This Berkeley-based band were one of the first wave of Bay Area rock bands. Sokolow came from a very musical family and owned a five string banjo by the time he'd reached High School. Mandell was an old High School friend of his, who earlier played with a band called The Dune Patrol in Santa Barbara. Joe Luke was the drummer in the original line-up, which played at the first Family Dog Longshoreman's Hall concert. With folk musician, O'Connor, on bass they started gigging at the Jabberwock where Berkeley's only other rock band at the time, Country Joe and the Fish, were the houseband. Through The Fish they met Chris Strachwitz who had earlier recorded their Rag Baby EP and he recorded them on a four track EP in 1966. This is now rare. The tracks were Where Does Love Go, Down In The Basement (which was later re-recorded for the album), What Am I Doing Here? (also on the album), and I Got To Get Out Of This Dream. By this time Oswald, who'd played with various blues and jazz outfits, had replaced Luke on drums.
This 'bubblegum' outfit came from Linden, New Jersey. Their records were produced by Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz, who masterminded the 'bubblegum' movement and were behind other key acts like The Music Explosion and Ohio Express. Essentially a 'singles' band they made an immediate impact with Simon Says, which has become a classic party song and, in addition to being a Top Ten hit in America, it also made No. 2 in the U.K. (although it was their only major hit here). They enjoyed other success in the US, particularly with 1-2-3 Red Light and Indian Giver. Their Hard Rode album was by an entirely different line-up. There may come a time when collectors take an interest in their first four albums.
Bruce Shay was their bass player on their second, third and fourth albums and Chuck Trois (ex-Soul Survivors) was also in the band at some point.
Mark Gutkowski sang the lead vocal on the first two 45's and plays organ, whilst his brother played rhythm guitar. One interesting thing about this group is that the following 45s, Goody Goody Gumdrops and 1-2-3 Red Light, were entirely sung by members of the Philly-based doo-wop group, Billy and The Essentials, who had a few 45s out in the early and mid '60s.
Tracks was the second album from Heads Hands and Feet which also featured Chas Hodges (of Chas & Dave fame) on bass, guitar, banjo and fiddle. Other musicians included Pete Gavin (drums), Tony Colton (vocals) and Ray Smith (guitar, bass). This reissue includes their signature song, the single 'Warming Up The Band' as one of the two bonus tracks. Cherry Red. 2009.
Although the core personnel had been together in a variety of incarnations since the mid-'60s, most notable of which was the brilliant and criminally short-lived Poet & the One Man Band, Tracks (1972) was only the second long player from Heads Hands & Feet. The U.K. quintet of Pete Gavin (drums/vocals), Albert Lee (guitar/keyboards/vocals), Ray Smith (bass/guitar/vocals), Charles "Chas" Hodges (bass/guitar/violin/vocals), and front man Tony Colton (vocals) had gained significant notice stateside during a week-long residency at the Troubadour in Los Angeles after the release of their self-titled double-LP debut Heads Hands & Feet (1971). For their second outing, Tracks, they continue their quest for exceptionally crafted country-flavored material. They waste precious little time, as the fiery "Let's Get This Show on the Road" is a high-energy, good-time ode to the rigors and foibles of live performing and concert touring as exemplified in the chorus "Maybe I'll see Margo/Down in Chicago/And I've got a dancer down in New Orleans." Lee's multi-tasking musicianship is particularly noteworthy as his rollicking keyboard work on both acoustic piano and Hammond organ, coupled with the catchy, if not slightly twangy lead electric guitar lines, rhythmically tie the verses to the chorus. "Roadshow" demonstrates quite a different side to the band, examining Lee's capacity for emotive singer/songwriter balladry. His temperate vocals and melodic piano runs recall that of Jackson Browne or early folksy Tom Waits. Further demonstrating Heads Hands & Feet's wide-ranging musicality is "Hot Property." Remarkably, the combo fuses an energetic bluegrass-inspired instrumental introduction to a funk-driven melody that would not have been too out of place coming from southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd. Of equal (if not arguably greater) prowess is the downhome, organic "Jack Daniels," which returns the sound to a loose groove mirroring the Band's rural rockers "Up on Cripple Creek" or "Life Is a Carnival." Tracks...Plus (1996) reissues both the original ten-song platter with a pair of additional non-LP sides, "Silver Mine" and "Warming Up the Band." ~ Lindsay Planer
NIGHTWINDS were one of those unlucky bands that split up before seeing the release of their first album. In the late 70's, the five musicians were touring the Southern Ontario clubs alongwith SAGA, RHINEGOLD and FM when they came to the attention of KLAATU members. The latter took them into a studio to record a first album but conflicts erupted amongst the NIGHTWINDS clan who split up. Bassist Mike Gingrich went on to tour with KLAATU and MAX WEBSTER; also touring with KLAATU, keyboard player Gerald O'Brien eventually went on to form his own band; and guitarist Terry O'Brien as well as drummer Mike Phelan both managed to carve out a lucrative career for themselves in the music business.
To get an idea of what NIGHTWINDS sound like, try to imagine mid-period GENESIS (circa "A Trick of the Tail") and then add some busy bass work a la Chris Squire and a vocalist resembling a cross between Geddy Lee and Jon Anderson. GENESIS fans won't fail to recognize many Banks and Hackett references throughout (track 7 is indeed said to be a tribute to GENESIS) but it is all done very tastefully. Highly atmospheric, the album is keyboard dominated but also features some incredible drum/bass interplay as well as strong songwriting and solid musicianship. A style that may sound way too familiar but still a classy and highly polished album, thanks in part to a fine production by Dee Long and Terry Draper of KLAATU and excellent digital mastering by Laser's Edge.
Recommended to fans of mid-period GENESIS, STARCASTLE, ARAGON and NORTH STAR, STYX and SAGA fans will also like the high energy and crisp production.
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