VAGRANTS - I Can't Make A Friend (Southern Sound SS 101) USA 1996 LP
vinyl: mint- | cover: mint-

The Vagrants were an American, Long Island-based rock and blue-eyed soul group from the 1960s. The group was composed of Peter Sabatino on vocals, harmonica, and tambourine, Leslie West on vocals and guitar, Larry West on vocals and bass guitar, Jerry Storch (also known as Jay Storch) on organ, and Roger Mansour on drums.
 

By 1965, the group had developed a professional press kit, had gained the interest of the semi-professional Southern Sound record label and soon released a single: Oh Those Eyes b/w You're Too Young. The single gained the attention of directors Vince Scarza and Douglas Hickox, who were directing a Beach Party filmcalled "Disk-o-Tek Holiday," which featured various music artists performing songs throughout the film. The clip that featured The Vagrants performing "Oh Those Eyes" is now considered a classic piece of mid-sixties history. The Vagrants were best known for their regular appearances at The Action House in Island Park; one of the late 60's premier rock clubs on Long Island. The Vagrants often appeared on stage with such other iconic bands of the 60' as The Vanilla Fudge, The Rascals, The Illusions and The Hassles (with Billy Joel on keyboards). The band's rock/cover of the theme from Exodus was often the highlight of each performance. Best known for their powerful "covers" of Gimme Some Lovin' (Spencer Davis Group), hold On I'm Comin' (Sam and Dave) and other Motown hits, there are no known recordings of these songs in the limited Vagrants' catalogue.

The Vagrants then signed to the Vanguard label, something of a departure for them as their roster consisted mainly of folk and jazz artists. Vanguard released their first minor hit "I Can't Make a Friend", which is frequently found on garage band compilations and is one of their most recognizable early efforts. Record producerFelix Pappalardi, who would later work with Cream, The Youngbloods, and Jack Bruce, worked to sign the group to Atco Records, then a subsidiary label of the Atlantic Recording Corporation, and their cover of Otis Redding's "Respect" became a hit on the East Coast in 1967. In 1969, guitarist Leslie West left to form the post-Cream power-band Mountain that became famous with Felix Pappalardi, on bass and vocals.