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Post by inger on Jul 29, 2024 17:45:28 GMT -5
I’ve got a Hassles album on CD… I have a Billy Joel Box set called My Lives that has a couple Hassles songs on it. “You picked a real bad time” is high on my list… |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jul 29, 2024 17:55:01 GMT -5
I was big Al Kooper fan since the days of The Blues Project. Also, I remember another band called "Sea Train" that came out of The Blues Project group. The 1st Blood, Sweat and Tears album is still one of favorite 1960's albums. I was so disappointed when Kooper left the band and going to England, I couldn't stand David Clayton Thomas as the new lead singer. Also I do remember the Hassles with Billy Joel, being played on WNEW-FM., in fact I have their 1st album. ha, saw the blues project w al kooper a number of times back in 1966 into '67. even helped set up their equipment on stage at a concert in central park in '66. met kooper and the bass player andy kulberg. remember the lead guitarist danny kalb jamming backstage w john sebastian. they were on an amazing record together called "the blues project" that opened many doors for me. the blues project had a great but short run and were darlings of greenwich village playing the cafe au go go all the time.
wow you guys are taking me back. both the blues project and butterfield were seminal bands in my musical development. actually some of my bands did a bunch of blues project songs - wake me shake me, i can't keep from crying, you go i'll go, steve's song. i still perform their version of donovan's beautiful "catch the wind".
and yeah remember sea train. of course kooper was great in b,s & t.
as for for action house - remember it but never saw anything there. at that point as a kid from jersey it was easier for me to go the village than long island.
Great stories Bumper. I figured you'd have some connection. I remember some kids at the time calling them the Jewish Beatles. I don't think they lasted much more than two years, but some great music in there. "Wake Me Shake Me" was probably my favorite off the album -- around the same time The Four Tops had a song called "Shake Me Wake Me." "Flute Thing" sticks in my mind. Donovan's first version of "Catch The Wind" was indeed beautiful. He made some good stuff, but to me never seemed to quite live up to his early promise. |
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Post by bumper on Jul 30, 2024 0:00:48 GMT -5
ha, saw the blues project w al kooper a number of times back in 1966 into '67. even helped set up their equipment on stage at a concert in central park in '66. met kooper and the bass player andy kulberg. remember the lead guitarist danny kalb jamming backstage w john sebastian. they were on an amazing record together called "the blues project" that opened many doors for me. the blues project had a great but short run and were darlings of greenwich village playing the cafe au go go all the time.
wow you guys are taking me back. both the blues project and butterfield were seminal bands in my musical development. actually some of my bands did a bunch of blues project songs - wake me shake me, i can't keep from crying, you go i'll go, steve's song. i still perform their version of donovan's beautiful "catch the wind".
and yeah remember sea train. of course kooper was great in b,s & t.
as for for action house - remember it but never saw anything there. at that point as a kid from jersey it was easier for me to go the village than long island.
Great stories Bumper. I figured you'd have some connection. I remember some kids at the time calling them the Jewish Beatles. I don't think they lasted much more than two years, but some great music in there. "Wake Me Shake Me" was probably my favorite off the album -- around the same time The Four Tops had a song called "Shake Me Wake Me." "Flute Thing" sticks in my mind. Donovan's first version of "Catch The Wind" was indeed beautiful. He made some good stuff, but to me never seemed to quite live up to his early promise. yeah donovan was supposed to be england's answer to bob dylan. some good songs but not even close. remembering when "mellow yellow" came out, we all started smoking banana skins in the hope of getting high  .
btw we got paid 5 bux each for helping unload and set up the blues project's equipment on stage. the concert cost a buck so as 15 yr old kids we thought we had struck it rich. we were there early, sitting down front and the bass player andy kulberg approached us and asked if we wanted to make a few bux. we felt like rock stars. we had heard about the blues project but were really there to see john lee hooker. suffice it to say we were blown away by the the blues project.
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Post by inger on Jul 30, 2024 0:28:35 GMT -5
Great stories Bumper. I figured you'd have some connection. I remember some kids at the time calling them the Jewish Beatles. I don't think they lasted much more than two years, but some great music in there. "Wake Me Shake Me" was probably my favorite off the album -- around the same time The Four Tops had a song called "Shake Me Wake Me." "Flute Thing" sticks in my mind. Donovan's first version of "Catch The Wind" was indeed beautiful. He made some good stuff, but to me never seemed to quite live up to his early promise. yeah donovan was supposed to be england's answer to bob dylan. some good songs but not even close. remembering when "mellow yellow" came out, we all started smoking banana skins in the hope of getting high .
btw we got paid 5 bux each for helping unload and set up the blues project's equipment on stage. the concert cost a buck so as 15 yr old kids we thought we had struck it rich. we were there early, sitting down front and the bass player andy kulberg approached us and asked if we wanted to make a few bux. we felt like rock stars. we had heard about the blues project but were really there to see john lee hooker. suffice it to say we were blown away by the the blues project.
