Little Black Egg - The Nightcrawlers

1965

I heard many excellent Florida Teen Bands in my youth, that period of 1964-1966. The Nightcrawlers were one of the first to get a record on the radio. They were from Daytona Beach. Their 45 record Little Black Egg was recorded and released in 1965. It was a big local radio hit and reached the Top Hundred on the US Billboard charts.

I heard them at my favorite central Florida teen club. They sounded great, played their tune “just like the record”

In 1965-1966, I was still waiting to acquire my first drumset. Seeing all of these bands and drummers was very educational. In my mind I had already worked out, how to play the drumset. I was ready.

This song is very good for 1965. It’s has hooks needed to become a hit. The competition to get radio was easy and difficult. Orlando had a very popular station WLOF-95. Channel 95 on your dial. Post February 9, 1964 when The Beatles played on The Ed Sullivan Show, everything exploded.

WLOF-95 always had a mobile broadcast and broke new groups and records. This was happening everywhere in America.

The Nightcrawlers were early in the wave of garage bands with a record. Other Florida groups would follow their lead. We The People, The Tropics and more. The Royal Guardsmen may hold the top position with their 1965 hit, Snoopy vs.the Red Baron.

Still, The Little Black Egg has that classic 60s garage band vibe.

(The following are excerpts from my two books, (Notes of a Young Drummer 1966-1969) and (130 Drummers I’ve seen in my lifetime)

Little Black Egg & My Brother The Man 

A few bands had 45-rpm records that were played on local AM radio. At the Tiki Club, I heard The Nightcrawlers and We The People. Both groups sounded great in that club. I also heard Premier drums for the first time. They had a bright, crisp, British tone. Ludwig’s were always most popular, thanks to Ringo. 

The Allman Joys

The Daytona Beach scene was always different to me. I heard mention of The Allman Joys, but never saw them play at the Martinique. Daytona Beach has always supported live music, especially the Blues. 

Bobby Caldwell

The finest drummer anywhere - was Bobby Caldwell. I only heard him play twice at teen clubs, but he had a well earned reputation, I saw him years later, with Johnny Winter And, Noah’s Ark and Captain Beyond. Of all the drummers I’d seen play live, Bobby had the coolest sound, best time, more chops than anyone. Even non-drummers and teenagers in attendance at these events knew Bobby had it all, and recognized his incredible talent.

#5

Tommy Ruger  - The Nightcrawlers formed in Daytona Beach. They were the first Central Florida band to produce a 45 record with major radio airplay. I saw them at, The Tiki Club−downtown Orlando. Their 1965 tune, Little Black Egg, was a local hit on the radio. When I saw them, because of their record, it was like seeing a national act. They were more than a teenage dance band because of their record. It was an interesting time. Though I didn’t play guitar, I was inspired to play the hook intro to Little Black Egg. I don’t recall much about their set list or repertoire except for, Little Black Egg. They were very polished and professional. Their sound has been described as sparse folk rock, popularized by The Byrd’s, The Beau Brummel’s and other post, British Invasion mid, 1960s bands. I would agree.