman Bergen posted on his Facebook page recently that the track "Dance to the Music" from the 1975 Tony Orlando & Dawn album "Skybird" was actually an early-'70s Tokens/Dave Appell production that had sat in the vaults for a few years. (It was apparently originally considered as a follow-up single to "Knock Three Times"!) |
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| *22 | Marc Nathan wrote on a music site:
"this 'song' was originally called "Hey Fonzie (Add Your Name To The List Of American Heroes") on Casablanca, by Steve Sawyer in 1975. The label did nothing with it, and Sawyer re-recorded it with different lyrics, but the track is essentially the same. I love them both, but the Sawyer/Fonzie version will always be the original :)" The Tokens are not credited on the 'original' record. |
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