The Yellow Payges
Band members Related acts
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line-up 1: (1966) - Dan Horrter (RIP 2022) -- vocals, harmonica - John Knox -- lead guitar - Terry Rae -- drums, percussion - Herby Ratzloff -- bass - Larry Tyre -- rhythm guitar
line-up 2: (1966) NEW - Dan Gorman -- drums, percussion (replaced Terry Rae) - Dan Horrter (RIP 2022) -- vocals, harmonica - John Knox -- lead guitar - Herby Ratzloff -- bass - Larry Tyre -- rhythm, guitar
line-up 3: (1966) NEW - Randy Carlisle (RIP 2011) -- rhythm guitar (replaced Larry Tyre) - Dan Gorman -- drums, percussion (replaced Terry Rae) - Dan Horrter (RIP 2022) -- vocals, harmonica NEW - Bob Norsoph -- lead guitar (replaced John Knox) NEW - Mike Rummans -- bass (replaced Herby Ratzloft)
line-up 4: (1966) - Dan Gorman -- drums, percussion (replaced Terry Rae) - Dan Horrter (RIP 2022) -- vocals, harmonica NEW - John Latham -- bass (replaced Mike Rummans) NEW - Mike Rummans -- lead guitar (replaced Bob Norsoph)
line-up 4: (1967-68) - Dan Gorman -- drums, percussion (replaced Terry Rae) - Dan Horrter (RIP 2022) -- vocals, harmonica NEW - Teddy Rooney (RIP 2016) -- bass (replaced John Latham) - Mike Rummans -- lead guitar
line-up 5: (1968-70) NEW - Bob Barnes (aka Roscoe West) -- bass, backing vocals (replaced Teddy Rooney) - Dan Gorman -- drums, percussion (replaced Terry Rae) NEW - Bill Ham -- vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals (replaced Mike Rummans) - Dan Horrter (RIP 2022)-- vocals, harmonica
line-up 6: (1970) - Bob Barnes (aka Roscoe West) -- bass, backing vocals (replaced Teddy Rooney) NEW - Donnie Dacus -- lead guitar (replaced Bill Ham) - Dan Gorman -- drums, percussion (replaced Terry Rae) - Dan Horrter (RIP 2022)-- vocals, harmonica
line-up 7: (2011-19) - Dan Gorman -- drums, percussion (replaced Terry Rae) - Dan Horrter (RIP 2022)-- vocals, harmonica NEW - Mike Livingstone -- bass NEW - Dave Provost -- rhythm guitar - Mike Rummans -- bass
line-up 8: (2019-2022) - Dan Gorman -- drums, percussion (replaced Terry Rae) - Dan Horrter (RIP 2022)-- vocals, harmonica NEW - George Keller -- bass (replaced Mike Livingston) - Dave Provost -- rhythm guitar - Mike Rummans -- bass
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- 1910 Fruitgum Company (Donnie Dacus) - Badfinger (Donnie Dacus) - Bandit (Danny Gorman) - Blind Rage (Danny Gorman) - Blow Up (Michael Rummans) - Boondoggle & Balderdash (Bob Barnes) - The Brat (Michael Rummans) - Chicago (Donnie Dacus) - The Driftones (Dan Hortter) - The Elite (Bob Barnes) - Hockus Pokus (Danny Gorman) - The Hollywood Stars (Michael Rummans) - Dan Hortter (solo efforts) - Jump (Danny Gorman) - The Kingbees (Michael Rummans) - The Lone Rocker (Michael Rummans) - The Nomads (Bill Ham) - Odyssey (Donnie Dacus) - The Rock (Bill Ham) - The Rooneys (Teddy Rooney) - The Rooney Brothers (Teddy Rooney) - Michael Rummans (solo efforts) - Salt and Pepper - The Seeds (Bob Norsoph) - The Sons of Adam (Randy Carlisle) - Those Guys (Bob Barnes) - Uncle Tom (Danny Gorman) - Variations (Michael Rummans) - Viewing All (Michael Rummans)
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Genre: psych Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Volume 1 Company: Uni Catalog: 73045 Year: 1969 Country/State: Torrance, California Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: unifold sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $30.00 Cost: $66.00
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Singer/harmonica player Dan Hortter has enjoyed some mid-'60s success as a late-inning member of the surf band The Driftones. When the band fell apart in 1966 he caught a lucky break capturing the attention of Hullabaloo Club owner Gary Bookasta during a guest appearance with The Palace Guard. Bookasta offered Hortter an opportunity to open a forthcoming show for The Newbeats. Without a band, Hortter quickly recruited guitarist John Knox, ex-Driftones drummer Terry Rae, bassist Herby Ratzloff and guitarist Larry Tyre. After the show Rae was replaced by Dan Gorman, the group naming themselves The Yellow Payges. With Bookasta becoming their manager, The Yellow Payges subsequently replaced The Palace Guard as The Hullabaloo Club's house band..
