The Game were a rock & roll unit formed out of the remnants of an earlier Surrey-based band, the Secrets, in which lead guitarist Terry Spencer and bassist Allen Janaway had previously played. Tony Bird, who was 14 at the time, played rhythm guitar. Their big problem was the fact that they went through several changes in sound. Their rock & roll debut, "Gotta Keep Movin' Baby" (co-authored by Kenny Lynch, who was their manager for a time) on Pye Records in 1965 didn't sell, and the band changed labels and image, jumping to Decca and transforming themselves to a mod look and sound, on "Gonna Get Me Someone." That single appeared a year after their Pye debut, and the delay and the change in sound led to another stiff on the charts.
The group then moved to Parlophone, which decided to withdraw their next single, "The Addicted Man" (co-authored by Alan Gowing), following a negative reaction on the program Juke Box Jury. At the company's behest, they cut a psychedelic number, "It's ShockingWhat They Call Me" -- the constant change of sound and image put the group into an impossible situation, what public they had developed being unable to keep up with these shifts. Their real sound featured flashy guitar with lots of power chords, strongly reminiscent of the Creation, best represented on their final single B-side, "Help Me Mummy's Gone," from 1967.
The Game broke apart in 1967-1968, guitarist Tony Bird later joining Kind Hearts & English, while Terry Spencer and Stan Decker formed Lavender Grove, and then a group called Grail. The original band appears to have retained a core of fandom, however, based on the fact that they reunited in the '90s with the original core members all present.
Buckacre is a five-piece band from Illinois, USA. Their debut album, released in 1976, was recorded in London and produced by Glyn Jones. Based on a laid-back country rock sound featuring skillful vocals and refreshing choruses, it is a great album packed with the best elements of 70s-style West Coast rock, reminiscent of the early Eagles that Jones worked on. The members are Les Lockridge (guitar, mln, vo), Alan Thacker (guitar, fd, vo), Darrell Dater (guitar, vo), Dick Harry (bass, bass guitar, vo), and Dick Verruci (drums).
Tracks
1. Love Never Lasts Forever (Dick Halley) - 3:28
2. Red Wine (Skip Griparis) - 4:16
3. Dreams Of Flying (Alan Thacker, Darrell Data) - 3:01
4. Older Lovers (Les Lockridge, Richard Verucchi) - 3:27
5. Don't Let It Slip Away (Dick Halley) - 3:21
6. Out Of Touch (Skip Griparis, Robert K. Wilson) - 3:45
7. Bound To Be Blue (Alan Thacker, Darrell Data) - 2:58
8. Just Another Night (Les Lockridge) - 2:56
9. Dance Around The Campfire (Grady Smith, Carroll Quillen) - 4:23
Country-tinged southern rock from Orlando, Florida. Oddly enough, there wasn't anyone in the band actually named Robert Coady: the group was named after Captain Robert Coady, an MIA Vietnam War-era Air Force pilot from Florida who was shot down over Laos in 1969 and was said to have been seen alive in POW photos much later in the war. Anyway, back to the music: this is decent stuff, give or take an excessive drum solo or two.
All the songs are by lead singer Lonnie Getson Brown (the "bro" in Zobro) who is backed by his pals, Andy Maksimowich (bass), Rob Echelman (drums), and Mike Lewenthal on keyboards. It's all very much in the Allman/Skynyrd/Dickey Betts style of '70s redneck twang, with well-sounding guitar leads and a distinctly rural vibe. Lonnie Brown kept the band together (with major changes in lineup) at least through the mid-1980s, later recording a song called "Flyin' Again," which was an explicit homage to Capt. Coady.
Sky Dancer is a group from Damon, Iowa. This is the only album released by USA All in One Records in 1977 as a Private Press self-release, and is a live recording of a concert at The Royal Grove in Lincoln, Nebraska, in July 1977. The band consists of Decky Dykman, Doc Lawson, Zeke Ziebell, and Daniel Knisley, and was co-produced by the band and Steve Monroe. The band generally has a blues-based progressive hard sound with a certain amount of mainstream pop-ness, and the heavy riffs and phrases, melodic vocal lines, progressive arrangements, and fast-paced performance are a pretty good match.
The guitars, Hammond organ, and bass are all played with a lot of energy and bursting with timely and fast passages, and the drumming is perfectly lively, following the music with precision, making the ensemble fluent and proficient, which is honestly cool. The quality of the performance, the catchiness of the music, and the maturity of the arrangements, including the final tearful ballad, clearly exceed the level of an independent release, and if the recording quality were a little better, the result would be on par with the first-line major labels. It is a good album that lovers of hard and prog rock will enjoy. In 2008 Sky Dancer has been inducted into the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Tracks
1. Rock And Roll Sweeetheart (Jim Priefert, Randy Zirbel) - 4:07
2. Get Down - 6:35
3. Fear No Evil - 9:30
4. Goody Two Shoes - 2:24
5. Rock And Roll Circus / Hang On To Your Life (Randy Zirbel, Steve Dykmann) - 9:16
6. Hot Rocks (Randy Zirbel) - 6:09
7. Never Want To Be Tied Down - 6:31
Compositions written by Steve Dykmann except where noted
Bat and Don have been singing together since their early teens. They're 23 now and a lot of rock groups, records, songs and other changes have passed over the dam by now, but they're still singing together and they're still close friends. And it shows in their music.
