The Yardbirds: 1963 -1968

Posted on by mrzeros1@gmail.com Posted in Articles

“Yardbirds: So How Can This Be?” Dr. Rox Remember When? Article #159 May 2024
By: RLSchwinden aka: MrZerr0 
   So when I was a kid growing up in Sioux City, I heard this song on my Grandma Marge’s radio “For Your Love” I was blown away, this song was so amazing to me, I just couldn’t get enough of it, many years later a Manager (Dennis) at Hospe’s Mr. Music showed me how to play it and I thought to myself, “It’s much like “Steppinstone” by The Monkees. Much later on in life I learned Tommy Boyce had a tendency to listen to The Top 40 Radio and write songs similar to the current top 40 hits. A few years later I heard “Heart Full Of Soul” again I was blown away, so just exactly who was this “Yardbirds” as I usually hung around people 1 to 5 years older than me, I asked around, I got answers like “A 60s blues band from England” but then my Uncle Brad informed me “Yardbirds, I think they eventually became Led Zeppelin, I have an album of the 3 of them (Clapton, Beck, Page) playing together, it’s nothing but tear jerkin blues” so I was again blown away as at that time Led Zeppelin was my Jam. 


I was puzzled as to how this band The Yardbirds, launched the careers of Clapton in “Cream”, Beck in “Truth” and Page in “Led Zeppelin” and so many I seemed to encounter were unaware of this fact? So I started looking for Yardbirds recordings. Where I lived there really wasn’t “Used Record Stores” yet, so I looked and looked all I could really find were a few 45 Singles on Epic Records of The Yardbirds, CDs had not been introduced yet, I did find one Cassette, however it was from the band’s early years, so mostly just old blues standards. But I kept searching only to  find out that This Band at one time or another had 3 of the Most Famous Guitarists of  all TIME!

  
Eric Patrick Clapton 30 March: 1945: Surrey, England Joined in October 1963 and left in March 1965, he recorded 4 Singles and 2 Albums. I had heard these songs by Clapton before I realized he was in The Yardbirds: Eric Clapton “Cocaine” “I Shot The Sheriff” “Let It Rain” 

Geoffrey “Jeff” Arnold Beck: 24 June 1944: Surrey, England – 10 January 2023. He was in the band from March 1965 to November 1966. He recorded 5 Albums and 8 Singles. Likewise I had heard these songs by Beck before I knew he was in the band “”She’s A  Woman” “Blue Wind” and “Superstition” by “B. B. A.” 

James Patrick Page; 9 January 1944: Middlesex, England. He was in the band from June 1966 to July 1968. He recorded 2 Albums and 4 Singles. My first exposure to Page was “Whole Lotta Love” “Stairway To Heaven” again I did not know he was in The Yardbirds.  


Now the interesting thing about these 3 guitarists and their time in this band, is that there is a certain amount of overlap in their recordings over their 10 Albums and 19 Singles. Yet only Beck and Page recorded together. In England the band was on Columbia Records, and on Epic in the USA for some reason you can not get all of the singles in one collection, for years I thought it was due to different labels but that’s not the case other than 1 single from Germany and 1 single from Italy, it would seem there is 3 different sets of licensing and ownership over certain periods of time, between Clapton, Beck and Page, all periods being separated by in large and controlling interests. 

The other members of the band were:  William Keith Relf: 22 March 1943 in Richmond, England – 12 May 1976: by guitar amplifier electrocution in his basement. He was the Lead Single, Harmonica Player and Guitarist. He released 2 Solo Singles. As well as in the bands: Renaissance, Medicine Head, Armageddon and Illusion.James Stanley McCarty: 25 July 1943 in Liverpool, England on Drums.Christopher Walenty Dreja: 11 November 1945 in Surrey, England on Rhythm and Lead Guitar and Bass.Paul Granville Samwell-Smith (born Paul G. Smith): 8 May 1943 in London, England on Bass. 


Another interesting thing about The Yardbirds, like most British bands of the day, they were heavily influenced by American Mississippi-Chicago Blues Artists. And conversely the American Artists of the time were influenced by the British artists of the time. Also, The Yardbirds just like most British artists would release a single, and later a full album, and Not put the latest single on the full album, unlike the American artists, that did just the opposite, American artists would put out a full album, and then release singles off of the album. One more bit of trivia, the band really only had 2 full LPs of original material, they relied heavily on old blues stands and a lot of Bo Diddley covers and hits by songwriter for hire Graham Gouldman of 10CC. Another unusual thing about The Yardbirds, when it came to their singles, the “A” Side would be “Pop” oriented music and generally the “B” Side would be straight up “Blues” apparently the genre they actually preferred to play and record. 

The Yardbirds played MN. several times: 5 August 1966 at Dayton’s Auditorium, MPLS. 2 shows. 7 August 1966 in Mentor, MN. at Maple Lake Pavillion. 8 August 1966 Detroit Lakes at the Pavillion. all with Beck. 18 April 1968 in Winona, MN. at Memorial Hall with Page. 
Another thing that piqued my interest in The Yardbirds was all the other Artists that made references to them or covered songs by the band such as:

Aerosmith “Aint Got You”  “Train Kept A Rollin”  “Think About It” 
Rainbow “Still I’m Sad” 
Ace Frehley “Over Sideways Under Down” Chris Issak “Heartful Of Soul” 
Mick Marrs & John Corobi “Happenings 10 Years Time Ago” 

And when I opened Mr. Zer0’s in 2009 a loyal customer Wes W. brought me “Mr. Zero” by Keith Relf, a #50 hit in 1966. After logging all this particular info, I have decided to create a new “Cover Up Show” for WDGY.

Coming Soon Mr. Zer0’s Cover Up Show 2024 on The Yardbirds:
With Artists Such as: Herman’s Hermits, Manfred Man, New Colony 6, Stillroven, Human Beinz, Clevedonaires, Apple, David Bowie, Nilsson. So stay tuned to WDGY


Here is the information on;
The Yardbirds: PsychoGello Show Episode #62 October 2018 A Certain Girl
For Your LoveHeartful Of SoulShapes Of ThingsOver Under Sideways DownMr. ZeroHappenings 10 Years Time AgoHa Ha Said The ClownThink About It
Catch Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show (285) 8am Sundays on Radio WDGY (Since 2017). Listen to the last 90 Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can also hear Mr. Zer0’s Evolation Show (32) and Hits And History Show (17) at www.MixCloud.Com undr MrZero 

Go hear Thee Mod Garage Alive on 16 June 2024 Sunday 1pm in MPLS. at The Joint. with Guest MrZerr0. They will be performing several Yardbirds songs at this show. You can hear Go-Go Dancer C. C. Ryder on Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show 2024 Episode #285 on Sunday 8am 9 June 2024.
Mr. Zer0’s *Est. 2009 on 1744 Lexington Ave. N.Roseville (St.Paul),MN. 55113

www.MrZeroS.Com$ELLING ONLY:
Classic Music,Retro Toys,Vintage Video Games,Movies and Shirts too….(NO: comics NO cards, NO sports, NO boardgames, NO porn, NO smoking accessories)

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Mr. Zer0’s Turns 15 In Roseville

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

“Mr. Zer0’s Turns 15” 

Dr. Rox Remember When? 

Article #158 April 2024 

By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0 


   So Mr. Zer0’s came to existence on Tuesday 14 April 2009 in Eagan, MN. 55121 at 1st as an “On-Line” business stemming from my “Mail Order” Business “Dr. Rox Remember When?” that I had from 1988 up to that point in time. I started working in the Music Biz in Sioux City right out of High School, I toured with a band for awhile and ended up in Minnesota, from there I moved to Des Moines, where I worked in a stereo store for a few years, until I moved on to RecordShop (Wherehouse), where I worked at several locations in several different states for about 8 years, then I was at Best Buy a couple years, then on to Wax  Works/ Disc Jockey and eventually fye for about 5 years. From there I worked at an inde store in MPLS for about 4 years, until I was pushed to open Mr. Zer0’s in Roseville.


 It was my former boss who gave me the idea to come up with a name and a character to go with it. While I was at the Inde Store I came up with the idea of “Mr. Zer0’s” from The Monkees TV Show Episode #52 “Devil and Peter Tork” where Tork accidently sells his soul to Mr. Zero (the devil). As a little kid I always liked “The Joker” and The Beatles “Yellow Submarine” was my jam. So somehow I came to think of a Jester, when we opened I asked my friend Peggy to draw a Jester in purple and lime green, for us, but not too close to The Joker, she did, from that I took the drawing to Jose Delbo, who worked on “Yellow Submarine”. I had met him through my friend Aaron M. who happened to know Angel Medina, who worked on KISS “Psycho Circus” comics. Through a joke in Italian I was able to get Delbo to create our Iconic Image, a combination of Ringo, Paul, Nowhere Man and the Chief Blue Meanie.    

In 2011 the local band “Jesus Chrysler” wrote and recorded a theme song for Mr. Zer0’s, the 1st of many. There have been so many I hope I don’t leave anyone out: Missy Marrs, Leslee McKee, Reaper, Shock Trigger, Amy Fauble, Dennisota, Mitch from MrZERo, John The 10th from Snellebration, Westside Mikey, Wailin Gregg, Norrell, Fil-Tyr, Conspiracy Business,  In 2016 or so I started writing a theme song for the store, my Dad used to say he played with The Trashmen: “Bird Is The Word” and a customer came in one time wearing a pink shirt with blue lettering “Nerd Is The Word” so, I went with that, and wrote and recorded “Mr. Zer0 says Nerd Is The Word” we finished the song up in early 2017. 

You can find us on these social media platforms, fb, X, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, Pinterest, MySpace, RosevillePatch.com. We have an Email Newsletter of Over 33,000 subscribers. People often ask “Will you take less for that” Well we can IF You Use Our Coupons found on any one of these mediums, also when you buy something in Mr. Zer0’s we give you a Coupon for your next purchase. Or you can Trade in your merchandise from our list of Product We Need for Trade Credit. (See the List below).

Mr. Zer0’s From the very beginning, Mr. Zer0’s has always been a Classic Music Store selling Vinyl Records, CDs, Cassettes, 8-Tracks and Reel To Reels.As well as an Ol’ Skool Movie Store selling VHS, DVDs, Laserdiscs, CEDs, and 8mm.And selling Vintage Video Games: Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and Xbox.Mr. Zer0’s also sells Retro Toys Still In The Package, from 10 Years ago or older.And Vintage T-Shirts.
Here’s What YOU’RE Looking For And So Are We !!!


