Billie Holiday Sings Detour Ahead, also Recorded by Joe Williams as arranged by Sun Ra

Going through some old vinyl and I came across this Billie Holiday album. Click here for a link to Detour Ahead:

The song Detour Ahead was also recorded by Joe Williams with the Red Saunders Orchestra in 1953 with Sun Ra doing the arrangements. There is a great CD release called "Joe Williams Sings". I highly recommend getting a copy of it. Try this link:

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1054328/a/Joe+Williams+Sings+Everyday.htm

This version of Billie Holiday singing "Detour Ahead" is very sweet.

Tenderly From the album "Some Blues But Not The Kind That's Blue"

I love this song. I just rediscovered it on the new release titled "The Eternal Myth - Vol 1.", produced by Michael Anderson (The Good Doctor). An old verison from 1950 of this song can be found on disc 5 (track 15).

http://soundcloud.com/user7162896/tenderly

Sun Ra & Me: Interview with Knoell Scott by Charles Waring from August 26, 2011

SUN RA & ME: saxophonist Knoel Scott tells SJF about his time with the legendary bandleader

Friday, 26 August 2011 by Charles Waring

http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/interviews/1444-sun-ra-a-me-saxophonist-knoel-scott-tells-sjf-about-his-time-with-the-legendary-bandleader.html

Sun Ra on Detroit TV, 1981

I Can't Get Started - John Gilmore with Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers

Photos Sun Ra Master Tapes on Ebay: SUN RA Reel to Reel Tape Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow 10inch 15ips 2trk 02

SUN RA Reel to Reel Tape Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow 10inch 15ips 2trk 02

Photos Sun Ra Master Tapes on Ebay: SUN RA Reel to Reel Tape Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow 10inch 15ips 2trk 01

SUN RA Reel to Reel Tape Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow 10inch 15ips 2trk 01

Photos Sun Ra Master Tapes on Ebay: SUN RA Reel to Reel Tape ABC-IMPULSE Jazz In Silhouette 10inch 15ips 2trk 02

SUN RA Reel to Reel Tape ABC-IMPULSE Jazz In Silhouette 10inch 15ips 2trk 02

Photos Sun Ra Master Tapes on Ebay: SUN RA Reel to Reel Tape ABC-IMPULSE Jazz In Silhouette 10inch 15ips 2trk 01

SUN RA Reel to Reel Tape ABC-IMPULSE Jazz In Silhouette 10inch 15ips 2trk 01

Photos Sun Ra Master Tapes on Ebay: SUN RA Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Space Is The Place 1/2 inch 10" Reel to Reel 02

SUN RA Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Space Is The Place 1/2 inch 10" Reel to Reel 02

Photos Sun Ra Master Tapes on Ebay: SUN RA Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Space Is The Place 1/2 inch 10" Reel to Reel 01

SUN RA Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Space Is The Place 1/2 inch 10" Reel to Reel 01

Photos Sun Ra Master Tapes on Ebay: SUN RA Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Discipline 27-II 1/2 inch 10" Reel To Reel 02

SUN RA Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Discipline 27-II 1/2 inch 10" Reel To Reel 02

Photos Sun Ra Master Tapes on Ebay: SUN RA Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Discipline 27-II 1/2 inch 10" Reel To Reel 01

SUN RA Discrete Quad MASTER TAPE Discipline 27-II 1/2 inch 10" Reel To Reel 01

Photos Sun Ra Master Tapes on Ebay: SUN RA Crystal Spears Reel to Reel 10 inch 15ips 2trk 1974 EQ copy QS encoded

SUN RA Crystal Spears Reel to Reel 10 inch 15ips 2trk 1974 EQ copy QS encoded

Samples From Sun Ra Master Tapes on Ebay

Recently there has been a new cache of Sun Ra Master Tapes listed for sale on Ebay. Sample can be heard on SoundCloud here:

http://soundcloud.com/user3053335

The 5 samples are:

1. Groovin' High [Tape from early in his career of Sun Ra live with John Gilmore on tenor sax]

2. Song 3, Take 1 [From a 10" tape of master recording of Sun Ra from May 18, 1992. The box it came in is marked Bro. Wind II? The tunes are untitled and there are several takes on some of them. The engineer simply announces song number and take number.

3. Session Sample [First couple of minutes of a Sun Ra session from 1959. This is 2 false starts and a bit of take three of 'Round Midnight with vocal by Hattie Randolph.]

4. Unidentified Live Concert [Found on unlabeled reel to reel tape. Sun Ra Piano Solo]

5. Buffalo [Sun Ra live recording sample of Sun Ra & His Band From Outer Space]

Sun Ra Blog: Other Planes of There

A new Sun Ra Blog called Other Planes of There joined the online Sun Ra community in August 2011. Sun Ra Arkive welcomes you Crawford! The blog contains personal reflections and philosophizing about Sun Ra's music and message and is worth checking out.

http://otherplanesofthere.blogspot.com/

NRBQ: Workshop (1973) Images

NRBQ: Workshop (1973)

Eddie Kramer: Engineer, Producer.


Lineup 3 (1972-74):
Terry Adams: keyboards, vocals harmonica
Al Anderson: vocals, guitar
Joey Spampinato: vocals, bass
Tom Staley: drums, percussion

http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/NRBQ.htm


Pressings:
Workshop Kama Sutra LP 1973
Workshop Scraps & Workshop Annuit Coeptis 1976 LP AC-1001-2
Workshop Sundazed LP 2007 LP-5185
Workshop Caraway/Japan CD 2008
RC Cola and a Moon Pie CD 1986 Rounder/Red Rooster (Contains some, but not all, of the songs from Workshop, plus two previously unlreleased songs "Ratch-i-tatch" and "Louisville."


TRACK LIST:
1. C'mon If You're Comin' (McGhee, Terry)
2. RC Cola and a Moon Pie (Adams)
3. Blues Stay Away from Me (Delmore, Delmore, Glover, Raney)
4. Mona (Spampinato)
5. Just to Hold My Hand
6. Get That Gasoline Blues
7. Deaf, Dumb, and Blind (Spampinato)
8. Miss Moses (Adams)
9. I Got a Little Secret
10. Hearts of Stone
11. Misunderstanding
12. Four Million B.C.


Single:
Get That Gasoline Blues b/w Mona [Kama Sutra 1974. Reached #70 on The Billboard Hot 100]


http://www.sundazed.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=878

The wildly eclectic New Rhythm & Blues Quintet, better known to its worldwide legion of adoring fans as NRBQ (or just the Q!), is the only band on the planet that can play rockabilly, bar-band blooze, Beatles sound-alikes and Sun Ra-style free jazz in the same set and remain standing.

The Q immediately followed Scraps with 1973’s equally terrific Workshop. Gadler had departed, reducing the Quintet to its customary foursome (natch!), but the band never missed a beat with an album that featured the hypnotically chugging “Come On If You’re Coming,” the mouth-watering “RC Cola and a Moon Pie” and the ultra-prophetic “Get That Gasoline Blues."


http://allmusic.com/album/workshop-r63419/review

Review by Lindsay Planer

Originally titled Age of Aquariums, Workshop became the first album to feature what is considered by many to be the "classic quartet" version of NRBQ. This incarnation incorporated the talents of bandleader Terry Adams (keyboard/coronet/trumpet), Joey Spampinato (bass/guitar/sax/vocals), Al Anderson (guitar/vocals), and, in his final studio appearance with the band, Tom Staley (drums). Although they had been performing with an evolving makeshift horn section -- which could (and often would) include coronet/trumpet player Terry Adams and saxophonist Joey Spampinato -- this disc also debuts the semi-permanent Whole Wheat Horn section, consisting of Terry's brother Donn Adams on trombone and Keith Spring on sax. The shift in personnel served the 'Q well, as Workshop was lauded and raved about by enthusiasts as well as pop music critics. Producer Eddie Kramer was able to further enhance the band's practically indefinable style, ranging from the undeniable Paul McCartney-influenced Spampinato rocker "Deaf, Dumb and Blind" to the understated grace and complex rhythmic syncopation of Terry Adams' "Miss Moses." Another Spampinato gem is the organic pop ballad "Mona." Instrumentally, the track is notable for Terry's accordion accents, as well as the conspicuous absence of drums. In addition to the copious originals, the guys revived the C&W-tinged "Blues Stay Away From Me," which had actually been recorded for inclusion on their previous long-player, Scraps. Likewise, their second stab at Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry's "Come On If You're Comin'" reinforced the popularity of the track, which became a performance and enthusiast favorite. A similar fate would befall the 'Q's unofficial anthem -- the down-home rockabilly rave-up "RC Cola & a Moon Pie." Sadly, Workshop was never reprinted, although several notable compilations such as RC Cola & a Moon Pie (1986) have included key tracks.

