Don_Krider's Full Review: Choir Practice by The Choir (60's)
The Raspberries didn't form until 1970 and didn't release a record until 1972, but the spirit that became The Raspberries actually originated with The Choir, which featured three future members of The Raspberries: Wally Bryson, David Smalley and Jim Bonfanti.
Please don't confuse this band with the '90s Christian band of the same name. This is the only release by these '60s rockers.
Dan Klawon
The godfather of this Merseybeat, power pop sound was Choir leader Dan Klawon, who later performed with and cowrote songs with another future Raspberries member, Eric Carmen, when both recorded as members of The Quick for Epic Records in 1969.
Klawon was writing Beatles-inspired tunes before millions of Americans ever screamed for those British lads. Based in Cleveland, a major port of call for ships from Liverpool, England, Klawon would obtain the latest British releases and study them so he could learn from them.
Keep in mind that Klawon was still a teen. He is also a musical genius with a deep sense of both style and of how to project an image.
The Mods
Klawon's first major band, The Mods, would eventually evolve into The Choir. The Choir, in turn, became Cleveland's number one vocal group.
The band opened shows for The Byrds, The Who, Herman's Hermits, The Yardbirds and many others. Klawon composed "It's Cold Outside", which landed the band its first major recording contract and became their first single in 1967.
Due to a variety of reasons, Klawon exited the band just before "It's Cold Outside" became a national Hot 100 hit. The song was enormous in Cleveland, spending seven weeks at #1 there. Nationally, the single made it to #68 in Billboard, and higher on other national charts.
The Choir went through many membership changes over the years. In 1967, dressed like Choirboys (check out this album's cover photo), these 17-year-olds were cocky, rebellious and naive.
#1 in Cleveland
A major hit record, national tours, television appearances, interviews --- just imagine, then realize you're only 17!
Lead guitarist Wally Bryson, rhythm guitarist David Smalley (who sang lead on "It's Cold Outside") and drummer Jim Bonfanti, and a host of other musicians who came and went as Choir members, were sharing the same stages with their idols (getting their pictures taken with folks like Pete Townshend and Jimmy Page along the way to rock history).
Wally Bryson
Wally Bryson even made the Cleveland papers (remember, most 17-year-olds are still in school, folks) by being kicked out of high school for his hair length! Ironically, he later had to cut his hair twice before becoming a member of Raspberries.
The Choir lineup of musical chairs eventually included, for a time, keyboardist Phil Giallombardo, who later joined The James Gang, another Cleveland outfit. Another of the band's keyboardists, Kenny Margolis, currently records with Bryson and Klawon in The Sittin' Ducks. Bryson and Klawon, in turn, recorded as members of Tattoo in 1976.
The Choir turnstile saw the entrance and exit of a number of Cleveland's best musicians, including Dave Burke, Jim Skeen, Bob McBride, Randy Klawon, Rick Coon, Denny Carleton and Jim Anderson.
The band attempted an album in 1969, only to see it go unreleased (some of its tracks appear on this anthology, "Choir Practice").
In 1970, the band released its final single, "Gonna Have A Good Time Tonight", which many moons later became a hit for INXS. The Choir's version stands up well, but does not appear on this album.
Meanwhile, Wally Bryson had exited The Choir to join Eric Carmen in Cyrus Erie, who cut an unsuccessful single for Epic. Another irony is that Carmen had auditioned to join the Choir, but had been rejected because he was wearing a wig to the audition and because the band didn't like his "self-promoting" attitude, according to this album's liner notes.
David Smalley found himself drafted and sent to Vietnam, where, as a helicopter gunner, he found himself wounded in combat and his helicopter shot down. Thankfully, Smalley recovered and returned home in 1971.
This album
This compilation by Bob Irwin and Jeff Jarema shows a great deal of love for reproducing the original recordings (from a variety of original sources) and one of the best CD booklets around (photos, bio and a family tree).
Wally Bryson's "I'd Rather You'd Leave Me" might be called "Raspberries '67" --- it's that good! It appears here in the recorded version and also as an original rehearsal demo. Bryson's knack for a catchy hook and the band's lovely harmonies are evident on this song (and the guy was only 17 --- you should hear his guitar-work and songwriting these days!).
"When You Were With Me" appears here in its unissued form (the original 1967 single saw the record label add strings, something Bryson was very upset with). A truly beautiful ballad as presented here (Bryson can sing as sweetly as anyone; Jeff Beck once said Bryson's lead vocal on Cyrus Erie's cover of The Moody Blues' "Nights In White Satin" was better than the original).
