The Sittin' Ducks: Raspberries' guitarist Wally Bryson joins his Choir bandmates
Written: Jun 29 '06 (Updated Oct 15 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Raspberries/Fotomaker/Choir guitarist Wally Bryson joins Choir mates Dan Klawon and Kenny Margolis for an album.
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: With music ranging from Michael Stanley roots-rock to songs influenced by the British Invaders, this is a fine hook-laden, harmony-filled CD.
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| Don_Krider's Full Review: The Sittin' Ducks - The Sittin' Ducks Movies |
You'll soon hear Raspberries on an upcoming "live" album recorded in Los Angeles in 2005 by Mark Linett, the Grammy-nominated engineer of Brian Wilson's "Smile" album. Paul Santo (Aerosmith, Ringo Starr) is helping out with the recording.
The July 2006 issue of Blender magazine adds Raspberries "Go All The Way" to its list of "The Greatest Songs Ever" (a month after giving the same honor to The Beach Boys "Don't Worry Baby"). The song is also featured in the film "Almost Famous."
Like to see video of Raspberries singing "Go All The Way" live on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" in 1974, go here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TTNJCA2cfgg&search=%22eric%20carmen%22
In the video that's Mike McBride on drums/vocals in the background, with (left to right) Scott McCarl on bass/vocals, Eric Carmen strutting with his microphone stand and Wally Bryson on lead/rhythm guitar/vocals.
Wally Bryson
The muscular guitar intro that sparks that Top 5 hit from 1972 is played by Wally Bryson, whose guitar work has driven 10 songs into the national Hot 100 singles charts since 1967, scoring hits with The Choir, Fotomaker and Raspberries. His recent album with his son, Jesse Bryson, recording as The Bryson Group, "Dry," is worth seeking out.
In his teen years, his bands The Choir and Cyrus Erie opened for bands like The Who, with Pete Townshend, and The Yardbirds, with Jimmy Page. Young Wally found the nerve to ask Townshend and Page how to play their hits from The British Invasion years.
Amazingly, Townshend and Page were more than willing to share their trade secrets with Bryson. There also came a nervous tour moment when guitar-smashing Townshend borrowed the band's equipment, but that's another story.
Another early ego boost was when Yardbirds' guitarist Jeff Beck saw Bryson sing lead with Cyrus Erie (a band featuring future Raspberries members Eric Carmen and Michael McBride). When Bryson sang The Moody Blues hit "Nights In White Satin", Beck said the band did a better-than-original version of the song.
Bryson co-wrote Raspberries first hit, a duet with Eric Carmen, called "Don't Want To Say Goodbye," which was later covered by Sha Na Na and The Lettermen.
When the Raspberries submitted four song demos to producer Jimmy Ienner (Lighthouse, Three Dog Night, Grand Funk) in 1971, three of the tunes "Oh Tonight" (not to be confused with "Tonight"), "Please Let Me Come Back Home" (with Bryson on harmonica) and "I Saw The Light" were co-written by Carmen and Bryson.
The fourth demo, "Come Around And See Me," was written by Bryson alone and Ienner was impressed that the band showed spirit, a sense of humor and spunk recording the track.
Ienner would later say he liked Raspberries because of the "attitude" the group displayed on Bryson's song, which featured band members yelling "que pasa, mama" and kidding around. Ienner once told writer Ken Sharp, author of the book "Overnight Sensation: The Story of The Raspberries," that Wally was "the soul of the band" in Raspberries.
I couldn't imagine a Raspberries without Wally Bryson. Without him, Raspberries would be like a ham sandwich without any meat between the bread.
Writing in the now-defunct music magazine Circus in 1974, the late Lance Loud (profiled on PBS' "An American Family" in 1973, and a member of The Mumps) wrote about seeing Wally Bryson on stage with Raspberries in Chicago:
"Lead guitarist Wally Bryson is not only charming, but is an American incarnation of an English Pop Pluckster, his fretwork both gutsy and neat, civil yet savage."
Over the years Bryson has recorded with a number of bands, including the 2004 "Dry" album by The Bryson Group, featuring Wally and his son, Jesse (Qwasi Qwa, Rosavelt).
Wally was musical director of the Jimmy Ienner-produced band named Candy for their one album, "Whatever Happened To Fun?," in 1985.
In 1995, he held the position of musical director for the all-star band at the Rock Hall of Fame's Topping-Off Ceremony, leading a band that included Gilby Clarke (Candy, Guns 'n' Roses), Jerry Lee Lewis and Bobby Womack. Photos from that event can be seen at http://www.raspberries.net/galleryIframe.htm .
