"The band was gifted with a flair and a half for harmony pop, especially that of the good old fashioned barbershop quartet variety."
From Paterson, New Jersey came The Happenings, who encountered a quick flash of glory in the sixties before getting bumped off the radar by the more progressive acts of the era. The band was gifted with a flair and a half for harmony pop, especially that of the good old fashioned barbershop quartet variety.
However, they updated their sound just enough so it wouldn't be too horribly quaint for the kids to digest. Such spine-tingling vocal prowess can be experienced on these two albums which have been shoehorned into one compact disc.
Released in 1966, "The Happenings" deposited a pair of rock solid hit singles with "See You in September" and a copy of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "Go Away Little Girl." A cluster of Tokens compositions such as "Tonight I Fell In Love," "You're In a Bad Way," "What To Do" and "Tea Time" line the album as well.
And that makes complete sense because not only did the evergreen doo-wop group handle the band's affairs and produce their work, but The Happenings were also signed to their label, BT Puppy Records. Decked out in a freaky jacket cover that belied the characteristically polite music housed inside, "Psycle" was issued in 1967 and included "I Got Rhythm" and "My Mammy," both which clenched the national charts. The album suggested The Happenings were attempting to stretch boundaries a bit, as snippets of the material are trimmed with jazz and blues inclinations. But the band refused to pretend to be something they were not, and all told, "Psycle" teems with concise harmony pop configurations.
The Happenings excelled at this style of music so why change their image? Although the band never broke any real new ground, their contributions to the golden age of teen radio should not be underestimated.
by Beverly Paterson
Tracks
1966 The Happenings
1. See You in September (Sherman Edwards, Donald Meyer, Sid Wayne) - 2:29
2. Tonight I Fell in Love (Mitch Margo, Phil Margo, Hank Medress) - 2:19
3. Girl on a Swing (Robert Miranda) - 2:31
4. If You Love Me (Really Love Me) (Marc Monnet, Marguerite Monnot, Geoff Parsons) - 2:43
5. What to Do (Buddy Holly, Hank Medress) - 2:42
6. You're Coming on Strong, Babe (Robert Miranda) - 2:56
7. Go Away Little Girl (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) - 2:21
8. The Same Old Story (Dave Libert, Robert Miranda) - 2:25
9. Sealed With a Kiss (Gary Geld, Peter Udell) - 2:25
10.You're in a Bad Way (Hank Medress) - 2:43
11.Girls on the Go (Brute Force) - 2:31
12.Tea Time (Lucky Thompson) - 2:45
1967 Psycle
13.I Got Rhythm (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 2:58
14.Why Do Fools Fall in Love (Morris Levy, Fred Lyman, Frank Lymon) - 2:49
15.That Cold Feeling (Hank Medress) - 2:29
16.Down, Down, Down (Dave Libert, Robert Miranda, Neil Young) - 2:32
17.Growing Old (Lord, I Must Be Growin' Old) (Dave Libert, Robert Miranda) - 3:23
18.I Believe in Nothing (Hank Medress) - 2:39
19.My Mammy (Walter Donaldson, Sam M. Lewis, Joe Young) - 2:58
20.When I Lock My Door (Hank Medress) - 2:38
21.I'm Always Chasing Rainbows (Harry Carroll, Joseph McCarthy) - 2:37
22.When the Summer Is Through (Hank Medress) - 2:33
23.Every Year About This Time (Dave Libert, Robert Miranda) - 2:28
24.Bye Bye Blackbird (Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson) - 3:05
The Happenings
*Tommy Giullano- Vocals, Percussion
*Mike La Neve - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
*Bernie Laporta - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Dave Libert - Vocals, Bass, Keyboards
*Bob Miranda - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Free Text
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hello what is your link to download this cd silke ind johny thanks you have a great channel
ReplyDeleteThe Happenings were a pop music group that originated mid-60's.
ReplyDeleteAlbums by the Happenings were typical of many pop groups of the day. Originally known as "The Four Graduates", the band changed their name following their signing to B.T. Puppy Records.
'The Happenings'(1966) label: B.T. Puppy Records - BTP 1001
'Pscyle'(1967) label: B.T. Puppy Records - BTPS 1003
Recorded at Stea-Phillips Sound Studios.
Members of the original group, created in 1965, all hailed from Paterson, New Jersey and consisted of Bob Miranda, David Libert, Tom Giuliano and Ralph DiVito. In 1968, DiVito was replaced by Bernie LaPorta. Lenny Conforti also joined at this time to play drums in the tour band. Both LaPorta and Conforti took a hiatus from the Northern New Jersey band The Emerald Experience to play and tour with The Happenings. The band continued in this present configuration, performing mostly at colleges and universities until 1970, when Libert left the band to pursue other endeavors within the music industry. The band still exists and continues to perform with lead singer Miranda as the only remaining original member,in the '90s, Miranda formed a new version of the Happenings, playing out live alongside members Bob Kulik and George Rizzi.
The '60s pop outfit the Happenings enjoyed a three-year run of several hit singles late in the decade. Soon after, the Happenings began scoring hit singles, including such number ones as "See You in September" and "I Got Rhythm," as well as other moderate hits ("Go Away Little Girl," "My Mammy," and "Girl on a Swing," among others). In addition to their singles, the Happenings issued several full-length recordings, including 1966's self-titled debut, 1967's Psycle, and 1969's Piece of Mind.
They performed on such popular TV shows as The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson, The Smothers Brothers Show, and The Merv Griffin Show, and shared the concert stage alongside such notables as the Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Joan Rivers, John Denver, the Drifters, and the Kingston Trio, among others.
The biggest hits:"See You In September" and "I Got Rhythm" were on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles charts for 14 weeks in 1966 and 13 weeks in 1967. (Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, "See You In September" was listed in a memo containing 150 songs that radio conglomerate Clear Channel Communications suggested to be pulled from the airwaves - despite the fact that the song is about two lovers saying goodbye for the summer, and has nothing to do with terrorism.)
Thank you so much, Marios! Long time I'm searching this albums. Not easy to find!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, many thanks!!
ReplyDeleteThe Collector says
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for this and all the other 60's music you have provided over time
Hey there! Link-safe page is not working anymore. Can I ask for re-up? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am Mike LaNeve's brother-in-law. He was married to my sister Debbie when I was about 9 back in 1970 or so. They had two daughters Dina and Morgan. Morgan has a drum set from M8ke and can still play. She has 4 boys and Dina has worked with challenged children, a commendable profession. He taught me how to play drums At a young age. I saw him play many times at his father's restaurant LaNeve's in Haledon, NJ. His dad Angelo was a nice man and let me work at the restaurant.
DeleteMike died in January of 2093 from pulmonary complications due to his hypothyroidism. He was a good man.
Thanks for reading and paying respect to Mike.
Charles 626 826 3815
Correction, Mike died in 2003.
DeleteThank you, keep it up! :)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis is excellent music, though more commercially oriented than other offerings here on Rockasteria.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this gem of a record.
Michael
Saturday 17th January 2015. 5.22pm