Music Before the Money

Everyone who was alive in the 60’s has heard Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs. They also did a memorable song in 1966 called Little Red Riding Hood, one of my personal favorites.

They were the Tex-Mex band of the 1960s following up where Ritchie Valens left off. Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs began in Dallas, Texas where Domingo “Sam” Samudio was born and raised. (Rumor has it that he’s working the supply boat to the oil rigs gig in the Gulf of Mexico and doesn’t want to be part of the music world any more.) Wooly Bully was so big that it kept Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds out of 1st place on the charts in 1965.

And it was easy to play and a crowd pleaser. It started out with, “Uno, Dos, Tres, Quattro!” The portable organ (probably a Vox Continental) played cheesy-sounding chords in 8th notes and the hardest part of the tune was the bass which holds the song together

But it was his car that intrigues me. In the mid-60’s super-heroes, and the not so super-heroes, had great cars: Herman Munster, James Bond, Batman. So it stands to reason that a band should have a special car too. In fact before George Barris (Munster cars, Batmobile) built the Monkee-mobile Sam the Sham had his hearse, hauling his equipment around in a 1952 Packard hearse complete with maroon velvet curtains. (Yes, that’s right, he had a hearse. And I think this is where Neil Young got his inspiration to have his own hearse, Mortimer.)

The lyrics of Wooly Bully were hard to understand, and some radio stations banned it. The song was originally called “Hully Gully.” When told by the record company that they couldn’t use that phrase, Sam changed the words to the name of his cat - Wooly Bully. It became the first American record to sell a million copies during the onslaught of the British Invasion, and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Despite the rumors of an oil boat Sam is still involved in music. He received critical acclaim for his work with Ry Cooder on the soundtrack for the film The Border. Today he writes poetry, music, and makes occasional live appearances.

Although his voice isn’t what it used to be it didn’t matter to the fans. They went to see the performer and did not care that he didn’t have the voice he had 20 or 30 years ago.

I addition, he, Sharon and his entourage were very gracious to the fans, meeting with several before the concert without the “Rock Star” persona. He was just an Englishman enjoying interaction with a few of the locals.

Of course that’s not what the locals thought. He was still their idol. Because with so many years of concert promoters and fans having to put up with ridiculous riders in performers’ contracts - which require everything from exotic foods in their dressing rooms to masseuses between acts - it’s nice to see that idiocy has died down with age. Like Ozzie, most rock stars have grown up and appreciate that it’s the fans that made them. Although, I never heard tell of him snubbing an audience.

It used to be you hardly saw a live rock star except in concert. In the early 1970’s except for Don Kirchner’s Saturday night show, you never saw the big guys at all. Now with YouTube I can watch The Beatles in concert ( something I only saw on the Ed Sullivan Show) and see how Stephen Stills plays the intro to Suite Judy Blue Eyes.

So, though I never really cared for you or your music before, Ozzie, you were a class act in Halifax and if you ever come back I’ll come and see you.

To succeed in the music business in 1965 it wasn’t just smart enough to copy the trends of the “British Invasion” of 1964 (even though they say a fire hydrant with a Beatle wig would get a record contract). All the bands in the world were doing that. But one San Francisco band took its “Anglicizing” to the next level and picked their name, The Beau Brummels, after a 19th Century British lady’s man.

Why? Well first, because it was English and had the aura of “being naughty.” But, best of all, it put the bands records right next to The Beatles on the record shelves. Pretty smart cookies.

Formed in San Francisco in 1964, the Beau Brummels were the first nationally successful rock group to emerge from the Bay area. Vocalist Sal Valentino had previously had his own “pompadour” group, Sal Valentino And The Valentines and was no stranger to recording. They had produced a record in 1962 that went nowhere called “I Wanna Twist.” Guitarist Ron Elliott, bassist Ron Meagher and drummer John Petersen joined him.

Starting out playing cover tunes the bands had a following within the city’s Irish community and solidified this by adding guitarist Declan Mulligan. But he only lasted less than a year.

Believe it or not, Sly Stone, produced the band’s first single Laugh, Laugh which made it to Number 15 in the U.S. just a few months after they had played their first show together.