Mr. Zero’s: Hit List: 2024- 2009


MUSIC: Vinyl Record LP & CD;
Zappa, Neil Young, Yardbirds, Tom Waits, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Townes Vanzandt,  T-Rex, Talking Heads, Smiths, Rush, Replacements, Ramones, Pink Floyd, Gram Parsons, Parliament,  New Order, Motley Crue, Metallica, Megadeth, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin, Kinks, Joy Division, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Jimi Hendrix, Gypsy, Guns N Roses, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Dio, Cure, Costello, James Brown, Clash, Bowie, Tommy Bolin, Black Sabbath & Beatles, 60s R&B, 60s Blues & Jazz, 70s Reggae, 70s Punk, 80s Metal, 90s Grunge.

80s Technics & Sony Turntables

VIDEO GAMES;Gameboy: Pokemon
N64: Super Mario, Pokemon, Diddy Kong, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Kirby, Golden Eye, Perfect Dark, Star Fox, Zelda, Killer Instinct Gold.
SNES: Crono Trigger, Earthbound, Final Fantasy, Megaman X, Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, Metroid, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Kirby, Rock N Roll Racing
NES: Contra, Mike Tyson’s Punch Out, Techmo Super Bowl,  Bubble Bobble, Excitebike, Dr. Mario, Zelda, Metal Gear, Bucky O Hare, RBI Baseball
GENESIS: Boogerman, ToeJam & Earl,  Earthworm Jim, Vectorman,  NHL ’94, Phantasy Star IV, Shinobi III, Castlevania
PLAYSTATION: Final Fantasy VII, Soul Reaver, Suikoden, Oddworld, Silent Hill, Twisted Metal, Resident Evil, Tomb Raider

NeoGeo, TurboGrafx, Virtual Boy, Jaguar, Lynx, Sega Master System, 3DO, Gameboy Micro,  & Pippin.

MOVIES: DVD & VHS;
Concert and Music Videos and “B” Horror Films

TOYS:
Alien, Predator, Terminator, Friday The 13th, Nightmare on Elm St. Child’s Play, Halloween; Michael Meyers, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hell Raiser,  Nightmare Before Xmas, MacFarlane Rock Musicians:  Metallica, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Ozzy, Alice Cooper, Hendrix, Morrison, Joplin, Transformers, 80s GI Joes, He- Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Planet Of The Apes, Beatles, Monkees, 70s KISS, 60s Marx Soldiers, Mego Dolls, Dr. Who, Horror & Sci-Fi.

So if you’re looking for New Digital 180Gram Vinyl, unfortunately Mr. Zer0’s Does NOT carry much of that. 
What Mr. Zer0’s Does NOT Carry: comic books, trading cards, sports, board games, porn, gaming cards, bongs etc. 
Why on earth do people think we are Comic Books, Trading Cards, Sports, Smoking Paraphernalia, and Porn ????? We have absolutely nothing to do with these items or anything to indicate that we would have these things. Now we hear frequently “Your website says you do” well, NO, it is “Google” that incorrectly lists this miss-information, and will not let us remove it. And Since when did a “Jester” become the universal symbol for “Pot Smoking” ? When I “Googled” it this came up:

“The Jester/Joker” 
*Humor and Playfulness: The joker or jester is often associated with humor, wit, and playfulness. *Rebellion and Nonconformity: In some cases, a joker or jester can be a symbol of rebellion or nonconformity. It may signify a desire to challenge societal norms and conventions. *Balance of Light and Dark: The joker can symbolize the balance of light and dark, happiness and sadness, comedy and tragedy. It’s a reminder that life is a mixture of both joy and sorrow. *Cunning and Intelligence: The joker is often portrayed as clever and quick-witted. *The Unpredictable Nature of Life: The joker can also symbolize the unpredictability and capriciousness of life. It serves as a reminder that circumstances can change unexpectedly.
So on The Jester/ Joker; Absolutely no reference to “Pot Smoking” whatsoever  the closest thing was a reference to “Batman”  


Here are some upcoming events you may want to check out:


*KISSin Time: a Tribute to KISS from the years 1974 to 197725 April 2024 Thursday 10pm at Route 47 in Fridley, MN. MrZerr0 formed this band in April 2013.


*Musician’s Trade Fair 27 April 2024 Saturday 10 to 3pm at The Eagan Civic Ctr. in Eagan, MN 55121.MrZerr0 will be there. 


*Thee Mod Garage 5 May 2024 Sunday 1 to 4pm at The Joint in Minneapolis, MN.MrZerr0 has been sitting in with this band since Dec 2022. MrZerr0 is scheduled to play 2 sets at this show. 

*The Bang Gang: A Tribute to Tommy R. Bolin and the Music Of The 70s3 August 2024 Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa at The Marquee.Mr. Zerr0 has been playing with this band since 2019.


*Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show has been on Radi0 WDGY Since Spring 2017, and can be heard every Sunday 8am on AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. The  last 90  Shows can be heard @ www. MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. 


*MrZerr0 was on Radio WFNU for the “Early Morning Show” from Fall 2018 to Spring 2019. As well as “Rick Burnett’s “Hits And History Show” from 2018 to 2021. And “Mr. Zer0’s Evolation Show” from Summer 2019 to Winter 2021. Many past shows can be heard at www.MixCloud.Com. 


> Mr. Zer0’s <
*Est. 2009

1744 Lexington Ave. N.

Roseville (St. Paul), MN. 55113

 www.MrZeroS.Com 

Sunday: Noon to 4pm

Mon to Thur: Noon to 7pm

Friday: Noon to 6pm

Saturday: 11am to 6pm

$ELLING ONLY:Classic Music,

Retro Toys,

Vintage Video Games

Shirts and Movies too ….

Where: 
“Nerd Is The Word” 

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MrZerr0, Why The 60s?

Posted on by mrzeros1@gmail.com Posted in Articles

“MrZerro, Why the 60s?” (Thee Mod Garage)

 Dr. Rox Article #157 March 2024

By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0


 So when I was a little kid growing up on the Westside of Sioux City my parents were into music but late 50s and early 60s music, like Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Gene Chandler, The Trashmen, and hundreds of One Hit Wonders. I have documented many times it was my Aunt Debby who played Dave Clark 5 and The Beatles records for me, and my Uncle Jim and his friend Vince H. used to play The Rolling Stones and The Kinks records for me, my Uncle John used to play The Monkees and The Osmonds records for me, I do remember my mom playing the Mama’s and Papa’s album “Farewell” in late 1967, I really love that album. I may have mentioned before that when a was a baby my Grandparents Bob and Irene used to call the fireplace and the Christmas Tree “Ricky’s Babysitter” because all the had to do was sit me in front of one or the other and I would not move unless the fire went out or the tree came unplugged. In fact my Grandma Irene used to show that different things turned different colors when they burned in  the fireplace, the one that I remember most was the package of Pall Mall cigarettes (which she smoked) would burn green flames, I was amazed. so this must be the origin of my infatuation with moving colored lights. 


So sometime in 1970 my parents (Carol and Bill) moved into a house on 34th and Douglas on the Northside of Sioux City, and in the basement they made a makeshift bar, with an orange lamp with a white bulb that read “Pub” on it, and a band practice area, my Dad had a Japanese Gold Sparkle “Stencil” drum set, as he was a drummer in the Brooklyn Center/ Osseo area of the Twin Cities in the early 60s (he told me he sat in with The Trashmen back then, before he want to Viet Nam). Sometime in 1971 my Uncle Jeff, a tue Hippy in every sense of the word and a friend of John Bartle, and an acquaintance of Tommy R. Bolin, moved in with us and he brought his Vinyl Record Collection and gave me my very 1st guitar a Dutch made Egmond acoustic in tobacco sunburst. Now my parents were very young when they had me and some of their friends like Bob P. Sue L. Vince H. Lenny S. were a couple years younger than them, so upon occasion they would have parties in the basement “Pub” with snack foods and loud music, I used to sit on the cold air vent and listen to the music, wow it was great, and I would sneak some meat and cheese and crackers and deviled eggs, as I was suppose to be in bed, sleeping. I can vividly remember hearing The Tremeloes and Atlantic “Super Hits Vol.1” from 1967 and “Sgt. Pepper’s” blasting away from downstairs. This music shaped my life. I would stare at those album covers for hours. 


The 60s seemed to promote “Peace And Love And Everything Else” I was really drawn to this idea as I was a total Nerd growing up and picked on all the time, I like the idea of “Peace & Love” also in the late 60s into the early 70s most advertisements had an element of Psychedelic Art to them as well as TV commercials. I was fascinated by the vivid colors and the swirling patterns that formed images, specifically “7up” ads from about 1969 to 1974, which was created by my favorite artist Peter Max (Peter Max Finkelstein: 19 October 1937 Berlin, Germany). in 1967 John Lennon wanted Peter Max to create the artwork for the next Beatles film “Yellow Submarine” when Peter Max was deemed too costly, they called in Heinz Edelmann (20 June 1934; Ústí nad Labem, Czechoslovakia – 21 July 2009), to create the artwork in the style of Peter Max, ironically, Both Artist are German! Later Jose Delbo:(José María Del Bó; 9 December 1933  Buenos Aires, Argentina – 5 February 2024) was contracted to do the art for the “Yellow Submarine” Comicbook. As “Yellow Submarine” was my Jam in 1968 or 69, and one of the few things I still collect (Beatles: Yellow Submarine Merchandise) after all these years I was fortunate enough to get Delbo to create the Mr. Zer0 character for us (I did have to pay him), I met him through Comic Artist Angel Medina, I feel this is one of my crowning achievements.      


