NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED - (Moat 701/702) Obscure with a capital 'O' is what can initially describe this tasty L.A. pop disc from the summer of 1965. Then 17 year old East Bakersfield High School student Augustine Moreno headed south to Hollywood to record his second of only five known singles (the first disc was issued simultaneously on two different labels). The three hour evening session at the legendary Gold Star Recording Studios was produced by Bob Clark and arranged and conducted by Rene Hall. With engineer Stan Ross at the controls, studio 'A' was booked with an ensemble of L.A.'s 'Wrecking Crew' and the Blossoms to record the Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector tune, 'Spanish Harlem' along with the finger-snapping intended flipside, 'Searchin' The Clock Around' composed by the duo, Hollins and Bechannan. The production may have been slick, tight and musically on-point but the tiny record label the disc was was issued on, combined with the heavy competition for airplay, not to mention often times just needing to have all of the planets in alignment, aside from local interest, Augie's record went by without much fanfare (today original copies are quite a desired possession among record collectors). The handsome and talented fellow was promoted in print, performed on stage and television along with recording, but fame in the grand scheme of things was not to be for Mr. Moreno. He eventually did, however, become what many consider to be one of the millions of unsung heroes working for the public within the field of law enforcement, which he did for over 35 years.
Today, Augie Moreno is retired living in central California.
12 окт 2024
