As we were cataloging the Sonobeat master tape library, we weren't too surprised to find several tapes in unmarked or mismarked boxes. We were surprised, however, that we recognized the artists on some of the tapes but that others completely stumped us. So we asked friends of Sonobeat for help, all to no avail. Here are two examples from the Sonobeat archives that continue to present a real challenge: who are these guys?

Unknown band

One mysterious quarter-inch tape we found was in an unmarked box. The tape features four songs in early '70s Central Texas country-rock style (reminiscent of songs on the first Eagles album) and appears to have been recorded at 7-1/2 IPS on a 4-track quarter-inch machine. Sonobeat customarily recorded its masters at 15 IPS and didn't use a 4-track quarter-inch recorder until 1974, so we believe these tracks were recorded between mid-74 and early '76 at Sonobeat owner Bill Josey Sr.'s Blue Hole Sounds studios near Liberty Hill, Texas.

We made a monaural mix-down of one song and present it here in hopes that you may recognize the band. Perhaps you were even a member of the band!

Unknown singer

We also found three head-scratching tracks on a quarter-inch tape featuring a solo artist accompanied by acoustic guitar. The tape was in a box labelled simply "John", bearing an October 30, 1969, recording date, and appears to be a mono mix-down from a two- or four-track master we haven't yet located in the vault. Sonobeat didn't record many Johns, and we were having a hard time placing the voice with any of the Johns we did record, so we began checking with friends of Sonobeat. First we checked with John Inmon (South Canadian Overflow and Plymouth Rock), but he said "Not me". How about Johnny Richardson (Georgetown Medical Band and Fast Cotton)? Nope, not him either, according to our sources. Johnny Schwertner (Lavender Hill Express and Plymouth Rock)? Just doesn't sound like him. Johnny Winter? Uh, not even close!

Still, there's a very familiar quality to the voice on this tape. Perhaps a couple of lost Jim Chesnut or Bill Wilson tracks in a mislabelled box?

Conclusion? Either the tape was packed away in the wrong box or there's another "John" out there somewhere who Sonobeat recorded, but who we just can't recall. Can you help?