I sooo miss wbcn!!! Wzlx sucks. Sister station my ass. Nobody plays b sides, or album sides or anything longer than3 minutes. When was the last time you heard Frank zappa or Alice Cooper s good shit?
Sitting at a bar in Murrells Inlet, SC……. struck up a conversation with the guy sitting next to me! Cool guy!! He wrote this song, and played bass in this band!! He said he loves you all, and appreciates all the great comments here!! It made his day!! What a great guy!!
BEST summertime song of all time. Saw them blitzed at the old Beachcomber Wollaston Beach Quincy back in the 70's. I drank with the band at their last "real" show at the Paradise.
I met Duke and the Drivers in person in August 1975 at Boston's Government Center. They were "picketing" a radio station that they said was the only one in town not playing their WHAT YOU GOT hit single. And they gave me a free copy of that record for taking time out to talk to them and hearing their cause. And no sooner said than done, that station began playing their song, and I myself loved it. It's just too bad Duke and the Drivers didn't have any more hit records after that. I would've liked to see them become as successful as Bad Company or Bachman-Turner Overdrive or other bands who I still listen to today.
I love when other people remember what I think I remember haha, like Heart at the Esplanade or The Who when Moon passed into his drum set. Audio on UA-cam just as I remember in spite of extensive alcohol and drug use on my part 😂
I was just a kid when I first heard this amazing track in '75 on one of our treks from our home in Easton PA to visit our asswhole cousins in Derry NH. My older brother pestered the stations at home to play it, but it fell on deaf ears.
I remember this being played a lot on WBCN, I saw them in Millbury believe it or not and they kept saying that "Duke" was late and would arrive soon and I was thinking 'Jeez, their lead singer isn't even here?' Haha! They were good live.
Wow, finally found it after looking for years on youtube! Saw them back up J.Geils in Nov. 1974 at the Ladies Invited Concert, then the following Sept. 75 at Gov't Center, free concert and then at the Surf at Nantasket Beach February 1976. Always a fun band and lots of dancing. I had this album for 20 years. Still have the other one with Check Your Bucket. Wish thi was on cd!!! Takes me back 37 years! Good music lasts forever!
I saw them at the Coloseum least once in the mid-70s. I think they opened for J Geils, but it could have been Aerosmith (I wish I had kept better records of all the concerts I saw there!)
I was 16 years old and the lead singer for a band that opened for them at Canobie Lake Park back in the 70's! Wow, what a thrill, and what a band they were! STILL don't know where the "Duke" is!!!!!!!!!!
I saw this band play at a Concert in Manchester NH right before Aerosmith came on in 1974, I was 14. I recorded it on this cheap cassette player and the tape lasted for years. it was my very 1st Concert they took the place of Elephant's Memory who couldn't be there.
Love playing my record by these guys. So many great bands came from the Boston area, so much great music back then. Lots of great memories even the blizzard of 78 as i got married two weeks before it so with no work for a week I got lots more great time with my new wife.
I saw them in 1974 too ..they were the opening act for J. Geils Band...did that song for the love of money....fake dollar bills came from the Boston garden ceiling..on them it read` In Duke we Trust` !!!! They were a great party band an opening act !!!
i remember seeing "the duke" at the rexicana ballroom in brant rock marshfield in 1778. i had just turned 18 !!! in my ears one of the best rhythm n blues bands ever ! i was at the house of blues in boston for there 30th anniv. party. so cool .
SAW THAT ONE !!!! Duke sang `for the love of money` and all the dollar bills(fake ones) came down from the ceiling of the boston gahden...on them read " In Duke We Trust" !!!!!! great show !!!!!
Totally agree with you. I got introduced to them in 75' at Vermont Tech. had to search high and wide to find the vinyl which is still in my collection.
i graduated h.s. in 78, grew up listenning to the "DUKE" . saw them at the "ranchhouse" duxbury and the rexicana brant rock, marshfield. i always have loved them lkike j geils only they asll sing !!!
almost saw them live in a bar at Salisbury (ma) beach small club. duke came out staggering a bit late, pulled a chair at our table to sit. Tipped over , out like a light...and boom the show was over. Owner walk around and gave everyone (maybe 15 people) their 5 buck cover change back.