Over the next year the band underwent a steady series of personnel changes. By 1967 when they were signed by Cameo-Parkway's Showplace. Showplace released a pair of singles that proved decent regional sellers:
- 1967's 'Never See the Good in Me' b/w 'Sleeping Minds' (Showplace catalog number WS 216) - 1967's 'Jezebel' b/w 'We Got a Love In the Makin'' (Showplace catalog number WS 217)
The singles
attracted the attention of MCA's Uni label which signed the band, releasing
a third single and sending the band on the road as part of Dick Clark's
Happening '67 tour.
- 1967's 'The Two of Us' b/w 'Never Put My Love for You Away' (Uni catalog number 55107)
Along with steady work touring as an opening act for the likes of Eric Burdon and the Animals, The Beach Boys, The Byrds and The Jefferson Airplane, they continued releasing a string of non-LP singles for Uni:
- 1968's 'Our Time Is Running Out' b/w 'Sweet Sunrise' (Uni catalog number 55043) - 1968's 'Judge Carter' b/w 'Childhood Friends' (Uni catalog number 55072) - 1968's 'Crowd Pleaser' b/w 'You're Just What I Was Looking For Today' (Uni catalog number 55089) - 1968's 'The Two of Us' b/w 'Never Put Away My Love For You' (Uni catalog number 55107) - 1969's 'Vanilla On My Mind ' b/w 'Would You Mind If I Loved You)' (Uni catalog number none 55153) - 1969's 'Slow Down' b/w 'Frisco Annie' (Uni catalog number 55176) - 1969's 'Follow the Bouncing Ball' b/w 'Little Woman' (Uni catalog number 55192)
In spite of the
absence of a breakthrough single, in mid-1969 Uni finally got around to
financing an album. By the time the album was released the band
featured bassist Bob Barnes, drummer Dan Gorman, guitarist Bill Ham; the
sole original member being singer/harmonica player Dan Horrter. Under
the World Showplace Music nameplate, the
Gary Bookasta produced "Volume
One" was largely recorded at Paramount's Hollywood Studio. The
collection offered up an odd mixture of tracks from previously released 45s
and new studio material with most of the new songs credited to new members
Barnes and Ham. Given the band name you could have been forgiven for
imagining these guys were going to sound like a sunshine-pop outfit like The
Association, The Lov
Always interested in the bottom line, Bookasta was groundbreaking in terms of marketing arrangements. Heconvinced the band to participate in a series of promotional deals - lendign their name ot Hagstrom guitars, Marshall amps and a partnership with AT&T. Anxious to tap into the "youth market" the AT&T deal saw them film two commercials for the phone company. Trotted out in yellow satin ruffled shirts with black velvet pants, it probably wasn't the smartest move for a band that was hoping to build their credibility with the rock and roll community. You could just see what little street cred they'd achieved going up in a puff of smoke.
I found an interview with Hortter where he talked about the concept: "The intent was to offer a party pack to young viewers for $2.00. An address appeared on the screen where they could send for their Yellow Payges Party Pak. Included in the party pack was confetti, balloons, streamers, Peter Max-like rendition posters of each band member, a diagram of how to do the Yellow Payges party dance steps, and a 45 with ‘Finger Poppin’ Party'’ on one side and one of our original songs, ‘Moonfire’, on the other side. Now I think you will have a better understanding of why this was our demise.”
The video and sound quality are poor, but YouTube has a clip from the first commercial: Yellow Payges Party Pak
The party pack included a single - the blue-eyed soul 'Finger Poppin' Party'. Commercial, but sounding very calculated, you had to smile at the whole project. If you need a song with a distinctive '60s vibe, this is it.
- 1969's 'Finger Poppin- Party' b/w 'Moonfire' (Uni no catalog number)
"Volume
1" track listing: 1.) The Two Of Us (William Ham - Dan Hortter) - 2:50 rating: **** stars Previously released as their debut Uni 45, anyone under the impression these guys were nothing more than a group of saccharine sunshine-popsters needs to check out this blazing garage rocker. Apparently written by the reaction he encountered from friends and family when dating an African American woman, Hortter had the perfect gravelly voice for a tune like this. In fact, he reminded me a bit of a smoother, American-ized Eric Burdon. Interesting comparison given the had opened for The Animals on an American tour. Add in a tasty Bill Ham guitar solo and this should have been a massive hit for the band. YouTube has a clip of the reunited band performing the song during an April, 2012 show in Phoenix, Arizona: The Yellow Payges - The Two of Us They still sounded pretty good. 2.) Little Woman (William Ham) - 2:45 rating: **** stars Pounding acoustic guitar and bongos are pretty impressive and then Bill Ham's wah-wah effects lead guitar blows up all over your face. Awesome rocker. The tune had previously appeared as the "B" side of their 'Follow the Bouncing Ball' single. Here's a live take of the song taken from the same April, 2012 concert referenced above: The Yellow Payges - Little Woman 3.) Friends (William Ham - Bob Barnes) - 3:30 rating: *** stars A pretty acoustic ballad, 'Friends' found the band taking a detour into country-rock territory. With Ham handling lead vocals, the song exhibited a Neil Young/Buffalo Springfield flavor. Ham also turning in a Stephen Stills-styled fuzz guitar lead. 4.) Boogie Woogie Baby (William Ham - Bob Barnes) - 2:10 rating: * star Standard slice of boogie woogie rock that you've heard dozens of times before. Forgettable. 5.) Crowd Pleaser (William Ham - Dan Hortter) - 2:30 rating: *** stars Another previously released single, 'Crowd Pleaser' found the band offering up a slice of funky blues. It certainly wasn't the album's most original performance, but Ham provided a funky little groove for the performance (and another great solo), while Hortter had the perfect voice for this genre.
