History of the NEW COLONY SIX |
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2024
- One of the biggest hit-makers out of Chicago in the mid 1960s, the New Colony Six had 15 charting songs on Billboard between 1965-1971. Though these hits were lower charting or moderate hits, the band recorded over four albums of material. Matt takes you through their history with a close listen at their hits and deep cuts.
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Matt, I'm hoping that if and when you get around to the Cryan Shames, you can get an interview with their chief songwriter, Jim Fairs. I know he was on Facebook some years back...major talent.
Would be interesting, as I have not had contact with James for years, while JC Hooke and Tom Doody and Dave Carter and Al Dawson are all in contact usually.
I loved the Cryan Shames and still do - have their 3 albums. It was surprising to me that they didn’t hit it much bigger nationally. Such great harmonies.
I knew there was something they did that I'd remember. But I didn't recognise anything till you played "Things I'd Like To Say." They were nothing if not tenacious! The competition was wicked at the time, as you mentioned, the music in the late 60's was getting "heavier." And then people like CSN turned up and must've been a huge threat to them. I'm surprised they lasted that long. Another great installment Sir! 😻👍
I grew up in the Chicago area in the 60's (my father even worked at WLS). I remember the New Colony Six very well. I was in a teenage band that played many of their songs at sock hops in the area. Thank you so much for shining a well-deserved spotlight on this very under-appreciated band! :)
Hello Shelly, I am very happy to shed some light on this band. I am from Milwaukee and they had an excellent reputation north of the border. 🙂
What was you band's name? LOVED WLS and WCFL! What is your father's name if I may ask? I am friends with Ron Riley still.
@@dodgeboy8022 My band's name was called "The Up Group." We played around the Woodstock-McHenry-Crystal Lake area. (Our original name was "The Up" until we discovered that another band had already claimed that name. Two of us were in Junior High at the time (including me) and the other two band members were in High School. We never recorded.
My father's name was Jack Shirra. He played bass in the house band for Don McNeill's Breakfast Club radio show. He also did a bit of recording session work in the 50's and 60's and filled in with the Chicago Symphony and the Rockford Symphony when their regular bassists were not available.
@@shellymars9961 That's great stuff, Shelly. Had not heard of that band, but sounds like they were well liked!
@@shellymars9961 were you familiar with the Lemon Drops, Buzzsaw, or the Nuchez?🙂✌️🎵
Great that you covered a band that has one of my top 10 favorite songs from the 60s. "Things I'd Like To Say" is my favorite ballad of the 60s. "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys is my second favorite.
That is high praise positioning it over God Only Knows!
@@popgoesthe60s52 - The bridge was the tiebreaker. While "God Only Knows" is a bit clunky, the NC6 song advances into a tender passage that is as melodic and memorable as the rest of the song.
Its so hard to pick a best ballad by the band. In the 60's I would have chosen 'Barbara I Love You," but today I cannot pick a fave.
Just met Ronnie & Ray at a record show in the Chicago area. So I was able to purchase a copy of Revelations there on vinyl and they signed it. They were both very nice talkative guys. Got home put Revelations on the turntable and found out it’s a great album. When the next Chicago land record show comes up in July, I’m going to look for the other Albums and try to add those to my collection. Good informative Pop Goes The 60’s. Thanks Matt!
My band… The Field of Content, opened for them in the 60’s, at the Indiana, PA, “Red Rooster”. They were great! Sounded just like their recordings… which didn’t always happen with groups we opened for, back then.
PRAISE JESUS,YOU DID ,THE NEW COLONY SIX, THATS COOL
A history of the Blues Magoos would be cool
Great overlooked songs from these guys.
I gotta give credit to this guy-he certainly does his research....👍
Thanks, Gerry!
You're amazing to searching out and getting your hands on this band's albums. Pure gold!!!
I was able to get them all in the 1980s when I was in college. Glad I did!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Great stuff. I do think you mistook "i Could Never Lie to You" as being different on 45 from the LP. It should have been "come & Give Your Love to me" that was different, right?
@@dodgeboy8022 I don't have the single version of Come & Give, but the single mix of I Could Never Lie To You has a completely different vocal than the lp.
@@popgoesthe60s52--I used to own a copy of "Things I'd Like To Say" with "Come and Give Your Love To Me" as the flip side. It's a slightly faster and harder rocking take than the LP version. 🎵✌️😊
@popgoesthe60s52 --this is the single version of "Come" ... originally intended as the A-side! (Yes, it does sound a bit like Nazz!!) ua-cam.com/video/rG1rw_eTB3Y/v-deo.htmlsi=E9Gl21PQ50It01a-
I also have fond memories of the New Colony Six via my older sister who bought a lot of their music back in the day. Their popularity in Chicago spread all the way to central Wisconsin. It wasn't until many years later that I found out they were much bigger regionally than they were nationally. No internet or social media to spread information back in those days. There are many other bands I grew up with that charted locally and had a lot of radio airplay that never had national hits. Another one of my favorites was The Robbs.
Thank you for this show. The New Colony Six a great band!.
thank you, matt, for introducing me to this Chicago band! fine job, as always!
Thanks Antonio!