NRBQ: Al Anderson (self-titled) Vanguard 1972 Images

NRBQ: Al Anderson (self-titled) Vanguard 1972

Al Anderson's 1972 Vanguard solo album fulfilled his 5 year contract with Vanguard, and transitioned him from The Wildweeds to NRBQ -- the record features members from both bands.

http://webspace.webring.com/people/hq/qfan98/albums.htm

Al Anderson (self-titled)
Vanguard 1972 (LP VSD 79324)

Al Anderson (self-titled)
Vanguard 1972 (LP Vsq 40018 Quadrophonic issue)

Personnel: Al Anderson: guitar, vocals, electric piano; Tom Staley: drums, percussion; Al Lepak: bass; Jeff Potter: harp; Terry Adams: piano; Donn Adams: trombone.

Track Listing: Be My Woman Tonight; We'll Make Love; Ain't No Woman Fine Lookin'; You're Just Laughin' Inside; I Don't Believe I'll Stay Here Anymore; Honky Tonkin'; Goin' Back To Indiana; Don't Hold The Line; I Just Want To Have You Back Again; I Haven't Got The Strength To Carry On.

Status: LP OOP.



Al Anderson (self-titled) Re-Release
Vanguard Records 1998 (CD 79324-2)

Personnel: Al Anderson: guitar, vocals, electric piano; Tom Staley: drums, percussion; Al Lepak: bass; Jeff Potter: harp; Terry Adams: piano; Donn Adams: trombone.

Track Listing: Be My Woman Tonight; We'll Make Love; Ain't No Woman Fine Lookin'; You're Just Laughin' Inside; I Don't Believe I'll Stay Here Anymore; Honky Tonkin'; Goin' Back To Indiana; Don't Hold The Line; I Just Want To Have You Back Again; I Haven't Got The Strength To Carry On;

Bonus track: C'mon If You're Comin' featuring: Al Anderson, guitar and vocals; Bob Lapalm, guitar; Jeff Potter, harp; Bob Dudek, drums; Al Lepak, bass.

Status: CD in print.



Single:
We'll Make Love/I Just Want To Have You Back Again [Vanguard 35168]

NRBQ: Scraps Companion Cover Scans (Thanks to Todd Remley!)

NRBQ Scraps & The Scraps Companion 1972 Cover Scans

NRBQ Scraps & The Scraps Companion 1972

Scraps: Eddie Kramer (Engineer, Producer). Ed Freeman (Producer of Ain't It All Right only). Recorded at Columbia Studios, New York, New York in July 1970 and in Mount Vernon, New York in December 1971.

NRBQ: Joey Spampinato (vocals, acoustic guitar, bass); Terry Adams (vocals, harmonica, piano, Clavinet); Frank Gadler (vocals); Al Anderson (acoustic & electric guitars); Tom Staley (drums).

Additional personnel: Kenny Sheehan, Steve Ferguson (guitar); Donn Adams (trombone); Doug & Link Wray (background vocals).

Pressings:
Scraps (1972 Kama Sutra LP KSBS 2045)
Scraps (1972 Kama Sutra LP "Changes" Alternate Promo Cover)
Scraps (1982 Rounder/Red Rooster Records 3055, 106)
Scraps (2000 Rounder 613175) Remastered reissue with 3 bonus tracks)
Scraps (2007 Sundazed LP 5184)
Scraps (2009 Lost House, Japan)
Scraps Companion (2000 Dreamsville 0041) 15 tracks from radio show from Memphis in 1972 and 6 Outakes from Scraps sessions.
Scraps Companion (2002 Edisun 2)



Background:

NRBQ line up 2 (1970-72):

http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/NRBQ.htm

Terry Adams: keyboards, vocals harmonica
Al Anderson: vocals, guitar (replaced Steve Ferguson)
Frank Gadler: vocals, tambourine
Joey Spampinato (aka Jody St. Nicholas): vocals, bass
Tom Staley: drums, percussion



http://www.sundazed.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=877

By the time keyboardist Terry Adams, vocalist Frank Gadler, bassist Joey Spampinato, drummer Tom Staley and fabulous new guitarist Al Anderson released Scraps, their wonderful second album in 1972, they had relocated from Florida to New Jersey—and, like their name says, they were actually a quintet for the only time in their career.



Al Anderson Interview 1975 By Paul Bezanker

http://www.oocities.org/qfan98/Alinterview.htm

(P) Of the NRBQ recordings, what's the earliest on that you are playing on?

(A) The beginning of the whole "Scraps" album we recorded in four days...two weeks after I joined the band, in our own house. That did pretty well. Probably all told, NRBQ sold a couple thousand albums.



Mike Dow had this to say about the best sounding pressings in his opinion:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=81498&highlight=nrbq

"Scraps" - If you are going for the best sound, the CD (IMO) beats all of the vinyl pressings that I have. Rich, warm sound (mastered by Toby Mountain) and has some great notes from our own John DeAngelis!

"Scraps Companion" - Edi-Sun ED 12. Highly recommended/mostly live from a '72 Memphis radio broadcast with 6 unreleased studio tracks. Great sound - mastered by Billy Shaw.



NRBQ: Scraps
Ed Freeman (Producer)

Review by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/scraps-r14242

For the uninitiated, NRBQ is an oddity. How does one, for instance, approach a band who sings a song like "Howard Johnson's Got His Ho-Jo Working?" The answer may be, "not very seriously," but then another problem reveals itself: the songs are so catchy. "Who Put the Garlic in the Glue?" and "Magnet" bounce along like an early-'70s version of Ben Folds Five. Together, pianist Terry Adams, bassist Joey Spampinato, guitarist Al Anderson, drummer Tom Staley, and vocalist Frank Gadler find a bigger sound than the sum of their parts. Scraps is filled with pop music that manages the duel feat of making the listener feel good while remaining intelligent. The songs, with a couple of exceptions, are only two to three minutes long; that equals out to 14 cuts from the original album, which was a lot of tracks in 1972. Three bonus tracks have been added and the entire album has been remastered. There is also a great deal of breadth in Spampinato and Adams' songwriting, from the rocking "Don't You Knock at My Door" to the instrumental "Tragic Magic" to the gentle "Only You." Spampinato, who had written very little on previous albums, wrote several gentle ballads, including "Boys in the City" and "It's Not So Hard." John DeAngelis' liner notes keep tabs on NRBQ's evolving lineup and provide good information on the context of the recording. Scraps' appeal sneaks up on the listener, reminding them that some music is just meant to be enjoyed.

Title Composer Time
1 Howard Johnson's Got His Ho-Jo Working Adams 3:20
2 Magnet Adams, Spaminato 3:30
3 Don't Knock at My Door Spampinato 2:59
4 Tragic Magic Adams 1:52
5 Only You Spampinato 2:46
6 Who Put the Garlic in the Glue? Adams 2:01
7 Get a Grip Adams, Ferguson 4:29
8 Boys in the City Spaminato 2:29
9 New Tune Adams 2:35
10 Scraps Adams 4:06
11 It's Not So Hard Spaminato 2:44
12 Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive/Things Are Getting Better Adderley, Arlen, Mercer, Previn 3:15
13 Do You Feel It Adams 2:51
14 Ain't It All Right Adams, Ferguson 2:23
15 Just Close Your Eyes and Be Mine Ruby Adams 3:18
16 Hymn #9 Adams 1:18
17 Trouble at the Henhouse Spampinato 2:15



NRBQ: The Scraps Companion
Eddie Kramer (Producer & Engineer)

Review by Lindsay Planer

http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-scraps-companion-r522887

The Scraps Companion presents NRBQ at Ardent Recording Studios in Memphis, TN, on April 30, 1972. Before this release, the only way hardcore New Rhythm & Blues Quartet fans had of hearing this performance was via tapes made of the original WMC-FM radio broadcast. The sound on this release is flawless. There are also a half-dozen tracks from the earliest recording sessions for the 1972 album Scraps. This seminal incarnation of the band features the addition of former Wildweeds guitarist "Big Al" Anderson. Upon his arrival, the "Q" in NRBQ actually stood for quintet.

NRBQ eagerly models their musical multiplicity throughout this set. Among the musical genres covered are the cool R&B sounds of Johnny Moore's Three Blazers on "Huggin' Bug." They also cut loose with a scrumptious version of Sonny Rollins' delicate "Valse Hot." Anderson's phenomenal songwriting is already in full bloom as heard on "Mare, Take Me Home." The heartfelt '50s doo wop track "Brothers" shows off the band's amazing vocal harmony chops -- demonstrating that the 'Q can truly conquer any style of popular music.

