Formed in Oklahoma City when trumpeter Mark Underwood and saxophonist Bob Beasley teamed with guitarist/bassist Hadley Hockensmith, organist Harlan Rogers, and drummer Bill Maxwell. Underwood played in The Serfs, a jazz-rock/psych band that released one album, The Early Bird Cafe, in 1969.
Singer Harold Jones completed the Third Avenue Blues Band, which signed to MCA-subsidiary Revue. In 1968, they released their first single, “It’s Got to Be Love” b/w “If You Don’t Love Me”, both written by Rogers. It was followed in 1969 by the Jones-composed “Don’t Make Me Laugh”b/w Hockensmith’s “Pipedream”, released as 3rd Avenue Blues Band. Their third single, a funky cover of Joe South’s “Rose Garden” b/w Rogers’ “Come On and Get It”, appeared later that year.
Their album, Fantastic, appeared on Revue in 1970. It features 11 songs, including all the aforementioned single sidesexcept “Pipedream”. Other tracks include Rogers’ “I Know About Love,” Hockensmith’s “Hawk’s Blues,” and covers of the Isley Brothers “It’s Your Thing” and Eddie Harris“Mean Greens”. The album was produced by Charlie Carey.
Maxwell became a fixture of Texas faith-based label Light Music and joined its flagship act Andraé Crouch & The Disciples. In 1973, he reunited with Hockensmith and Rogers in the jazz-funk/psych combo Sonlight, which also served as the instrumental nucleus on three albums by Light Rec. gospel singer Danniebelle Hall. During the 1980s, the team recorded four albums as part of the jazz-rock ensemble Koinonia.
Underwood later appeared on albums by the Cate Bros., Van Morrison, Bette Midler, Jules & the Polar Bears, and Michael Vlatkovich.Beasley re-linked with Rogers and Hockensmith on soul-faith albums by the Don DeGrate Delegation and Sherman Andrus.
Tracks
1. Rose Garden (Joe South) - 3:16
2. It's Got To Be Love (Harlan Rogers) - 2:26
3. I Know About Love (Harlan Rogers) - 4:15
4. Put A Little Love (Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, Randy Meyers) - 4:00
5. Hawk's Blues (Hadley "Hawk" Hockensmith) - 5:09
6. Don't Make Me Laugh (Harold Jones) - 2:53
7. Come On And Get It (Harlan Rogers) - 3:19
8. It's Your Thing (Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley) - 5:12
Kid Gloves was one of my favorite harmony bands, who were as good or better as all the others I recorded. They were a studio group that formed in 1971 and disbanded less than two years later-- they never did any live gigs.
The lead singer, Scottish-born Davey Pattison, was one of the best vocalists I ever worked with. I had first heard him in the blues band Sunday, with whom I produced an album in 1970.
I was fortunate to know Davey early on, so it was easy to get him to front a proposed studio group that also included the excellent Tom Parker, who was my go-to arranger at the time. Tom played keyboards in the new group, who also wrote most of the music and lyrics for their original material.
The other two terrif musicians I booked were Gary Taylor on bass and Andrew Steele on drums. They had both recently been pop stars as members of the very successful Herd with Peter Frampton. After that group came to an end, both become A-list session players and I was using them a lot, along with Tom. It also helped that they too could sing!
Because of the breadth of talent in the group, I decided to start them off with a full album. All the sessions were held at Morgan Studios in north London between September 1971 to January 1972, and engineered by Robin Black. The eventual album was released in June of 1972, in the US only. A kinda curiosity was that the group was originally called “Herrod The Dog”. That name was replaced by “Muscles” (!), and eventually they settled on the name Kid Gloves.
The album is outstanding and should have made the band stars. Unfortunately, as it turned out the US label Buddah Records, after claiming how much they loved Kid Gloves, was apparently hit with multiple cases of simultaneous pandemic Alzheimers, as they forgot they had the record. Zero promotion ensued, and the LP sunk faster than a meteorite landing in a lagoon at full speed!
Davey would later become very much in demand as a lead vocalist, singing with Michael Schenker, Ronnie Montrose and Robin Trower in the 80s and 90s. I also signed his mid-70s group Findo Gask and we cut another great album, with many of his own songs.
by Shel Talmy
Tracks
1. Let Him Sing His Song (John Stewart's Song) - 3:38
Released in 1970 in the U.S. by Amazon, a sublabel of Nashville's Shelby Singleton Corp. Formed in Nashville by Louisville, Kentucky bassist Steve McNicol, formerly of Oxfords and just out of the disbanded Rugbys, sometimes mistakenly identified with Billie Hughes' (formerly Shiloh) better-known Lazarus, authors of two Christian rock albums in the early 1970s. These Italian-Americans played rock with R&B influences and prominent horns, very close to that of Blood, Sweat and Tears; their main composer is one Raymond Cichon. The album was recorded at Singleton Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, and produced by Joe Venneri, an experienced producer and musician.