Blueblood young men turned musicians, this aggregation got together sometime in 1973 jamming on obscure R&B titles for fun and somehow it clicked. The name Duke & the Drivers evolved out of one of their myriad parties where they played for friends and consumed a cocktail called an Orange Driver (grain alcohol vodka and some orange drink). When people asked the name of the band, it was up to the harmonica-playing saxophonist who doubled as comedian, Rhinestone Mudflaps, to say "Duke's not here." When people asked where Duke was, they got the standard reply: "Out drinking the orange drivers," and thus the name Duke & the Drivers was born. With success on the club level, the goal shifted to obtaining a major-label recording contract. By December 1973, they were opening for Lou Reed's legendary Rock N Roll Animal band at Boston's Orpheum Theater and generating a buzz. They performed dates with the Leslie West Band as well as Blue Öyster Cult, with ZZ Top opening for Duke & the Drivers on the Blue Öyster Cult show. Personal manager Peter Casperson of Boston's Castle Music Productions signed them to ABC Records in 1973, with their debut album produced and engineered by Eddie Kramer appearing in 1974. That album, Cruisin', featured a minor hit song, "What You Got," and the band started to make some real noise. Their summertime tour took them to Cleveland's Agora Ballroom, a concert broadcast live on WMMS. They opened for Starz at the Tomorrow Theater in Youngstown and performed on bills with Elvis Costello, Pat Travers, and others. Worcester/Boston radio station WAAF broadcast the group live from Northern Sound on the day Elvis Presley died, August 16, 1977, with approximately 1,000 people jammed into the studio atop a Woolworth's five-and-dime. Despite the success of the live broadcast, their popularity began to wane and the group filled out its contractual obligations, ending it all at a high-school gig in April 1978. The band still gets attention, the 45 of "Looking for a Fox" used on a national televised broadcast of the New England Patriots. Drummer Mark Hylander is still active, teaming up with bassist Danny Klein of the J. Geils Band for their blues group, Stonecrazy.
These guys were a blast. Saw 'em at Govt. Center (9/75), Xaverian H.S. (4/76), and at UMass/Amherst during my freshman year of '76-77. Anyone remember the name of the smaller bar at UMass in the Student Union/Campus Center that wasn't the Blue Wall ?
I was in a band called "Winterwood Fire" that backed up Duke at the the Exposition Center in Portland Maine in 1975. I remember them playing this song.
Yeah, the Hatch, thanks a lot ! I saw them there. Gets me to thinking why they weren't at the Blue Wall, which was the bigger venue. Anyway, thanks again for the blast from the past.
Actually John Ellison's recording of this song (with Soul Brothers Six) was also a cover of it. The song was written by a "C. Armstrong" and was originally recorded by a lady singer whose name escapes me at the moment.
We Had A Skate Competition in Massachusetts So My Whole Family and my friend Chin Li went. When we got There we met our friends From the Massachusetts team!!! There were many other groups of skaters there as well!!! The Competition was a Dance Competition Only!!! So It was a little unusual to us!! But Our Friends Said we Can have A Little More Fun In This Competition!!! The First part Of the Competition, We Joined Up With The Team From Massachusetts and Brought the House Down!!! then Later in the Second part There was a Competition Involving only Girl & Women Skaters!!! there was a Group of girls from Rhode Island who Stole The Show And were Leading!!! My Sister Eva Decided to put My girlfriend Debbie, and my Sister Caroline on the skate Floor!! I Asked Eva Why And She Said that "They had Worked on some new Dance moves and they worked out Nice"!! So I Said "Okay"!!! "Let's go with it!!! Then Debbie and Caroline Got on the Skate Floor And This song was Playing And Then they Proceeded To Blow Everyone AWAY!!! I Screamed "HOLY SHIT!! My Mother, My Sisters Eva, Nancy, And My friend Chin Li!! TOTALLY FREAKED OUT!!! I Never saw two Girls Synch Dance With Such Continuity!!! I DEEPLY Hugged and Kissed My Sister Eva!!! I told her Sis!!! You Are A GENIUS!!! Between the Sweet Looks and Magnificent Routine that Debbie and Caroline Put On!!! We won the Competition Hands Down!!! When We won The Trophy I gave it to Eva, Caroline, And Debbie!!! I said" This Competition You guys Won And You Deserve This"!!! Debbie And Caroline Were Crying They wanted to do it again!! So we Were Able to And My Sister Eva Joined Them!!! The Rink TOTALLY ROCKED when They Took the Floor!!! Even My Mother Was Crying!!! My Sister Nancy Got into the Act And put On a Skate Show Of Her Own!!! Our Friends From Massachusetts Were So Proud of Us!! They told Us it Is an Honor And Privilidge to dance with the Best Roller Skating Team In New England!!!
