"Unknown" NJ Doo Wop - Notations - On The Other Side Of The World (Vietnam era)

[grpharmony]

it's in the kreiter price guide from 1996 6th edition listed @ 125.00

[PJDooWop]

@grpharmony - Thank you. Weird that newer Kreiter editions omit this, as well as many other books.

[relbats]

Cool track! What is the flip side?

[butchfeuker]

Just wanted to thank all you FB fans for playing our recording. I come back often

to hear it myself. Still sounds good to me.... Was surprized to see the record had

that many plays. Thanks again, Butch. First tennor of the Noataions.

[butchfeuker]

Hi, Just noticed I misspelled our Group's name below . It's not Notationws it is

Notations. Sorry about that. I always sucked at spelling anyhow. They were some

great days. I really miss them. Glad for guys like our PJ that still enjoy and bring us

guys and girls these great tunes of years ago. They all sound great today as then.

Seems like the other day we were singing at the Bitter End in the Village.

A lot of great acts got there start there. NO booze then only coffee. Enjoy, Ralph.

[butchfeuker]

Hi, This record was recorded in Union City in mid 60s. By the Notationws. A group

out of Bayonne, N.J. Group founder, Joseph Riccio Lead singer Tommy Zenda.

second tenor, George Tiny Slavoaka, and myself. Ralph Feuker. First tenor.

We also made one more record there. Gone Away. We opened for groups like,

The Drifters and Duprees. We also made two demos in N.Y.C. 45s pressed

on 78 vinal. Songs like An't going to eat out my heart anymore, Good Loving,

Louie Louie etc. Hope you enjoy, Butch.

[relbats]

Butch or PJ: What is the flip on this 45? Also, any info available on "S. Angel" shown as the songwriter?

[PJDooWop]

I'll have to dig the 45 out. I can't recall the title at the moment.

[PJDooWop]

The flipside is called "I Just Want To Know."

[qlap10]

Any other info on this group? And if POSSIBLE, where could I get this record?

[PJDooWop]

We haven't gotten much info yet. As for the record, this is the only copy I've ever found (or seen for that matter). It's quite rare in my opinion. I just checked ebay and gemm and there are no copies available at either site

[cjjaxxon]

Thanks y'all for the info on this Notations group. I woulda thought that this was the same group that made "I'm Still Here". Now I know that there was different groups with the same name.

[harrybs47]

There was a doo wop group from north Jersey called the Notations. The members were Sid Adams, Freddy Doll, Bobby Leonetti and Guido Rosati.

[rakeuiff]

Perhaps this is them the only other Notations I know of were both black groups, one a soul group and one an acappella group and Guido Roseti , just does not sound an African American name

Eddie Black , lead/first tenor The Five Sharks

[NYBredBamaFed]

Here is some more info on this group, though not much info. They ARE listed in Jerry Osborne's Record Guide book. This was not their first 45. In 1958 they had the song "Chapel Doors" on the Wonder label (number 100). Then came this song you posted. They had one more in 1980 - again with "Chapel Doors" on Jason Scott (number 3). There were only 500 45's made on the Jason Scott label. That's all I know - hope that helps!

[PJDooWop]

Thanks. I always appreciate info on a record or a group. Ironically, I bought Jerry Osborne's 18th edition last night and this is one of the records I looked up. . I was using an older edition (a relatively old edition.. I'm surprised it took me this long to upgrade) and this record was not listed. It's also not in The Forgotten Third Of Rock And Roll, The Encyclopedia Of Doo Wop or the huge "binder" edition of Discofile

[fingers1111]

do a quick search right here on youtube and a couple more Notations songs are available...and some more info too!

[PJDooWop]

I did look into this, and thanks for the heads up. I've known about a few different Notations groups, but there's nothing in any of those videos or elsewhere that points to this being the same group. No Notations group had a big hit so it's possible there were many different groups with the same name. It happened with The Uniques.. There are at least 10 different groups of Uniques out there

[chess1458]

One Main Reason Why I Miss Living On The East Coast,Finding Gems Like This.

[PJDooWop]

Yeah man this is true

[jmattei45]

Hmm.. Same Notations that sang acappella for Relic? Rare name, same time frame.. btw, where's the heavy RnB.. did u post that Cuff Links disc yet?

[PJDooWop]

I post a little bit of everything. My taste in music is pretty ecclectic. I still love the heavy r&b stuff. Recording the vinyl, making the videos and posting is a time consuming process. I've got lots of goodies coming this week

[lluckylady2]

You are right about that But I still think I might know it I have already emailed a friend of mine that might give us some insight We shall see what he says about it the song just rings a bell somehow

[lluckylady2]

I remember hearing this song too But I cant really tell you anything about it But I will ask around

[PJDooWop]

Although you may be remembering this song I think it's more likely that it's reminding you of Mr Lonely by The Videls. It was one of the first things that came to my mind when I first played it and 13loomisst had the same experience. Hopefully you know someone that knows something about this one :)

[lluckylady2]

opps i didn't hit the reply button but i did make a comment you can read it there

[hah13]

interesting

[PJDooWop]

I agree

[13loomisst]

Nice sound, and an interesting mystery. It reminds at times of "Mr. Lonely" by the Videls, which came out around 1960, I think. Sorry I don't have any other info. It could have been Vietnam, but in early 1965 there weren't a huge number of Americans there. There were certainly a lot of servicemen in other posts at that time, also. Good tune, with a fairly lush arrangement. Thanks very much.

[PJDooWop]

Unfortunately nobody has any info. I'm hoping that someone that was involved with this record finds the video and makes contact with us. You're right that we weren't in full concentration in 'Nam in 65 but that's when things started getting bad as far as the draft goes. LBJ upped the troop commitment to 184,000 in 1965 which upset a lot of kids. You're right, the record could be about other things but I'm leaning towards 'Nam.

[UncleMike43]

I was involved in late 1964 & 1965. We had a saying then "TNS" The Navy Sucks. Ask you dad what "FTA' stood for. But I still love my country and say to all my brother Viet Nam Vets " Welcome Home Brother" .

[PJDooWop]

One other thing I'd like to point out.. If this song is about 'Nam then I think this is an important historical document. Instead of showing clear disdain of the protest records this has a softer, somber but "dealing with it" sort of attitude going on. There were lots of kids like my dad (1rst Cav 66-68) that came just before the hippie generation that didn't protest but they weren't happy with the situation. They just dealt with it and hoped for the best. This is a time capsule of sorts.

[novapup2001]

Good point! A modern equivalent of this song is "Downtown Bagdad Blues" by Black 47. "Didn't wanna come here, didn't get to choose" Homesick heartache from the point of view of the servicemen/women. Check into it.

[Howieshet]

Nice sound. Good lead and nive background.

[PJDooWop]

Glad you like it

[poppakind1]

How is the flip?

[PJDooWop]

This flip is interesting. It's a great example of the musical confusion of 1965. Here you have a displaced Northern NJ doo wop group being backed by a garage band

[chezfun]

It's quite nice!

[PJDooWop]

Glad you like it