I grew up in New England and "Things I'd Like to Say" and "I Will Always Think About You" were hits and in heavy rotation. Great tunes!
In the New York metropolitan area, "I Love You So Much" also got some airplay. But that and the two Rick Perotta mentions were all I had heard before this video.
I Will Always" reached #1 on WLS and CFL, but "Things" only #2--yet #9 on WABC New York really pushed to to higher status.
I grew up in Chicago. Saw them many times and they were very popular.
A wonderful video.
I love bands from the Midwest, especially the Chicago area, where I grew up. Thank you, Matt.
Matt, this is a band I knew a bit, but didn't really know much about. Thanks for showcasing them!
My pleasure, Ken!
A great band I've never heard of. Thanks for the video.
I have loved "Things I'd Like To Say" since I first heard it a kid. Still a top ten fave. It has been on every cassette, CD, and playlist since then.
It's a beautiful song one of my favorites ❤
OMG, I'm 12 in '73 - Western PA. Late night my transistor radio would pick up WLS AM from Chicago and the DJ was Larry Lujack- he introduced me to rock n roll.
Larry Lujack and Ron Riley are my 2 alltime fave DJs, even tho both from a different approach.
50,000 watt WLS was the go to late night rock station. I think CFL was also 50k watt. From the lujack page on wickipedia, he did not work nights at LS
@@kkarllwt Lujack never worked nights on either station except 3 months in early 67 on CFL when he did overnight shift.
Regardless of his shift status, we owe Larry enormous thanks since he was the one who, on our tour bus after a gig we did with him... told us that our then single, "Come & Give Your Love To Me" had a "B" side monster hit so we should flip the record; we did so; that was "Things I'd Like To Say"!
At The River’s Edge is a song I have on my Pro-to Punk Rock playlist it was also featured on the Rhino Nuggets Boxset great song!
They need to do a cd of all those later singles.
Great story about Larry Lujack flipping the 45 over and "creating" the 2nd big hit for the NC6! Even though I grew up in Omaha, the "Big 89" became my go-to station --- at least at night, from 1967-70.
This great band took me from my Freshman through my Senior year of high school. The best of memories and back seat escapades.
I am from Australia . I have never ever heard of New Colony Six. I will be checking out more of their songs on UA-cam.
Given your location and the fact that three of us who founded NC6 (Chic - drums; Craig - keys; me - vocals) also founded a band called RJM (AKA Raymond John Michael) you may get a kick out of what you can hear at this link, where we covered a song by a fabulous group from your own Australia... a BeeGees' album cut... and released it! Here ya go: ua-cam.com/video/UUVLabCg-y4/v-deo.html
@@NewColonySix-RayGraffiaJr. Thank you for the link. You made a great record there I really like early Bee Gees songs. You band/s should have been bigger. They have such great vocals and vocal harmonies.
Ray, thanks for the great tunes and memories. The Mulqueen's clip is a trip. Did Pandora/Elaine dig the band?
@@thomasrobinson182 If she did, I do not know, but it was our first TV shot, so one of the Mulqueens must have been enough of a fan to ask us to appear!
I was only slightly familiar with New Colony Six -- mainly their early stuff. I didn't appreciate how much they matured as musicians and composers in the late-60s/early-70s. I agree, "Close Your Eyes Little Girl" is a great song. Thanks!
Amazing how success can be determined by the DJ playing the B-side.
Indeed! Maybe the NC6 knew that when they encouraged listeners to PICK the A side of their second Sentar single after having both sides played on WLS in 66.
@@dodgeboy8022True. I like how the good folks of the upper Midwest supported them and got the band a lot of regional airplay via WLS. They continually charted high there.
I personally have charts where our "B" sides charted - two come to mind right now = "Dawn Is Breaking", which was the "B" side of "I Confess" and hit #18 at a station in NY State, plus the original "A" side of "Things I'd Like To Say", which was called "Come & Give Your Love To Me" & had climbed to #8 on an Iowa station before we flipped the record on recommendation from Chicago "Super-jock" radio host, Larry Lujack, and began pushing "Things..."! Might have been others but those for sure...
Once again, another masterful deep-dive into 60's pop history.
Thank you, Christopher.
What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend Matt ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
I’m old enough to remember the NC 6, always loved Things. Also, your Paul Revere & TR episodes was fantastic, of course I was a big fan, still am. Since you brought up WLS, how about doing a bio on Don Young. His version of She lets her hair down was to me the best version. I understand it was a big local hit, but some of us down in Ga loved it. You do a fantastic job, Thanks 👍😁
Growing up in the Chicago area, I remember hearing the New Colony Six on the radio, and just loving their sound. One day as I was listening to them on WLS, my older brother said, “You know, they’re from the Chicago area?” WHAT???? This was a game-changing revelation. It gave hope to every person who ever wondered if the average guy or girl on the street could make it big. I’m sure that was the spark that moved so many Chicagoland bands to push the envelope. They deserve a TON of credit.
I am in a local band called, AMBIDEXTROUS, and we’ve been honored to have actually played with founding member/lead singer, Ray Graffia Jr. on several occasions. He still sounds fantastic. Check out some of our videos with Ray on UA-cam.