That was at the Arlington St Armory,,,Boston Ma....city of Champions,,, ,,That was Saturday July 13 of 1974...The previous night,,,the 12th...I saw Eric Clapton at the Gahden......What a fucken weekend....ahahahaha....
To be 18 again and to hear this on the radio... (yes I am a Boston-area native)
I sooo miss wbcn!!! Wzlx sucks. Sister station my ass. Nobody plays b sides, or album sides or anything longer than3 minutes. When was the last time you heard Frank zappa or Alice Cooper s good shit?
WBLM used to play this tune. Don't believe I've heard it since then. Cool tune
I am From PORTLAND MAINE!!!!!!
Sure’s good (born in Hyannis and live in Natick last 20 years)
Saw them on a triple bill @ the Old Boston Garden in 75
Wow. I remember this from 'BCN.
Sitting at a bar in Murrells Inlet, SC……. struck up a conversation with the guy sitting next to me! Cool guy!! He wrote this song, and played bass in this band!! He said he loves you all, and appreciates all the great comments here!! It made his day!! What a great guy!!
The song was written by Chuck Armstrong and he never played bass in Duke and the Drivers
BEST summertime song of all time. Saw them blitzed at the old Beachcomber Wollaston Beach Quincy back in the 70's. I drank with the band at their last "real" show at the Paradise.
The ‘Coma’ I remember it vaguely. Pretty sure.
I met Duke and the Drivers in person in August 1975 at Boston's Government Center. They were "picketing" a radio station that they said was the only one in town not playing their WHAT YOU GOT hit single. And they gave me a free copy of that record for taking time out to talk to them and hearing their cause. And no sooner said than done, that station began playing their song, and I myself loved it. It's just too bad Duke and the Drivers didn't have any more hit records after that. I would've liked to see them become as successful as Bad Company or Bachman-Turner Overdrive or other bands who I still listen to today.
I love when other people remember what I think I remember haha, like Heart at the Esplanade or The Who when Moon passed into his drum set. Audio on UA-cam just as I remember in spite of extensive alcohol and drug use on my part 😂
I was just a kid when I first heard this amazing track in '75 on one of our treks from our home in Easton PA to visit our asswhole cousins in Derry NH. My older brother pestered the stations at home to play it, but it fell on deaf ears.
I don't do deaf ears
LEGENDARY old school Boston song!
I remember this being played a lot on WBCN, I saw them in Millbury believe it or not and they kept saying that "Duke" was late and would arrive soon and I was thinking 'Jeez, their lead singer isn't even here?' Haha! They were good live.
Saw them in Billerica in '75 (?).
Wow, finally found it after looking for years on youtube! Saw them back up J.Geils in Nov. 1974 at the Ladies Invited Concert, then the following Sept. 75 at Gov't Center, free concert and then at the Surf at Nantasket Beach February 1976. Always a fun band and lots of dancing. I had this album for 20 years. Still have the other one with Check Your Bucket. Wish thi was on cd!!! Takes me back 37 years! Good music lasts forever!
i also saw them that Sat. afternoon at Gov't. Center. sitting on those stairs. what a show.
Check Your Bucket, I forgot all about that one.
I must have seen this band 25 or 30 times. Never a bad show. Always up. Great showmen and had the musical chops to rock the house down.
Great band. I rember, car windows down ,this tune blasting on the radio cruising down rte 128 .
Thanks for posting.
They played my high school (Quincy High) in 75, my 1st concert
I saw them at the Cape Cod Colosseum in the mid-70s. They rocked the place with this song in particular.
I saw them at the Coloseum least once in the mid-70s. I think they opened for J Geils, but it could have been Aerosmith (I wish I had kept better records of all the concerts I saw there!)
They also were the intro group for J. Geils in a lot of local gigs.
Perfect opener for J. Geils.
I was 16 years old and the lead singer for a band that opened for them at Canobie Lake Park back in the 70's! Wow, what a thrill, and what a band they were! STILL don't know where the "Duke" is!!!!!!!!!!
Remember them coming through Newburyport '76? I think they played the Stagecoach Tavern. Great show.
Don't forget about LITTLE EARLS Glouster
I saw this band play at a Concert in Manchester NH right before Aerosmith came on in 1974, I was 14. I recorded it on this cheap cassette player and the tape lasted for years. it was my very 1st Concert they took the place of Elephant's Memory who couldn't be there.
Love playing my record by these guys. So many great bands came from the Boston area, so much great music back then. Lots of great memories even the blizzard of 78 as i got married two weeks before it so with no work for a week I got lots more great time with my new wife.