Honest goodness roadies! How cool was that? … |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jul 30, 2024 12:06:17 GMT -5
Great stories Bumper. I figured you'd have some connection. I remember some kids at the time calling them the Jewish Beatles. I don't think they lasted much more than two years, but some great music in there. "Wake Me Shake Me" was probably my favorite off the album -- around the same time The Four Tops had a song called "Shake Me Wake Me." "Flute Thing" sticks in my mind. Donovan's first version of "Catch The Wind" was indeed beautiful. He made some good stuff, but to me never seemed to quite live up to his early promise. yeah donovan was supposed to be england's answer to bob dylan. some good songs but not even close. remembering when "mellow yellow" came out, we all started smoking banana skins in the hope of getting high .
btw we got paid 5 bux each for helping unload and set up the blues project's equipment on stage. the concert cost a buck so as 15 yr old kids we thought we had struck it rich. we were there early, sitting down front and the bass player andy kulberg approached us and asked if we wanted to make a few bux. we felt like rock stars. we had heard about the blues project but were really there to see john lee hooker. suffice it to say we were blown away by the the blues project.
I remember that business about banana skins. I later learned that "Mellow Yellow" was in fact the name of a -- er -- "marital aid" that Donovan had read about. That song came out in the fall of 1966. There was a belief at the time that Paul McCartney was enunciating the "quite rightly" in there, but it was Donovan himself doing that -- it obviously sounds like him -- although Paul was one of the background noise makers you hear during the bridge. Donovan had some serious session players working with him at the time. All of the future Led Zeppelin other than Plant. Jones arranged several of his hits and Page played lead guitar on a few, especially "Sunshine Superman" and Bonham was in there too. Donovan began to lose me when he got to the "I Love My Shirt" phase of his career. Remember when "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" was used in a cosmetics ad? Well thankfully I'm Donovaned out now. Much more interesting talking Blues Project. |
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Post by inger on Jul 30, 2024 12:20:59 GMT -5
yeah donovan was supposed to be england's answer to bob dylan. some good songs but not even close. remembering when "mellow yellow" came out, we all started smoking banana skins in the hope of getting high .
btw we got paid 5 bux each for helping unload and set up the blues project's equipment on stage. the concert cost a buck so as 15 yr old kids we thought we had struck it rich. we were there early, sitting down front and the bass player andy kulberg approached us and asked if we wanted to make a few bux. we felt like rock stars. we had heard about the blues project but were really there to see john lee hooker. suffice it to say we were blown away by the the blues project.
I remember that business about banana skins. I later learned that "Mellow Yellow" was in fact the name of a -- er -- "marital aid" that Donovan had read about. That song came out in the fall of 1966. There was a belief at the time that Paul McCartney was enunciating the "quite rightly" in there, but it was Donovan himself doing that -- it obviously sounds like him -- although Paul was one of the background noise makers you hear during the bridge. Donovan had some serious session players working with him at the time. All of the future Led Zeppelin other than Plant. Jones arranged several of his hits and Page played lead guitar on a few, especially "Sunshine Superman" and Bonham was in there too. Donovan began to lose me when he got to the "I Love My Shirt" phase of his career. Remember when "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" was used in a cosmetics ad? Well thankfully I'm Donovaned out now. Much more interesting talking Blues Project. I liked Donovan, but sometimes got him confused with Dion, who I also liked… |
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Post by bumper on Jul 30, 2024 12:27:55 GMT -5
I remember that business about banana skins. I later learned that "Mellow Yellow" was in fact the name of a -- er -- "marital aid" that Donovan had read about. That song came out in the fall of 1966. There was a belief at the time that Paul McCartney was enunciating the "quite rightly" in there, but it was Donovan himself doing that -- it obviously sounds like him -- although Paul was one of the background noise makers you hear during the bridge. Donovan had some serious session players working with him at the time. All of the future Led Zeppelin other than Plant. Jones arranged several of his hits and Page played lead guitar on a few, especially "Sunshine Superman" and Bonham was in there too. Donovan began to lose me when he got to the "I Love My Shirt" phase of his career. Remember when "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" was used in a cosmetics ad? Well thankfully I'm Donovaned out now. Much more interesting talking Blues Project. I liked Donovan, but sometimes got him confused with Dion, who I also liked… now that's funny. dion had many hits late 50's til just before he got wiped out by the british invasion - donna the primadonna . respected that a number of years later he reinvented himself. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jul 30, 2024 12:37:34 GMT -5
