The Count Five – San Jose, CA

The Count Five (out of the Garage)

The Count Five formed in 1964 in San Jose, California. The nucleolus of the group was Roy Chaney and John Michalski who had attended high school together and were in California bands “The Citations” – a surf combo, the “Squires” for a very short time and then becoming the Count Five. (They took their image from – yes – the “Count” himself!

Count Number 6?

Other members were Jean Byrne from Ireland – lead vocalist, Kenn Ellner – harmonica, and Craig Atkinson on drums.

Record labels were hesitant to sign the group and several turned them away before they landed a contract with Double Shot Records out of Los Angeles.

They only placed two songs on the charts before calling it a day in 1969 – Most members of the band had elected to enroll in college and give up music.

The Balloon Farm were truly a ‘one hit’ wonder out of the garage – a garage in New Jersey with ties to the Big Apple

October, 1966 – Torrance, California

July 7th, 1967 – Sunnyvale, California

July 15th,1967 San Jose, California

The Count Five Discography

45 – Psychotic Reaction – Number 5 Hot 100 – b/w They’re Gonna Get You – September, 1966

45 – Peace Of Mind – Number 125 Music Vendor b/w The Morning After – December, 1966

45 – You Must Believe Me b/w Teeny Bopper, Teeny Bopper – February, 1967

45 – Merry-Go- Round b/w Contrast – July, 1967

45 – Revelation In Slow Motion b/w Declaration of Independence – January, 1968

45 – Mailman b/w Pretty Big Mouth – June, 1969

LP – Psychotic Reaction – 1966

CD LP – Psychotic Reaction Live! – 1993

45 – France – 1966

45 – Mexico – 1966

45 – Germany – 1966

45 – Italy – 1966

45 – New Zealand – 1967

45 – Belgium – 1967