🤗
They are still playing too, just like the Ides of March and Cryan Shames!
Thanks Scott, I'll check out some of your vids.
Nice one, I love that first album in particular, bought that Eva reissue in the 80s. The Lyres from Boston certainly brought them to the attention of us younger fans that were getting into garage and psych sounds from 20 years before 😉
Some interesting stuff from later on but overall I lean towards their Sentar stuff 🎶🎶🎶
Yep! One of the favorites of my generation, since I'm 73...it seems as though the Midwest U.S.A. had several rock/pop bands from "The Windy City" Chicago.
I have their Great Hits in CD version I got 13 or so years ago. Literally all the written and sung tunes had "class" though, the album shown in this episode, I don't have. Maybe since The New Colony Six, along with The Buckinghams of Chicago, were among the favorites of the Midwest areas, I ought to get one or two of these albums.
Of all the songs they produced..."Things I'd Like to Say" is my absolute favorite. I always since the tune's released, have one or two of my "love crushes" of that 60's era always on my mind. Yeah for "teenage love"! Seems like the greatest love of a girl (or guy, for the girls) just can't be ever forgotten!
The Chicago bands have some great stuff, but their music, like the New Colony Six, speaks 'midwest.' I do plan a video on the Buckinghams as well, so stay tuned!
Man!! As A Teenager N Wisconsin... I Sure D Remember Them!!! I Fact, Mr And My Buddies Would Trade Singles And That's Where I Heard " I Confess" Blew Me Away!!!!!!
@@popgoesthe60s52 I wrote the liner notes for 4 Cryan Shames and a Buckinghams CD as well as doing work on NC6, Shadows of Knight and other Chicago bands and I love all the Chicago sound!
@@dodgeboy8022 Wow, impressive. Did you do the Sundazed Buckingham cds?
@@popgoesthe60s52 I did some work on the Sundazed but not liners. I did the Bucks and Am Breed liners for Varese Sarabande 30 years apart! I helped with Sundazed Bucks CDs but not liners.
Things I'd Like To Say was in heavy rotation on WCFL and WLS in Chicago over the winter of 1968-69. I wasnt much of a fan of syrupy love songs like this, being only 11 years old at the time and into the far more exciting pop psychedelia. But the production was as smooth and singing as good as anything by Association, which of course is high praise.Thanks for unearthing NC6.
It sure helped that it was winter, as WLS boomed throughout the country on AM in wintertime, so we all heard these songs much more than had they been played on WLS in summer.
The Association actually came into Chicago when we were producing "Barbara, I Love You", a later single... AND we did gigs together, which was not extraordinary BUT they came to the studio when we were doing some new tunes AND are on that track singing with us in the backing harmonies - little known bit of NC6 history I thought you might enjoy knowing, eveszokolai8939!
Matt, this is where you excel--you take a band that I've vaguely heard of, do a complete analysis focusing on the music, and convince me to check them out in more detail. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for telling me that! That is the purpose of this channel.
@@popgoesthe60s52 Indeed I agree. SO many songs by the NC6 get overlooked and you played the obscure which are just as great.
One thing I especially love about this video is that it’s not only about a good band but one I somehow never heard of. I was actually arrogant - or do I mean smug ? - enough to think I’d at least heard of every 60s band of any value at all. Then I was doubly amazed to hear ‘Cadillac’ and learn it’s an original of theirs. I have heard two or three versions of that song and always liked it but had no clue as to its actual origins. A great video about a truly luckless band. Seriously, how could ‘Cadillac’ not be a hit ? I’m glad to say I found at least a couple albums of theirs on UA-cam Music but alas no Revelations.
Just a couple interesting things I came across since your last post. I was recently watching a documentary about Bon Scott because I’m a fan of early AC/DC. They lost me with Brian Johnson but anyway what struck me was how amazingly dominant Vanda and Young were to both the 60s, 70s and even 80s Australian music scene. Not just with their own band, the Easybeats, but as producers and general boosters of Australian rock. If you got the thumbs up from Vanda and Young then you were on your way. It was also news to me that the singer of the Easybeats seems to have the dubious distinction of possibly being the first rock star to suffer from a debilitating heroin habit. So there’s a whole lot more to the Easybeats than I ever knew. 🤞 that you’ll give them a look some day. They really were an incredible band. Lou Reed said ‘Falling Off The Edge Of The World’ was one of his favorite love songs ever. So there you go !
And I REALLY felt compelled to tell you this. I know we’d agreed Bobby Beausoleil is a genuinely gifted musician that’s still making creative music to this day. Also that he’s been locked up for long enough. One murder is indeed awful but since some killers get released in 10 years or sometimes even less, why have they thrown away the key on Beausoleil ? First let me say I am not a conspiracy theorist in any way. I think they’re socially toxic and corrosive. But I just read a book ‘Chaos Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the 60s’ which absolutely blew me away. It in no way exonerates or even disputes the fundamental facts of the Tate-LaBianca murders. I’d have tossed the book across the room if it did. But if you’re at all familiar with the Contilepro program which was an illegal secret CIA/FBI/law enforcement collaboration to infiltrate and destroy the anti-war movement, the Black Panthers and the counterculture in general then it turns out there was much much more to the Manson case than meets the eye. And, again, if the author didn’t source and footnote every last bit of this, across the room the book would fly. But he does. In fact nearly all of it is right there in the Church Committee hearings as well as printed police interrogation transcripts etc. Vincent Bugliosi threatened the author with lawsuits for years because ‘Chaos’ totally throws the whole ‘Helter Skelter, race war’ narrative in the garbage and it very much seems like Bugliosi suborned perjury. So, while guilty, Manson got a mistrial and technically should have been released. And Terry Melcher is at the heart of the story.