(side 2) 1.) Moonfire (William Ham - Bob Barnes) - 1:50
Opening up with some nice Ham acoustic guitar, this was a breezy old school-styled ballad, complete with treated vocals, 'Moonfire' sounded like something a stoned Spanky and Our Gang might have recorded. Apparently meant to capture that "cutesy" nostalgic sound, it wasn't anything great. The tune also appeared as the flip side to their AT&T commercial tie-in released 'Finger Poppin Party' single.
2.) Devil Woman (William Ham - Bob Barnes) - 3:00 rating: **** stars Easily the album's most impressive performance, 'Devil Woman' was the album's tautest rocker with a great Hortter vocal, awesome Dan Gorman drums and some hammering Ham lead guitar. This should have been a single. 3.) Never Put Away My Love For You (Laura Bookasta - Michael Bookasta) - 2:20 rating: ** stars Apparently written by manager Bookasta's wife and son, 'Never Put Away My Love For You' served as the album's lone cover tune. Sounding like a third tier Left Banke ballad, Hortter didn't sound very happy crooning his way through the song. I'm guessing the band were under significant pressure to cover this limp ballad. It's pretty awful. The song also appeared as the "B" side of their 1968 'The Two of Us' 45. 4.) I'm A Man / Here 'Tis (Eugene McDaniel) - 8:45 rating: *** stars 'I'm a Man' was the song Hortter sang with The Palace Guards that initially attracted Gary Bookasta's attention. It had been a staple in their live show for years; the song they closed their show with, so it shouldn't have been a surprise to hear it on the album. An abbreviated version was released as a single. Recorded at Burbank's Viva Cantina, YouTube has a November, 2014 performance of the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q6-ZVINV3I Opening up with an extended Gorman drum solo, 'Here 'Tis' ended the album with a forgettable jam.
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1970's 'I'm A Man' b/w 'Home Again' (Uni
catalog number 55225) # 102 Billboard pop singles charts
In the wake of the album's release and their AT&T sponsorship the band continued touring, including slots on some large outdoor festivals - the August 1969 Nashville Music Festival. There were also a series of television appearances. They began recording a follow-on album, but the AT&T connection essential killed all forward momentum and they called it quits in late 1970. As you can see above Hortter and the other members went on to work with a wide array of bands.
In 2011 Hortter, Gorman and Rummans reunited with new members Mike Livingston on bass and rhythm guitarist Dave Provost. and began playing club dates, In 2018 Livingston was replaced by George Keller.
Rhythm guitarist Randy Carlisle died in 2011. Bassist Teddy Rooney died in 2016. Hortter passed on in February, 2022.
© Scott R.Blackerby May, 2025
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e
Generation, or The Peppermint Rainbow. Bad assumption. You
weren't going to mistake them for Bloodrock,
or Cream, but they were much more rock oriented that the name would have
implied. Musically the album reflected an interesting reflection on
the band's growth and pursuit of commercial success. The earliest tunes
including their debut single 'The
Two Of Us', a remake of a long-standing Hortter cover of Eugene McDaniels'
'I'm a Man' and the "B" side 'Little Woman' offered up a blazing
slice of garage rock and a taunt blues rockers. Admittedly, later
tracks like The Left Bake-styled ballad 'Never
Put Away My Love For You' and
'Finger Poppin Party'
found the band softening their sound at the direction of management and
record labels. Remember, in the mid-'60s bands lived and died by their
ability to achieve commercial appeal. Still, exemplified by tracks
like 'Devil Woman' and 'Crowd Pleaser' these guys were at their best when
playing straight-ahead blues-rock and deserved far more recognition
than they gained. .
The
album's back cover showing the band surrounded by stacks of AT&T yellow
pages was funny, but ironic and ultimately a career killer.. 
