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Since the band did not ask ''[[Peanuts]]'' creator [[Charles M. Schulz]] for permission, [[Quality Records|the Canadian arm of Laurie Records]] refused to issue the single until the legal problems were ironed out: instead, the band recorded the thinly-disguised "Squeaky vs. the Black Knight",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioGBIKfKXWI|title=The Royal Guardsmen – "Squeaky Vs. The Black Knight|website=YouTube|accessdate=April 4, 2014}}</ref> which was released north of the border and became a hit on at least one Canadian station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys_item.php?svid=13550|title=CHLO AM, St Thomas Ontario, Chart for the week of December 21, 1966|website=Las-solanas.com|accessdate=April 4, 2014}}</ref> Eventually, Schulz gave his okay, and "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" was released in Canada.
Since the band did not ask ''[[Peanuts]]'' creator [[Charles M. Schulz]] for permission, [[Quality Records|the Canadian arm of Laurie Records]] refused to issue the single until the legal problems were ironed out: instead, the band recorded the thinly-disguised "Squeaky vs. the Black Knight",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioGBIKfKXWI|title=The Royal Guardsmen – "Squeaky Vs. The Black Knight|website=YouTube|accessdate=April 4, 2014}}</ref> which was released north of the border and became a hit on at least one Canadian station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys_item.php?svid=13550|title=CHLO AM, St Thomas Ontario, Chart for the week of December 21, 1966|website=Las-solanas.com|accessdate=April 4, 2014}}</ref> Eventually, Schulz gave his okay, and "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" was released in Canada.


Immediately the song became a hit, the band went on a national tour during Christmas school break, playing in New York, San Francisco, and other large cities and sharing billing with the Beach Boys, Jefferson Airplane, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Turtles, The Who, and The Monkees. That summer they toured as opening act for Tommy James & the Shondells and Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs.<ref name=OcalaStyle>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocalastyle.com/behind-the-music/ |title=Behind the Music |author=JoAnn Guidry |date=March 31m 2006 |work=Ocala Style |accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
⚫
[[Snoopy]], the [[Red Baron]], and aircraft became recurring themes in their music, though they did have some [[record chart|chart]] singles on other subjects, including "Any Wednesday", "I Say Love", and the [[Top 40]] [[hit record|hit]] "Baby Let's Wait", a re-release of their first single.


⚫
[[Snoopy]], the [[Red Baron]], and aircraft became recurring themes in their music, though they did have the top 100 singles "Any Wednesday", "I Say Love", and (at #35) "Baby Let's Wait", a re-release of their first single. Still, some members felt typecast as the Snoopy band<ref name=OcalaStyle/> and the original group split up in 1970, although a band with some replacement players continued for another year.
The original group split in 1969, but a band with some replacement players continued for another year. Two [[compilation album]]s and the original albums (doubled up) have been released on compact disc. Tom Richards died in 1979 and Pat Waddell became lead guitarist. Waddell with several former bands throughout Central Florida got his start at bass guitar with a local Ocala garage band "The Dawn Patrol", with Courtland (Cory) Richards, (younger brother of Tom Richards of the Royal Guardsmen) (lead vocals), Harold Rankin (rhythm guitar), Mike Driver (lead guitar), and Terry Walters (drums).


In 1976, the original members (except for organist Taylor) got back together and played club dates for another three years before disbanding again. Guitarist Richards died later that year at age 30, of a brain tumor. The band (including Taylor, and with local guitarist Pat Waddell substituting for Richards) next reunited for a live show on October 2, 2004, at the 50th reunion of their high school marching band, after which the band played a few other shows in 2005.<ref name=OcalaStyle/> They performed together in 2010; their next live performance after that was 2018.<ref name=TBTimes>{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/music/Royal-Guardsmen-return-Snoopy-in-tow-50-years-after-Florida-s-first-pop-hit_167682029/ |title=Royal Guardsmen return, Snoopy in tow, 50 years after Florida's first pop hit |author=Jay Cridlin |date=April 25, 2018 |work=Tampa Bay Times |accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
The Royal Guardsmen made a comeback in December 2006, when they released a new Snoopy song, "Snoopy vs. Osama", which became a hit on ''The [[Dr. Demento]] Show''. Rick Cosner has been the alternate drummer since 2006, substituting for John Burdett as needed. The current band performs regularly around the United States.