The band's style integrates elements of Iron Butterfly-esque psychedelic rock (excellent guitar in “Stay with me”), beautiful vocal harmonies still steeped in the sixties, marked pop soul inflections (in some cases very exuberant as in “In the beginning”) and in one episode even blues (“Message to the people”), also fueled by the use of brass in several episodes, some very vibrant episodes with slower rhythms and a late-psychedelic pop rock sound such as “Shades of winter,” enriched by a suave flute, all at times very close to the music of Blood, Sweat and Tears. McNicol's voice was attractive and the majority of the Raymond Cichon-penned material was catchy enough to warrant at least a quick spin. That didn't do anything for sales, the set quickly vanishing into cutout bins. Stephen William McNicol, passed away on April 8th, 2018, at the age of 68.
Tracks
1. You've Got To Get Ahead (Raymond Cichon, Tony Bertollotti) - 2:54
2. Faces Of Tomorrow (Raymond Cichon) - 3:12
3. Desire (Raymond Cichon) - 2:18
4. Once Again (Ronald Stablini, Thomas Bombaci) - 3:15
"Toby Beau," commonly refers to the Texas band formed in the early 70's most commonly known for the hit single, "My Angel Baby" in 1978. Though little is known around the world about this band past this top fifteen single, the band is, in fact, still in existence today, and continues to perform in the club circuit.
Formed in the Rio Grande Valley, the original members included guitarists Danny McKenna, Balde Silva, Art Mendoza, bassist Steve Zipper and drummer Rob Young. After numerous club performances around South Texas, the band moved to San Antonio, Texas and received a major record deal from RCA (now BMG). This deal would recruit the production talents of Sean Delaney, who at the time was also producing a young band named "KISS". In addition, guitarist Mendoza was replaced with guitarist and banjo extraordinaire Ron Rose, who added a sort of County-flavor to the band.
Upon completion of the self-titled first album, the band moved to New York, and would embark on major tours with artists and bands such as the Doobie Brothers, Bob Seger, and the Steve Miller Band. Popularity of the band would gradually arise through these tours, but this would suddenly become a skyrocket when the pop ballad "My Angel Baby" scored number 1 on the Easy Listening Chart for two weeks. Suddenly the album would score major sales, and "My Angel Baby" would eventually achieve gold status by being awarded the coveted "Million-Aire Award" by BMI for over a million radio plays. There was even a re-release of the album, this time with "My Angel Baby" as the album title which was added to the cover art.
Following the success of the first album, the band temporarily moved to Miami. There, recording sessions for the second album would not at all be impressive to the producers, and almost all recorded songs would be eliminated from the album. It was suggested that the band move to Tennessee and record with the likes of major session players. It was this move that started to break the band apart.
Although the addition of the production talents of Daniel Moore (writer for B.W. Stevenson and Three Dog Night) and Norbert Putnam (who had worked with Jimmy Buffet), as well as talented musicians like Victor Feldman (from Steely Dan fame) and Larry Londin (who later worked with Journey) provided a smooth fusion style to the music, members of the band felt the tradition of the music was severely altered. This initially resulted in McKenna's choice to leave the band before completion of the second album, entitled "More Than a Love Song," released in 1979.
This album would score a top 40 single in the cover of John D. Loudermilk's "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye," but otherwise the album remained a financial disappointment to the band, and less than a year after the release, Zipper, Rose, and Young departed, leaving Silva at the helm with one album left on the contract.
Although it was a large burden on him to complete the third album single-handedly, this provided numerous successes, such as all legal rights to retain the band's name. Silva moved to Los Angeles to record the third album with producer Jerry Fuller. With the help of numerous studio artists, the third album, "If You Believe" was successfully released in 1980. Although not viewed as a commercial success, the album did score a third hit in the ballad "If I Were You," which might demonstrate a preview of how the band would sound in years to come.
After the third album, the band was dropped from RCA, but Silva has refused to let the band fall, having adopted the name of "Toby Beau," himself as his stage name. In the 80's, wife Rennetta (under the stage name Dennett) joined the band and the two would recruit numerous other musicians in the band for years to come. Sessions for a fourth album have been recorded numerous times in the 80's and again in the late 90's, but as of now, no plans have been made for any studio release, but self-made recordings have been produced, and can usually be bought from members of the band or at certain venues they work for.
Currently, the band continues to perform the club circuit with guest musicians who sit in frequently. Most recent guest musicians have included trumpeter and piano sensation Michael Schuler and Silva's son, saxophonist Michael Silva. The band can usually be located around South Padre Island, Texas and performing for the cruise ship industry or by checking the web site. Group leader, Danny McKenna, age 54, died in his McAllen, Texas home, April 26th 2006.
