line up 1 (1970)

- Ernie Chapman -- bass

- Vic Fouquet -- horns

- Ramsey Horton -- keyboards

- Sammy Jaramillo (aka Sammy Jay) (RIP 2020) -- vocals

- Jim Jeeter (RIP) -- reeds

- Gaelen Jeeter -- trumpet

- Bryon Parks (RIP) -- trumpet

- Ken Pugh -- guitar

- Ron Sprouse -- trombone

- Ray Windt - percussion

- Conjunto Alegre de San Antonio (Sammy Jarmillo)

- Dallas Jazz Orchestra (Galen Jeeter and Sammy Jaramillo)

- Dallas' Original Jazz Orchestra (Galen Jeeter)

- The Woody Herman Orchestra (Galen Jeeter)

- Israel and the Sweet Sound Band (Galen Jeeter)

- Little Sammy and The Rocking Rollers (Sammy Jaramillo)

- One O'Clock Band (Galen Jeeter)

- Sammy Jay and the Tiffaniers (Sammy Jarmillo)

Genre: horn-rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Dallas County

Company: Enterprise
Catalog: ENS-1011

Year: 1970

Country/State: Garland, Texas

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: white promo copy

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $20.00

As far as I can tell, 1970's "Dallas County" is a completely unknown release.  I can't find a single detailed review of the album, let alone any biographical information on the outfit.  Rob Bowman's "Soulsville U.S.A." is the most comprehensive book I've seen on the Stax story, but it makes no mention of this outfit.

Based on the brief liner notes the line-up consisted of bassist Ernie Chapman, keyboardist  Ramsey Horton, singer Sammy Jaramilo (aka Sammy Jay), guitarist Ken Pugh, drummer Ray Windt and a horn section featuring Vic Fouquet, Galen Jeeter, Jim Jeeter, Bryon Parks and Ron Sprouse.  Attracting he attention of singer/producer Don Nix, they were signed by Stax's Enterprise subsidiary, resulting tin the release of 1970's "Dallas County."  Nix and arranger Jay Pruitt were responsible for the majority of the eleven songs.  Band members contributed three tracks and the album included an odd cover of Dylan's Blowing In the Wind.'  To save most off you time and effort, these guys were apparently envisioned as Stax's entry into the early-'70s horn-rock wars.  Hailing from Southern Texas at least a couple of these guys worked in the local school district.  Gaelen Jeeter taught high school biology and headed a school jazz band program.  His cousin Jim Jeeter was a local high school band director.  Vocalist Jaramillo had his roots in a series of local bands including  Conjunto Alegre de San Antonio,  Little Sammy and The Rocking Rollers and Sammy Jay and the Tiffaniers.  As reflected on tracks like 'The Toll', 'Mad Dog' and 'Reflections', Jaramilo's vocals bore more than a passing resemblance to David Clayton Thomas, while the rest of the band recalled Blood, Sweat & Tears, or early Chicago.  Elsewhere, the band went in a more pop direction with tracks like the single 'Small Vacation' and 'It Shall Pass' recalling Pat Upton and the Spiral Starecase.  Plain and simple, anyone expecting to hear Stax-styled music was going to be disappointed by these grooves.

One album and one single and the experiment was over.  

"Dallas County" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) The Toll  (Don Nix - Jay Pruitt)- 3:00 rating: *** stars

Well, you better like Blood, Sweat & Tears horns 'cause there are plenty of them on the opener 'The Toll.'  Showcasing Jaramillo raw voice, the song bounced between traditional horn rock with just a touch of funk added to the mix.   Nice Ramsey Horton keyboard solo.

2.) Mad Dog (Don Nix - Jay Pruitt) - 2:03 rating: ** stars

'Mad Dog' was a pretty ballad that initially toned down the horns.  They were still there, but took their time swallowing the spotlight.  Drummer Ray Windt came off really well on this one.

3.) Small Vacation (Don Nix - Jay Pruitt) - 2:31 rating: ** stars

Relatively commercial, 'Small Vacation' had a decent melody with  Jaramillo's voice always reminded me of Pat Upton and the Spiral Starecase's 'More Today Than Tomorrow.'  

- 1970's 'Small Vacation' b/w 'Love's Not Hard To Fin' (Enterprise catalog number ENA 5016)

4.) Roads (Don Nix - Jay Pruitt) - 2:58 rating: ** stars

Kudos to Jaramillo for managing to hold his own against the blaring horn arrangement on the ballad 'Roads.'  

6.) Reflections (Larry Puckett - Ramsey Horton) - 3:50 rating: *** stars

One of three band originals, 'Reflections' reflected some of the album's most complex horn arrangements, including a couple of sections that sounded like straight BS&T cops.  Extra star for showing how good a vocalist Jaramillio was.

(side 2)
1.) If We Try (Don Nix - Ramsey Horton) - 3:47 rating: ** stars

Co-written by keyboard player Ramsey Horton 'If We Try' sounded like a mash-up of The Spiral Starecase and BS&T.  

2.) Love Is Not Hard To Find (Ramsey Horton - Don Nix) - 3:10 rating: *** stars

Opening with Horton on harpsichord and Ernie Chapman's churning bass lines, the ballad 'Love Is Not Hard To Find' was about as commercial as it got.  Extra star for the horns being less intrusive this time around.

3.) Blowing In the Wind (Bob Dylan) - 3:32  rating: ** stars

There cover of Dylan's 'Blowing In the Wind' was easily one of the weirdest arragements I've ever heard.  The original melody was largely obscured by the blaring horns and sudden infusions of Ken Pugh electric guitar. Just bizarre.

4.) She Didn't Say Why (Jay Pruitt) - 2:11 rating: *** stars

'She Didn't Say Why' was the closest the album came to soul.  Sporting a nice Pugh guitar solo it would have been a decent soul-rocker had the horns been stripped out.

5.) It Shall Pass (Joe Corerro Jr.)  - 3:00  rating: ** star

Another Spiral Starecase styled pop tune, I think Joe Corerro Jr. was the drummer for Paul Revere and the Raidiers.

© Scott R. Blackerby July, 2024