He's been getting a lot of work in reunions, too. In 1998, he joined Fotomaker bandmates Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli for a tour as The New Rascals.
In 2004, he joined the reformed Raspberries for a sold-out show at the new House of Blues in Cleveland. This was followed by nine more concerts in 2004-2005 with the band during a limited coast-to-coast tour. Bruce Springsteen recently said that if the band does more shows in 2006-2007, he wants to attend one.
In 2006, Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom asked The Choir to do a reunion show, which also sold-out, leading to a second show. Eric Carmen, who had lost out on getting a spot in The Choir in the 1960's, was in the audience watching The Choir.
A new DVD movie, "Custody," (http://www.lucidvisionentertainment.com/custody.htm) features Bryson's song "Rock 'n' Roll Kids" from the Raspberries EP "Refreshed".
But along the way Wally Bryson recorded one hell of a fine CD with The Sittin' Ducks in 1998, joining Choir bandmates Dan Klawon and Kenny Margolis (the guy chosen over Eric Carmen to play in The Choir).
This CD
Lead guitarist Wally Bryson, bassist Dan Klawon, keyboardist Kenny Margolis, guitarist Ron Ondercin and drummer Ed Brown are the veteran musicians who made up The Sittin' Ducks.
The Sittin' Ducks recorded their self-titled debut in 1998, which was produced and arranged by the band. Guests include Nick Ondercin, Chris Butcher, Doug Browning and Alan McGinty, with Opie O'Brien, who played on and toured with Raspberries circa their "Side 3" album, also on board.
You get 15 songs, all written by band members, with a generous total running time of 63 minutes and 25 seconds. The 4-page CD booklet contains recording info, but no lyrics.
Don't expect Raspberries' power pop. The influences here are more in the mold of The Beatles, The Band, Bob Seger, The Animals, The Byrds, The Beau Brummels, Eric Clapton, John Fogerty, Little Feat, Michael Stanley and Warren Zevon; a mix of rock, jazz, country and blues. Despite the obvious influences, the sound remains unique and fresh.
There are harmonies that would make The Eagles jealous, rockers that would melt Creedence Clearwater Revival, blues played so well that they would make B. B. King proud, and a soulful ballad by Bryson called "Let's Just Say Goodbye" that I would love to hear Eric Carmen ("All By Myself") cover.
With two amazing lead vocalists in Bryson and Margolis, and a veteran group of Cleveland musicians rounding out the band, this is a fine album with broad appeal.
After hearing the CD many times over the years, I agree with the Cleveland personality known only as Peanuts, "The Host Of The North Coast" and OhioOnline.Com writer, when he calls the album "audio oxygen for any rocker's heart and soul, a mixture of a past that should never be erased."
For more info on the CD, visit http://www.thebrysongroup.com/merchandise .
The tracks
"Your Time Will Come," "Why Can't I Have A Life," "Hold On," "Whatcha Doin' To My Head," "For You," "It's Your World Now," "Cryin'," "Golden Rule," "Take Me Down," "Nobody's Watchin' You," "This Girl's Gonna Go Out Tonight," "Let's Just Say Goodbye," "Piece Of Heaven," "Has Been Blues" and "The Rest Will Come."
The best tracks
"Your Time Will Come"
A driving, chugging rock rhythm guides this fine tune by Margolis. I love his voice, clear, confident, smooth, yet rough when it needs to be. What's neat is that he sounds totally original on this track (quite an accomplishment in rock 'n' roll, when you think about it). Nice harmonies lift the lead vocal above Margolis' pulsing keyboard-work and Bryson's sizzling, Fotomaker-ish guitar-playing.
"...you know the pain won't last forever, you know those chains will come undone, and you will smile at your misfortune..."
"Why Can't I Have A Life"
Written by Klawon with a lead vocal by Bryson, who reminds me of Neil Young vocally here. It's a great country-folk tinged, uptempo number, showing what a great writer Klawon is. Bryson, as vocalist, knows how to sing a lyric and never loses the meaning of this song about one man's struggles against the hardships of life.
"...why can't I have a life, why can't I be like everybody else, why can't I have a life, you can't try any harder than I do, and I do try hard..."