Back in Glens Falls, New York (their home town), they played rock. Rock because that's what kids play to make some bread; rock because it's pretty good stuff and they were good at it: rock because what else would a couple of young kids from Glens Falls, New York, be playing?
They gigged their way to Rochester and settled down there. It's not the world's greatest town, but the Eastman School of Music has stimulated a very fertile musical climate there. At least it was stimulating enough to make them try it as a non- rock duo when that occupational hazard of rock groups (i.e.. disbanding) really got to them.
Their new concept really seemed to work for them. They wrote songs; they grew popular; they opened and still run the only successful coffeehouse in the history of Rochester. Of course, the music biz types in New York said. "That's nice, kids, but you can't sell that kind of stuff," as they have said to so many unorthodox performers who now sell millions of records every year. So Bat and Don were submerged in arrangers and horns and strings and whatnot and so on. It didn't make it.
Fortunately Bat and Don found John Hammond and vice versa. For decades John has been able to see where others are blind... and in Bat and Don he saw a great deal. They asked him for the chance to make it or break it their own way. John brought them to us and the enclosed is Bat and Don... their way. The rest is in the hands of the gods.
Bat, Don and I would like to dedicate this album to Paul Clayton. That's him singing the opening of his song "Your Kind Of Man." He was a good friend.
The production of this album was incredibly smooth, largely due to that something extra our musicians and engineers gave us. Thanks guys. Most of all we gratefully, humbly, and affec- tionately thank John Hammond. John sat in on our sessions and rarely opened his mouth with a suggestion, but when he did he was always right. Having him there was like having a guardian angel keeping us from straying too far.
And, oh yes. You should know that Bat and Don are beautiful guys. That's not a hype; that's a fact. The biggest thing I've gained from this project is two good friends... and friends like them are very hard to find.
by Barry Kornfeld, August 10, 1969 New York City
Tracks
1. Jefferson Green - 2:42
2. Children And A Home - 3:12
3. Your Kind Of Man - 3:35
4. Mr. Cadillac - 2:10
5. I Chose To Lose - 3:21
6. (Interlude) La Danza De Los Niños (Stanley Watson) - 1:13
7. Someone Take Me Home - 3:03
8. Maybe It's Not Here - 2:31
9. Walking Bird - 2:31
10.Even Your Name - 2:30
11.The Parade - 3:19
12.(Interlude) Lullaby To An Unborn Child (Stanley Watson) - 1:36
All songs by Bat McGrath, Don Potter except where indicated
It's one of the unwritten laws of record collecting that some labels guaranteed quality simply by existing -- and, if a record bears that sainted logo, then it's worth any investment you care to make. Of course, it doesn't always work that way, as collectors of the legendary U.K. prog label Vertigo will ruefully inform you. But anybody taking a chance on one of the final albums to be released beneath the label's spiral logo, the one-and-only album by singer/songwriter Thomas F. Browne, might well find themselves wondering why the company wasted so much wax on half-hearted jazz-rock, and so little exploring the further reaches of the folk-rock hybrid.
Browne himself was drummer with the '60s beat band Nero & the Gladiators, a heavily classics-influenced band that also featured future Spooky Tooth/Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones for a time. Indeed, Jones and Browne alone later worked together as the State of Mickey & Tommy, and Wednesday's Child continued the partnership, with additional (and supremely characteristic) help from fellow Spooky Gary Wright, and the Sandy Denny-less Fotheringay. Such heavyweight backing, of course, dictates much of the ensuing mood, a gently rolling collection of ballads that fall into much the same bag as the period Strawbs and Mike Heron. Browne's voice is not always at its best, lacking the depth of expression that his lyrics generally demand. But the power of the arrangements and some wonderfully atmospheric backing vocals from Doris Troy and Sue & Sunny readily salvage things, and songs like "Carry My Load" (with a breathtaking Jones guitar solo) and "Dark Eyed Lady"'s cheeky approximation of "Pinball Wizard"'s acoustic guitar hook are both supremely contagious, while "The Alamo" is as epic as the land it immortalizes.
The eponymous, German-only album from this long forgotten British hard progressive quintet was released in 1971 by Bellaphon - the record label responsible for the collectable (and now very expensive) vinyl editions of other, stylistically similar but also little known UK bands like Diabolus, Steel Mill, Crazy Mabel and Sunday.
This difficult to describe album contained an eclectic mix of styles, going between straight rock, tasteful rock ballads and hard progressive rock. That varied, well-arranged and in most parts simply stunning record will certainly appeal to the fans of Procol Harum, Skin Alley and Jody Grind. As a bonus we have added a very rare, non-LP UK single (from 1970) - with a terrific and insanely hypnotic Just A Game being one of the very best heavy rock tracks from early 70's.
