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60’s Band of the Week: Adam Wade

15 Jun

Band/Artist: Adam Wade

Origin: Pittsburgh, PA

Genre: Crooner

History:

Adam Wade? Isn’t he that guy who hosted that game show Musical Chairs back in 1975? Yes, indeed, but did you know that Wade also released several singles on both Coed and Epic records in the 1960s? Well, that’s why I am here.

Adam Wade can definitely fit into the expansive category of singer, who is also quite proficient in other creative fields. He actually started his odd career as a lab assistant to Dr. Jonas Salk. For those of you who have completely forgotten 9th grade biology, Salk invented the vaccine for polio. Wade’s passion for singing outlasted his scientific endeavors and he followed in the vocal tradition of Johnny Mathis and Nat King Cole. Wade moved to New York in 1960, played the Copacabana, and was consequently snatched up quickly by the eastern doo-wop inspired Coed records (the record label of the Duprees and The Crests).

Wade, like Mathis, took on good-looking male performer status like many vocalists were doing at the time, but he did not use this as a crutch. He was a prolific performer and his large collection of releases were rich in quality and quantity. Throughout the 1960s, beginning with his single Ruby/Too Far in 1960, Wade released several singles each year of the decade and this included full-length LPs. Here are a few highlights:

“Ruby”/ “Too Far” was Wade’s first major success in 1960

“Take Good Care of Her” hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961

“As If I Didn’t Know” hit #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961

“The Writing on the Wall” hit #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961

After switching from Coed Records to Epic Records in 1962, Wade experienced a steep decline in singles popularity and after several years of unsuccessful recordings, Wade dropped the music studio for the movie studio and thus started a long career in acting, highlighted by his hosting of “Musical Chairs.” Wade became the first African American to host an American game show. The show, which had contestants fill in lyrics, allowed Wade to sing and act. After the show he went back into music in 1978 with funkier recordings and then back into acting, switching off between music and acting and usually combining the two in theater.

Suggested Listening

I am going to embed “The Writing on the Wall” because I think it best demonstrates his textured croon.

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Electric Music of Barry Melton

14 Jun

Barry Melton may not be easily recognizable in the sea of 1960’s psychedelic guitarists, but his influence on the genre should not be understated. Melton co-founded and played lead guitar for the late 60’s psychedelic juggernaut Country Joe and the Fish, best known for the famous perversion of their own “f-i-s-h” chant at Woodstock. Melton celebrates his 64th birthday today.

Like stated above, most people know of Country Joe and The Fish because of their iconic Woodstock performance. This was the pinnacle of the band’s success and lifted them on a pedestal for the anti-Vietnam campaign. But in the popularity of The Fish’s chant followed by “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin-To-Die Rag, many listeners do not get the full range of the band’s talent. The Fish played an eclectic form of moving psychedelic folk and blues that was both efficient and enjoyable. Barry “The Fish” Melton contributed to the band’s underrated sound and for that we thank him.

Check out some early Fish from their debut album Electric Music for the Mind and Body. This is “Love.”

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Sad News Clarence Clemons Stroke and Same Artist, Different Place

13 Jun

Sad news in the wide world of music today. Clarence Clemons, long-time saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band, has reportedly suffered a massive stroke. At 69, he has since had two brain surgeries at a Florida hospital and is currently in responsive and stable condition. It was earlier reported that Clemons sustained full paralysis of the left side of his body, but latest news suggests that he has been moving his left hand. This is excellent news and the next few days will be vital to the healing process. We send our best wishes to this rock saxophone pioneer and wish him a speedy recovery.

The news about Clemons got me thinking about the other members of the E Street band. Clemons has performed with Springsteen for 40 years now and his body of work is extraordinary. But what about some other long-time E Street band members? All of the original 1972 members of the E Street Band can mark the Springsteen-led band as their first major musical appearance. So we need to dig a little later to find a candidate for the new Music Court category Same Artist, Different Place.

Guitarist and vocalist Nils Lofgren has performed with the E-Street Band since ’84, but Springsteen was not his first major gig. At 17 years old Lofgren was recruited by Neil Young to play piano and guitar for After The Gold Rush despite his inexperience. Youthfulness did not prevent him from performing capably during the production of the album. He earned himself a brief role with Crazy Horse and played on their self-titled premiere album. Here is a Lofgren original entitled “Beggar’s Day” which is track four on the album.

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The Alternates Sing of The Modern Way

11 Jun

Never underestimate the power of a band of friends. The Alternates, a group of six good friends, formed in Los Angeles and have been playing music together for over seven years. You can actually hear the friendship in their guitar-driven melodies and effortless harmonies. The band meshes like a comfortable couch and a good book. We catch the band a few days before the digital release of their first EP Spiders and Webs, a solid debut that ranges from folk/Americana to hard-hitting rock. Let’s dive into The Alternates this Saturday afternoon.

