So, Who Were They?: Cowsills-- Bay City Rollers

From the Ask American Profile page in the American Profile Magazine.


COWSILLS

Fron Newport, RI. and played in the late 60s with hits like "Indian Lake," "Hair" and "The Rain, the Park and Other Things." They continue making music despite losing their mother Barbara Cowsill who died in 1985. Brothers Barry and Bill Cowsill died in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Siblings Paul, Susan, John and Bob recently began touring as a family again. Bob also plays drums for the Beach Boys. Of course, they were the inspiration of TV's "Partridge Family. They have a film documentary and a book in the works.

"She asked me why?" Why what?


BAY CITY ROLLERS

A Scottish pop band who took the Bay City part of their name from a Michigan town, split up in 1981 but have had brief revivals. Les McKeown was the lead singer back when they had their big hit "Saturday Night." He left the group in 1978. Now 54, he lives in London and tours up to 60 times a year with his Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers.

I remember our next door neighbor in Round Lake Beach was a huge fan of the group. She had to have worn out a couple albums and 45s.

How do you beat that spelling out "S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night."

OK!! Now Stop Spelling It Out. --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: My idea of a Super Bowl is a toilet that cleans itself.

So Who Were They: David Essex-- Maria Muldaur

These were artists Bob Stroud played on his April 25, 1974 Time Warp show. Info from Wikipedia.


DAVID ESSEX "Rock On"

From May 15th Blog entry. Born July 23, 1947 as David Albert Cook. English actor and singer. First big break as the lead role in stage play of Godspell. Wrote "Rock On" himself, his only big international hit, although it hit #3 in the UK. Sold over a million copies and certified Gold.


MARIA MULDAUR "Midnight at the Oasis"

From May 18th Blog entry. How's this for a name? She was born September 12, 1943, as Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D'Amato and grew up in New York City. A folk and blues singer who had her biggest and only hit with this song. She was a member of the Jim Kweskin & His Jug Band group where she met and married Geoff Muldaur. She was a backing vocalist for Grateful Dead in the late 70s.

This was one REALLY different song.

"Hey kid, rock and roll
Rock On, ooh my soul (always thought he said soothe my soull)
Hey kid, boogey too, did you

Hey shout, summertime blues
Jump Up and down in my blue suede shoes
Hey kid, rock and roll, ____ __. --RoadDog


I Wonder: Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?

So, Who Were They? Ventures-- Crazy Elephant

These are some lesser-known groups that had hits back on April 25, 1968.


VENTURES

The Ventures had the hit the hit "Hawaii Five-O" from the hit TV series by the same name. They were an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Their other really big hit was 1960's "Walk, Don't Run."

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 when they were presented by none other than John Fogerty.

"Book 'em, Dano."


CRAZY ELEPHANT

Crazy Elephant had a hit the same date with "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" and are considered an American Bubblegum pop band. They were essentially a studio band put together by the Godfathers of Bubblegum, Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz.

The song was sung by former member of the 1950s band Cadillacs, Robert Spencer, who had a 1955 hit with "Speedo"

A true one-hit wonder, it hit #12 on both US and UK charts.

I don't care what they say, I loved my Bubblegum Music.

So That's Who Those Guys Were. --RoadDog

"From Atlanta, Georgia, to the Gulf stream waters."

Thought for the Day: The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he can tell when he is really in trouble.

So Who Were They?: Edwin Starr, Buchanan Brothers

Both of these artists were featured on Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots Time Warp to April 25, 1969. So, I did a little research on them in Wikipedia as most folks don't know that much about them.

I always wonder how much of Stroud's interesting anecdotes are from memory or did he look them up?


EDWIN STARR "Twenty-five Miles"

1942-2003. His biggest hit "War" an antiwar song, went to #1" Born Nashville, Tennessee, but moved to Cleveland. First big hit "Agent Double 'O' Soul" also "SOS: Stop Her On Sight."


BUCHANAN BROTHERS "Medicine Man, (Part 1)"

Not to be confused with a 1940s country band consisting of brothers Chester and Lester Buchanan.

