The Gentlemen

Tom Brown, president of Vandan Records heard us play at LouAnn's Club in Dallas, and wondered if we would do some writing with him and Gene Garretson, his arranger. After several weeks, we came up with a song called "You Can't Be True" and what was considered the B side, "It's a Cry'n Shame". We liked "Cry'n Shame" better, but Gene spent a lot of time arranging violins and multiple tracks for "You Can't Be True" so that was the track they pushed. It took us nearly two weeks to record "You Can't Be True", and as a complete after-thought, 2 takes and probably 1 hour to slam down It's a Cry'n Shame". There in lies the genuine spontaneity that makes it pure straight ahead punk rock, I suppose. Brown then pressed 1 or 2 thousand of the dreadfully flat Vandan copies and sent them to his Djay cronies in Detroit, Philly and Boston for airplay. A few weeks later when we were having the photograph that I am sending you made at the Studio Club in Dallas, a triumphant Brown walked in with a copy, (Jan. 1967) of Record World Magazine. In the 4 Star Rating column of hits to watch were 3 songs, "For What It's Worth", by the Buffalo Springfield, "Don't You Want Somebody to Love", by the Jefferson Airplane, and "It's a Cry'n Shame" by the Gentlemen. We wondered how that could be at the time, whether Tom Brown paid someone for that privilege, but now I think maybe that song got there on it's own merit. After all, it was suppose to be the B side.Bits and Pieces:Bruce Bland, our base player, was playing a no brand bass guitar that he picked up at a thrift shop for $50. He had a Fender for gigs but this thing was so funky-butt ugly and had a fuzzy thumping sound, perfect for Cry'n Shame.Seab Meador had a gapping hole in the center of his Vox SuperBeatle so that he could stick his guitar neck inside to get the Fuzz tone that is prevalent on "Cry'n Shame". He was a big Yardbirds follower.It was 2 takes for Cry'n Shame because Tom Brown was out of money. Shortly after he showed up with the magazine, we showed up at his home to find a for sale sign and no furniture. We would find our later that he was down to his last cash and skipped town to avoid creditors. We never saw him again, but read that he moved to Las Angeles to start over. He died there not long after.Mike Kelley, our singer and guitarist, stuck his finger in the master tape spool by accident when it was rewinding, causing the strange modulation during the final cord at the end of the record. Since the mix had been finalized, it stayed in.I have been in touch with Bruce Bland our bass player and keyboardist Tommy Turner. They are completely flabbergasted. Alas, Mike and Seab have both passed away but are watching from Dead Rock Star Heaven with their dark glasses on.Tim JusticeREAD THE BLOG TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GENTLEMEN!