The Better Half-Dozen
| The Better Half-Dozen | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Better Half |
| Origin | New Orleans, Lousiana, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1965-1968 |
| Labels | U-DOE |
| Past members |
John D'Antoni Ted Genter Tommy Hardtagen Mike "Mange" Mangiapane Ed "Eddie" McNamara Ricky Moore Frank Maier |
The Better Half-Dozen were an American garage rock band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1965. The group was immensely popular as a cover band in teen dance clubs. They released one single called "I'm Gonna Leave You", which, despite insufficient promotion, became a regional favorite, and has since been uncovered by garage rock enthusiasts.
The band originally assembled as a group known as the Forces of Evil, and included founding members John D’Antoni (bass guitar, backing vocals) Ted Genter (keyboards) Tommy Hardtegen (drums) Mike "Mange" Mangiapane (lead guitar, backing vocals) Ed "Eddie" McNamara (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, and Steve Sklamba (lead vocals).[1] Practicing at the Genter household, the group swapped drummers when Rickey Moore, a journeyman musician who achieved regional notoriety for playing in New Orleans-based bands the Coachmen and later the Zoofs. Mutually displeased with their name, the band and their manager Steve Montaget decided to rename themselves the Better Half-Dozen, an allusion to the six members that comprised the band. Starting as the opening act for fellow Louisiana group the Basement Wall, the Better Half-Dozen became a popular live attraction in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, with a setlist that included mainly cover versions of Top 40 hits.[2]
In August 1966, Montaget, who had been promoting live shows through his organization known as Splendid Enterprises, financed the recordings of two original tunes and two covers at Cosimo Matassa's studio. The band released their debut single on the U-DOE record label, which featured the original tunes "I'm Gonna Leave You" and "I Could Have Loved Her".[3] Despite insignificant coverage and only 500 copies being released, the songs themselves became immensely popular among the teen fanbase when the Better Half-Dozen introduced them into their live repertoire.[4]
The explosion of the British Invasion in the mid-sixties had immense effect on garage groups, including the Better Half-Dozen. Commenting on the group's sound, Moore said in an interview "in those days, there were basically two types of white bands. There were older-style bands that used horns and brass instruments, and there were more modern-style bands, such as The Beatles. The Better Half-Dozen was a more Beatles-type, 'British-sounding' band".[2] In 1967, Frank Maier became the group's new keyboard player, and Sklamba departed later in the year. As a result, the band changed their name to the Better Half for the final year of its existence.[1] Before the group disbanded in 1968, they recorded two covers: the Yardbirds' "Mister, You're a Better Man Than I" and the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band's "Transparent Day".[3] Both of the band's released songs are featured on Louisiana Punk Groups from the 60s, Volume 1 and Sixties Archives, Volume 3.[5]
References
- 1 2 Bishop, Chris. "The Better Half Dozen". garagehangover.com. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- 1 2 "Interview with Rickey Moore". home.unet.nl. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- 1 2 "Garage Gold #12: The Better Half-Dozen – I’m Gonna Leave You / I Could Have Loved Her (1966)". cosmicmindatplay.com. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- ↑ Hans, Vic (1986). "Louisiana Punk Groups from the 60s, Volume 1". Eva Records.
- ↑ "Better Half Dozen". southerngaragebands.com. Retrieved January 31, 2016.