Check out the lyrics of a 17-year-old Bryson on "When You Were With Me": "For I can't walk alone at night/ The sadness I just can't fight/ For I have known other nights / When you were with me..."
Bryson's power poppin' "I Only Did It 'Cause I Felt So Lonely" is a plea to be forgiven for a romantic indiscretion --- need I say more?
Bryson and Smalley co-wrote "Don't Change Your Mind", which also appears here as originally released and as a 1967 demo. Again, this is like a Raspberries preview with a great guitar solo by Bryson.
Smalley and Bryson share lead vocal duties on "Don't Change Your Mind" and their blended voices are so perfect that this writer is left wondering why they didn't co-write any Raspberries tracks together (although both did co-write with Eric Carmen while Raspberries' members).
Phil Giallombardo's gorgeous "Anyway I Can" gives The Left Banke's "Walk Away Renee" competition in the sweetest ballad ever recorded competition. His keyboard work is stunning as well.
Giallombardo's "Boris' Lament" also shows a wild mix of styles, from classical to Left Banke-ish rock 'n' roll.
Klawon's many faces are well-presented here with "It's Cold Outside", "In Love's Shadow" and "A To F (I Don't Want Nobody)"; but it is "Smile" that probably shows his pop sensibilities best. Sounding like a 1968 Beach Boys track, the song's music and lyrics show an appreciation for Lennon-McCartney as well as for Brian Wilson.
The lyrics on "Smile" are killer, as well: "'Cause there are words in my head / That just cannot be said / So I'll just have to say them with my smile..."
Jim Skeen delivers two great songs with "Treeberry" and the beautiful "Dream Of One's Life". His tracks are so richly textured and heartfelt that you're left wondering why he was nicknamed "Snake"?
The band tackled Ray Davies' "David Watts" with vigor and grace. It's as good as, if not better than, the Ray Davies/Kinks original version.
Denny Carleton closes the 18-song journey with "If These Are Men", a wild, psychedelic '60s track (we're talking potential "Austin Powers" material here). The lyrics say it all: "My friends say shy away from her/ As much as you can / Don't show your feelings or get hurt..."
Influential band
The Choir are important (enough so that It's Cold Outside" appears as a track on Rhino's monumental "Nuggets" compilation, for instance).
It's also a rare chance to see the early work of Bryson, Smalley and Bonfanti, to hear their first Hot 100 hit as The Choir and to get a glimpse of three future hit-makers. With Eric Carmen they became The Raspberries of 1972-73, hit the Hot 100 six times (including the million-seller "Go All The Way", Raspberries had a seventh Hot 100 hit after Smalley and Bonfanti left the group).
Raspberries reunited in 2004-2005 for a very successful 10-concert tour.
It's time to go to church --- don't forget the headphones and the CD player!
Choir Reunion 2006
Three Choir/Raspberries members (Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley and Jim Bonfanti) joined Cleveland legends Dan Klawon (Tattoo, Sittin' Ducks), Ken Margolis (Sittin' Ducks) and Dave Burke in a reunion of the legendary The Choir at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturady, March 4, 2006. The first gig sold out, so they added another. Among those in the audience was singer Eric Carmen.
See a photo of the The Choir with The Yardbirds (featuring Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page) at: http://www.algonet.se/~famevald/tapes/choiryrd.jpe
Just released:
Featuring Choir members Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley and Jim Bonfanti, Live On Sunset Strip (Deluxe Edition of 2 CDs and a DVD recorded during the 2005 reunion tour) By Raspberries, a 2007 Rykodisc release with liner notes byBruce Springsteen and a photo of John Lennon in a Raspberries sweatshirt in the CD booklet, produced by Mark Linett and Eric Carmen: http://www.epinions.com/content_393207123588
You might also enjoy
The Sittin' Ducks featuring Wally Bryson of Raspberries with Dan Klawon and Kenny Margolis, Wally's bandmates in The Choir (see their "Choir Practice" CD): http://www.epinions.com/content_239152434820
Capitol/EMI's 24-bit digitally remastered CD released in May of 2005 in the U. S. and Europe, "Greatest", features all 7 of Raspberries Hot 100 singles, has 20 tracks and runs 78:53 minutes: http://www.epinions.com/content_186044681860
Wally Bryson, Dan Klawon and Kenny Margolis were also members of The Sittin' Ducks, who appear on the compilation CD "Talkin' Baseball": http://www.epinions.com/content_21746650756
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.