Didn’t you always think it kind of stretched credulity that police didn’t connect the Hinman and Tate and LaBianca killings ? Almost too obtuse to believe ? And far worse - three days after the murders an entire SWAT team invaded the Spahn Ranch where they found ex-con and current parolee Charles Manson with an arsenal of guns, narcotics from weed to heroin, and underage runaway girls..and then charged him with car theft and released him three days later ? Bugliosi explained it was due to a ‘misdated’ warrant. Right. The LA county police organize what was then the largest police operation in county history but put the wrong date on it. Unfortunately for Bugliosi, O’Neill found the warrant for the Spahn Ranch raid and it is not misdated. Bugliosi lied. Why ? And when you learn just how involved Beausoleil actually was in setting off the killings, I bet you’ll agree with me that if reincarnation is real, that when Bobby Beausoleil comes back that he gets locked up for his next life and the one after that. He stands shoulder to shoulder in blood and guilt with Tex Watson and Charles Manson. I don’t want to give this all away because if you’re a reader, this is a must. Manson wasn’t just a murderer. He was a snitch beyond your wildest dreams. And about who and what I’ll let you discover. The book also contains the last and unbelievably unhinged statement Terry Melcher ever gave. It’ll tell you things about Dennis Wilson which will also make your head spin. And it exposes Vincent Bugliosi as a complete scoundrel and national disgrace. Bugliosi didn’t sue O’Neill because he COULDN’T. O’Neill had him dead to rights. Don’t read Helter Skelter. It’s bullsh-t. If you want to read the true story of the Manson murders (with plenty of rock n roll thrown in) read ‘Chaos’. And pray Beausoleil doesn’t get paroled because no one deserves it less.
The Premier Chicago Classic Rock band. First class versus Economy seating. Enuff said.
Never heard about this band before...
One thing that I came away from this video Matt of The New Colony Six is how persistent they were and never giving up until they had a hit song, were most bands would have gave up. - Not too long ago I heard Bob Seger telling a story of how one night Glen Frey and him (before they hit it big) were driving around one night after going to a club, and on the radio came on a song by the Cowsills, and Glen made some off remark about the song they were listening and was about to change the station, and Seger told Frey to leave it on, that there was something to learn about what makes a hit song, and made a point to Frey that No matter what ,Dont give up in writing songs, even if they're are bad at first, eventually you'll write a good song. And this reminds me of The New Colony Six, No matter what, they just kept going until they got a hit. I didnt know much about this band until I saw this video, but I remember the first time I heard the song Things Id Like To Say (Without knowing it was by The New Colony Six) it would play all the time on a Oldies Station KVIN Modesto , that I would hear on the AM radio out here in the East Bay. Unfortunately a year ago it went off the air ( Like all the good radio staions on FM/AM) it was one of the Last oldies stations in the San Francisco Bay Area, So now I hear Things Id Like To Say being played on 60's Gold on Sirius XM- Love that song.
Hey Ernie! Thanks for that story about Glenn Fry and Seger. I didn't know that.
Always listened to WCFL & WLS while living in Cleveland area!
Bravo! Thanks so much for covering the New Colony Six. I grew up in So-Cal and remember 93 KHJ Boss Radio playing their two big hits in the late '60's when I was a kid then I rediscovered the group on a 1988 Polygram comp, 45's on CD, Vol. III ('66-'69) which included I Will Always Think About You which got me to dig deeper. I did buy the Colonized comp by Rhino which I still listen to often. Keep up the excellent work!
Thank you for the comments, Barrio!
That was SOOO cool when "Think About You's" 45 label showed up on front cover of that CD! That was well before any comp of theirs had been on CD at all.
The NC6 always seemed to have a great song on WLS or WCFL while growing up in Mt. Prospect IL. You’re right - that Rhino comp is TERRIFIC!!!
They were seldom off the CHICAGO charts in their 10 year run.
Great show
What a shame that they weren't bigger as I didn't hear a clunker in the bunch. I'm gonna check them out. Thanks for your effort here.
❤️ I Confess from the first time I heard it
One of those bands I've seen regularly flash by while browsing through the vinyls at the local record store. I'm definitely gonna pick one up next time I'll find them after this episode!
You missed a wonderful chance yesterday, Randgalf. Ronnie Rice and I were at a record/CD collectors' gathering in Countryside, IL, and my right wrist was sore from signings plus voice shot from talking for 4-5 hours with an amazingly long line of folks who came to the event!