Tracks
1. Good Time Music (John Sebastian) - 3:38
2. Getting It Together (John Mark) - 3:31
3. I Wish I Had The Words - 4:27
4. Anything That Turns You On - 3:02
5. Right Road (Alan Davis) - 3:31
6. Name Of The Game - 3:07
7. Something Good - 2:56
8. Ain't No Harm - 3:39
9. Isn't It Strange - 3:22
10.Just Ain't Fair - 5:28
11.Another Man's Song - 3:57
12.Just A Game - 4:16
All songs by Jim Turner except where noted
Bonus Track 12
Little Big Horn
*Jim Turner - Vocals, Piano, Organ
*Barry Beasley - Vocals, Bass
*Billy Slaney - Drums, Percussion
*Alan Davis - Lead Vocals
*Danny Maidment - Vocals, Guitar
The Lost Souls never released any records, yet the meager recorded evidence that survives indicates that they were one of the finest unknown American groups of the mid-’60s, able to write both catchy British Invasion-type rockers and, in their latter days, experimental psychedelic pieces with unusual tempo changes and song structures. The band were also unusual in their occasional embellishment of the typical period guitar-bass-drums lineup with flute, sax, and mandolin. Although popular in their Cleveland hometown, they broke up in 1968 to attend college. Rhythm guitarist Denny Carleton, who wrote and sang some of their best material, went on to briefly join The Choir, their chief and more successful rivals.”
by Richie Unterberger
The music scene in Cleveland in the mid to late 1960’s was ripe with talent: the James Gang with Joe Walsh and Glenn Schwartz, The Choir, Eric Carmen () - pre-Raspberries, Glass Harp with Phil Keaggy, the Damnation of Adam Blessing… and the Lost Souls. Of all those bands, only the Lost Souls never released a record. Then again, they were in high school, trying to navigate dress codes and bullies—and playing in front of a couple thousand fans when not suspended. Sure, they lost a battle of the bands at Teen Fair 1968, but it was to the James Gang with Joe Walsh. And somehow it is the Lost Souls who emerge from that time and place with the greatest mystique and some of the most adventurous music, music which few have heard. Lost Souls main songwriter Denny Carleton released a cassette of the band’s original recordings in 1984. It received airplay on hundreds of college and public radio stations in the USA and around the world, and garnered glowing reviews… and that was it, until now.
Not only is this the first time the music of the Lost Souls has been available since that cassette, our Lion Productions edition is the first release for many additional Lost Souls cuts, including alternate versions of key tracks like the insightful ‘Things That Are Important’ and ‘I’m Falling’ the closest to a hit the band ever had, all taken from the original tapes and carefully mastered. Seven bonus tracks highlight the work of Lost Soul’s main songwriter Denny Carleton, one-time member of The Choir, and more surprisingly, punk legends the Pagans; selections by The Choir, Moses, Milk and Carleton, many in all possible low-fi glory, recorded on various 4-Track devices, ranging from power-pop to grimy garage.
Tracks
1. Love I Won't Admit - 2:57
2. Look At Me (Unknown) - 2:08
3. Walking Out On Me (Unknown) - 2:19
4. Things That Are Important - 2:24
5. Let's Get Away (Chuck McKinley) - 3:26
6. Dare To Surmise (Denny Marek) - 4:14
7. If These Are Men - 2:26
8. Josephine - 3:32
9. Trashcan Throne (Denny Marek) - 2:16
10.Livin' The Way I Want To (Chuck McKinley) - 3:31
11.Pre-Break Song (Denny Marek) - 0:57
12.I'm Falling - 3:49
13.I Want You - 3:30
14.Whatcha Gonna Do - 2:38
15.Things That Are - 2:31
16.I'm Falling - 3:33
17.Diamond Head - 2:06
18.I Can See Beyond Your Lies - 2:46
19.Oh Yes - 3:50
20.If These Are Men - 3:02
21.Mummer Band - 2:24
22.Middle Of An Island - 2:20
23.Alice - 2:07
24.I'm Not Busy, It's Just The Phone - 2:41
25.Could She Love Me - 3:28
26.Moonlight Rebellion (Key One) - 2:37
All songs by Denny Carleton except where indicated
Bloody Mary was a group based in New York, and this is their only album released by USA Family Productions in 1974. The rumors was that they were Sir Lord Baltimore, who was also from New York, but that was a misunderstanding because it was recorded in the same studio in Hempstead, Long Island, as Sir Lord's second album, with the same engineer (John Bradley). Sir Lord and Bloody Mary recorded in studios next to each other in 1971, but for some reason this album was released in 1974. The album was produced by Vinnie Testa.
According to some infos, members were Vito Albano, John Parisio, Richard Incoirvaia, (these three guys were part of a band called Alive ‘N Kickin, who scored a big hit with the song “Tighter, Tighter” in 1970), for the rest of the members Donnie Dimola, John Tattos and Larry Goodman, except their names, I don't have further informations.
