Little Ray (Jimenez) ATCO "I Who Have Nothing + I Been Trying (Arthur Lee)" 1965

$

19

Up for sale is a very hard to find single (7 inch, 45 rpm, vinyl record) featuring a terrific teen singer ("Little Ray" Jimenez) who was a major figure in the 1960s Los Angeles "Eastside Sound".  One of the songs was composed by Arthur Lee PRIOR to the formation of the psychedelic rock group "Love".  This is a white label, promo record.

Artist:   Little Ray

Record Label:  ATCO

Record Number:  45-6355

Release Year:  1965

One Side (65C-8840):  I Who Have Nothing (Mogol-Donida-Leiber-Stoller) [Pub., Milky Way - Trio-Cotillion, BMI; Time:  2:50] 

     Wax matrix marks:  "65C-8840-1" (etched) and "AT" and "M" and "L3" (The L3 is written backwards.)

Other Side (65C-8841):  I Been Trying  (Lee) [Pub., Maravilla, BMI; Time:  2:30]

     Wax matrix marks:  "65C-8841-1" (etched) and "AT" and "M" and "L3" (The L3 is written backwards.)

These two songs also appear on Donna 1404.  The website of Discogs lists both as from 1965.  Online commentators have stated that the Donna record came before the ATCO record.  I don't have any definitive proof but am a little skeptical about this for two reasons.  First, in "I Been Trying" on the ATCO record, Little Ray sings with only minimal background singers, whereas on the Donna record, he has much more prominent background singers.  Since the production costs would have been been less for the ATCO record, it seems more likely that it was recorded first and that the additional production values (and cost) were added for a later release.  Second, "I Been Trying" on the ATCO record is credited to "Lee", where as on the Donna record, it is credited to "Arthur Lee".  In 1965, Arthur Lee had just begun to gain name recognition as an emerging songwriter and performer.  It seems more likely that the record that refers to him by his last name only (i.e. the ATCO record) would have come before the record that refers to him by his first and last name (i.e. the Donna record).  Again, I may be totally wrong about the order of the two records, but it's something at least to consider.

"Little Ray" Jimenez was born in Delano, California, probably around 1948.  He moved to Los Angeles and attended Garfield High School.  His earliest recordings date to the early 1960s.  His band that recorded these two songs was called Little Ray and the Progressions and included:  Tony Garcia (sax), Joe Osula (baritone sax), "Bones" (trumpet and French horn), Clarence Playa (guitar, vocals), Tony Escalante (guitar), John Pride (keyboard), Mike "Bozo" Ramirez (bass), and Marshall Tavares (bass).  Later, he would have a (secular) band called God's Children and would record the theme song for the short lived TV series, Matt Lincoln.  (Source for most of this paragraph:  website of "youfoundthateastsidesound".)

Arthur Lee was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1945 but moved to Los Angeles as a child.  He graduated from Dorsey High School in about 1963 and set about a career in music.  Of interest, in 1964, he was responsible for bringing a young James Marshall (Jimi) Hendrix to LA to play during the recording of one of his songs.  When he wrote "I Been Trying", his band was called "The American Four" and was playing at seedy night clubs on Melrose Avenue, in LA.  The group temporarily became "Grass Roots" but, after discovering that that name was already taken, settled on "Love" (in August, 1965).  "Love" is best remembered for the psychedelic rock LP Forever Changes.  Although not a major success initially, the album was subsequently inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and has been rated #40 on Rolling Stone's list of greatest albums of all time.  (Source for most of this paragraph:  website of "loudersound".)

See above for complete description of condition and for photos.  Sold as is.

Attention US Buyers:  I will ship by USPS Media Mail or by USPS Priority Mail, your choice.  Please note that if you have a Military Mail address (e.g. APO), I must ask that you pick USPS Priority Mail as it is my understanding that USPS Medial Mail is not reliable to Military Mail addresses.

Attention International Buyers:  Unfortunately, it appears that international shipping from the US (via the USPS) has become unreliable, because of the pandemic.  Therefore, I have decided to remove the international shipping option.  You are still welcome to bid on this item, but will need to supply a shipping address in the US.  I'm sorry for the inconvenience.  Thank you for your understanding.