THE TANTRUMS (Providence, RI?)

When unstoppable "Digger Don" turned this up in the summer of 2025, I knew the name rang a bell. And sure enough, The Tantrums were stuck in the back of my mind from gracing battle of the bands newspaper clippings. Seeing as both battles shown here were in Providence — at the YWCA (!) and Central High School, and it was recorded in Providence, I think we can safely go out on a limb and assume these tempered kids were from Providence or at least a surrounding area.

I've got to admit, my heart always sinks a bit when I see a cover of "In the Midnight Hour" or "Mustang Sally" — especially when the band name evokes such a frenzied outburst. But the flipside is a cool, breezy surf instrumental that I assume is an original, though someone please school me if it's not. Hey, it's a previously unheard addition to the Ocean State's teen band combos of the '60s.

My namesake on the record label notwithstanding, I'd sure love to know more about Jay Records and Johnson Studios. Nice touch having actual printed labels and a catalog number on a mere acetate demo. If anybody out there has any info, please get in touch!

Band members, relatives and old friends of the Tantrums: Please come forward. Get in touch!

A couple of newspaper clippings courtesy of the now-defunct webpage from the Lonely Things' leader. The Tantrums played at the YWCA Gymnasium on Feb. 4, 1967 (along with the Outer Limits and the Lonely Things!), and also at Central High School on March 31, 1967.

---

THE TANTRUMS
Mustang Sally / Morgan
Jay Records (JAB 10) - Division of Johnson Studios, Providence, RI
(unreleased acetate)
Nov. 28, 1966