Early Arthur Lee cover version...under the radar?

[Dave Baldwin]

Just got a copy of a Los Angeles label 45 by THE BUNDYS - I Don't Need You/Stay Away (Domain Records 1410) and was surprised to discover that the B-side is the same early Arthur Lee/John Echols song that was recently issued on that Norton pre-Love (American Four/Grass Roots) single. Not only the same song, but pretty much the same arrangement with the menacing "I'll fix her" vocal asides and aggressive early Kinks-style guitar break. Not a bad version, with a cool guy/gal "fuck off" folk rocker on the A-side. Not your typical release for Domain either...I think the only other disc I have on that label is "Kick Your Little Foot Sally Ann" by Round Robin. This had to have been released in late 1964 or early 1965, since the release date for Domain 1424 was June 1965...which would likely make it the first "garage" cover of an Arthur Lee/Love song. The songwriting credit on the Bundys version lists the songwriter as "Grass Roots" so they probably learned it from seeing Arthur & Co. play rather than getting it from a publisher (who would have provided the proper 'A. Lee/J.Echols' byline). Anyone know if this had been on a comp yet? None of the big-time Love fans that I know are familiar with it. Kind of a weird band name too...nobody in the credits is named 'Bundy' and it's decades too early to be a "Married With Children" reference. Since it's from 1965 it might be a goof on McGeorge Bundy...LBJ's National Security Advisor and the primary architect of the Viet Nam War.
Kinda like some 2004 punk band calling themselves "The Rumsfelds" I guess.

 

[MopTopMike]

It's not the first remake (not cover) of the song, as the Lords of London, the Los Angeles group, not the Canucks, recorded it first.
The Lords of London version is much more 'punk' in performance and vocal delivery than the Bundys version which is more pop in comparison. Both have the merseybeat vibe.
"Grass Roots" is also the writing credit for "Stay Away" on the Lords Of London 45.
The Bundys is probably an off-shoot regrouping from the Lords of London lineup; they issued a total of three 45s in the '64'-65 time-frame.
I've known about these songs/versions for years

 

[Dave Baldwin]

It's not the first remake (not cover) of the song, as the Lords of London, the Los Angeles group, not the Canucks, recorded it first.
The Lords of London version is much more 'punk' in performance and vocal delivery than the Bundys version which is more pop in comparison. Both have the merseybeat vibe.
"Grass Roots" is also the writing credit for "Stay Away" on the Lords Of London 45.
The Bundys is probably an off-shoot regrouping from the Lords of London lineup; they issued a total of three 45s in the '64'-65 time-frame.
I've known about these songs/versions for years

Very interesting. Do you have a label/number and release date for the Lords Of London version?
I'd like to pursue this and try to get in touch with Johnny E. to find out how/why other groups
remade this (then unreleased) song that could have been a good follow-up to the "Luci Baines" single.

 

[depravedskippy66]

Very interesting. Do you have a label/number and release date for the Lords Of London version?
I'd like to pursue this and try to get in touch with Johnny E. to find out how/why other groups
remade this (then unreleased) song that could have been a good follow-up to the "Luci Baines" single.

Dave. Johnny Echols can be contacted via Facebook.

 

[Dave Baldwin]

Dave. Johnny Echols can be contacted via Facebook.

Thanks, I'll try that since Arthur can only be contacted via seance...

 

[BBTD]

So the Lords of London that recorded for the Domain label was not the Canuck group when they re-located to California as can be read here?: http://mocm.ca/Music/Artist.aspx?ArtistId=98508
Could Bundys and Lords of London have been one and the same group? (as they both recorded for the same label)....and do you (Mike) have a catalog number for the Lords of London "Stay Away" 45? I have the Lords of London "Little Lonely Summer Girl" (Domain 1423), too poppy probably for most of you here, but I like it anyway.

 

[MopTopMike]

Well, the person(s) responsible for that article just assumed the Canadian group recorded all those 45s. Incorrect.

The Bundy's version, as noted, sounds much more tame than the Lords Of London rendition. Doesn't sound like the same group either. I have all three Lords Of London 45s, and they all came out in '65.
Would venture a guess that both releases of "Stay Away" were issued around the same time (Jan'65). Domain 1406 = Dec '64. Label uses the same fonts, color scheme and design at the Domain label, but it is noted as Shot 1001.

 

[Dave Baldwin]

Well, the person(s) responsible for that article just assumed the Canadian group recorded all those 45s. Incorrect.

The Bundy's version, as noted, sounds much more tame than the Lords Of London rendition. Doesn't sound like the same group either. I have all three Lords Of London 45s, and they all came out in '65.
Would venture a guess that both releases of "Stay Away" were issued around the same time (Jan'65). Domain 1406 = Dec '64. Label uses the same fonts, color scheme and design at the Domain label, but it is noted as Shot 1001.

Thanks Mike. What was the flipside of that Lords 'Stay Away' 45? It's not in Wickham's price guide.

 

[BBTD]

Well, the person(s) responsible for that article just assumed the Canadian group recorded all those 45s. Incorrect.

The Bundy's version, as noted, sounds much more tame than the Lords Of London rendition. Doesn't sound like the same group either. I have all three Lords Of London 45s, and they all came out in '65.
Would venture a guess that both releases of "Stay Away" were issued around the same time (Jan'65). Domain 1406 = Dec '64. Label uses the same fonts, color scheme and design at the Domain label, but it is noted as Shot 1001.

Thanks for the info's, Mike. The Lords' "Stay Away" must be the rarest of the 3x45's they made. Would love to have a copy next to my Bundys 45.

 

[MopTopMike]

The flipside is a version of "She Belongs To Me" (Dylan)

 

[Dave Baldwin]

The flipside is a version of "She Belongs To Me" (Dylan)

Cool. Guess I'll have to put it on my want list between the Jewish Racing Team and The Maundy Quintet...

 

[BBTD]

The flipside is a version of "She Belongs To Me" (Dylan)

On my wantlist between Lords and Lords of T.O.N.K.

 

[EXPO67]

The son of one of the members of The Bundys recently contacted me and advised that they were the same group as The Lords Of London and also recorded on Valiant as The Lords.

http://expo67-cavestones.blogspot.c...-belongs-to-me.html?showComment=1386709501385

 

[MopTopMike]

The son of one of the members of The Bundys recently contacted me and advised that they were the same group as The Lords Of London and also recorded on Valiant as The Lords.

http://expo67-cavestones.blogspot.c...-belongs-to-me.html?showComment=1386709501385

Right, I posted the Lords Of London version of "Stay Away" on Youtube and noted that update. different lead vocalists for the Bundys version and th eLords Of London version.