The guitar and organ are constantly played, and the music is high-tension, fast-paced hard rock. The songs are based on blues but have a touch of funk and progressive rock, and the 16-beat-based performance with Latin percussion is simply cool. It gives the impression of a jumble of Purple-like and Santana-like parts, and there are also elements of rough hard rock. A great album with a full band feel.
Tracks
1. Dragon Lady - 5:04
2. Highway - 2:51
3. Riddle Of The Sea - 4:08
4. Free And Easy - 5:10
5. You Only Got Yourself - 7:01
6. Can You Feel It (Fire) - 5:37
7. I Hear The Music Playing - 4:51
All titles by Vito Albano, John Parisio, Richard Incoirvaia, Donnie Dimola, John Tattos, Larry Goodman
Brian Short was an English singer who emerged as the frontman of Black Cat Bones. His solo album, Anything for a Laugh, appeared in 1971 on Transatlantic Records. He later wrote songs for Jeff Beck and Hummingbird.
Short first fronted The Sect, a Newcastle beat group that played numerous Tyneside venues (Club A’Gogo, the Mayfair, the Majestic, the Quay Club) during the mid-1960s. It was at one 1965 show at the Cellar Club in South Shields where he met his wife of 40 years, Lynda.
In 1968, Short joined London blues-rockers Black Cat Bones, taking the place of original vocalist (and later Downliners Sect frontman) Paul Tiller. Short remained long enough to sing on their one album, the 1970 Decca Nova release Barbed Wire Sandwich.
In 1971, Short teamed with keyboardist Max Middleton, then of the Jeff Beck Group, and four-fifths of the unsigned act Simpson’s Pure Oxygen (formerly Griffin): guitarist Peter Kirtley, bassist Colin Gibson, guitarist/keyboardist Kenny Craddock, and drummer Alan White. They backed Short for an album on the folk-jazz-psych label Transatlantic Records with additional help from reedist Lyn Dobson (Locomotive, Soft Machine, Keef Hartley Band, Mick Softley, Mick Greenwood), Jamaican contra-bassist Coleridge Goode, and the Leiston Dafties Choir.
Short released Anything for a Laugh in 1971 on Transatlantic. The 12-song album features 11 originals, including “Blue Tuesday,” “Don’t You Need Me Anymore,” “Emily,” “Wishing Well” and “Winter Comes.” Also included is a cover of the Randy Newman composition “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today.”
Original copies of Anything for a Laugh are housed in a gatefold sleeve with blue- and sepia-tinted b&w photos of urban desolation. Lyrics appear on the inner-spread. The album was produced by Mike Finesilver (Love Sculpture, Kingdom Come, Ross, Gonzalez, J.A.L.N. Band). Craddock plays harmonium on select passages.
Short retained his ties with Middleton, who performed on the 1971 release Rough and Ready by the Jeff Beck Group. That album wraps with the six-minute Short composition “Jody.” Middleton’s next band, Hummingbird, included the Short co-write “Got My ‘Led Boots’ On” on their 1977 third album Diamond Nights, arranged by drummer Bernard Purdie.
As a songwriter, Short penned “I Don’t Want the Night to End,” a 1978 disco hit for French singer Sylvie Vartan. In 1981, he partnered with Maxine Nightingale on the A&M single “Rendezvous” (b/w “You Touched Me”). During the ’80s, his songs were recorded by Syreeta; Toni Basil; Ray, Goodman & Brown (aka The Moments); and Beau Williams. Brian passed away in 2014.
It was 1969 when Mike Huey introduced his friend, Spencer Clark, to his brother Rick Huey, and the three of them started a "garage band" called Evolepoh. In 1970, Craig Gysler joined the band, now renamed Lorien, and they started composing original tunes and working toward playing live shows.
In the Spring of 1972, Spencer (lead guitar, lead vocals, song writer) - , Mike (drums, backing vocals, artistic promoter, lyricist) - , and Craig (keyboards, rhythm guitar, lead vocals) - were about to graduate high school, although Rick (bass, backing vocals, song writer-uri-diculous) - had graduated two years prior. Soon the boys were landing opening spots with MC5, Captain Beefheart, and The Amboy Dukes (Ted Nugent) - at a local Houston venue called "of Our Own". They were not yet in their Progressive Zone, but were listening to and influenced by bands such as King Crimson, ELP, Peter-Gabriel-Era Genesis, and Yes.
By 1975 the band had changed their name to Chameleon, and were playing gigs around Houston and surrounding Texas cities. Widely known and praised as a Progressive Rock band, they shared the stage with other notable Houston bands such as Eeze (later known as Automatic) - , La Paz, The Electromagnets with Eric Johnson, Heyoka, One Hand Clapping, and Oz Knozz. Chameleon rehearsed 4 or 5 nights a week out at Spencer's place west of Houston, (a converted barn) - and that is where they fine-tuned their progressive style.
Mike left the band in 1978, and Marty Naul from Oz Knozz joined as drummer, backing vocalist, director, and "crazy-Ass Insane Chauffer") - Chameleon began to increase the vision of being a Prog Rock band, and recorded the now famous "Barn Tapes" during this period.