“The Modern Way”

This five-minute biting attack at of the world’s overconsumption and destruction of the environment is carried by strong harmonies, skillful drumming, well-placed electric guitar and a neat acoustic chord progression. I specifically enjoy the Modern Way harmonic lyrical cut-ins that provide the listener with a chance to catch their breath. The guitar solo at the four-minute mark provides the song with a refreshing Americana input.

“Spiders and Webs”

“Spiders and Webs” is the title track of The Alternates EP. It features a sharp, head-bopping moving rhythm that tinkers with elements of raw early hard rock while grasping on to slight Indie sentiments. But the hard guitar certainly prevails and it takes the form of an expedited, but enjoyable rock burst.


Spiders and Webs will be released online on June 14 and currently the band is offering free downloads of songs “The Modern Way” and “Slow and Steady” on their website. You can also follow the band on twitter and facebook by following these links. If you live in the California area, The Alternates may be coming to a venue near you. Check out the dates below.

May 18th- House of Blues- Sunset Strip

June 16th- Queen Bee’s- San Diego

June 17th- TRiP- Santa Monica

June 18th- Good Hurt- West Los Angeles

June 21st- Blue Cafe- Long Beach, CA

June 22nd- Frog and Peach- San Luis Obispo

June 23rd- Grant And Green- San Francisco, CA

June 25th- Brainwash Cafe- San Francisco

June 28th- Skylark Cafe & Club- Seattle, Washington

June 29th- Platform Booking- Spokane, Washington

June 30th- Twilight Bar- Portland, Oregon

July 3rd – Moe’s Alley- Santa Cruz CA

July 5th- El Cid- Los Angeles, California

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Paul McCartney will play Yankee Stadium – Aerosmith Recording – “Best 2011 Band” Dry The River profile

9 Jun

Busy day for Music News. There are numerous items to discuss. But before I get to any of them, I want to wish a very happy birthday to Les Paul, one of the foremost innovators of rock guitar. To celebrate his birthday, Google’s homepage doodle is a strummable guitar with a recording feature. Yes, I’m not kidding. It is perhaps the coolest doodle Google has ever had. Lets move on to the big news of the day.

Paul McCartney Will Rock The Yankees

Paul McCartney is coming to Yankee Stadium. You can read all about it here. (Yes I just plugged myself and apparently have no shame). McCartney has already rocked Queens twice, once with the Beatles in 1965 at the New York Mets’ old home Shea Stadium and then again with three shows at the Mets’ new home Citi Field in 2009, but he has never graced the Bronx with his talents. Tickets for the one-night July 15 concert will go on sale at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 13 and will most likely sell out in five minutes. Yes, that is my guess. So if you want tickets, it may be a good idea to start refreshing the Livenation.com page (where they are on sale) a good five minutes in advance in hope that you can be one of the first on the server. You can also call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.

Ticket prices will range from $34-$280. $34! Those tickets probably allow you to sit on a roof across from Yankee Stadium with hopes of catching some audio from the show. Just kidding. It is still a very low price to see an absolute legend. I went to one of McCartney’s Citi Field concerts and it was epic. I urge you to get tickets if you have never seen him live.

The concert will kick off his 2011 “On The Run” tour. No other dates have been released. There has also been no word from McCartney if he will extend his stay in the Bronx for a few more nights (like he did with his concert at Citi Field in 2009), but the Yankees are on the road from July 11-21. I am going to predict a few more Yankee Stadium shows before he departs on his tour.

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Aerosmith Recording A New Album (All of Them)

You read that right. Joe Perry, Aerosmith guitarist, wrote on his twitter account yesterday that, “Whole band has plans to go into the studio with Jack Douglas second week of July to work on new Aero CD.” I am sure Steven Tyler is thrilled. This band argues more than a couple in an unsuccessful marriage. Perry has been angry at Tyler more times than the Mets have disappointed me. Okay, I’ll stop with these horrendous metaphors.

Aerosmith has not released an album since Just Push Play in 2001. They have toured, though, a lot, up until Tyler’s stage accident in 2009 where he broke his shoulder and then entered rehab and then after patching up problems with Aersomith apparently blindsided the band in 2010 when he announced his plans to become a judge on Fox’s American Idol.

Aerosmith is not stupid. Tyler has propelled his level of fame to new heights with his American Idol appearance. Aerosmith has also seen an increase in record sales. It is a good time to release an album, while the Aerosmith stock is still high.

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Best 2011 Bands – Dry The River

NME released its “50 Best New Bands of 2011” recently and after sifting through its contents I found a band that I rather like.

Dry The River, of East London, have propelled onto the emerging progressive folk scene and their Mumford and Sons style may help them jump into popularity.

Here is a great profile on the band: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/nov/09/new-band-dry-river

Check out “New Ceremony” which melds together a deep folk guitar, delicate harmonies, oddly dark instrumentation and Pete Liddle’s theatrical voice. The chorus has serious pop sentiments and the song is rather advanced.

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