I liked Donovan, but sometimes got him confused with Dion, who I also liked… now that's funny. dion had many hits late 50's til just before he got wiped out by the british invasion - donna the primadonna . respected that a number of years later he reinvented himself. Dion was quintessential Bronx swagger -- "The Wanderer" being a good example -- "Runaround Sue" probably his biggest hit. My favorite by him was his first release with The Belmonts, "I Wonder Why." As Bumper noted he reinvented himself as a sort of folk singer with "Abraham, Martin and John" in 1968. Dion made a poignant song using a baseball analogy "I Used To Be A Brooklyn Dodger" in the late 70s. Still out there performing. He could easily beat up Donovan.😊 |
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Post by inger on Jul 30, 2024 12:58:29 GMT -5
I liked Donovan, but sometimes got him confused with Dion, who I also liked… now that's funny. dion had many hits late 50's til just before he got wiped out by the british invasion - donna the primadonna . respected that a number of years later he reinvented himself. It was surely the one name aspect. At least I didn’t confuse them with Cher… |
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Post by azbob643 on Jul 30, 2024 13:02:57 GMT -5
Dion was quintessential Bronx swagger -- "The Wanderer" being a good example -- "Runaround Sue" probably his biggest hit. My favorite by him was his first release with The Belmonts, "I Wonder Why." As Bumper noted he reinvented himself as a sort of folk singer with "Abraham, Martin and John" in 1968. Dion co-wrote and recorded "New York Is My Home' with Paul Simon... www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpsVSLUOCGABobby Darin (Cassotto) was another Italian/American Bronx guy who reinvented himself in the 60's, writing "country" songs and recording "If I Were A Carpenter". |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jul 30, 2024 13:37:56 GMT -5
Dion was quintessential Bronx swagger -- "The Wanderer" being a good example -- "Runaround Sue" probably his biggest hit. My favorite by him was his first release with The Belmonts, "I Wonder Why." As Bumper noted he reinvented himself as a sort of folk singer with "Abraham, Martin and John" in 1968. Dion co-wrote and recorded "New York Is My Home' with Paul Simon... www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpsVSLUOCGABobby Darin (Cassotto) was another Italian/American Bronx guy who reinvented himself in the 60's, writing "country" songs and recording "If I Were A Carpenter". Bobby Darin was a really talented performer who could do most any style of music credibly. Teen ballads like "Dream Lover" (still love that one) and supper club stuff like "Mack The Knife" and "Beyond The Sea" to sort of country ballads like "Eighteen Yellow Roses" and as you mentioned "If I Were A Carpenter." He could act a bit too. Died at age 37. Tim Hardin, the guy who wrote and originally recorded "If I Were A Carpenter" is another forgotten singer-songwriter who died very young. I'm guessing you recall him. "Reason To Believe" is probably his next most-remembered song. Another good one was "Misty Roses." I enjoy the twists and turns this thread takes. |
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Post by azbob643 on Jul 30, 2024 13:46:11 GMT -5
Bobby Darin was a really talented performer who could do most any style of music credibly. Teen ballads like "Dream Lover" (still love that one) and supper club stuff like "Mack The Knife" and "Beyond The Sea" to sort of country ballads like "Eighteen Yellow Roses" and as you mentioned "If I Were A Carpenter." He could act a bit too. Died at age 37. "Beyond The Sea" is my favorite Darin song. Don't know how true it is, but I've heard that Frank Sinatra eventually saw Darin as a threat and did what he could to derail his career. |
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Post by fwclipper51 on Jul 30, 2024 13:51:13 GMT -5
Dion was wiped out by his drug addiction with fellow rock and roll musican Frankie Lymann. He had a nice comeback in the 1980's. Later, he wrote a book about his life, a great read.
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Post by pippsheadache on Jul 30, 2024 14:02:46 GMT -5
Bobby Darin was a really talented performer who could do most any style of music credibly. Teen ballads like "Dream Lover" (still love that one) and supper club stuff like "Mack The Knife" and "Beyond The Sea" to sort of country ballads like "Eighteen Yellow Roses" and as you mentioned "If I Were A Carpenter." He could act a bit too. Died at age 37. "Beyond The Sea" is my favorite Darin song. Don't know how true it is, but I've heard that Frank Sinatra eventually saw Darin as a threat and did what he could to derail his career. He does a great job on that. He did a clever one few remember now called "Multiplication" from the movie "Come September" that he appeared in. "Things" was another hit for him. I heard that stuff about Sinatra too. I thought they had similar skillsets. Darin and Sandra Dee were a much-publicized celebrity couple in the early 60s. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jul 30, 2024 14:13:15 GMT -5
Dion was wiped out by his drug addiction with fellow rock and roll musican Frankie Lymann. He had a nice comeback in the 1980's. Later, he wrote a book about his life, a great read. I read that book Clipper. Pretty interesting look at his life. There was a lot going on under the surface with him. Frankie Lyman was a sad case. He was sort of a forerunner of Stevie Wonder or Michael Jackson as far as being a pre-teen idol, but unlike them he never had success after his voice changed. It was depressing watching him lip-synch his old songs as a young adult. I've heard stuff he did after his voice changed and he sounded perfectly good. His early songs with The Teenagers are classic vocal group harmony. |
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