THE GROOVES I HAVE

These are the U.P.-connected records I have in my personal collection.


***SINGLES***

Bad Axe - ROAD RUNNER b/w WAY BACK HOME (SSP Records SSP-202; c. 1980s) Bad Axe was an Escanaba-area band led by Greg Brukardt and Jeffrey Krebs; both wrote Side A, while Brukardt alone wrote Side B. (Krebs would later record solo.)

The Coppertones - SIX DAYS ON THE ROAD; IF YOU LEAVE ME TONIGHT b/w POLKA MEDLEY; WIPE OUT (Rapid Records OV-379; c.1980). The Coppertones were a Rapid River country band produced by pioneering Escanaba DJ "Wailin' Wayne" Nault. This EP may have been all that "remained" from an aborted album.

Jeff Cowell, Scott Furlow, John Richtig, Jim Counter - IRON MOUNTAIN CENTENNIAL SONG b/w DAYS I'M BACK (Ski Jumping JC-500). This single was released to commemorate the city of Iron Mountain's centennial in 1979. Cowell wrote the A-side; Cowell and Furlow wrote the B-side. Richtig was a member of both the New Breed and Ravelles (see THE GROOVES I DON'T HAVE).

Monte DeGrave - SHE STILL CARES b/w KISS IN THE PARK (Athon 109; c.1970). Now an Escanaba-area businessman, Monte was a teenager when he composed and recorded these two songs. Years later, Monte Lee (as he was now calling himself) did a country CD which included a remake of "She Still Cares."

Duke Ellington & his Orch. - ANATOMY OF A MURDER b/w FLIRTIBIRD (Columbia 4-41427; c.1959). Two tunes from the soundtrack of the classic film, which remains the U.P.'s proudest cinematic moment.

Jack Elliott - M.I.A. SOLDIER b/w TRUCKER JIM'S LAST RIDE (Jelly 8-11-79; c. 1979) Mr. Elliott (not Ramblin' Jack) was a Nashville singer / producer, and the B-side is his own composition; but the A-side was written by Elmer M. Aho, a U.P. GROOVES! pioneer (more about him later).

The Innocence - SUDDENLY JUST LIKE THAT b/w I WALK THE WAVES (Spoke 1000). This was the first of two releases for Spoke Records, which had a Manistique P.O. box. I know nothing about the group, except that they're not the same Innocence who had a Top 40 hit with "There's Got to Be A Word!" Both sides were written by Irene L. Davis, who ran a publishing company called Five State Music.

The Prophets of Doom - I TOLD YOU b/w BABA-DO-WAH (Peninsula 001; c.1967). Peninsula Records was an unofficial "division" of Bands Unlimited, the Escanaba-based talent agency run by Gene Smiltneck, who produced and engineered Peninsula's two singles. (The label was actually owned by Gene's brother Leon; and there is no connection between this Peninsula label and an earlier Peninsula label based in Cadillac, MI). The Prophets of Doom were one of Bands Unlimited's top attractions in the late '60s; "I Told You" was written by the band's bassist, Dave Watchorn, while "Baba-Do-Wah" was written by one David Brooks.

The Riot Squad - COME ON, LET'S GO b/w FERRY 'CROSS THE MERSEY (Peninsula 002; c.1967). Peninsula's second release was by The Riot Squad (not the British band), who turned out to be the dominant force in the Escanaba music scene; for more than two decades after their breakup, Escanaba's most popular local bands tended to be "descendants" of the Squad. Side A is an eccentric version of the Ritchie Valens oldie, with odd chord and tempo changes and a scorching guitar solo; Side B is the Gerry & the Pacemakers hit with lyrics hopelessly mangled.

The Riot Squad - TAKIN' IT EASY b/w BEFORE I LEAVE TONIGHT (Demian M45 d1 [or 208211]). A later single by the Squad; as far as I can tell, both sides are original compositions.

Kris Erik Stevens - TRAINING WHEELS b/w I KEPT ON LOVING YOU (Sunlight label). Ishpeming-born Kris Erik became a nationally-known DJ on Chicago's powerful WLS; this single was put out by Sunlight Records, a Chicago label. Side A was written by Jim Peterik, then of the Ides of March ("Vehicle"), later of Survivor ("Eye of the Tiger"); Side B is a Paul Williams / Roger Nichols composition.


***ALBUMS***

The Fantastics - THE FANTASTICS OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY (Nuggett NRS-106). The Fantastics, a show-band led by Northern Michigan University professor Tim Lautzenheiser, were NMU's "musical ambassadors," regularly touring U.P. schools and appearing on local television, especially WLUC-TV's annual March of Dimes Telethon (for many years, the U.P.'s only TV showcase for local talent). Their one album was recorded, curiously enough, in Tennessee, and co-produced by Fred Carter, Jr., veteran country musician and father of current country star Deana Carter.