We are truly blessed to be able to see our local “heroes of the airwaves”. Ray Graffia Jr. has so many great stories to share when you see him perform….from their early pre-fame days, playing in his basement, with his father upstairs, hearing the incredible talent of Ray and his bandmates, which ultimately led to his dad finally deciding to form a record company, to eventually touring with The Beach Boys, opening for the Monkees, and becoming an indelible part of Rock & Roll history.
Wonderful, thank you!
Always liked them.
I always loved
This band, so this was a nice video to watch…informative and entertaining .
Mid to late 60s, Chicago was a breeding ground for creative bands.
Amazing that you have this in your collection. Amazing. This is deep dive stuff. Nice.
Fabulous retrospective Matt. I admit I know very little about this band. I may recall one or two songs from some 60s compilations I have. But that’s it. This was a very enjoyable overview. Take care.😊
Thank you, Matt!
Another great dive into a underrated American group. How about Herb Albert as a subject?? You kinda teased us with the album covers video..
What a well researched and informative job you did Matt. I seen a lot of band histories on UA-cam, but your presentation is the best I've seen. You are actually passionate about the bands and music that you cover and it shows! Well done. I hope in the future, you can do segments on some other Chicago groups like The Cryan' Shames, The American Breed and The Buckinghams.
I hope to get to those three bands - all need some attention!
Just discovered your channel few days ago flashed back through some of your videos saw the one where you are walking in the park saying your wife has/had medical issues…from me to you how is she…I like the personal touch involving your listeners/viewers of your channel and I like your casual style reviewing these band/groups:
Sydney Australia:
Welcome and thank you for asking about my wife. She is doing well and the issue is cancer which never sleeps so it's a constant battle, but one she is winning at the moment.
Heard "I Confess" at age of 11 growing up in Chicagoland. It made an indelible impression on me; I can listen to it at any time and be transported to a simpler more innocent time
This makes me miss creative am radio so much! A lotta Cleveland djs went to WCFL, & "Svengoolie," Jerry G, did evening dj on KYW when in Cle previously.
I'm glad you finally got the time to do this group, as you had mentioned wanting to before. They really lasted a long time for a 60s band and their journey sounds like at least two different bands. Glad you included Wingbat Marmaduke...When was the last time you saw an elf?"
Released near Halloween of 67 as well.
Nice piece on the band. I have at least three of those records. I shall revisit them.
& I Love You So Much is a theme that I direct!
Hey! This was my suggestion (and other folks’ too, I’m sure). Such a great local Chicago music scene back in the day.
Thank you Mat, great overview!
A struggle surely through the late 60's for any of these pop bands - these unheard and unheard of (certainly in England)! Nice review though Matt.
Thanks Bob!
Chic James (fake name) was an innovative drummer. Chicago had so many amazing bands. So many of them like The Buckinghams used horns excessively. My favorite was The American Breed (hint hint)
Excellent video btw.
James Chitkowski (aka Chic James) did have a co-writer's credit on one New Colony Six song, "Hello Lonely," which he co-wrote with Jerry Van Kollenburg.🎵✌️🥁🎸
Just as soon as I was looking up videos of The New Colony Six to prep up for this weekend of course Matt posts a video about them 😂 You gonna go see them at the Chicagoland Record and CD collectors show by the way this upcoming Sunday? Also great history video as always 👍
Hey Eli - my timing is good! I won't be seeing them in Chicago but I did catch them about 6 years ago and they were very good.
Please give my best to Ray if you talk to him, Clark
It was a wonderful time, jammed nearly all day and both Ronnie Rice and myself were there >4 hours talking, singing bits of tunes and taking pics with folks. Kudos to the team that put it together, especially, John Govi!
Unfamiliar with the band but I did love your video. Perhaps you could have a series of regional bands that never made it nationally.
Awesome video! I grew up in the Chicago area and always loved the New Colony Six. They were the most underated group of all in the 60s and early 70s. It's sad that they weren't more popular nationally.
Like the American Breed, they both actually were at times more popular nationally than regionally, especially the Breed.
I grew up in Chicago so I remember this band well. ( Shadows of Knight too). WLS was the coolest station for a young rock fan. I really like Things I'd like To Say. Great choice for a video Matt
Thank you, Val. I've lived in Milwaukee my whole life and I have alway heard of how good WLS was!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Many of WLS and WCFL DJs eventually came from Milwaukee to Chicago at that time: Clark Weber, Ron Riley, Barney Pip to name a few.
Those early outfits scream Paul Revere and the Raiders. I could not believe my ears that they once shared a duplex and they wore those outfits before knowing them... This is a really really really odd detail Matt! Their landlord must have been really confused.
Thank you Matt !!! This is the video that I have been waiting for ! I graduated high school in upstate New York in 1969.
The N.C. Six was very popular in our region. They were excellent but time has not been kind to them. They could hold their own against any band of that time frame.
Thank you so very much. I love your channel. I don't know how you do it , but don't stop till you cover every artist of the 60's.
, Dean ( in Syracuse)
Thank you, Dean! I have a lot of work ahead of me, so stay tuned!
No worries. I will. I look forward to every video of yours !
