The Fugitives - On The Run With The Fugitives (60s GARAGE US 1966)

"THE FUGITIVES - ON THE RUN WITH THE FUGITIVES" (60s GARAGE US 1966)

"The Fugitives" were from Richmond, Virginia and were formed by "Joe Russell" (organ, vocals), "Richard Donlavey" (lead singer, saxophone), "Mick Russell" (lead guitar, vocals), "Tommy Sickal" (rhythm guitar), "Jimmy Sickal" (bass guitar, vocals) and "Buster Byard" (drums).
They recorded one album "On The Run With The Fugitives" (Justice Records JPL 141, 1966) in 1966 with the 'infamous' Carolina-based label "Justice Records" - see "The Stowaways - In Our Time" (Raw 60s Garage US 1967) and "Skip And The Creations - Mobam" (Crude 60s Garage US 1967).

"The Fugitives" paid "Justice Records" roughly $1,000 for four hours of studio time at "Justice Records"'s Winston-Salem Studios and the label pressed 500 or 1,000 copies of their "On The Run With The Fugitives".
In musical terms it isn't radically different from most of the "Justice Records" catalog.
But "The Fugitives" were in top 5 of "Justice Records" catalog in terms of talent and enthusiasm.


First, overlooking a couple of the lame top-40 covers (a painfully out of tune "Until" and yet another needless cover of "Ebb Tide"), "The Fugitives" plays with considerable enthusiasm which usually makes up for their limited technical skills.
Blown notes and off-key vocals abound, but on material such as "Turn On Your Love Light" and "Bo Diddley" it just sounds like these guys were having FUN.
The other winning factor is the album's high self-penned content.

Four of "On The Run With The Fugitives"' twelve selections are originals, with the roaring Fuzz-propelled title track "On The Run" (which was apparently intended as a never-to-be-released single), and "Kidding Around" standing out among the most impressive performances.
A worthy addition to any 60s Garage Rock collection! Thanks to "Bad Cat Records"