"Hold On"
Written by Margolis, "Hold On" sounds like Michael Stanley ("My Town," "Falling In Love Again") with just a touch of John Mellencamp meets John Fogerty in his songwriting. There's a great guitar riff at the heart of this uptempo rocker about a couple of people who have parted ways but miss one another still. Fans of Michael Stanley and the band Wilco will love this one. The soaring, harmony-filled chorus is to die for.
"...I can feel you, I can forgive you, let me see you, let me hold on to you..."
"Whatcha Doin' To My Head"
Written by Klawon, with a growling lead vocal by Bryson, whose lead guitar is stunning here (just one of those rare guitar players who never bores; his playing is always just right). The subject is "mind games."
"Every hour every day, seven days a week, there's somethin' that's always on my mind, and I can't even sleep, I remember things you said, I can't believe they're true, whatcha doin' to my head..."
"For You"
This Margolis tune reminds me of very late period Beatles (think "Abbey Road") and the intro reminds me most of Paul McCartney's "Let Me Roll It" at times mixed with blues guitar. Margolis sings lead with answering vocals from Bryson, on this mid-tempo, bluesy roots rocker. The effect of the vocals by Margolis and Bryson is very Lennon and McCartney circa 1969.
"...I will lay down my heart for you, tell me you need me (tell me you need me), that you believe me (that you believe me), more than a moment tonight..."
"Cryin'"
Written by Klawon and sung by Margolis, who sounds a bit like singer Dave Smalley of the Raspberries here, this is one of the album's best tracks. There's a Roy Orbison/Rick Nelson feel to the song, about a lonely guy trying to salvage his life. This mid-tempo rocker features some fine piano playing by Margolis and Bryson's scorching guitar. Some cool bass work by Klawon, too. In a more decent world, this would be a hit record.
"...nobody else ever believed in me, so why can't I believe in you, I blame myself, for ever leaving you, for never ever really trying, for all the lies and all the cryin'..."
"Golden Rule"
A Bryson classic, "Golden Rule" starts off slow and bass-heavy, almost stalking the listener with a slow opening and then progressing to a faster, knock-'em-dead chorus.
"...I was wastin' my time on total strangers, my love on a total fool, my mind's in the face of danger, my eyes on the golden rule..."
"Nobody's Watchin' You"
Written by Klawon and Bryson, this uptempo rocker features a beautiful pop bridge that hits you out of left field (the intro reminds me of vintage Bob Seger). A chug-a-long rhythm, some honky-tonk piano and ringing guitars underscore Bryson's lead vocal (which sounds very much like Bob Dylan here).
"You're on top, of your situation, you won't stop, you know you gotta plan, and what's the harm, in mild infatuation, there's no alarm, ain't nobody watchin' you..."
"Let's Just Say Goodbye"
The best song on the album, Wally Bryson's "Let's Just Say Goodbye" stands out all the more because it sounds like nothing else on the album.
It's an absolutely beautiful acoustic ballad with a stunning bridge and gorgeous harmonies. This reminds me of John Lennon vocally, with a jazzy '40s-style Big Band swing to the melody.
I love this one. I'd rank it with The Beatles' "Something" among beautiful ballads (and Frank Sinatra would have loved this arrangement).
"Don't say you're sorry, just say goodbye, don't say you love me, don't start to cry, let's just say goodbye..."
"Has Been Blues"
Who put B. B. King on the album? Okay, nobody, but Bryson's gritty lead vocal is sung like King would have sung it on this autobiographical tune, with delicious blues guitar by Bryson and outstanding sax work by Opie O'Brien. The Sittin' Ducks are perfect here.
"I was up there once, like a king on his throne, I woke up one morning, fame and fortune they were gone, so I try and figure out just what I'm gonna do, find a way to lose these has been blues, so I smoke another cigarette in another strange town, when I play I feel like that king again, when I don't you know I play the clown, sit and try and figure out just what I'm gonna do, find a way to shake these has been blues..."
"The Rest Will Come"
I love this Margolis tune. There are elements of The Byrds, Firefall ("You Are The Woman"), Dave Smalley ("Hard To Get Over A Heartbreak") and Michael Stanley in the rockin' melody and the tune is catchy as hell.
The chorus is the type you can't get out of your head. Who says they don't write songs like this anymore? Given up on life? Don't, because "the rest will come" if you let it.
"...how can I live again, when I don't know where to turn, don't worry my friend, you'll find it in your heart, the rest will come..."
Final recommendation
Fans of Michael Stanley, John Mellencamp, John Fogerty and good classic rock will enjoy this. Power poppers will love it because it's Wally Bryson (I remember one of The Vandalias remarking about touching Bryson's hand at the Poptopia Festival in Los Angeles in 1998, "It was like touching the hand of God").