The innocuous wit and candid charm of NRBQ runs rampant throughout their music. For example, the band improvises a version of the I Love Lucy theme to a heavy thumping disco beat -- not bad since disco would not be around for nearly four years. The half-dozen Scraps sessions which augment this disc should not be written off as filler. Adams leads the 'Q through Thelonious Monk's "Misterioso." These 70 seconds are arguably the highlight of the entire disc. Not only does Adams capture the mathematical and logical performance style, but he embodies the innocent and freewheeling spirit of Monk -- a feat few can claim.

Title Composer Time
1 Do You Feel It? Adams 2:58
2 Magnet Adams, Spampinato 3:37
3 Howard Jonhston's Got His Ho-Jo Workin' Adams 3:33
4 Huggin' Bug Moore 2:39
5 Mare, Take Me Home Anderson 3:15
6 Don't Knock at My Door Spampinato 3:11
7 Valse Hot Rollins 2:05
8 Get a Grip Adams, Ferguson 5:11
9 Sitting in the Park Stewart 3:08
10 Take This Hurt Off Me Covay, Miller 2:47
11 RC Cola and a Moon Pie Adams 2:57
12 Time Amd Place Dixon 7:12
13 I Love Lucy Adamson, Daniel 0:53
14 Ain't It All Right Adams, Ferguson 4:08
15 Brothers arranged by Spampinato, P.D.… 0:59 Composed by: arranged by Spampinato, P.D., Public Domain
16 First Sounds NRBQ 2:04
17 Misterioso Monk 1:14
18 Get a Grip [Take One] Adams, Ferguson 4:41
19 Boys in the City [Trio Version] Spaminato 0:56
20 Boys in the City [Trio Version] Spaminato 2:25
21 Blues Stay Away from Me Delmore, Delmore, Glover, Raney 2:50

NRBQ: Sundazed Ludlow Garage 1970 Releases

Two archive releases by Sundazed Records from a previously unreleased soundboard concert recording from Ludlow Garage in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 24, 1970. Ludlow Garage 1970 was released only on CD, and Interstellar was released only on 10" vinyl.

NRBQ
Ludlow Garage 1970
Sundazed SC 11082
Released 2006

Previously unreleased concert from 19700124 Ludlow Garage; Cincinnati, OH

http://www.sundazed.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=815&osCsid=d5a9829ab60c6dd5c0b6d78977033899

NRBQ, the combo that’s been the epitome of eclecticism over the past four decades has finally agreed to unleash its stunning live concert, Ludlow Garage 1970, on compact disc by Sundazed. Sketchy cassettes of this epic engagement have been circulating ever since it occurred, and now the real story can be told, direct from the original soundboard masters! Ludlow Garage 1970 catches the dynamic original lineup of NRBQ — lead singer Frank Gadler, keyboard man Terry Adams, guitarist Steve Ferguson, bassist Jody St. Nicholas (aka Joey Spampinato) and drummer Tom Staley—at the peak of their powers, as they shift gears wildly from their own unique originals, to the interplanetary sounds of New Thing jazz, to frantic covers of Wilson Pickett, Little Richard and others. With special focus on Ferguson’s absolutely astounding six-string technique, here’s the very best material from their legendary 1970 shows at the fabled Cincinnati nightspot, as personally selected by Adams, with the full story recounted in the liner notes by longtime band pal Chandler Travis (Incredible Casuals). It’s no damn wonder NRBQ has been described as nothing less than a band that always wove its own magical musical-tapestry.

TRACK LIST:
1. Rocket # 9 / No Identification
2. Flat Foot Flewzy
3. Rip It Up
4. Sitting in the Park
5. Goofus
6. Step Aside
7. I Found a Love
8. Here Comes the Whistleman
9. You Move So Fast
10. Red Planet
11. When It’s Summertime in the Wintertime
12. Fergie’s Prayer
13. Wan-Do
14. So Dance with Me
15. Ida
16. Finger Poppin’ Time
17. Kentucky Slop Song
18. Someday Maybe





NRBQ
Interstellar
Sundazed KS10 01
Kustom Shop 10" vinyl

http://www.sundazed.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=637

Destination Out! Brand new from Sundazed's Kustom Shop, it's a mindblowing ten-inch 33 1/3 RPM slab of wax by NRBQ that finds the revered fivesome latching onto the out-there New Thing jazz pioneered by intergalactic heroes Sun Ra & His Arkestra—and riding the music to universes beyond the beyond. Cut live in 1970 at Cincinnati's Ludlow Garage and Clinton Hollow in upstate New York, these revolutionary sounds, says NRBQ mainman Terry Adams "opened up new possibilities in rock 'n' roll. We had a thousand teenagers chanting along with us to 'Rocket #9." That stunning Sun Ra classic and his equally wonderful "Next Stop Mars"—extended experimental workouts that incorporate Adams' stellar originals "Venusian Sunset" and "Approach The Planet"—are guaranteed to send you clear out of this world!

TRACK LIST:

Side A Recorded 19700124 Ludlow Garage; Cincinnati, OH
1. Rocket #9 (Released on Ludlow Garage 1970) Sun Ra
2. Venusian Sunset (Not released Ludlow Garage 1970) Terry Adams

Side B Recorded 19701011 Polly Farm; Clinton Hollow, NY
3. Next Stop Mars (Not released Ludlow Garage 1970) Sun Ra
4. Approach the Planet (Not released Ludlow Garage 1970) Terry Adams

NRBQ: Sundazed Ludlow Garage 1970 Covers

1968-1970 Stay With We: The Best Of NRBQ Cover Scans

1968-1970 Stay With We: The Best Of NRBQ

Columbia Legacy CK 52432 (OOP as of 3/13/11)
Vic Anesini: Remastering, Remixing.

This compilation is made up of material recorded and released on NRBQ's first two released albums, "NRBQ" and "Boppin' The Blues," and also features a single mix, remixes, and unreleased material for the first two records. Sound quality is uniformly excellent compared to the original vinyl releases.

Title Composer Time
1 C'mon Everybody [Single Version/Mono] (Recorded 19690714) Capehart, Cochran 2:40
2 I Say Gooday Goodnite (Recorded 19691009 Previously Unreleased) Ferguson 1:27
3 Flat Foot Flewszy (Recorded 19690822) Ferguson, Ferguson 4:42
4 Have You Heard Adams (Recorded 19690822 Previously Unreleased) 1:42
5 Rocket Number Nine (Recorded 196812 for Debut Album) Ra 3:04
6 I Didn't Know Myself (Recorded 196812 for Debut Album) Ferguson 2:14
7 Mama Get Down Those Rock & Roll Shoes (Recorded 196812 for Debut Album) Adams 2:37
8 Kentucky Slop Song (Recorded 196812 for Debut Album) Adams 5:38
9 Tina (Recorded 19690822) St. Nicholas 1:21
10 Step Aside (Recorded 19691006) Ferguson 1:16
11 You Got Me Goin' (Recorded 19700406 Previously Unreleased) Sanders 2:32
12 Dogwood Winter (Recorded 19691106 Previously Unreleased) Ferguson 1:30
13 Time & Place (Recorded 19690813 Previously Unreleased) Dixon, Dixon 4:32
14 Stomp [Original Version] (Recorded 196812 for Debut Album Previously Unreleased) Ferguson 1:56
15 Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard (Recorded 19691007) Adams 1:38
16 Open All the Windows (Recorded 19691106 Previously Unreleased) Adams 0:46
17 Fergie's Prayer (Recorded 196812 for Debut Album) Ferguson 2:35
18 You Can't Hide (Recorded 196812 for Debut Album) St. Nicholas 1:52
19 Hey! Baby (Recorded 196812 for Debut Album) Cale, Channel, Cobb 3:19
20 Tragic Magic [Original Version] (Recorded 19691106 Previously Unreleased) Adams, Wood 2:18
21 Ain't It All Right (Recorded 197007) Adams, Ferguson 2:23
22 Stay With We (Recorded 196812 for Debut Album) Adams 3:38
23 C'mon Everybody [LP Version] (Recorded 196812 for Debut Album) Capehart, Cochran 3:05
24 Down in My Heart (With King Curtis) (Recorded 19690822) Public Domain 2:52


http://www.allmusic.com/album/stay-with-we-the-best-of-nrbq-r170326

Review by Lindsay Planer

The first incarnation of the New Rhythm & Blues Quintet recorded a pair of highly original and underrated albums during their all too brief stint with Columbia Records in 1968-1969. These include a self-titled release as well as Boppin' the Blues, which was a collaborative effort with rockabilly legend Carl Perkins. Highlights from those recordings, as well as a few previously unissued nuggets, make their CD debut on this single-disc anthology. Although primarily known as a four-piece band, NRBQ actually began as a quintet playing a formidable blend of roots rock and obscure jazz covers, as well as an abundance of highly inventive originals. This musical cornucopia has remained at the heart of the "the 'Q" for well over three decades. Face it, this is a band that covered a song by the Chipmunks. NRBQ's first two albums reflected a sonically rich and multi-textured palette by establishing the bandmembers as top-shelf interpreters of early rock favorites, such as their pungent and otherwise rousing version of Eddie Cochran's "C'mon Everybody" and a funky loose rendition of Bruce Channel's 1962 chart-topper, "Hey! Baby." The influence of space jazz master Sun Ra -- especially on Terry Adams(keyboard/vocals/harmonica) -- became a running motif in their live performances, although "Rocket Number Nine" was one of the few Ra numbers they ever recorded. The original material -- mostly from the pen(s) of Adams and/or Steve Ferguson (guitar/vocal) -- is in many ways more vibrant and well executed, with an additional urgency seemingly absent from NRBQ's cover songs. These range from quirky rock & roll rave-ups such as "I Say Gooday Goodnite," "Kentucky Slop Song," and the surreal Three Stooges paean "Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard" to the serene and remarkably sensitive "Fergie's Prayer" and "I Didn't Know Myself." Two of the best tracks on this compilation are the previously unreleased original instrumentals "Dogwood Winter" and "Tragic Magic" -- the latter of which would turn up on NRBQ's third long-player, Scraps, after the band was unceremoniously dumped by Columbia.

