Clear Lake, Iowa ’59

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“Clear Lake Iowa ’59”

BUZZ Newspaper Article (#59 -cL) Feb -Mar 2016

By: RLSchwinden aka: MrZer0
When I was a kid in Sioux City, I was really into music & records, I still am, I once asked my Mom “Why can’t I find any Monkees’ records at any of the stores?” she said “Because they only stock the titles that sell” I asked “How do you know that?” she answered “Because I used to run the “Record Dept.” @ Kresge’s downtown” then in  1986 I started working at “RecordShop” in W. Des Moines, Iowa until they were purchased by “Wherehouse” in 1993, I worked there at Southridge until they filed bankruptcy in 1995 & closed 1/3rd of their chain, I then worked at “Best Buy” on the south-side of Des Moines from 1995 -98, until I left to work for “DiscJockey- Wax Works” at Merle Hay until 2000 when they were purchased by “fye -Trans-World” where I worked in Burnsville until 2005, though down-sizing I was laid-off & worked for “DiscLand” in Bloomington, until I left to open my own MusicShop “Mr.Zero’s” in 2009 &  I have managed to keep it open for the past 7 years, despite all the obstacles  & competition, so see I have literately done one job my whole life retail sales of Records, Cassettes & CDs, & for the past 5 years I have authored this Music Article.

The thing I have found most interesting over the past 7 years is the gross misinformation the internet has created about music history. Every Feb we get a lot of people coming in looking for “Original” Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & Big Bopper Vinyl Albums. So with this article, I decided to cover the original records of the artists from the “Clear Lake, Iowa Plane Crash” the 1st of many plane crashes that killed Musicians. Here are some of the others who also died in plane crashes: Patsy Cline: 1963 in Tennessee, Otis Redding: 1967 in Wisconsin, Jim Croce: 1973 in Louisiana, Lynyrd: 1977 Skynyrd: Ronnie VanZant,Steve & Cassie Gaines in Mississippi, Ricky Nelson: 1985 in Texas, Stevie Ray Vaughan: 1989 in Wisconsin, John Denver: 1997 in California & Aaliyah: 2001 in the Bahamas

 

*Buddy Holly: 1936 -1959

He was born Charles Hardin Holley on 7 Sep 1936 in Lubbock, TX. His nickname “Buddy” was given to him at an early age. Buddy learn to play piano at age 11 & about a year later learned to play guitar, influenced by Country & Western Artists from the late 20s to the early 50s. In ’49 Buddy made home recording of Hank Snow’s song “My Two Timing Woman” on “Wire Recorder”  Buddy started performing as a Country & Western Duo in ’52 -53, then in ’54, Buddy started adding R&B into his Country music, thus creating his style of Rockabilly fully developed by ‘55. Buddy opened up for Elvis & Bill Haley’s Comets several times in 1955, which lead to Holly being signed to Decca Records in 1956, & 2 singles were released “Blue Days, Black Nights b/w Love Me” & “Modern Don Juan b/w You Are My One Desire” it was Decca who misspelled “Holley’s” last name on the record labels, therefore changing Buddy’s professional name. In Jan ’57 Holly was dropped from Decca. Then Holly meet producer Norman Petty (27 May 1927 -15 Aug 1984) who was impressed with Holly’s music & recorded some demos for him, & eventually was able to get Holly signed with Brunswick Records in Spring ’57.

 

As Brunswick was part of Decca Records, the new single “That’ll Be The Day b/w Looking For Someone To Love” released in May ’57 (& went to #1), would be under the band name “The Crickets” as suggested by their drummer Jerry Allison (31 Aug 1939; Hillsboro, TX) which consisted of Joe (Joseph Benson Mauldin, Jr. 8 Jul 1940 – 7 Feb 2015) on Stand-up Bass & Niki Sullivan (23 Jun 1937 – 6 April 2004) on Guitar, while Buddy’s Solo Records would be under his own name on Coral Records. The next single “Peggy Sue b/w Everyday” was released in Sep ’57, & hit #3 on the Billboard Charts, the song was re-named for Allison’s girlfriend, (I remember this was one of my Mom’s favorite songs, & she used to sing it to me, I asked why are you singing that way” (with a sort of hiccup), she answered “Because that’s the way he (Holly) sang it”). The next single “Oh Boy b/w Not Fade Away” was a #10 hit in Oct ’57. His next charting single was “Maybe Baby b/w Tell Me How” & hits #17 on the charts in the Fall ’57. Holly’s 1st “Long Player” album ‘Chirping Crickets’ was released in Nov 1957 on Brunswick, as well as a total of 7 singles was released in the year of 1957. Holly & The Crickets made 5 TV appearances in ’57 & 11 more in ’58.

Holly’s 2nd LP ‘Buddy Holly’ was released in Feb 1958 on Coral Records followed by the #37 hit single “Rave On b/w Take Your Time” in Apr ’58, his 3rd LP ‘That’ll Be The Day’ was released on Decca with Sonny Curtis (9 May 1937; Meadow TX) on guitar, who had played with Holly since 1951 & who wrote many well known songs like the theme to “Mary Tyler Moore Show” Sonny took over lead vocals in ‘The Crickets’ when Holly died. Holly & The Crickets played Minneapolis for the 1st time on 25 Apr 1958 @ the Municipal Theatre. Their single “Think It Over b/w Fool’s Paradise” hit #27 on the charts, was released in May ’58. Holly made a 2nd appearance in Minneapolis on 11 Jul 1958 @ the National Guard Armory, remarkably I can find no set-lists for any concerts he performed, although it’s safe to say they probably played 2 shows a night averaging 20 to 30min a set, which back then equated to about 10 songs. Buddy’s next charting single was the #32 hit “Early In The Morning b/w Now We’re One” was released on 30 Aug 1958, a total of 8 singles were released in 1958.

In Dec ’58 Holly split with ‘The Crickets’ & their Manager- Producer Petty, over unwarranted song writing credits & unpaid royalties. His single “Heartbeat b/w Well Alright” was released on 24 Jan 1959 & hit # 82 on the charts, Holly assembles a new band with Tommy Allsup (24 Nov 1931; Owasso, OK) on Guitar, Waylon Jennings (Waylon Arnold Jennings: 15 Jun 1937 Littlefield,TX -13 Feb 2002) on Bass & Carl Bunch (24 Nov 1939; Big Springs, TX – March 26, 2011) on Drums to embark on the “Winter Dance Tour” stopping in St. Paul on 28 Jan 1959 @ the Promenade Ballroom, & only 5 days later was killed in the now famous plane crash just 132 miles south of MPLS. Holly was quite prolific in his short recording career of; Jan ’56 – Dec ’58 (unlike most other artists of the day) he released 17 Singles (32 songs) & 3 LPs before he died. Here’s some Buddy trivia for you The Beatles recorded a very loyal cover of  “Words Of Love” in 1964, Don Mclean: recorded “American Pie” in 1971 which was his telling of the day he found out about the plane crash, the song went #1 in Jan ’72. Micky Dolenz of The Monkees recorded a single “Buddy Holly Tribute” in 1974 on Romar Records, as the  50s revival was in full swing by then. In 1975 Paul McCartney bought publishing to Holly’s songs as part of MPL Communications & then in 1978 “The Buddy Holly Story” biopic film was released starring Gary Busey. I 1st saw ‘The Crickets’ in the Summer of ’93, a 2nd time in W. Des Moines, When I spoke to Mauldin, Allison & Curtis in 2005, Mauldin: told me “Well, that movie was more of Gary’s (Busey) version of the Buddy story, Buddy wasn’t confrontational like that movie depicted him to be” Allison: “It was probably as close as it was going to get, better than not being made at all, they didn’t use my real name because I had already sold the rights to someone else, before that movie was made”  

 

Ritchie Valens: 1941 -1959

 

He was born Richard Steven Valenzuela: 13 May 1941 in Pociama,CA. (3 Feb 1959) a Mexican- American, a son to migrant workers, who spoke no real Spanish. At the age of 5, though he was left handed learned to play Guitar right handed, he also learned to play Trumpet & Drums. Ritchie’s 1st band was ‘The Silhouettes’ he was hired 1st as Guitarist, Valens being from a meager background played a low-end Harmony H44 Stratatone originally a Bronze finish  he had it painted (probably because of wear) Chrysler forest green in shop at school.  Later he took over Lead Vocals in the band, they 1st performed live in Oct’ 57. As he was gaining a reputation, it was suggested to Bob Keane (Robert Verrill Kuhn: 5 Jan 1922 Manhattan Beach, CA. – 28 Nov 2009) that he should check out the new “Little Richard”. Keane saw Valens perform at a Sat. Matinee, impressed with what he heard, Keane convinced Valens to come down to his ‘Gold Star Studios’ & cut some Demos, Keane became Valens Record Producer & Manager & signed Ritchie to “Del-Fi Records” in May ’58, it was Keane who changed Valens name to be less ethnic, for a broader appeal.

Valens 1st 45 Single “Come On Let’s Go b/w Framed” a #42 hit on the charts, was recorded & released in Jul ’58 featuring a backing band of the legendary session people Carol Kaye, Earl Palmer & René Hall. Valens 1st TV appearance was on “American Bandstand” 6 Oct 1958 & his 2nd single “Donna b/w La Bamba” #2 & #22 charting hits; respectively was released on 18 Oct 1958. Donna was Valens’ real life girlfriend Donna Ludwig. In the Fall of ’58 Valens quit school to make music full time. Valens 2nd TV appearance was on “Saturday Night Beechnut Show” on 28 Dec 1958. There is a 30 second “Home Movie” in 8mm color, taken in his Mother’s home in L.A. at a party playing a Tobacco Stratocaster  & singing wearing a blue satin frilly shirt & horsing around with his brother Robert, from about this same time period, it really gives you a sense of what Ritchie looked & moved like. Sometime in late’58 or early ’59 Ritchie filmed a scene in the movie “Go Johnny Go” for the song “Ooh My Head” released in Jun 1959..

Valens released a 3rd 45 single under the name “Arvee Allens” titled “Fast Freight  b/w Big Baby Blues” on Del-Fi #4111, but this was re-issued under Valens’ name after his death, Actually the real “Star” of the 3 who died in the plane crash; at this time was Valens who was currently on the top of the charts. Valens won a coin toss over Allsup on the morning of the 3rd that resulted in his death. In summation, Valens released 3 singles before he died, his 1st LP was released a month after his death. Here’s some Valens Trivia; Led Zeppelin’s 1975 song “Boogie With Stu” is based on “Ooh My Head” a lawsuit was filed (1 of many) & Zeppelin lost, & had to give credit to Valens. A Biopic film “La Bamba” was released in Jul 1987, which was fairly accurate as it had Valens Family involvement (& Local Hero Brian Setzer). I spoke to Valens older brother Bob in 2008 about the film & the scene where Ritchie tells Bob he doesn’t want to use him on drums. Brother Bob Morales: “Yes I was a great artist like the film depicted I was a good musician too, it’s just Ritchie didn’t want to play with me, because I was his older brother” at the time I saw the film with my girlfriend at that time, this was the impression she walked away with Michele: “Can you believe he (Valens) was afraid of flying & that’s the way he died”

 

Big Bopper: 1930 -1959

 

He was born Jiles Perry “J. P.” Richardson, Jr. on 24 Oct 1930 in Sabine Pass, TX. & was primarily known as a Disc Jockey on Station KTRM in Beaumont, TX. & a Novelty Song Writer. He served 2 years in the US Army, before becoming a full-time DJ. J.P. at a function he hosted, had seen some collage kids doing a new dance, they called “The Bop” & he decided, because of his size, to go under the moniker “The Big Bopper”, prior to his very short recording career, he broke the “Continuous On-Air Broadcasting” record, by broadcasting live for 5 days & 2 hours & 8min. in May ’57. While Richardson was a musician, he mainly wrote songs for other people, some 18 in total, his most famous being “White Lightning” a #1 hit in Feb ’59, “Running Bear” (which he sang back-up on the record) also a #1 hit in Jun ’59, & “Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor” released in Jun ’58.

Richardson himself was  signed to Mercury Records in early ’58, he only recorded & released 4 Single 45s, the 1st being “Beggar To A King b/w Crazy Blues” on the “D Records” label. Big Bopper’s 2nd record is of course what he is most famous for “Chantilly Lace b/w Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor” a #6 hit in Summer ’58 (interesting note; Jane Mansfield cut a response record to this titled “That Makes It”) Richardson is given the credit for creating the 1st “Music Video”, filming himself for a potential TV appearance. His 3rd single release

“Big Bopper’s Wedding b/w Little Red Riding Hood” Mercury in the Fall of ’58. Richardson made 2 TV appearances on the “Dick Clark Show” Sep & Nov ’58, whereas upon his 4th single “Walking Through My Dreams b/w Someone Watching Over You” was released in the Winter of ’58, just before the “Winter Dance Party”, as far as I can tell this was Big Bopper’s only tour, which he had come down with the flu & was able to secure a seat on the Beechcraft Bonanza, which tragically crashed only a few minutes after take-off. In his life-time he released 4 singles, his 1st & only LP (Long Player) was released a month after he died.

You see fans, back in the olden days, Artist released 45 Singles, & once you had 2 or 3 big hits their Record Label would release an Album ….

Stay tuned for next month’s installment … Also

You can catch my Band “KISSin Time” @ The Pickled Loon – Nest in St. Cloud on Sat 26 Mar 2016

Rock N Roll '59

Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, Big Bopper

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The Cat has Nine Lives; Criss of KISS

Posted on by mrzeros1@gmail.com Posted in Articles — 1 Comment ↓

“The Cat has Nine Lives; Criss of KISS”

Post- KISS

Peter in the “Criss- Penridge Alliance”


What Peter Criss did outside of KISS: 1967 -2012
“BUZZ Newspaper” Article (#58 -pC) Jan- Feb 2016

By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0 & Starchild of: KISSin Time

 

As this is my 1st article in the new year of 2016 & approaching my 5th year of writing these things for you all, I will address one of my favorite drummers from one of my favorite bands: Peter Criss #3 as he just turned 70, last month.

 

> Barracudas: 1965 <

He was born George Peter John Criscuola in Brooklyn NYC, on 20 Dec 1945 the oldest of 5 kids from an Italian Father Joseph Sr.  & a Irish Mother Loretta, (his younger brother Joey would be 1 of the 1st roadies for ‘KISS’) “Georgie” as he was called then, received a toy drum-set at the age of 7 & then his 1st real kit a Slingerland Radio King in 1960. Peter’s best friend & partner -in -crime Jerry Nolan (7 May 1946 – 14 Jan 1992) gave him his 1st real lessons, Jerry & Peter were childhood friends, they were in the street gang “Phantom Lords” together, also Peter lost out to Jerry to join the ‘New York Dolls’ in Fall ’72. “Georgie” wrote his 1st song @13 “Oh, Honey, You Know I Love You Baby” Peter’s 1st real band was ‘The Barracudas’ in the early ’60s, they were already a band before Criss joined in 1962 or 63 with Carlos Cancel on Vocals & Guitar, Alan Rosen on Lead Guitar & Criss on Drums they had a regular gig @ ‘The King’s Lounge’ where they played songs like “Wipe Out” “Tequila” “In My Life” & “Green Tambourine” in 1965 they put out a 45 Single on M.F.T. Records #102 “It’s Been So Long b/w Affection” Produced By: Marty Craft, a 2nd single followed in 1966 “Chicken b/w No Use” on Delite Records #DE-502. While playing with Buddy Greco @ ‘The Metropole’ Peter was able to open for his Drummer Hero Gene Krupa (15 Jan 1909 – 16 Oct 1973) where eventually Peter was able to take lessons from Krupa.