While as a toddler I was 1st introduced to the “British Invasion” and I Love that music; The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Troggs, The Dave Clark 5, The Kinks, The Who, Herman’s Hermits, The Yardbirds, The Moody Blues, The Animals, The Hollies, The Zombies etc. I found later when I was a little older about 9 or so I found I liked the American Bands much more: The Monkees, Boyce And Hart, The Byrds, Mamas And Papas, The Rascals, Jefferson Airplane, Buffalo Springfield, The Doors, and Steppenwolf (though German-Canadian) to name just a few.  I was trying to form my own 60s Psychedelic Band called “PsychoGello” since about 1993, with no luck, I could never find 3 to 4 other people to share my vision, so I ended up calling my Radio Show “PsychoGello”. 
And then …. 3 friends of mine formed ‘Thee Mod Garage’ in the Fall of 2020 consisting initially Xenia on Bass and Vocals with Matt The Bat; Lead Vocals and Drums, Groovy Gerhard: Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals, Far Out Phil: Guitars, Keyboards, Ocarina and Lead Vocals and in Fall of 2022 Le Ann Lovechild; Bass and Lead Vocals and in Spring 2024 Jennifer M. as the Go-Go Dancer. 
I 1st saw THEE MOD GARAGE at the Driftwood in MPLS. I was so blown away by them I have made 3 “PsychoGello Shows” on them:

Episode #163 Oct 2020

Episode #240 Dec 2022

Episode #279 March 2024

With a 60 song canon of 60s Psychedelic Music including The Yardbirds, Cream, The Doors, The Animals, The Monkees, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Steppenwolf, Paul Revere And The Raiders, The Troggs, The Seeds, Blue Cheer, The Litter, The Castaways, even Surf Music like Santo And Johnny, The Chantays and Dick Dale and dozens of other bands from 1965 to 1969. The deliver the goods 

Catch THEE MOD GARAGE Alive! 

30 March 2024 Sat. 8pm 

Shaw’s 1528 University Ave. NE.

MPLS 55413 

Call: 612. 781. 4405 For ALL Info 


Being a huge supporter of the band In Dec 2022, the band let me sit in with them for a few songs and now I am a regular guest in their live show: So I MrZerr0 will be will be playing on “Steppinstone” “Just Like Me”  “Birthday” “Magic Carpet Ride” “Born To Be Wild” “Jumpin Jack Flash” “Satisfaction” “Wild Thing” “96 Tears” “Pushin To Hard” “Ramblin Gamblin Man” “Let’s Work Together” at their next upcoming show! 


And there you have it, a brief insight as to why MrZerr0 loves the 60s Music and Art. So “Tune In and Drop out” and check  in next month. mZ

Hear MrZerr0 on the “PsychoGell0 Show” 8am Sundays Since 2017on Radio WDGY740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1Check Out the last 90 Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast*Sponsored By: Music Go Round Roseville 55113also check out:www.MixCloud.Com Mr Zero – Evolation (32 programs) – Hits And History w/ Rick B. (17 programs) 

 
Mr. Zer0’s 
*Est. 20091744 Lexington Ave. N.St.Paul – Roseville, MN. 55113

www.MrZeroS.Com

Vinyl Records, CDs, Cassettes, VHS, DVDs, Laserdiscs,Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, Xbox, Atari,Vintage Toys and Shirts. ( and that is all)

Where “Nerd Is The Word” 

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Artists who are being forgotten

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

“What Happened to the 90s and 2000s?”

Dr. Rox Remember When? Article #156 Feb 2024

By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0 


    Well, as I may have mentioned many times over the past 13 years, I have been in the Music Biz in one way or another since 1982, so it is suffice to say music is my life. I believe it is also well known that the 1960s are my jam, specifically 1965 to 1969, so much of the greatest music was made by so many of the greatest artists. However I hate to say this out loud but it seems the Twin Cities are firmly stuck in the year 1988, and that all of their favorite music comes from the era of when MTV aired Only Music Videos, almost to the point that if there was not a Music Video made for any certain song, it simply did not exist. 


While I once was a fan of certain bands when I was younger; Led Zeppelin, Journey, AC/DC. Def Leppard to name a few after hearing the same songs over and over every single day I can simply no longer hear this music. Let’s look at this way, let’s take Led Zeppelin they recorded 9 Studio Albums with 74 Songs, unfortunately 14 of them were cover songs or obscure older songs ripped off  to create a “New” Song, and yet somehow people only ever get to hear the same 8 or so songs decade after decade. So many might argue, “Well, that’s the songs people want to hear” is it , really, am I not a person with an opinion, how about actually asking some actual music listeners with real opinions. For example there is one very popular local radio station with a playlist totalling only 350 songs. On my WDGY radio after 7 seasons for my show, I have played conservatively 1932 songs that were probably never played on their station. What is my point …. Well I personally feel there are a great number of artists that are being overlooked or even forgotten such as. 


Marshall Crenshaw:
Marshall Howard Crenshaw 11 November 1953 in Detroit, Michigan He started releasing music in 1982 releasing at least 13 Albums and 13 Singles with “Someday Someway” #36 on the Billboard Charts. As well as at least 5 contributions to other artists albums. Some of my favorites by Marshall: “Mary Ann” “Soldier Of Love” “Calling Out For Love” “Somebody’s Crying” “Some Hearts” “Let Her Dance” “Some Place Where Love Can’t Find Me” “Don’t Disappear Now” “Deliliah” “2541” “Television Light” “T.M.D.” I have seen and met Marshall many times. The 1st time at The Electric Fetus and The Fine Line in MPLS in 2000 and at a venue in the Warehouse Dist. in MPLS (wish I could remember the name) in 2001 and 12 June 2004 at First Ave. with MC5-DTK. I 1st heard Marshall working at RecordShop #67 at Valley West Mall. My manager Matt played the Cassette, yes, Cassette, as no one was buying vinyl by this point, of “Mary Jean and 9 Others” in the Fall of 1987. I really like the Pop sensibility of his songs, somehow a mixture of 50s and 60s but with a modern approach. Then in 1989 I heard his album “Good Evening” and I was hooked.


Chris Issak:

Born Christopher Joseph Isaak on 26 June 1956 in Stockton, Calif. He started releasing music in 1985 with 16 Albums and 36 Singles with 6 Songs on the BillBoard Charts and 8 contributions on other albums. I saw and met Chris and his band on 9 Aug 2003 in MPLS. and again on 13 Dec 2004 in MPLS some of my favorites by Chris “Another Idea” “You Owe Me Some Kind Of Love” “Fade Away” “Suspicion Of Love” “Wicked Game” “Wrong To Love You” “Two Hearts” “End Of Everything” “American Boy” “Washington Square” “I Lose My Heart”. Like everyone else I suppose I heard Chris via “Wicked Game” which did grab me as it was a 50s style song but with a dark 80s feel. However it was his 2nd album from 1987 that really pushed me over the edge with the song “Fade Away”. 


The Smithereens:
Formed in Carteret, New Jersey and started releasing music in 1986 with 15 Albums and 26 Singles with 4 songs on the BillBoard Charts. Some of my favorites “Blood And Roses” “Behind The Wall Of Sleep” “House We Used To Live In” “A Girl Like You” “It’s Alright” “Now And Then” “House At The End Of The World” I saw and met them on 24 June 2012 in MPLS at Famous Dave’s, their original Roadie and long time friend Jim Brandt introduced me to the band, Jim used to be a good customer of mine back in 2008, Jim also worked with former New York Dolls, Johansen & Sylvain on their first 2 post Dolls albums. How I found out about The Smithereens, my co-worker Kevin S. in late 1986, handed me a Cassette he recorded and said “You like 60s music, I think you will like these guys” it was The Smithereens “Especially For You”. The songs “Behind The Wall Of Sleep” and “Blood And Roses” blew me away. By Sept 1991 when “Blow Up” was released, I was a total fan.

Matthew Sweet:

Sidney Matthew Sweet born on 6 October in Lincoln, Nebraska He started releasing music in 1986 releasing 20 albums and 9 Singles “Sick Of Myself” was #58 on the Billboard Charts. 18 other contributions to other artists’ recordings. Some of my favorite tracks: “Girlfriend” “Evangeline” “Divine Intervention” “Devil With The Green Eyes” “Magnet And Steel”  my all time favorite “Faith In You” I saw and met Matthew at First Ave.  on 20 Feb 2001 and again on 22 Oct 2008. I plan to make a “PsychoGello Show” on Matthew in the future. I remember Matthew’s “Earth” CD being released in early 1989, and then “Blue Sky On Mars” in Mar 1997, but was the song “Faith In You” from the film “Drive Me Crazy” released in Oct 1999, that hit me straight between the eyes, I was now a Fan! 

Don Dixon:

Born on 13 Dec 1950 in Lancaster, S. Carolina. Don’s credits are numerous and vast. Why do I mention him, because at some point he has worked with: Crenshaw, Smithereens and Sweet and even R.E.M. In writing this article I came to realize Dix is the common denominator with this kind of music I love so much. I remember reading Dix’s name throughout the 80s however more as a producer than an artist. I have to say I love his style. 
In closing there is so many artists and so much music I fear is being forgotten, so fans sometimes it’s totally worth it to take a chance on a name you are mildly familiar with, in this case I kept seeing the name Don Dixon associated with these artists so I dug deeper to see what more there was.  


You can hear me on Radi0 WDGY 8am Sunday AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1, this is my 7th Season of The PsychoGello Show (2017-2024 for 277 shows). You can hear the last 90 Shows @ www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can also hear 2 of my other Radi0 Shows @ www.MixCloud.Com MrZeros – Evolation (32 Shows)  -Hits And History (17 Shows) with Rick Burnett  

You can see MrZerr0 sit in with Thee Mod Garage Alive 16 March 2024 Saturday 7pm in Roseville at The VFW Post #7555. Worth mentioning This IS MrZerr0’s Favorite band. Check them out @ TheeModGarage.Com and on YouTube. 

Until my next installment … do some investigation MrZerr0 
Mr. Zer0’s *Est.20091744 Lexington Ave. N.St.Paul- Roseville, Mn. 55113www.MrZeroS.ComClassic Music, Retro Toys, Vintage Video Gamesand Movies too.Where Nerd Is The Word. 