NRBQ Boppin’ the Blues (With Carl Perkins) (Columbia)

Recorded Aug 1969 - Oct 1969. Released 1970.

2 pressings:
LP CS 9981
CD CK 9981 (Sounds excellent according to Mike Dow: http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=81498&highlight=nrbq)


http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/NRBQ.htm

Given their willingness to try virtually anything in the musical realm, a collaboration with Carl Perkins really wasn't all that odd. Released in 1970, "Boppin' the Blues" featured a mixture of Perkins originals and NRBQ numbers, with a Little Richard classic thrown in for good measure.

Track Listing
Side 1:
1.) All Mama's Children (Johnny Cash / Carl Perkins)
2.) Turn Around (Carl Perkins)
3.) Tina (Jody St. Nicholas)
4.) Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard (Terry Adams)
5.) Sure To Fall (Cantrell, Claunch, Claunch, Perkins)
6.) Flat Foot Flewzy (Steve Ferguson)

Side 2:
1.) Sorry Charlie (Carl Perkins)
2.) Step Aside (Emerson, Ferguson, Lake)
3.) Rip It Up (Blackwell, Marascalco)
4.) Allergic To Love (Carl Perkins)
5.) On the Farm (Terry Adams)
6,) Boppin' the Blues (Griffin, Perkins)
7.) Just Coastin' (Carl Perkins)


http://www.allmusic.com/album/boppin-the-blues-r15063

Sun Ra: The Eternal Myth Part 1 (The Music History Of Sun Ra) [Transparency 0316]

http://www.united - mutations.com/r/sunra_eternalmyth_box1.htm

On Thursday, March 10, 2011 United Mutations reported this major announcement:

Sun Ra: The Eternal Myth Part 1 (The Music History Of Sun Ra) [Transparency 0316]

The Transparency label is teaming up with the Michael D. Anderson's Sun Ra Archive for its next release. Subtitled “The Music History Of Sun Ra”, this first installment will bring you 13 hours of ultra-rare music (plus hours of Sun Ra speech) with a 5.25” x 5.25” paperback book (approximately 80 pages) in box set of 14 CDs.


box 1

the foundation - early influences - the women blues vocalists
* 1921 - ethel waters - oh daddy
* 1924 - ma rainey / fletcher henderson - booze and blues
* 1928 - sara martin w/clarence williams orch. - hole in the wall

the foundation - early influences - the territory bands
* 1928 - bennie moten orchestra - just rite
* 1928 - tiny parham & his musicians - fat man blues
* 1933 - baron lee & his blue rhythm band - rhythm spasm
* 1931 - fletcher henderson - sugarfoot stomp
* 1931 - fletcher henderson - blue rhythm tk - 3

sun ra - his first recorded composition 1933 -
* 1933 - clarence williams - chocolate avenue

the jump blues era - wynonie harris -
* 1946 - wynonie harris w/jumpin’ jimmy jackson - dig this boogie
* 1946 - wynonie harris w/jumpin’ jimmy jackson - lightnin’ struck the poor house
* 1946 - wynonie harris w/jumpin’ jimmy jackson - my baby’s barrel house
* 1946 - wynonie harris w/jumpin’ jimmy jackson - drinkin’ by myself

- chicago - the blues & jump blues era - lil green -
* 1946 - lil green & her orchestra - blowtop blues
* 1946 - lil green & her orchestra - no good man
* 1946 - lil green & her orchestra - how come you do me like you do
* 1947 - lil green & her orchestra - lonely woman blues

the church organ recordings pt. 1 -
* 1948 - sun ra - all the things you are
* 1948 - sun ra - wind in the trees (early avant garde)

the solovox & piano rehearsals -
* 1948 - sun ra and stuff smith - vln - deep purple
* 1948 - sun ra - darn that dream
* 1948 - sun and jesse miller - tr - yesterdays
* 1948 - sun ra - if they only knew

the mary lou williams influence - her compositions -
* 1945 - mary lou williams - taurus
* 1945 - mary lou williams - cancer

the mary lou williams influence - her influence on sun ra on piano
* 1948 - sun ra - unknown title #3 (mary lou wms influence)
* 1948 - sun ra - unknown title #7 (mary lou wms influence)
* 1949 - sun ra - i got some new blues

the mary lou williams influence - her orchestrations -
* 1947 - milton orent / frank roth orchestra - lonely moments
* 1947 - milton orent / frank roth orchestra - whistle blues

the jump blues & early doo wop - the vocalists -
* 1948 - andrew tibbs w/sax mallard’s combo - he’s got her and gone
* 1948 - andrew tibbs w/sax mallard’s combo - the holidays are over
* 1948 - the dozier boys w/sax mallard’s combo - she only fools with me
* 1948 - the dozier boys w/sax mallard’s combo - st. louis blues
* 1948 - the dozier boys w/sax mallard’s combo - invitation to the blues
* 1948 - andrew tibbs w/sax mallard’s combo - in a travelin’ mood
* 1948 - andrew tibbs w/sax mallard’s combo - in every man’s life
* 1948 - the dozier boys w/eugene wright - big time baby
* 1948 - the dozier boys w/eugene wright - pork ‘n beans
* 1948 - the dozier boys w/eugene wright - dawn mist
* 1948 - the dozier boys w/eugene wright - music goes round and round

the jump blues era - red saunders -
* 1948 - red saunders orchestra - trust in me
* 1948 - red saunders orchestra - band vocal - synthesis
* 1948 - red saunders orchestra - band vocal - jitterbuggin’
* 1948 - george floyd w/red saunders orchestra - legs gettin’ bigger and bigger

the sunny blount trio - rehearsal -
* 1949 - sun ra and unknown guitar - upstairs (clip)
* 1949 - sun ra - just one of those things

sun ra sings & plays standards -
* 1949 - sun ra - smile tk - 2
* 1949 - sun ra - stuff like that there
* 1949 - sun ra - old man river

the sunny blount trio - “live” -
* 1949 - sun ra / leo blevins / w. ware - you go to my head
* 1949 - sun ra / leo blevins / w. ware - blue chicago blues

the small group swing era - dorothy donegan w/ red saunders orch.
* 1950 - dorothy donegan w/red saunders orchestra - d.d.d. (dorothy donegan’s doghouse)
* 1950 - dorothy donegan w/red saunders orchestra - ridin’ boogie the jump blues era - red saunders & “jumpin’” joe williams #1
* 1950 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orch - blow mr. low blow
* 1950 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orch - chi
* 1950 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orch - lyin’ girl blues

the unknown vocalist rehearsal -
* 1950 - sun ra / unknown vocalist - you the night and the music
* 1950 - sun ra - holiday for strings

the john jenkins rehearsal -
* 1950 - sun ra / john jenkins - the phantom

the jump blues era - “little miss share cropper” (laverne baker)
* 1950 - little miss sharecropper w/red saunders orch - take out some time baby
* 1950 - little miss sharecropper w/red saunders orch - i’ve tried
* 1950 - little miss sharecropper w/red saunders orch - how long
* 1950 - little miss sharecropper w/red saunders orch - i want to rock

the wilbur ware / john jenkins / leo blevins rehearsal
* 1951 - sun ra / wilbur ware - the nearness of you tk - 2
* 1951 - sun ra / wilbur ware - sunny’s place (dukes place) #1
* 1951 - sun ra / leo blevins / w. ware - the man i love
* 1951 - sun ra / john jenkins / w. ware - sunny’s place (dukes place) #2

