A listing on Mr.Manship's site ............. 

 

    Rita & The Upsetters    DONE GOT OVER (UPSETTIN')    7"  --   £216.00   

        Condition: M- / wol / [vinyl / label / sleeve]

      Label: acetate HENRY O. BER         Genre: ACETATES

Totally obscure Baltimore 60s girl-group Northern Soul that we can find no evidence of a release. Only copy we have ever seen, strong Northern Soul potential.                  1 copy in stock.

 

Seems that John should have checked the facts on the track out a bit harder. 

It was actually released on (WSID) DJ 'Sparky' Mullen's Zenette Record label in 1964. Half a dozen or so 45's escaped on Zenette which around 1964 was run out of Sparky's record shop at 2131 West North Avenue, Baltimore. Rita only featured on one side of the 45 (& the acetate) as an instrumental by the band ("Upsett In") formed the B side.

Rita was actually Rita Dorsye who also had a couple of 45's out on Ru-Jac 

........  Wait Till Then / When I’m Alone    AND    Please Let Me Love You / Goodie Goodie

Her cut with the Upsetters (who she fronted on live shows for a while) was released in 1964 after she had been lead singer with the group for a while. I have some ads for club gigs they did around Baltimore somewhere here.

The teaming was soon split up though as the Upsetters were recruited by Otis Redding to go on the road supporting him (backing him up). Otis also took Arthur Conley off with him from Baltimore about the same time. The Upsetters toured all over with Otis and after his death (they weren't with his tour package when he was killed) they were signed by ABC and did a tribute album to Otis ('We Remember Otis') which was produced with John Madara.

The group also had an LP out back in Baltimore  on their management company's record label (Rhapsody).

 

Other 45's on Zenette were by Kenny Hamber, Sonny V & the Velvets, El Ray (really Sonnye Daye who cut for Ru-Jac with the Shyndels) and the Christian All Stars (no doubt a top Baltimore gospel outfit). 

 

Rita & the Upsetters on their cut together .......

Zenette 45 ..............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK1hUaB16JU

Edited October 1, 201311 yr by Roburt

A page on the Upsetters on the net ............

It features tracks cut by the band and they certainly show the Stax / Memphis influence ...........

https://www.baltimorejam.org/Upsetters/upsetters.html

I pulled some great zenette 45's from that neighborhood....i grew up not far from north ave in baltimore

I pulled some great zenette 45's from that neighborhood....i grew up not far from north ave in baltimore

Good to learn that some of those old Zenette 45's were still turning up years afterwards (even if it was only yards from where they were originally commissioned).

Which of the Zenette 45's did you find; the Kenny Hamber, Sonny V & the Velvets, El Ray, Rita & Upsetters or the Christian All Stars.

Kenny Hamber grew up in the area as well, he spent his teenage years in the Lafayette Courts projects (after moving from the Somerset Projects). 

I haven't heard some of those tracks, would really like to get to listen to the El Raye (Sonnye Daye) & Christian All Stars cuts.

 

A WSID ad for Sparky Mullen's radio show; this dates from around the time that the Rita & the Upsetters 45 was released.

Edited November 14, 201311 yr by Roburt

A Montage showing three of the Zenette 45's ...........

... these include the B side of the Rita & the Upsetters single ...

Wow....thanks so much for posting.that billboard add.....i found.the Kenny Hamber Rita and the upsetters and a gospel........i still drive into the old neighborhood once in awhile to look for records........the city has gotten pretty bad in recent years so i moved about 40 min north of the city.....any help i can be let me know......i still.speak to Kenny on occasion

Cant say I remember Rita & The Upsetters, however I am the Son of Bill Sparky Mullen and the Label "Zenette" is named after my oldest Sister

 

Pastor James G. Mullen

Also I am in touch with Kenny Hamber, he is now sing Gospel and have 2 cd's out

 

 

Pastor James G. Mullen

Kedesh House of Prayer Christian Church

 

A listing on Mr.Manship's site ............. 

 

    Rita & The Upsetters    DONE GOT OVER (UPSETTIN')    7"  --   £216.00   

        Condition: M- / wol / [vinyl / label / sleeve]

      Label: acetate HENRY O. BER         Genre: ACETATES

Totally obscure Baltimore 60s girl-group Northern Soul that we can find no evidence of a release. Only copy we have ever seen, strong Northern Soul potential.                  1 copy in stock.

 

Seems that John should have checked the facts on the track out a bit harder. 

It was actually released on (WSID) DJ 'Sparky' Mullen's Zenette Record label in 1964. Half a dozen or so 45's escaped on Zenette which around 1964 was run out of Sparky's record shop at 2131 West North Avenue, Baltimore.

 

Has John changed his wording slightly? The info now reads "Totally obscure Baltimore 60s girl-group Northern Soul that we have yet to see the original 45 of. Ru-Jacs Rita Doryse on lead vocal....."

 

Here's my copy.

Edited February 25, 201411 yr by tiberius

Actually it is Bill "Sparky" Mullen, without the "S", people have always put  an "S" on our last name.  His name is actually William Claude Mullen, Sparky was a nick name.

 

Pastor James Mullen

Kedesh House of Prayer Chirstian Church

www.kedeshhouseofprayer.org

I talk about my father in the Bio

Just thought I would upload pics of another Zenette 45 - It's by El Jay (Is this the El Ray 45 mentioned earlier? )

 

Roburt - if you would like to hear it I can send an MP3

Edited May 1, 201411 yr by Ringleader

I found a couple 45s by Otis Redding that appear to be test pressings made in Baltimore at Recordings, Inc., and can't find any information about them anywhere... it seems like this might have featured the Upsetters backing him..    anyone have any info?