The Music Explosion
The Music Explosion was an American garage rock band from Mansfield, Ohio, discovered and signed by record producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz. The quintet is best known for their number two hit, "Little Bit O' Soul", that received gold record status by the R.I.A.A..[1] Written by John Carter and Ken Lewis, who had previously written big hits for The Ivy League and Herman's Hermits, the song (Laurie Records No. 3380, subsequently reissued on Buddah Records) was the band's only top 40 hit.[1] This single paved the way for tours with contemporaries like The Left Banke and The Easybeats.
The production by Kasenetz, Katz, and Elliot Chiprut paved the way for bubblegum pop bands like Ohio Express and 1910 Fruitgum Company. "Little Bit O' Soul" has been subsequently covered by several bands including The Ramones; Dodging Susan; and 2 Live Crew, who sampled the melody. On its own, the flip "I See The Light" (featuring a surf guitar bridge) was covered by The Fourth Amendment and had a resurgence on some stations in the Midwest four years later.[2]
Lead singer Jamie Lyons, appearing somewhat intimidating on some record sleeves and album covers, also recorded several solo singles on Laurie while still recording with the group. His first single, "Soul Struttin'", became a Northern Soul hit in several Northeast regions. Lyons died of heart failure at his home at 57 in Little River, South Carolina on September 25, 2006. The band continues touring in festivals with a new lead singer.[2]
Band members
- James "Jamie" Lyons (singer, percussion)
- Donald (Tudor) Atkins (guitar)
- Richard Nesta (guitar)
- Burton Stahl (bass guitar)
- Robert Avery (drums)
- Dane Donohue (guitar)
- Dale Powers (guitar)
Discography w/Billboard chart peak positions
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart position |
Record Label | B-side | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||||
| 1966 | "Little Black Egg" | – | Attack Records | "Stay by My Side" | |
| 1967 | "Little Bit O' Soul" | 2 | Laurie Records | "I See the Light" | Little Bit O' Soul |
| "Sunshine Games" | 63 | "Can't Stop Now" | |||
| "We Gotta Go Home" | 103 | "Hearts and Flowers" | |||
| 1968 | "What You Want (Baby I Want You)" | 119 | "Road Runner" | ||
| "Where Are We Going" | – | "Flash" | |||
| "Yes Sir" | 120 | "Dazzling" | |||
| 1969 | "What's Your Name" | – | "Call Me Anything" | ||
| "The Little Black Egg" (re-release) |
– | "Stay by My Side" |
Albums
- Little Bit O'Soul (#178) -- Laurie SLLP-2040—8/67
- "Let Yourself Go" / "Everybody" / "Light of Love" / "What Did I Do to Deserve Such a Fate" / "Good Time Feeling" / "One Potato Two" / "Little Bit O' Soul" / "Can't Stop Now" / "Patches Dawn" / "(Hey) La, La, La" / "Love, Love, Love, Love, Love" / "96 Tears"
- "Love, Love, Love, Love, Love" is identical to a recording of the same name by Terry Knight and the Pack (released on the Lucky Eleven label), but has a re-recorded vocal track.
Compilations
- Little Bit O' Soul—The Best of the Music Explosion—Sundazed—2002
- "Little Bit O'Soul" / "I See the Light" / "Everybody" / "Love, Love, Love, Love, Love" / "Good Time Feeling" / "96 Tears" / "Can't Stop Now" / "Let Yourself Go" / "Patches Dawn" / "One Potato Two" / "What Did I Do to Deserve Such a Fate" / "(Hey) La, La, La" / "Little Black Egg" / "Stay by My Side" / "Sunshine Games" / "We Gotta Go Home" / "Hearts and Flowers" / "What You Want (Baby I Want You)" / "Road Runner" / "Where Are We Going" / "Yes Sir" / "Dazzling" / "Jack in the Box" / "What's Your Name"