Woody's Truck Stop came together in Philadelphia, in late May 1966. As young teens, drummer Bob Radeloff and guitarist Alan Miller had been active in a folk group that played in the local area. After high school, Miller began attending classes at the Philadelphia College of Art, while Radeloff continued teaching guitar classes. Miller and Radeloff soon were adding drummer Artie Heller and bassist Carson Van Osten (both new college classmates of Miller's) to form a group of their own, heavily inspired by electric blues acts like the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and the Blues Project, as well as Chess blues artists and British blues-rock groups like the Yardbirds.
They got their name from the motorcycle repair shop below where the band rehearsed. Various other members came and went, including Bob's brother, keyboardist Ken Radeloff. During that summer of '66, after opening for the Shadows of Knight and the Byrds, Heller was replaced, first by Tim Moore, from DC & the Senators, and then, by drummer Joe DiCarlo. One day DiCarlo brought his friend
Todd Rundgren -- to rehearsal, and after seeing Rundgren play guitar, Bob Radeloff convinced Miller that having twin stereo lead guitarists -- like Paul Butterfield's band -- would be a good thing. Rundgren joined and they continued playing gigs, mostly at low-key coffeehouses like The Second of Autumn and The Second Fret. They later relocated to the Boston area. Miller and Rundgren began arguing about the band's direction during this time. Miller wanted the band to remain more blues-oriented, while Rundgren wanted them to venture off in a more psychedelic-rock direction.
On May 7, 1967, the band found themselves playing with the Blues Project at the Town Hall. After the audience pelted them onstage with pies, Rundgren decided to split and concentrate on his own music; he was replaced by rhythm guitarist Greg Radcliffe. Woody's Truck Stop continued on without him, and in February of 1968, the band landed on a bill with Rundgren's newly-formed band, the Nazz, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Rundgren's new band also featured bassist Van Osten, who had quit Woody's Truck Stop to concentrate on college. His replacement was bassist Ron Bogeon. Woody's Truck Stop, meanwhile, recorded their first album, the self-titled Woody's Truck Stop, at Regent Sound in New York City. It was released in 1969 on Mercury's Smash label. The album failed to bring them success, and soon after its release, the band broke up.
by Bryan Thomas
Tracks
1. People Been Talkin' - 3:06
2. Got My Pride - 3:54
3. Everything Is Fine (Alan Miller) - 3:27
4. Color Scheme (Bobby Radeloff) - 6:23
5. Checkin' On My Baby (Sonny Boy Williamson) - 3:22
6. Tryin' So Hard (Junior Wells) - 4:00
7. Just To Be With You - 7:57
8. I'd Be A Fool - 1:33
9. Marble Reflections - 4:56
All compositions by Mark Robert Oberman except where indicated
Woody's Truck Stop
*Mark Oberman - Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals
*Greg Radcliffe - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
*Alan Miller - Lead Guitar, Vocals, Vibraphone, Percussion
*Bobby Radeloff - Drums, Harmonica, Percussion, Vocals
*Ron Bogdon - Bass
With
*Bill Fischer - Horn Arrangements
*Larry Gold - Cello
*Richard Landry - Baritone Sax
*Melvin Lastie - Trumpet
*David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Sax
*Joe Newman - Trumpet
