The “Golden Hits Of The 60s“ 

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HUMAN BEINZ

“NOBODY BUT M”

(Rudolph Isley, O’Kelly Isley)

Capitol 5990

No. 8  February 3, 1968

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In 1963, before the Beatles altered planetary history, by appearing on “The Ed Sullivan Show;’

what was to become the Human Beinz was beginning to gel in The Old Barn bar in Youngstown,

Ohio.   Members came from bands with names like Dick Nard & The Imperi­als and Bill Davids &

The Rockets; the later outfit made a footnote in rock history when they were utilized in the

studio on the EDSELS’ “Rama Lama Ding Dong.”   At $10 a night per man–stationed at The Old

Barn bar but appearing at Mickey’s Bar and The Cove and near anywhere–the band line-up

came together about the time they preceded the Shadow of Knight in recording the garage

classic “Gloria.”

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On that session and thereafter, the group initially called the Premiers–no relation to the

PREMIERS, known for “Farmer John”–was Dick “Richard” Belly (b. 1947, lead vocals, lead

guitar, harmonica), Joe “Ting” Markulin (b. 1946, rhythm guitar), Mel Pachuta (b. 1946, bass),

and Gary Coates (drums).   “We lost out [to the Shadows of Knight],” said Mel to DISCoveries’

Robert Hanley.   “The studio was on the fourth floor and we had to haul all our equipment up

there.   No elevator, nothing!   We paid for the studio time and even paid for the records. And,

damn, it took them like six months to get us the records.”   By then the Shadows were high atop

the charts with “Gloria.”

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As the Human Beingz (with a “g”) Mel and the rest rapidly recorded remakes of Dylan’s “The

Times They Are A-Changin”‘ and Crispian St. Peter’s “Pied Piper” for the tiny Pittsburgh-based

Gateway label.   “We were working Youngstown, Pittsburgh, a lot of Michigan, and even the

Chicago area,” said Mel.   “By ’66, the owner of Elysian [Records] wanted to be our manager and

to back us.   He took us to Cleveland to record [the Yard­birds’] ‘Evil Hearted You’ b/w [the

Who’s] ‘My Genera­tion’ and [the LEAVES’] ‘Hey Joe’ b/w ‘Spider Man.’   ‘Evil Hearted’ sold

pretty well; but ‘Hey Joe’ didn’t do much.   From there, we got noticed and got the chance to go

with Capitol Records.   Gary had left to join the service just before the Elysian session, so we had

this new drummer Mike Tateman [b. 1947] by the time we did ‘Nobody but Me.”‘

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It was Tommy Shannenberger, a sales rep with Capi­tol Records that spotted their singles at the

Plaza Record store in Boardman, Ohio, who allerted the label about the promising act; later

becoming the Human Beinz’ manager.   “The black stations picked up on ‘Nobody but Me’ fast;’

said Mel.   “They thought we were black!   When they realized we weren’t, they dumped it.   But by

that time the white stations heard it, and it start­ed getting some play there.  It was slow moving,

but it kept building and building.”

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With their first 45 for Capitol, and an unimaginabletively titled album, Nobody but Me, the

Beingz were now the Beinz.   “Belly had came up with the name, and we spelled it with a ‘z’ to be a

little bit different–Beingz;’ said Mel.   “But when we cut ‘Nobody but Me’ Capitol left off the ‘g.’   All

the records were pressed before we realized it, and it was too late.   But when we played any­

where, we put the ‘g’ back it.”

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In promoting the 45, they opened for Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Paul Revere & The

Raiders, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, and Neil Diamond.   “We opened for him in New York,

when he was in his ‘black period.’   He’d sit back stage by himself before going on, and not say a

word to anybody.”

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After a one-off appearance in Japan and a tour with the Beach Boys, Belly announced he was

quitting.   Shannenberger bought in a then unknown Joe Walsh.  .

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The future James Gang/Eagles star practiced with the band but was put out when Belly decided

to remain .. . but only for what would prove to be a moment.   “Dick quit for good, then I left the

group,” said Mel, “and that was it.   Ting tried to keep it going, but it was Dick [Belly] that had the

voice.”

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Following their retread of the Isley Brothers’ “Nobody but Me,” the act only got to release a

dusting of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Turn on Your Love Light” (#80, 1968) and “Everytime

Woman.”   A more psyche­delic Evolution album was issued and retracked.   “Without Dick’s voice, it

was over.   “Hold on Baby” was only released in Japan and it went to number one, but Capitol

wasn’t about to push a record in the U.S. without a group to promote it:’

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All of their Capitol sessions took place at the Cleve­land Recording Company.   John Hanson was

there in the studio at the time, and offered his vague memories about the group in an exclusive

interview.   “I remember the session.   The boys were after some kind of sound, and nobody there

knew just how to help them get it.   I remember they wanted to multi-track and use feedback,

and nobody knew how to handle them.   They did have that big hit, so all wasn’t lost–right?”

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To coincide with the chart success, Gateway compiled their early singles for an album issued as

by the Human Beingz and the Mammals.   Mel Pachuta has been work­ing the lines at General

Motors in a Cordstown, Ohio, plant, performing on the side with his Ohio Boardline Band.

“Ting” Markulin put together a group billed the Human Beinz, to record “Nobody but

Me”/”Mony Mony” for 3C Records in 1987.   Mike Tateman has been spotted selling boats, in

Florida.   Dick Belly went off to no-one-knows-what in Boulder, Colorado.

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“There’s talk of us getting together for a reunion;’ said Mel, “but the only way I’d go back is if

Dick Belly comes back from wherever.”