> Sounds Of Soul: 1967 <

While playing the local NYC circuit Peter ran into his friend Joe, the 2 got to talking & they decided to form ‘The Sounds Of Soul’ with Joe Luceti on Guitar, PepeGenneralli: Organ, Angelo Opper: Bass, Tommy Ventimiglia: Sax & Jack on 2nd Guitar, this R&B band played the NYC club circuit of “Trudy Heller’s” “Night Owl” “Purple Onion” & “Cafe Wha?” they recorded a EP @ Gotham Recording Corporation on 2 West 42nd St. consisting of: “Since I Fell For You” “My Girl” & “Respect” Criss sang lead on the last song. Sometime in ’68, Ventimiglia was drafted & they renamed themselves ‘Brotherhood’ this was the 1st band Criss was in, where they really started to work in “Originals” apparently Opper then left the band in late ’68 & they evolved into ‘The Vintage’ with John Balsamo on Bass, they recorded 1 original “What Is A Man”.

 

> Nautilus: 1969 <

As with most bands (even into today), they evolve from1 band to another & so Genneralli & Criss went on to form ‘Nautilus’ in late ’69 with Kevin Reese on Guitar &  Peter Shandis on Bass, playing mostly originals & usually playing @ ‘The Headliner’. Peter married his 1st wife Lydia Di Leonardo on 31 Jan 1970 (with Jerry Nolan as his “Best Man”) the 2 took a trip to the UK as part of their honeymoon (where Peter picked up the exact same type of shirt white long sleeve with red stars, that Bill Ward of Black Sabbath made famous), when Criss got back to the USA he left ‘Nautilus’.

> Chelsea: 1970 <

Having left his last band, Criss ran an ad in “Village Voice” where he was called by: Peter Shepley: Vocals & Mike Brand: Guitar, they asked Criss to join with Michael Benvenga (1949-1977) on Bass & Chris Aridas on Lead Guitar, they called themselves ‘Chelsea’ & were signed to a 2 record deal with Decca Records (at the time Decca was a huge record label) they released their 1st LP: #DL-75262 in Feb ’70, the LP did not do well & the band had some issues when performing live, Aridas left the band & was replaced by; “A Greek kid from the Village” Stan “Doc” Penridge (1951- 2001) who took over on lead guitar, demos were written & recorded for a 2nd LP; “Beck” “Run Mr. Greene” “You Make Me Feel” & “Heaven With Stars Above” however Decca suffered financial difficulties in 1970 & the band were dropped in Aug ’70, & so, no 2nd LP was released. The band limped along until 1 night in Oct ’71 in Fort Lee, NJ, Brand & Shepley were late & the trio of: Penridge, Criss & Benvenga went on & decided to move forward & from then on known as ‘LIPS’.

This lineup ‘LIPS’ recorded a demo for “Buddha Records” (Neil Bogart was president of the label at this time) consisting of:  “Baby, Don’t You let Me Down” “I’m Gonna Love You”  “Hooked On Rock N Roll” “That’s The Kind Of Sugar Papa Likes” “Beck” “Don’t Let The Blues Surround You” & “You’re My Woman” in the studio they used John Amato also on guitar, the band played some important gigs like ‘St. James Infirmary’ in Jan ’72, however disenchanted with the progress of the band Benvenga left, leaving ‘LIPS’ down to 2 members. Around this time Criss ran into Joey @ ‘The King’s Lounge’ & was asked to sit in with ‘Infiniti’ for a few weeks. Frustrated with going nowhere Criss ran an ad in the east coast printing of “Rolling Stone” in Apr ’72 & his brother Joey had business cards made up “Have Drum, Will Travel: Peter Criss” Joey had added the Extra “S” to Peter’s name, “It looked cooler”. This lead to a phone call from Gene Klein (Simmons) & a chance meeting at ‘Electric Lady Studios’ where Criss performed on Lyn Christopher’s 1972 Paramount LP #PAS-6051 on the song “Celebrate” (also with Stanley & Simmons), before he was hired in ‘KISS’. Criss was hired as the drummer in ‘Wicked Lester’ sometime in Jun 1972, which eventually became ‘KISS’.

> KISS: 1973- 1980 <

When Criss was in KISS he sang on these 13 songs: 1974: “Nothin To Lose” Black Diamond” “Kissin Time” “Mainline” “Strange Ways” 1975: “Getaway” 1976: “Beth” “Hard Luck Woman” “Baby Driver” 1977: “Hooligan” 1979: “Dirty Livin” 1998: “I Finally Found My Way Back To You” “You Wanted The Best” there were 5 other songs Peter demoed but not used 1976 “Ain’t None Of Your Business” “Bad Reputation” 1977 “Love Bite” 1978 “Beth (acoustic) 1979 “Rumble”. While Peter was in ‘KISS’ he released his 1st Solo LP in Sep 1978 ‘Peter Criss :KISS’ his was the only 1 of the 4 ‘KISS’ Solo LPs to have 2  singles released “I’m Gonna Love You b/w Hooked On Rock N Roll” & a short time after that followed “You Matter To Me” there was 1 out-take “Spotlights” written with Sean Delaney (1945 -2003).

Johnnie Bolin: ‘SIR Studios story’ “I (Bolin) was the drummer for Richard T. Bear who had played keyboards on Gene’s solo LP, who (Bear) at the time had a hit with “Sunshine Hotel” on RCA Records, Bear’s band, which included Bob Kulick (wearing a wig) was rehearsing for a tour at SIR Studios in NYC & in the main room, which was the largest room KISS was rehearsing for their “Return Of KISS Tour” in May 1979, I (Bolin) was walking through the hall & sitting there  on a bench was Peter Criss, with his right arm in a sling, & smoking a cigarette, I stopped & introduced myself & asked him how it was going? Peter said ‘Like shit, my arm is broken, I’m playing like shit, we sound like shit, awful, that’s how it’s going’ I (Bolin) ask “So is your arm really broken or are you giving it a rest?” Criss replies “Yea. its broken, what d’ya think, I got it in a cast” then Bolin asks “Well are you ok, how are you playing, if your arm is broken?” Criss fires back ‘Yea, I’m playin ok, It’s f******** rock n roll, not rocket science’
Later in 1979 Peter appeared “Sans- Makeup” on the “Lenny & Squigtones” LP #NBLP- 7149 on Casablanca Records, Criss under the name “Ming The Merciless “.

> By Myself: 1980 <

Criss was effectively fired from ‘KISS’ in May ’80 which he immediately began work on his 2nd Solo LP, but his 1st outside of ‘KISS’ in Sep 1980 ‘Out Of Control’ was released utilizing his long -time music partner Stan “Doc” Penridge & several songs not used by ‘KISS’ one 45 single “By Myself b/w I Found Love” was released there were 2 out-takes from this session:”Could It Be Love” & “You’re My Girl“. Sometime in 1981 Criss & Penridge recorded 2 versions of a “Budweiser” Commercial “This Bud’s For You” one at: 30 & 1min. In 1982 Criss 3rd Solo LP ‘Let Me Rock You’ was released in Europe only with the 45 single “Tears b/w Jealous Guy” this LP features songs by Gene Simmons & another by Vinnie Vincent, there were 2 out-takes “Jenilee” (Peter’s daughter) “Rock N Roll Survivor”. I talked to Peter about this LP in Dec ’93; Criss “It was only released in Europe, because at the time Paul & Gene felt it would interfere with ‘KISS” record sales, “Feel Like Heaven” was a song, I really liked, that Gene had from a ‘KISS’ LP that never materialized (“Louder, Harder”: 1981) since they didn’t use it I asked him if I could, no I didn’t use Doc on that album, we weren’t talking for a awhile, back then because of some stupid argument.”

 

Criss had not toured since Dec ’79 with ‘KISS’ so he & his musical partner Stan Penridge, of the past 14 years formed the “Criss-Penridge Alliance” & hit the road, 1 of the shows on the tour was 3 Mar 1984 in Newton, NJ. with Mike Hutchens: Guitar, Allen Woody: Bass, Tony Crow: Keyboards & John Moss: Drums, the band primary played late 50s & early 60s R&R standards, this line-up did record 4 originals: “Blame It On Love” “Run For Cover” “Tell The Valentine” & “Times Of  Our Lives” soon after in May ’84 the band got 2 new members: Benny Harrison: Keyboards & Tony Mercadante: Guitar, Stan & Peter appeared on a local Nashville TV show plugging their new band “Desperate Men” & new LP “One For The Sun” & then in Oct ’84 cut these originals: “Never Met A Woman” “Baby Hold On” & “Forever With You”.

 

> Face Without A KISS: 1987 <

By the late 80s Peter was not very prolific, he joined ‘Balls Of Fire’ in Aug 1986, & left after a few months. He sang with ‘Black N Blue’ on the song “Best In The West” from the LP ‘Nasty Nasty’ on Geffen #GHS-24111 with Gene Simmons & Tommy Thayer. He began work on the 1st draft of his book “A Face Without A KISS” in the Fall of ’87 & recorded the song for”Days Of My Greasepaint” to coincide with the book. In 1988 he sang on the song “Take It Off” from the ‘King Kobra’ LP “III” on New Renaissance Records. Then in 1989 Criss formed “The Tree” with Kevin Russel of “707” which soon became “The Keep” as 3 members of ‘White Tiger’ joined Criss; Mark St.John: (7 Feb 1956 – 5 Apr 2007) Guitar, Mike Norton: Bass & David Donato: Vocals, this line-up recorded these songs: “Love For Sale” “Do You Know What I Mean” “”All Night Long” “Between The Lines” & “(been a) Long Time” (several of these songs were released on St. John’s 1999 EP  “Project”) the band’s premier gig was 2 May 1990 in Lawndale, CA.

> Bad People Burn In Hell: 1993 <

The early 90s find Peter back with a vengeance, as he puts together “CRISS” with Ray Carrion: Guitar Mark Montague: Bass &  Phil Naro: Vocals, in  Nov ’91, the band’s premier gig is @ “Exposure 54” the band record these songs: “Wait For The Minute (to R&R)” “No I’m Not Afraid” “Spread The Word” “First On To Admit” “We’re All In This Together” before several line-up changes, then in the Fall of ’93 they release the ‘Criss EP’ #0004-2SE Tony Nicole Records which contains “The Cat” “Show Me” “Good Times” “What You’re Doin” “Beth” with Mike Stone: Vocals & Kirk Miller: Guitar. I saw Peter sit in with the KISS Tribute Band ‘STRUTTER’ in Dec’93 in Chicago, ILL. they performed “Strutter” “Let Me Go Rock N Roll” & “Love Gun” I had him sign a couple LPs & was able to ask him a few questions, Criss: “I plan on doing another Lennon cover for my next CD (1995) maybe “Oh, Yoko”, I was born in ’45 but they always list ’46 because I was born in Dec. age is just a stage, ya know, a frame of mind. Yea, Bogart had a statue of a maid leaning over dusting in his window to keep burglars away, (laughs). Still in touch with Glickman- Marks, no way they ripped me off for millions”

Then in the Spring ’94 the CD ‘Criss Cat #1’ on Tony Nicole Records, now with; Mike Mc.Laughlin on Guitar. In May through Dec ’95 Peter Criss & Ace Frehley embark on “The Bad Boys Tour” performing some 49 concerts together getting ready for the ’96 KISS Reunion. Criss’ performed these songs all of which were unreleased & played live: “Beg Borrow Steal” “Called You Crazy” “Crazy For Your Love” “Dont Come Crying To Me” “Knock Out” “Leave Me Alone” “My Reality” “Seeds (no evil)” “Wasting Love” “Adalyne” & “Shut Up”. This line-up did record these songs; “Surrender (in the name of love)” “Golden Arm” “The Shooter” “U Gotta Know” “Zig Zag” for a potential new CD slated in ’95, however the next CD was a Interview/Story CD, ‘Past, Present & Future’ on KISS Army International Records as Peter was unable to find a publisher for his book he had in progress, 1 demo was recorded “Easy Goin Guy” intended for the CD, but the song went un-issued.

> Found My Way: 1995 <
In late ’95 Criss rejoined ‘KISS’ from 1995 -2004, he made an appearance on the TV Series “Millennium” in 1998 as “Nice Cop #1” then on the “Family Guy” TV Series in 2001 as “Himself” , then in 2002 on the TV Series “Oz” as “Martin Montgomery” for 2 episodes. I was able to met Peter for a 2nd time in Nov. 2003. Finally in 2007 Peter’s 6th & final (so far) CD ‘All For One’ on Silvercat Records was released, this is primarily a “Easy Listening” CD, there were several other songs recorded for a pending “Rock” CD due out in 2009, those songs were “Bohemia” “Cat Nip” Crossroads” “Falling All Over Again” “Last Night” “Reason For Living” “What Does It Take” & “Whisper” so far this last CD has not been released; Criss: “I’m gonna take my time, as it isn’t really fair to the artist, you put out a record & it gets down-loaded for free & the artist doesn’t get paid”. Peter appeared in the Film “Frame Of Mind” in 2009 as “Mike”, then finally in 2012, Peter gets his book released “Makeup To Breakup” after 25 years in the making, it’s a good read, about a poor kid from Brooklyn who becomes 1 of the most famous musicians of all time.

Some of you know, some don’t, I own a Recordshop “Mr. Zero’s 55113” & I am in a KISS Tribute Band “KISSin Time” (with Peter Campbell: Catman, Anthony Wright: Spaceman & Joe Masanz: Demon) that covers the 1st 2 tours that KISS performed, so if you want to know more about KISS stop in the store, if you want to see what KISS was like in the very early years, you can catch us live in MPLS, St.Paul, Mankato or St. Cloud

Until the next time ….

 

Mr. Zero’s *Est.2009

1744 Lexington Ave. N.

Roseville- St.Paul, MN. 55113
651.489.0207

www.MrZeros.Com

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Beatles: 1970 Christmas Album

Posted on by mrzeros1@gmail.com Posted in Articles — No Comments ↓

Beatles 1970 Christmas Album:

1963- 1969

The Beatles: 1965

“BUZZ” Newspaper Article (#57 Dec 2015)

By: RLSchwinden aka MrZer0

 

When I was a kid growing up in on the Westside of Sioux City, my favorite time of year was Christmas, I loved the snow on the ground, the 2 weeks off from Smith School (I hated  school, & it hated me), I loved going to pick out our “Real” Christmas tree, though I was never allowed to decorate it, (in all fairness my Mom is a wonderful artist & no one else really could compare to her when it came to her creating anything) I would sit & stare at the Christmas tree lights for hours on end (in fact my Grandpa & Grandma Kessler would call the Christmas tree “Ricky’s Baby sitter”, there’s even 8mm film footage of me in front of their Xmas tree as a toddler), it was 1 of the 2 times a year we really got any toys, oh, yea & the candy & cookies!!!