By 1981, the band Chameleon had run its course, and although the five spirits of Spencer, Craig, Rick, Mike and Marty that comprised the band's soul went their separate ways, all of the recordings they left behind are still here, fully restored and presented to you now for enjoyment and remembrance.
CD Liner-notes
Tracks
1. Texas Cyclone (Craig Gysler) - 9:41
2. Follow Your Love (Paradise Lost) (Craig Gysler, Spencer Clark) - 3:57
3. Pilot Thoughts (Spencer Clark, Mike Huey) - 7:24
4. Brave New Way (Spencer Clark, Craig Gysler) - 4:08
5. Drool Away (Spencer Clark) - 4:36
6. Pass Thru The Columbian Mountains (Spencer Clark) - 6:43
7. Everyday Everyway (Spencer Clark, Craig Gysler) - 5:56
8. Mirkwood Forest (Craig Gysler, S. Clark, Mike Huey, Rick Huey) - 6:53
9. In The Heart (Craig Gysler) - 5:26
10.Saturate (Spencer Clark, Craig Gysler) - 4:49
11.Midnight Matinee (Spencer Clark) - 5:29
12.Life Positions (S. Clark, Craig Gysler, Rick Huey, Marty Naul) - 9:26
13.In My Own Way (Craig Gysler) - 3:14
This is the third album from Canadian swamp singer-songwriter Christopher Keaney. His sound is more refined than his debut, featuring three songs by band member Bob Yeomans. It seems to have been influenced by Steely Dan, and while the vocals still retain a down-to-earth quality, they are light and elegant. This is a work from the period when swamp music was moving towards to straight rock forms, and it is of high quality.
Tracks
1. Prayin` For Rain - 3:06
2. Sweetwater - 3:01
3. Chicano Cowboy - 3:35
4. Silver Spoon - 2:39
5. Travellin` Son - 5:07
6. Steady Ground - 3:05
7. Dirt Road - 6:58
8. Raggedy Ann - 3:37
9. Runnin` Child - 3:17
10.The Last Train - 3:31
All compositions by Christopher Kearney, Bob Yeomans
The Surprise Package were a Seattle, Washington group consisting of Fred Zeufeldt (drums, backing vocals), Michael Rohers (piano, organ, bass, backing vocals), Greg Beck (guitar, backing vocals), Rob Lowery (lead vocals).
Their only album was released in early 1969 on tiny LHI label owned by the famous arttist/producer Lee Hazelwood. The Record mostly contained a trippy and quite intense music with lots of Hammond organ pasages, loud and fuzzed-out guitar parts and solid drumming. It can be easily described as a stylistic combination of Vanilla Fudge, The Doors and especially Iron Butterfly.
It worth noting that the title track lasted nearly 16 minutes and its structure wasvery similar to In A-Gadda-Da-Vida. Excellent freaky improvisations in some parts.Very Essential for acid heads. Unfortunately, the album (and also single with cover of MacArthur Park) went almost completely unnoticed. Soon after the band changed its name to American Eagle and 1970 released an eponymous LP for Decca records.
The acting career of Rudy Ramos has covered six decades and started with an appearance on the television show, "Ironside" in 1969. Six months later he was cast as a series regular, playing the part of Wind the volatile half-breed Indian boy in the legendary television western "High Chaparral." Since then he has done over sixty guest shots on episodic television including recurring roles on the hit TV show, "Hunter" in 1987-88 and "Resurrection Boulevard" in 2002-2003.
Mr. Ramos has done numerous movies for television including the ground breaking Helter Skelter (100 million viewers over two nights) playing the part of Danny DeCarlo, Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure and Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman: The Movie as the villainous Captain Ruiz.
Feature film credits include The Enforcer with Clint Eastwood, Walter Hill's cult classic The Driver with Ryan Oneal and Academy Award nominee French actress Isabelle Adjani, Defiance with Jan-Michael Vincent and Art Carney, Quicksilver with Kevin Bacon and Laurence Fishburne, Colors with Sean Penn and Robert Duvall and the 2001 sleeper Road Dogz directed by the up and coming talent Alfredo Ramos to name a few.
The stage has been a big part of Mr. Ramos' life with appearances in the Los Angeles area at the Mark Taper Forum, Taper Too, The Met, Matrix Theater, Los Angeles Theatre Center, and Nosotros Theatre. He also was a member of the Los Angeles Actors Theatre and performed in the award winning hit show Shorteyes by Miguel Pinero playing the part of Cupcakes. The ensemble won the 1977 Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Ensemble.
In his spare time Mr. Ramos is very passionate about music. He recorded an album for Fantasy Records in the 70's titled "Hard Knocks and Bad Times." He is also very passionate about horses and is an advocate of natural horsemanship.
