KB-674 - GAITY 674

THE BLUE KATS

Mar 58

KB-674A - Oh Yeah   (No Publ.)

KB-674B - Be Bop A Lula   (No Publ.)

GAITY 674

Minneapolis, MN   (David Hersk)

The Blue Kats were from Robbinsdale, MN. Bob Elster, Bob Ruth, Jud Sheridan, Doug Fredlin and George Seibert played regularly at the Crystal Coliseum where  national acts on tour would turn up to play. The band contacted Gaity Records via an add in the Yellow Pages and recorded the first bonafide Rock and Roll record on the label. David Hersk pressed a 1000 copies on blue wax and the band did their best to sell as many as possible at gigs. "Oh Yeah" is a pretty good primitive rocker, whilst the flip side cover of Gene Vincent's "Be Bop A Lulla" was described by Billy Miller of Norton Records as "....sounds like it was croaked by a well sloshed glee club." Praise indeed!

The Band, after a change of drummers, morphed into the manic Sonics and cut another Gaity disc, "Marlene" and "Minus One Blast Off" - one of the most frantic rockers ever waxed!. (It's not the same Sonics as the northwest legends of 60's fame). (MC)

Source: Terry Gordon 

KB-671 - SOMA 1093

ERNIE RECK And His Country Playboys

58

KB-671A – Sputnik Polka (RHB Pub.)

KB-671B – Lowenbrau Laendler (RHB Pub.)

SOMA 1093

119 North 9th St, Minneapolis, MN   (Amos Heilicher)

KB-670 - SOMA 1092

ERNIE RECK And His Country Playboys

58

KB-670A – Arcadia Polka (RHB Pub.)

KB-670B – Huntsmen Waltz (RHB Pub.)

SOMA 1092

119 North 9th St, Minneapolis, MN   (Amos Heilicher)

KB-663 - GAITY 663

THE SINGING BURCHES

58

KB-663A - Feeling Mighty Fine   (No Publ.)

               Wait A Little Longer   (No Publ.)

KB-663B - You Don't Have To Walk Alone   (No Publ.)

               Climbing Up The Mountain   (No Publ.)

GAITY 663

Minneapolis, MN   (David Hersk)

I'd like to state that I have never, ever heard a bad record on Gaity. So I would very much like to hear these sides. The Label is known better for ferocious rockers, fiery instrumentals and some super-rare vocal group stuff. Not sure what this music is - Gospel? Country? You know, for a very small private operation, Mr Hersk always seemed to create a huge sound and the recordings always seem to be really high fidelity. 

Just had a thought, if some of the early Gaity records were issued a few years before (say 55 - 57) and some were issued on 78rpm speed - well - can you imagine "Bloodshot" by the String Kings on a 78? Would blow the cones in every speaker! 

Yet, it wasn't actually Mr Hersk who recorded these tracks. Although the session was booked, he was out of town. Here's what Mr Hersk had to say when asked by Derik Olsen:

"I was going out of town and my mom set up the recording date.  Since I was not there Joe Beck (who had American Recording Company on Washburn Ave South) did the recording and Kay Bank mastered and pressed it.  I had forgotten all about it, It must have been 1956 or 57."

Still, now that I've heard the record, I still stand by my "Not A Bad Record" on Gaity, even if it isn't the label owner behind the desk.