The other thing I loved about Christmas time, was the Christmas Music (so does my youngest sister Carrie as she starts listening to Xmas music in Aug.), I don’t really remember the AM radio stations playing too much Christmas music, back then, & if they did it was usually the old “Easy Listening” standards of yester-year: Ray Conniff, Harry Simone, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, etc. Never any other the artists I loved, Monkees, Beatles, Partridge Family, Osmonds, ELP, Jethro Tull , etc. It wasn’t until I started in the “Record Biz” back in ’85, I was able to get a hold of some of the “Pop Rock Artists”, that I loved, some of them recorded Xmas Songs, that I had discovered in later years, 2 friends of mine (Bob A. & Marc H.) made yearly “Christmas Cassettes” so started my yearly tradition of “Dr. Rock’s Time-Machine To Xmas Past” & so this marks my 30th Year making these Xmas Mix CDs (tapes).

Of course I had heard Lennon’s “Happy Xmas” but it was my friend Ace (not Frehley) who clued me into the fact ‘The BEATLES’ had a “Christmas Album” well sort of, anyway. So here’s how the story goes. Starting in 1963 ‘The Beatles’ recorded a special “Christmas” message & this was sent out to the UK members of their “Fan Club”. Now they were not pressed on standard “Vinyl Records” but on what was referred to as a “Flexi-Disc” or a “Sound-Sheet”

“Flexi-Discs” were introduced in 1962, a thin vinyl sheet, with grooves pressed in the vinyl sheet, some were 1 sided with 2 songs or they were 2 sided with 1 song per side. One inherent problem with “Flexi- Discs” were the lack of mass, not having enough weight to properly spin on a turntable, therefore they had a spot for a coin, to give them more weight to spin properly, this eventually lead to people putting coins on the tone-arm of inexpensive record players in order to cut down the “skipping” on well-played records. Flexi-discs were generally “Premiums” or “Give-aways” in magazines or books, production on Flexi-Discs roughly ended about 1999 then recently brought back sometime in 2010.

In 1990 Glen Buxton (10 Nov 1947: Akron, OH – 19 Oct 1997: Clarion, IA) (Alice Cooper Group) told me he wanted to release a couple of songs on a ‘Flexi- Disc’ that ‘The Spiders’ had recorded in 1967 in Phoenix. We had to inform him; (at that time) no one really used turntables anymore & therefore probably would not buy these rare recordings if they were on Flexi-Disc. To my knowledge, Buxton died with those songs still being unreleased.

 

So once a year generally in the Fall, The Beatles would record a “Thank you Message” to the fans & then the Flexi-Discs were mailed out to the UK members of The Beatles: Fan Club. So here are the years they were made a brief description of what the recordings were, as the band were from Liverpool the Mid West Coast of the UK, they had Very British humor. As much as The Monkees: (1966-68) were a TV Show that released Records, The Beatles were a Musical Band that release Comedy films, much like Monty Python that was formed in 1969, however the Beatles started recording these comedy recordings a full 6 years before Monty Python, needless to say if you do not get or enjoy British humor, you may not enjoy these recordings, as they are more comedy than musical, there are some bits of improvisational songs contained on them, however, they are, by in large comedy recordings, each came with a cardboard photo cover & a flexi-disc inside.

1963: The Beatles’ Christmas Record (5:00min)

This being the 1st one of the 7 starts off with “Good King Wenceslas” John then remarks “I’d like to personally thank everyone, but I haven’t enough pens” then breaks out into “Garry Crimble”. Paul then comments on how they used to love “Jelly Babies” but now they have had their fill, & then breaks out into ”Good King Wenceslas” in German followed by Ringo who states he was “The last one to join in 1962” & then he breaks out into “Good King Wenceslas” with a Lounge delivery, followed by George who offers “Thank you Ringo, we’ll phone you” then they all break out into “Rudolph Red Nosed Ringo” with Lennon singing “When everybody picked it”
1964: Another Beatles’ Christmas Record (3:58min)
This 2nd Beatles Christmas Flexi opens with “Jingle Bells” using a hand written script by the band’s press agent Tony Barrow the members have some trouble reading what’s been written for them as Paul says “It’s been fun melting them, no that’s wrong, & we wish you a  very new year” followed by John who had fun with the script “Thanks to you bought my book, there’ll be another out soon says here, it’s the usual rubbish” it would seem George read over his part as he has less trouble “Thanks for seeing film, we have another one out next year ‘cept this one  will be in a colour” & finally Ringo “Thank you for being fans”

For the USA fans, opposed to using flexi-discs, the US fan-club sent the ‘63 message (in ’64) in a tri-fold cardboard mailer, with the “record” embedded in one of the flaps of cardboard, it was only about 3 x 3inches, the bottom held the vinyl record, the middle, which is the speaker, folded up, making the top fold straight down, into the tone arm, holding the metal stylus, you operated the device by turning the record with your finger! Very Low Fidelity, but Really Cool!

The film the band refers to is “A Hard Day’s Night” a “Black & White” comedy film released in July 1964, & the book Lennon refers to is “In His Own Write” also released in1964 a collection of abstract art & ironic stories such as “No Flies On Frank”
1965: The Beatles’ Third Christmas Record (6:20min)

This one starts off with the boys singing, “Yesterday” intentionally off key, with an opening Ringo “Well, thank ya Johnny it’s been a nice to know ya”  followed by Paul, as always John is his usual sarcastic self thanking the fans for “Playing card make out of knickers” (knickers = underwear) then George says “On behalf of John  & I we’d like to thank you for cards presents” (seems the John & George pairing up as a team started very early on) Lennon breaks out into “Bonny Christmas”  & then into “Auld Lang Syne” & then the old standard “It’s The same Old Song” at which point Harrison blurts out “Copyright Johnny” to which John spouts out “How about we’ll gather lilacs in a Old Brown Shoe” (later in ’69 a Harrison song) then the guys goof on some loosely constructed songs, “Christmas Comes But Once A Year” & “Christmasday” signing off Lennon proclaims “This is Johnny Rhythm saying goodnight to ya”.

In ’65 Lennon releases his 2nd book “A Spaniard In The Works” followed by the band’s 2nd comedy film, a spy thriller; “Help!” released in Aug 1965. Lennon made his 1st appearance as a guest on the BBC TV Show “Not Only … But Also” in Season 1; Episode 1.
1966: Pantomime: Everywhere It’s Christmas (6:36min)

This next one begins with Paul & John singing “Everywhere It’s Christmas” right into the song “Oh Louania” Ringo then beings to tell the tale; “2 elderly Scott’s men munch on a rare cheese” sort of a radio play, in the UK referred to as a “Pantomime” set in Corsica & the Swiss Alps & on the HMS Tremendous with the improve song “If I ever see another Banjo”

Also in Winter 1966 McCartney wrote the soundtrack for the BBC “The Family Way” & Lennon made his 2nd appearance on the BBC TV Show “Not Only … But Also” on the Christmas Episode as a “Lavatory Attendant”
1967: Christmas Time (Is Here Again) (6:06min)

This ’67 flexi disc, is probably the most musical of them all in the vein on “You Know My Name” with the reoccurring theme song “Christmas Time Is Here Again” played throughout the recording , it starts off with “The boys arrive at the BBC House” a sort of musical & radio play of a mock BBC radio show written by Lennon & Victor Spinetti, with commercials like; “Get one of us for your trousers, get one of us for your homes” & ‘The Ravellers’ sing “Plenty of Jam Jars” towards the end  Lennon reads a poem “When Christmas time is over” as the cracks in the band begin to show this will be the last one to be recorded as a band.

This year 3 different films were released “The Beatles At Shea Stadium (Aug 1966 NYC)” in Jan 1967 the 5th to last Beatles concert ever performed & “How I Won The War” hysterical British humor about WW2 in Oct 1967 with Lennon as “Private Gripweed” &  “Magical Mystery Tour”  released in Dec 1967 directed by: McCartney; a musical journey on a psychedelic bus.
1968: The Beatles’ 1968 Christmas Record (2 sided @ 7:48min)

This year’s message was recorded separately by each Beatle then was compiled by The Beatles friend & DJ Kenny Everett, in the vein of “What’s The New Mary Jane” starting off with “Ob La Di Ob La Da” Ringo is the 1st to speak followed by Paul’s “Happy Middlemas” & a snip-it of “Helter Skelter” is played, then Lennon reads the poem of “Jock & Yono: “Once upon a pool table” George adds in a snip-it of “Music from “Wonderwall” & then Mal Evans says “Merry Christmas” followed by Ringo who does a very “Monty Python- ish” skit, & then the only other musical artist to appear on the Beatles Christmas recordings, George has Tiny Tim (Herbert Khaury: 12 Apr 1932: NYC – 30 Nov 1996: MPLS) sing “Nowhere Man”. I had my Album signed by Tiny Tim, as I lived in Des Moines, IA for a number of years & he lived downtown @ the Savary Hotel, Tiny used to play the “Holiday Inn South” once a month in 1992, he had an amazing memory for pre- “Rock & Roll” music history  the recording closes with “God bless you TinyTim”.

This year Harrison wrote the soundtrack for the film “Wonderwall” (1968) released in Jan 1969 followed by the cartoon feature film “Yellow Submarine” released in Nov 1968 (my RecordStore Mr. Zero’s was able to get famous DC Comic Artist Jose Delbo (9 Dec 1933: Argentina) to create our mascot, as Delbo’s 2nd job was for the “Gold Key” comic book of “Yellow Submarine”
1969: The Beatles’ Seventh Christmas Record (2 sided @ 7:39min)

The final Christmas Felxi was done very much in the style of “Revolution #9” John & Julian, being with Yoko & her asking John “If he had any special thoughts for Christmas” Lennon: “Any special thoughts towards Christmas are eating, I’d like some cornflakes” followed George & George Martin commenting “Christmas comes but once a year” then Ringo sings “Good Evening To You Gentlemen” then a snip-it of “The End” is played, Paul then sings “This Is To Wish You A Merry Christmas” it’s too bad they didn’t finish up some of these bits of songs, some of them could have been quite good. John interviews Yoko “I was wondering Mrs. Lennon what do you foresee in the 70s” Yoko “Everybody will be just flying around” & as with the very 1st one Lennon breaks out into  “Good King Wenceslas”. Then John & Yoko go into a very “Two Virgins” -ish “Happy, Happy Christmas”. Ringo does a plug for his new film in the form of “Merry Christmas warping into Magic Christian” finishing out is John & Yoko playing “What do you want from Santa” Lennon “Mommy, I want a man on the Moon” This is the only actual Flexi I own of the 7.

This year it’s Ringo’s turn in movies as “Magic Christian” is released in Dec 1969 , Ringo appears as “Youngman Grand” a homeless boy.

In 1970 The Beatles call it day & release the film “Let It Be”  a documentary about recording an album, in May 1970 to mark the end of an era, in addition too they do not record a 1970 Christmas flexi, but instead compile all 7 messages into 1 LP in the UK, titled “From Then To You”  with a black & yellow photo from ’63, this was also only sent out to “Fan Club Members’ in Dec ’70, in the USA the LP was sent out to fan club members in the Spring of ’71 as “The Beatles Christmas Album” with a blue collage cover.

> In The Aftermath: The 70’s <

In the ’70s three of 4 the Beatles recorded & released “Holiday Songs” in order;

 

>John Lennon: 1971<

“Happy Christmas (war is over) b/w Listen The Snow Is Falling (Yoko)” released in Dec 1971 as a 45 single & the original version, a #36 Hit on the charts, as with all Lennon singles from that time a Lennon song was on the “A-Side” & an Ono song was on the “B-Side” Then a 2nd version was released on the LP ‘Shaved Fish’ in Oct 1975, a “Best Of LP” as Lennon had retired from the music business to be a full time Father to his 2nd son Sean.

Worth noting The Monkees: Jones, Dolenz & Tork reunited in 1986, & filmed a Christmas video for MTV with Nesmith making a surprise appearance, the video was a medley of several Christmas songs, Tork sang this song as part of the medley.

 

>George Harrsion: 1974<

“Ding Dong Ding Dong b/w Hari’s On Tour (express)” Harrison’s “New Year Song” was released in Dec 1974 as a 45 single & hit #36 on the charts & was included on the LP ‘Dark Horse’ Harrison made his 1st Promo Video Clip for this song. Harrison wanted to release a “New Year’s Song” in celebration of the beginning of his new found life at the time.

 

>Paul McCartney: 1979<

“Wonderful Christmastime b/w Rudolph Red Nosed Reggae” from Nov 1979 a #6 hit in the UK, where every year since 1973, they have a race for the “Christmas #1”, unfortunately Paul missed, they did film a “Promo Video” for this song featuring ‘Wings’ though they do not play on the recording, as it was recorded entirely by McCartney himself, something he had been doing for over 10 years by this time. I met the drummer for ‘Wings’ Steve Holly while he was playing in Ian Hunter’s band in 2001 @ ‘1st Ave’ in MPLS. He didn’t have a whole lot to say about his time in ‘Wings’.

 

>Ringo Starr: 1999<

The only Beatle to release a whole “Christmas” CD, ‘I Wanna Be Santa Claus’ came out in Oct 1999. 2 songs “Dear Santa” & “Christmas Eve” were recorded in 1998 & then the rest of the CD followed it contains 6 originals & a cover of The Beatles “Christmas Time Is Here Again”

In ’95 The Beatles ‘Anthology 1’ was released with the CD Single “Free As A Bird b/w Christmas Time Is Here Again (remix)” in Dec 1995 the re-mix was pulled from 3 different flexi discs to make an all new recording.

 

Sometime in the early 80s a Vinyl Bootleg Album ”Sessions” contained a 1 minute version of “Christmas Time Is Here Again” & another Bootleg contained the un-cut 5 minute backing track, version of the song.

So there you have “Beatle Collectors” as fairly complete list of the Beatles Christmas Recordings, Books & Films.

So we shall see you in the New Year 2016 to celebrate my 5th year of writing these articles.

Mr. Zero’s Inc.

*Est. 2009

1744 Lexington Ave. N. & Larpenteur

Roseville- St. Paul, MN. 55113

www.MrZeros.Com

Classic Music, Vintage Video Games, Retro Toys & Movies too …

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“Hello, world, here’s a song that we’re singin”

Posted on by mrzeros1@gmail.com Posted in Articles — 1 Comment ↓
TV Show: 1970- 74

TV Show: 1970- 74

“Hello, world, here’s a song that we’re singin”

The Partridge Family: 1970- 1974

“BUZZ” Newspaper Article Nov 2015 (#56-pF)

By: RLSchwinden aka MrZer0
In Jun 1970 as The Monkees, called it a day, I was really bummed, But, then some salvation was on the way, because in Dec 1969 Columbia Pictures- Screen Gems (who also filmed The Monkees) started filming a New Replacement Musical TV Series in “The Partridge Family” remarkably (or not) about 60% of the song writers & musicians moved from “The Monkees” to the “Partridge Family” although instead of Don Kirshner, Wes Farrell would be in charge & instead of Micky Dolenz, David Cassidy would be the Lead Vocalist. However Bobby Hart would still be a main songwriter. And the new TV Band would be on the same record label as the old Monkees as Bell Records, purchased Colgems Records.

