from L to R : Diane Hogan, Joyce Vincent, Dorothy Garland, Elsie Baker at the Arcadia Roller Rink, Woodward Avenue in 1966 (image courtesy of Graham Finch)

music: "Please Don't Say We're Through" - The Debonaires (Golden World 17a)

As work was commencing on the new studio project, Golden World tried their luck with a young female group called The Debonaires.

The Debonaires had started out as a trio consisting of Elsie Baker, Dorothy Garland and Joyce Vincent. 

"Please Don't Say We're Through" c/w "A Little Too Long"  was released on Golden World 17 in October 1964. Both songs were Sammy Lowe arrangements, written by the Hamilton Brothers and Freddie Gorman. The song was performed without a lead singer.

It would be another 10 months before their next 45, the novelty song "Eenie Meenie Gypsalinie" which was released on  Golden World 26.

Sometime later, Ed suggested that it would be a good idea to employ a lead singer, and before long, fifteen year old Diane Hogan would take up the mantle. (Group detail comes from interviews carried out by Graham Finch).

Diane was there for the next release, "How's your new love treating you". Issued as Golden World 38 in June 1966 it was a stunning improvement on what went before.

Writing credits are given to Linda Bunten and JoAnne Bratton. The pair are also credited with "To win your heart" and it's instrumental version "Festival Time". Great music, but who was Linda Bunten?

The Debonaires final release for Golden World came in October 1966. Catalogue number 44, "C.O.D.", was arranged by Joe Hunter and is an equally good recording.

In 1967 the group re-emerged, this time on Solid Hit, where they delivered two superb 45's in "Loving You Takes All Of My Time" and "I'm In Love Again" . Both were accompanied by the  impressive "Headache In My Heart".

Joyce, in particular, would soon drift into session work where  income was more regular. 

Within a few years, and thanks to her knowing Tony Camillo, she and her friend Telma Hopkins would join Tony Orlando.

Tony had achieved major chart success as Tony Orlando and Dawn, but Dawn didn't physically exist however, and backing vocals had been applied by mystery session singers. 

Now that he needed to hit the road, it was time to put together a real backing group, and that came in the form of Joyce and Telma.

Around the same time of the first Debonaires release came a nice double-sider from a lady by the name of Juanita Williams.

Golden World 18 was titled "Baby Boy" c/w "You Knew What You Were Gettin' ". Both tracks were arranged by Sammy Lowe and co-written by the Hamilton brothers and Popcorn Wylie.

Only three 45's would ensue in the next eight months, strongly suggesting that this was indeed the time zone for the building of the new studio.

Two Reflections 45's "Shabby Little Hut" and "Poor Man's Son" were released in February 1965 and Freddie Gorman's ace double-sider  "Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" c/w "Take Me Back", on Ric-Tic102, in March. The latter featured the production skills of legendary songwriter Don Mancha who would also turn out some classic material for the Thelma label.

Interestingly, the "Shabby Little Hut" 45 has the same backing track as a James Barnes and the Agents track released on the Golden Hit label, "Free At Last".

Golden Hit was owned by Jock Mitchell and Addie Strickland and operated on Grand River Avenue. A further two Golden Hit's 45's had the same backing tracks as those used by Golden World. 

Does this suggests some kind of deal between the two companies? Or was there a closer link?

It would be another 3 months before the next release and this time it was on a new label, Wingate Records.

In June 1965, Ronnie Savoy had his first and only release in "Memories Linger" c/w "Loving You". Note the songwriter on this 45, Fred Bridges, another legend who would go on to make some superb music with the Brothers Of Soul.

The label name design on the early releases was significant for a couple of reasons. One, the fonts "G" and "W" were copied straight from the Golden World label design. Two, there were two "G's" in Wingate.

It is my guess that the launch of the new label coincided with the opening of the studio.

Continued