In 1964, when the British Invasion reared its ugly – to the established American record biz – head, Memphis’ original pathfinding rock’n’roll imprint, Sun Records, was in its twilight years. Sam Phillips was never a follower of trends, but when his son Knox presented a fine example of the local grass roots reaction to the British in the shape of the Radiants, Phillips acknowledged their talent, and signed the enthusiastic youngsters to Sun. Their two singles on the iconic yellow label now count as the highlights of its latterday catalogue.
True to the diffuse nature of its musical heritage, Memphis had an interesting and unpredictable take on what the Beatles and their ilk inspired. Randy & The Radiants are an excellent example of this, and most likely the earliest: slightly derivative perhaps, but certainly inspired in content. Though the garage rock crowd know the band’s name for the crunchy chording of My Way Of Thinking, the considerable cache of Sun sessions from 1964 and 1966, the best of which are included upon “Memphis Beat”, reveal the Radiants as several fret-notches above the average teenage combo of the time.
There is the expected quotient of frat-band raunch and Anglicised rockabilly – while it is fascinating to hear the band cover older Sun copyrights such as Boppin’ The Blues– but the true gems in the Radiants canon are guitarist Bob Simon’s contemplative originals, with their own mature blend of harmony and soul, akin to that of the best British beat like the Searchers. The searing, irresistible Truth From My Eyes would have made a great mid-period Hollies single, and tunes like To Seek And Then Find, Nobody Walks Out On Me or I Won’t Ask Why are so effortlessly Mersey in execution, it’s easy to forget the grandaddy of rockabilly is behind the mixing desk. Add the warm, authoritative rasp of Randy Haspel, Memphis’ answer to Allan Clarke, and one can understand Sun’s excitement in having found a local and commercially-potent interpretation of the British beat.
As Haspel relates in a fascinating memoir included in the booklet to MEMPHIS BEAT, the tremendous promise of the Radiants was cut short just as they were hitting their stride, largely due to events beyond their control. But any group should be proud of what Randy & The Radiants accomplished in what was a relatively brief time together. That Knox and Sam Phillips helped them to their moment in the sun (pun intended) is the icing on the cake.
by Alec Palao
Tracks
1. My Way of Thinking (Donna Weiss) - 2:37
2. Nobody Walks Out On Me (Bob Simon) - 2:18
3. Be Good While I'm Gone (Bob Simon) - 1:36
4. Truth from My Eyes (Bob Simon) - 2:23
5. You Are the One (Donna Weiss, Mary Unobsky) - 2:23
6. Peek-A-Boo (Bob Simon) - 2:08
7. Boppin' the Blues (Carl Perkins, Howard Griffin) - 2:03
8. To Seek and Then Find (Bob Simon) - 2:26
9. Grow Up Little Girl (John Monasco) - 2:20
10.Lucille (Albert Collins, Richard Penniman) - 2:57
11.I Won't Ask Why (Bob Simon) - 2:30
12.True and Sweet (Bob Simon) - 2:27
13.Glad All Over (Dave Clark, Mike Smith) - 2:39]
14.Hope We Meet Next Summer (Donna Weiss) - 2:23
15.Money (That's What I Want) (Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy) - 3:24
16.Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins) - 2:04
17.The Mountain's High (Dick St. John) - 2:38
18.You Can't Judge a Book By the Cover (Ellas McDaniel) - 2:38
19.Dedicated to the One I Love (Lowman Pauling, Ralph Bass) - 3:25
20.Walk Softly (Bob Simon) - 1:37
21.Nobody Walks Out On Me (Bob Simon) - 2:06
22.I Won't Ask Why (Bob Simon) - 2:11
23.A Love of the Past (Bob Simon) - 2:21
24.Turn on Your Lovelight (Deadric Malone, Joseph Scott) - 3:09
Sharing a light, lush airiness with bands like Poco, America, and Air Supply, Firefall sang fluffy love songs that were weak in lyrical nutrients but abundant with softened chords and harmonies. When radio was saturated with light rock in the mid- to late-'70s, they were right in the heart of it, reaching number nine on Billboard's Top 40 with the gentle "You Are the Woman," which remained on the charts for a startling 15 weeks. Firefall's greatest hits collects all of their mellow rock favorites in one place, presenting some thin but not unlistenable soft rock tunes. Lead singer Rick Roberts pours his heart out but still manages to stir up a decent tempo with "Just Remember I Love You," their second biggest single.