the jump blues era - red saunders & “jumpin’” joe williams #2 / june davis
* 1951 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - stop pretty baby, stop
* 1951 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - weekday blues
* 1951 - red saunders orchestra - 4:00 am
* 1951 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - last nights party
* 1951 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - hey bartender
* 1951 - red saunders orchestra - boot ‘em up
* 1951 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - sugar bounce
* 1951 - june davis w/red saunders orch - gentle lover
* 1951 - june davis w/red saunders orch - j.d. blues

the jump blues era - the “hambone kids” –
* 1952 - the hambone kids w/red saunders orchestra - hambone
* 1952 - red saunders orchestra - la raspa
* 1952 - the hambone kids w/red saunders orchestra - zeke’l zeke’l
* 1952 - the hambone kids w/red saunders orchestra - piece a - puddin’

sun ra meets pat patrick -
* 1952 - sun ra / pat patrick - wonderful you
* 1952 - sun ra / pat patrick - a place in my heart

the afro cuban influence - perez prado -
* 1947 - perez prado orchestra - rica
* 1947 - perez prado orchestra - kon - toma

the afro cuban influence - sun ra w/red saunders orch / “jumpin” joe williams #3
* 1953 - red saunders orchestra - mambo in trumpet
* 1953 - red saunders orchestra - honky tonk train blues
* 1953 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - probably
* 1953 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - voodoo blues

the arkestra singers pt. 1 - thea barbara / unknown name -
* 1953 - sun ra / thea barbara / unknown male singer - unknown title - haunted melody

the jump blues era - jo jo adams -
* 1953 - jo jo adams w/red saunders orchestra - call my baby
* 1953 - jo jo adams w/red saunders orchestra - rebecca

the jump blues era - red saunders & “jumpin’” joe williams #4
* 1953 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - it’s raining again
* 1953 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - always on the blue side
* 1953 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - detour ahead
* 1953 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - blow mr. low blow

* 1953 - red saunders orchestra - summertime
* 1953 - red saunders orchestra - riverboat
* 1953 - jumpin’ joe williams w/red saunders orchestra - time for movin’
* 1953 - red saunders orchestra - lawdy lucy

the nu sounds doo wop rehearsals pt. 1 -
* 1954 - sun ra / nu sounds / r. wilson - my sweet
* 1954 - sun ra / nu sounds / r. wilson - my land of dreams
* 1954 - sun ra / nu sounds / r. wilson - dreams come true (rehearsal)
* 1954 - sun ra / nu sounds / r. wilson - spaceship lullaby (rehearsal - a)
* 1954 - sun ra / nu sounds / r. wilson - spaceship lullaby (rehearsal - b)
* 1954 - sun ra / nu sounds / r. wilson - spaceship lullaby (rehearsal w/band - a)
* 1954 - sun ra / nu sounds / r. wilson - spaceship lullaby (rehearsal w/band - b)

the jump blues era - grant jones / king kolax / billy brooks
* 1954 - grant jones w/king kolax band - what have you done to me
* 1954 - grant jones w/king kolax band - right now
* 1954 - king kolax quintette - vivian
* 1954 - king kolax w/king kolax band - goodnite blues
* 1955 - billy brooks w/red saunders band - mambo is everywhere
* 1955 - billy brooks w/red saunders band - song of the dreamer
* 1955 - billy brooks w/red saunders band - donna
* 1955 - billy brooks w/red saunders band - i want your love tonight
* 1955 - billy brooks w/red saunders band - this is my prayer

the jump blues era - billie hawkins w/the sun ra arkestra
* 1956 - billie hawkins w/sun ra band - i’m comin’ home
* 1956 - billie hawkins w/sun ra band - i’m comin’ home
* 1956 - billie hawkins w/sun ra band - kiss me sweet
* 1956 - billie hawkins w/sun ra band - last call for love
* 1956 - billie hawkins w/sun ra band - last call for love
* 1956 - billie hawkins w/sun ra band - at last tk - 10

the doo wop era - walter dunn & the metros -
* 1956 - walter dunn & the metros - i’ll close my heart
* 1956 - walter dunn & the metros - when you’re in love this way
* 1956 - walter dunn & the metros - christina, eugena, marie
* 1956 - walter dunn & the metros - perfidious lover

the sun ra bebop band “live” -
* 1956 - le sun ra and his band - live - big city blues
* 1956 - le sun ra and his band - live - delilah (slightly distorted)
* 1956 - le sun ra and his band - live - images (no solos) (slightly distorted)
* 1956 - le sun ra and his band - live - velvet (slightly distorted)

more supersonic jazz -
* 1956 - sun ra / james scales / wilburn green / robert barry - somebody else’s world tk - 1
* 1956 - sun ra / james scales / wilburn green / robert barry - blues in outer space

the arkestra singers - clyde williams -
* 1956 - clyde williams w/sun ra arkestra - dreams come true tk - 1
* 1956 - clyde williams w/sun ra arkestra - dreams come true tk - 3 (slower version)

the arkestra singers - hattie randolph -
* 1957 - hattie randolph w/sun ra arkestra - don’t blame me tk - 1
* 1957 - hattie randolph w/sun ra arkestra - (hattie randolph talking)
* 1959 - hattie randolph w/sun ra arkestra - round midnight tk - 1, 2, 3 (mono mix)
* 1976 - hattie randolph w/sun ra arkestra “live” -

the pershing ballroom jam feat. pat patrick, gene ammons & j.j. johnson
* 1958 - sun ra all - star jam - chi - town blues
* 1958 - sun ra all - star jam - just you just me

sun ra & his men from space - “play pop hits live” at bud land
* 1958 - sun ra and his men from space - tequila (pop tune) (w/announcements)
* 1958 - sun ra and his men from space - (end of set theme)


box 2

- new york city - the angels & demons at play rehearsal -
* 1960 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - tiny pyramids
* 1960 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - egyptian fantasy
* 1960 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - summertime tk - 3
* 1960 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - onward

the fate in a plesant mood session - lights on a satellite (w/echo) -
* 1960 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - lights on a satellite

the tenor sax of john gilmore - “live” -
* 1960 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - it ain’t necessarily so
* 1960 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - space aura
* 1960 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - how high the moon

the 1961 - majestic hall rehearsal -
* 1961 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - dark
* 1961 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - outer space
* 1961 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - lady bird
* 1961 - the arkestra - gone tk - 1 (rehearsal on miles davis’ solo)
* 1961 - the arkestra - gone tk - 2

the 1961 - unreleased savoy records audition -
* 1961 - sun ra arkestra and his arkestra - mother hood (beautiful composition)

the 1961 - calvin newborn rehearsals -
* 1961 - sun ra / calvin newborn / - ruby
* 1961 - sun ra / calvin newborn / - island in the sun

the 1962 - sun ra & pat patrick rehearsal -
* 1962 - sun ra / pat patrick w/rhythm - blues

the 1962 - what’s new session -
* 1962 - sun ra / calvin newborn - what’s new
* 1962 - sun ra / calvin newborn - wanderlust

NRBQ: 1969 Self-Titled Debut On Columbia Records Back Cover

NRBQ: 1969 Self-Titled Debut On Columbia Records Front Cover

NRBQ: C'mon Everybody / Rocket # 9 (Columbia 4-44937) 1969

NRBQ: Stomp / I Didn't Know Myself (Columbia 4-44865) 1969

NRBQ: 1969 Self-Titled Debut On Columbia Records

We'll tackle the 1st two records material in this order, so that we're not talking about the "Stay With We" comp when the 1993 period rolls around. It's important to not,e that sadly, all 3 of these releases are currently out of print (OOP):

NRBQ (Columbia) 1969
Boppin’ the Blues (with Carl Perkins) (Columbia) 1970
Stay With We (Columbia Era Compilation with unreleased songs) (Columbia/Legacy) 1993


Here's some backstory:

"Fergies Story" By Keith S. Clements

http://ztalk.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=listeningroom&action=display&thread=37098

Steve first met Terry Adams in 1965 when Steve was starting the Mersey-Beats USA and needed a keyboard player. Terry auditioned; their musical relationship has continues to this day. Shortly after that meeting, they both attended a big R&B show at the Armory that included Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, Jr., Walker and The Allstars and Billy Stewart. The Mersey-Beats USA did British covers, which was popular at the time. They had to add the USA because there was already a British band named Mersey Beats. Steve and Terry started writing their own original material and in late 1966, they left the band to begin what would eventually become NRBQ (New Rhythm and Blues Quartet). Terry's brother, Donn Adams, booked gigs for them.

