EAST SIDE STORY PROJECT

EAST SIDE STORY IS MORE THAN JUST A TWELVE-VOLUME COMPILATION OF OLDIES; IT’S A CULTURAL PHENOMENON THAT HAS RESONATED DEEPLY WITH CHICANOS FOR GENERATIONS SINCE ITS RELEASE IN 1978. YET, THE STORY BEHIND ITS CREATION HAS REMAINED MYSTERIOUS FOR DECADES.

SINCE 2015, MELISSA DUEÑAS—A PASSIONATE DJ, WRITER, AND AUDIO PRODUCER— HAS TAKEN IT UPON HERSELF TO UNEARTH THE STORIES BEHIND THIS ICONIC SERIES. SHE’S DRIVEN ALL AROUND L.A., SCOURING SWAP MEETS, PARKS, RECORD STORES, AND CAR SHOWS TO TRACK DOWN THE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND PIECE TOGETHER THIS OBSCURE HISTORY.

BASED ON HER YEARS OF RESEARCH, HER UPCOMING BOOK PROMISES TO BE THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE EXPLORATION OF THIS BELOVED COLLECTION. THROUGH ORIGINAL INTERVIEWS, DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY, AND NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN ARCHIVAL IMAGES, THE BOOK WILL PAINT A UNIQUE AND INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF LOS ANGELES CHICANO CULTURE OF THE 1970S AND THE ENDURING LEGACY OF EAST SIDE STORY.

KEEP UP TO DATE ON EAST SIDE STORY PROJECT EVENTS AND THE BOOK RELEASE BY SUBSCRIBING TO OUR MAILING LIST.

CONTACT
IG
JOSE "YOYA" RUIZ (VOLUME 4)

JOSE "YOYA" RUIZ (VOLUME 4)

EAST SIDE STORY CREATOR, ANTHONY BOOSALIS (2ND LEFT) AND HIS FAMILY

EAST SIDE STORY CREATOR, ANTHONY BOOSALIS (2ND LEFT) AND HIS FAMILY

AVA BERNAL (VOLUME 6)

AVA BERNAL (VOLUME 6)

EAST SIDE STORY PHOTOGRAPHER, AL VANDENBERGHE

EAST SIDE STORY PHOTOGRAPHER, AL VANDENBERGHE

CARLOS MORENO (VOLUME 3)

CARLOS MORENO (VOLUME 3)

ANNA VANDENBERGHEE (VOLUME 11)

ANNA VANDENBERGHEE (VOLUME 11)

EAST SIDE STORY VENDOR, RAND ISBELL (LEFT) AT THE SANTA FE SPRINGS SWAPMEET

EAST SIDE STORY VENDOR, RAND ISBELL (LEFT) AT THE SANTA FE SPRINGS SWAPMEET

RAMON GARIBALDI (VOLUME 5)

RAMON GARIBALDI (VOLUME 5)

"Dedicated to the Low Riders and to those who appreciate the ‘soul type’ oldies."
– ANTHONY BOOSALIS
(EAST SIDE STORY CREATOR)

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.01

A SIDE

  1. NITE OWL – TONY ALLEN
  2. ARE YOU ANGRY – THEE MIDNITERS
  3. MAKING ENDS MEET – THEE MIDNITERS
  4. SOMETHING I WANT TO TELL YOU – JOHNNY AND THE EXPRESS
  5. LEE GOOFED – SHIRLEY AND LEE
  6. MR. DJ – VAN MCCOY

B SIDE

  1. THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE – THE PERSUADERS
  2. I WANT YOU BACK – THE LARKS
  3. TALK TO ME – SUNNY AND THE SUNLINERS
  4. WHEN WE GET MARRIED – THE INTRUDERS
  5. THE PLEA – THE CHANTELS
  6. HE'LL BE BACK – THE PLAYERS

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.02

A SIDE

  1. SMILE NOW CRY LATER – SUNNY
  2. JEALOUS – LITTLE ROYAL
  3. JUST BECAUSE – LLOYD PRICE
  4. WHAT’S YOUR NAME – DON & JUAN
  5. MAYBE – THE CHANTELS
  6. I’M STILL HERE – THE NOTATIONS

