Willie Tremain's Thunderbirds 45rpm - Midnight Express / Frankie's Rock
$
550
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
Willie Tremain and the Thunderbirds a Milwaukee Wisconsin band that had
only one release on the famous Cuca record label from Sauk City Wi. This
was the first guitar rock and roll single on the label and the only one that was
released on both the Swastika and Cuca labels.
Willie played Guitar and Piano (Deceased March 2013)
Frank Cunningham was on vocals at the dances
Bill Buttner – guitar
Rick Scully – Bass
Joe Smoker (Shoemacher) Drums
Record was made in 1959 and I am as far as I know the only person to have
Mint unplayed copies of this single that were autographed in white ink in 1959.
They were pre autographed so the band would not have to do any signing at
The dances for those who bought the 45 at the door.
These two tunes are raw guitar instrumentals that I consider to be Greaser style. NOBODY HAS MINT UNPLAYED ORIGINALS BUT ME ! THERE WILL BE NO DISCOUNTS ON THIS RECORD AT ALL
I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE RAREST GUITAR INSTRUMENTAL EVER RELEASED.
Winners if from Europe will need it fully insured for full value unless you have it shipped to a friend in the USA.
WILL NOT BE SOLD FOR ANY LESS AND I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH THEM...
On Apr-17-13 at 08:10:19 PDT, seller added the following information:Listen to this fantastic Greaser Instrumental and both sides are great too !!
On Feb-10-14 at 12:13:42 PST, seller added the following information: I was personal friends of Willie's for many many years and I am also friends with the owner of cuca records Jim Kirshtien . there were 200 pressed on Swastika and then the label was pulled from release because of the implications of the swastika design. It then came out on the Cuca label as well which is fairly common in comparison to this one. As far as I know and I think I told the story in the listing, they used to play out and they had a girl at the door collecting the $1 to get into the dance and while there people could buy the single already autographed as that way the band members would not be bothered to do that during the dance. after the band broke up there was one box still left and she kept it for over 30 years in her closet never thinking about it, until one day she talked to Willie and gave him the box back.- He called me because of my record business and honesty in records. every once in awhile I would get one to sell. Now that he has passed on I got the remaining 6 copies from his wife and gave her a very high price for them knowing how Rare they were. I also got a color photo of the band - the only one there is as no one took photos back then like we all do now. Anyway I have sold them anywhere from the first ones I got in the early 90s for over $500 each and the last one went to California for $800. All are original first pressings and never played. I collect instrumentals and it is a prized item in my collection. As far as I know it has not been bootlegged. It was pressed at RCA so the marking in the wax reflect that. It is the first record of rock and roll on Cuca and a great greaser instrumental - thank you for asking. I am the only one that ever had the autographed copies. He gave a couple away to a few people that write books but otherwise they all came from me. and other then these in the original 25 count box none of the others were autigraphed and rarely come up for auction. Certainly not in Mint condition. all the info came from Willie