Terry went to Florida to play organ with a group called The Seven of Us. Steve joined in New Jersey. When that band broke up, part of the personnel became the foundation of NRBQ. Steve credits Donn Adams with the name. The original version of NRBQ included Steve, Terry, Joey Spampinato on bass, Frankie Gadler doing vocals and drummer Tom Staley. Later, for live shows and recording sessions, the Whole Wheat Horns, with Louisvillians Donn Adams on trombone and Keith Spring on saxophone, were added. NRBQ's star rose quickly, with a Columbia recording contract in 1969 which resulted in several singles, including "Stomp," and two albums. NRBQ collaborated with another Columbia recording artist, Carl Perkins, on "Boppin' The Blues."


http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/NRBQ.htm

Keyboardist Terry Adams and lead guitarist Steve Ferguson met while members of the Louisville-based Mersey Beats USA. By the mid-1960s, in a quest for steadier working conditions, the pair had decamped to Miami, Florida where they hooked up with New Jersey-based The Seven of Us singer Frank Gadler, bassist Joey Spampinato (aka Joe St. Nicholas) and drummer Tom Staley. As The New Rhythm and Blues Quintet (easy to see why they opted for NRBQ), the group quickly moved to New Jersey where their already quirky live show began attracting fans. They also found a mentor in the form of bluesman Slim Harpo. Harpo helped the band land a spot at Steve Paul's New York club The Scene which eventually caught the attention of A&R types working for Columbia Records.

Signed by Columbia, the group made their recording debut with 1969's cleverly titled "NRBQ". In a nutshell, the album is simply unlike anything else being released at the time. All but ignoring the public's infatuation with psych and blues-rock, these guys turned in a set that bounced all over the musical spectrum, including stabs at country ('Kentucky Slop Song'), hardcore blues (a steaming cover of Eddie Cochran's 'C'mon If You're Comin''), rockabilly ('C'mon Everybody'), sensitive singer/songwriter (Ferguson's 'I Didn't Know Myself') and straightforward pop ('You Can't Hide'). For goodness sake, there's even a Sun Ra cover ('Rocket Number 9') !!! Every time I hear this album I simply scratch my head and wonder what Columbia Records was thinking when it signed them. An amazing debut that some four decades later may still be the best thing they've done. How a newly signed band managed to get away with it is beyond me!


"For Connecticut's Wildweeds, it was fun (sort of) while it lasted" By Fran Fried

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2002/08/23/import/5135264.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Anderson cut a solo album for Vanguard, but his fate was cast the night Lakaitis (who died of a heart attack in 1988) took him to his first NRBQ show in Amherst, Mass., in 1969. Two years later, Anderson was in the band.


NRBQ line up 1 (1967-70)

http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/NRBQ.htm

Terry Adams: keyboards, vocals, harmonica
Steve Ferguson (Nov. 21, 1948 - October 7, 2009): lead guitar, vocals, harmonica
Frank Gadler: vocals, tambourine
Joey Spampinato (aka Jody St. Nicholas): vocals, bass
Tom Staley: drums, percussion


NRBQ: 1969 Self-Titled Debut On Columbia Records Versions:

Title / Format / Label / Cat# / Country / Year
NRBQ (LP, Album) Columbia CS 9858 US 1969
NRBQ (LP, Album) CBS S 63653 UK 1969
NRBQ (LP, Album, RE) Columbia PC 9858 US 1969

There is a defective pressing of the LP circulating which has a mix that has a balance of prominent vocals and very low instrumentation.

Side 1:
1.) C'mon Everybody (Capehart - Eddie Cochran)
2.) Rocket Number 9 (Sun Ra)
3.) Kentucky Slop Song (Terry Adams)
4.) Ida (Terry Adams - Carla Bley)
5.) C'mon If You're Comin' (Brownie McGhee - Sonny Terry)
6.) You Can't Hide (Jody St. Nicholas)
7.) I Didn't Know Myself (Steve Ferguson)

Side 2:
1.) Stomp (Steve Ferguson)
2.) Fergie's Prayer (Steve Ferguson)
3.) Mama Get Down Those Rock & Roll Shoes (Terry Adams)
4.) Hymn Number 5 (Terry Adams)
5.) Hey! Baby (Bruce Channel - Margret Cobb)
6.) Liza Jane (traditional)
7.) Stay With Me (Terry Adams)


Two singles from the LP were released:

Stomp / I Didn't Know Myself (Columbia 4-44865) 1969
C'mon Everybody / Rocket # 9 (Columbia 4-44937) 1969


My thoughts:

For me, NRBQ's debut is a very unique and eclectic album that has a personality that is hard for me to put my finger on -- it defies categorization. For me, the seeds of what NRBQ would evolve in to are represented, but the pre Al Anderson group is a very different type of group and stands separate and alone.

Obviously, the fact that 3/5ths of the group changed is a major factor. Ferguson, Gadler, and Staley all had unique individual musical voices. When they left the group, they were not really "replaced" in the sense that the new players that came in copped their feel. Another difference for me, is that the sweeter pop side that Joey Spampinato later made more prominent is all but absent on the debut record.

For lack of a better description, the record has a really hippie, homey, communal, rural sound to me. To me it doesn't really sound like a 60s record in relation to the contemporary sounds of the time, but the vibe is definitely very 60s.

C'mon Everybody is an absolutely crackin' and energized burst of pure rock. Every time I hear it I have to clap along.

Coming after C'mon Everybody, the Sun Ra cover of Rocket Number 9 really makes a statement about their musical diversity. Terry Adams seems very proud of their version, and that Sun Ra personally chose NRBQ to pass the song on to to introduce his music to the rock world. Again, Terry proudly tells of playing Rocket Number 9 at rock shows in Florida, and getting the whole crowd to sing along to what is, at its core, and avant-garde jazz song. This is my fave Sun Ra cover ever -- great energy and group interplay.

Kentucky Slop Song, C'mon If You're Comin', I Didn't Know Myself, Fergie's Prayer, Hymn Number 5 all have that herbal, lysergic, spirited, contemplative 60s vibe that I referred to earlier. After this record, it seems to me that they left these types of songs behind.

Joey Spampinato's You Can't Hide is notable, not only because it is a total rockin' kick a** song, but because it is the one song on the record that sounds like the NRBQ of later years, and could have shown up and been logical on any of their other later records.

The version I have on LP sounds pretty poor to my ears. It has a really dull and squashed tone -- really thin with not much dynamic range. It is the only copy I have heard, so I am not sure if I just have a bad copy, or if it's just how the record sounds. The remastered versions of these songs sound infinitely better on the "Stay With We" CD compilation.

I really wish that Sony or Sundazed would reissue this album on CD and LP.

Terry Adams and Joey Spampinato Pre-NRBQ: Merseybeats U.S.A. and Seven Of Us

Merseybeats U.S.A.

Merseybeats U.S.A. were a Rock N Roll band from Shively, Kentucky featured 2 future members of NRBQ, Steve Ferguson and Terry Adams.

They recorded 3 singles for Top Dog Records, Circa 1966-1967.

2313 Merseybeats U.S.A. - You'll Come Back / Nobody Loves Me That Way
2318 Merseybeats U.S.A. - Does She Or Doesn't She / Stop Look & Listen
2322 (106) Merseybeats U.S.A. - 30 Second Lover / Nobody Loves Me that Way

http://www.soulfuldetroit.com/archives/1/626.html?1020745507
http://www.garagehangover.com/?q=taxonomy/term/1697


A conversation with Terry about the early years and Hell Night:
http://www.terryadams.net/nrbq.html


The Mersey-Beats USA - Nobody loves me that way + You'll Come Back
http://www.spinthegroove.com/2010/10/mersey-beats-usa-nobody-loves-me-that.html


The Seven Of Us

The Seven Of Us were a Rock N Roll band from the Bronx, New York, circa 1965-1967, featuring 2 future members of NRBQ, Joey Spampinato and Frank Gadler, along with Johnny DeRobertis, Brian Darby, Charlie Tuna, Jerry Gold, and Kenny Nemeroff. According to Johnny Spampinato, "Red Bird put out one single and there is an unreleased single DJ copy floating about somewhere."

Red Bird RB 10-080 Seven of Us Jamboree / It's Not Easy To Forget/It's Mighty Nice 1966

http://www.globaldogproductions.info/r/red-bird.html

The Wildweeds: Video on youtube

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=6319947&postcount=11

I've spent a lot of time listening to and researching The Wildweeds. As a kid that grew up in the dismal musical climate of the 80s in CT, I am absolutely fascinated at the idea that there was once a thriving and diverse scene here in the 60s.

I totally love their first 1967 single "No Good To Cry / Never Mind" (Cadet Concept 5561), and think their original four 45s are all excellent -- Someday Morning, I'm Dreaming, and Happiness Is Just An Illusion in particular are my faves. They had several strong vocalists with differing styles. They were tight and tasteful, and Bob Dudek's Bass lines on I'm Dreaming and Sorrows Anthem really stick out to me as cool and unique.