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Article #155: The Solo Beatles

Posted on by mrzeros1@gmail.com Posted in Articles

“Hey MrZerr0 how about The Solo Beatles?”Dr. Rox Remember When? Article #155 Jan 2024By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0 


   It’s a new year, with a new article, it’s amazing to think back when I started writing this article for the “St. Cloud Buzz” all the way back in April 2011, my 1st article was on Jimi Hendrix. Then in February 2013 I was asked to write for Roseville Patch my 1st for them was on Badfinger, for a while the 2 were published simultaneously, then in September 2021 I was asked to write for “Twin Cities Buzz” my 1st article there was on “T-Rex” and again the 2 ran at  the same time. Sometime ago someone I once knew offered, “I like the article more when you give your personal perspective on the topic, band, artist etc. so every now and then I do just that. I have well documented how when I was about 10 months old my Aunt Debby K. used to play 45 singles on her record player for me to dance to (1964), mostly Dave Clark 5 and Beatles such as “She Love You” “I Want To Hold Your Hand” “Can’t Buy Me Love”. 


I remember later my Uncle Jim U. had the first few Beatles albums (1969) like: “Meet The Beatles” and “Something New” then later on my Uncle Jeff S. lived with us for a while on Douglas St. (1971) and he had “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “Abbey Road” those really tripped my trigger, and my sister’s baby-sitter Stacy P. used to bring over her Beatles 45s (1973), by this time I was thoroughly engrossed in all things Beatles, however being so young at the time I was unaware that The Beatles had already disbanded in December 1970. So I was very confused when I heard Solo Beatles songs on radio KMNS. 


I would say the very 1st song I heard was Lennon’s “Give Peace A Chance” then probably McCartney’s “Live And Let Die” and then my Mom Carol’s favorite Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” but I know for sure the one that totally knocked me out Starr’s “Photograph” with Harrison. Then in no specific order “Another Day” “Isn’t A Pity” “Back Off Boogaloo” “Imagine” “Uncle Albert/ Admiral Halsey” “#9 Dream” “Give Me Love” “You’re Sixteen” “My Love” “Oh My My” “Jet” “Power To The People” “No No Song” “Band On The Run” “It Don’t Come Easy” after that it was an open flood gate of Solo Beatles songs, too numerous to mention or try to log in order. Then later as I began to collect records myself, specifically  the 45 Singles, I started finding songs I never heard on the radio yet they were on the BillBoard Charts “Junior’s Farm” “Mind Games” “Dark Horse” “Snookeroo” and others like that. 


Now when I lived in Sioux City, I remember hearing Ringo on the radio the most, in fact Ringo had more “Top 40 Hits” than Lennon until 1980, when Lennon was killed in December 1980, he got 3 Top 40 Hits off of his last album “Double Fantasy” consequently bumping Ringo out of the #2 Solo Beatles success. In order of Hit Single success McCartney landslide. Lennon at 13, Harrison at 13  and Starr at 11. Now to clarify this is Top 40 Hits, not charting singles,as those numbers are vastly different. 


The Beatles going solo: I am not sure everyone is aware 3 members of The Beatles started doing solo work While they were in The Beatles. Here is a breakdown:  


Paul McCartney: “The Family Way” soundtrack from January 1967.

George Harrison 
“Wonderwall” soundtrack from November 1968″Electronic Sound” from May 1969

John Lennon”Two Virgins” from November 1968
“Unfinished Music: Life With the Lions” from May 1969

“Wedding Album” from November 1969

“Live Peace In Toronto” from  December 1969

45 Singles: “Give Peace A Chance/Remember Love” July 1969

“Cold Turkey/ Don’t Worry Kyoko”  October 1969

“Instant Karma/ Who Has Seen The Wind” January 1970


When Lennon was asked about Yoko splitting up The Beatles Lennon had this to say “Why not thank Yoko for all the great music created by Paul, George and Ringo created after The Beatles”.  

I have created many Radio Shows on the Solo Beatles on WDGY (www.MrZeroS.Com) and WFNU (www.MixCloud.Com) Here is the info on these Shows.

John Lennon #120: Dec 2019
Paul McCartney #125: Jan 2020
George Harrison Part 1A Early: #5: Aug 2017George Harrison Part 2B Later #275: Feb 2024
Beatles George Harrison: #221: May 2022Ringo Starr: #32: Mar 2018
Beatle Ringo Starr #238: Nov 2022


Which leads up to one of my latest Shows Episode #271 on the Solo Beatles.


Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show 2023
Episode #271 “The Other Hits Of The Solo Beatles”

 John Lennon:

Power To The People (#11) Mar 1971

Mind Games (#18) October 1973 

Whatever Gets You Through The Night (#1) September 1974 (with Elton John)

Paul McCartney:

Another Day (#5) February 1971

Uncle Albert/ Admiral Halsey (#1) August 1971

Hi Hi Hi (#10) September 1972

George Harrison:

Bangla Desh (#23) July 1971

Dark Horse (#15) november 1974

You (#20) September 1975

Ringo Starr:
Back Off Boogaloo (#9) March 1972 (with Marc Bolan)

Oh My My (#5) February 1974

Snookeroo (#3) February 1975 (with Elton John)


And there you have it, some information on The Solo Beatles, check in next month for a new instalment Of: Dr. Rox Remember When? 2024. 


Upcoming Concert:”A Hard Day’s Night” Presents “The Day The Music Died” a Tribute to Buddy Holly and The Music Of The 50s3 February 2024 Saturday 1pm at The Hook And LadderCall: 612. 345. 7166: For ALL Information3010 Minnehaha Ave Minneapolis, MN 55406


You can hear MrZerr0 on Radi0 WDGY8am Sundays740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1and hear the last 90 Episodes Qwww.MrZeroS.Com -Podcastalso the other shows of MrZerr0@ www.MixCloud.Com: UnderMrZerosEvolation (32 Shows)Hits And History w/ Rick Burnett (17 Shows)


Mr. Zer0’s *Est. 20091744 Lexington Ave. NRoseville-St. Paul, MN. 55113www.MrZeroS.ComVinyl, CDs, Cassettes.VHS, DVDs, LaserDisc.Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, XboX, Atari.Toys in Package, Shirts.and That’s IT!
Where: Nerd Is The Word…. 

https://patch.com/minnesota/roseville/how-solo-beatles

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PsychoGello Xmass Show 2023

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“PsychoGello Xmass Show 2023” Dr. Rox Remember When? Article #154: Dec 2023By: RLSchwinden aka  MrZerr0


   When I was a kid growing up in Sioux City, Iowa (home of Tommy Bolin) I remember Christmas of 1969 my family stopped by my Sister Michelle’s Godmother Darlene L.s house and there Darlene was sitting in rocking chair drinking eggnog and listening to Christmas records on her record player, I thought this was so awesome the lights of the Christmas tree and the sound of Christmas music, I remember thinking this is what I want to do when I get older. Then in 1983 while working in a stereo dept. store in W. Des Moines, IA., I started to discover Christmas music by Rock N Roll Bands, so I made my very 1st Xmass Rock Tape in Dec 1985. Then in Dec 1999, I was able to make my very 1st Xmass Rock CD, and ultimately in Dec 2017 I aired my very 1st Xmass Rock Radio Show on Radio WDGY. 


    Now I as I have been in the Music Biz in one way or another since 1982 and all I am interested in is music, I research bands and songs, tirelessly, even on artists I am not that into. Unbelievably I found about 40 Christmas songs I did not know about, so this year in 2023 for the 1st time ever  I made 2 new Xmass shows, one R&B and a Pop Rock one too. With my new co-host  DJ Megz Lonewolff of “Drinking The Cool-Aid” A True Crime Podcast which she launched in March 2020 and just released Episode #195, already fantastic, check out her show folks. You can catch me live on a new Radio Show “Ghost Box Radio” with Greg Bakun on Radio AM950 KTNF on 9 January 2023 Tuesday 10pm, I am going to try to get Megz on this show too. And so let us cover my 2 new Xmass Shows for this year.


“PsychoGello Pop Rock Xmass Show 2023”
Episode #270


“Baby’s 1st Christmas”  Connie Francis: 1961Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero on 12  December 1937 in Newark, New Jersey.

“Not So Merry Christmas”  Bobby Vee: 1962Local Hero he was born Robert Thomas Velline 30 April 1943 in Fargo, North Dakota, I, MrZerr0 was on FOX 9 News covering his death on 24 Oct 2016 in Rogers, MN.

“My Boyfriend’s Coming Home For Christmas”  Toni Wine: 1963 ( BillBoard #33)She was born on 4 June 1947 in Washington Heights, New York. 

“The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle” Bobby Vinton: 1964He was born Stanley Robert Vinton on 16 April 1935 in Canonsburg, Penn. 

“Santa And The Sidewalk Surfer”  The Crossfires: 1964 They formed in Los Angeles as The Nightriders and then The Crossfires in 1964 and eventually became The Tyrtles and also recorded as Christmas Spirit and later on Flo And Eddie. 

“It’s Christmas Eve” The Galaxies: 1965Formed in 1961 in Tacoma, WA. from the same music scene as The Kingsmen, The Sonics and Paul Revere And The Raiders.  

“Cool Yule”  Donnie Burns: 1966On ARC Records, I can not find much on this artist, but I love this song. 

“Sock It To Me Santa”  Bob Seger and The Heard: 1966He was born in Detroit, Michigan in May 1945. And later The Bob Seger System and then The Silver Bullet Band. 

“Gingerbread Man” Tommy James And The Shondells: 1968He was born Thomas Gregory Jackson 29 April 1947 in Dayton, Ohio. The Shondells were formed in Niles, MI. If you want some great research look into his manager Morris Levy. 

“What Child Is This”  Mark Lindsay: 1969He was born in Eugene, OR. 9 March 1942 and was a member of Paul Revere And The Raiders from 1960 to 1975.

“Jesus Christ” Big Star: 1978They formed in 1971 in Memphis, TN.

“PsychoGello R&B Xmass 2023” Episode #269

“Blues For Christmas” John Lee Hooker: 1954He was born on 22 August 1912 in Tutwiler, Miss. Passed on 21 June 2001.

“Christmas Tears” Freddy King: 1961Born on 3 September 1934 in Gilmer, TX. and passed on 28 December 1976.

“Merry Twist-Mas” The Marcels from 1961 They were formed in 1959 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
“I Remember Christmas”  by The Drifters: 1964
They were formed in New York City in 1953.

“Presents For Christmas” Solomon Burke: 1966He was born James Solomon McDonald on21 March 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and passed on 10 October  2010.

“Who Took the Merry Out Of Christmas” The Staple Singers: 1972The formed in 1948 In Chicago, Ill. 

“I Want To Come Home For Christmas” Marvin Gaye: 1972He was born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. on 2 April 1939 Washington, DC and Passed 1 April 1984. 

