[bomp] The Vendells

[ItsBoss9@xxxxxxx]

Today, I did one of my favorite things...I purchased a load of unsleeved
small label 45s (90+ in all), and what went with that is a story unto
itself.  One of the more interesting 45s was "My L.A." b/w "Ordinary Boy" by
Tacey Robbins & the Vendells on the Rev label (1102), a North Hollywood
label.  The notation on the label is that both sides were written by Billy
Storm (of the Valiants/Untouchables?  - I suppose) and are from the movie
"Psych A GoGo"

PURE GUESSWORK on my part here, but an educated guess; there was a group 
called The Vendells who, along with the Sons of Adam, the Sinners and the Walker 
Brothers, were early house bands at Gazzarri's on La Cienega and then, on the 
opening night of the Sunset Strip Gazzarri's, I believe it was the Vendells on 
stage... that I saw on the TV show HOLLYWOOD BACKSTAGE... and they had a chick 
singing with them.  Now, HOLLYWOOD BACKSTAGE overdubbed other music over the 
live band, but, I know from Herald-Examiner club listings on Fridays back then 
that the Vendells did play the opening night of the Sunset Strip Gazzarri's.  
The Sons of Adam and The Vendells were the two house bands at the Sunset 
Strip Gazzarri's right off the bat... The Walker Brothers had split to England by 
then... they left in February 1965, so they were purely "La Cienega" 
Gazzarri's.  The Sinners, of course, cut a house band album on Reprise THAT'S THE 
HOLLYWOOD NIGHTLIFE as Tony, Vic & Manuel (they were also the Matadors w/ Jan 
Berry, they sang backups on "Surf City" and Jan produced three singles by them.  
They were also a house band on Hollywood a Go Go).  THERE IS VERY LITTLE KNOWN 
ABOUT THESE VENDELLS, from what I can tell.  I do have a complete list of 
everyone who played on Hollywood a Go Go, which of course had a strong connection 
to Gazzarri's, so I can double-check that to see if the Vendells were on, and 
what songs they played.

Think about it, we have good info on all the early Gazzarri's bands EXCEPT 
for the Vendells... and yet, they opened the Sunset Strip version of the club in 
June of 1965.  They must have been good, the dancers on HOLLYWOOD BACKSTAGE 
are going Go Go wyld!

Domenic Priore

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