Crazy Date Crazy Teens Auction Norton Records Benefit

SILENT AUCTION BENEFIT FOR NORTON RECORDS (VICTIMS OF HURRICANE SANDY)

Hurricane Sandy left many victims in its wake. The Norton Records’ warehouse in Brooklyn was flooded, and most of their stock was destroyed, or severely damaged, as was described on the Nortonville blog in this Huffington Post article.

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SILENT AUCTION FOR SIGNED DAVE REYNOLDS PHOTO AND SIGNED NORTON "CRAZY DATE" 45 OPEN TO BIDS WORLDWIDE FROM 12PM CST DECEMBER 11 to 12 PM CST DECEMBER 18.

FINAL WINNING BID is $235.  Congratulations to the winner, thank you to everyone who participated!!
 
To bid email with the following: your name, bid amount, email address and mailing address, (see bottom of the page for full terms).

Dave Reynolds photo by Susan Reynolds

Dave penned the cult classic rock n' roll song, “Crazy Date” with his sister. The original 45 is insanely rare, recorded at the Scott Recording Laboratory near the Tuscaloosa Airport in 1959.

As they have done for so much other great but hard to find music over their 26 year history, Norton Records reissued “Crazy Date” and helped to get the song into record collections of fans all over the world. Their existing stock of these 45s was damaged, and the sleeves destroyed.

Dave and Susan Reynolds have generously made this possible as a benefit for Norton Records. The photo of Dave is included to verify that he did indeed sign the photo and record.

Dave does not normally do signings, and no future ones are planned, so this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to help Norton Records, and receive a priceless, autographed photo of Dave Reynolds and the Crazy Teens AND autographed copy of the Norton "Crazy Date" 45.

 The 8 1/2 x 11 inch photo is a genuine silver gelatin reprint of high resolution scans of photos from Dave Reynolds' personal collection, signed by him. The 45 is a Norton Records split single with "Crazy Date" by the Crazy Teens on one side and "The Walk" by the Volk Brothers on the other side. The record is in near mint condition with minor sleeve scuffing and the sleeve has slight shelf wear.
 

Click on the photos below to enlarge them.

 By bidding in this auction you are agreeing to the following terms:

1. Bidding opens Tuesday, December 11 at 12:00 PM Central Standard Time. The auction ends on Tuesday, December 18 at 12:00 PM Central Standard Time. No bids will be considered after 12:00 PM December 18. Winning bidder will be notified no later than December 19, the package will be mailed as soon as possible after payment has been received.
2. To bid email with the following: your name, bid amount, email address and mailing address.
3. Minimum bid is $25
4. Bidding is not incremental – meaning the amount you bid is the amount you will pay if you are the highest bidder.
5. You are welcome to bid as many times as you want until the auction end time at 12PM CST on Tuesday December 18th.
6. High bid will be posted as close to 12 PM each day as possible, so check this page for updates.
7. This page may be updated or revised during the auction period.
8. Winning bid and shipping charges must be paid in US Dollars via Paypal.
9. Shipping charges will be added to the winning bid as follows:
   • USA Winner adds $5.90 for USPS Priority shipping, $5.75 First-Class International to Canada and $11.60 First-Class International everywhere else. ITALIAN BIDDERS: Shipping to Italy requires Express Mail for $40.00. Shipping to Italy is EMS-only for $40.00.
   • INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: If the package is valued at $50.00 or more, or if you are in any country in Africa/China/Southeast Asia, the package must be sent First-Class International ($11.60) AND registered for an additional $11.99. If the package is valued at $100.00 or more, then it must be shipped Express Mail for $40.00. Shipping to Italy is EMS only.
   • Please be advised that full value will be declared on all customs forms - to declare a lower value or declare a package as a "gift" as this is illegal with severe penalties. Customers are responsible for any taxes or tariffs levied upon their purchase by their local customs office and are not included in the shipping charge.

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO NORTON RECORDS
Special thanks to Lars Espensen, George Hadjidakas, Dave and Susan Reynolds and Lori Watts.

Man, That Was A Crazy Date

December 11 - December 18 2012

Crazy Teens, Dave Reynolds Crazy Date Silent Auction to Benefit Norton Records!!

