525 Danny Monday [1966] - Baby, Without You [Modern 1033]
| b/w: | Good Taste Of Love |
| Format: | 45 |
| Label: | Label |
| Cat No: | Cat No |
| Year: | 1966 |
| Value: | £1800 |
Very rare blue-eyed soul from Danny Monday and one of the rarest singles released on Modern label. It is thought that it was never released as only original promos have ever been found. It was reissued/bootlegged in mid 70s (probably around 76 when it was big) on a white demo with black lettering (originals have red lettering) and a red stock copy, however no one 'in the know' has ever seen an original stock copy. It is said that the reissue is pressed from the same master plate in which case it is more likely to be a legal reissue to meet new demand than a bootleg ... but who knows? Originals don't crop up very often and the price reflects this.
Baby Without You has been reissued a couple of times in the UK on Kent (1983 and 2002) and apparently Ady Croasdel (6Ts/100 Club promoter / DJ and runs Kent records) has several different takes of the track which presumably he has obtained from out takes on master tapes.
Baby Without You has been reissued a couple of times in the UK on Kent (1983 and 2002) and apparently Ady Croasdel (6Ts/100 Club promoter / DJ and runs Kent records) has several different takes of the track which presumably he has obtained from out takes on master tapes.
It is believed that Danny Monday is white, however you can not tell from the soulful flip side, which I actually prefer and is perfect for today's scene but would have been far too slow in the heyday of Northern Soul. Check out the sound clip below. The topside is a stomper.
After all this time there is still nothing known about the artist. This is pure conjecture on my part ... but I wonder if it may be one of the Vegas (real name Vasquez) brothers Lolly or Pat? This is based on the fact that the song was co-written by Jim Ford (who wrote Harry Hippie, Tell Me Why, Secrets, Where Do We Go From Here and many others for Bobby Womack) & L. (Lolly) Vegas. Pat had recorded a single in 1962 as Pat Vegas and they also recorded several 45s as a duo Pat & Lolly between 63-65. So why would they not use their own name of this? Well perhaps they were contracted with another record company at the time of release? They did record an album on Mercury in 1966 and a 45 from it, so perhaps the Modern 45 was a bit of moonlighting? Pat & Lolly went on to form Redbone in 1969.
I've read through Redbone's early history without any hints, however they did record under various aliases in their early years e.g. The Individuals (62), Deuce Coupes (63), Avantis (63/64), (NB the history article states that they were in Routers & Mar-kets but can't find any evidence of that!). In 1966 they were the resident band at The Haunted House in LA and recorded a live album which consisted of a lot of soul covers so they were disposed to sing soul at that time.
Lolly Vegas/Vasquez died of cancer in 2010, so possibly only Pat will be able to confirm or deny the above?
Since writing the above I have received an anonymous comment (March 2014 below) stating:
"Danny Monday was white I knew him and his wife as a kid in L.A. He had a band then 'Danny Monday & The 2nd Revolution'. I saw him open for Wilson Pickett. They were too good and Mr. Pickett did not like it!"
I thank whoever posted the comment but as it was anonymously posted I am not able to reply but if the person that wrote it reads this I'd be very interested in learning more.
After all this time there is still nothing known about the artist. This is pure conjecture on my part ... but I wonder if it may be one of the Vegas (real name Vasquez) brothers Lolly or Pat? This is based on the fact that the song was co-written by Jim Ford (who wrote Harry Hippie, Tell Me Why, Secrets, Where Do We Go From Here and many others for Bobby Womack) & L. (Lolly) Vegas. Pat had recorded a single in 1962 as Pat Vegas and they also recorded several 45s as a duo Pat & Lolly between 63-65. So why would they not use their own name of this? Well perhaps they were contracted with another record company at the time of release? They did record an album on Mercury in 1966 and a 45 from it, so perhaps the Modern 45 was a bit of moonlighting? Pat & Lolly went on to form Redbone in 1969.
I've read through Redbone's early history without any hints, however they did record under various aliases in their early years e.g. The Individuals (62), Deuce Coupes (63), Avantis (63/64), (NB the history article states that they were in Routers & Mar-kets but can't find any evidence of that!). In 1966 they were the resident band at The Haunted House in LA and recorded a live album which consisted of a lot of soul covers so they were disposed to sing soul at that time.
Lolly Vegas/Vasquez died of cancer in 2010, so possibly only Pat will be able to confirm or deny the above?
Since writing the above I have received an anonymous comment (March 2014 below) stating:
"Danny Monday was white I knew him and his wife as a kid in L.A. He had a band then 'Danny Monday & The 2nd Revolution'. I saw him open for Wilson Pickett. They were too good and Mr. Pickett did not like it!"
I thank whoever posted the comment but as it was anonymously posted I am not able to reply but if the person that wrote it reads this I'd be very interested in learning more.
Bootleg
Gene & Gary [2010] - Baby Without You [Kent 6T 26]
On the flip side of the 100 Club 31st anniversary giveaway 45 (which has the wonderful Paramount Four on the other side) is a version of Baby Without You by Gene & Gary. Curiously for this 45 Pat Vegas' name has been added to writer credits.
I've no idea who Gene & Gary are but definitely blue-eyed and (for me) nowhere near as good as Danny Monday's version.
Danny Monday [1966] - Good Taste Of Love [Modern 1033]
Danny was white, I knew him and his wife as a kid in L.A. He had a band then "Danny Monday and the 2nd Revolution" I saw him open for Wilson Pickett. They were too good and Mr. Pickett did not like it!
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