, Dean ( in Syracuse)
There was also a lot of pride regarding the bands. I recall there was a Sunday Sun-Times with a newsprint poster with The Buckinghams 'Portraits' album cover images - the group dressed in civil war uniforms. I also recall The New Colony Six being featured in the musical instruments section of a Montgomery Wards catalog, which is available online. For some reason only 5 of 'The Six' are in the ad. I doubt they would have played Wards 'Airline' instruments, anyway.
I have seen that ad a few times on the Facebook Chicago music page. I believe the reason for having only five of the Six in that ad was Walt Kemp had just left the band, and Les Kummel hadn't joined yet. 🙂🎵✌️
Some of the photoed faces showed the not quite hysteria we had doing the photo shoot and intentional misapplication of folks' instruments so nice pick-up if you (or anyone) ever even noticed! Have not looked at that now for years but do recall the way we tried to mess with them a bit re who did what but cannot remember right now if the the photo they used was or was not even close to reality!
Great job Matt. Loved the video. Lived in Chicago until I couldn’t take it anymore but that’s another story. Have seen New Colony Six a few times. Excellent group. Very nice guys. Had all the albums you showed as well as the recommended CD. So many great songs. Chicago has so many great bands like NCS, American Breed, Buckinghams, Chicago, Cryin’ Shames, Shadows of Knight, Idea of March, Styx, Survivor, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick (Rockford), Material Issue, Smashing Pumpkins. Great stuff. Love all your videos Matt. Thank you for your hard work and efforts putting all this quality material out for us. Be well.
Thanks for the support! Plenty more to come.
Im proudg of all theses Chicago bands, Buckinghams too, Cheap Trick, Styx, Chicago Cetera / Kath.
Yes! I love them. I hope to do videos on the Buckinghams, Cryin' Shames and HP Lovecraft 🙂
@@popgoesthe60s52 Matt! Ahem! Cryan' Shames! Not Cryin' Shames! SMH, boy! Yer on probation, lad! PS: And?! The Shadows of Knight! Best "Hey, Joe" ever!
@@JDKingStratslinger The Joe Kelly years/songs were great, but Jim Sohns turned the Shadows into pseudo-bubblegum after Joe left.
Never heard of this band. Thanks for enlightening us! Request: The Lemon Fog
This video you made is of one of my favorite groups. Did you know that on the single, I'm just waiting,anticipating. that the nucleus of the horn players playing on this is earth wind and fire.
I may have read that somewhere, - thank you for reminding me!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Chess Records house band.
hi matt - i had never heard of them before though i can see the appeal in their sound....for some reason what strikes me today as i watch is how young they all look - i am feeling very old today - and they look like kids!!!! oh well, that is what happens as the years go by. hope all is well with you and family at home.
The unusual thing about Chicago area AM radio of the sixties is that lots of music was treated as 'pop' music. So artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash and Bobbie Gentry got airplay on AM radio pop stations. Before I make that sound too wonderful, this was still an era where some expected dj prattle over song intros - in fact many labels listed timing of music intros on the 45 labels. Chicago had competitors WLS (originally 'Worlds Largest Store' - Sears, by now an ABC affiliate) and WCFL ('Chicago Federation of Labor'), WMAQ and independent WIND, both with more traditional pop playlists and WOKY, the ABC affiliate in Milwaukee, less powerful that it's Chicago breathren. There was also a television show aimed at preteens: 'Mulqueen's Kiddie A Go-Go' on a uhf channel after school. The New Colony Six made an appearance and the video is available online.
I did see the Kiddie A Go-Go which was really funny to see. I was a WOKY listener up in Milwaukee.
Long Time to be Alone needed to be released in 68, would have been a monster!!! Love this song!!! Things I'd Like to Say, and I will Always Think about You, helped me survive boot camp, sang them mentally over and over, along with a few others. They were big needless to say in Chicago, but in Southern Mich, they rocked as well. I would love to travel back to the 60's just one more time, even if just to say release Long Time to be Alone NOW!!! Thanks though for the great musical New Colony Six history!!!
They certainly were a "local" band according to how their singles charted. From NJ, I don't remember that band, although I may have heard that song "Things I'd Like to Say," it did sound familiar. Funny how the memory works.
Really enjoy your shows keep up the good work. If you're ever lost for programming there's a band called the Kit Kats from Pennsylvania
I don't have anything of the Kit Kats. I will have to check them out.
Ahhh, and you end your production with one of the best piano outros ever recorded. (Up there with "Bridge Over Troubled Water", right?), Great dig into a good band. And I agree with you about the Rhino compilation, which I still listen to often. Thanks!
Thanks for the comment! Much appreciated.
Those piano bits were fabulous. I asked Jim Peterik about a part of the Ides of March's first WB single "One Woman Man" that had a similar part to "I Want You to Know" and he said they used the same pianist and that is why it sounded so close.
Loved your video on the new colony six. It reminds me of another band that you might want to look into doing a video on. They are called The Wildweeds big Al Anderson was a part of that band. He is now and has been a songwriter in Nashville and written several hits songs. Good luck with your channel, love your videos.
I have some of the Wildweeds songs and one 45. Some great stuff!
@@popgoesthe60s52 I saw them at a frat party in the fall of '66, and they were a great dance band. 'No Good to Cry' and 'It Was Fun While It Lasted' were great singles, but when an album came out ib '70 on Vanguard, they sounded more country than rock, and the album was a HUGE letdown for me.
