1st Record By Funk Legends THE NITE-LITERS Coffee House Rendezvous 1966! LISTEN

"Coffee House Rendezvous"
sung by The Niteliters
from the film "Coffee House Rendezvous"
b/w
"Sounds Of The Coffee House"
from the sound track of the film "Coffee House Rendezvous"

Produced by Steeg Productions
For Coffee Information Service, New York

1966 / Liza Records ZTSP 122412/3
Vintage 7" 45rpm Vinyl Record in generic sleeve

Condition: Record approaches near mint condition — whatever minor visual flaws are there do not detract from its smooth playing sound. You will be pleased. Listen to the samples to see if this record meets your quality standards.

Founded in Louisville in 1963, The Nite-Liters became a seminal soul/funk outfit with the release of a string of influential albums under their own name beginning in 1970, produced by their mentor Harvey Fuqua, and then as part of "New Birth," Fuqua's expanded performing and recording multi-group.

I would say that even the most knowledgeable Nite-Liters fans are unaware of the existence and significance of the record I am offering here.

It's a 1966 45rpm single that was the group's first primary-credit record — as "The Niteliters" — and was produced a full four years before the first Nite-Liters LP was released by RCA.

Interestingly, the performance on this record was pitched to RCA — the group's future record label — in 1966. They turned it down because they thought the singer sounded too much like Brook Benton, an RCA recording artist.

"Coffee House Rendezvous" was a promotional, so-called "industrial" film put out in 1966 by a coffee industry trade organization to encourage young people to open coffee houses on campuses, churches, and even their own home.

You can see the film on YouTube.
(This lot DOES NOT include a copy of the film "Coffee House Rendezvous" in any form)

The 45 features the full-length theme song that runs over the closing credits of the film — a bouncy and infectious tune that will probably run through your head for days. It's got soul-inflected lead and backing vocals and the kind of punctuating horn work the group was known for.

I doubt many people know that the original music arrangement was by John Abbott, known for such classics as "Walk Away Rene" and "Abraham, Martin and John."

This record is extremely rare. It was never released — you won't find it on any Billboard chart. Heck, I don't think you'll find it in any Liza Records discography. Jordan Ramin, who wrote the music and produced the record, had a short run pressed by Columbia Special Products for his friend Ted Steeg, who directed and produced the film and wrote the lyrics.

Jordan Ramin worked for Liza Music Corp., a music publishing firm founded by actress Elizabeth Taylor and her son-in-law Mike Todd, Jr — Liza is Liz Taylor's daughter's name.

The B-side is called "Sounds Of The Coffee House" and it's a montage of music, poetry reading and interviews from the soundtrack of the film. Starts off with the band "The Essential Noise" being introduced on stage at Cholmondeley's, the legendary Brandeis University coffee house.

A fine acquisition for even the most advanced collector of soul, funk, or rare 1960s pop music — and of course, a must for Nite-Liters fans and Liza Records completists.

Listen to samples of this record now...

"Coffee House Rendezvous"

 

"Sounds Of The Coffee House"

 

All photographs are of actual item.

Full refunds cheerfully given for any item that I have misdescribed.