 

The series was loosely based on the real live “Family Band” The Cowsills:from Newport, R.I. with 7 family members & 8 LPs on MGM Records from 1967- 71, with 3 Top #2 Billboard Hits. The series starred David Cassidy (David Bruce Cassidy: 12 Apr 1950; NYC) & his real-life Step-Mother Shirley Jones (Shirley Mae Jones: 31 Mar 1934 Charleroi, PA) with Susan Dey (Susan Hallock Dey: 10 Dec 1952 Pekin, Ill.)  & Danny Bonaduce: (Dante Daniel Bonaduce: 13 Aug 1959; Broomall, PA) & Dave Madden: (17 Dec 1931- 16 Jan 2014).

While Cassidy was a good guitar player & a great singer & Jones had been in many musicals with soundtrack LPs; such as “Oklahoma” in 1955 &  “Carousel” in 1956 & “Music Man” in 1962 & countless others, only Jeremy Gelbwaks: (22 May 1961; L.A. CA.) had any musical experience by learning  to play the drums for the filming of the TV Show. The others all faked it for the camera. Never-the-less this made for TV band released 10 LPs & 11 Singles from 1970- 1974 as well as several Solo LPs.
> 1970: I Can Feel Your Heartbeat <

The 1st LP was released in late ’70 (back then there were no hard release dates) made to look like a “Photo Album” it did contain the “Premium” of an 8×8” color photo for the fans to frame, the single “I Think I Love You b/w Somebody Wants To Love You” (one of 2 picture sleeves) was a #8 Billboard Hit on 5 Dec 70, to me, the stand out tracks are “Bandala” & “I Can Feel Your Heartbeat“, I feel this is one of the weakest releases from them as several songs were recorded without Cassidy & Jones, Trivia: one of the Keyboard players on this LP was Mike Melvoin the father to Prince’s guitar player “Lisa”. There were 4 out-takes from this LP “Com’on Get Happy” “Baby I Love, Love, I Love You” & 2 sung by Ron Hicklin “Together” & “Let The Good Times In” There were 13 TV episodes released this year, my favorite being episode #7 from 6 Nov ’70 “Danny & The Mob”.

 

> 1971: Summer Days <

Their 2nd LP ‘Up To Date’ was released in 1971 designed to look like a “Calendar” this LP contained the “Premium” of a “Book Cover” Cassidy had an original song on this one “Lay It On The Line”  2 singles were released from this LP;  “Doesn’t Somebody Want To Be Wanted b/w You Are Always On My Mind” which had the 2nd of 2 picture sleeves & a #6 hit on 13 Mar 1971, followed by “I’ll Meet You Halfway b/w Morning Rider On The Road” which was a #4 hit on 29 May 1971. There was an out-take “Stephanie” written by “Monkees” side-men Ric Klein & David Price. The TV Episode  “Knight In Shining Armor” from 19 Mar 1971, launched another TV Show starring Bobby Sherman: (22 Jul 1943 Santa Monica) “Getting Together” for 14 Episodes in  fall ’71 & winter ’72, Sherman released 8 LPs & 15 Singles on Metromedia, spawned from the 2 TV Shows.

Their 3rd LP ’Sound Magazine’ was released in late ’71, designed to look like a “Teen Magazine” of the day, with the #18 single “I Woke Up In Love This Morning b/w 24 Hours A Day” on 18 Sep ’71, Cassidy had his 2nd song on this one with “Love Is All That I Ever Needed” the 1st of many Bobby Hart songs “I’m On My Way Back Home” is also on this LP. There were 2 out-takes for this LP”I’ll Be Your Magician” & “Warm My Soul”.  Their 4th LP was ‘Christmas Card’ the “Premium” for this LP was an actual “Christmas Card” tucked into a slot on the cover, Jones got her 1st lead vocal on the LP with “Christmas Song” For the TV Show there was 26 episodes released this year, my favorite being episode #21 from 19 Feb ’71 “Partridge Up A Pair Tree” starring the love of my life Annette O’Toole: (1 Apr 1952; Houston, TX)   For some reason Bell Records would not give Jones a Solo LP deal but did release 3 singles the 1st being “I’ve Still Got My Heart Joe” b/w “Everybody’s Reachin’ Out for Someone” Bell #119. Cassidy scores a “Christmas #1” with “Cherish b/w All I Wanna Do” (a Non-LP song) on 25 Dec ’71.

> 1972: Something New Got Old <

As if this project did not have enough success ’72 would be the year of all things Partridge Family- David Cassidy, Bell Records really stepped up the musical output, this year starting with a #2 hit with “It’s One Of Those Nights b/w One Night Stand” on 22 Jan ’72, followed by Cassidy’s 1st Solo LP ‘Cherish’ in Feb ’72 containing a Cassidy original & another Bobby Hart song. Followed by ‘Shopping Bag’ in Mar 1972 this LP’s “Premium” a real plastic Shopping Bag, this  LP contained 1 Cassidy original & 2 Bobby Hart songs, “Am I Losing You b/w If You Ever Go” #39 29 Apr ’72. On 1 Jul ’72 “How Can I Be Sure b/w Ricky’s Tune” hits the #25 mark on the charts, quickly followed by “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do b/w I’m Here You’re Here” a #30 hit on 5 Aug ’72. Incidentally Wayne Newton’s #3 hit “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast b/w Echo Valley 26809″ from Aug ’72, contained a “Partridge Family” song on the B-Side. I own a “Gold Record Award” for this 45 Single, I was able to get Wayne to sign it, Newton: “Where on earth did you come across this?”

The 1st “Greatest Hits LP” titled ‘At Home’ was released in  Sep ’72, because so many 45 Singles were released with songs that were not contained on a LP, however several songs on this LP were not singles or hits at all, but featured in the TV Show. Cassidy’s 2nd Solo LP was released in late ’72 ‘Rock Me Baby’ this time Cassidy had 3 originals included, & the #38 Hit “Rock Me Baby b/w Two Time Loser” on 14 Oct ’72. The 6th studio LP ‘Notebook’ was released in Nov ’72,  When I meet Cassidy & got him to sign my copy he said “That’s why it’s blank on the front, so the kids could write on it” Jones 2nd Bell single “Ain’t Love Easy” b/w “Roses in the Snow”  Bell #253 was released sometime in ‘72 & Jones had a duet “Girl Land” with her husband & David’s real-life Father Jack Cassidy: (1927- 1976) on the various LP ‘Free to Be… You and Me’  23 TV episodes were released this year, my favorite being from; 21 Jan ‘72 “Waiting For Bolero” Keith Partridge “These aren’t potato chips, it’s potato dust”

> 1973: It’s A Long Way To Heaven <

As ’73 opens “Looking Through The Eyes Of Love b/w Storybook Love” hits #9 on the charts on 27 Jan ’73, this will be the last song to hit the top of the charts, ending the “Top 40” reign of the project. The next 2 LPs both released in ’73 are by far the hardest to locate in the wild (before the Intronetts that is) their 7th LP ‘Crossword Puzzle‘ is released in  Jun ’73 with an actual “Crossword Puzzle” for a cover containing the final 45 single “Looking For A Goodtime b/w Money Money” this LP contains 3 Bobby Hart songs. Followed by the 8th & final LP ‘Bulletin Board’ in Oct ’73, the cover looking like a household bulletin board,containing the final 3 Bobby Hart songs, strangely Cassidy’s 3rd Solo LP comes out in the same month ‘Dreams Are Nothing More Than Wishes’ is also released in Oct’ 73 with a remake of an earlier Partridge Family song “Summer Days” this LP does have the 45 single “Daydreamer b/w Puppy Song” this LP contains 2 more originals by Cassidy & his main song writing partner at the time Kim Carnes: (20 Jul 1945 Hollywood).

Shirley Jones 3rd & final single is also released in ’73 “Walk in Silence” b/w “The World is a Circle” Bell #350. While Jones did not get a solo album deal, Danny Bonaduce did, with Lion-MGM his only solo LP contained the 45 single “Dreamland b/w Bluberry You” & 2nd single a Partridge Family out-take “I’ll Be Your Magician b/w Fortune Lady” even more odd Ricky Segall: (10 Mar 1969 NYC) was given a solo record deal on Bell Records, after appearing in only 10 TV episodes of the show. 24 TV episodes are released this year my favorite being ”I Left My Heart In Cincinnati” from 26 Jan ’73.

 

> 1974: Where Do We Go From Here <

This will be the last year for the project, as the final 10 TV Episodes are released my favorite being “Two For The Show” from 19 Jan ’74, as is the end of any project a “Hits” LP is released, & in Apr ’74 ‘World Of’ a 2 LP “Best Of” is released. From Sep – Dec ’74 the cartoon “Partridge Family 2200 A.D.” was aired for 16 episodes, Starring: Dey, Bonaduce, Brian Forster (14 Apr 1960 L.A.) the Great- Great Grandson of Charles Dickins & Suzanne Crough: (6 Mar 1963- 27 Apr 2015) as the voices of their TV characters.
This same year David’s 4th & final solo LP is released ‘Cassidy Live’ with the 45 single “Please Please Me”. It’s worth noting that a myriad of merchandise was released in conjunction with the Partridge Family, enough to rival their predecessor The Monkees; the coolest & most sought after being the Lunchbox w/Thermos, Trading Cards, Board Game, & View-Masters. As Wes Farrell produced all 8 LPs he co-wrote many of the projects songs besides him Tony Romeo wrote some 16 songs, followed Terry Cashman & Tommy West, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil & Gerry Goffin. Bobby Hart released a book “Psychedelic Bubblegum” earlier this year where he details his work with The Monkees & Partridge Family, Hart to me in 1990 “(Wes) Farrell, kept me working in the early 70’s working on TV Shows like Partridge Family, Sigmund & The Seamonsters & Josie & The Pussycats”

Many of my friends ask me “How can you be into that kid’s music?” I respond “It’s simple, I am a little older than you, it was on TV, there wasn’t “KISS” yet & more importantly, good songs are good songs”

So see you for our 7th Xmas @ Mr. Zero’s 55113

Mr. Zero’s *Est. 2009

1744 Lexington Ave. N.

Roseville-St. Paul, MN. 55113

www.MrZeros.Com

TV Show: 1970- 74

TV Show: 1970- 74

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Mr. Zero’s “PsychoGello Radio Show Vol.4”

Posted on by mrzeros1@gmail.com Posted in Articles — No Comments ↓

Mr. Zero’s “PsychoGello Vol.4”
“BUZZ” Newspaper Article Oct- Nov 2015 (mZp- #55)

So as some of you know I have a Annual Radio-Show, this year I was lucky enough to be on a 2nd time this year for “Pledge Drive” week, so a nod to Liberty Finch & DJ Izzy, I thank you both.
For this show I dug deep for my fans of The Monkees, KISS & Tommy Bolin, so here’s a breakdown of the songs I chose this time & their significance. Also many of these Artists, I have previously written “BUZZ” Articles on in the past 4.5 years, you can read past articles @ www.MrZeros.Com “Blog” there’s only about 55 of them to pour through.

“Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again” The MONKEES: 1968 “Head” This is only 1 of 2 Peter Tork solo lead vocals released while he was in ‘The Monkees’ while he wrote 12 songs for The Monkees, most of them went unreleased until the Rhino “Missing Links Vol: 1- 3” series & the 2 “Anthology Box-Sets” that were also released” I just love this song it’s got a get beat & bass line, although Tork played guitar on this one, the bass was played by Lance Wakely, the “HEAD” Soundtrack was Tork’s shining moment as he had 2 original songs on the LP, it was also his swan song, as Tork did not appear on the last 3 Monkees’ LPs, while he did appear in the TV Special “33 1/3 Monkees Per Revolution” in Apr ’69, singing on “I, Prithee” “California, Here I Come” & “Little Darling” there was no LP released for this show.

“(I’m not your) SteppinStone” The TRASHMEN 1967 “Bird Call” as I had written in another article my Dad Dr. W. A. Schwinden had sat in The Trashmen, before he was shipped off to Viet Nam in ’64. I have to wonder if the Trashmen chose this one because of The Monkees’ or The Raiders’ version, in any case it was cool to hear a “Surf Band” perform a 60’s Pop tune.

“Pretty Thing” Tommy Boyce: 1965 “Tribute” on the day we were broadcasting it happened to be Boyce’s birthday, so we had to play 1 of his songs, here’s Boyce doing his best “Dylanesque” the 1st time I met Boyce was in Jun ’86 he told me himself, “I, we would listen to the radio, to hear what was the current popular, types, of songs that were being played, & I, we would try to copy them in our own style” I dedicated this one to my favorite waitress Diana.

“If You’ve Got Trouble” The BEATLES: 1965 “Anthology 2” while Ringo was in The BEATLES he sang only 10 songs, this would have been #11, originally intended for the LP “HELP” it was left off. I love it; it’s a good rocker with a great riff.

“Buddy Holly Tribute” Micky Dolenz: 1972 “MGM Singles” while Dolenz & Jones continued to work for The MONKEES until early ’71 both Jones & Dolenz were then picked up by the Record Label MGM, who also handled other “Teen” oriented artists like The OSMONDS & Danny Bonaduce. The legend goes that Dolenz recorded an entire LP for MGM titled “I Hate Rock N Roll” with the tracks “Wing Walker” “Purple People Eater” & the title track, it’s recently be written that Dolenz recorded up to 31 tracks for MGM, because of the “50’s Resurgence” he recorded this tribute to Buddy Holly.

“Gentle On My Mind” Leonard Nimoy: 1968 “Two Sides Of” Micky Dolenz once said “It’s The Monkees & Star Trek, who can figure it out?” so I thought I would play them back to back, this track was a little more palatable then I remembered.

“2000 Man” ROLLING STONES: 1967 “Their Satanic Majesties Request” this song is perhaps best known for the ’79 KISS version adopted by Ace Frehley, so I thought I’d throw the KISS fans a bone. Also I played this one for a certain blond lady I used to know.

“Bama Lama, Bama Loo” Little Richard: 1964 “Well, Alright” this song was recorded & released during the “Architect’s” 1st return to rock n roll. Incidentally, The BEATLES opened for Little Richard in ’62 on his UK Tour. Like I said on the show “If this one doesn’t make you get up & dance… there’s something wrong with you”

“Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice” Jimi Hendrix: 1967 “B-Side” to “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp” one of the 7 Non-LP songs Hendrix released while he was alive, & then released only on the UK Version of “Smash Hits” I am always really interested in any Non-LP song. In doing my research I found out the title is for the initials “STP- L.S.D.” a very popular mind altering drug at the time.