@@wyliesmith4244 No Good to Cry is FABBBBB! Beats Uniques to Hell.
@@dodgeboy8022 I lived up the Connecticut River valley in Massachusetts. The radio station in Springfield played some Connecticut bands like Bill Wendry & the Boss Tweeds and the Bram Rigg Set as well as the Wildweeds. Matt's New Colony Six episode reminds me how much local stations played local acts. Acts that should have broken out, but were hampered by not being in the Billboard loop. I lived in Cleveland '62 to '66 and they plugged the Outsiders who did make it, but also Ohio acts like Ivan & the Sabres (Ivan went on to front the Lemon Pipers), and I loved their single of 'Just Let Her Go.' But maybe you had to hear it in '65. And CKLW in Windsor, Ontario, across from Detroit played a LOT of Motown, and local groups like Bob Seger and the Last Herd ('East Side Story,' Persecution Smith, ' 'Santa's got a Brand new Bag, ...) But 'No Good to Try' !
Great video about a great band. I grew up in the Chicagoland area at that time. These guys were electric!! Thanks for your hard work. You knocked it out of the park!!
Thank you, Marc!
Being able to write your own songs from the very beginning is a true feather in their cap!
Thanks Matt. You keep doing it. Again you made me aware that a band I've loved for years had a more extensive career than I imagined. Cheers.
My pleasure, Martin!
NC6, despite massive changes in personnel over the decades - from departures to deaths - is still a present tense entity, Martin. In addition to yours truly - there on Day One when our covering a Beatles' song in Senior year of H.S. (1964) led to formation of "The Patsmen" since we all went to St. Patrick H.S., through our name change within a few months to NC6, I am the sole founder still at it within the band. However, all but one of us who were on the very first recordings remain above the grass as I type this and we only lost Craig Kemp last year if memory serves this morning, so longevity of the New Colony Six is now, appropriately, in its 60th year of existence! Whether we make it to 66 is questionable I suppose but do hope that even if I don't last another six years - somebody carries on with the name and, of course, the music we wrote, shared and is still alive enough to draw people to performances!
@@NewColonySix-RayGraffiaJr. Thank you Ray, perhaps I'll get a chance to see you live one day . Cheers and and all the best.
@@martinsplichal1581 Presuming you are younger than I (at age 78+) AND... given that the Colony itself is now already 60+ years old, those chances diminish nearly weekly if not daily hence, if you hesitate much longer, all of NC6's founders may no longer be performing and might not even remain in existence above the grass, so as the cliche tells us, "He who hesitates is lost!" 😳 Meanwhile though, at least I shall continue to do my best to "Rock On" beyond use of a chair designed for such activity! 😜
Thanks again Matt for your great researched and detailed work ! ☀️
My pleasure, Lynda.
Really great. job of presenting music history!
Just great music 65-74! Funny he plays the EVA import LP. Both sides of Marmaduke charted on WIRL Peoria separately! They were BIG time, IMO. Things id Like to say was top 10 on #1 station in country--WABC New York city! Interesting to see Muddy feet listed as a 45! Long Time to be alone/Never Be Lonely one of best 2 siders of the 70s. I guess I never realized "I Could never Lie" was different on 45 from LP so will have to listen! Nice story and retrospective, tho.
My "Breakthrough" copy was on Eva. I have seen a few original Sentar copies, but they have usually gone for a pretty penny. 🙂🎵✌️
@@bruceross5546 Yes, not an easy get on Sentar. Same with "Time of the Year is Sunset" 45. Just great overall music.
I think the intended tune that differs should have been "Come & Give Your Love To Me" unless our host here knows something that even I didn't know!
Living in the Peoria Il area l saw them live 65 or so. The Cryin Shames and Buckinghams along with others from Chitown. Do have Attacking the the Straw Man in really great shape. So much great music from ILL at this time
I enjoy your videos they are very well done. This is a band I don't remember. Have you thought about doing a video on the band Spirit who recorded some of the most interesting music of the late 60s?
Yes, Spirit will certainly get the Pop Goes the 60s treatment.
I like your channel a lot because you have great information about bands I like, but that don't get much attention.
The other thing that helped Midwestern bands was 'teen clubs'. The Cellar had local bands and even English acts like The Who. There were bands like Baby Huey and Cat Mother who never made much noise or money from records but played the teen clubs regularly.
Yea… I had just commented above… the my band opened for them at a big teen club in Indiana, PA, called The Red Rooster. They were really good.
Lol, I came up in the 60s and never heard of this band!
Great channel, though, no question. Matt, I can't see where you've done anything yet for one of my favorite semi-obscure groups, Moby Grape. A lot of history, between crooked manager, mental illness, label mismanagement, along with crackerjack songwriting among an intensely talented cadre who just wanted to have fun.
