Artist:The Dartells
Song:Hot Pastrami
Album:Son of Frat Rock
The 1962 single Hot Pastrami was a top twenty hit. It was the only big hit for The Dartells. One of their other songs charted so it is not technically a one hit wonder. The Dartells were from Oxnard, CA led by lead singer and bassist Doug Phillips. The other members were Dick Burns on guitar, Randy Ray on organ, Corey Wilkie and Rich Peil on sax and Gary Peeler on drums. Phillips wrote this reworking of the Nat Kendricks & the Swans single Mashed Potatoes. The Swans were James Brown's band at the time. The Dartells recorded Hot Pastrami in a garage. So I guess they were literally a garage band. Their manager and producer Tom Ayers got them a record deal with Arlen Records. Hot Pastrami did well enough on local radio that Dot Records picked it up for national distribution. That's how many songs became hits in those days. Hot Pastrami reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. Then The Dartells recorded what appears to be a mostly instrumental album. Not surprisingly, the album is out of print. But you can get Hot Pastrami on this Rhino various artists comp. After releasing a couple of unsuccessful singles. The Dartells split up. Some of them went on to other bands. Phillips was in the late 60s bands New Concepts and Camaraderie. Both bands were on major labels but went nowhere. Ayers went on to play bass for Johnny Burnette. Then he became an A&R man for several labels. Most notably he brought David Bowie to RCA. Here's The Dartells performing Hot Pastrami on a 1966 episode of The Lloyd Thaxton Show.
No comments:
Post a Comment