The Music Explosion
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The Music Explosion was a garage rock band from Mansfield, Ohio best known for their top Ten hit, "Little Bit O'Soul", in 1967. The single peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They were discovered and signed by the producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz.
Kasenetz, Katz and Elliot Chiprut produced the song "Little Bit O'Soul", which paved the way for bubblegum pop bands like Ohio Express and 1910 Fruitgum Company. The song was a million seller (Laurie Records #3380, subsequently reissued on Buddah Records) but was the band's only hit. It was written by John Carter and Ken Lewis, who went on to write big hits for The Ivy League and Herman's Hermits.
Lead singer Jamie Lyons also recorded several solo singles on Laurie while still recording with the group. His first single, "Soul Struttin'" became a Northern Soul hit in several Northeast regions. Lyons died of heart failure at his home in Little River, SC on September 25, 2006. He was 57.
"Little Bit O'Soul" has been subsequently covered by several bands including The Ramones,Dodging Susan, and 2 Live Crew, who sampled the melody.
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[edit] Band members
- James "Jamie" Lyons (singer, percussion)
- Donald Atkins (guitar)
- Richard Nesta (guitar)
- Burton Stahl (bass)
- Robert Avery (drums)
[edit] Discography w/Billboard chart peak positions
[edit] Singles
- The Little Black Egg / Stay By My Side -- Attack 1404 -- 1966
- Little Bit O'Soul (#2) / I See The Light -- Laurie 3380 -- 5/67
- Sunshine Games (#63) / Can't Stop Now -- Laurie 3400 -- 9/67
- We Gotta Go Home (#103) / Hearts and Flowers -- Laurie 3414 -- 10/67
- Soul Struttin' / Flowers To Sunshine -- Laurie 3422 -- 1968
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- Jamie Lyons solo single
- Gonna Have A Good Time / Heart Full O'Soul II -- Laurie 3427 -- 1968
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- Jamie Lyons solo single, shown as by "Jamie Lyons Group"
- What You Want (#119) / Road Runner -- Laurie 3429 -- 2/68
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- Same exact B-side recording was renamed "Make Love Not War" and issued as the B-side of Ohio Express single Buddah 129
- Where Are We Going / Flash -- Laurie 3440 -- 1968
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- B-side is an instrumental recorded backwards
- Yes Sir (#120) / Dazzling -- Laurie 3454 -- 7/68
- Jack In The Box / Rewind -- Laurie 3466 -- 1968
- What's Your Name / Call Me Anything -- Laurie 3479 -- 1969
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- B-side is the A-side recorded backwards
- The Little Black Egg / Stay By My Side -- Laurie 3500 -- 1969
[edit] Albums
- Little Bit O'Soul (#178) -- Laurie SLLP-2040 -- 8/67
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- Let Yourself Go / Everybody / Light Of Love / What Did I Do To Deserve Such A Fate / Good Time Feeling / One Potato Two / Little Bit O' Soul / Can't Stop Now / Patches Dawn / (Hey) La, La, La / Love, Love, Love, Love, Love / 96 Tears
[edit] Compilations
- Little Bit O' Soul -- The Best Of The Music Explosion -- Sundazed -- 2002
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- Little Bit O'Soul / I See The Light / Everybody / Love, Love, Love, Love, Love / Good Time Feeling / 96 Tears / Can't Stop Now / Let Yourself Go / Patches Dawn / One Potato Two / What Did I Do To Deserve Such A Fate / (Hey) La, La, La / Little Black Egg / Stay By My Side / Sunshine Games / We Gotta Go Home / Hearts And Flowers / What You Want (Baby I Want You) / Road Runner / Where Are We Going / Yes Sir / Dazzling / Jack In The Box / What's Your Name