Stay tuned as I plan to cover the Grape this year
Hey Matt, just stumbled across your UA-cam channel couple weeks ago, and actually really enjoy what you're doing. Lot of history, my brother Tom, was in a band called Crystal siphon, they played the Fillmore several times. Opened up for Carlos Santana, Elvin Bishop Big brother and holding company , grateful Dead, many others, sadly he passed away 2 years ago, and I have inherited all his early posters. And am in the process of having them all professionally framed, the artwork is pretty spectacular, anyway. They do have a couple albums on the UA-cam channel under the crystal Syphon name, don't know if you'd be interested, but there's a lot of correlation with the groups out of the Bay area at that time such as country. Joe, Quicksilver Messenger service, couple those guys were actually from the Central Valley. Valley, Gary Duncan and the drummer, I believe Sonny Bono may have even participated in helping produce some of my brother's music, anyway, seems like you got a really good collection on '60s music and if you so choose, maybe check my brother's band out, in the meantime, I'm going to keep watching your stuff man. I really really enjoy it, thanks, matt
Thank you, Randy I will look into that band. More to come!
This was a nice one Matt! Definitely made me think of the Association. You should do the Buckinghams next. Gets me to understand that scene in the 60s a little more.
Thank you. I got into this band back in the 80s and they have some great 60s pop.
@@popgoesthe60s52 The Association came to our recording session for "Barbara, I Love You" and helped us on the backing vocal tracks - how 'bout that? Great guys and superior vocalists...
Always enjoyed the New Colony Six. Underrated for sure, but their music will last forever. Don't know if you do folk groups Matt, but the Kingston Trio was damn good! Another excellent video!
I do plan a couple of folk groups so stay tuned!
Another band similar to the New Colony Six are the Masters Apprentices!
Their two best charting singles were beautiful songs and their vocals were exquisite. Thanks for the reminder Matt. It’s been many years since I’ve heard them.
NC6 boasted great and well crafted Pop songs, but in retrospect, I should have mentioned in my previous comments, the album track "Can't You See Me Cry" it really stands out for me. Bonified ear candy I never tire off. Great song with tempo changes along with pleasant , and skillfully arranged horns by Eddie Higgins captured by one of my favorite engineers Ron Malo.
Any one else "dig" this one?
Selfish me (since I both wrote and sang it...) agrees wholeheartedly!
@@NewColonySix-RayGraffiaJr. A beautiful song Sir! Bless your heart. I want to see the song get its due among the best numbers NC6 ever recorded!
@@romelovesdan Many thanks and if you've not yet discovered this, a "mere" 56 years ago, at age 22, after us all being flown down to San Antonio, TX, the NC6 performing "Can't You See Me Cry" live was featured on Lloyd Thaxton's "Showcase '68". The facility from which the program was broadcast, that being the "Hemisfair Theater" as I recall, was about go on the air and with an audience waiting to fill the venue, as we finished our final rehearsal, the TV Director came up to me with this demand, err "suggestion".
"Ray, I just love the look of your tambourine!" to which I replied, "Thank you...", to which he then added this: "It is interfering with the pick-up of your vocal mic, so I need you to hold but not play it." I cringed, but he was a honcho so agreed to comply - after all, he was younger than I am now but much, much older than I was then AND a network boss. Hence, I merely held rather than played my tambo and tried to forget how awkward it felt then, which is how it has always looked to me every time I watch it here on UA-cam. While those who have it up here added some promo for their company(ies?), I still do have a clean take sans advertisements but signed a document more than a half century ago precluding sharing it so in its drawer it shall remain. Compulsion to try explaining this is due to my definite and likely obvious discomfort during that broadcast and the fact that I still feel it appears awkward and tentative 5.6 decades after the fact. Given this intro, I shall now share how you can see that performance, meaning right here: www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=cant+you+see+me+cry+ABC+TV#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:9b83fd24,vid:U2NbmFcEB90,st:0.
Final note is to share that I wrote these lyrics from real life - in brief, it happened when I was about 11-12 years old when a new family moved onto my parents' block. Yours truly, curious about the newbies, went down to see their arrival, found lots of furniture and "stuff", along with a seemingly similarly aged girl - speaking a foreign language I later learned to be Polish. She essentially stole my pre-teen heart but would have nothing to do with me whatsoever, so while likely an arrest-able offense these days, at my age then, I kept that story and memories (of standing by their garbage cans in the alley behind their home and watching to hopefully catch a peek of her through their windows) in my heart until NC6 times when it came back to me as a potential song lyric and, voila, a pretty decent hit record for us!
Thanks for your kind words; hope that you, "@romelovesdan" and "@popgoesthe60s52" both enjoy the background; glad you both appreciated our records; hope the haters here are respectful! 😊😜
@@NewColonySix-RayGraffiaJr. Thank you so much for taking your time to share some of your stories. I feel honored to hear the backstory of the lyrics of "Can't You See Me Cry". Those flashes of attraction in our young minds are special and last forever. Being a devotee of that tune, I had sought out and viewed that '68 live performance. Now, via our 'conversation' , others can discover it in context. with the backstory you graced us with. Having to adapt your animated performing style at the last minute and keep that tambourine still is not as easy as it may seem. The live performance of the song came off well, solidifying the comments of others that the NC6 were a great performing band.
Hopefully, you may have time to maybe come on and share some more stories for us here on Matt's Pop Goes the '60's platform.
With much appreciation, I shall close this time with EXTREME brevity; thank you @romelovesdan!!