CD Liner Notes
Tracks
1. Let`em Roll Johnny (Roger Tillison) - 4:01
2. I Was Amazed - 4:11
3. Nathaniel - 3:01
4. Abraham - 3:28
5. Another Town - 3:06
6. Opel Jackson - 3:35
7. The Sharecropper - 3:05
8. Old Santa Fe (Roger Tillison) - 2:34
9. You Can See It In My Eyes - 4:41
10.Hard Knocks And Bad Times - 3:10
11.Manfred Jones And Willie Drew (Lonnie Hillard) - 2:34
All songs by Phil Sampson except where noted
Personnel
*Rudy Ramos - Lead Vocals
*Phil Sampson - Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harp
*Doyle Madden - Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
During the late 60's - early 70's my hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts was not very receptive to local bands that played songs they had written themselves. If you were a band that wanted work, you played the hits of the day with some oldies thrown in - not too bad a gig for someone in his late teens (me), because the AM pop and FM "underground" music that prevailed included The Beatles, The Stones, Hendrix, Dylan, Cream, The Kinks, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Procol Harum, etc., etc....
But I began to write my own songs, and soon I had a few that I considered good enough to perform and record. In the "cover tune" climate of that time, performing these songs live was out of the question - although we'd sneak one or two into a performance unannounced. In 1969, I began recording these songs with my bandmates at Northeast Recording, a 2-track studio in the nearby town of Shrewsbury. Over the course of a year of so I had amassed about 30 demo tapes of songs, most of them amateurish at best. I tried to improve, writing more tunes on my own time while still "playing the hits" on weekends with the band. Here I was with all these songs and no outlet for them except on tape.
In 1973, I ran into Dwight Glodell at Union Music, the local music retailers. Dwight was an acquaintance he was a friend of one of my cousins. We had jammed once or twice and we respected each other's musical abilities. I mentioned that I had all these original songs with no means of exposing them to the public, and when I expressed an interest in possibly cutting my own LP he told me that he was beginning his own small studio above Union Music in the same building. He suggested that we work on my LP project together, and I agreed.
Dwight's studio was a cramped office suite sitting three floors above Main Street in Worcester. There was a tiny control room with homemade speakers for monitors, Ampex preamps and an Ampex 4-track machine, a mixing board with APSI Modules, a few high-quality microphones, a good baby grand piano, an ARP 2600 synthesizer, some insulation stuffed into the windows, and not much else. Armed with these tools and Dwight's fledgling recording chops, we set to work on the recording you are holding in your hot little hands. Oh, did I mention that the studio was named Starizon?
Anyway, as I said before, this was an office suite - surrounded by other office suites filled with 9-to-5 people who wouldn't appreciate someone banging on musical instruments during the day. We could work on weeknights and weekends when I wasn't "playing the hits", so we settled into this schedule immediately. I enlisted Dave Rice to play drums, my then-girlfriend Dorrie Powers to help with graphics and background vocals, and my buddy and musical right-hand man Denis delaGorgendiere to help on vocals and bass.
We worked with the attendant difficulties of recording 4-track analog - - - calibration problems, tuning problems, noise problems (both environmental and electronic), overheating problems, humidity problems, string players who couldn't read charts properly, running-out-of-tracks problems....AAARRRGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!
In order to have more tracks to record on, we eventually transferred this never-ending project to a Scully 8-track professional 1-inch recorder.
I don't even remember how long it took to record these songs. Tracks were scrapped. Tracks were accidentally erased. Tracks that sounded perfect the day before now refused to play in tune. The string section for "Michael Henchard" had to be scrubbed and replaced with the ARP synth. We laughed; we cried. And then towards the end of the project Dwight approached me with the idea of scrapping the whole thing and starting over, no extra charge. I couldn't do it. I couldn't return to that circus of temperamental equipment and human error. I had new songs to record with more ambitious arrangements, and I was chomping at the bit to move on. I decided to release it, even if parts of it were unfinished. The year was 1974.
In the early to mid 70's a local independently released LP in Central Massachusetts didn't stand a chance. Most record stores would not carry a record that wasn't handled by a distributor. Distributors wouldn't touch a record that was on an ad hoc label. Publicity was the "local boy makes his own LP" story in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. "Songs From Down The Hall" died on the streets after a few months and even fewer initial sales.
Denis, Dorrie, Dwight and I began recording new songs, and when Starizon Studios folded in the mid 70's we moved the new recording project into Northern Recording Studios in Maynard, Massachusetts. The Starizon LP was becoming an afterthought, and as the new project took shape I abandoned "Songs", a record that I believed was an important learning experience, but a dead issue commercially and not as good as the new recordings.
Skip ahead about 25 years. With the advent of internet directories, letters about "Songs From Down The Hall" started appearing in my mailbox. I began to get requests for copies of the LP from places like Texas, New England, New Jersey, The United Kingdom, Austrailia and Switzerland. Who'd-a thunk it? The thing took on a life of its own, finding a home in record collections across the planet. I began to receive requests for any additional unreleased recordings, too. So consider this re-release on CD the first chapter. There are a few 2-track demos from the Northeast sessions with Denis on bass and Dave on drums, demos of two unreleased songs that aren't TOO embarrassing, and a finished version of "Old Richard" (released in an unfinished version on the LP because of tuning problems with the harmonica).
