The Cuff Links - Chancing My Love 1963

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The Cuff Links

Biography
The Cuff Links
There were several early members, such as Mark Green and Billy Gray, who were in and out of the group. The accompanying photo, from late January 1956 (when they were slated to be stars of the Eighth Air Division TV Show), shows "Meade Oberby" (actually Mead Duncan Overby) and Gaylord Lindsey, two names I'd never heard before, along with Alfred Gaitwood, Everette "Ed" Tyson, and Marshall Lamb..

Alfred had also been writing songs in his spare time (as he had for the Smoothtones), and, in the fall of 1956 the group traveled down to Los Angeles to audition for Dootsie Williams. Dootsie liked the group, but not the songs. Returning to Sacramento, Alfred wasted no time in composing some new songs, including "Guided Missiles" (which he polished off in about five minutes). The title was a natural for an Air Force man; guided missiles were just coming into vogue. (It did take a special talent to make a love song out of it, though.)

The Cuff Links found a recording studio in Sacramento and made a dub of "Guided Missiles," which they sent to Dootsie. They got a telegram the next day saying he was coming to town to sign them (to a one-year contract with a one-year option). At the ensuing Dootone session (held in October of 1956) they re-recorded "Guided Missiles" and "My Heart" (another one that Alfred wrote).

The baritone who was supposed to have been on the recordings decided that he would be better off having a date the day of the "Guided Missiles" session; he later cried when the record actually came out and was a hit. The members that made it to the studio were: Robert Truesdale (tenor), John Saxon (first tenor, second tenor, and baritone), Marshall Lamb (high tenor), Everette "Ed" Tyson (baritone - rushed in at the last minute), and Alfred Gaitwood (bass). "Guided Missiles" was led by Robert Truesdale, and "My Heart" by John Saxon. Another member of the group was Roger Smith, who played guitar and piano.

Released in November 1956, "Guided Missiles" was just gimmicky enough to become a hit in several regions (it made #2 in Pittsburgh). "My Heart" was a rocker with a wild instrumental ending that Dootsie just chopped off for some reason. The record was reviewed (both sides "fair") on December 15, along with Fats Dominos' "Blue Monday," Gene & Eunice's "Bom Bom Lulu," the Nutmegs' "A Love So True," Alan Freed's "Rock 'n' Roll Boogie," and the Arrows' "No End To True Love." Dootsie Williams took to sending expensive cuff link sets to DJs who pushed the record (no doubt in lieu of royalties to the group). Sticking around for a couple of months, it became a Tip in Los Angeles on February 16. With typical hyperbole, a March Dooto ad proclaimed that the record was "exploding" in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and New Jersey.

Although in existence for several years, Dootone was finally forced to change its name by the Duotone Company (makers of phonograph styluses). Thus, "Guided Missiles" had the distinction of being both the last Dootone and first Dooto release. The change was announced the week of January 26, 1957, although "Guided Missiles" had already been reissued on Dooto in December. [I'm always amazed when record companies do something and then, later on, announce that they're going to do it.

Unfortunately the Cuff Links' day jobs got in the way and they couldn't follow up the momentum of the record with many appearances. They played clubs on the West Coast, as well as the Los Angeles Civic Center and the Rivoli Theater in Oakland. They all took a two-week leave at the same time and set up a tour that included the Uptown Theater (Philadelphia), the Royal (Baltimore), and the Howard (Washington, D.C.). They also did the San Francisco Arena with the Drifters EARLY and B.B. King, as well as some TV appearances in Los Angeles.