"It was the Summer of Our Contentment"-1967. The social cultural cliché founded on those heady times became, of course, "If you were actually there, in the 60's, then you probably don't remember it Well, the lads who made up "Thomas Edisun's Electric Light Bulb Band" were most assuredly "there", and it may be said without qualification that they don't remember much of it.
"The Red Day Album" was recorded and mixed from a Friday night to a Sunday evening, sometime on a week-end after the release of "Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" (June 1,1967). But, after considerable research and effort, no one can quite remember nor agree on just when or where it was all recorded. It is known that the first rough demo for their first single "No One's Been Here For Weeks," b/w "Common Attitude" (Tamm T-2024), was first recorded in a large studio named La Lou in Lafayette, Louisiana. It was subsequently re-recorded in Tyler, Texas sometime afterwards.
It was engineered and produced with the band by notable producer Robinhood Brians at Robin Hood Studios. Brians had already recorded hits with "The Five Americans" ("Western Union"), "John Fred and The Playboys" ("Judy In Disguise"), "The Uniques," featuring Johnny Norton, and would eventually cut the first four platinum albums by, "ZZ Top". The remaining tracks of "The Red Day Album" was essentially recorded and mixed in a single weekend.
Richard Orange was only around 15 years of age when he was spotted oh guitar and vocals by keyboardist Clay Smith whilst doing a "fill in", one-off gig wish another young band at a private party. Sometime later, Richard met Gary Simon Bertrand. Gary Simon's mother, "Gisele Carrinton", was also a cabaret owner from Paris, who had settled in Louisiana to continue her nightclub and cabaret ventures. "Edisun", as they came to be called, continued honing their craft in several of Gisele's nightclubs and cabarets.
Clay Smith had previously been with the band The Lost Cause". Kim Jarad Foreman was unique in that he was the only classically trained member of the band. "Thomas Edisun" would go on to win multiple "battle of the band" competitions and commanded larger and more adoring crowds.
Before Richard Orange had reached his 18th birthday, "Edisun would release a self-promoted single on the Tamm label that received considerable radio airplay and attention while opening for acts like “The Vanilla Fudge", "John Fred and The Playboys", "Bubble Puppy", and "Peter Green and The Great Socioly".
Richard Orange would carry on his talent in “Zuider Zee”. He would write his first international hit song fro Cyndi Lauper, which would then also be featured in a Columbia Pictures release film. A year later Orange would sign with Barry Gordy's Jobete/Motown in New York where he continued to write as staff-writer for groups and artists varied as "Starship" To Jane Wiedlin of "The Gogo’s” and Brazilian Pop Star Deborah Blando and "Missing persons” Dale Bozzio. Richard released his latest album, "Big Orange Sun" which was recorded and mixed in its entirety at legendary, Sun Records in Memphis.
"Thomas Edisun's Electric Light Bulb Band" were a band :ahead of the pack", if not perfectly aligned with the future with their own intimate brand of "Ectodelic", "Beatlesque", pure, power-pop. They were a post “Sgt Pepper's" vision of rock-n-roll born of the psychotropic, anti-establishment."
by Mars Russell
1. (Intro) I'm Here (Richard Orange, Gary Simon Bertrand, Clay Smith, Kim Foreman) - 0:43
2. Red Day (Richard Orange) - 3:36
3. Have You Been To The Light (Clay Smith, Richard Orange) – 3:43
4. Common Attitude (Richard Orange) - 2:56
5. Hope (Richard Orange) - 6:43
6. No One's Been Here For Weeks (Richard Orange, Clay Smith) - 2:28
7. Walk Out With Your Heart (Clay Smith, Richard Orange) - 3:54
8. Champion (Richard Orange) - 2:31
9. I'm Here Right Here (Richard Orange, Gary Simon Bertrand) - 2:53
10.I'll Join The Army (Richard Orange) - 2:34
11.Merlin (Richard Orange) - 4:14
12.Breathe (Richard Orange, Gary Simon Bertrand) - 2:00
13.Alexander Graham Bell (Richard Orange, Gary Simon Bertrand, Kim Foreman,Clay Smith) - 3:26
14.Concord World (Richard Orange) - 2:10
15.Marigold (Richard Orange) - 2:19
16.Send Me Your Picture (Richard Orange) - 2:35
17.(Outro) Dream Me Up Snotty (Richard Orange, Gary Simon Bertrand, Clay Smith, Kim Foreman) - 0:43
Thomas Edisun's Electric Light Bulb Band
*Gary Simon Bertrand - Drums, Vocals, Percussion, Kazoo, Timpani, Gong, Chimes
*Clay Dunham Smith - Electric Piano, Bass, Vocals, Harpsichord, Organ, Grand Piano
*Richard Orange - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Acoustic Guitar
*Kim Foreman - Vocals, Harmony Vocals, Organ, Electric Piano, Synthesizer
*Robert Sonnier - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Bass, Maracas, Tambourine (Tracks 4, 6)
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