'Tuesday's Children' were formed in 1966 by Phil Cordell, Mick Ware and Derrick Gough who had been in North London band 'Steve Douglas and the Challengers' who later changed their name to 'The Prophets'. The Prophets did some recording with producer Joe Meek, but nothing was ever issued. When Steve Douglas and Freddie Fields left, the others reformed the band as Tuesdays Children. Paul Kendrick subsequently joined on bass guitar.
The first single was written by Phil Cordell and was recorded at Maximum Sound studio in The Old Kent Road, SE London. The engineer was Vic Keary and it was released on the Columbia label, DB7978 in August 1966. Tuesday's Children personnel was then Phil Cordell and Mick Ware, guitars, Paul Kendrick, bass guitar, and Derrick Gough, Drums. Dave Vidler (mentioned on the label) was the groups' manager.
The B side was another song written by Phil Cordell entitled 'High and Drifting'. 'When You Walk In The Sand' was in the Radio London Fab Forty for 2 weeks, no. 39 on 7th August 1966 and at no. 27 on 14th August 1966. Radio London was one of the pirate radio stations that were broadcasting at the time, they were put out of business in 1967 when the government passed the Marine Offences Act, BBC Radio 1 started directly as a result of this. Radio London also owned Pall Mall Music who published the Phil Cordell songs that were the first 3 Tuesday's Children singles.
Another song by Phil Cordell, it was also recorded at Maximum Sound Studio. Released by Columbia in October 1966, no. DB8018. The mandolins were recorded on a separate 2 track machine and 'fired in' at the appropriate moment on to the 4 track machine. The B side, also written by Phil Cordell, was entitled 'Summer leaves me with a sigh'. 'High On A Hill' was in the Radio London Fab Forty for 3 weeks reaching the following chart positions: no. 30 on 9th October 1966, no. 24 on 16th October 1966, and no. 36 on 23rd October 1966.
"Strange Light From The East" was again recorded at Maximum Sound studio and was written by Phil Cordell This single was released on the King label KG1051 and was released in January 1967. The King label was owned by Rita King and it and its subsidary labels were more associated with ska and reggae music at the time. Tuesday's Children managed to get a front cover on the pop magazine 'Fab 208' as publicity for this single. (see Tuesday's Children archive page). B side was a reworking of the Buddy Holly song 'That'll be the day'. 'Strange Light From The East' only made the Radio London Fab Forty for 1 week, it made no. 37 on 29th January 1967.
Phil Cordell quit Tuesday's Children in summer of 1967 and subsequently had solo hits as Springwater (I will return) and in Europe with 'Dan The Banjo Man' amongst others, he also had a single 'Red Lady ' released on Warner Brothers WB8001 in 1969. In August 1967 Bob Hodges (Hammond organ, ex Attack), Phil McKenzie (tenor sax, ex TNT, later Rod Stewart band) and Roger Davies (baritone sax) joined the reformed Tuesdays children.
Trumpet player Hilary Roy also joined and did 4 gigs with the group in September 1967. 'Baby's Gone' was recorded at Abbey Road studios on 19th September 1967 and 3rd October 1967, the whole band played on the session plus some brass players from producer Jack Dorsey's band. Mick Ware sung the lead vocal and backing vocals were supplied by girl group the Paper Dolls. There is also a demo version of 'Baby's Gone' that has some brass on it but not the backing vocals. The song was written by Peter Callander and Mitch Murray and was released on the Pye lanel, no. 7N.17406. The B side was written by Mick Ware and was titled 'Guess I'm Losing You', this features the baritone sax of Roger Davies and the tenor sax of Phil McKenzie. 'Baby's Gone' was released on 10th November 1967.
By December 1967 Tuesday's Children had become a 4 piece again with the departure of Roger Davies and Phil McKenzie. 'Ain't You Got a Heart' was another Murray/Callander song produced by Jack Dorsey with help from some of his brass players. It was recorded at Pye studios in London on 9th January 1968 and the B side 'In The Valley Of The Shadow Of Love' (written by Mick Ware) was recorded at the same studio on 12th January 1968. The B side also featured backing vocals by Paul Kendrick and Bob Hodges. The A and B sides were switched sometime after release but the long classical intro to 'In The Valley' did not make it very radio friendly.
'Bright Eyed Apples' was originally going to be the A side but 'She' became the A side after it was featured in a short film '29' which starred Alexis Kanner who had been in the TV series 'Softly Softly' and 'The Prisoner'. The film ran for just 26 minutes and also starred Yootha Joyce, who was well known as a TV actress appearing in the comedy 'George & Mildred' amongst other shows. Tuesday's Children had a cameo appearance in the film in a scene in a nightclub, which was filmed at the London club 'Sybillas' on the 6th April 1968, the group receiving the princely sum of £45.00 for its appearance.
When the film was released it played as the 'B' movie to cult film 'If', directed by Lindsay Anderson and starring Malcolm McDowell. 'She' was written and sung by Mick Ware who also did the orchestral arrangement with Bob Hodges. Johnny Arthey directed the orchestra on the session. 'Bright Eyed Apples' had been a hit for an English group called 'The Rokes' in Italy under the title of 'Mele Mature'. The original (which was written by Shel Shapiro and Roger Shepstone of the Rokes) featured a sitar which was a popular instrument at the time, mainly due to George Harrisons influence.
