Butch Engle And The Styx - No Matter What You Say, The Best Of (1964-67 us, strong west coast psych, Sundazed edition)

Butch Engle And The Styx were based in Mill Valley, California, USA. They were formerly known as the Showmen, under which name they recorded ‘You Know All I Want’ for the local MEA label. They took their new name in 1965 with the line-up comprising Butch Engle (vocals), Bob Zamora (lead guitar), Mike Pardee (organ), Harry ‘Happiness’ Smith (bass) and Rich Morrison (drums). 

In 1966 they won the Band Bash at San Francisco’s Cow Palace and secured the patronage of Ron Elliott, songwriter/guitarist with the Beau Brummels. He wrote and produced the group’s ‘Going Home’, in 1967, which was issued on Loma, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Records. The single was an ideal showcase for Engle’s strong voice and the group’s musical skills. 

Larry Gerughty replaced Mike Pardee before the band, now known simply as the Styx, completed a follow-up. Both sides of ‘Hey I’m Lost’/‘Puppetmaster’ were co-composed by Elliott, but this 1968 single was not a success and the Styx broke up soon afterwards.

by Colin Larkin

Tracks
1. Hey I"m Lost  (Ron Elliott, Bob Durand) - 2:32
2. Left Hand Girl  (Ron Elliott) - 2:27
3. No Matter What You Say  (Ron Elliott, Butch Engle) -  2:46
4. Smile Smile Smile  (Ron Elliott, Dave Bettiga) -  1:51
5. I'm A Fool  (Ron Elliott) - 2:35
6. I Call Her Name  (Ron Elliott) -  2:45
7. She Is Love  (Ron Elliott) - 2:14
8. If You Believe  (Ron Elliott) -  2:25
9. Smile Smile Smile  (Ron Elliott, Dave Bettiga) -  1:52
10.Going Home (Ron Elliott) - 2:06
11.I Like Her  (Ron Elliott) - 1:55
12.Hey, I'm Lost (Ron Elliott, Bob Durand) - 2:30
13.Puppetmaster (Ron Elliott, Bob Durand) - 3:46
14.She Is Love (Ron Elliott) - 1:47
15.Tell Me Please (Bob Zamora, Butch Engle) - 2:04
16.You Know All I Want (Bob Zamora) - 1:54
17.Hey I'm Lost (Ron Elliott, Bob Durand) - 2:28

Butch Engle And The Styx
*Butch Engle – Lead Vocals
*Bob Zamora – Lead Guitar
*Mike Pardee – Organ
*Harry "Happiness" Smith – Bass
*Rich Morrison – Drums
*Larry Gerughty – Keyboards
*Barry Lewis - Drums, Percussion (1967-68)

Free Text
Text Host