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BELL NOTES

I’VE HAD IT

(Carl Bonura, Raymond Ceroni)

Time 1004

No. 6    March 9, 1959

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Back in the late ’50s, Alan Fredericks was a rock’n’roll DJ on New York City’s WADO.   Like all hip record·

spinners, Al made appearances at teen dances.  The Bell Notes were popular rockers with a sound that was

slightly ahead of their time; and with their writing their own tunes, including their moment:  “I’ve Had It.”

“They were local band from East Meadow who had worked with me at record hops,” Fredericks told Record

Collectors Monthly’s Don Mennie.  “I took them to  a Manhattan studio, produced this record [“I’ve Had lt”]

and sold it to Bob Shad, who had just started Time Records.  It was a great success.”

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For their short spell together, the Bell Notes consisted of Carl Bonura (lead vocals, sax), John Casey

(drums), Ray Ceroni (lead vocals, guitar), Lenny Giamblavo (bass), and Pete Kane (piano).  With success

momentarily theirs, they appeared on Alan Freed’s TV show and toured with Frankie Avalon and Bobby

Darin.  Time  Records rush-released a now hard to find EP (Extended Play, usually a 4 song disk) and

eventually four high -quality 45s:  “Old Spanish Town” (#76) b/w “She Went That-a-Way,” “That’s Right,”

‘You’re a Big GirlNow” and “No Dice.”

In 1960, Fredericks brought the Bell Notes to Larry Utall’s Madison label.   After their cover version of Paul

Chapman’s regional hit, “Shortnin’ Bread” (#96, 1960), and the totally unnoticed/unavaliable “Friendly

Star,” the Bell Notes were noted no more.