Here's links to The Wildweeds video on youtube:

No Good To Cry by The Wildweeds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6zWXnCJtko

The Wildweeds - I'm Dreaming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfW0thdFe24

The WildWeeds - I'm Dreaming re-worked (1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGKMPNCHmyU

Richie Robinson Mixing No Good To Cry by the Wildweeds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcMhSYo7V8w

The Wildweeds: Zoot Suits image from No Good To Cry: The Best Of The Wildweeds [Confidential Records 3003]

The Wildweeds: No Good To Cry: The Best Of The Wildweeds [Confidential Records 3003]

The Wildweeds: 1968 Sorrows Anthem [Cadet Concept 5586]

The Wildweeds: 1968 It Was Fun (While It Lasted) [Cadet Concept 5586]

The Wildweeds: 1967 No Good To Cry / Never Mind [Cadet DE.2672 Italian single picture sleeve]

The Wildweeds: 1967 No Good To Cry / Never Mind [Chess AR 25.578 Dutch single picture sleeve]

The Wildweeds: 1967 No Good To Cry / Never Mind [Cadet 5561]

NRBQ Album-By-Album Thread: My Story

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=6313468&postcount=2

Before we dive in, I'd like to encourage everyone to contribute to the thread and share their story. I don't own every NRBQ record, never got to see them live in their heyday, and don't know all of the minutiae. So, I'm depending on you folks to help make this thread as great as it can be.

Unlike many other Album-By-Album Threads, I'd like to take a slower pace, so that everyone can actually dig out or buy the records and play them fresh before they have to chime in with their thoughts. Other than the freeway of their recorded output, there are many side streets and back roads to explore on the NRBQ path, so I'd like to leave the space to do some sightseeing along the way.

I was born in 1971 in Connecticut, and graduated high school in 1989. As a kid, I remember hearing what seemed like weekly radio spots on WHCN, WPLR, and WCCC for upcoming NRBQ shows. By the time I was old enough and musically smart enough to see NRBQ, their golden age had passed.

As a kid that grew up on and loved The Beatles, the first NRBQ song that really connected with me was the sweet pop single from 1989s "Wild Weekend" album. I got the excellent career retrospective from Rhino Records called "Peek-A-Boo," and while I loved it, it was enough for me for awhile.

As I got older, and had more of an understanding of musical styles and history I started to appreciate them more and more. After dedicating my life to studying jazz composer, keyboardist, and bandleader Sun Ra for a good 10 years, the name NRBQ kept popping up, and I finally took the time to really get in to NRBQ and their discography.

As a musician and fan from Connecticut, I am incredibly proud of NRBQ and Al Anderson. There are so few artists that made a name for themselves from this state that they are beacon for me. Even though Al Anderson originated from Windsor, CT, NRBQ weren't truly a CT band, but they played here so much in the 1970s and 80s, that it felt like they were.

I'd like to talk about the pre-NRBQ bands The Wildweeds and The Merseybeats U.S.A. before we hit NRBQs debut LP, but before we do that please share you personal NRBQ story.

NRBQ Album-By-Album Thread: Introduction

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=244052

Other than the sonic values and excellent community of the Steve Hoffman Music Forums, the one feature I value most are the excellent "Album-By-Album Threads." They are a great venue for raving about the artists you love, as well as learn about artists you may not yet know.

This is the point that motivates me to tackle a NRBQ thread, despite the fact I am overwhelmed at the responsibility of tackling their immense career and discography. In my considered opinion they are one of THE greatest american bands of the 20th century, and every music fan should be aware of them enough that they have the chance to experience the great swinging sweet joyful sounds that NRBQ played.

Despite the strength of their instrumental virtuosity, expertly crafted and emoted songs, group interplay, diverse songbook, unstoppable swinging groove, and 30 plus year career, NRBQ do not have popular recognition on par with their immense virtues.

I believe that some of their greatest assets -- such as eclecticism, uncompromising artistic values, and humor -- are also the reasons that they never sold the millions of records that they deserved to. They are incredibly intelligent and proficient musicians that have no problem being silly and loose as well. There are so many facets to this band to wrap your head around, that it requires a certain openness on the part of the listener -- it is music that really needs to be felt emotionally to be understood.

Perhaps this why NRBQ gathered most of its fans by playing live. The pure spirit of Rock N Roll that they embodied could not be contained and captured in the studio, despite the fact that they made lots and lots of great record. But hey, I don't really know -- it's just theorizing -- and I'm sure the band themselves couldn't tell you the reason either. Although I'm sure they would have welcomed the millions a hit would have brought, I am guessing that they are very proud and content with what they accomplished. They are one of the very few bands that sustained musical excellence and artistic virtue over such a long career in the largely fickle spiritual wilderness of the music business.

If one person learns something about NRBQ from this thread, is inspired to buy their records, and has their musical life changed as they changed mine, I will have accomplished my goal.


Here are the discographical and interview links I've referenced in preparation for this thread. Thank you for all of the time and effort the respective authors put in to sharing this information:

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/nrbq-p5044
http://www.discogs.com/artist/NRBQ
http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/NRBQ.htm
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=81498
http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=NRBQ
http://www.puremusic.com/nrbq.html
http://www.puremusic.com/joeyint.html
http://www.terryadams.net/nrbq.html
http://www.nrbq.com/dinner-with-q.html
http://ztalk.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=listeningroom&action=display&thread=37098
http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2009/06/nrbq_members_salute_ailing_ste.html
http://www.puddingbench.com/big_al.htm
http://webspace.webring.com/people/hq/qfan98/albums.htm
http://www.soulfuldetroit.com/archives/1/626.html?1020745507
http://www.doccavalier.com/interviews/prm_int.html
http://www.doccavalier.com/trodrecjourn.html

The Wildweeds (Formerly The Six-Packs) from Windsor, CT

The Wildweeds are a 1960s Rock N Roll group from Windsor, CT that featured NRBQ's Al Anderson and local musicians Bob Dudek, Al Lepak Jr., Andy Lepak, Martin "Skip" Yakaitis, and Ray Zeiner.

They are best known for the regional "White Soul" hit "No Good To Cry," recorded at Trod Nossel Studio in Wallingford, which was covered by early incarnations of The Allman Brothers Band and ZZ Top.

They recorded several singles in 1967-68 for the Chess Records subsidiary Cadet, before signing with Vanguard Records for one album in 1970. By that time only Al Anderson and Al Lepak, Jr. remained from the original line up.


For a fuller version of The Wildweeds story please check out these links:

http://www.wildweeds.net/

http://www.puddingbench.com/weeds.htm

http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/wildweeds.htm

http://webspace.webring.com/people/hq/qfan98/albums.htm

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2002/08/23/import/5135264.txt?viewmode=fullstory

http://sunraarkive.blogspot.com/2008/09/hey-hey-were-wildweeds.html

http://www.wildweeds.net/appreciation.html

Personnel:

Al "Big Al" Anderson: Guitar and Vocals
Bob Dudek: Bass Guitar and Vocals
Al Lepak Jr.: Drums
Martin "Skip" Yakaitis: Percussion and Vocals
Ray Zeiner: Keyboards and Vocals
Andy Lepak: Bass Guitar


Singles:

No Good To Cry / Never Mind (Cadet Concept 5561) 1967

Someday Morning / Can't You See That I'm Lonely (Cadet Concept 5572) 1967

It Was Fun (While It Lasted) / Sorrows Anthem (Cadet Concept 5586) 1968

I'm Dreaming / Happiness Is Just An Illusion (Cadet Concept 7004) 1968

And When She Smiles / An Overnight Guest (Vanguard 35107) 1968

And When She Smiles / Paint And Powder Ladies (Vanguard 35134) 1970

Baby, Please Dont Leave Me Today / Aint No Woman Finer Lookin (Vanguard 35144) 1971

Cmon, If Your Comin / Goin Back To Indiana (Vanguard 35155) 1971


Albums:

Wildweeds
Vanguard VSD 6552
Released on LP 1970
Released on CD 2001

Track Listing:
Title Composer Time
1 Baby Please Don't Leave Me Today (Anderson) 2:14
2 Can't I Sit and Watch Little Susie Laugh (Anderson) 3:28
3 John King's Fair (Anderson) 2:53
4 Belle (Anderson) 1:45
5 An Overnight Guest (Anderson) 3:34
6 Nobody's Here to Help Me Cry (Anderson) 2:46
7 And When She Smiles (Anderson) 2:30
8 Paint and Powder Ladies (Anderson) 1:52
9 Fantasy Child (Anderson) 2:35
10 My Baby Left Me (Crudup) 2:07
11 Don't Ask Me How or Why (Anderson) 3:24
12 Mare, Take Me Home (Anderson) 3:28
13 C'mon If You're Comin' (McGhee, Terry) 2:21
14 A'n't No Woman Finer Lookin' (Anderson) 3:15
15 Goin' on Back to Indiana (Anderson) 2:48

Personnel:
Al Anderson: Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals
Jerry Bradley: Engineer
Jim Colvard: Guitar (Bass)
Ed Friedner; Engineer
Mac Gayden: Guitar (Electric)
Al Lepak, Jr.: Bass
Jack Lothrop: Associate Producer, Mixing
Charlie McCoy: Dobro, Harmonica, Organ, Vibraphone
Weldon Myrick: Guitar (Steel)
Maynard Solomon: Producer
David Wilkes: Associate Producer

Review by Richie Unterberger:

http://www.allmusic.com/album/wildweeds-r65460

Wildweeds' sole album (they were no longer called "the" Wildweeds by the time it came out) is fair but non-eyebrow-raising country-rock. Cut with assistance from top Nashville session men Charlie McCoy, Weldon Myrick, and David Briggs, it's mild and easygoing, distinguished from the purely generic 1970 country-rock album by Al Anderson's likably gruff vocals. Anderson wrote all of the songs, with the exception of covers of Arthur Crudup's "My Baby Left Me," and they're pleasantly benign, without the striking tunes or penetrating lyrics needed to make a lasting impression. The better items include the up-tempo sh*t-kicker "Belle," where Anderson's vocal sounds more effectively strained and pinched, and the songs where there is a bit more pop influence in the melody, like "And When She Smiles." The Italian CD reissue adds three non-LP tracks from 1971 singles, all of which have a stronger blues-R&B influence than the LP does.