“Mr. Zero’s” WestSide Mikey: 2015 “Magic Acid Band” My old high school buddy Mike Langley & 1st ever band mate, wrote this for the shop just in time for this broadcast, it was also used on the local CTV-15 Show “NSB” that did a 3 minute special on our Shop “Mr. Zero’s” the following day.

“London Bridge” BREAD: 1969 “1st LP” In ’69 when Nesmith was recording songs for the “Next” MONKEES LP “Present” this song is 1 he started, but never finished, perhaps because the proposed “Double LP” was cut down to a single LP. This was the 2nd song David Gates had recorded by The MONKEES.

“That’s Enough For Me” Paul Williams: 1971 “Just An Old Fashioned Love Song” I 1st knew of Williams from being “Virgil” in “Battle For The Planet Of The Apes” (I had him sign my DVD of this film) then came to find out he wrote a song for The MONKEES “Someday Man” in ’69. This particular song comes the 1977 film “First Love” with Susan Dey of the “Partridge Family” I really like the film, & think this is a great song.

“If I Were A Carpenter” The FOUR TOPS: 1967 “Anthology” As a kid most people I knew were into the TEMPTATIONS, where as I liked ‘The Four Tops’ I 1st heard this song on “The Wonder Years” in Oct ’91, I have yet to hear a bad version of it, so here is another one.

“Pretty Polly” The BYRDS: 1968 “Sweethearts Of The Rodeo” At the Shop (Mr. Zero’s) we get asked for this LP all the time, I am not exactly sure why, as I feel this is the only song worth listening to off of this LP. I do love The BYRDS though; enough that I named one of my birds after this song. McGuinn probably heard this song from Pete Seeger, although Judy Collins had performed it too, McGuinn had played on Collins LPs in ’63, before forming The BYRDS.

“I’ll Believe In You” Davy Jones: 1972 “Bell Years” In ’71 when Jones was released from the MONKEES, he signed with Bell Records, who currently had the “Partridge Family” he released 1 LP & 4 singles this was his final 45 for Bell, before signing with MGM, like his former partner Dolenz. A lot of people think this is just too sappy of a song, but it reminds me of the current Pop Music that was on AM Radio at the time, & believe it or not, I really enjoy this song.

“Rainmaker” The PARTRIDGE FAMILY: 1971 “Sound Magazine” In the early 70s No One out sold the ‘Partridge Family’ with 10 LPs & 11 Singles in just 4 short years including 4 Solo LPs from David Cassidy & 1 from Danny Bonaduce. When ‘The Monkees’ project came to an end in mid ’70 about 60% of the song writers & musicians moved from that project to the ‘Partridge Family’ with an updated sound for the early ’70s, so if you liked the MONKEES, chances were you were going to like the ‘Partridge Family’ too & I did, I love this song.

“Sweet Ophelia” Barry Mann: 1971 “Lay It All Out” A major “Hit Maker” for others Barry did release 3 Solo LPs himself, & oddly enough a pre- KISS: “Wicked Lester” recorded 2 songs off of this LP for their 1st LP, this song & another titled “Too Many Mondays” yes they are good songs & Barry being 1 of the best, but to record 2 songs off of the very same LP, now there’s a question I have for Gene & Paul.

“Faded Satin Lady” Max Gronenthal: 1979 “Whistling In The Dark” Just before Tommy R. Bolin passed away in Dec ’76 he had updated his band with Max Carl Gronenthal on Keyboards & 2nd Lead Vocals, this last line-up of the “Tommy Bolin Band” had been writing songs for Bolin’s 3rd Solo LP, & this was one of them, along with “Down In The Dungeon” “Blues Gonna Take Me Away” & “Don’t Hide From Me” unfortunately Tommy did not record this song before he died, but Max did & released it on his 1st Solo LP, before he joined ’38 Special’.
“Savannah Woman” Tommy R. Bolin: 1975 “Teaser” Tommy was from Sioux City & so am I, it was a proud day when Tommy released his 1st band LP “Zephyr” in ’70, but that escalated when his 1st Solo LP “Teaser” came out, the thing I love about Tommy’s music is he has this mellow jazzy quality to some of his songs, & they can really take you to another place.

“Golden Rainbows” Alphonse Mouzon: 1975 “Mind Transplant” In late ’74, after ‘James Gang’ but before ‘Deep Purple’, Bolin hooked up with former McCoy Tyner & Weather Report jazz drummer Mouzon they created what I think is the greatest fusion jazz LP of all time. I was able to hang out with Mouzon in Aug of this year, he told me “Bonham used to set up his drums in his hotel room trying to get down my beats” I mentioned “I believe this LP had a influence on Neil Peart of RUSH” Mouzon “You know if Bonham was listening to it, Neil was too … funny thing so many people had mention Neil to me, I thought I better find out who this guy is” me “So when was that?” Mouzon “A few years ago”

“Baby Blue” BADFINGER: 1971 “Straight Up” I always loved this song as a kid & I got to jam on with an old friend of mine from “The Suburbantors” in Des Moines in Aug. Joey Molland still lives in town & I was able to get him to sign a “Sealed” 8-Track for the shop, we gave him a “Mr. Zero’s Shirt” as he was off to the UK to do a few shows over there, he said “I’ll try to remember to wear it over there for ya”

“Hard Way” The KINKS: 1975 “School Boy’s In Disgrace” Yet another song I got to jam with my friend Jon in Aug. this is by far my favorite “Concept LP” by the KINKS, so many great songs on the LP, but I had to pick one. Back then Dave used to play an L6-S, just as I still do.

“Jump Into The Fire” NILSSON: 1972 “Son OF Dracula” I always liked this song but when Robin Zander of CHEAP TRICK, covered it for his ’93 Solo CD, he took it to a new level, this is also a song I was trying to get my band ”MrZERo” to cover. When I asked Zander in Omaha in ’94 “Why did you pick that song to cover” Zander “Because I love Nilsson, that’s why” me “Did you have to get him to sign off on it” Zander “No, just pay him” This might be the only “Rocker” I know of that Nilsson ever recorded.

“Green Shirt” The TREMBLERS (Peter Noone): 1980 “Twice Nightly” I saw them do this on TV back in the day, I just loved this song, when I asked about it @ “Uncle John” (our local recordshop) Mezmer told me “Elvis Costello” so I got “Armed Forces” & thought “This IS NOT the artist I saw?” when I met Costello in 2002, I did have him sign my copy though. Peter Noone of ‘Herman’s Hermits’ had just left the band & gone solo for awhile, then formed the short lived band ‘TREMBLERS’

“Like Dreamers Do” APPLE JACKS: 1964 Many do not realize exactly how proliferate Lennon & McCartney were @ writing songs, so many that they gave many away to other UK artists @ the time. This being 1 of them. This band had 1 LP & 8 Singles. I always wished EMI had recorded & released an LP of The BEATLES performing all the songs they gave a way, we would have a whole other BEATLES LP.

“Keep Me Waiting” WICKED LESTER (KISS): 1972 “Box Set” Many of the casual KISS fans do not realize there was an LP recorded before KISS’ 1st LP, true it was never released, however there are tracks floating around out there. Of the 11 songs recorded 5 were covers, (I mentioned 1 earlier) this particular song, written by: Paul Stanley, was kept in the live set list of the very 1st KISS shows ever performed. This one is dedicated to my band mates: (in “ROCK and ROLL all NITE”) Cat, Pete & Tony, as we have a ’74 KISS Tribute gig Fri 23 Oct 2015 in Bloomington, MN @ the Ramada Hotel Ballroom 10pm

“Faith In You” Matthew Sweet: 1999 “In Reverse” When I 1st heard this song on the “Drive Me Crazy” CD soundtrack, I was blown away, I immediately started collecting EVERYTHING by Matthew. I just love this song, when I got to ask him about it I said “You know I discovered your music by the song “Faith In You” on the “Drive Me Crazy” soundtrack” he replied ”Oh, is that on there?” I said “How do you not know?” he replied, “That’s up to my management & the record company, I really don’t have a say in that, also, I don’t really keep track of those things, because, well, I’m me, so I don’t need to”

RLSchwinden

MrZer0 on KFAI 90.3fm & 106.7am


Ok kiddos that’s all for now … Have Happy Halloween, until the next time … MrZer0

Mr. Zero’s Inc.
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville- St. Paul, MN. 55113
651. 489. 0207
www.MrZeros.Com

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He Named Me Malala

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“

Mahala Yousafzai: (12 July 1997)

Mahala Yousafzai: (12 July 1997)

” October 2015
“Mr. Zero’s Time Machine Film Review” (#15-hNm)

So Mr. Zero’s Inc. *Est. 2009 has been working with “Allied Ent. & GoFoBo” for over 4 & 1/2 years now … our most recent Co-Op was a film titled “He Named me Malala” a film- documentary about Nobel Peace Prize Winner: Mahala Yousafzai: (12 July 1997: Mingora, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan) who was shot on 9 Oct 2012 by the Taliban for attending school in her home town, Swat. Her father Ziauddin Yousafzai (20 Nov 1969: Pakistan) named her “Malala” after the legendary Afghani woman warrior “Malalai of Maiwand” who inspired her country’s army to stand up to the British invaders.

After watching the film, it is clear to me her father who has a stammer, but over came the affliction to become a diplomat & public speaker, had aspirations of her daughter to become a great figure, as she did, I am sure he groomed her in that direction, however it was also Malala’s own personality that also drove her & used what her father taught her, to rise to the great public figure that she currently is.

I went to this film not knowing what to expect, & every once in a great while, I am pleasantly overwhelmed, what a fantastic film, it is, moving, inspiring, tragic & funny. It moved me to realize how very important it is for all people to be & receive an education. This film really does put a person in their place, if a person is feeling down & out by the things in their life, watching this film will make you realize, how things can be so much worse & as well as, remind you how well off you really are & then will inspire you to overcome whatever obstacle you may be experiencing currently.

In my opinion this film is a must see … MrZer0

Mr. Zero’s *Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeros.Com

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KISS & The Order Of The Rose: 1981-82

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Patch Elder 3“Now before you lies the quest at hand”
KISS & The Order Of The Rose: 1981-82

“BUZZ” Newspaper Article (#54-kE) Sep- Oct 2015
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZer0

So Halloween is approaching us & so we will continue our 4th annual tradition of another installment on KISS, this time will be one of the least known eras of KISS “1981- 82” but in fact one of my favorite periods. Frankly I did not care for the glitzy “Dynasty & Unmasked” period, the 1979 LP had some pretty good songs, but the 1980 the songs were lackluster & the production was flat, far too compressed for myself (& I am a Monkees fan).

> Who steers the ship through the stormy sea <
KISS had great sales with the ‘Dynasty’ LP (platinum), but the ‘Unmasked’ LP sold half as much. I personally think, KISS were wondering how to regain some ground, & since, at the time ‘The Wall’ was doing so well I think KISS decided to change their look & get more with the times of the “New Wave” image, that was currently popular & bring back the ‘Destroyer’ producer Bob Ezrin (who produced Pink Floyd), & record their own “Concept” album, based on a story Gene Simmons had written.

I can still remember in fall ’81 my buddy Russ S. (the Gene in my 1st KISS cover band) picked me up @ my Mom’s house, in his white Impala & plugged in the new KISS 8Track, ‘(Music from) The Elder’ I shouted “So, how is it?” Russ replied “Get ready, it is really different for a KISS album” then “The Oath” came on & I said “This sounds great to me” & Russ replied “Oh, just you wait” then came “Fanfare” & “Just A Boy” & I responded “what is THIS!” he said “See, I told ya”

So I went to ‘Uncle John Records’ & bought my vinyl copy (I did not have a car or an 8Track player) of ‘(music from) The Elder’ which was released in on 10 Nov 1981, & here’s where the story unfolds; the very 1st pressings had the songs on the back listed in a different running order than the LP (not unusual for KISS) & a poly-bag sleeve & No lyrics, also for the 1st time, NO Photos of KISS, you had to go check the current magazines to see the “New” KISS costumes, shockingly they had all cut their hair short (for them anyway) & were back to black leather & silver accents. I wasn’t sure what to think, I was thankful the “Vegas Look” was gone, but I was not sure about the “New Wave” look, once I thought about the new look, it really did reflect the new direction in music, so I was ok with the changes. I was right out of High School & not really knowing what to do with my life, I listened to this “New” KISS album over & over because it really spoke to me, it was the story of a boy & his journey in life & most importantly “To believe in yourself” I used this LP as a mantra over the next couple years.

> I never said I was more than I am <
The P.R. for the LP at the time was; the band released the 1st part of the soundtrack, in Nov 1981, to be followed by the film in early 1982, starring Christopher Makepeace: (22 Apr 1964; Montreal) as: “The Boy” & Anthony Parr (RIP:2002 Ontario) as “Mr. Blackwell” (both were on TV Series ‘Littlest Hobo’) Robert Christie: (20 Sep 1913- 1996; Toronto) as “Morpheus”. It is a documented fact Makepeace recorded dialogue for the LP, but it was left off of the released version, it is disputed whether “Morpheus” on the last track “finale” of the LP is Simmons or Robert Christie. Additional rumors were the band members themselves would appear in the film as their ‘KISS’ personas as characters in the story, & this would be the theatrical “Unmasking” of KISS as they would play other characters in the film “Sans Makeup” therefore the fans would flock to the film to “See What KISS Really Looks like without makeup”
Here’s the track listing for;
The US Version:
The Oath
*fanfare
Just A Boy
Dark Light
Only You
Under The Rose (Carr plays acoustic guitar)
A World Without Heroes
Mr. Blackwell
Escape From The Island
Odyssey
I
*Morpheus

Then after telling my friend Paula how much I loved the album, she bought a copy much later than I did, her’s, the 2nd pressing came with the songs printed in the correct running order on the back, but with a paper inner sleeve with the printed lyrics. This is decades before the “IntroNetts” so I came to find out there was a different version released elsewhere.

Japanese Version: (when part 2 was still planned to be released)
*fanfare (almost 1 min longer on this version)
Just A Boy
Odyssey
Only You
Under The Rose
Dark Light
A World Without Heroes
The Oath
Mr. Blackwell
I
*Morpheus
“Escape From The Island” was left off of the Japan version

> I just need a will of my own <
One 45 Single was released in the USA “A World Without Heroes b/w Dark Light” & hit #58 on the charts in Nov ’81 in Europe a single of “I b/w The Oath” was released in Jan ’82. There are 3 different Vinyl LP versions: 2 for USA & 1 Japanese, there is an 8Track (remarkably in the same running order as the LP), & 2 different cassette versions: 1981 & 1989 & 3 different CD versions 1986 Japanese, 1989 USA & 1997 USA. Songs for 2 videos were filmed “A World Without Heroes” & “I” supposedly taken from the film & used as “Promo Videos”

The origin of “Only You” from an interview I conducted with Simmons in Jun ’90 “The song was originally written about Diana Ross in ’80 or so, for the album @ the time with totally different lyrics, it was a love song “Only you can complete me” Doro (in 1990) sang the original lyrics for her version, along with some other songs (4 in total: “Something Wicked This Way Comes” “Rock On” & “Mirage”) I wrote. Lou (Reed), yes he did contribute to a couple songs, but not as much as some would like to think” 2 other songs
“Every Little Bit Of Your Heart” (Just A Boy) Stanley wrote this love song, perhaps about “Donna Dixon” about the same time as Simmons “Only You” Anton Fig & Frehley wrote “Don’t Run” (Dark Light) at roughly the same time as these other 2 songs. From an interview I conducted with Anton Fig in Fall 1987, Fig: “I do not play on “The Elder”, but a song I wrote is on that one, I did play on the 2 LPs before that, “Unmasked” & “Dynasty” you can tell because I play a double bass & Peter (Criss) doesn’t” Tony Powers (1938 Bronx) released his own version of “Midnight Trampoline/Odyssey” in 1982 a reworking of “Odyssey” & Cher released “A World Without Heroes” in 1991.

