KICKIN' MUSTANGS
Ashland, KY originally
Huntington West VA later
Back row from left: Albert Richardson, Larry Creech, Larry Talerico, Buddy McCoy, Brad Rhodes;
Front row from left: Danny Shortridge and Bruce France. Missing is Pat Loving
Unlike the other 45s, the Kickin' Mustangs record is not garage, but has a wild two-minute funk number Kickin' on the top side and a fine ballad "Take a Miracle" on the flip. It was recorded in Cincinnati, Ohio the same day as the Outcasts record, which shows the range of musical styles of the time.
The band was from Ashland, Kentucky, original billed as simply the Mustangs. The original band included
Danny Shortridge - lead vocals
Larry Creech - sax
Darrel Tucker - trumpet
Rudy Hester - keyboards
Boots Shelton - bass, replaced by Larry 'Frog' Johnson
Dave Osborne - drums
By the time of the Kickin Mustangs single, Danny Shortridge and Larry Creech remained from the original group, but the rest of the members were new:
Danny Shortridge - lead vocals
Bruce France - lead vocals
Larry Creech - sax
Larry Talerico - trumpet
Pat Loving - lead guitar
Brad Rhodes - keyboards
Albert Richardson - bass
Buddy McCoy - drums
Later members included Terry Sanders on drums and Mike Tolone. Pat Loving and Larry Creech have since passed away.
"Kickin'" was written by Parnell, Loving, & Minnefield. "Take a Miracle" on the flip is a nice ballad written by Bob Minnefield. This is also the most valuable record on the Plato label, by the way.
(courtesy GARAGEHANGOVER)