Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – Jun 11, 2023
In 1966 a pop-rock garage band that started out in Palm Beach County, Florida achieved their fifteen minutes of fame with the Billboard charting of their one and only hit.
According to music guru, the late Joel Whitburn, the name of the group came from the title of a 1946 movie starring Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, John Payne, Anne Baxter, Clifton Webb and Herbert Marshall …
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The group started out as the Ardells (aka The R-dells), a name that was used by other groups from time to time – one of them being a precursor to the Steve Miller Band.
After the Beatles hit, the Florida version of the Ardells was renamed “The American Beetles” and was sent out on a South American tour. After they returned, they hooked up with music producer Bob Yorey and went to upstate New York to record several tracks on Yorey’s POW! Records label.
There they re-recorded a track that they originally did as the Ardells in 1963.
Released in the summer of 1966, it made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 on July 30, climbing to the #77 position. It also went to #57 on the Canadian charts. This was to be the group’s only appearance on the national charts.
In 1969 Bobby Vee enjoyed modest success with his cover version of the song which went to #92 on Billboard.
The name of the group, like the title of the Tyrone Power movie of 1946 had an “edge” to it. In fact, the group’s name and the movie’s title was “The Razor’s Edge.”
On this recording, their sound is somewhat reminiscent of Gary Lewis & The Playboys.
Perhaps the song title foreshadowed their lack of future success, given that The Razor Edge lamented “Let’s Call It A Day Girl,” this week’s Tom Locke moment in time.
YouTube video of this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ytCcZ7fGaI
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.
