ARTICLES

Euphoria, and the Hyperbolic & Hit Labels

By Jeffers66 Savage Lost in Uncategorized

The mysterious Euphoria on Hit Records

Euphoria’s 1971 single on the Hit International label was mentioned on page 395 of Savage Lost, as one of the better local releases of the ‘70s. Time and space didn’t permit more details about the label, or its role in our local music scene, starting in 1969.

This particular Hit label (as it was ironically named) was not related to the Nashville-based soundalike factory that specialized in quickly-recorded knockoff versions of current hit songs. This one was based in Fort Lauderdale, and was a part of Hyperbolic Records, a pay-to-record operation spearheaded by John Archer (a former member of the ‘60s band The Busy Signals), along with Mike Rodgers.

John Archer wrote both sides of the Busy Signals' debut single.

(John Archer wrote both sides of the Busy Signals’ debut single)

Hyperbolic advertised in publications such as Newsical, hoping to lure in artists… and composers… who wanted to see their work immortalized on vinyl. As such, it served as an outlet for local rock bands, soul music acts, and song-poem writers. If you pay, you can play!

One of Hyperbolic's ads in Newsical Magazine

Hyperbolic also featured recordings by Speed Limit, Hill, and other area rock bands… some recording with the help of the late WSRF/WSHE legend Tommy Judge. But it was Bolder Damn, a hard rock band from Fort Lauderdale, that has attracted the most attention, thanks to their highly-collectable album on Hit. I’m sure the guys in the band had no idea they’d created a future collectible, when they paid for the right to release their original tunes. Oh, to have been at the pressing plant that day, to haul off a stash of those elusive LPs!

Bolder Damn's album is now a collector's item.

I’d love to tell you all about Euphoria, but their story remains a mystery. Six people share writer’s credits – A. Shipman, M. Leach, M. Moore, J. Dipaolo, F. Corr, and B. Cain. Presumably they were members of the group, but at the moment I can’t say for sure. This band doesn’t appear to be related to the other Euphoria groups out there, including the one on Mainstream Records. If anyone has any more information about these guys, please feel free to share with us.

Hyperbolic & Hit Records International Discography

By Jeffers66 Savage Lost in Uncategorized

Just one of many collectable records on Hyperbolic

101

MIKE MARBEE

Cheatin’ On You Honey/Why Can’t I Be Yours

105

THE MINORITY

Where Was My Mind/High Flyer

107

GAIL LITTLE

Johnny Let’s Go To Town/Waiting

108

SPEED LIMIT

You’re Too Young To Know/Speed

110

(no artist listed)

Have Fun, Baby/High Flyer

(This is a different version of “High Flyer” than #105 above)

997 (Hit Records International)

TONY LaGRECA & NASHVILLE JAM BAND

In The Blue Night/You Hurt Me

1001

HILL

I Gotta Get Thru/Reflections

1002

KEN STEADMAN/DANNY HUDAK

51 Years/I’ll Live On Dreams

1003

BRASS ASSEMBLY

Get The Most Out Of Life/No Guarantee

1004 (Hyperbolic)

LOIS PUCKETT

Love Back Guarantee/God’s River Child

1004 (Hit Records International)

ROSETTA ELLIS (WILLIE GOLATT, Piano)

There’s Going To Be A Fire/What God Means

1005 (Hit Records International)

EUPHORIA

Everloving People/The Nicest Words

1006

BARBARA & THE HEARTKEYS/DANNY HUDEK

The Key To My Heart/Now Let There Be Joyful Years

1009

FRED HOFFMAN

Indian Blues/Starving For Your Love

1014

JOE FISHER with THE ROTATIONS

Last Letter Of Love (vocal)/Last Letter Of Love (instrumental)

1017

GARY FORD

Regardless/My Date

1410 (Hit Records International)

THE FEMININE TOUCH

(LP) “Gentlemen Jim’s Presents The Feminine Touch”

1440 (Auric Records)

LINCOLN GREEN

Rosa Mae Morestep/Pamela

1470 (I Love You Records)

JOE FISHER

A Wonderful Love (one-sided)

5061 (Hit Records International)

BOLDER DAMN

(LP) “Mourning”

9861 (Hit Records International)

THE FEMININE TOUCH

Groove Me/Ooh Child

9862 (Hit Records International)

ROSETTA ELLIS (WILLIE GOLATT, Piano)

Don’t Have To Talk About You/The Lord Has Brought Me

9863 (Hit Records International)

ROSETTA ELLIS

Walk Around Heaven All Day/Come In The Room

BL-1 (Hit Records International)

BARBARA LEE

(LP) I.S.C. Presents Barbara Lee

The Ft. Lauderdale band COVENTRY signed with Hit Records International in 1970, but it doesn’t appear anything was released. Other artists signed to Hyperbolic/Hit in 1970 or 1971 – according to Billboard Magazine – were Foxx, Mario Librizzi (formerly of the Tassels), and Pershing Arbogast. In addition, a group named Snow (with former members of the Hard Knocks) recorded for Hyperbolic in 1972, but it’s not clear if anything was actually issued.

Phil Milstein lists a bunch of Hyperbolic and Hit song-poem demos on his American Song-Poem Music Archives, an essential and endlessly captivating site. This is one group of labels whose discography will probably never be complete.

The same song that The Minority cut -- but is it the same version?

Many more label discographies can be found in the book Savage Lost: Florida Garage Bands, The ’60s & Beyond. If you’re interested in Florida garage band and soul music labels such as Paris Tower, Tener, Tropical, Dade, Marlin, Gulfstream, or Trip Universal, the book is for you. While Hyperbolic was mentioned several times in Savage Lost, I never got around to compiling a discography, an oversight that I am finally able to correct.

Hit Records International, Hyperbolic Records, Savage Lost