B SIDE

  1. DREAMING CASUALLY – THEE MIDNITERS
  2. FOOLISH LITTLE GIRL – THE SHIRELLS
  3. DRY YOUR EYES – BRENDA & THE TABULATIONS
  4. MR. TWENTY-ONE – THE ORLONS
  5. HAVE I SINNED – DONNIE ELBERT
  6. BABY OH BABY – THE SHELLS

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.03

A SIDE

  1. DON’T BE AFRAID – FRANKIE KARL
  2. IT’LL NEVER BE OVER FOR ME – THEE MIDNITERS
  3. SIXTEEN CANDLES – THE CRESTS
  4. IT’S OKAY – THE SUNGLOWS
  5. DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE – THE SHIRELLES
  6. SITTING IN THE PARK – BILLY STEWART

B SIDE

  1. YOU CHEATED – THE SHIELDS
  2. MY DEAREST DARLING – ETTA JAMES
  3. RIGHT ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE – BRENDA & THE TABULATIONS
  4. LA LA MEANS I LOVE YOU – THE DELFONICS
  5. WE BELONG TOGETHER – ROBERT & JOHNNY
  6. HOW CAN I TELL MY MOM AND DAD – THE LOVELITES

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.04

A SIDE

  1. SOMEBODY PLEASE – THE VANGUARDS
  2. OPPORTUNITY – THE JEWELS
  3. OH MY ANGEL – BERTHA TILLMAN
  4. YES I’M READY – BARBARA MASON
  5. AIN’T NO BIG THING – THE RADIANTS
  6. OH HOW IT HURTS – BARBARA MASON

B SIDE

  1. I DO LOVE YOU – BILLY STEWART
  2. BAD GIRL – THE MIRACLES
  3. UNITED – THE INTRUDERS
  4. WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN – PERCY SLEDGE
  5. I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU – THE FLAMINGOS
  6. I NEED YOU SO – THE CRUISERS

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.05

A SIDE

  1. DARLING BABY – THE ELGINS
  2. A THOUSAND MILES AWAY – THE HEARTBEATS
  3. THE TOUCH OF YOU – BRENDA & THE TABULATIONS
  4. I’M JUST AN AVERAGE GUY – THE MASQUERADERS
  5. STORY UNTOLD – THE NUTMEGS
  6. CHAPEL OF DREAMS – THE DUBS

B SIDE

  1. I’M SO PROUD – THE IMPRESSIONS
  2. TELL IT LIKE IT IS – AARON NEVILLE
  3. WHO DO YOU LOVE – SAPPHIRES
  4. SELFISH ONE – JACKIE ROSS
  5. DEVIL OR ANGEL – THE CLOVERS
  6. JUST A DREAM – JIMMY CLANTON

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.06

A SIDE

  1. MAKE IT WITH LOVE – RALPHI PAGAN
  2. AS I SIT HERE – THE WHISPERS
  3. ONE SUMMER NIGHT – THE DANLEERS
  4. STRANGE FEELING – BILLY STEWART
  5. I – JOHNNY FLAMINGO
  6. WHAT CAN I DO – DONNIE ELBERT

B SIDE

  1. NO MORE – THE UPTONES
  2. PLEDGING MY LOVE – JOHNNY ACE
  3. LOVE ON THE TWO WAY STREET – THE MOMENTS
  4. COULD THIS BE MAGIC – THE DUBS
  5. I WANT TO GET MARRIED – THE DELICATES
  6. I’M ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN – LITTLE ANTHONY

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.07

A SIDE

  1. DUKE OF EARL – GENE CHANDLER
  2. CROSS MY HEART – BILLY STEWART
  3. I’M SO YOUNG – THE STUDENTS
  4. HEART AND SOUL – THE INCREDIBLES
  5. HYPNOTIZED – LINDA JONES
  6. GEE WHIZ – CARLA THOMAS

B SIDE

  1. BRING ME HAPPINESS – ROSIE AND RON
  2. BABY BABY ALL THE TIME – THE SUPERBS
  3. BABY I’M FOR REAL – THE ORIGINALS
  4. IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT – THE FIVE SATINS
  5. ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS TELL ME – CHRIS & KATHY
  6. DONNA – RITCHIE VALENS