Sometime before signing to Philips in 1968, Tuesdays Children recorded two Mick Ware songs: 'Mr Kipling' and 'Baby I Need You'. They were recorded on 6th, 13th and 15th May 1968. Although finished they were never released. 'Mr Kipling' and 'In The Valley Of The Shadows Of Love' were released on a Sanctuary Records 1960's compilation CD some years ago.
I also have note of two sessions on 5th and 12th December 1968 when the band recorded two songs titled 'Love' and 'Rain' and also 'Ritual Fire Dance', although the finished version of this was recorded in 1970 (see Czar: Other Recordings page).
Tuesdays Children did a Radio 1 recording on 1st December 1967 that was broadcast during December on 'Petes People', a Sunday night show presented by DJ Pete Murray. As far as I can remember 4 songs from the live set were recorded in a 3 hour session. This was the first thing that the group had done as a 4 piece after the departure of the brass players on 26th November 1967.
by Bob Hodges with help from Mick Ware
Tracks
1. Strange Light From The East (Phil Cordell) - 2:25
2. Summer Leaves Me With A Sigh (Phil Cordell) - 2:44
3. When You Walk In The Sand (Phil Cordell) - 2:56
4. High And Drifting (Phil Cordell) - 2:42
5. High On A Hill (Phil Cordell) - 2:59
6. That'll Be The Day (Norman Petty, Buddy Holly) - 2:21
7. Ain't You Got A Heart (Peter Callander, Mitch Murray) - 3:32
8. Baby's Gone (Phil Cordell) - 2:24
9. Guess I'm Losing You (Mick Ware) - 2:25
10.In The Valley Of The Shadow Of Love (Mick Ware) - 4:15
11.Mr Kipling (Mick Ware) - 2:24
12.Baby I Need You (Mick Ware) - 2:39
13.She (Mick Ware) - 2:50
14.Bright Eyed Apples (Shel Shapiro, Mike Shepstone) - 3:39
15.Doubtful Nellie (Paul Kendrick) - 3:07
16.Ritual Fire Dance (Manuel De Falla, arr. Bob Hodges) - 7:38
17.Red Lady (Phil Cordell) - 2:30
18.Baby's Gone (Demo) (Peter Callander, Mitch Murray) - 2:18
East Londoners Hokus Poke consisted of Clive Blenkhorn (lead vocals, guitar), Roger Clarke (guitar, vocals), Smith Campbell(bass, vocals) and Johnnie Miles (drums). Blenkhorn had previously played in a band called Mystic Sid (originally named Black Sabbath, blissfully unaware of the already active Birmingham bunch!). Clarke, meanwhile, had been with the Justus 5 and soul bands the Grenades and the Freddy Mac Extravaganza.
Hokus Poke landed a residency in the Thomas A-Becket pub in the Old Kent Road, and came to the attentionof songwriter-producer Kenny Lynch, who became their manager and obtained them a contract with Philips in 1971. The sessions for their lone album took place at George Martin's Air studios in London, and the results crept out on the fabled Vertigo imprint early the following year, with barely any promotional support. The label refused to approve the title the band favoured, First Poke, so it was named Earth Harmony instead.
Although safely within the progressive genre, it hints at an apprenticeship in the late psychedelic period, combining the progressive ambitions of acts such as Genesis and Wishbone Ash with the bare-knuckle enthusiasm of Budgie and Atomic Rooster, as well as the pastoral approach of similarly unsuccessful acts Northwind and the Parlour Band. In particular, the pairing of Clarke's steel guitar and Blenkhorn's masterful riffing with a solid rhythm section distinguished cuts such as the powerful Sunrise Sunset (The Sunset) and blazing Hag Rag.
It's surprising that more contemporary listeners weren't convinced of their worth, despite appearances on radio shows such as Sounds Of The Seventies. Following lacklustre sales, Vertigo denied the band a chance to make a follow-up, and they split soon afterwards, little expecting that collectors and prog connoisseurs would compete to pay hundreds of pounds for copies decades later. Clarke went on to play with Sailing Shoes, while Campbell teamed up with members of fellow Vertigo alumni Clear Blue Sky to form the Needle, and drummer Miles joined Kala, who made a self-titled LP for Bradleys in 1973.
CD Liner-Notes
Tracks
1. H.P. Boogie (Clive Blenkhorn, Roger Clarke, Smith Campbell) - 6:02
2. Sunrise Sunset (The Sunset) (Clive Blenkhorn, Roger Clarke) - 7:14
3. Big World Small Guy (Roger Clarke, Smith Campbell) - 5:03
4. Down In The Street (Clive Blenkhorn) - 3:56
5. Hag Rag (Johnnie Miles) - 5:13
6. Living In Harmony (Clive Blenkhorn) - 5:07
7. Time And Space (Clive Blenkhorn, Johnnie Miles, Roger Clarke, Smith Campbell) - 4:23
8. The Poke (Clive Blenkhorn, Roger Clarke) - 3:47