Just A Little came next and it sounded like it was recorded in someone’s front room. But it worked. The casual beginning and amateurish fade at the end helped it go to number 8 in early 1965.

What I liked about The Beau Brummels is that, despite their brief shelf life, they made a big impact on music at the time. I still have the 45 of Just A Little and it’s still one of my all-time favorites. My only regret is that I never saw them live because I heard they were a good band and not just a bunch of guys with a good producer trying to cash in on the music craze of the time.

They were not afraid to regroup and play down through the years and Sal Valentino has a thriving website. Sadly, drummer John Peterson passed away last November.

“Dad was a great talent whose music and ideals are an inspiration to millions. Yet I have always had very mixed feelings about Dad. He was the father I loved who let me down in so many ways. Who knows how our relationship might have developed if he had not been murdered …”

- Julian Lennon - from his Website

John Charles Julian Lennon was the reason John Lennon married Cynthia Powell. That’s what good “Northern men” did in those days and John was steeped in this traditional way of doing things. And although he tried to hide the fact he was married from the public, fearing his popularity would wane, this did not happen. The “Beatle Baby” was big news. Lennon split from Powell to be with Yoko Ono when Julian was 5 but their marriage ended long before that.

He’s one of those guys who keeps popping up in trivia quizzes or, like some other musicians, whose whereabouts bugs me just before I go to bed. Then I have to go online and find out what he’s doing, putting sleep a distant second. It’s just too bad his big break was followed by a “sophomore jinx” and that his career faded from public view. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy. He still records and tours and has a film production credit under his belt.

There are many references toward Julian - who was named after John’s mother:

1) Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds - written upon seeing Julian’s crayon picture of a friend from school.

2) Hey Jude - Paul McCartney’s ode to Julian when his father and mother became divorced.

3) Good Night - Ringo sang this song on the White Album. John wrote it for Julian.

(In the only collaboration with his father Julian played drums on Ya-Ya.)

In 1984 Julian had a hit album with Valotte which was produced by Phil Ramone, Billy Joel’s producer. The song To Late For Goodbyes was a big hit for Julian but the follow-up album, The Secret Value of Daydreaming, never flew.

Despite his estrangement from his father Julian always had good relationships with the other Beatles. There was also talk of Julian filling in for his father for a Beatles Reunion but all agreed that it would put Julian through too much pressure.

His aunt Julia was in town for the first Maritime Beatle Event and she said that there was a rivalry between Sean, John’s son by Yoko, and Julian. Even though they are close the brothers have their “outrageous moments” and sometimes she “would like to crack their heads together.”

Julian still performs and is also the producer of a documentary called Whale Dreamer. I would like to see him in concert on day but as “Julian,” not as a reincarnation of John.

We never thought it would happen but Ozzie Osbourne’s in town for two concerts. The first was last night and the second show is tomorrow night. Already the chat lines and blogs are lighting up with Ozzie sightings around the area and with the news that he did not bite the head off any living creature.

“The Prince of Darkness” has never been to this part of the world before but his star power has transcended over 4 generations, mostly due to his re-emergence as a reality star. Nevertheless his very presence on the stage was a testament to our long-lasting “Baby Boomer’ performers.

I first heard John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne when he was the front man for Black Sabbath. It was one of those weekly occasions when we used to descend on the home of some friend who had bought the newest album. I learned about Jackson Browne, Lee Michaels and Neil, Young this way.

I never knew who Osbourne was until much later but I always recognized his voice. In 1979 I heard a clip on FM radio from an album called The Blizzard of Oz. I recognized the voice but couldn’t put a name to it. However, I should have known that the guitar player was Randy Rhoads from a favorite band of mine, Quiet Riot.

In his concert last night Ozzie sang Suicide Solution while spraying the front part of the audience with foam from a fire hose. The mid-concert break was a solo effort by Zakk Wylde whose wild, long hair was swept up by a wind machine. Several women rewarded his efforts by baring their breasts.

When he came back on the stage Ozzie welcomed Sharon and sang a song to her.