Grodes - Cry a Little Longer (Tri-M 1965)

[GGS]

Hello,

Recently picked up a copy of the second Grodes 45 on Tri-M (after a thirty year search) and—as these things tend to go—I’m left with more questions than answers.

The A-side is the typical orange label; however, the b-side label is yellow (like the first Tri-M 45) and the song title is printed as "She Knows Where It’s At."

Matrix info is as follows:

Cry:

(Triangle) 59754 | 1002-A | (r in a circle) | small circle with indecipherable symbol/letter

She’s

(Triangle) 59754-X | 1002-B | (r in a circle) | small circle with indecipherable symbol/letter


I don’t doubt the authenticity of the record—I’m more concerned about whether it’s a different mix/pressing (it sounds the same as the Voxx LP versions to me, btw).

If anyone with a copy can confirm the matrix info, it’d be much appreciated. I’m hopeful this is just an early copy that escaped before the error was caught…

Thanks

Best,
Tony

 

[GGS]

View attachment 5965View attachment 5966Hello,

Recently picked up a copy of the second Grodes 45 on Tri-M (after a thirty year search) and—as these things tend to go—I’m left with more questions than answers.

The A-side is the typical orange label; however, the b-side label is yellow (like the first Tri-M 45) and the song title is printed as "She Knows Where It’s At."

Matrix info is as follows:

Cry:

(Triangle) 59754 | 1002-A | (r in a circle) | small circle with indecipherable symbol/letter

She’s

(Triangle) 59754-X | 1002-B | (r in a circle) | small circle with indecipherable symbol/letter


I don’t doubt the authenticity of the record—I’m more concerned about whether it’s a different mix/pressing (it sounds the same as the Voxx LP versions to me, btw).

If anyone with a copy can confirm the matrix info, it’d be much appreciated. I’m hopeful this is just an early copy that escaped before the error was caught…

Thanks

Best,
Tony

Quick update: Reached out to Arizona record-wizard John Dixon and he confirmed that my copy’s deadwax matched his "standard" copy.

The Grodes issued a one-sided promo of their first Tri-M 45—curious if this copy was for radio stations and they toned down the suggestive title for potential airplay…

 

[Outside_Lookin_in]

So, the conclusion is that there is only one pressing, but two releases: one having a yellow label (instead of orange) and alternate song title for the b-side? Which is the first release?

 

[bosshoss]

The visible deadwax markings on your copy are the same handwriting, and in the same relative positions as my standard copy. So it's a different color label with the song title changed, but the same stamper used, so the same music. Congratulations, btw. It's logical to assume that the yellow label may have been a mistake - or perhaps the first pressing or a test pressing, as they probably wouldn't deliberately choose a different color for each side for the final product. "She's Got What It Takes" seems like an innocuous enough title to me, so it seems unlikely that the label was censored for radio play. But something odd happened, obviously.

 

[GGS]

So, the conclusion is that there is only one pressing, but two releases: one having a yellow label (instead of orange) and alternate song title for the b-side? Which is the first release?

Sounds about right, but I think the orange/yellow label copy is more like a promo or even a testpressing, as bosshoss suggested.

 

[GGS]

The visible deadwax markings on your copy are the same handwriting, and in the same relative positions as my standard copy. So it's a different color label with the song title changed, but the same stamper used, so the same music. Congratulations, btw. It's logical to assume that the yellow label may have been a mistake - or perhaps the first pressing or a test pressing, as they probably wouldn't deliberately choose a different color for each side for the final product. "She's Got What It Takes" seems like an innocuous enough title to me, so it seems unlikely that the label was censored for radio play. But something odd happened, obviously.

Thanks for the confirmation, re: the deadwax, bosshoss. My heart sank when I opened up the mailer and saw that yellow label—I immediately imagined an inferior mix and a (previously unknown) rejected first press. Much happier that it’s just a cosmetic oddity.

I was hoping the seller—a record store in Southern California—would have info about my copy’s provenance…so far, no response. I’ll report back if I hear anything substantial.

As an aside, I’m from Arizona and worked at the largest used record store in Tucson (PDQ) from 1996-2001 and this particular record seemed mythical even then/there—the only guy I knew who claimed he found one locally has been deceased for over twenty years. Spoke to Lee Joseph about it today and he said he never found one in the old pueblo either. He’d also never seen/heard of a yellow label variation—and he’s seen Manny Freiser’s personal copy. Oof.

 

[chas_kit]

Hard to imagine it was pressed twice. Maybe they had a different A-side in mind originally and printed up labels for it on the yellow? Or they changed their minds on which lyric to use as the title, ran off some new labels, and mixed those in with the old.

Promos are usually well-indicated, either printed or stamped later.

Looks to be styrene? Beautiful copy, congrats.

 

[bosshoss]

Maybe someone in the band made the decision that "She Know's Where It's At" might be a slightly goofy title and should be changed? Or they realised that "Know's" should not have an apostrophe. Or both.

 

[GGS]

Hard to imagine it was pressed twice. Maybe they had a different A-side in mind originally and printed up labels for it on the yellow? Or they changed their minds on which lyric to use as the title, ran off some new labels, and mixed those in with the old.

Promos are usually well-indicated, either printed or stamped later.

Looks to be styrene? Beautiful copy, congrats.

Thanks! Good eye—I believe it is styrene. No hiss, thankfully.

I’ve always thought it was weird that the other Tri-M single has a one-sided (clearly marked) promo. Maybe the pressing plant they used did furnish them with advanced copies while they waited? Would explain how they had time to change the title and spare the world from that grocer’s apostrophe bosshoss rightly pointed out.

 

[GGS]

Seller finally responded:

"It came in a couple weeks ago from an older couple, they had lots of 45s, white label promos, major label and independent. Nothing remotely as valuable as this, but all from the same era. We didn't get any info as to where they got them, but they'd obviously had them for 50 years. Anyway, hope that helps. Appreciate the purchase!"