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DARTELLS 

“HOT PASTRAMI”

(Doug Phillips)

Dot 16453

No. 11    May 25, 1963

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With their first serving, the  Dartells cut the mustard.  Fried, boiled and sauteed, “Hot Pastrami”–for a few

listenings–was an enjoyably sloppy hit.   Doug  Phillips, leader of this group from Ortnard, California,

claimed credit for writing this tune.   But “Hot Pastrami” is actually a knock-off of an earlier number–

“Mashed Potatoes,” recorded in 1960 by Nat Kendricks, then James Brown’s drummer.

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The California kids were between 18 and 20 when their coach and manager, Tom Ayres, plucked them

from out of the teen-scene clubs to audition for Buddy Jack at Arlen Records.   Phillips (bass, vocals),

Dick Burns (guitar), Gary Peeler (drums),  Rich Peil  (sax), Randy Ray (organ), and Corky Wilkie (sax)

whipped up a batch of the stuff they were successfully serving up at the night spots.   Most of these tunes

were instrumentals  in the tradition of the MAR-KEYS and Booker T. & The MGs.

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Arlen Records decided to give the fellows a try, and wham, “Hot Pastrami.”   Dot Records picked up the

national distribution when the “Pastrami” got hot, but nothing the band ever recorded thereafter got more

than lukewarm.    Dance, Everybody Dance,” the follow-up, checked into the charts at number 99 for a

week, and then  rightfully scurried for obscurity.   A cover version of  the Beau Marks”‘ Clap Your Hands”

interested almost no one, and the Dartells disbanded.

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Doug Phillips formed another group in the late ’60s called the New Concepts, and  had singles issued

on ABC-Paramount and Atco.   In 1971, while fronting Cottonwood, Phillips–with a full head of hippie

hair–and his band of like-haired released Camaraderie, a hard-rockin’ album for ABC.   It is not known

what became of the other  members of the Dartells.   There is some indication that a portion of the group

remained intact to record several stray singles as a group called Rain.