Knight Raiders - Edgewood Studios acetate

[greenfuzz]

Update: I located the rehersal reel from 1967 recorded in the waning days of the Knight Raiders. I tried to play it on a 50+ year-old Akia reel-to-reel tape player, but it won’t maintain a steady speed. To be continued…

Thanks for the update, Steve. Good luck getting it to play at the correct speed!

 

[TJ Coro]

Thanks for the update, Steve. Good luck getting it to play at the correct speed!

Sending the reel to San Diego to have it transferred to a disk. Can’t wait!

 

[TJ Coro]

Okay...I received the transfer of my reel to CD from King Tet Productions in San Diego a few weeks ago and have been sitting on it ever since. It includes 5 songs: 25 Miles, Cold Sweat, Goin' Out of My Head, I Can't Turn You Loose, and Try a Little Tenderness. Eric at King Tet did an excellent job transferring a 50+ year-old tape to CD, but after listening to it a few times, I wasn't sure if I would post it on the forum. It's a pretty rough recording of a practice session back in 1967 or 1968, after we switched from Rock to Soul, and is nothing like the quality of the acetate demo I posted previously (YouTube versions, Post #68 & 25; audio only, Post #33 & 34). I was afraid it would destroy your image of the original five young lads trying their best to bang out Rock & Roll in the 1960s.

Anyway, I listened to it again this morning and decided to post the best of the five recordings - "Cold Sweat," originally recorded by the hardest working man in show business - James Brown. It's not too bad, considering it was recorded in a basement with a simple tape recorder. And no doubt we had all been drinking Mountain Dew (the soft drink) all night and were on a sugar high. One standout on the song is the sax player, Don Barber, who was about the same age as me at the time (15 or 16). Check out his solo 2 minutes in. You may remember Don. He was the other band member with me the infamous night we partied "60s style" after what became our last gig in Lynchburg, Virginia. After that, the Knight Raiders (aka, Simon Soul and the Knight Raiders) were no more.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

https://voca.ro/13mQaYVA2uf6

 

[greenfuzz]

Thanks for posting, Steve. It’s personally not my style of music (I prefer the “Hang It Up”-style sound) but the performance is excellent. I’m glad I got to hear it. It’s appreciated!

 

[TJ Coro]

Thanks for posting, Steve. It’s personally not my style of music (I prefer the “Hang It Up”-style sound) but the performance is excellent. I’m glad I got to hear it. It’s appreciated!

In the late 60s, soul music was becoming very popular in the states with groups like The Supremes, Four Tops and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. So when the lead singer and organist left for college, we made the switch. But like you, I prefer the sound of the early Knight Raiders. And I think our lead singer, Jim Fetrow, was a big part of that sound.

Good to hear from you, Mr. Fuzz. -Steve

 

[Dave Baldwin]

Okay...I received the transfer of my reel to CD from King Tet Productions in San Diego a few weeks ago and have been sitting on it ever since. It includes 5 songs: 25 Miles, Cold Sweat, Goin' Out of My Head, I Can't Turn You Loose, and Try a Little Tenderness. Eric at King Tet did an excellent job transferring a 50+ year-old tape to CD, but after listening to it a few times, I wasn't sure if I would post it on the forum. It's a pretty rough recording of a practice session back in 1967 or 1968, after we switched from Rock to Soul, and is nothing like the quality of the acetate demo I posted previously (YouTube versions, Post #68 & 25; audio only, Post #33 & 34). I was afraid it would destroy your image of the original five young lads trying their best to bang out Rock & Roll in the 1960s.

Anyway, I listened to it again this morning and decided to post the best of the five recordings - "Cold Sweat," originally recorded by the hardest working man in show business - James Brown. It's not too bad, considering it was recorded in a basement with a simple tape recorder. And no doubt we had all been drinking Mountain Dew (the soft drink) all night and were on a sugar high. One standout on the song is the sax player, Don Barber, who was about the same age as me at the time (15 or 16). Check out his solo 2 minutes in. You may remember Don. He was the other band member with me the infamous night we partied "60s style" after what became our last gig in Lynchburg, Virginia. After that, the Knight Raiders (aka, Simon Soul and the Knight Raiders) were no more.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

https://voca.ro/13mQaYVA2uf6

'Blue-eyed soul' was a BIG thing with many 60s-early 70s metro D.C. bands.
Lawrence & The Arabians played several proms at my high school back then.

 

[TJ Coro]

'Blue-eyed soul' was a BIG thing with many 60s-early 70s metro D.C. bands.
Lawrence & The Arabians played several proms at my high school back then.

Wow! They played at my high school, too, and a couple of teen centers in the area, I believe. Perhaps the Rockville Civic Center. I seem to recall them doing a great cover of Ooh, Baby Baby, but it could have been another area band. Either way, they were really good! BTW, I went to Richard Montgomery, class of 69. Where did you go?