The Wildweeds
Greatest Hits...& More!
Club 51 LP 51-2 1988
Dixieland Music LP Bud 24 1988

Track Listing:
Side 1:
Excuse Me Baby
No Good To Cry (Cadet Concept 5561) 1967
Never Mind (Cadet Concept 5561) 1967
Someday Morning (Cadet Concept 5572) 1967
Can't You See That I'm Lonely (Cadet Concept 5572) 1967
It Was Fun While It Lasted (Cadet Concept 5586) 1968
I'm Dreaming (Cadet Concept 7004) 1968
Happiness Is Just An Illusion (Cadet Concept 7004) 1968

Side 2:
Where Is Our Love
I Had A Girl [Ray Zeiner 1971 I Had A Girl / You Know My Love Poison Ring 721]
I Want You Here
No Good To Cry (Live) [Same version as www.wildweeds.net]
John King's Fair [Circa 1970]
Fantasy Child [Circa 1970]
There You Go [Circa 1970]
Belle [Circa 1970]

Personnel:
Al Anderson: guitar, vocals
Ray Zeiner: organ, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, vocals
Bob Dudek: bass, vocals
Andy Lepak: drums, vocals
Martin 'Skip' Yakaitis: percussion, vocal
Bob DePalma: flute on "I Want You Here"
Al Lepak Sr.: additional percussion
Warren Bloom: bass on "You Know Your Love"
Bob Dudek: Drums on "You Know Your Love"
String Arrangement: Bert Keyes on "It Was Fun While It Lasted" and "I Had A Girl"
Horn Arrangement: Al Lepak Sr. on "Happiness Is Just An Illusion"


The Wildweeds
The Best and Rare
AirMail Recordings (Japan) Airac-1004
Released August 10, 2001

Track Listing:
No Good To Cry
I'm Dreaming
Where Is Our Love
Someday Morning
It Was Fun While It Lasted
Happiness Is Just An Illusion
I Want You Here
I Had A Girl
You Know Your Love
Can't You See That I'm Lonely
Sorrow's Anthem
I Can't Stand It
Anytime At All
And Then There Is Love
Never Mind
Fuzzy Wuzzy

Personnel:
Al Anderson: guitar, vocals
Ray Zeiner: organ, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, vocals
Bob Dudek: bass, vocals
Andy Lepak: drums, vocals
Martin 'Skip' Yakaitis: percussion, vocal
Bob DePalma: flute on "I Want You Here"
Al Lepak Sr.: additional percussion
Warren Bloom: bass on "You Know Your Love"
Bob Dudek: Drums on "You Know Your Love"
String Arrangement: Bert Keyes on "It Was Fun While It Lasted" and "I Had A Girl"
Horn Arrangement: Al Lepak Sr. on "Happiness Is Just An Illusion"


Wildweeds
In The Tall Grass (a collection of rare trax and demos)
CDR Weed 01 (Unofficial CDR release)

Track Listing:
Excuse Me Baby
No Good To Cry
Never Mind
Someday Morning
Can't You See That I'm Lonely
It Was Fun While It Lasted
I'm Dreaming
Happiness Is Just An Illusion
Where Is Our Love
I Had A Girl
I Want You Here
No Good To Cry (live)
John King's Fair
Fantasy Child
There You Go
Belle
C'mon If You're Comin'
I Wasn't Born To Be Unhappy
I Don't Know What's Become Of Me
I Want You Here (produced version)
It Was Fun While It Lasted (without horns from acetate)

Personnel:
Al Anderson: guitar, vocals
Ray Zeiner: organ, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, vocals
Bob Dudek: bass, vocals
Andy Lepak: drums, vocals
Martin 'Skip' Yakaitis: percussion, vocal
Bob DePalma: flute on "I Want You Here"
Al Lepak Sr.: additional percussion
Warren Bloom: bass on "You Know Your Love"
Bob Dudek: Drums on "You Know Your Love"
String Arrangement: Bert Keyes on "It Was Fun While It Lasted" and "I Had A Girl"
Horn Arrangement: Al Lepak Sr. on "Happiness Is Just An Illusion"
C'mon if You're Comin'" - Jeff Potter - harmonica, Bob LaPalm - electric guitar
"I Wasn't Born to be Unhappy" - Jeff Potter - Wurlitzer electric piano, Bob LaPalm - electric guitar
"I Don't Know What's Become of Me" - Jeff Potter - harmonica, Bob LaPalm - electric guitar


The Wildweeds
No Good To Cry: The Best Of The Wildweeds
Confidential 3003
Released on CD 2002

Track Listing:
No Good To Cry
Never Mind
Someday Morning
Can't You See That I'm Lonely
It Was Fun While It Lasted
Sorrow's Anthem
I'm Dreaming
Happiness Is Just An Illusion
Fuzzy Wuzzy
I Can't Stand It
Where Is Our Love
Anytime At All
I Want You Here
And Then There Is Love
I Had A Girl
You Know Your Love
No Good To Cry (alternate)
No Good To Cry (instrumental)


Various Artists including The Wildweeds
Don't Press Your Luck! The IN Sound of 60's Connecticut
(CD and Limited Edition 2 LP Set)
Sundazed LP 5219

http://www.sundazed.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=895

The pounding garage-rock din emanating from the jungles of deepest Connecticut could overwhelm the senses, causing the weary NY commuter to become disoriented! Who knew that the most deranged ‘66-‘68 teenage mayhem imaginable would come from Wallingford’s Trod Nossel Studios, whose owner/producer Thomas “Doc” Cavalier (a former dentist) recorded top-flight acts as diverse as the tough ‘n’ melodic Shags (“Don’t Press Your Luck”), the R&B-consumed Wildweeds (“No Good to Cry,” featuring a Pre-NRBQ Al Anderson on vocals) and fuzzed-out punks the Bram Rigg Set (“I Can Only Give You Everything”). SUNDAZED presents, on double-LP vinyl and compact disc, the high-impact, garage-rock havoc— at least two-thirds of it totally unreleased—that finally tears the lid off Connecticut’s best-kept rock ‘n’ roll secret!

Track Listing:
1. I Can Only Give You Everything: Bram Rigg Set
2. Don't Press Your Luck: The Shags
3. Help Me: George's Boys*
4. Too Many Lies: The Lively Ones*
5. Take the Time Be Yourself: Bram Rigg Set
6. Hide Away: The Shags
7. ‘SSS’ Happenin’ Here: Uranus and the Five Moons*
8. Sleepless Nights: The Ravens*
9. You're Cutting Out: Fourth Ryke*
10. I've Paid My Dues: The Bearies*
11. Radio Spot: WAVZ Radio Jingle: The Shags
12. No Good to Cry: The Wildweeds
13. Think: The Lively Ones*
14. I Can't Explain: Bram Rigg Set*
15. Breathe in My Ear: The Shags
16. Please Leave: Fourth Ryke*
17. Radio Spot: Specter's Radio Ad: The Shags
18. Nothing Remains: Uranus and the Five Moons*
19. You Don't Love Me: Bram Rigg Set*
20. Come Back to Me: The Shags*
21. LUV: The Roadrunners*
22. I’m Dreaming:The Wildweeds (LP Bonus Track)
23. Your Groove: Uranus and the Five Moons (LP Bonus Track)
24. Hey, Little Girl: The Shags (LP Bonus Track)
25. Sticks and Stones: George’s Boys* (LP Bonus Track)
26. Bad News for Me: The Bearies* (LP Bonus Track)
27. Make a Record with the Shags: The Shags*

*previously unissued