NS562 Benzine [1965] - Village Of Tears [Parkway P-996-B]

562 Ben Zine [1965] - Village Of Tears [Parkway P-996-B]

b/w:	What The Heck's The Hanky Panky (official A side)
Format:	45
Label:	Parkway
Cat No:	P-996-B
Year:	1967
Value:	$132 £305

Ben Zine is a pseudonym for Ernie Maresca (Ernest Peter Maresca 1938-2015) the writer of the song who also wrote many hits for Dion (DiMucci) (e.g. Runaround Sue and The Wanderer).  He had a #6 hit in 1962 with Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out) on Seville (Those in UK may recognise this song from the cover version by Racey in 1980 and then by Rocky Sharp & The Replays in 1982).  He continued to write and reluctantly record.  Eventually he became head of publicity at Laurie records. The co-writer is Joey Day (DiFranceso) who had several aliases Joey Day, Joey Day & The Dares, Joe Cyers, and Wombat (I'm Gettin On Life [Gemini]. Wombat was formed from Joey Day & The Dares and consisted of Joey Cyers, Stan Topij and Omar Tame.

For anyone interested here's Ernie Maresca's catalogue on Discogs

This appears to be his only outing using the Ben Zine pseudonym, released in 1965 as the flip to 'What The Heck's The Hanky Panky' on Parkway P-996.

I'm not sure when this was first played but it was spun at Wigan Casino around 1977/78 but could have already been an oldie by then?   It's an atmospheric, a little off-key, early / mid 60s almost garage type sound.  It starts off with a bass line very similar to Fontella Bass - Rescue Me. It was bootlegged to supply demand.

Ben Zine [1965] - What The Hecks The Hanky Panky [Parkway P-996-A]