 

[Dave Baldwin]

Wow! They played at my high school, too, and a couple of teen centers in the area, I believe. Perhaps the Rockville Civic Center. I seem to recall them doing a great cover of Ooh, Baby Baby, but it could have been another area band. Either way, they were really good! BTW, I went to Richard Montgomery, class of 69. Where did you go?

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, MD (1968-1972). My old buddy Jimmy Copeland went to Richard Montgomery H.S.
My 'steady' Jewish girlfriend back then went to B.C.C. (after my Academy of the Holy Cross girlfriend went loco). Catholic chicks...sheesh!

 

[TJ Coro]

Looking for a little help, please.

After the forums went down last month, once it was restored, I immediately made a copy of the entire thread to preserve the story of the Knight Raiders. Yesterday, I noticed that a few chapters are missing - chapters 2, 3 and 4 (post #s 52, 57 and 65). The chapter titles and attachments are there, but the chapter content is missing.

So, on the outside chance that someone else may have downloaded or printed this thread before the forums went down, please let me know. Thanks!

Steve

 

[TJ Coro]

Mr. Erry to the rescue!

Apparently, I'm the only one who can't see the chapters on my PC or iPhone. Mr. Erry sent me the three "missing" chapters and said he could still see them in the thread. So, I logged out on my PC and, low and behold, there they were. I logged on again and they disappeared. Very strange.

Thanks, Mr. Erry! I can breath again.

Steve

 

[bosshoss]

I just caught up with your "Cold Sweat" post TJ. Thanks for letting us hear it. Your drumming is great.
Have you thought any more about releasing the Edgewood Studios acetate as a limited edition vinyl 45? If you decide to do that, I could do a digital transfer. I would do it even if you just want it for yourself. The only thing is...I live in a far away land. But I have handled and transferred many rare '60s garage acetates from the USA in the past with no problem so far.

 

[Frantic]

I just caught up with your "Cold Sweat" post TJ. Thanks for letting us hear it. Your drumming is great.
Have you thought any more about releasing the Edgewood Studios acetate as a limited edition vinyl 45? If you decide to do that, I could do a digital transfer. I would do it even if you just want it for yourself. The only thing is...I live in a far away land. But I have handled and transferred many rare '60s garage acetates from the USA in the past with no problem so far.

I can vouch for that.

 

[TJ Coro]

I just caught up with your "Cold Sweat" post TJ. Thanks for letting us hear it. Your drumming is great.
Have you thought any more about releasing the Edgewood Studios acetate as a limited edition vinyl 45?

I like the idea, Mr. Bosshoss…I like it a lot! I would love to have it transferred to a 45 vinyl. A few others around here have also expressed interest in adding a copy to their collection. So I’m in. Let me know what you need. -Steve

 

[bosshoss]

Steve - my ability is limited to making the digital transfer. That is, making a digital copy of the acetate which can then be used to press a vinyl record. Pressing the vinyl 45 is another story. That is not difficult, but there is also distribution to consider which is the hard part really. Even if it's only a couple of hundred copies, sending them out is time consuming I imagine, and access to packaging materials would be necessary. I could get things to first base by making an excellent digital transfer of the acetate. I could also assist with the cost of pressing the record in the USA, if you wanted to do that. But distribution would be impossible for me, especially as I live in Australia. A lot to consider, for such a seemingly simple project! (I didn't even mention artwork and printing, if there was to be a sleeve).

If pressing and distributing a vinyl 45 was too hard or too expensive, the digital transfer could be used to make the music available for CD release, either on its own, or as part of a compilation CD together with other rare tracks. We could do that ourselves easily, the main advantages being low cost per copy, easy packaging and the ability to make only as many copies as needed.

 

[TJ Coro]

Mamma Mia! This is a wee bit more complicated than I was anticipating. I just thought it would be fun to have the songs in a vinyl (45rpm) format for myself and to pass out to a few friends and family...and of course, those who expressed interest in a copy on this thread. Not really looking to mass produce and distribute. Just a few dozen copies or so. But apparently, it's not as simple as that and could be quite costly.

The only acetate copy I have is mounted in a frame and would be difficult to access. But I did a simple digital transfer before it was mounted, which is what I linked in an earlier post (https://voca.ro/14yPkOIyuXNW). Nothing fancy, just a direct transfer from the acetate to a digital format without any modifications. So, unless the digital transfer can be tweaked and improved, I guess all I really need to do, at this point, is get it pressed in vinyl with some artwork on the sleeve. Sounds simple, but probably not. What do you think? -Steve (aka, TJ Coro, Puro Padre,...)

 

[Ryan L.]

So, unless the digital transfer can be tweaked and improved...

Not to speak out of turn, but it would definitely benefit from a legitimate Bosshoss transfer. I just listened to it again, and MAN!! That song and recording deserve the royal treatment! I nominate it for the lead track on Back From The Grave Vol. 11!!!

Seriously, though, if you set up a GoFundMe to cover costs of shipping and insuring the record I would definitely contribute. It would kill me to know that the only way this record could be experienced by future generations (and us!) is in a lossy mp3. Especially when such a great resource is only a trip to the post office away.

