The Sound Barrier

Salem, Ohio 1964-75. Pre: Noah.
The Sound Barrier began as a group of Salem junior high school students. Guitarist Paul Hess and drummer Larry Davis were already experienced players when the British Invasion inspired them to form a real combo. They added school friends Chuck Jackson (rhythm guitar) and Kevin Rhodes (bass) and named themselves the Spectrums. The Spectrums didn't really quite get off the ground so Kevin Rhodes dropped out and Terry Davis joined up in early '65. With the personnel change came a new moniker, the Zounds. They recorded "Hey Hey" and another Paul Hess song called "Brain Disturbance". The group went ahead and decided to release the sides on 45, but not before a couple changes - "Brain Disturbance" was re-named to the more commercial "(My) Baby's Gone" and the combo was renamed to The Sound Barrier. Tribute was paid to the former band name through the label name of Zounds. The group ordered 1000 copies. In '68 the group added Pat Pshishnic to sing lead part time. Pat had a great blues-belting voice in the style of Janis Joplin and Grace Slick. With her on board, the group recorded a take of the Who's "Can't Explain" and the Jefferson Airplane's "Greasy Heart" at United Audio. The group printed a deluxe silver tinted picture sleeve to go with the 45.