From OP: Track B3 from "The U.S. Naval Academy -not on label- USA '67
During the mid-'60s virtually every school in America had it's own band scene. Among those schools - the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.
Formed by Annapolis plebes, The Spiffys actually started playing Academy dances and local colleges in 1958, though with an ever-changing lineup, it took them almost a decade to actually record.
Having convinced the Academy to finance an album as a publicity venture, 1967's "The Spiffys" was reportedly recorded in a single six hour session at the U.S. Navy's Photographic Center in Washington D.C. As you'd expect from what amounted to a frat band, musically the debut consisted mostly of enthusiastic, if largely unoriginal popular covers. Backed by horns, material such as "Gloria", "Knock on Wood" and "Satisfaction" came off as decent mid-'60s beach music. Elsewhere, the only original number, Fagan and Purdy's upbeat soul stomper "No Pain" was actually one of the set's highlights. Perhaps unintentional, "Baby, Let's Wait" followed by "Hold On, I'm Coming" made for a hysterically mixed up message. Sure, the band's reach occasionally outstripped their talents (check out their jarring cover of Johnny Rivers' "Poor Side of Town"), and nothing here will drastically change your life, but down a couple of beers the results sound surprisingly impressive. Only available through the Academy's midshipmen store, 1,500 copies were pressed, retailing for $1.00 a pop. Today an original copy will set up back by at least 100 times the original price. (Curiously, the liner notes list nine members, while the group photo shows eight folks. Who's missing?) Band Members: - Steve Fagan -- vocals, trumpet (1967) - Mike Imeson -- bass (1967-68) - Mike May -- vocals, keyboards (1967-68) - John Milner -- vocals, drums (1967-68) - Larry O'Connell -- bass (1967-68) - Tom O'Conner -- vocals (1967) - Dick Otto -- drums (1967) - Rich Petrino -- vocals, sax, percussion (1967-68) - Larry Purdy -- vocals, guitar (1967-68)
Since The Beatles first appeared on the American music scene, midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy as well as the young generation throughout our nation have been entertained and influenced by the popular music explosion. Within the Naval Academy, five midshipmen have combined their enthusiasm, talent and free time to provide the Brigade of Midshipmen a musical group of its own. First formed in 1958, The Spiffys, from Annapolis in Maryland, have mantained tremendous popularity through their performances at the Academy and surrounding colleges. This is the sound of The Spiffys '68!
From OP:
ReplyDeleteTrack B3 from "The U.S. Naval Academy -not on label- USA '67
During the mid-'60s virtually every school in America had it's own band scene. Among those schools - the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.
Formed by Annapolis plebes, The Spiffys actually started playing Academy dances and local colleges in 1958, though with an ever-changing lineup, it took them almost a decade to actually record.
Having convinced the Academy to finance an album as a publicity venture, 1967's "The Spiffys" was reportedly recorded in a single six hour session at the U.S. Navy's Photographic Center in Washington D.C. As you'd expect from what amounted to a frat band, musically the debut consisted mostly of enthusiastic, if largely unoriginal popular covers. Backed by horns, material such as "Gloria", "Knock on Wood" and "Satisfaction" came off as decent mid-'60s beach music. Elsewhere, the only original number, Fagan and Purdy's upbeat soul stomper "No Pain" was actually one of the set's highlights. Perhaps unintentional, "Baby, Let's Wait" followed by "Hold On, I'm Coming" made for a hysterically mixed up message. Sure, the band's reach occasionally outstripped their talents (check out their jarring cover of Johnny Rivers' "Poor Side of Town"), and nothing here will drastically change your life, but down a couple of beers the results sound surprisingly impressive. Only available through the Academy's midshipmen store, 1,500 copies were pressed, retailing for $1.00 a pop. Today an original copy will set up back by at least 100 times the original price. (Curiously, the liner notes list nine members, while the group photo shows eight folks. Who's missing?)
Band Members:
- Steve Fagan -- vocals, trumpet (1967)
- Mike Imeson -- bass (1967-68)
- Mike May -- vocals, keyboards (1967-68)
- John Milner -- vocals, drums (1967-68)
- Larry O'Connell -- bass (1967-68)
- Tom O'Conner -- vocals (1967)
- Dick Otto -- drums (1967)
- Rich Petrino -- vocals, sax, percussion (1967-68)
- Larry Purdy -- vocals, guitar (1967-68)
Since The Beatles first appeared on the American music scene, midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy as well as the young generation throughout our nation have been entertained and influenced by the popular music explosion.
Within the Naval Academy, five midshipmen have combined their enthusiasm, talent and free time to provide the Brigade of Midshipmen a musical group of its own.
First formed in 1958, The Spiffys, from Annapolis in Maryland, have mantained tremendous popularity through their performances at the Academy and surrounding colleges.
This is the sound of The Spiffys '68!
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