Then later in ’82 the 2nd part of the film soundtrack would be released with the other songs used in the film, many just being score or incidental music used in the film. The songs from the 2nd LP are:
Council of the Elder: (Stanley)
Unknown Force: (Simmons- Stanley)
Heaven: (Carr- Frehley) eventually released as “Breakout” by :Frehley in ’87
& “Carr Jam” by: KISS in ’92
Kicks Are For Kids: (Frehley)
Difference Between Men & Boys (is the size of their toys): (Simmons)
Nowhere To Run: (Stanley)
I’m A Legend Tonight: (Stanley & Adam Mitchell)
& 3 different untitled instrumentals (Ezrin, Stanley, Simmons)

>Your glory, I swear I’ll ride for thee <
Since “The Elder” performed below expectations, the band scraped the “2nd LP” altogether. To promote the LP the band made several TV appearances; on 15 Jan 82 the band appeared on the the TV show “Fridays” performing the songs “The Oath” “A World Without Heroes” & “I” live, this same month the show “Solid Gold” ran the 2 promo videos mentioned, they did band interviews on “American Top 10” & “Entertainment Tonight” & Gene & Paul made appearances on the “Flo & Eddie Show” “Strom Field Show” & a “Cerebral Palsy Telethon” & finally on 28 Jan 82 the trio, sans Frehley, who was rumored to be home with the flu, performed an alternate version of “I” as they substituted the word “Guts” in place of the word “Balls” from ‘Studio 54’ in NYC.

One thing I have come to learn about KISS is; when they 1st roll out a “New Look” the 1st set of costumes are usually “Prototypes” for the initial photo session, followed by a 2nd more functional or updated version of the costumes, this set is no different, for the “Live” costumes; Simmons has dropped the chain-mail pants for leather pants & changed shoulder-pads, Stanley essentially dropped his satin shirt & pants for a leather shirt & tights & swapped out his boots a shorter pair for a thigh high pair, Paul did keep his purple bandanna, so he could hid his Microtia (missing right ear), not surprisingly Ace’s & Eric’s costumes remained the same. For the 1st time since 1974, there was no KISS Tour for a new LP; in fact they would not tour again until Dec ’82. See you on the “Flip-side” next month.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJi9lFUYKYo

The “KISS ’74 Tour; Tribute Band: ROCK and ROLL all NITE” will be performing @ this year’s “Crypticon: MPLS” on Fri 23 Oct 2015 @ the Ramada Ballroom in Bloominton, MN @ 10pm also on the bill “Metal Ships” & “Devil’s Rejects” & “Maiden MPLS”
So kidz lets Rock and Roll Over right into Halloween!
MrZer0

Mr. Zero’s Inc. *Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeros.Com
Music, Movies, Toys & Video Games

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Bolin & Mouzon: 1974 “Mind Transplant”

Posted on by mrzeros1@gmail.com Posted in Articles — 2 Comments ↓

mouzon bolin la 74https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFM3tYGRWVE

“Some Of The Things People Do”
Alphonse Mouzon & Tommy Bolin: 1974

“BUZZ: Newspaper Article” Aug- Sep 2015 (#53-aM)
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZer0 from the forth coming Book “Post Toastee” The History of: Tommy R. Bolin

As many of you may know I am a huge Tommy Bolin fan, being from Sioux City, you kind of, have to be. I was working at RecordShop VWM in 1989, when the Box Set ‘The Ultimate’ by Tommy Bolin was release on Geffen Records. Now; his 2 Solo LPs I was very familiar with & the 2 Deep Purple LPs & the 2 James Gang LPs & to a lesser extent even both Zephyr LPs, what I was not familiar with was his one-off LP with Billy Cobham, Alphonse Mouzon & Moxy. I remember reading over the booklet that came inside thinking “Alphose Mouzon, that’s about the coolest name there ever was”

So I took a listen to the 2 tracks on the Box Set “Nitroglycerin” & “Golden Rainbows” & I thought “How interesting, this music is so different to anything, I usually listen to” up until then I was not a fan of “Instrumental Music” but this was really different, so I got a copy from my friend Gordy. I was blown away Mouzon’s drumming was so fast & furious, precise & driving, very music like one of my favorite drummers Neil Peart.

Alphonse Mouzon was born on 21 Nov 1948 in Charleston, North Carolina, upon graduating from high school, he moved to NYC & attended City Collage of New York taking drumming lessons from Bobby Thomas. Mouzon joined the Jazz band ‘Weather Report’ sometime in late 1970, the band recorded in Spring ’71 & released their 1st LP in May 1971 on Columbia Records, Mouzon left the band to go Solo & released his 1st solo LP ‘The Essence Of Mystery’ on Blue Note Records in 1973 followed by ‘Funky Snakefoot’ in 1974. At the exact same time Mouzon was in the jazz band ‘Eleventh House’ with Larry Coryell (2 Apr 1942 Galveston, TX) that released the LPs ‘Introducing’ on Vanguard Records in 1974 followed by ‘Live In Montreux’ later in ’74 & a bootleg ‘Live In Europe’ in 1975.

Alphonse was a busy drummer as he recorded several LPs for McCoy Tyner ‘Shara’ & ‘Song For My Lady’ in ’72 followed by ‘Song Of The New World’ & ‘Enlightenment’ in ’73. Mouzon also played on the LPs: Wayne Shorter ‘Odyssey Of Iska’ & Tim Hardin ‘Bird On A Wire’ in ’71, as wells as Eugene McDaniels ‘Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse’ & Doug Carn ‘Spirit Of The New Land’ & Bobby Humphrey ‘Dig This’ in ’72 & Norman Connors ‘Dance Of Magic’ in ’73.

> The Real Thing <
Here’s where the story really unfolds for me.
Tommy Bolin (1 Aug 1951:Sioux City, Iowa – 4 Dec 1976: Miami, FL) had left the ‘James Gang’ in Aug ’74 & he & Stanley Sheldon (19 Sep 1950: Oattwa, KS) on Bass & Mike Finnegan (26 Apr 1945: Troy Ohio) on Vocals & Keyboards & Guille Garcia on Percussion & Marty Rodriguez on Drums were trying to reform a new version of ‘Energy’ which fell apart in a mere 3 weeks, although some demo recordings were made like “Sooner Or Later” (found on ‘Whips & Roses:2’), “Side Walk Strut” & “Shot My Baby Down” this Line-up did perform @ least 1 live show in Denver as a 9 song live tape exists. Then Bolin & Sheldon recorded 3 demo songs for Dr. John’s ‘Hollywood Be Thy Name’ in Nov ’74 the title track “It’s Your Freedom” & “Stick With Me”. Also sometime in ’74 Bolin sat in with ‘Weather Report’ & recorded 11 songs, perhaps as demos or jams.

Bolin was always prone to sit in with anyone who would let him, one time he had sat in on a jam with Mouzon & Coryell of ‘Eleventh House’ in a club in Boulder, CO. sometime in late ’74, Mouzon knew of Bolin by his guitar work on ‘Spectrum’ (1973 Atlantic Records), by; Billy Cobham (16 May 1944: Panama) with Jan Hammer (17 Apr 1948: Prague) both formerly of the ‘Mahavishnu Orchestra’. Mouzon was wanting to record a Fusion Jazz LP of his own, in the vein of ‘Spectrum’, so Mouzon booked some studio time on 6 Oct ’74 @ ‘Glen Holly Studio’ (named after the street it was located on), in Beechwood Canyon- Hollywood Hills, with Bolin on guitar, as it was one of Bolin’s favorite places to record, because it was owned by Bolin’s sometime business partner; Phillip Polomeni (23 Jul 1951: Brooklyn, NYC, -3 Feb 2014: L.A.) along with Stanley Sheldon from Bolin’s band ‘Energy’ & Rocke Grace on Keyboards. As with almost any sessions held at ‘Glen Holy Studios’ they were recorded,

> Collective Energy <
I met Polomeni in 2010; Polomeni “When we built the studio (in the garage under the house), Tommy (Bolin) was my main client there, he (Bolin) wanted Everything captured on tape, however some artists like (Todd) Rundgren did NOT want the jams recorded, so what we did was, secretly install microphones in the ceiling, & when they asked us to shut off the recording mics, we just turned on the hidden mics (in the ceiling), so I have thousands of hours of recordings, that have never been heard by anyone, anywhere, because most artists like (Joe) Walsh & (Jeff) Beck were cool about having themselves recorded. Tommy (Bolin) put up some money to get the studio off the ground, so he & his main man (Stanley) Sheldon were there a lot, they recorded everything, problem was, once in a while we were doing other things (various intoxicants) & sometimes we would forget what we were doing, & we would flip the tape over, that we had just recorded on (the other side), so some things were “wiped” (erased) like the “Beck- Bolin Jam” with Tommy on Bass & Jeff on Guitar, but the other half of that session survived though, we’re planning to release that soon, or like most of the “Mouzon Jams” got wiped, except that reel Tommy took with him that night” there was 1 CD released of this material ‘The Original Raw Uncut Glen Holly Studio Recordings 1973-1976: Jams Vol. 1’ on the “Glen Holly Studios” label, this CD was originally released for 1 day in Sep 2013 then pulled, but re-released in Jan 2014.

Mouzon, Bolin, Sheldon & Grace convened on a Sunday & jammed for several hours, a CD was eventually released ‘Bolin- Mouzon Fusion Jams’ in 1999 (TBACS-1 CD only) containing:

1. “The Real Thing” (19:24min)
including “Ain’t No Sunshine” (@ 14:39min) “From Another Time” (15:00min) “I Shot The Sheriff” (17:40min)
2. Blues Grooves (5:15min)
3. “No More Crying” (3:35min)
4. “Homeward Strut Jam” (3:08min)
5. Gonna Let Me (12:30min) into “What Cha Gonna Do About It” including “A Day In The Life” (9:26min)
6. Sunrise Jam (2:48min)
7. “Following Me” (12:24min) including “Love Child” (2:38min)
(*some song titles are subjective interpretation)

One of Tommy’s favorite Guitarists was Wes Montgomery (1923- 1968) & his 1967 LP “A Day In The Life” (A&M- CTI Records #LP-2001) was probably his favorite album by Montgomery, one can tell, as Bolin occasionally, throughout the years will incorporate, the verse melody from the title song, of this LP, in his extended jam solos, just like in Track #5 (@ the 9:26 min mark)

> Crazed Fandango <
The recording for “Mind Transplant” began on;
Wed-Fri4-6 Dec1974 Hollywood, California At Wally Heider Recording Studio “3” Mon & Tues 9-10 Dec 1974 Hollywood, California At Wally Heider Recording Studio “3”with Mouzon on Drums, Keyboards & Vocals, Bolin on Lead Guitar 4 of the 8 songs, Lee Ritenour on Guitar, Jay Graydon on Guitar & Keyboards, Jerry Peters on Keyboards & Henry Davis on Bass. All the songs were written by Elvena Mouzon & were arranged by Alphonse. The LP was Produced by Skip Drinkwater, the Executive Producer was George Butler, the LP was Engineered by Gabby Garcia & assisted by Brian Ingalls. It was recorded in Hollywood but remixed @ Wally Heider Studio “A” in San Francisco by Fred Catero & David Coffin, & was mastered @ Columbia Studios in San Francisco by George Horn & Fred Catero. Art direction was handled by Lloyd Ziff & Bob Cato with Design Ria Lewereke. Photography was handled by Doug Metzler, there are few “out-take” photos from the photo session where Mouzon & Bolin is outside on the street, I have actually held, in my hands, the actual green cloth jacket Bolin wore in these photos.

1. Mind Transplant
Solo: Mouzon
2. Snowbound
Solo: Bolin
3. Carbon Dioxide
Solo: Bolin
4. Ascorbic Acid
Solo: Graydon & Ritnour
5. Happiness Is Loving You
Solo: Ritnour
6. Some Of The Things People Do
Solo: Ritnour
7. Golden Rainbows
Solo: Bolin
8. Nitroglycerin
Solo: Bolin

As Bolin did not read sheet music, he had the songs played to him once or twice, being such a natural musician (his grandfather was a recording musician in Lebanon singing in Arabic, before immigrating to the USA the Bolin estate has about 15 records of their grandfather in the safe vault) he was able to memorize the melody & trusted to come up with something on his own, the other 2 guitarists had their parts written out for them.

John Herdt: 2005 (Bolin historian): “Mouzon wrote all the material on the original release, and the result was a mix of rock, funk and jazz that had tremendous appeal among rock listeners. The playing is superhuman, but there are plenty of hooks and booty-shaking grooves. The album is sometimes compared to Spectrum, but it stands on its own as an irresistible listen. Graydon and Ritenour are superb, as is the whole band, but the mix of Tommy’s advanced rock chops with Mouzon’s unbelievable thrust and precision was the highlight for many on Mind Transplant he was pushed right up front on the tunes which featured him as the soloist. Many of Tommy’s fans are drawn to particular parts of his history for tone and style, and the period around the James Gang and Mind Transplant contains some of his most beloved tone and phrasing. Tommy’s performances ranging from the incendiary leads on “Nitroglycerin” to the beautiful melody and drama of “Golden Rainbows” show Bolin crafting auditory gems. “

The was at least 1 live performance of Mouzon’s “Mind Transplant” Line-up, as a recording exists on “reel to reel” from Tommy Bolin’s personal collection of this performance
Sat 19 October 1974 Ft. Collins, Colorado @ CUS
Opening Act Benny Boulder Using Rude humor
(Partial Setlist From Audio Recording)
1. Golden Rainbows 8:50 min

> Fantasy <
‘Mind Transplant’ was released in Mar 1975 on Blue Note Records LP #BN-LA398-G & on CD #7243-8183652-1 in 1993, there 2 versions of the CD the 1st issue contains the bonus track “The Real Thing” the other does not, remarkably Bolin was on a total of 4 LPs in 1975, as he played Lead Guitar on the 1st ‘Moxy’ LP released in Canada in the Winter of 1975 (USA 1976) & then Deep Purple’s ‘Come Taste The Band’ on 10 Oct 1975 & his 1st solo LP ‘Teaser’ on 17 Nov 1975, quite a prolific output in such a short amount of time.

