The O'Kaysions -- "Girl Watcher" (1968)

[Joe Gillis]

I'm sure everyone has heard this hit from 1968.

But there is another version, by Ginger Thompson, called "Boy
Watcher":

Can anyone tell ,me which of these records was released first?

A cursory internet search has proven inconclusive... Although if I had
to bet I'd say "Boy Watcher" came first as it has the one writing
credit, while the O'Kaysions release adds their lead singer to the
label.

Loading Image...

IHere is the 1-2-3 label discography, if anyone can date it from other
releases.

http://www.georgiasoul.com/gasoul/0-f.html

(And don't worry about "Boy Watcher" by Pat Parker from '58. It's a
completely different song.)

[The Bloomfield Bloviator]

Post by Joe Gillis
I'm sure everyone has heard this hit from 1968.
But there is another version, by Ginger Thompson, called "Boy
http://youtu.be/ViHXSrr6ozE
Can anyone tell ,me which of these records was released first?

The Ginger Thompson was first.

http://www.originalsproject.us/

Boy Watcher (aka Girl Watcher) Ginger Thompson 1968 (January?)
O'Kaysions (spring 1968),

This song has a confusing history! In 1962 16-year-old Pat Parker &
The Way Mates had a record out (two different versions, both on
Skyland 1000) titled "Boy Watcher." It was credited to the Way Mates'
manager Buck Trail, a pseudonym (along with Buck Killette) used by
writer Ron Killette. Parker's recording bears little resemblance to
the O'Kaysions' "Girl Watcher" hit though. Jump to early 1968 for
Ginger Thompson's "Boy Watcher," also credited to Buck Trail, and you
hear what the O'Kaysions copied. It's unclear how the song went from
Parker's to Thompson's arrangement. The O'Kaysions' record credited
not only Trail but group member and manager Wayne Pittman. Ron
Killette sued Pittman, they came to an agreement but ended up back in
court disputing the settlement as well as engaging in slander
accusations.

[Gary Myers]

Post by Joe Gillis
But there is another version, by Ginger Thompson, called "Boy

Post by Joe Gillis
http://youtu.be/ViHXSrr6ozE

Can anyone tell ,me which of these records was released first?

The Ginger Thompson was first.
http://www.originalsproject.us/

I did some investigation of G.W. around '95. (The reason I did is that
another collector had mistakenly listed the Pat Parker record as a Wisconsin
record and I've done a ton of WI research - wrote 2 books on WI 50's-60's
music). I learned there was no WI connection but I did get a bunch of info
from Ron Killette (aka Buck Trail, who BTW, had several late 50's RAB cuts)
and a bit from Donny Weaver, lead singer of the O'Kaysions. At that time I
was not aware of the G.Thompson 45 and neither of them ever mentioned it. It
makes me wonder how sure Dick Rosemont (originalsproject) is about it being
before the O'Kaysions. Killette died not long after I spoke with him. Either
way, it's REAL hard to make any connection between Parker's & the
O'Kaysions. Donny Weaver said that their guy, Wayne Pittman was the
difference. If so, I'd say he greatly deserved AT LEAST 1/2 of the song!

[The Bloomfield Bloviator]

Post by Joe Gillis
But there is another version, by Ginger Thompson, called "Boy

Post by Joe Gillis
http://youtu.be/ViHXSrr6ozE

Can anyone tell ,me which of these records was released first?

The Ginger Thompson was first.http://www.originalsproject.us/
I did some investigation of G.W. around '95. (The reason I did is that
another collector had mistakenly listed the Pat Parker record as a Wisconsin
record and I've done a ton of WI research - wrote 2 books on WI 50's-60's
music). I learned there was no WI connection but I did get a bunch of info
from Ron Killette (aka Buck Trail, who BTW, had several late 50's RAB cuts)
and a bit from Donny Weaver, lead singer of the O'Kaysions. At that time I
was not aware of the G.Thompson 45 and neither of them ever mentioned it. It
makes me wonder how sure Dick Rosemont (originalsproject) is about it being
before the O'Kaysions.

I did some checking, and Rosemont may be wrong here. The first mention
of the 1-2-3 label comes in the August 10, 1968 issue of Billboard,
and they say that it's a new label that will start with three
releases. The Ginger Thompson record is the third single on the label.
If this date is correct, the O'Kaysions would have to have come before
that. It was on ABC already by August of 1967, maybe even by July. It
was on the North State label before that.

I sent this info to Rosemont. We'll see what he comes up with.

[The Bloomfield Bloviator]

Post by The Bloomfield Bloviator

Post by Joe Gillis
But there is another version, by Ginger Thompson, called "Boy

Post by Joe Gillis
http://youtu.be/ViHXSrr6ozE

Can anyone tell ,me which of these records was released first?

The Ginger Thompson was first.http://www.originalsproject.us/
I did some investigation of G.W. around '95. (The reason I did is that
another collector had mistakenly listed the Pat Parker record as a Wisconsin
record and I've done a ton of WI research - wrote 2 books on WI 50's-60's
music). I learned there was no WI connection but I did get a bunch of info
from Ron Killette (aka Buck Trail, who BTW, had several late 50's RAB cuts)
and a bit from Donny Weaver, lead singer of the O'Kaysions. At that time I
was not aware of the G.Thompson 45 and neither of them ever mentioned it. It
makes me wonder how sure Dick Rosemont (originalsproject) is about it being
before the O'Kaysions.