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.08

A SIDE

  1. COWBOYS TO GIRLS – THE INTRUDERS
  2. THESE OLDIES BUT GOODIES – LITTLE CAESAR
  3. HEY THERE LONELY GIRL – EDDIE HOLMAN
  4. WONDERUFL ONE – THE SHONDELLS
  5. I NEED SOMEONE – THE AMBERTONES
  6. TONIGHT TONIGHT – THE MELLO KINGS

B SIDE

  1. SINCERLY – THE MOONGLOWS
  2. BABY YOU GOT IT – BRENTON WOOD
  3. I'M GONE – SHIRLEY & LEE
  4. LONELY LONELY NIGHTS – LITTLE JULIAN HERRERA
  5. THEN YOU CAN TELL ME GOODBYE – THE CASINOS
  6. DIDN'T I BLOW YOUR MIND – THE DELFONICS

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.09

A SIDE

  1. LONELY GUY – THE GALLAHADS
  2. ANGEL BABY – ROSE AND THE ORIGINALS
  3. EARTH ANGEL – THE PENGUINS
  4. I REALLY LOVE YOU – DEE DEE SHARP
  5. QUEEN OF MY HEART – RENE & RAY
  6. CRADLE ROCK – THE HEARTBREAKERS

B SIDE

  1. I LOVE YOU FOR ALL SEASON – THE FUZZ
  2. I'LL MAKE IT EASY – THE INCREDIBLES
  3. ME AND YOU – BRENTON WOOD
  4. TOGETHER – THE INTRUDERS
  5. FOR YOUR LOVE – SAM & BILL
  6. SO DEARLY – ROSIE & RON

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.10

A SIDE

  1. I LIKE THE WAY YOU LOVE ME – BRENTON WOOD
  2. I'M YOUR PUPPET – JAMES & BOBBY PURIFY
  3. LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER – THE ESCORTS
  4. A CASUAL LOOK – THE SIXTEENS
  5. DADDY'S HOME – SHEP & THE LIMELITES
  6. GEE WHAT A GUY – YVONNE CARROL

B SIDE

  1. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY – THE TUNEWEAVERS
  2. STOP THE WEDDING – ETTA JAMES
  3. CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION – TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
  4. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE – JAMES BROWN
  5. YOU WERE MINE – FIREFLIES
  6. OPEN YOUR EYES – M&M AND THE PEANUTS

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.11

A SIDE

  1. THE BELLS – THE ORIGINALS
  2. TEARS ON MY PILLOW – LITTLE ANTHONY
  3. MY TRUE STORY – THE JIVE FIVE
  4. NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP – JERRY BUTLER
  5. THE LETTER – THE MEDALLIONS
  6. MAGIC MOUNTAIN – VERNON GREEN

B SIDE

  1. RAINBOW – GENE CHANDLER
  2. OVER THE MOUNTAIN – JOHNNY & JOE
  3. HELLO STRANGER – BARBARA LEWIS
  4. OH WHAT A NIGHT – THE DELLS
  5. LOOK INTO MY EYES – THE CHANTELS
  6. NEED YOUR LOVE – THE METALLICS

EAST SIDE STORY VOL.12

A SIDE

  1. EIGHTEEN WITH A BULLET – PETE WINGFIELD
  2. STAY IN MY CORNER – THE DELLS
  3. FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE – JERRY BUTLER
  4. SOLIDER BOY – YHE SHIRELLES
  5. TRY ME – JAMES BROWN

B SIDE

  1. COLOR HIM FATHER – THE WINSTONS
  2. YOU'LL LOSE A GOOD THING – BARBARA LYNN
  3. BABY I'M YOURS – BARBARA LEWIS
  4. CATCH YOU ON THE REBOUND – BRENTON WOOD
  5. ALL IN MY MIND – MAXINE BROWN
  6. GOING OUT OF MY MIND – LITTLE ANTHONY
  7. THE TOWN I LIVE IN – MCKINLEY MITCHELL
IGCONTACT
ESS Monogram

EAST SIDE STORY PROJECT

January 24, 2026