On a humorous note; Alphonse once sent me a ”cease & desist order” because we used his song “Golden Rainbows” in a Mr. Zero’s Inc. commercial in 2010. I responded with “Dear Sir, I am one of your biggest fans, as well as Tommy Bolin, & we used the song with the intention of spreading your music to an audience who may be unfamiliar with your back catalog” he must have liked that answer because he let us continue to use the song with proper credit due to Mouzon.

Alphonse Mouzon will be headlining the 21st Annual “Tommy Bolin Music Festival” in Sioux City, Iowa on Sat 8 Aug 2015@ The “Icky Nickel” with Johnnie Bolin: Tommy Bolin Band, DVC, Dare Force, Black Oak Arkansas, & Bobby Berge: Zephyr & Energy & Russell Bizzet: Energy, Jose Feliciano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyEeELJPbGk

“If I don’t see you in the future … I’ll see you in the pasture”: T.B. 1975

RLSchwinden c/o
Mr. Zero’s Inc. *Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeros.Com

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“My Name is Prince & I am Funky ….”

Posted on by mrzeros1@gmail.com Posted in Articles — No Comments ↓

Prince 1983https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTOhzlh_el4

“My Name is Prince & I am Funky ….”
“Prince & The 12″ Single”
“BUZZ” Newspaper Article: Jun- Jul 2015 (#52-PrN)
By: RLSchwinden: Aka MrZer0

> Mr. Zero’s & 12″ Vinyl Records <
Some of you may or may not know I own a “Used Shop” Mr. Zero’s & we sell Records, CDs & Cassettes along with Vintage Video Games, & Retro Toys & movies too, since 2009. Recently a young customer was in looking in the ‘Prince’ section & was confused about “The Vinyls that aren’t full ones & why would anyone pay more money for fewer songs?” So I decided this time I will cover “12” Singles” & “Prince” as it was just his birthday.

I started in the “Music Business” back in 1985, so I worked several Prince Records, back in the day, & it didn’t hurt that I was a Huge “Prince” fan (vs.Jakko). I had heard of Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson: 7 Jun 1958; MPLS), when I was @ West High, “I Wanna Be Your Lover” was a huge hit in our area, but the 1st time I really took notice was when I was living in Bemidji, MN. I had just quit the band ‘High Fever’ (as I hated touring) I was working as a temp. janitor at the State University, & my supervisor “Willis” used to play, only R&B & Funk while we worked, I found the work was easier & the day went by faster working to this kind of music, & I really started to dig this one artist “Prince”

So, 1 day I went to buy the new Prince LP & one thing my good buddy Eric DeW. (@ Uncle John Records) taught me was, The availability of 12″ Inch Singles is a limited run, in addition too they are the same size as “LPs” but use More Grooves, therefore they have an Increased Fidelity & 95% of the time, 12″ Singles contain an alternate version of the same song from the LP, a different cover & a song or sometimes 2 songs that are not on the LP at all! So I started buying all of Prince’s 12″ Singles 1st, then I would buy the full LP later.

The “12” Single was introduced in 1956 for Jamaican DJ’s to use in dance clubs, in 1970 Ampex tested a 12″ Single in the USA, then in 1973 Mixing Engineer; José Rodríguez for the Swamp Dogg/ Jamie label cut a single song over the space of a 12″ Record, the result was increased level of volume & dynamic rage & easy visual access to the “Breaks” in the song. The 1st 12″ Record released worldwide was on Atlantic Records By; Donna Summer “Love To, Love You” summer of 1975.

> His Purple Majesty <
Now I happen to think “Prince” is one of the greatest musicians of all time, talented & prolific, he was not afraid to sing about God or Sex, which was a real turn off to some listeners, he understood “Music Fans” he put out new music almost every year, his LPs contained “Premiums” (posters, photos, stickers) & understood the value of 45 Singles; giving us Edited Versions of our favorite songs with Non-LP songs on the “Flipside” & 12″ Singles; containing extended re-mixed versions of our favorite songs “Backed With” Non-LP tracks as well.

My good friend Jack L. was visiting a Local Guitar Shop in MPLS in the late 70s when the owner informed him; “See that young kid over there in the corner, he’s going to be the next big thing” Jack replied; “That little guy over there tearing it up on guitar?” the owner; “Yep that’s Prince Nelson, mark my words he’s going to be the next big thing” Jack; “Prince Nelson, is he royalty?” the owner “No, that’s his ‘Real’ name” later, my good friend Al H. sold Prince his 1970’s Honer Telecaster, that Prince used frequently in the early 80’s. Let’s get on with our history lesson;

> Controversy: 1981 <
Prince’s 4th LP ‘Controversy’ was released in Oct ’81, this LP also contained a Poster in the LP, the 2nd single “Let’s Work b/w Gotta Stop Messin About” was released on 12″ Single in Jan 1982 & hit #9 on the charts, this was the 1st “Non-LP Song” released by Prince. I met Bobby Z. (Robert B. Rivkin: 9 Jan 1956; MPLS) in May 2001 @ his recording studio now called “Winterland Studios” I had him sign my “Let’s Work” 12″ Single, as he was looking it over I mentioned “It’s a 12″ Single” he responded “I know what it is” Me; “Because Prince did so much of the recording himself, did he use you much on drums?” Bobby Z. “Yea, sure he used me all the time in the studio”

> 1999: in ’82” <
This really where his Purple Majesty really takes off, on his 5th LP ‘1999’ released in Oct 1982 with 3 of the 12″ Singles containing Non-LP Tracks; starting with “1999 b/w How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore” released in Sep 1982 a #12 Hit, followed by: “Delirious b/w Horny Toad” released in Aug 1983 & a #8 hit on the charts, & then “Let’s Pretend Were Married b/w Irresistible Bitch” released in Nov 1983.

> Purple Rain: Soundtrack: 1983 <
The “Revolution” begins as Prince releases the #1 hit single “When Doves Cry b/w 17 Days” in May 1984 a full 2 months before the LP with the Non-LP ”17 Days” in my opinion one of the best songs Prince ever wrote & recorded, followed by the 2nd #1 hit single “Let’s Go Crazy b/w Erotic City” on 18 Jul 1984. Then the monster smash hit LP “Purple Rain” is released on 25 Jul 1984 although most of this was recorded live @ ‘1s Ave’ club on 3 Aug 1983, this LP also contained a Poster inside. Then the actual film was released in theaters on 27 Jul 1984, it truly was the summer of “Prince”! Then the title track “Purple Rain b/w God” Vocal & or Inst. was released in Sep 1984 a #2 hit on the charts, a 4th 12″ Single, “I Would Die For You b/w Another Lonely Christmas” issued in Nov 1984 & landed #8 on the Billboard Charts, totaling 4 Non-LP songs for this LP. Also The “Revolution” submitted the song “4 The Tears In Your Eyes” to be included on the “We Are The World” LP released in Apr 1985.

> Around The World In A Day: 1985<
Traditionally, it’s really hard to top your last monster success, I seem to remember this was the case, I don’t think the “Purple Rain” fever had long enough to rest before the 7th LP came out ‘Around The World In A Day’ in Apr 1985, this LP contained a sticker. The 1st 12″ Single “Raspberry Beret b/w She’s Always In My Hair” a #40 hit, was released in May 1985 again another Non-LP B-Side that I feel is one of the best songs Prince ever wrote & recorded, my good friend Le Mar, told me “In St. Louis, ‘She’s Always’ was played on the radio as much if not more than ‘Raspberry’ was at the time”. The follow up 12″ Single was “Pop Life b/w Hello” issued in Jul 1985 & hit #7 on the charts.

I have mentioned many times before in the late 80s for about 10 years into the late 90s that VHS releases were part of “The Standard Record Contract” & sold incredibly well, many of the VHS only releases were & have not been released on DVD due to legalities & contractual obligation (this subject is discussed at length for a documentary I was interviewed for & appear in titled “Adjust Your Tracking” Mar 2014 Romark Ent.). Prince releases the VHS concert ”Revolution Live” in Jul ’85, from a concert performed on 30 March 1985 Syracuse, NY. the band play 18 songs including all of “Purple Rain” including 3 of these mentioned “Non-LP” songs. The 3rd 12″ Single “America b/w Girl” was released in Oct 1985, worth noting the “A” side clocks in at 21min & the B-Side again is a Non-LP, to total 3 songs not included on the LP.

> Parade: 1986<
I have to wonder if Prince thought the key to another smash hit LP was another film. The single “Kiss b/w Love Or Money” was released in Feb 1986 & hit #1, (however my favorite version of this song is by: ‘Age Of Chance’ from 1986) followed by the soundtrack LP in Mar 1986 titled ‘Parade’ to the film “Under The Cherry Moon” released in Jul 1986, I do recall a lot of promotion for the film but not that much success, I seem to remember Jerome Benton (19 Sep 1962 MPLS) getting the best response from the film. I met Jerome at a ‘The Time’ concert @ the Quest in MPLS, which happened to be his birthday, I was able to slip back & wish him a happy birthday, oddly enough the following year I saw ‘The Time’ In concert again @ a club in MOA, as I walked up to him to say “Hello” he looked at me & said “Hey, man, I remember you, how have you been?” The 2nd 12″ single “Mountains b/w Alexa de Paris” was released in May 1986 & reached #45 on the charts. The last 12″ from this LP was, my favorite song from this LP, “Anotherloverholenyohead b/w Boys & Girls” released in Jul 1986. Again, 3 extra songs.

> Sign O The Times: 1987<
In Feb 1987 the new 12″ Single comes out, a #3 hit with “Sign O The Times b/w La, La, La, He, He, Hee” with the next big smash hit for Prince with the 2nd Double LP “Sign O The Times” released in Mar 1987, I remember WB Records really pushing this LP, as we (RecordShop) received 2 Promo LPs & 2 Promo Cassettes, (as Cassette was Thee Predominate Format from 1986 to 1991) over a 9 month period. The next 12″ was “If I Was Your Girlfriend b/w Shockadelica” (a title lifted from The Time’s Jesse Johnson) released in May 1987. The 4th 12″ released was “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man b/w Hot Thing” in Nov 1987, a top #10 hit & so once again 3 more Non-LP songs.

It’s worth mentioning that Prince had recorded & nearly released a LP titled “The Black Album” in Dec 1987, a few hundred promo copies leaked out, before the release was altogether cancelled. My favorite track is “Bob George” it’s a “Must Listen To”, simply because it is so different for Prince, although there is a similar track titled “Cloreen Baconskin” on the ‘Crystal Ball’ CD from 1998. This CD; ‘Black Album’ was eventually released in Nov 1994.

> Lovesexy: 1988<
In an unusual move for Prince he put the Non-LP song “Good Love” on the soundtrack LP ‘Bright Lights, Big City’ released on 1 April 1988, then in Apr 1988 the top #10 hit “Alphabet St. b/w This Is Not Music, This Is Not A Trip” is released. Unlike any other artist of the time Prince was releasing 1 LP per year, which, for me, is why he is one of the greatest artists of all time, Prince’s 10th LP ‘LoveSexy’ is released in May 1988 followed by the next 12″ “Grand Slam b/w Escape” released in Jul 1988, (Prince & Comp. opened a Club of the same name in MPLS. in late 1989). In Sep the 12″ “I Wish You Heaven b/w Scarlet Pussy” is released, the 12″ version of the “A Side” is now part of a 3 part movement, along with the “B Side” is not included on the LP, indecently, the “A Side” is my favorite song of this LP.

A 2nd “Live” VHS Concert was released in Nov 1988 titled “Sign O The Times” recorded from 4 concerts in Jun 1987 Rotterdam, Antwerp & MPLS, it contains 14 songs. As Vinyl virtually ceased to exist in Jan 1988, this will draw a close to our article on “12” Vinyl Record Singles” It may be of interest to check out ‘The Time’ who released 3 LPs from 1981 to 1984, which is essentially Prince & Morris Day (Morris Eugene Day: 13 Dec 1957; MPLS) as well as ‘The Family’ that released 1 LP in 1985, again essentially Prince ,as well as the Jazz Band ‘MadHouse’ that released 2 LPs in 1987, also essentially Prince. There was a 3rd film with Prince & The Time “Graffiti Bridge” released in Nov 1990, but as Vinyl had been dead for well over a year the 12″ Single, had been renamed the “CD Maxi Single”. The 1st time I was able to catch Prince was in Ames, Iowa on 7 Dec 1997 @ Hilton Coliseum, (a photo of from that concert hangs behind the cash register in our record shop) here is the setlist;

Jam Of The Year
Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing
Let’s Work
Delirious
Purple Rain
Little Red Corvette
I Would Die 4 U
Six
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
Face Down
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
The Cross
Do Me, Baby
Adore
Insatiable
Scandalous
Sexy M.F.
If I Was Your Girlfriend
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Girls & Boys
Darling Nikki
Diamonds and Pearls
The Beautiful Ones
How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore
Take Me With U
Raspberry Beret
Kiss
Gett Off
When Doves Cry
(Eye Like) Funky Music
(The New Power Generation cover)
Baby I’m a Star
1999

Larry Graham’s ‘Graham Central Station’ (with several members of ‘Sly & The Family Stone’) were the opener. It was great to finally see the “Purple One” in concert, however many of the songs were wrapped up in medleys; Prince did showcase himself, singing, dancing, & playing Guitar, Keyboards & Bass. Like I said truly one of the greats. In closing with Prince’s 12” Single releases he gave us no less than 20 new Non-LP songs & at least 20 Remixes of the “Hits”
Until the next time … RLSchwinden: aka MrZer0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5SA-YTXFPQ

>Mr. Zero’s: Since 2009< "Records, CDs, Cassettes, DVDs,VHS, Vintage Video Games, & Retro Toys" www.MrZeros.Com 1744 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville- St. Paul, MN. 55113 651. 489. 0207

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SlipKnot; DSM: 515.666.7448

Posted on by mrzeros1@gmail.com Posted in Articles — 2 Comments ↓

MPLS Purple One

MPLS Purple One

SLIPKNOT 1999“The Heretic Anthem”
SlipKnot: Des Moines, Iowa: 515- 666 -7448
“BUZZ” Newspaper Article: Jun- Jul 2015 (#51-sK)

While I was born in Sioux City, IA. in the 60s (home of Tommy Bolin), went to Jr. High in Jackson, MS. in the 70s (home of Tommy Aldridge), right out of High School I moved to Phoenix in the 80s (home of Stevie Nicks), I worked for 3 major CD Store Chains in Des Moines, Iowa from 1985- 1999; the Home of ‘Slipknot’

I have told this story a 1000 times, so I thought it’s time I write about it … This My recollection of the events that lead up to, the formation of one of the most popular bands in the entire world. Please bare with me as it’s a little jumbled & skips around a bit, because that is how intertwined the Music Scene was in Des Moines, back then …

> Scepter to Black Diamond: 1985<
I moved to Des Moines, Fall of ’83, after I was staying Shakopee, just after, having moved from Bemidji. I was on tour with ‘High Fever’ (Pat, Frank, Rodney & Kurt) who reign from McAlester, OK. in 1983, I quit because “Road Life” did not agree with me, specifically the “Alcohol & Drugs” & lack of regular food & sleep. My plan was to hookup with my friend’s “Strat” (Brett Rogers: 1965) & Kelly’s band in Des Moines, but by the time I got there they had broken up.