A late 60s studio band consisting of Terry Cashman, Gene Pistilli and Tommy West who released several singles of which "Medicine Man" was the biggest. Terry Cashman is best-known for his 1981 hit "Talkin' Baseball. He also wrote "Sunday Will Never Be the Same" which was recorded by Spanky and Our Gang. He also produced for Jim Croce.

There really isn't a lot of information on this Buchanan Brothers. I always thought they were a black group, but they weren't.

Now, You Know. --RoadDog


Thought for the Day: The easiest way to find something you lost is to buy a replacement.

So, Who Were They?: Harper's Bizarre-- The Five Americans

Back on April 3rd, I listed Bob Stroud's songs from March 28, 1967.


HARPER'S BIZARRE

This group had a song out called "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)."

They were one of the first groups to play what is called Broadway/Sunshine Pop Sound with this remake of the Simon & Garfunkel song. Harper's Bizarre was formed from a group called the Tikis from Santa Clara, California whose name was a play on the magazine Harper's Bazaar (which is the way I always spelled it before seeing it).

The song went to #13 and none of their other efforts did so well, so you'd have to call them One-Hit Wonders.


THE FIVE AMERICANS

The had a hit that date with "Western Union" which went to #3 and was their only top 20. They set the record for most use of a repetitive word or phrase with "dit".

They originated from Southeastern State College in Duran, Oklahoma, and were together from 1965 to 1969. My other favorite song of theirs was "Zip Code." Other songs of theirs were "Sound of Love," "Evol Not Love."


Big Five American Fan. --RoadDog


Maxine says the economy is so bad that Hot Wheels and Match Box stocks are selling higher than Chrysler and GM.

So, Who Were They?

Since music is a big part of my life, this blog reflects that. There are lots of blog entries on the subject. My brother one time said to me, "Oh, that blog with all the music."

I don't know about you, but for me, music brings back a lot of memories.

Every so often, Bob Stroud plays a song by a group or performer that I don't know a lot about, such as these two bands. I am familiar with the name and song, but don't know much about them. So now I do some Wikipedian for a short history.

So, from now on, I will be featuring this "So, Who Were They?" entries on a more regular basis. Usually, these will be lesser-known groups.

I have to wonder whether or not Bob Stroud looks up most of the stuff he says or if he just knows it. I'm thinking he just knows it, more along the lines of a walking, talking encyclopedia.

You can hit the labels below and take a look at some earlier groups.

Lovin' That Old Time Music. --RoadDog

Maxine says the economy is so bad that parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.

So, Who Were Vanity Fare and Shocking Blue

Earlier this month, in my "What Were You Doing December 27, 1969? entries, i mentioned the songs "Early in the Morning" by Vanity Fare and "Venus" by Shocking Blue.

I did some more research, compliments of Wiki, on these two groups.


VANITY FARE-- I had a hard time bringing this one up...and I found out why. I have always misspelled the name Vanity Fair. Wikipedia said that was a common mistake. I looked back to January 7th and sure enough, I had spelled it Fair.

They were a British group formed in 1969 best remembered here in the US for 1970's "Hitching a Ride." Their first hit in the UK was a cover of the Sunray's "I Live for the Sun." Their biggest British hit was "Early in the Morning" which went to #8 in August 1969 It went to #12 here in early 1970. "Hitching a Ride" sold over a million copies and went to #5 in the US and #16 in the UK.

They are still performing in the UK and are taking part in Solid Silver 60s Show from this March to May along with members from the Searchers, Swinging Blue Jeans and Troggs.


SHOCKING BLUE-- A Dutch rock band from The Hague. Their one really bug hit was "Venus" which went to #1 in February 1970. By 1973, the group had sold 13.5 million songs before they disbanded in 1974 after lead singer Mariska Veres left to pursue a solo career. That was her singing you heard on "Venus." She died in 2006.

So, Now We Have the Spelling Figured Out, But Still Think Mariska was Singing Some Different Words. --RoadDog

So, Who Were 100 Proof, Crow and R. Dean Taylor?

