At the end of 1964, Neal Ford (lead vocals), a veteran of the local pop scene with other groups like the Ramadas and the VIPs, formed the first line-up of Neal Ford & The Fanatics, which consisted of Johnny Stringfellow (lead guitar), Jon Pereles (rhythm guitar, vocals), W. T. Johnson (bass guitar), Dennis Senter (keyboards), and John Cravey (drums). Though not as experimental as Austin's The 13th Floor Elevators, the band possessed an appreciation for the British Invasion groups, and played organ-driven instrumentals, and an R&B-inspired set typical of other garage rock acts. At first, the group went relatively unnoticed performing cover versions of songs by The Animals, The Zombies, and James Brown locally in their own club named Teen Scene, until record producer Ray Rush saw promise in the developing band, specifically their spontaneous live act. As a result, Neal Ford & The Fanatics recorded the song 'I Will Not Be Lonely' at ACA-Recording Studios, and released the single in May 1965 on GINA records. It was among the first in Texas to note a "British influence", and received airplay in Houston which helped it reach the regional charts. Shortly thereafter, Ford was called up for the Naval Reserve, and so the band's recording activities came to a standstill until he was released in late 1965. When he returned, Senter was replaced by Steven Ames, while his older brother, Richard "Dick" Ames, created Tantara Records to release the group's second single, the folk rock tune, 'Bitter Bells', in January 1966.
Through the summer of 1966, Neal Ford & The Fanatics' profile rose steadily, with extensive airplay in Houston, multiple appearances on the Larry Kane Show, and well-attended shows at a venue called the Catacombs, alongside nationally successful acts including The Beach Boys and The Lovin' Spoonful. By the summer of 1966, Ames had departed to pursue a management position for The Moving Sidewalks, and he was replaced by Vox organ virtuoso Lanier Greig, who created a new sound for the band, and collaborated with the members to pen more original compositions. In October 1966 the band recorded demos of songs including 'I Can't Go On' and 'Good Men (Are Hard To Find)', in order to earn a contract with the national label, Hickory Records. Two regionally successful singles followed, with 'I Will If You Want To' receiving national attention in September 1966, and 'Gonna Be My Girl' reaching number one in Houston in early 1967.
Their debut album, 'Neal Ford & The Fanatics', was released in November 1967 on Hickory Records, but their next single, 'Wait for Me', failed to produce the national breakthrough the group anticipated, and none of their later offerings in 1968 met with the same acclaim as 'Gonna Be My Girl'. The band continued to perform on the local club circuit, but in 1969 Ford quit and eventually produced a solo album in 1971, while more songs without Ford were recorded but not distributed, and in October 1970 the group disbanded. Ford continued to play with various bands into the '70's, including the Neal Ford Foundation, which released an album in 1972, but for the most part they will be remembered for their earlier, edgier singles, and garage aficionados still acknowledge their versatility. During sessions for their 1967 album they recorded more material then was needed, and so by adding some of those tracks to a selection of their later singles, there's enough left over to imagine what a second album could have sounded like had it been released in 1968.
Track listing
01 Good Men (Are Hard To Find)
02 Mary Wanna Marry Me
03 Don't Tie Me Down
04 Movin' Along
05 Save Your Affection
06 The Jones
07 I Can't Go On
08 I Will If You Want To
09 Little World Girl
10 Woman
11 I'll Put My Boots On Backwards
12 Better Slow Down
13 For You
14 Pain
15 Buttercup
16 The Seasons
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