In December 2006, they released a new Snoopy song, "Snoopy vs. Osama",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://genius.com/The-royal-guardsmen-snoopy-vs-osama-lyrics |title=Snoopy Vs. Osama |work=Genius.com |accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref> and in 2011 the single "Alive and Well".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lonestar995fm.com/the-royal-guardsmen-release-alive-and-well-video/ |title=The Royal Guardsmen release Alive and Well [video] |author= |date= |publisher=Lonestar 99.5 FM |accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>

Original members Chris Nunley and Bill Balough and replacement member Pat Waddell continued playing together at least into 2021, in The Crossfire Band of Ocala.


==Discography==
==Discography==

Revision as of 05:55, 29 October 2021

The Royal Guardsmen
OriginOcala, Florida, United States
GenresRock, pop rock
Years active1966-present
LabelsLaurie

The Royal Guardsmen are an American rock band, best known for their 1966 hit singles "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron", "The Return of The Red Baron", "Snoopy For President", and the Christmas follow up "Snoopy's Christmas".

History

Originally known as the Posmen, the Ocala, Florida-based sextet adopted their anglophile moniker during the British Invasion, led by The Beatles and other British artists. The group was originally composed of Bill Balough (bass), John Burdett (drums), Chris Nunley (vocals), Tom Richards (guitar), Billy Taylor (organ), and Barry Winslow (vocals/guitar). The band was managed by Leonard Stogel and Associates.

Although the Guardsmen's first single, "Baby Let's Wait", failed to reach national success, this tune reached a position of no lower than #11 according to the November 12, 1966 WYND hit parade. The group's second offering, "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron", reached #2 in the Billboard Hot 100, remained in the bestsellers for 12 weeks, and was certified gold by the RIAA in February 1967.[1]

Since the band did not ask Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz for permission, the Canadian arm of Laurie Records refused to issue the single until the legal problems were ironed out: instead, the band recorded the thinly-disguised "Squeaky vs. the Black Knight",[2] which was released north of the border and became a hit on at least one Canadian station.[3] Eventually, Schulz gave his okay, and "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" was released in Canada.

Immediately the song became a hit, the band went on a national tour during Christmas school break, playing in New York, San Francisco, and other large cities and sharing billing with the Beach Boys, Jefferson Airplane, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Turtles, The Who, and The Monkees. That summer they toured as opening act for Tommy James & the Shondells and Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs.[4]

Snoopy, the Red Baron, and aircraft became recurring themes in their music, though they did have the top 100 singles "Any Wednesday", "I Say Love", and (at #35) "Baby Let's Wait", a re-release of their first single. Still, some members felt typecast as the Snoopy band[4] and the original group split up in 1970, although a band with some replacement players continued for another year.

In 1976, the original members (except for organist Taylor) got back together and played club dates for another three years before disbanding again. Guitarist Richards died later that year at age 30, of a brain tumor. The band (including Taylor, and with local guitarist Pat Waddell substituting for Richards) next reunited for a live show on October 2, 2004, at the 50th reunion of their high school marching band, after which the band played a few other shows in 2005.[4] They performed together in 2010; their next live performance after that was 2018.[5]

In December 2006, they released a new Snoopy song, "Snoopy vs. Osama",[6] and in 2011 the single "Alive and Well".[7]

Original members Chris Nunley and Bill Balough and replacement member Pat Waddell continued playing together at least into 2021, in The Crossfire Band of Ocala.