“Christmas Just Aint Christmas” The O’Jays: 1973They were formed in 1958 in Canton, Ohio.

“Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin” Albert King: 1977  He was born Albert Nelson on 25 April 1923 in Indianola, Mississippi and passed on 21 Dec 1992.
MrZerro went to school in Mississippi, a Brandon Bulldog for 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Grades. 

“25th Of Last December”  Roberta Flack: 1977She was born Roberta Cleopatra Flack on 10 February 1937 in Black Mountain N. Carolina.

“All Alone On Christmas” Darlene Love: 1992 She was born Darlene Wright on 26 July 1941 in Los Angeles California.


And of course there were 6 other Xmass shows before these 2, if you want to track them down, with my former co-hosts: De Dee, Evangeline, Missy Marrz, Asha Moonglow and Nikola. 

Episode #21 Xmass 2017  
Episode #73 Xmass 2018

Episode #122 Xmas 2019

Episode #172 Xmass 2020

Episode #212 Xmass 2021

Episode #242 Xmass 2022


   Tune into Radio WDGY AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1 on Sundays 8am. You can hear the last 90 Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. And hear my past “Evolation Show” (32 Shows) and “Hits and History Show” (17 Shows) at www.MixCloud.Com under MrZeros. There are 2 other shows out there “Album Breakdown” and “Cover Up” to check into as well.
I am MrZerr0 and this was the year 2023. Stay tuned for 2024.


Mr. Zer0’s Inc.*Est. 2009

1744 Lexington Ave. N.

Roseville, MN. 55113

Vinyl Records, CDs, Cassettes.VHS, DVDs, Laserdiscs.Nintendo, PlayStation, Sega, XboX, Atari.Toys in the Package and Shirts.

Where: “Nerd Is The Word”

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3 Songs and Vinyl Memories

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“3 Songs By Any Band and Music History”
Dr. Rox Remember When?  
Article #153 November 2023
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0 

   Being in the Record Business Since 1985 I learned straight away that most customers assume you love the artists they love and or that you love the format that they love. In many cases this is simply not true, after over 100 years (the 1st recording was made in 1877) there are now literally thousands of artists and bands, and dozens of genres of music to choose from. Let’s start off with the reproduction medium. 

Vinyl Records

The very 1st format was the Cylinder introduced as a “Record” originally round like a drinking cup with no bottom made by putting wax on the outside of the cylinder, later a hard wax was developed topping out at a 2 minute run. Finally a hard plastic version was released that could hold 4 minutes. This format was offered from 1896 to 1929. 

Then came the 10 inch 78rpm Record requiring a thicker heavier grade stylus (needle). They were made of shellac and then in the 1940s they were made from  polyvinyl chloride (PVC) henceforth “Vinyl”. Usually double sided (holding 2 songs) The machines were both manual and electric. This format was manufactured from 1912 to 1959. The typical music genre offered was, Big Band, Vocal and Easy Listening, therefore the original “Blues” music is very sought after, very rare and highly collectible and expensive. At the time a kind of photo album was made and sold to hold your records in, usually 50 to 10 sleeves, which evolved into calling “Records” by the name of “Albums” as they held 10 songs by themselves.   

Edison Diamond Disc Record 10 inch record holding up to 5 minutes running at 80 rpms, rather than the standard 78 rpms, these discs were almost twice as thick as the standard 78 rpm, and typically were single sided (containing only 1 song) they are not compatible with 78 rpm machines. Having a very short lifespan being manufactured from 1921 to 1929.   

 Transcription Records from the 50s into the 60s. They ran at 16 rpm and up to 20 min per side albeit with very low fidelity designed for mainly speaking voices, such as interviews or documentaries and occasionally background music in business’.  Chrysler actually offered a factory under- dash record player from. 1956 to 1958

7 inch 45 rpm Single, with usually 2 songs, on rare occasion 2 songs on the B-Side. They often had a “Non-LP B-Side” meaning a song that was left off of the original album and in some cases both songs not being on the current album. Until 1969 all 45 rpm singles were mixed in “mono” (vs stereo) and usually an edit or even alternate version from the LP cut. in the 60s these still had a price point of .98 cents, unless you found them in the “Cut-Out” Bins then they were generally .25 ot 10 for a $1.oo.  RCA was the biggest supporter on the 45 Single. These were made from 1948 to about 1992.  

 In 1948 Columbia Records rolled out the 33 1/3 rpm “album” usually containing 10 songs, in the 50s and 60s usually 12 songs holding up to 18 minutes per side, in the UK 14 songs. In the 70s the time was expanded to and past 20 minutes. In a last ditch effort the industry had figured out a way to compress the recording in get 30 minutes per side on a vinyl record such is the case of Def Leppard’s 1987 release “Hysteria” alas by then, no one, and I mean NO ONE was buying vinyl Cassette was the chosen format.  


In September 1987 “NARM” and the 6 major labels at the time: BMG, CBS, EMI, PGD, UNI and WEA agreed and announced that 1987 would be the last year of Vinyl Records on a major scale and offered to us Record Stores to turn in 2 Vinyl Records for credit towards 1 CD, in a combined effort to boost less than stellar CD sales and plumitiing vinyl sales  but all vinyl must be returned by 2 January 1988. They did offer a  “Special Order Program” until October 1989. This was the predominant selling format until 1982, when Cassettes took over the number 1 selling format.   

Many people have disputed this information, however one time my former boss Matt M. chimed in “Not only is he correct he left out part of the story, he only had 2 days off in Dec 1987 (5 Dec 1987 Sat & Christmas the 25th)  and the first one was the Saturday after KISS played Vets (Fri 4 Dec 1987) when 1 one of the roadies, Jim, who he met the day before in our store and another roadie, Romeo who Rik knew from years before, brought Paul Stanley of KISS into our store to see Rik, so Rik didn’t get to see Paul that day as  I gave him the day off because he had to spend the whole month of Dec handwriting vinyl returns, because the deadline was 4th Jan 1988”  

12 inch Extended Mix Single up to 5 mixes of 1 song and usually a Non-LP song, with the popularity of Disco in the late 70s these were rolled out and became very popular, until they turned into CD5 or Maxi-Singles in the early 90s.

Universal Fire  1 June 2008 BLDG.6197 somewhere between 117,000 and 185,000 master tapes that could possibly be up to 500,000 songs  Master Recordings 

180 Gram Vinyl “Digital” Recordings
In 1982 Steppenwolf’s album “Wolf Tracks” was completely digital. Starting in 1985 almost all recordings went to digital from analog. Essentially this is the same digital file used to make a CD, but now pressed to vinyl. The reason for using 180 gram vinyl is to hold a broader sound range. A 180 gram record has about 10% of the high end and 10% of the low end cut off when transferred to vinyl from the digital file. Also by using colored vinyl it creates better reproduction as colored vinyl is virgin vinyl with no impurities, as opposed to black “recycled” vinyl. Translucent vinyl simply has less impurities. While vinyl has been available in one way or another since the massive extinction in 1989, for example the UK never really walked away from vinyl as did Eastern European Countries, who purchased the USA record presses when “The Wall” came down and the Eastern Block opened up in Dec 1991.      

Mobile Fidelity Half Speed Master Recordings
Founded by Brad Miller in 1977, began releasing “Half Speed” Vinyl records boasting the best reproduction sound possible, by transferring the master tapes at half speed, a process he discovered while trying to get the best possible transfer of nature sounds to vinyl. Mobile Fidelity would generally only print 3500 to 7500 copies of each of their titles. However in August 2022 the company was exposed about the fact that up to 60% of their releases were made using the DSD system, creating doubt that analog is truly better than digital. This same year the company lost a fraud lawsuit costing them $25 million in damages. 

Reel To Reel: 
Invented by the Germans in 1939 it was rolled out to USA consumers in 1958 and was available until 1984. This format could hold up to several hours of music depending on which one of the 6 available speeds the info was recorded at. It was Bing Crosby that championed this format, investing $50k in  Ampex in 1947 to get this format into production. In my opinion this is the best quality reproduction ever made available. This format co- existed with Vinyl and 8 Track, however Reels were primarily for the Audiophile or business’.         

8- Tracks:
The stereo 8 was rolled out in 1966 primarily for portable music for  automobiles and was manufactured until 1983. A lot of muscle cars from the 60s and 70s were equipped with stock 8 Track Players. This ran at a faster speed therefore having great sound reproduction, the set back having 4 channels songs could be split up and with an 8 channel playback head the tracks could sometimes bleed over in sound. In the mid 70s 8 Tracks sold up to 40% of the market with Vinyl being the chosen format.  

Cassettes 4 Track:
 Introduced in 1966 named “4 Track” as a more compact alternative to 8 Track and Reels, this format ran at a slower speed therefore not the same sound quality as Reels or even 8 Track, it did however hold 15 minutes up to 2 hours of music depending on the cassette you purchased. As with all “Tapes” they were a  $1.oo to pay the mechanical  royalty to Ampex, until the royalty ran out in the mid 80s. Cassettes really did push Vinyl out of the main selling format in 1982, and ruled the sales market until 1991 when the price of car stereo CD players were greatly reduced. So you know all that 80s music you’re looking for on Vinyl, you know why it is so expensive and so hard to find, well that’s because Cassettes sold about 80% of the market share during the 80s.

Cassingle: 
 Introduced in the UK in 1982, as an alternative to the 45 Single, this format rolled out in the USA in 1987 as the end of Vinyl was near. Initially only one song per side, very quickly went to both songs on both sides. This format lasted until 2001.

CDs:
Invented by the Phillips CO. in 1974, this format got the green light in 1981 when  the then President of Sony in Japan, who was also a Classical Conductor wanted to get all of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony on a single recording format without interruption. The 1st CD sold in Japan was The Beatles “Abbey Road” master from a vinyl record in 1982. rolled out in the USA in September 1985, I know because I had to attend a class on the new format at that time. Also many of the early CDs titles sold then contained a Video on the disc that needed a CD Player with a Video out to view, an example Jimi Hendrix “Smash Hits” 1st press.  