Read about it here: http://alabamalama.sylviaparker.net/2012/12/silent-auction-benefit-for-norton.html

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The Crazy Teens. Left to Right: Dave Reynolds (standing with guitar); Ronnie Foster (kneeling with guitar); Billy Ward (at drums); James Farris (standing); and James Jones (clapping).

In 1959, a group of Tuscaloosa, Alabama teenagers recorded a song called "Crazy Date". Though it was never more than a regional hit, a lot of people agree that the song deserves its place in rock and roll history. Inspired by Chuck Berry’s "No Money Down", Dave Reynolds had written the song at the age of 13, and then his sister, Jeanne came up with the lyrics while they were living in Miami, Florida.

Besides Chuck Berry, Dave was especially influenced by Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters and Count Basie at the time, and he was musically inclined from an early age. Dave started out playing bass fiddle, and then the ukulele before turning to the guitar; at the time of "Crazy Date" he played a Gibson ES 125 guitar with a single pickup.

After the family moved to Tuscaloosa, Dave started looking around for other musicians to play with and found guitarist, James Farris; guitarist, Ronnie Foster; and drummer, Billy Ward. Dave’s father, William Neville Reynolds, supported his son’s musical efforts not only by encouraging him to start a band and driving him to rehearsals and gigs but by paying for the recording and pressing of "Crazy Date".

1956 Advertisement for Scott Recording Laboratory.

Dave’s dad went to the phonebook and found the Scott Recording Laboratory, located at the Tuscaloosa airport (which Dave remembers as resembling a living room) where he booked the session. James Jones, who was not a regular member, joined them to play bass for the recording of "Crazy Date"(click to hear Crazy Date). When the A Side was taken care of they realized they needed a song for the other side. So Dave wrote the B Side instrumental “Rebel Boogie”(click to hear Rebel Boogie) on the spot at the recording session. Finally, they needed a name. Since they were recording "Crazy Date", and they were all teenagers, the guys decided that the band should be named "Crazy Teens", and the recording was sent to MGM for pressing.

Lables from a record formerly owned by Jean Lake.

Dave recalls that 500 45 rpm single records were made. The band members kept 200 and 300 were sold. They promoted "Crazy Date" at the WTBC radio station (which was on 15th Street across from Horne’s BBQ - now Mike and Ed’s BBQ). The 45 was sold at a 5 & 10 store in the Leland Shopping Center in east Tuscaloosa. It was instantly a local hit that sold 50 copies on the first day it was out, and Dave went on to be voted most popular boy in 9th grade. He still worked a job at a filling station, but was able to earn most of his money by playing music at talent shows, dances and skating rinks.

Dave Reynolds, circa "Crazy Date".

Over the years Dave has played in other rock and roll and jazz bands including Alabama Cavaliers, the Furys, the Starlighters (who he recorded an LP with), and the Spooks as well as gospel groups and the country band, Endless Highway. He was a member of Salt and Pepper, one of the first integrated bands in Alabama, who played shows at the University of Alabama, the Citizen’s Club, the 61 Club in Tuscaloosa and throughout the Southeast.

"Crazy Date" has since been reissued on the "Sin Alley 1" LP compilation (1986) on the Crypt record label and on a Norton Records 45 single. As a result, the song got introduced to a new adoring audience and spawned cover versions by bands including Ray Condo and his Hardrock Gonners, The Hellhounds, The Senders, Speedball Baby, Ted & The Tall Tops, Thee Hamstrz and the Tri-Tones.

Dave now plays the bass and is a mentor for young musicians at Shelton State Community College, and he still sees fellow "Crazy Teens" James Farris and Ronnie Foster from time to time. He no longer plays the guitar, or consequently, "Crazy Date" but he does keep an ear out for cover versions by other groups. And, 50 years later, they’re still coming. Though, nothin’ beats that original craaazy song recorded by five teenagers at the Tuscaloosa airport!

A very special thank you to Dave Reynolds and his daughter, Susan Reynolds, who interviewed her father and provided copies of vintage photos. Special thanks to Billy Miller and Miriam Linna of Kicks magazine and Norton Records, Tim Warren for his article on Dave Reynolds in Kicks #6, George Hadjidakis and Lori Watts.