Customer Reviews

Look Out for the Cheater - Golden Classics Edition

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'The Cheater' is a blue-eyed Northern Soul classic, courtesy of the superb lead vocal from one Walter Notheis. For publicity purposes, Notheis renamed himself Sir Walter Scott, and for a few months in 1966 drummer Kuban, Scott and the rest of the In-Men were a hot pop band beyond the city limits of St. Louis, Missouri. Sadly, they could never manage another nationwide US smash, but their legacy--gathered on this fine CD--marks them out as one of the finest white soul bands of the era.

As early as January 1965, Kuban's crew were proving their credentials, with a debut single on NORMAN ('I Don't Want to Know') that outstripped the limitations of the song, and a follow-up that featured a driving version of Bobby Bland's R&B favorite, 'Turn On Your Love Light.' The success of 'The Cheater' prompted a hasty Musicland USA album, which mixed R&B covers with original material like the fine torch ballad, 'Try Me Baby.'

This Collectables CD features the whole of both Musicland USA albums, plus singles early and late, and four solo tracks by Walter Scott. It also provides a tragic postscript: Scott disappeared in December 1983, and was later found to have been murdered by his wife's lover. The killer is serving a life sentence; the wife got five years; and Scott lives on only via these classy blue-eyed soul records from 30 years ago.

I first bought "the Cheater" 45 over 35 years ago. I also acquired "the Teaser" and "Drive My Car" on 45. In 1972, I found "the Cheater" LP in a recycled box of albums in a Pensacola, FL department store. Bought it for a quarter and still have it. I was delighted when the In Men made it to CD. Excellent band, terrific vocals and harmonies. If you like soul music with a blue-eyed interpretation, you will enjoy this CD. I still listen to this band regularly. Just good music.

Considering how things ended up years later, it's just awful that the only song on this CD that got any attention to speak of back when these tracks were fairly new was "The Cheater." Don't get me wrong...that's an excellent track. But my very favorite tracks on this CD are the ones that were credited to Walter Scott as a solo artist. Okay, one other track really stands out..."You Better Run." That is a superb example of what a very talented and emotive singer Walter Scott could be. I am sure he is greatly missed by his family, friends, and fans. Even I cherish every track on this CD, and I'm a fairly new fan of Bob Kuban & The In-Men.
May God bless Walter Scott...

Bob Kuban has been a part of the St. Louis music scene for nearly 40 years and these two albums represent his full recorded output for Musicland USA. "The Cheater" hit the charts in 1966 as contempory music in the USA was moving away from blue eyed soul and into experimentation which culminated a year later in the psychedelica emerging from the Summer of Love in San Francisco. Bob Kuban wanted no part of this trend. He always insisted that his musicans be consumate professionals. The In-Men always wore ties, matching suits and short hair. He attracted the best players in St. Louis to his bands. Little Walter Scott's polished intrepetations of some of the Stax and Atlantic classics were an interesting counterpoint to the grittier orginals. Long time guitarist Ray Schulte was a technically superb player but is restrained primarily to R&B rythym riffs here. The cuts on both albums are typical of a long set list that the In-Men would play at the numerous live gigs at teen dances and CYOs around St. Louis. It provides a snapshot of a band that was a one hit wonder and the pride of St. Louis in the Summer of '66. Bob Kuban recently resurfaced as the drummer in Chuck Berry's band at a gig at the Pagent club in April 2001. Kuban also maintains various ensembles from small combos to big bands which continue to gig in St. Louis. Ironically, Walter Scott became an object lesson of his own artistry. Walter was murdered by a jealous husband and which was a high profile case in St. Louis and the subject of a true crime book.

I have been looking for this song for years. I am happy to find this old classic from St Louis. Thank you Amazon.

If you love the Motown sound.......listen to some white boy Motown for a change........I was standing at Jackson Park when Walter Scott joined Bob Kuban.....I cant guess how many times I saw them in person....my last copy of this was an 8 track........now I have it again.....and Im showing my age as this event was in 1966.....

Topping out at #12, I believe, Bob Kuban & the In-Men never again had a real hit after "The Cheater". They tried with songs like "The Teaser", but that only made #70, I think. "The Cheater" actually made #1 in Australia & promoters were begging them to tour there. If it wasn't for the draft! Bob Kuban was still a teacher at Bishop Dubourg High School in St. Louis and was exempt from the draft as long as he kept on teaching. Being an honest soul, Bob went to the draft board & explained the situation; that he wanted to take a "leave of absence" from teaching long enough to tour a while. Needless to say, the draft board didn't agree. The band couldn't tour because of this but did manage one appearence on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" on April 30, 1966. R.I.P. Walter Scott.

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THIS - THEY WERE BETTER THAN I REMEMBERED - OF COURSE IT HAS SOME LOW POINTS BUT OVERALL THEY WERE PRETTY GOOD.