Things were starting to really heat up for Counterpart Records in 1967. “See What’s Right” by The Wyngates was followed by (1) a regional hit, “Hey Conductor” by Mark V (featuring Sonny Flaharty), that got picked up by Philips for national distribution and then (2) another promising 45 – “A Thousand Devils” by Columbus, Ohio’s Fifth Order:
“A Thousand Devils (Are Chasin’ Me)”
The Fifth Order (1967)
Billboard would note the sale in its September 9, 1967 edition:
Laurie Records has bought the master for the Counterpart record ‘A Thousand Devils’ by the Fifth Order.
Two weeks later, Billboard would pick this 45 to reach the “Hot 100” chart. Interesting to point out that Counterpart’s owner, Shad O’Shea would be listed as one of the song’s co-creators (using his birth name, Howard Lovdal).
The Buick-inspired Electras would evolve into The Fifth Order
Columbus Music History‘s piece about the resurgence of interest in Fifth Order reveals that (1) “A Thousand Devils” was #1 on the hit list of 1230 AM WCOL the week of September 11, 1967 and (2) Counterpart Records released a third and “virtually unknown 45 of earlier recordings” in 1968 after the group had already disbanded!
B-side of “controversial” third 45
Shad O’Shea, however, would have another opportunity to make a deal with Laurie Records in 1968 for Soul Inc’s “Love Me When I’m Down,” as noted earlier in our series.
(photo courtesy of Expo-67’s Opulent Conceptions)
Opulent Confession tells us that debut Counterpart 45 “Goin’ Too Far” is a garage rock classic that sold, according to the liner notes of the band’s 2004 CD retrospective, sold upwards of 18,000 records — prompting indie label Diamond to purchase the song for national distribution.