Genre: garage
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Royalaires Live Vol. 1
Company: RPC
Catalog: Z-28861
Year: 1967
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: still in shrink wrap )opened)
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5674
Price: $200.00
I can tell you that this one's quite rare. It shows up in Hans Pokora's 2001 Record Collectors Dreams where it's shown as a six star rarity. Its also shows up in Patrick Lundborg's The Acid Archives where it gets an eight word description. The album was pressed and released in 1967 by the small Camden New Jersey-based RPC label, making it clear this was a vanity project with probably fewer than 1,000 copies pressed. The album cover also provided less than detailed performance credits - the band consisted of lead guitarist Art, bass Randy, rhythm guitarist Robin and drummer Willie. And that's about it for biographical information ...
In the interests of honesty, if you were looking for something totally original and awe inspiring, The Royalaires weren't the place to be looking. The mid-1960s must have seen thousands of bar bands with just as much talent and enthusiasm as this quartet - the only difference being these guys had the resources to somehow document what must have been their stage show. That said, this one isn't without a certain amount of low-keyed charm. Having sat through more than my share of bar band sets, these guys serve as a perfect example of the good and band associated with the genre. Judging by the raw, low-tech sound and occasional background audience noises, "Royalaires Live Vol. 1" was in fact a concert set. With minimal production values that frequently made is sound like the singers had the microphones shoved down their throats. Similarly the set list wasn't fantastic, featuring a haphazard collection of rock and soul chestnuts. None of the ten tracks were particularly impressive - in fact there's a good chance you've heard similar performances at your local dive bar. The singers were marginally competent occasionally actually singing in tune, though most of the time they simply tried to substitute volume for talent. Whoever he was, lead guitarist Art was actually quite good, turning in a series of nice, mildly jazz-influenced performances - check out their cover of Rufus Thomas' 'Walkin the Dog', 'Bring It On Home', or the instrumental 'Guitar Boogie'. Still, not really enough to salvage the collection. Didn't exactly sound like an undiscovered classic did it? It wasn't. ... I'd suggest you go for one of the better Justice label releases instead.
"Royalaires
Live Vol. 1" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Rock Around the Clock
2.) Walkin the Dog
3.) Bring It On Home
4.) Bonie Maronie
5.) Time Machine
(side
2)
1.) Thrill Upon the Hill
2.) Guitar Boogie (instrumental)
3.) Splish Splash
4.) Together Again
5.) Rockin Robin
Criticisms aside I'd still love to know more about these guys ...