I did manage to join a local band ‘Scepter’ in Summer ’85 with Guitarist John T, Vocalist Mike Allen (11 Aug 1967) & Drummer Tony (Shannon) Post (1967). John left in 1986 & The Drummer Tony & I formed an “Early KISS Tribute Band” called ‘Black Diamond’ with Bob Tyler (as Gene) playing mostly songs off of KISS’ 1st & 2nd LPs (Much like I do today, 30 years later in ‘KISSin Time’).

While we were running ads for a guitarist to play ‘ACE’ My Ex. Girlfriend Cathy, found one Ryan Thorton, (This is really where this story begins) Ryan was fantastic & thought Tony was a great Drummer, but he did not care much for my lack of ability.

One day Ryan brought in some musicians he knew from before; Vocalist: Matt Biegger & his cousin a Bassist:Doran Lindsey. Tony & I jammed with the other 3; Ryan, Matt & Doran a few times in the Summer ’86, before they decided I needed to be replaced with a better guitar player & they wanted Biegger to sing full time & not trade off Lead Vocals with me. I lost track of those guys as I started jamming with some other local musicians, until dropped out of the scene all together in Winter of ’88.

> Atomic Opera: 1991<
The 1st member of ‘SlipKnot’ I met was Jim Root (2 Oct 1971 Las Vegas), in the summer of 1987, I was the Asst. Mgr. of ‘RecordShop’ @ Valley West Mall & Jim used to come in & buy ‘Iron Maiden’ & ‘Yngwie Malmsteen’ Cassettes (as I recall). I heard he was a great guitarist so I sized him up & approached him one day; Me “Say, were looking for a new ACE in my KISS tribute band, wondering if you’re interested in trying out?” as I recall Jim said something to the effect of: “KISS music is beneath me, & I would never wear makeup”.

Back then I used to buy most of my ’60s Gibson Guitars from Paul Wilson’s (who is the transcriber for Christopher Parkening’s TAB books) ‘Ye Olde Guitar Shoppe’ in Urbandale, 1 of the guys who used to work there was a friend of mine; Jared H. (& then eventually Mick Thompson worked there too) who was good friends with Jim Root, it was here about, ’92 or so, I found out Root was in ‘Atomic Opera’ with none other than; Matt Biegger & Doran Lindsey & another ‘Ye Olde Guitar Shoppe’ Instructor; Michael Curry (1 Jun 1965) from Santa Monica, CA. who was also a friend of mine. When Jared left “Ye Olde” about ’94 his replacement was none other than Mick Thompson (1973 Iowa) #7, I used to by vintage guitar parts from Mick @ “Ye Olde”.

However by this time Post had been replaced by Drummer Danny Spain (5 Mar 1969: DSM), who happened to be a friend, of my friend Aaron H. I am not sure as to when Thorton dropped out of the band. I 1st saw ‘Atomic Opera’ at the Botanical Center in Des Moines, the Lineup was; Biegger, Lindsey, Curry, Root & Spain, they were phenomenal, to my memory it was roughly the melding of the music of ‘Metallica’ with the Vocals of ‘Queensryche’ & insanely tight & heavy, it was like nothing I had heard at the time & I was in the music business. Biegger was replaced by Vocalist: Scott Andreas before the band started recording original material.
Curry eventually left the band (he told me the reasons why but I will not reveal them) & was replaced by Bruce Swink.

‘Atomic Opera’ recorded & released a Cassette in 1992, as Vinyl was DEAD & CDs cost a lot of money to produce back then, released under the title “The Judgement” with the title song & these 3 others: “Soldier” “Coupe De La King” “Across The Sea Of Doom” I seem to remember Root had recorded over Lindsey’s Bass tracks, suggested by the Producer, while Doran was a great Bass Player live, there was some inconsistencies with his playing in the studio. I was told Doran didn’t find out until after the release came out & he was given his copy. Sometime 1992, the band had to change their name because of Texas based band of the same name. I was also told there was a 2nd Demo Cassette recorded by the band, there is a 10 min “Live” video of the band, from 1993 @ Clear Water Beach outside of Des Moines, Iowa.

> Voices Again: 1993<
Back in ’88 there was guy who used to hang out in the ‘RecordShop’ I worked @ in Valley West Mall, he was a guitarist named Denny Harvey (5 Apr 1972: DSM) here’s an excerpt from an interview I did with him recently.

*Denny 2015: “The band (Stone Sour) started with Corey, Joel Ekman and myself (Denny H.). I was a rhythm guitarist and it was my second band. We settled on the name Freakshow and practiced for a few months, while Joel and Corey wrote a half dozen songs. Eventually I quit, took the name Freakshow with me, and Joel and Corey kept the material they had written with them. They came up with Stone Sour after the drink. I rejoined about a year later, but it never panned out. I would occasionally jam with the band as a special guest at gigs, or just jam for fun. Corey and I had a punk cover group called the Dumfux that would play parties. About a decade later, Corey and I started doing the Dumfux for fun again, and that lasted 6 or seven years, essentially I am the “Stephen Coronel” (KISS reference) of that band.”

In ’92 I was working at ‘RecordShop’ @ Southridge Mall & I used to see this young guy who worked at the local porn shop, with long blonde hair with a Green streak down the left side of his hair & a purple one down the other side, hanging out in the mall & occasionally hanging out in our store, that would be Corey Taylor (8 Dec 1973: DSM) #8, at the time he was in ‘Stone Sour’ who I knew was around, but I didn’t think they were all that great (I thought I was a better vocalist, let me clue you in, I wasn’t).

Years later in 2000, I was transferred to Burnsville Center, MN. & the word had gotten around, I had known some of the guys in ‘SlipKnot’ back in the day, a lot of young people would come to me & say “I heard you knew ‘SlipKnot’ back in Des Moines, What do they look like without their masks?” Now for me this was Really cool, & had come full circle, because about 15 years earlier that was me, asking guys I met, who either met members of KISS or knew them like: Jay “Hot Sam” Barth: Soundman for KISS 1976.

My long time friend Rob Kuhn was getting married & he had his bachelor party in a restaurant in downtown DSM (Des Moines) on 27 Jul 2000, as I walked into the restaurant I saw Taylor & Crahan were up front eating. I told my friend Ace (a local record dealer), who was there, I passed them as I came in, he asked “How do you know it’s them” I said “I have known Corey for years” Ace asked “Did you know SlipKnot is playing in town tonight @ Waterworks Park?” I replied “No, I just got in town right now, walked in here & passed them walking back here to met you guys ” Ace said “You’re probably right then”

Unbelievably, one time in 2001, one young man (Nat) who worked down the hall from us @ Schmidt Music, came in & asked the now famous question. I stopped what I was doing & looked up, blinked a couple times, then responded … “Well, Corey, looks a lot like you” I thought it may have been a cousin or another relative. He replied “Screw you man, I was being serious” & I said “So am I” about a year later the 1st ‘Stone Sour’ CD came out in Aug 2002, so I tracked down Nat @ the guitar store where he worked, went in & asked him “So did you get the new CD?” He responded “Yea, I did, & you weren’t kidding, I do look like Corey!” I said ”I told ya so” some years later in Nov 2011, I was able to tell Corey this story, when I went backstage to see him @ the Varsity in MPLS. I started to walk backstage & his manager asked “Excuse me, where’s your pass?” I said, “Let’s ask Corey & see what he says” I then said “Corey Taylor, we go back a long ways” he said “We do?” I said “RecordShop, Southridge” he said “Rik, get in here how have you been, I haven’t seen you in years, I heard you have your own Music Shop (Mr. Zero’s Inc. 2009), I gotta stop in there?” I looked at is manager & said “See, I Told ya”

>Dressed to Depress: 1994<
Joey Jordison (26 Apr 1975: DSM) #1 worked for our local competitor ‘Musicland’ so I had seen him around, & probably met him through my friends Keith S. or Lewis, who were managers for that chain, at some point I saw Jordison play in a local band ‘Modifidious’ about ’94 & possibly ‘The Rejects’ in ’95, but how was I to know that one day he was going to be JOEY JORDISON of: SLIPKNOT at the time he was just another one of the local musicians on the scene. So I did not pay much attention to him at the time.

> Killers Are Quiet: 1995<
I lived on 35th & University for 8 years, down the street on 2307 University, was a dive bar or also known as a reggae club called “The Safari” I was told sometime in about ’94 Shawn Crahan purchased the club & turned it into a “Rock Venue” (I saw ACE Frehley of: KISS there Nov’94) & renamed it “Hairy Mary’s” I believe ‘SlipKnot’ became pretty much the house band for the club at this time, while I saw many other bands there back then & probably saw ‘SlipKnot’ with other bands on the bill, it didn’t dawn on me to go see ‘SlipKnot’ by themselves because they were always playing there, & besides who knew they would become the world wide phenomenon, that they did. Back then I had see many Local Iowa bands work hard to make it, get signed to a Record Deal & then break up, EX. ‘Peter Lorre’ got signed released a record under the name ‘Saint’ then broke up, ‘White Hot’ about the same deal, ‘Barney Fife’ or ’35 Inch Mudders’ the list goes on & on ….

In the Winter of ’95 I was working @ Best Buy South DSM, I used to make this joke that I was going to start a punk band named “Children From Hell” that would have 3 drummers & a Lead Bassoon Player, my Co-Worker Todd B. Maxfield of ‘Joker’s Poem’ responded “Naw, too late SlipKnot now has 3 drummers”

>Frail Limb Nursery: Purity: 2001 <
I 1st saw ‘SlipKnot’ @ OZZfest on 16 Jun 2001 in Sommerest, WI. as the band took the stage I asked my friend Darin M. “How long has Jim Root been in ‘SlipKnot’ ?” he replied “Since just after the Road Runner CD, why?” me “I just saw him walk on stage is all” he asked “Well how did you know it was Jim, he’s wearing a mask?” I replied “I have know that guy since he was 16 I know the way he walks & stands on stage” he said “Unbelievable”.

The 2nd time I saw ‘SlipKnot’ was with ‘Rammstein’ on 11 Oct 2001 @ Xcel Center in St. Paul, I worked for “fye” which ran the merchandise table for that tour, I remember thinking there was not of people there, but then it was only a month after the “911 Attacks” even so they put on an awesome concert, & that’s saying a lot if you have ever seen ‘Rammstein’.

I get asked all the time, “So if you knew the guys from ‘SlipKnot’ in the very beginning did they always wear the masks? the answer “I am uncertain, as I never bothered to go see them, on their own, as they were always playing down the street, from where I lived, or so it seemed back then, anyway” I do know they dropped out of sight for a while in ’97 or so, then reemerged with “The Look, Image & Sound” this about the time that supposedly, ‘SlipKnot’ “Stole” the image from ‘MushroomHead’ from Cleveland, OH in 1993, however when I asked several members of ‘MushroomHead’ in Nov 2010, about this accusation, @ least 2 of the band members responded “That was all for media hype & publicity, it’s all cool, there is no problem between us & them, there never was, that was solely to draw more attention to both bands @ the time”

>I Am Hated: 2002<
I was visiting my buddy Crazy Rob in the Winter of 2002 in DSM & on this particular day the producer for the documentary “Behind The Masks: The Unauthorized DVD” By: Music Video Distributors which was released in Mar 2002, was stopping by to pick up actual photographs to be used in the DVD video & cover art. I remember they were from the UK while Rob was pulling the photos, I sat & talked with the Producer & the cameraman about my experiences with the band, the Producer did take a few notes, but I do not recall the Camera being turned on, I do remember her saying they had more than enough footage for the DVD, so I am sure my interview was not used.

My co-worker Steve M. & I went to see the new re-make of “Rollerball” for his birthday in Feb 2002. So we’re watching the film & lo & behold ‘SlipKnot’ is in this film, as a kid in Jackson this was 1 of my favorite films & now the band I knew from DSM is in the new version … unreal.

One time while visiting my Mom in Phoenix in Sep 2002 we were at her home on a Friday (6 Sep 02) night, the TV was on in the background when ‘Slipknot’ was on the ‘Jay Leno Show’. I stopped talking & walked over to the TV. MY Mom asked “What’s wrong?” I replied “I knew those guys back in Des Moines” she said “Yea, so…” I responded, “Well, let’s see, I am sitting home on a Friday night with my Mom & they are playing the Jay Leno Show … I wonder who is doing better for themselves?” she responded “So, what what you want to look like those guys?” I said “For that kind of fame & money they’re bringing in, YEA! I would”

Rob K. (owner of WayBack Records) & I went to see Corey & Denny Harvey in ‘The Dumfux’ @ “House Bricks” in Des Moines, in Jan 2005, while I was talking to Corey & getting a CD signed he said “Let me introduce you a guy I know, & he can sign that (CD) for you too” that would be Josh “Gnar” Brainard (6 Aug: DSM) #4, when I went up to him to ask him to sign the CD he said “Who told you this was me?” I replied “Corey, over there” he then responded “Oh, then its ok” & he signed it, his wife offered “That S&M mask in the photo is on our fireplace in the living-room”

> Hero Poet: 2007 <
On 27 Jul 2007 I met Shawn Crahan (26 Sep 1969: DSM) #6 & Stella Katsoudas (3 Nov 1971: Chicago) Of: ‘Sister Soleil’ when I saw ’Dirty Little Rabbits’ play the ‘7th Street Entry’ in MPLS, Crahan was playing a 4 piece jazz kit, I was impressed by what a great drummer he is, Stella responded “I know right, so few know what a great drummer he really is”.
I went to see ‘DANZIG’ with my buddy Perry L. on 17 Aug 2013 @ the Myth in Maplewood & the band ’Scar The Martyr’ was opening, I thought to myself while they were performing “That drummer plays a lot like Joey Jordison, but, can’t be he’s busy with ‘SlipKnot’ & ‘Murder Dolls’ lately” turns out it was Jordison’s new band, & Jordison was no longer in ‘SlipKnot’.

So recently my friend Josey obtained 2 tickets to “Northern Invasion” on 9 May 2015 in Somerset, WI. so we went to go see them … another friend asked me “I didn’t think you were into that kind of music?” I replied “I’m not, but I knew a couple of those guys back in the day in Des Moines, & I am very proud of how far they have come & how far they have gone”
So there you have it, my personal tale, memories & connection to Iowa’s most famous band ‘SlipKnot’ I would like to point out these are my memories from events that happened up to 28 years ago, while I have recalled them to the best of my ability, any corrections are welcomed.

*Corey Taylor will be appearing 12 Jul 2015 Sun @ the ‘Turf Club’ in St. Paul, MN.

Until the next time … RLSchwinden: MrZer0
Mr. Zero’s Inc. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeros.Com

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