I did some checking, and Rosemont may be wrong here. The first mention
of the 1-2-3 label comes in the August 10, 1968 issue of Billboard,
and they say that it's a new label that will start with three
releases. The Ginger Thompson record is the third single on the label.
If this date is correct, the O'Kaysions would have to have come before
that. It was on ABC already by August of 1967, maybe even by July.

I found a mention of the ABC record in June of 1968.

[BobbyM]

Post by The Bloomfield Bloviator

Post by The Bloomfield Bloviator

Post by Joe Gillis
But there is another version, by Ginger Thompson, called "Boy

Post by Joe Gillis
http://youtu.be/ViHXSrr6ozE

Can anyone tell ,me which of these records was released first?

The Ginger Thompson was first.http://www.originalsproject.us/
I did some investigation of G.W. around '95. (The reason I did is that
another collector had mistakenly listed the Pat Parker record as a Wisconsin
record and I've done a ton of WI research - wrote 2 books on WI 50's-60's
music). I learned there was no WI connection but I did get a bunch of info
from Ron Killette (aka Buck Trail, who BTW, had several late 50's RAB cuts)
and a bit from Donny Weaver, lead singer of the O'Kaysions. At that time I
was not aware of the G.Thompson 45 and neither of them ever mentioned it. It
makes me wonder how sure Dick Rosemont (originalsproject) is about it being
before the O'Kaysions.

I did some checking, and Rosemont may be wrong here. The first mention
of the 1-2-3 label comes in the August 10, 1968 issue of Billboard,
and they say that it's a new label that will start with three
releases. The Ginger Thompson record is the third single on the label.
If this date is correct, the O'Kaysions would have to have come before
that. It was on ABC already by August of 1967, maybe even by July.

I found a mention of the ABC record in June of 1968.

Here's an Atlanta radio chart from April 1968 that lists the O'Kaysions
version: http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys_item.php?svid=17886

[The Bloomfield Bloviator]

Post by BobbyM

Post by The Bloomfield Bloviator

Post by The Bloomfield Bloviator

Post by Joe Gillis
But there is another version, by Ginger Thompson, called "Boy

Post by Joe Gillis
http://youtu.be/ViHXSrr6ozE

Can anyone tell ,me which of these records was released first?

The Ginger Thompson was first.http://www.originalsproject.us/
I did some investigation of G.W. around '95. (The reason I did is that
another collector had mistakenly listed the Pat Parker record as a Wisconsin
record and I've done a ton of WI research - wrote 2 books on WI 50's-60's
music). I learned there was no WI connection but I did get a bunch of info
from Ron Killette (aka Buck Trail, who BTW, had several late 50's RAB cuts)
and a bit from Donny Weaver, lead singer of the O'Kaysions. At that time I
was not aware of the G.Thompson 45 and neither of them ever mentioned it. It
makes me wonder how sure Dick Rosemont (originalsproject) is about it being
before the O'Kaysions.

I did some checking, and Rosemont may be wrong here. The first mention
of the 1-2-3 label comes in the August 10, 1968 issue of Billboard,
and they say that it's a new label that will start with three
releases. The Ginger Thompson record is the third single on the label.
If this date is correct, the O'Kaysions would have to have come before
that. It was on ABC already by August of 1967, maybe even by July.

I found a mention of the ABC record in June of 1968.

Here's an Atlanta radio chart from April 1968 that lists the O'Kaysions
version:http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys_item.php?svid=17886

Doesn't say what label it was on. It was likely on North State then,
before ABC bought the master.

[The Bloomfield Bloviator]

Post by The Bloomfield Bloviator

Post by Joe Gillis
But there is another version, by Ginger Thompson, called "Boy

Post by Joe Gillis
http://youtu.be/ViHXSrr6ozE

Can anyone tell ,me which of these records was released first?

The Ginger Thompson was first.http://www.originalsproject.us/
I did some investigation of G.W. around '95. (The reason I did is that
another collector had mistakenly listed the Pat Parker record as a Wisconsin
record and I've done a ton of WI research - wrote 2 books on WI 50's-60's
music). I learned there was no WI connection but I did get a bunch of info
from Ron Killette (aka Buck Trail, who BTW, had several late 50's RAB cuts)
and a bit from Donny Weaver, lead singer of the O'Kaysions. At that time I
was not aware of the G.Thompson 45 and neither of them ever mentioned it. It
makes me wonder how sure Dick Rosemont (originalsproject) is about it being
before the O'Kaysions.

I did some checking, and Rosemont may be wrong here. The first mention
of the 1-2-3 label comes in the August 10, 1968 issue of Billboard,
and they say that it's a new label that will start with three
releases. The Ginger Thompson record is the third single on the label.
If this date is correct, the O'Kaysions would have to have come before
that. It was on ABC already by August of 1967, maybe even by July. It
was on the North State label before that.
I sent this info to Rosemont. We'll see what he comes up with.

Here's what Rosemont had to say:

Hi Bruce,

Remember, I (try to) go by recording dates. I did a fair amount of
research on this, including talking to a member of the Way-Mates (who
obviously knew Buck Trail). At the time, it appeared Thompson's was
cut early in the year and the O'Kaysions' was done in the spring. Of
course, without exact dates, it's tough to know 100% and I'm always
open to definitive corrections.

The O'Kaysions' had be earlier, I doubt Buck would have had much of a
case in his suit (any slander notwithstanding) as the later versions
were so different from the 1962 recording.

Thanks for keeping me on my toes.

[Gary Myers]

Thanks for your extensive follow-up, Bruce. I'm also going to send Dick the
info I have from Killette.