Benjamin Carry Ltd. — “Old Man”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — July 16, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD

1,273) Benjamin Carry Ltd. — “Old Man”

A wisp of ’67 baroque pop splendor. Chuck Carry was from Indianapolis, Indiana (https://www.discogs.com/artist/7959612-Moore-And-Moore-2) and Randy Benjamin was from Vincennes, Indiana.

Vinylfool writes as to Randy Benjamin (who wrote “Old Man”):

Randy Benjamin is quite the enigma. From Vincennes, and Lincoln High School (’65), Randy managed to have his first 45 released with involvement of Mike Curb [see #57]. Mike seemed to be golden on everything, except this time. From Randy’s website: “I was a songwriter and singer long before I became an author. I received my first guitar at the age of 4. It was bigger than I was! My first recording contract was with Mike Curb back in the early 60s in Hollywood, CA. I’ve also been an artist/writer for Mercury and Warner Brothers records. I had a top 40 record in Europe (Look At You Now) on Mercury in the late 60s. I owned a recording studio in Nashville, TN in the mid-70s.” . . . Randy also released a 45 on Mercury “Look at You Now”, as far as I know it was released in early 1970.

https://indiana-bands-60s.blogspot.com/2011/11/randy-benjamin-vincennes.html

Achille Brunet notes that “Randy Benjamin recorded as Terry Randall in 1966 on Valiant Records the great “S.O.S.” [see #310] . . . . Originally from Indiana, he moved to Los Angeles, and later to Nashville where he produced gospel/country groups.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_xtmzNanmU)

As to Terry Randall and “S.O.S.”, I had written that the song “was the A-side of his only single (‘66). It was quite cool.” Then I quoted Colin Mason’s post on a website (no longer active):

Terry Randall is a bit of a mystery, although this killer protest 45 about the riots on Sunset Strip during November 1966 is a well known tune among garage hipsters. . . . [I]t’s got a swingin’ garage beat that I dig the most and there’s some great ‘cop’ put down lyrics.

https://yellowpapersuns.com/2010/05/28/50-terry-randall-s-o-s/

I then said “I guess that makes me a garage hipster!” As true today as the day I wrote it!

Anyway, anonymous commented in 2018 that:

went to high school w/ randy. he would sit in w/ other bands. remember hearing him do ruby, lead guitar&vocal. impressive. cannot remember band.1964 adams coliseum. vincennes,in. sock hop. he would have been 16 or 17 and already quit high school by this time. definetly a local legend.drove a ’55 t-bird. les

https://indiana-bands-60s.blogspot.com/2011/11/randy-benjamin-vincennes.html

Here is Randy B. in ’72 with version #2:

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