CD5 and CD Maxi-Single:

With the end of vinyl and the intention to eventually end cassettes too, the labels introduced in 1990, 2 new types of CD singles, one with 2 songs like a 45 singles and the 2nd to replace 12″ vinyl singles. The cool thing about the Maxi Single is that you usually got a song not contained on the full CD. Imports from the UK or Japan were the absolute best as sometimes they contained up to 3 Non-LP or Live tracks not on anything else. 

Napster:
A Peer To Peer (P2P) file sharing program introduced in 1999 ushered in the collapse of the Music Industry, as once a person bought a CD they could share it with anyone at no cost, and therefore no revenue to the Artist or Record Label that created it. A lawsuit was filed immediately and Napster was shut down in 2001, only to reopen as a subscription service only to end in 2002. This however did lead to other streaming services. 

Ipod:
 A portable media player rolled out in  2001 which held  512 MB to 256 GB depending on which version you bought and when you bought it. It is my understanding that when a single song cost .99 cents, Apple Music paid about .10 cents to the artist and .25 cents to the Record Label and Apple received the rest as they were the ones to offer the service. Sometime in about 2007 many Sony artists banded together and filed suit against Apple claiming they should get a larger share, as they created the music they are selling and the record labels recouped their investment decades ago. An agreement was reached and Apple agreed to pay the artists .25 cents by raising the cost of a single song to $1.29. I personally saw many music listeners sell off their entire collection after they loaded it onto their Ipod, only to find out later, the information could not be transferred from one device to another, so I would see them return to repurchase their favorites once again. This format came to a close in 2022.  

Streaming:
 As a result of Napster this option was created in the late 90s. It seems to be the most popular format of the day, what consumers may not know is that some artists only receive a .008 of a cent for every play. What does that mean? The artist gets .08 cents for every 1000 plays. Hum … this just doesn’t seem right to me. 

Now myself, my chosen format is Reel To Reel, analog recordings with no pops or clicks. but only a few hundred rock titles were ever made on reel, I own less than 100 of them. Next I would have to say CD would be my preference, they can hold up 79min. and many CD reissues have the Non-LP B-Sides, which I love, included on them, I own about 8000 CDs. Then vinyl, I probably have over 2000 Albums and 1500 Singles. 
I have said for many years Love ALL Kinds of music, and I do mean all kinds, However that does not mean I am a fan of every band, and specifically the most popular bands.

But As I started off talking about I love all music I can most generally find 3 songs by any artist that I do love no matter who they are, here are just a few examples:

Garth Brooks: 

That Summer: 1992
The Night I Called The Old Man Out: 1993
Hard Luck Woman: 1994

The Cars: 

Bye Bye Love: 1978 
Since You’re Gone: 1981
Drive: 1984

Johnny Cash: 

Ring Of Fire: 1963
Long Black Veil: 1965 
Hurt: 2002

Cinderella:
Shake Me: 1986
Don’t Know What You Got: 1988
Gypsy Road: 1988 

Neil Diamond:

Cherry Cherry: 1966
Love To Love: 1966 
Solitary Man: 1966

Foreigner:
Long Long Way From Home: 1977
Girl On The Moon: 1981
I Want To know What Love Is: 1984 

Guns N Roses:
Knockin On Heaven’s Door: 1988
Pretty Tied Up: 1991
Locomotive: 1991

Rick James:

You And I: 1978 
Give It To Me Baby: 1981
She Blew My Mind: 1982
 

Led Zeppelin: 

Battle Of Evermore: 1971
Achilles Last Stand: 1976
Ozone Baby: 1982

Loverboy: 

Turn Me Loose: 1980
When It’s Over: 1981
Lucky Ones: 1981

Metallica

Fade To Black: 1984

Wherever I May Roam: 1991
Memory Remains: 1997

Pink Floyd: 

See Emily Play: 1967
Wish You Were Here: 1975
Comfortably Numb: 1979

Public Enemy:

Bring The Noise: 1988

Fight The Power: 1989 

911 Is A Joke: 1990 
 

Quiet Riot:
Slick Black Cadillac: 1978

Metal Health: 1983
Wild And The Young: 1986

Bob Segar: 

Feel Like  A Number: 1980

Her Strut: 1980
You’ll  Accompany Me: 1980 

Bruce Springsteen: 

Pink Cadillac: 1984
Trapped: 1985
Brilliant Disguise: 1987

Rod Stewart:

Passion: 1980
Baby Jane: 1983 
Infatuation: 1984 

Warrant: 

Heaven: 1989
Uncle Tom’s Cabin: 1990
I Saw Red: 1990

Winger:
In The Day  We’ll Never See: 1990
Who’s The One: 1993
Down Incognito: 1993 

Be sure to tune in to my “PsychoGello Show” weekly Radio Show on Radio WDGY 8am Sundays, since 2017. You can hear the past 90 Episodes at www. MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can find MrZerro’s “Evolation Show” at www.MixCloud.Com for 32 Programs under Mr. Zeros as well as my guest spot on Rick Burnett’s “Hits And History” for 17 Programs. 

Until my next installment …

Mr. Zer0’s
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexingtone Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
Classic Music,
Retro Toys,
Vintage Video Games 
and movies too….
where
“Nerd Is The Word”   

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Why, Paul Revere And The Raiders?

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

“Why Paul Revere And The Raiders”

Dr. Rox Remember When? 

Article #152 Oct 2023

By RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0 


   When I was a kid growing up in Sioux City, Iowa there were not a whole lot of musical options, so any chance I could I  took advantage of what I was able to hear or see. My Mom asked to get HBO installed into our house as she loved to watch movies, as did I. In the summer of 1979 I saw the film “Animal House” (July 1978)  on HBO in the soundtrack. I heard “Louie, Louie” by The Kingsmen, I loved it. Now, at the time in Sioux City, there was only a few places to buy Vinyl Records, the main independent store “Uncle John” owned by Mike Duncan (eventually his daughter Mindy ran this for him) and a store where my Grandfather Willis, my Dad Bill, and his brothers all worked which was Woolco. At The time a new album cost about $7.99, an older title like the ones I was looking for, as I was looking for artists from the mid 60s , in the late 70s (Disco sucked) IF, you could even find them were about $5.99. Well, I made about $1.95 an hour working at Woolco, yes 3 generations all worked at the same store. 


Well at Woolco they had what was called the “Cut-Outs” Section. My Mom (Carol) had to explain this to me as she sold records at  Kresge’s “Certain records are not made forever they stop making them if they don’t sell well” retail stores like Woolco or K-Mart (Kresge’s) had huge “Cut-Outs” Sections. So What is a “Cut-Out” it literally means “Cut Out Of Print” (No Longer Made) the 6 major records labels being; CBS, Capitol, MCA, RCA  WEA, PGD, when they stopped making certain titles they would make a “Saw Cut” in the side or have the “Corner Cut Off” or make “Drill Hole” in the top corner, or have “Hole Punched” through the corner. and the price points were: .99, $1.99, $2.99, $3.99, $4.99, then those price stickers were color coded for a specific 3 month period, and after a year they dropped down to the next lowest price point until finally .49 and after that they were destroyed Woolco alone destroyed thousands upon thousands of KISS records in 1979 -80. 


Starting in the 80s CBS began to melt down it’s overstocked records rather than sell them at a reduced price the thinking was “CBS Records will not devalue it’s artist catalog” these slow selling records were recycled into new records. Well, not making very much money and wanting every record I could get my hands on I shopped the “Cut-Outs” Section, it was there I found artists like  The Byrds, Paul Revere And The Raiders and Thin Lizzy. It was here I found my found Raiders record Paul Revere And The Raiders “Greatest Hits” with their version of  “Louie, Louie” not the same version that I heard in “Animal House” but at least I had the song to play at home in my room. You see kids, the very 1st time I ever heard of the internet was Winter 1986, so if you wanted to look up music you had to use a giant book called a “Phonolog” at a store like “Musicland” which the 1st one I ever saw was at Southern Hills Mall about 1982 (the mall opened in Mar 1980). 

The album cover really appealed to me, I loved the colonial uniforms, as I always like a sense of uniformity of the 60s bands, everyone wearing the same suits or at least similar suits, I had Marx Revolutionary War toy soldiers only a few years earlier, so I thought the Raiders looked really cool, and I loved 5 songs on this record. Later in 1988 when I started to get all of The Raiders catalog, I found out I loved a great deal more songs.  


Originally formed in 1958 as “The Downbeats” When Paul Revere Dick (7 Jan1938; Harvard, NE. – October 4, 2014) met Mark Lindsay (9 Mar 1942 Eugene, OR.)  in Boise, ID. in 1960 the band changed their name to Paul Revere And Te Raiders, they later relocated to Portland, OR. in 1962. The band has had some 37 members in it’s 56 years career, Guitarists: Drake Levin, Jim Valley, Freddie Weller, Sioux City, Iowa born Doug Heath (9  Oct 1948), Paul’s own Son Jamie Revere, Bassists: Doc Holliday, Phil “Fang” Volk, Keith Allison (cousin of The Crickets Jerry Allison) and Ron Foos, Drummers: Mike Smith, Mississippi born Joe Carreo Jr. and Omar Martinez, just to name a few. In their career they have released 25 Albums, 42 Singles with 30 Songs on the BillBoard Charts. They have appeared on countless TV shows such as: “Batman” (1966) “Where The Action Is” (1965-67) one was filmed here in MPLS, “Ed Sullivan Show” (1967) “It’s Happening” (1968 -69), “Milton Berle Show” (1966), “Mike Douglas Show” (1966) “Lloyd Thaxton Show” (1965- 66). 


Another cool thing I later figured out about The Raiders, much like their contemporaries of the time they used VOX Guitars and Amps, specifically Volk used a “Phantom” Bass and Weller used a V288 Aristocrat and Lindasy played a “Phantom” 12 String. Just like The Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Monkees used VOX Guitars and amps like the AC30 or “Super Beatle” 100w The Rolling Stones used a  MkVI Teardrop and  a  V298 Wyman Bass, The Monkees used V219 Bobcat and V238 Country Western. I saw and met Paul Revere And The Raiders twice in Des Moines, IA. in 1993 and 1997 I found him to be the consummate showman, always on making plenty of jokes , though I was supposed to see them in 1989 in Williamsburg, IA. but car trouble prevented me from doing so. I finally  saw Mark Lindsay in St. Paul in 2012, as I was supposed to see him in 1993 in Des Moines, and 2009 in Milaca, MN. Unbelievably Jim “Harpo” Valley became a children’s artist after The Raiders and also performed in Des Moines, I did not find out until a week later, when my friend Reno informed me he met him after the show. In 1997 I met Jon Vasey ESQ. a VOX collector, and the biggest Raiders fan I ever met. He and I had the endless argument about who was a better vocalist, Mark Lindsay or Micky Dolenz (fans what do you think ?)
It took me a long time to do so, but I have created (so far) 4 Radio Shows on Paul  Revere And The Raiders, with 2 more in the works. Here are the set lists for these shows. 


