365 Days #46 - Goddard High School Stage Band (mp3s)

MP3:
1 Goddard High School Stage Band - Fire (1:25)
2 Goddard High School Stage Band - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (3:03)

Years ago, I privately released a slapped-together, cheesy, homemade CD titled Poly High: School Bands Play the Classics, which was filled with cheesy, homemade recordings of high school bands playing hard rock hits of the 60s and 70s. One of those bands, the Goddard High School Stage Band of Roswell, New Mexico, I had a particular penchant for. I don't know if it was their wall-of-muddy-sound, or their vocalist's strains, but their 1970 LP, The Goddard High School Stage Band Goes Underground, got a lot of plays at my house.

Lo and behold, I later heard from an original member of the band who gave me a copy of their first and better LP from 1969, where they performed under the name "The Wild Ones." These two tracks stem from that piece of genius.

And while you're listening: who among us can step up to the plate and tell the hidden history of the roving recorders involved with those no-name record labels which traveled the country recording high school bands? Labels like Century, Silver Crest, Custom Recording Specialists, American Record Company, Band 'N Vocal Mobile Recording Service, Russ Enloe Custom Records etc., etc. Most likely, their unique history will remain unwritten.

- Contributed by: Jonathan Ward

Image: This album manufactured by Century Records

Media: 12" LP
Album: The Goddard High School Stage Band Goes Underground
Date: 1969

Comments

[BH]

Hi, this is hilarious and great - thanks for sharing!
You say that these 2 songs are taken from The Wild Ones LP, but below it says that they're taken from the Goddard High School Stage Band LP.
Which is it?

And do you have any more details on the Wild Ones LP - cover, label, catalogue number etc.?

Thanks!
-B

[Jonathan Ward]

I probably didn't explain that well, sorry. The Goddard High School Stage Band ARE "The Wild Ones." They recorded a few songs as "The Wild Ones" on the Goddard High LP from 1969. Their next record was in 1970 and titled "The Goddard High School Stage Band Goes Underground." I have the latter - "The Wild Ones" was recorded for me. Both records are on Century.

[murderedman]

I was in an all-county chorus in high school in the 80s and our big concert was recorded for LP, which I insisted my parents order (it was like $20, fill out a card at a table set up in the lobby). When it finally arrived I was underwhelmed and filed it in the back of the stack; I think it was eventually damaged in a flood. I do remember the guy who recorded it though. He had a big old 2-track reel-to-reel (this was like '86) and maybe two mics. Maybe it's the same guy who recorded "The Handless Organist"

[haydn60]

Wasn't it Century who first released Edwin Hawkins's "Oh Happy Day"?

[dominic]

i don't have my copy of the cd handy right now, but i'm pretty sure dj shadow used that iron butterfly cut on his schoolhouse funk 2: raw business compilation that came out on cali-tex a few years ago.

[Spence Cates]

Steve Tays played drums for the goddard stage band and I think Bobby Blair played base and David Smith played lead guitar. I can't remember who sang but they changed singers after graduation and went by the name of pleasant valley boys. After deciding that was too tame they changed their name to Lucifer.

[Ralph DePauw]

Gary England was the lead singer, Syndey Felton was on keyboards
Ralph DePauw and Roderick Domingez were playing trumpet; got a list around somewhere