Bob Stroud Time Warped to October 18, 1970 earlier this month and these three performers all had songs that he played. Here's some more information on them.

100 PROOF (AGED IN SOUL)-- Funk/soul group from Detroit. Put together by the Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting team. "Somebody's Been Sleeping in My Bed" was their biggest hit, peaking at #8 and selling over a million copies. Member Joe Stubbs also was in the Contours and Falcons and was the brother of Four Tops' Levi Stubbs.


CROW-- Minneapolis hard rock/blues band from 1967-1972. Best known for "Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games With Me." Another hit song was "Cottage Cheese."


R. Dean Taylor-- born 1939 in Toronto, Canada. Staff songwriter and recorded for Motown on the Rare Earth label. "Indiana Wants Me" was biggest hit: #1 Canada, #5 US. Also co wrote "Love Child" and "I'm Living in Shame" for Supremes, "All I Need" for the Temptations and "I'll Turn to Stone" for the Four Tops.

So, Now You Know. --RoadDog

So, Who Were Rare Earth and Crabby Appleton?

These two bands had hits on October 18, 1970. Just who were they? I've heard of both and even have a Rare Earth GH album, but, I don't know that much about them. So I did a Wiki search, always a great place to go for fast facts.

RARE EARTH

Not only affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth label, but actually gave their name to it. They were hot from 1970-1972. Formed in 1960 as the Skyliners and later changed their name to rare Earth. Signed with Motown in 1969 when Motown decided to expand to white acts. Two of their biggest hits were with covers of Motown's Temptations songs "(I Know) I'm Losing You" and "Get Ready." Also had hits with "I Just Want to Celebrate" and "Hey, Big Brother" both in 1971.

Like I said, Blue-Eyed Soul.


CRABBY APPLETON

Most members came from the LA band Stonehenge. Opened for a lot of big name bands back then on the success of their one really big hit, "Go Back." They've also been on a lot of '70s compilations. Michael Fennelly of New Jersey was the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter.

So, That's Who Those Guys Are. --RoadDog

So, Who Were Mary Hopkins, Don Fardon and Al Wilson

Some more information on the singers.

Going back to the music from October 4, 1968:

MARY HOPKINS-- "Those Were the Days"-- Welsh folk singer born 1950 and one of the first musicians to sign with the Beatles' Apple Records label. The song was Top Ten in both the US #2 and UK #1. Born into a Welsh-speaking family and had an album sung in Welsh.


DON FARDON-- "Indian Reservation"-- born Donald Maughn in England. #3 UK, #20 US. Song originally done by John D. Loudermilk.


AL WILSON-- "The Snake"-- Born Allen Lamar 1939 in Mississippi. #27 US. His biggest hit was 1973's "Show and Tell" which was #1 US and #10 UK. Johnny Mathis had taken a pass on it, bet he wished he hadn't.

Not Real Crazy About the Snake. --RoadDog

So, Who Were Iron Butterfly and the Cryan' Shames?

Yesterday, there were songs by Iron Butterfly and Cryan Shames, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" and "Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David Smith and Jones."

Here's a little more information on them.

IRON BUTTERFLY-- American psychedelic rock band, who had the monster hit in 1968, not only in popularity, but length as well, clocking in at 17 minutes and taking up a whole album side. The second side was good as well, but I don't think most people turned it over to listen to it. VH1 ranks them at #19 on the list of all-time One-Hit Wonders and the album is at 31 on the list of all-time-best sellers.


CRYAN' SHAMES-- from Hinsdale, Illinois, one of those great Chicago area 1960s garage bands. John Pilster (J.C. Hooke, so named because he was born without a left hand) came up with the name. They were trying to think of a name for their group and, in exasperation, he said it was a crying shame they couldn't come up with one.

They never were higher than #49 on the Billboard chart, but from 1966 to 1968 had five Top Tens on WLS radio in Chicago.

From Wikipedia

So, That's Who They Are. --RoadDog