WDGY “PsychoGello Shows”Paul Revere And The Raiders

Part #1: 1965 -1968

Fever: 1965, Just Like Me: 1965 , Steppin’ stone: 1966, 1001 Arabian Nights: 1966, Louie, Go Home: 1966, I Hear A Voice: 1967, I’m A Loser Too: 1968 ,Happening ’68: 1968.

Part #2″ 1969 – 1976
Ride On My Shoulder: 1969,I Dont Know: 1969, Just Seventeen: 1970, Indian Reservation: 1971, Powder Blue Mercedes Queen: 1972, Love Music: 1973, All Over You: 1974, Gonna Have A Good Time: 1975, The British Are Coming: 1976.

“Mark Lindsay Solo”
Reason To Believe: 1969, Arizona: 1969, Silver Bird: 1970, Been Too Long On The Road: 1971, Something Big: 1972, California: 1973, Mamacita: 1975, Sing Your Own Song: 1976.

WDGY
“Cover Up Show””Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian” 1965 John D. Loudermilk: 31 March 1934; Durham, NC. 21 Sep 2016

“Louie Go Home” 1966 The Chambermen: Spokan, WA.

“Steppin Out”  1966 The Atheanians: Edinburgh, Scotland

“Birds Of A Feather” 1969Keith Allison: 26 Aug 1942; Coleman, TX. 17 Nov 2021

“Freeborn Man” 1976 May The Outlaws; Tampa, FL.

“Hungry” 1977 Jan Sammy Hagar: 13 Oct 1947; Solinas, CA.

 “(INY) Steppingstone: 1979The Mertron Parkas; London, ENG.

“Kicks” 1986 June The Monkees: 1965 L.A. CA.

“Just Seventeen” 1998Crawlspace; Perth, AUST.

Coming soon to WDGY
Paul Revere And The Raiders: “Top BillBoard Hits” Just Like Me #11: Nov 1965, Kicks: #4: Feb 1966, Hungry: #6: June 1966, Great Airplane Strike: #20: Oct 1966, Good Thing: #4: Dec 1966, Him Or Me: #5: April 1967, I Had A Dream #17: Aug 1967, Too Much Talk #19: Feb 1968, Mr. Sun Mr. Moon: #18: Jan 1969, Let Me: #20: April 1969, Indian Reservation: #1: Feb 1971.

“Mr. Zer0’s Evolation Show” trying to get on Radio WVIC
55 min. Featuring:Paul Revere And The Raiders, The Brotherhood,
The Unknowns, Mark Lindsay, Jim Valley, Freddie Weller,
Keith Allison, And several Cover Versions.

You can catch my Radio Show “Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show”  on WDGY AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1, Sundays at 8am (occasionally at 7am too). You can hear The past 90 Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can find “Mr. Zer0’s Evolation Show” (32 programs) and “Hits And History” (17 Programs) at www.MixCloud.Com.
Check in next time. Until then … Nerd Is The Word” 


Mr. Zer0’s *Est. 20091744 Lexington Ave. N.Roseville (St. Paul), MN. 55113www.MrZeroS.Com$ELLING:
Vinyl, CDs, Cassettes,VHS, DVDs, LaserDiscs,Retro Toys In Package,Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, XboX.Shirts, and That’s Is ALL!

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Article #151: Why The Monkees

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

“Hey MrZerr0 Why The Monkees?” 

Dr. Rox Remember When? Article #151 September 2023

By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

So many years ago when I lived on the Southside of Des Moines, I auditioned for a “Local Cover Band” I do not recall the name they used then, but they eventually became ‘Seven Hells’ incidentally I did sit in with them a few times in 2009. As we were going over the setlist, of what I consider the usual; KISS, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Motley Crue, Judas Priest etc. their singer Chris W. asked me “Am I to understand you like The Monkees?” I replied “Why, yes, that’s true” he asked “I just don’t understand how this can be true, you are into hard rock like the bands we just rehearsed and you are into kids music like that?” 

I responded “You see Chis, I am a little older than you and I started listening to music at about 11 months old, I’d guess, when my Aunt Debby would play 45 Singles on her record player for me to dance to, she played the bands she liked Dave Clark 5 and The Beatles. My father Dick told me and my Mom Carol wrote it down in my baby book, that my favorite TV shows as a toddler were ‘Batman’ ‘Lost In Space’ and ‘The Monkees’ back in the olden days “Prime TV” started at 6pm EST. I didn’t know any different pertaining to TV Stations and times, but Batman was on at 6 O’Clock Wednesdays and Thursdays on ABC (Channel 9), Lost In Space was on CBS (Channel 14), Fridays and The Monkees were on NBC (Channel 4), Mondays, so as a toddler I would sit in front of the TV waiting to see these shows and listen to the music, coincidentally another favorite band of mine Paul Revere And The Raiders appeared on Batman in Nov 1966. So you see Chris it’s quite simple. I was listening to music in the mid 60s, Before the bands you liked even existed, what was I supposed to do, sit and wait and hope one day there would be a band like Black Sabbath, so I had something to listen to?”     

I do vividly remember sometime in 1969 my favorite song was “Last Train To Clarksville” my Uncle John was a Monkees fan back then he had the 1st album and “Headquarters” and a few 45 singles for sure, he even had the Monkees talking hand puppet, and in ’69 when Peter Tork left the group, John pulled Peter’s head off the hand puppet. Also in ’69 I remember watching “Scooby-Doo” when it 1st aired September 1969 on CBS, incidentally I am currently watching these very episodes with my son Oblieon, David Jones appeared on Scooby-Doo in Dec 1972.  I remember seeing Kool-Aid and Nerf commercials with the Monkees Trio David, Micky and Michael, as CBS started to air The Monkees in re-runs from Sept 1969 to Sept 1972. 

It was about this time my mom’s best friend Toni C. would come over with her 2 children Spencer and Chris, and they would ask to watch The Monkees TV show, as they were into  comedy shows, however by this time I had discovered “Star Trek” and “Planet Of The Apes” so Sci-fi was my bag you dig. As they were our guests we watched The  Monkees, now I have to say at this time, watching the show I found it to be kinda silly, how I was still drawn to the music.I vividly remember seeing the songs “Words” “Love Is Only Sleeping” “Randy Scouse Git” and Tim Buckley performing “Song To The Siren” I loved This Music, and I have to say this show planted the seeds for the idea of me wanting to be in a band, I liked the idea of having 4 best friends (Spencer, Chris, Eric W. and I) playing  in a band wearing matching raspberry shirts playing in small clubs to people dancing or sitting listening  to us perform. I thought to myself “yea, this is what I want to do, this is definitely the life for me”.

I suppose it was also fueled by the fact may Dad Bill played drums in Merle Pithan’s  band “The Boyz (from Sioux City)” and my Uncle Jeff (who knew Tommy Bolin) played guitar and gave me my 1st guitar, and the same Uncle John (mentioned) played drums in the band “Freedom Of Wild Water II” 
At 1st I wanted to be the singer- drummer like Micky Dolenz, (I thought he had the coolest haircut) but as my dad tried to teach me drums, we learned, sadly I did not have what it took, and my friend Chris C. DID already played drums, I decided I wanted to be the Mike Nesmith (guitarist- singer) in the band, as Uncle Jeff had already given me a guitar. Well it took many moves and many years later until I met Mike Langley who got me onto my guitar playing journey with his group “The Magic Acid Band”. Earlier this year I got the guitar I always dreamed of from way back then, a Red Sunburst Hollow Body (Thanks to the guys at Music Go Round Burnsville). In 1986 The Monkees got back together for a reunion tour that lasted for the next 3 years. Since then I have seen The Monkees in one form or another over 50 times in over 8 different states. As the following: David, Micky & Peter, Peter Solo, David Solo, Micky Solo, Michael Solo,  Boyce & Hart, Micky & David, Michael, Micky & Peter, Michael & Micky. In fact I have met some of my very best life long friends because of The Monkees either collecting or at concerts. 

Some of my Monkees related accomplishments. I was able to interview Michael Martin Murphey for Gary Strobl’s book on The Monkees; pertaining to Murphey’s involvement with The Monkees writing the songs “What Am I Doing Hanging Round” “Oklahoma Backroom Dancer” “Texas Morning” and “I, Prithee (do not ask for love)” and his band “Lewis And Clark Expedition” who was signed to the same record label, thanks to Nesmith.I worked on a job for David Jones in 1994 researching his performing, writing and producing credits. In Sept 2005 David Jones played my Catholic Church (St.John Neumann) function and earlier that day Jones I filmed a segment for VH1, unfortunately my part did not get used. In 2020 my name is in the credits on the CD/Vinyl “Micky Dolenz: Live In Japan (1982)” as I was the only one who interviewed and documented his trip to Japan in 1982. 

When I decided to open Mr. Zer0’s Record Store in 2009, I decided to use a name I saw in Monkees’ Episode #52 “Devil And Peter Tork” Mr. Zero ran the pawn shop where Tork accidently sold his soul to the devil ‘Mr. Zero’ Mr. Zer0’s will be celebrating their 15th Xmass in the very same location. In 2012 when I was asked to make my 1st KFAI appearance, they asked me if I had a name for my show. I decided to use “PsychoGello” from Monkees Episode #58 “Frodis Caper” where Nesmith is making fun of the hippy psychedelic movement calling it “PsychoGello” I made 7 appearances on KFAI as “PsychoGello” and in June 2017 I moved this show to WDGY and is still on today, about to air my 7th Xmass show.  So what are some of my favorite Monkees’ songs you might ask, well it goes like this:”Sweet Young Thing” (Nesmith)  from their 1st album in Oct 1966. I played this song over and over so much my Aunt Cat had to say “There are other songs on the album”

“Look Out (hct)”  (Diamond -Jones) from “More Of” released in Jan 1967, I just love those early songs of Neil Diamond this one “I’m A Believer” “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You” “Love To Love” “Black And Blue” 

“You Told Me” (Nesmith) from “Headquarters” released in Mar 1967. another fine tune form Nesmith with a bit of country added to it with Tork’s banjo.