The Gospel Heirs - I WILL SERVE HIM (Golden Echo Recording 808G5213; 1973). This Escanaba-based quartet, who toured and performed throughout the U.P., recorded this album in Appleton, WI.

Mark Mitchell - THE TREES FELL (White Pine 31003X); UNSUNG SONGS (White Pine 003). These albums by this "workingman & songwriter here in the back country of Michigan's Upper Peninsula" is filled with songs about U.P. history and the "unsung" people who made it. THE TREES FELL includes the theme from "Discovering," the long-running outdoors show on WLUC-TV6 in Marquette.

Hoot Roberts - INVITATION TO THE BLUES (Choco 1340-320). This was apparently the only LP release for Choco Records, which gives its address as "RR2, Marquette, Michigan". Wisconsin-based country singer Hoot Roberts also recorded for Wisconsin labels like Cuca and his own Owl label.

Rocking Chair - CHILDHOOD DREAMS (Fantasy World 2481). This direct "descendant" of the Riot Squad (see above) was one of the U.P.'s most popular local bands during the 1970's. Their one album (they'd previously released a single - more about that later) included two original compositions.

Up With People - UP WITH PEOPLE (SING-OUT MUSICAL) (Pace 101). For the time being, I'm counting Mackinac Island as part of the U.P., which means bringing in this estimable organization, which began on Mackinac Island as a project of Moral Re-Armaments, Inc. (the former Oxford Group). This album was the soundtrack of a syndicated TV special filmed on Mackinac Island, showing the Colwells (UWP's creators and writers), various soloists (one of whom was a young Glenn Close) and the original UWP chorus going through their, ahem, paces.

WELLMAN J. OMOHUNDRO
(Smiley Joe / Omo The Hobo / Omo the Lobo)
This charmingly eccentric troubador was born in Fayette in 1917 and died in Marquette in 1996. He apparently traveled throughout the country and around the world performing his (mostly self-composed) ballads and tunes, some of which were written-to-order. He claimed to have released more than 100 records, ranging from children's songs to risque "party" discs.

Omo made most of his recordings during the mid-1960s at a California studio; he sold them during his performances (as "souvenirs," for a $1 "tip") or out of his home, either in Fayette or in Everding, CA.

Recently, I got in touch with the CA engineer who recorded Omo; he provided me with a CD of 30 Omo single tracks, from his own vinyl copies (the tapes are apparently long-gone), and a list of numerous other Omo singles. The tunes listed below, all on the CD, are listed with their original single catalog numbers. (All were on the Omo the Hobo label, except as indicated; all were credited to Omo the Hobo, except as indcated.)

104: Medley: JUST BECAUSE/WABASH CANNONBALL b/w Medley: PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA/SAN ANTONIO ROSE

106: I'M A POLICE OFFICER HANDY WITH MY ROD b/w I'M A BARTENDER MY PISTOLS ALWAYS LOADED (The CD includes two takes of "Police Officer")

107: HOLD ON TO MY HEART b/w WAITRESS SERVICE PLEASE

Omo 112: HEY FIREMEN PUT OUT THE FIRE b/w I'M A POLICE OFFICER

113: I'VE GOT THE WORLD BY THE TAIL b/w VITAMIN JUICE

114: MY HORSE GOT AWAY b/w I'MTHE MAN IN THE MOON

115: GOD SENT AN ANGEL TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND b/w X STANDS FOR THE CROSS

116: OMO THE HOBO b/w THEY CALL ME A BUM

117: RIDE HIM COWBOY b/w MY COWGIRL FROM WAY OUT WEST

118: QUIET PLEASE BABIES SLEEPING b/w SWEET DREAMS

Omo the Lobo 125: WHAT MAKES ME DO THE THINGS I DO b/w MY DARLING SWEETHEART - by Omo the Lobo

Omo the Lobo 126: YOU RODE MY MOTORCYCLE, BUT YOU GAVE ME THE AIR
b/w I'M A TRUCK DRIVING FOOL - by Omo the Lobo

133: ME AND MY WIFE LOVE AND FIGHT b/w SHUT UP YOU TALK TOO MUCH

134: THE BIG BOSS b/w CINDY LOU - by Smiley Joe Omohundro

147: I WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT b/w I'M A DR. I WORK FOR MEDICARE

See the "Grooves I Don't Have pt. 2" page for more Omo singles.

Next: The Grooves I Don't Have, But Know About.