Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
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.
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
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
Sunday, March 6, 2011
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
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
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