“Words” (Boyce And Hart -Dolenz -Tork) from “Pisces” released in Nov 1967. This is my favorite song of all time. I was able to interview Tommy Boyce about this song in June 1986. Later in 1990 I became an acquaintance of Bobby Hart. 

“Zor And Zam” (Chadwick -Dolenz) from “Birds And Bees” released in April 1968. What a haunting masterpiece. This blew me away when I first heard it as a teenager. Later, alos in 1990 I befriended this song’s writer Bill Chadwick. 

“Long Title (dihtdtaoa)” (Tork) from the soundtrack to “Head” released in Nov 1968. Well this song just plain rocks and rings so true for me. Buffalo Springfield is the backing musicians on this one.

“You And I” (Chadwick -Jones) from “Instant Replay” released in Feb 1969. Another rocking tune that once again rings so true. This one is again written by Chadwick, with Lead Guitar from Neil Young of Buffalo Springfield.

“Looking For The Good Times” (Boyce And Hart -Jones) released in Oct 1969 from “Present”. another rocker.

“Tell Me Love” (Barry -Dolenz) from the final LP “Changes” released in June 1970 a great ballad. 
“Cripple Creek” From “Live 1967” finally a Tork song with banjo.

“Time And Time Again” (Chadwick -Jones) From Missing Links Vol. 1″ slated for “Changes” another Chadwick song and a great ballad. 

“I Prithee” (Murphey -Dolenz) From “Missing Links Vol. 2” slated for the 1st LP. later recorded with Jones in ’67 and later again with Tork in ’68. A great psychedelic tune.
“You’re So Good” (Stone -Dolenz) From “Missing Links Vol. 3” slated for “Present” a greta R&B tune as that’s what the Trio were into at the time. Sam And The Good Timers are the backing musicians on this track. 

“Something To Show For It All” (Chadwick -Jones) still unreleased as of yet. Slated for “Changes” but used in the syndicated TV Show “An Evening With…” from April 1970. I got this unreleased recording from the songwriter and producer himself Bill Chadwick in 1992. A lovely ballad. I would like my son to play this at  my wake.

I have a son and when he was born I got him a drumset. A Ludwig that I am re-wrapping in Pink Sparkle, Dolenz had a Champagne Sparkle Kit. When I was asked why I wanted to have a kit of that color, I responded it is my dream to be in a Monkees Tribute Band” the person responded what did they have 1 hit?” Ummm, no here is a list of their Top 40 Hits:

11 Top 40 Hits:

-1966-

“Last Train To Clarksville” (Boyce And Hart)

“I’m A Believer” (Diamond)

“(iny) Steppinstone” (Boyce And Hart)

-1967-
“A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You” (Diamond)

“Girl I Knew Somewhere” (Nesmith)

“Pleasant Valley Sunday” (Goffin And King)

“Words” (Boyce And Hart)

“Daydream Believer”

(Stewart)

-1968-“Valleri” (Boyce And Hart)

“Tapioca Tundra” (Nesmith)

“D.W. Washburn” (Leiber And Stoller)


And so this is why The Monkees, like I tell my son “Everybody’s different” Check back next month. Until then … MrZerr0

Tune into my Radio WDGY “PsychoGello Show” 7am Sundays and 8am. On AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. To hear the last 90 Episodes go to www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. To hear my “Evolation” (32) and “Hits And History” (17) Shows go to www.MixCloud.Com.


Mr. Zer0’s *Est. 20091744 Lexington Ave. N.Roseville, MN. 55113www.MrZeroS.Com“Where Nerd Is The Word” Classic Music,Retro Toys,Vintage Video Games,And Movies too.And That’s IT! 

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Do We Need Tribute Bands?

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

“Why Do We Need Tribute Bands?”

Article #150 August 2023By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0 


The Duluth Veterans Tribute Fest is 26 August 2023 at Bayfront Festival Park. So being in KISSin Time for the last 10 years I get  these questions:


 1. Why are you in a tribute band and not just a cover dance band? For me I was always a fan of a specific band and I loved playing just one band’s songs, keeping to a certain theme. The very first project I was involved with we just played songs by The Beatles. Also I never really liked playing a variety of songs, especially songs by certain bands. Just like nowadays, go to any club and you will see several different bands playing the exact same songs, what can be the differentiating factor, who plays this song the best, these guys or those guys? 


 2. Don’t you feel silly? No, I get to live out my childhood dreams, and most people never get that opportunity. I always liked dressing up for more than just Halloween. I also wanted to be an actor, I have appeared in several films since 2011. (check IMDB).


3.  Why don’t you play original music? Well I have been in several original bands over the decades and while I enjoyed playing music I created or helped create. It was hard to get booked to play shows after 1987. In addition, in most cases people were not getting into your music they  had never heard before. And for decades now, a band has to realize they are not really going to “Make It” in the music biz, so why not do it for fun and make a little money in doing so. 


4. Are tribute bands really necessary? 
Overall I say Why Tribute Bands. Easy answer.  These 4 for example; The world’s favorite band of all time Led Zeppelin stopped touring in July 1980. The Beatles stopped touring August 1966. Jimi Hendrix last show was in Sep 1970. Jim Morrison’s last show was Dec 1970. Van Halen performed their last show in Oct 2015.  This list could go on and on. The Sweet will be playing the Twin Cities soon, as the other 3 original members are dead, the only original member left is Guitarist Andy Scott (born in June 1949), and several new hires, true the music is still there but when it is down to just one original member, and not even the lead singer on the recordings,  how far off is it really from a band paying tribute to the original band? What if you’re a huge Tom Petty fan, well unfortunately he died in 2017, so you can not see him anymore, or if you love Fleetwood Mac, even though they have had over 18 full members, sad but true Christine McVie is gone, since 2022.  


In the late 60s there was a trend to put together 50s Rock N Roll Revival Shows, like having Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis on the same bill (program) even then those artists were in their 30s and 40s. Berry was born in OCt 1926, so in 1969 he was 43 on tour playing these revival shows.  


For example when the Monkees toured as a trio in 1986 they were crucified over the fact all 4 original members weren’t there and they were in the 40s, yet many of the 80s hairbands are now in their 50s and 60s and the touring bands are down to maybe 2 members or just the lead singer and a backing band example Brett Michaels, Tom Keifer, Geoff Tate. How about Quiet Riot, the band is down to its 2nd Bass Player Rudy Sarzo. Let us look at Foreigner the only original member to still perform with the band is Mick Jones (born Dec 1944) albeit occasionally at best even though lead vocalist Lou Gramm is still active he he is not in his own band, while there are a few other famous people in the band; Pilson & Hansen, in my opinion Foreigner is nothing more than an “Authorized Tribute Band”  For the record Brett Michaels was born March 1963, Tom Keifer born Jan 1961, Geoff Tate was born in Jan 1959.


How about the 90s bands most of those lead singers are dead, Cobain, Staley, Cornell, Hoon, Weiland, Nowell and Wood, yet some of these bands still continue on. Since most of these 90s singers are in fact dead you could go see “Wicked Garden” and get the 90s experience in a live setting. An example TOOL is a great band, unfortunately they do not tour that often, so if you’re a TOOL fan, you can go see “10,000 Days”  


I saw the Ronnie James Dio Hologram in June 2019, and to me, it was like a bad cartoon with a really good backing band. There was talk of taking the Jimi Hendrix Experience Hologram and the Michael Jackson Hologram backed by the remaining Jackson Brothers, but I never saw anything materialize outside of the Dio Hologram tour. 


How about the major Stadium Tours, such as KISS, where Paul Stanley’s vocals are pre-recorded backing tracks, I know I saw this myself from only several feet away in Milwaukee, May 2022, or Motley Crue, Lee’s drums, Sixx’s bass tracks and Neil’s vocals. Sure these are very expensive shows costing millions of dollars, so the companies really wouldn’t want anything to go wrong, but is it right to charge $150.oo to watch a pantomime?  


I ask this question when you see tribute bands, do you prefer them to dress the part or the band just walk out and perform in their usual attire, whatever that may be? For many it’s the music and they really don’t care who is up there, as long as they can drink and dance and have a good night out. Some want to relive their glory days or a time that has long since gone by. Myself I do want to the music to be correct, and sometimes it’s necessary to have a keyboard player off to the side to recreate the sound, and in many cases a tribute band needs to have a female singer to recreate the vocals of a 22 year old male from decades ago, but I am also going to watch the show, so I myself would like to see the band at least make an effort to look the part, and not have to watch what looks like 4 guys that just got off work and went to the club to play the favorite songs. 


I have been in the music biz since 1981 in one way or another, I started working full time in a recordstore in 1986, I sold thousands upon thousands of Led Zeppelin cassettes back then. They were done as a band for over 5 years, so how would a 16 year old kid who just discovered Led Zeppelin get  to enjoy the live experience of his new favorite band without the advent of “Tribute Bands”? Keep in mind there is not a whole lot of Led Zeppelin video footage out there as their manager Peter Grant wanted the fans to pay to go see his band live, not be  able to watch them for free on TV. Or a young person sees KISS on Scooby Doo and wants to learn more about them, yes there are tons of video on KISS, but to be there and see it live is a spectacle to behold. 


While there will always be a need for new original music and I fully support this, I feel there is also a need for Tribute Bands helping fans relive the past in a way they are able to. So until someone invents a time machine I recommend you go see the tribute bands while they are still around. 


Check out my WDGY Radio Show 8am Sundays on WDGY: Am740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. You can hear the last 90 episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com under Podcast. Check out Mr. Zer0’s “Evolation Show” (32 Episodes)  and “Hits And History Show” (17 Episodes) at www.MixCloud.Com. 
See you in Duluth.StarChild of: KISSin Time. 


Mr. Zer0’s *Est.20091744 Lexington Ave. N.Roseville-St.Paul, MN. 55113www.MrZeroS.ComWhere:
“Nerd Is The Word” Classic MusicRetro ToysVintage Video GamesAnd Movies too. AND THAT’S IT! 

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