The blue of the Colorado skyline, the band's home state, is visioned on the soothing flow of "Break of Dawn," and a slight attractiveness is felt throughout "Strange Way," another chart single in 1978. Roberts, who replaced Gram Parsons in the Flying Burrito Brothers, and drummer Michael Clarke, a onetime Byrds member, did give Firefall a talented history within its lineup, but the music being produced contained ample amounts of schlock that soon faded as radio became tired of this shallow drivel. Sometimes harboring a country feel a la Michael Martin Murphy best heard in songs like "Someday Soon" and "It Doesn't Matter," it was evident that the band had only one direction, which was that of a folk-rock sound. Since their material never strayed from this subtle easiness, Firefall's greatest hits is their most worthwhile offering.
by Mike DeGagne
Tracks
1. Livin' Ain't Livin' (Rick Roberts) - 3:51
2. Cinderella (Larry Burnett) - 3:36
3. You Are The Woman (Rick Roberts) - 2:43
4. Mexico (Rick Roberts) - 4:19
5. It Doesn't Matter (Chris Hillman, Rick Roberts, Stephen Stills) - 3:31
6. Just Remember I Love You (Rick Roberts) - 3:18
7. So Long (Rick Roberts) - 5:30
8. Someday Soon (Rick Roberts) - 4:06
9. Strange Way (Rick Roberts) - 3:26
10.Goodbye, I Love You (Rick Roberts) - 4:24
11.Sweet And Sour (Jock Bartley, Rick Roberts) - 3:36
12.Love That Got Away (Rick Roberts) - 3:25
13.Headed For A Fall (Rick Roberts) - 4:12
14.Staying With It (John Lewis Parker, Tom Snow) - 3:04
15.Break Of Dawn (Jock Bartley) - 3:48
16.Always (John Sambataro, Paul Crosta) - 3:48
17.Runaway Love (Jock Bartley, John Sambataro, Paul Crosta) - 3:58
The Enfields were one of the countless garage bands competing for airplay in the 1960s. They released a series of quality local 45s before morphing into the more progressive Friends of the Family, of which by that time, principal songwriter Ted Munda was the only surviving member. The Enfields hailed from Wilmington, Delaware, where they were unquestionably the area’s top group.
“In The Eyes Of The World” was their first Richie 45 released in late 65/early 66. This track is really a teenbeat gem with the great reverbed hollow-body guitar work of John Bernard and plenty of ghostly harmonies via Ted Munda and Charlie Berl. “In The Eyes Of The World” did not have a B-side but sold well locally, making Wilmington’s top 40 and established the group as a force to be reckoned with. The Enfields’ next number, “She Already Has Somebody/I’m For Things You Do” was a #4 local smash and perhaps their finest moment on vinyl. Very similar to the Dovers’ material from around the same time, “She Already Has Somebody” is a minor key folk-rocker with solid hooks, lots of nervous energy and fine guitar work. By the release of their third single the Enfields began branching out into harder, more aggressive sounds. “Face to Face,” another near classic from 1966, opens with a toggle switch guitar sound (probably influenced by the Who), features tough Taxman-like riffs and a brief psychedelic guitar solo. The single’s A-side, “You Don’t Have Very Far” is musically very strong but represents somewhat of a throwback to the 1965 folk-rock sound. This is definitely a “must own”45 from 1966!
After the Enfields broke up in 1967, Ted Munda formed Friends of the Family. He recruited Wayne Watson and Jimmy Crawford from local group the Turfs. They released one disappointing 45 in 1968 but thankfullly made it into the studio for two recording sessions. Munda and his new group recorded throughout 1967 and 1968, amassing about an album’s worth of material (11 songs). While these recordings barely reached the demo stage, the music is accomplished and worth your time. Tracks like the excellent “Last Beach Crusade,” “Together” and the 6 minute “Hot Apple Betty” are progressive and sound like a jazz influenced Left Banke. These three tracks were recorded in 1968 and show the Friends experimenting with lots of keyboards, challenging guitar solos, Zombies/Beatles’ influenced vocals and complex song arrangements. “Funny Flowers,” one of the earlier songs recorded in 1967, is just as appealing but more song-based (jangly folk-rock). “You See I’ve Got This Cold,” another highlight from the 1968 sessions, is a personal favorite that reminds me of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention. It’s full of psychedelic weirdness; check out the bizarre lyrics, tinkling piano, and trippy wah-wah. The band forged on into late 68 opening for The Who and Pink Floyd at the Philadelphia Music Festival. Eventually, Friends of the Family broke up and some years later Ted Munda formed Hotspur, who released an album on Columbia in 1974.
The best way to hear the Enfields/Friends of the Family saga is through Get Hip’s superb cd reissue, Classic Sounds of the 60s. Normally a patchwork reissue like this doesn’t work but Ted Munda rarely recorded anything bad, making The Enfields/and early Friends of the Family a very impressive release.
by Jason Nardelli
Tracks
1. In The Eyes Of The World (Charlie Berl, Ted Munda) - 2:15
2. I'm For The Things You Do - 2:30
3. She Already Has Somebody (Ted Munda, Vince Rago) - 2:47
