Cory Wells & The Enemys
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1960s |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
Key people | Cory Wells (lead vocalist), Mike Lustan (guitarist), Dave Treiger (drummer), Cal Titus (bassist) |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
Cory Wells & The Enemys are chiefly recognized as the group led by Cory Wells prior to his establishment of Three Dog Night alongside Danny Hutton and Chuck Negron.
Origins
Formed in Buffalo, New York during the mid-1960s, The Enemys came into existence when vocalist Cory Wells joined The Vibratos after completing his service in the U.S. Air Force. Guided by manager Gene Jacobs, Wells moved to Los Angeles accompanied by guitarist Mike Lustan and drummer Dave Treiger. They incorporated bassist Cal Titus and adopted the name Cory Wells & The Enemys.
Between 1965 and 1966, The Enemys became part of the dynamic Los Angeles rock environment, sharing the scene with rising bands such as The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Doors, and Love. Their initial performance took place at The Rag Doll, followed by numerous shows at prominent locations including Ciro’s, The Crescendo, The Palomino Club, The London Fog, Gazzarri's, and they secured a residency as the house band at the Whisky a Go Go.
Recordings, film and television appearances
The band's first release was the single Sinner Man / Say Goodbye To Donna on Valiant Records in 1965. Subsequently, they signed with MGM Records to release Glitter And Gold / Too Much Monkey Business, with production handled by Tom Wilson.
Their third single, produced by Danny Hutton, featured a rendition of the folk standard Hey Joe, accompanied by My Dues Have Been Paid.
The last single issued was the R&B-infused Mo-Jo Woman, which appeared in an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies. In that show, they also performed Oh, Pretty Woman along with an instrumental piece. Additionally, the group contributed instrumental music to Burke's Law and performed Jolene in the youth-oriented film Riot on Sunset Strip.
By 1967, The Enemys had dissolved; Cory Wells briefly relocated to Arizona before returning to Los Angeles to co-found Three Dog Night with Danny Hutton in 1968.
Discography
Cory Wells & The Enemys – Sinner Man / Say Goodbye To Donna (Valiant V-714) 1965
The Enemys – Glitter And Gold / Too Much Monkey Business (MGM K13485) April 1966
The Enemys – Hey Joe! / My Dues Have Been Paid (MGM K13525) 1966
The Enemys – Mo-Jo Woman / My Dues Have Been Paid (MGM K13573) 1966