 

[TJ Coro]

Thanks for the feedback, Mr. Ryan. Definitely food for thought. And I like your idea of lead track on “Back from the Grave Vol. 11.”

I guess the question is, would The Bosshoss be able to work with the digital copy I have or would he need the original acetate, which is framed (see attach)? I’d hate to take the frame apart. And converting to a lousy mp3 is out of the question. -Steve

 

[abc]

unfortunately it would require dismantling the frame, as the original acetate is needed for the transfer.

my (biased?) opinion is it's worth lending out for a proper transfer -- the music is deserving of the highest degree of digital preservation, and bosshoss' digital transfers are among the best i've ever heard, superior to even many professional studios' work. a transfer done by him would represent the ultimate digital form of the Knight Raiders' music.

it would also be good to make digital scans of the photo, business card, & newspaper clippings in the frame. those could very easily be used to design an excellent quality, period-appropriate picture sleeve for any potential future reissue

 

[bosshoss]

Thanks for the feedback, Mr. Ryan. Definitely food for thought. And I like your idea of lead track on “Back from the Grave Vol. 11.”

I guess the question is, would The Bosshoss be able to work with the digital copy I have or would he need the original acetate, which is framed (see attach)? I’d hate to take the frame apart. And converting to a lousy mp3 is out of the question. -Steve

abc is correct Steve. The only way to get a great result is to use the acetate to make the transfer. There are several careful steps I would take to ensure the best possible result. I would clean and demagnetize the acetate before transferring both sides. I have experience with Edgewood acetate transfers as I am the owner of the only known copy of the Henchmen "Get Off My Back" acetate. Edgewood acetates have great sound and they are quite robust compared to many other fragile acetate types which can only be played a few times before developing groove noise and distortion . All acetates have a limited lifespan, but some wear out quicker than others.

You will notice that all acetates have an odour. That's because molecules (particles) of the acetate surface are continually escaping into the atmosphere. Eventually they dry out over time unless properly stored in an archival quality sleeve. Luckily Edgewoods are well made and will likely last many years or decades with proper care. But the sooner the transfer is made, the better. Every day, the acetate dries out just a little bit more. I have several acetates that were playable 20 years ago, which are just souvenirs now, due to this inevitable process.

Here's how the process would work, if you decide to allow me to make the digital transfers. You would remove the acetate from the frame, and place it in a paper 45 sleeve. Then cut at least 6 or 8 squares (about 8 inches square) of heavy corrugated cardboard, and place the acetate in the middle of the carboard sandwich. Tape the edges securely on all sides. Go to the post office and buy a post pack, preferably a tough plastic post bag. If you prefer to use a box instead of a bag, make sure any empty spaces are filled with padding material. Send the package via the fastest possible express service with a tracking number to my PO box (I will provide the PO box address and my home address and phone number). I do not recommend insurance, as it would likely not be paid fully and just serves to alert postal thieves that the package is valuable. I would value the package low, maybe $25. But the choice about insurance is up to you. The most important thing is to get a tracking number and email the number to me.

There's always a risk using any postal service. I can only help calm nerves about this risk by pointing out that I have received literally thousands of 45 rpm record packages from the USA over the last 20 years. I only ever lost one disc, out of all those packages.

Upon receiving the acetate, I would make the transfers the same day if possible, send you a download link to the transfers, and return the well-packaged acetate to you via express post with a tracking number, the day after you approve the result.

All this will be a hard decision for you Steve. I fully realize the value of the acetate is priceless for you, and it's irreplaceable. But I can confidently predict that the results will be beyond all expectations, if you decide to go ahead.

Mark

 

[13th Floor Garage]

I just caught up with your "Cold Sweat" post TJ. Thanks for letting us hear it. Your drumming is great.
Have you thought any more about releasing the Edgewood Studios acetate as a limited edition vinyl 45? If you decide to do that, I could do a digital transfer. I would do it even if you just want it for yourself. The only thing is...I live in a far away land. But I have handled and transferred many rare '60s garage acetates from the USA in the past with no problem so far.

I can also vouch for it.

I had found an acetate ( "Look Out For Number One") at a thrift store. I uploaded it as an mp3 and the quality was so bad that other forum members wondered if I had posted a retro band disguised and added pops and clicks.

I'm sure that this acetate was a piece of work, but after Boss Hoss was through with it, the sound quality was unreal (in a *good* way) . I've also heard other good quality mp3 recordings that a listener might not think needs any work. After Boss does his magic, you'd almost swear that it was a better studio take of the same song.

The return packaging was not only quick, but better than any packaging that I've received through ebay (and I've ordered from ebay since 2004).

I realize that your acetate has not only a great sentimental value to you, but it's your only one. If I had not heard the improvements with my own ears and experienced the care and time that Boss Hoss takes, I would not be posting.

Just to give another example. I am friends with the brother of a group called "Scribes." I also later chatted his brother. Boss Hoss cleaned up their single "Just Last Night." This wasn't an acetate, but a regular 45 single. The improvements that Boss Hoss applied to this 45 really impressed the band member and his brother.