Discography

Albums

  • Snoopy vs. the Red Baron (1966) #44
  • Return of the Red Baron (1967) did not chart
  • Snoopy and His Friends (1967) #46
    • Also on Billboard's Christmas Album chart at #6 in 1967 and #19 in 1968
  • Snoopy for President (1968, re-released 1976) #189 in 1968, did not chart in 1976
  • Merry Snoopy's Christmas (1978, 1980, 1982, 1984)
  • Anthology (CD, April 1995)
  • Best of the Royal Guardsmen (CD, May 1998)
  • Snoopy vs. the Red Baron / Snoopy and His Friends (CD re-release, June 2001)
  • Return of the Red Baron / Snoopy for President (CD re-release, June 2001)

Singles

Year Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated 		Chart Positions Album
US UK AU NZ CAN
1966 "Baby Let's Wait"
b/w "Leaving Me" (from Return of the Red Baron) 		– – – – – Snoopy vs. The Red Baron
"Snoopy vs. The Red Baron"
b/w "I Needed You" (Non-album track) 		2 8 1 8 1
1967 "The Return of the Red Baron"
b/w "Sweetmeats Slide" (from Snoopy vs. The Red Baron) 		15 37 7 - 30 The Return of the Red Baron
"Airplane Song (My Airplane)"
b/w "Om" 		46 - 11 2 45
"Any Wednesday"
b/w "So Right (To Be in Love)" (from Snoopy and His Friends) 		97 - - - 100
"Snoopy's Christmas"
b/w "It Kinda Looks Like Christmas" 		- [A] - 1 1 39 Snoopy and His Friends
1968 "I Say Love"
b/w "It Kinda Looks Like Christmas" 		72 - - - -
"Snoopy For President[B]"
b/w "Down Behind The Lines" (from Snoopy and His Friends) 		85 - 68 - - Snoopy For President
"Baby Let's Wait" (reissue)
b/w "Biplane Evermore[C]" (from Snoopy For President) 		35 - 62 - 19 Snoopy vs. The Red Baron
1969 "Magic Window"
b/w "Mother, Where's Your Daughter" 		112 - - - - Non-album tracks
"The Smallest Astronaut[D]"
b/w "Quality Woman[D]" 		- - 60 - -
1972 "Snoopy For President" (reissue)
b/w "Down Behind The Lines" (from Snoopy and His Friends) 		- - - - - Snoopy For President
1976 "Snoopy For President" (reissue)
b/w "Sweetmeats Slide" (from Snoopy vs. The Red Baron) 		- - - - -
1978 "Snoopy's Christmas" (reissue)
b/w "The Smallest Astronaut[D]" (Non-album track) 		- - - - - Merry Snoopy's Christmas
2006 "Snoopy vs. Osama" - - - - - Non-album track
  • A ^ Charted 3 times in the US – 1967, 1968, and 1969 reaching #1, #15, and #11 respectively but only on Billboard's "Best Bets For Christmas" chart.
  • B ^ Original version contains intro mentioning real 1968 candidates; 1972 and 1976 re-issues omit this.
  • C ^ Only the 'B' side "Biplane Evermore" charted in Australia. Some versions released elsewhere contain "So Right (To Be in Love)" as the 'B' side.
  • D ^ ^ ^ Barry Winslow solo, but features on some of the Royal Guardsmen's compilation albums.

References

  1. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 211. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  2. ^ "The Royal Guardsmen – "Squeaky Vs. The Black Knight". YouTube. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  3. ^ "CHLO AM, St Thomas Ontario, Chart for the week of December 21, 1966". Las-solanas.com. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c JoAnn Guidry (March 31m 2006). "Behind the Music". Ocala Style. Retrieved October 29, 2021. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Jay Cridlin (April 25, 2018). "Royal Guardsmen return, Snoopy in tow, 50 years after Florida's first pop hit". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  6. ^ "Snoopy Vs. Osama". Genius.com. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "The Royal Guardsmen release Alive and Well [video]". Lonestar 99.5 FM. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
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