I don't know if The Sittin' Ducks are gone for good or not. But this album is worth adding to your collection. Discovering Kenny Margolis is another plus, and Danny Klawon continues to write great songs 40 years after "It's Cold Outside." It should be obvious how I feel about guitarist-songwriter-singer Wally Bryson.
A treat
Just for fun, check out this video of Raspberries performing their song "Tonight" (though it peaked at #69 in Billboard, it went Top 40 in Cash Box!) live on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" in 1973. It may take a few minutes to fully load, but it is worth it if you're a 1970's AM radio fan (that's Wally Bryson to the right of the screen as you watch the video playing his Flying V guitar, while Eric Carmen is center stage singing lead) --- just cut and paste this web URL into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuuvG65WfYU&search=raspberries tonight
On the web:
The Official Bryson Group site: http://www.thebrysongroup.com (where you can watch video of The Bryson Group playing live)
The Official Raspberries site: http://www.raspberries.net
The text of the June 2006 issue of Vintage Guitar magazine's interview with Wally: http://www.raspberries.net/VintageGuitarInterviewWally.htm
Billboard March 2006 article on The Choir reunion: http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews/live_review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002155970
December 2005 New York Daily News article proclaiming Raspberries reunion concerts as among the year's "Best Concerts": http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/376936p-320044c.html (on a list with The Rolling Stones, U2 and Paul McCartney)
Fox News report on Raspberries' New York City shows (with Jon Bon Jovi commenting on seeing the band's performance) from July of 2005: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,163537,00.html (scan down the page to "Raspberries Still In Season 30 Years Later")
Text of February 2005 Guitar Digest interview with Wally Bryson: http://raspberries.net/GuitarDigestStory.htm
Related reviews:
The Sittin' Ducks also appear on the Cleveland International Records compilation CD "Talkin' Baseball (Baseball And The Tribe)" with Terry Cashman and others: http://www.epinions.com/content_21746650756
The Bryson Group's "Dry" CD (featuring Wally and Jesse Bryson with Sittin' Ducks' member Kenny Margolis): http://www.epinions.com/content_177981263492
"Choir Practice" by The Choir CD (featuring Wally Bryson, Dan Klawon and Kenny Margolis from The Sittin' Ducks): http://www.epinions.com/musc-review-49D-59376F6-385D8FD9-prod3 (available in either CD or vinyl from Sundazed Records, the manufacturer, at http://www.sundazed.com).
My review of the first Fotomaker album, "Fotomaker" (featuring Wally Bryson): http://www.epinions.com/content_166822055556
My review of the second Fotomaker album, "Vis-A-Vis" (featuring Wally Bryson)": http://www.epinions.com/content_171528720004
"Refreshed" by The Raspberries (reunion EP from 2000 with Raspberries' veterans Bryson, Smalley and McCarl): http://www.epinions.com/content_20892847748
Raspberries "Greatest" CD: http://www.epinions.com/content_186044681860
"Raspberries" by Raspberries: http://www.epinions.com/content_153014079108 (hit # 51 in 1972 and spent 30 weeks in the Top 200 Albums chart)
"Fresh" by Raspberries: http://www.epinions.com/content_153148690052 (hit # 36 in 1972-73)
"Side 3" by Raspberries: http://www.epinions.com/content_153560452740 (hit # 128 in 1973)
"Starting Over" by Raspberries (one of seven albums named Album Of The Year in 1974 by Rolling Stone magazine): http://www.epinions.com/content_152728538756 (hit # 143 in 1974)
The Michael Stanley Band's "Right Back At Ya' (1971-1983)": http://www.epinions.com/musc-review-52E6-1054DCA6-38F4AC7F-prod5
Special thanks:
To Kay and Wally Bryson for taking the time to listen to the CD at the end of May, 2006, to answer some questions I had about the album. Also, to Kenny Margolis for doing the same back in 1998 when I did a short review of the album for a now-defunct music website.
And to Epinions.Com Music Category Lead Shelly, aka Lambchops (http://www.epinions.com/user-lambchops), a huge "thank you" for adding this title to the Epinions.Com musical database.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Don_Krider
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Member: Don Krider
Location: USA
Reviews written: 301
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About Me:
Fan of power pop (Raspberries, Badfinger, Cheap Trick, The Knack, Romantics, Slade,Sweet...) --- "Play On"!!!
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