Saw them many times. They always put on a great show. They use to play the Frolic at Salisbury Beach.
I saw them at The Garden in early 1975. They opened for J. Geils along with Poco and Zacharia.
This song should have been a NATIONAL HIT !!!!!! Long Live EMMMONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I booked this band at the Lowell Coloseum back in73. The club legally held 2,800. We sold 3500 tix. What a night.!
I saw them in 1974 too ..they were the opening act for J. Geils Band...did that song for the love of money....fake dollar bills came from the Boston garden ceiling..on them it read` In Duke we Trust` !!!! They were a great party band an opening act !!!
i remember seeing "the duke" at the rexicana ballroom in brant rock marshfield in 1778. i had just turned 18 !!! in my ears one of the best rhythm n blues bands ever ! i was at the house of blues in boston for there 30th anniv. party. so cool .
Saw them at Canobie Lake Park in Salem, NH, and at Mr. C's Rock Palace in Lowell, MA. Great band!!!
Wow!Mr.C's rock palace! That brings back memories! Remember seeing the Fools, and Trapper there!
SAW THAT ONE !!!! Duke sang `for the love of money` and all the dollar bills(fake ones) came down from the ceiling of the boston gahden...on them read " In Duke We Trust" !!!!!! great show !!!!!
Saw them at the Frolics on Salisbury Beach. Good times
Used to see them at the Frolics in Salisbury Beach. Duke was always on a yaught eight miles out...
I saw them at the frolic several.times also at the surf nantasket beach
They played at St. John's High School in 1976. Shrewsbury,Mass. The Duke wasn't there either. Still a great show.
Totally agree with you. I got introduced to them in 75' at Vermont Tech. had to search high and wide to find the vinyl which is still in my collection.
i graduated h.s. in 78, grew up listenning to the "DUKE" . saw them at the "ranchhouse" duxbury and the rexicana brant rock, marshfield. i always have loved them lkike j geils only they asll sing !!!
ranch house is (was) in Marshfield
almost saw them live in a bar at Salisbury (ma) beach small club. duke came out staggering a bit late, pulled a chair at our table to sit. Tipped over , out like a light...and boom the show was over. Owner walk around and gave everyone (maybe 15 people) their 5 buck cover change back.
This Song Best Described My Baby Debbie!!! What She Got Sure Was Good!!!
She Was The DEEPEST Love My Life!!! i Will Eternally Love Her!!!
Blueblood young men turned musicians, this aggregation got together sometime in 1973 jamming on obscure R&B titles for fun and somehow it clicked. The name Duke & the Drivers evolved out of one of their myriad parties where they played for friends and consumed a cocktail called an Orange Driver (grain alcohol vodka and some orange drink). When people asked the name of the band, it was up to the harmonica-playing saxophonist who doubled as comedian, Rhinestone Mudflaps, to say "Duke's not here." When people asked where Duke was, they got the standard reply: "Out drinking the orange drivers," and thus the name Duke & the Drivers was born.
With success on the club level, the goal shifted to obtaining a major-label recording contract. By December 1973, they were opening for Lou Reed's legendary Rock N Roll Animal band at Boston's Orpheum Theater and generating a buzz. They performed dates with the Leslie West Band as well as Blue Öyster Cult, with ZZ Top opening for Duke & the Drivers on the Blue Öyster Cult show. Personal manager Peter Casperson of Boston's Castle Music Productions signed them to ABC Records in 1973, with their debut album produced and engineered by Eddie Kramer appearing in 1974. That album, Cruisin', featured a minor hit song, "What You Got," and the band started to make some real noise.
Their summertime tour took them to Cleveland's Agora Ballroom, a concert broadcast live on WMMS. They opened for Starz at the Tomorrow Theater in Youngstown and performed on bills with Elvis Costello, Pat Travers, and others.
Worcester/Boston radio station WAAF broadcast the group live from Northern Sound on the day Elvis Presley died, August 16, 1977, with approximately 1,000 people jammed into the studio atop a Woolworth's five-and-dime. Despite the success of the live broadcast, their popularity began to wane and the group filled out its contractual obligations, ending it all at a high-school gig in April 1978.
The band still gets attention, the 45 of "Looking for a Fox" used on a national televised broadcast of the New England Patriots. Drummer Mark Hylander is still active, teaming up with bassist Danny Klein of the J. Geils Band for their blues group, Stonecrazy.
Loved these guys back when😊
Was riding by the Westfield AFB when we heard this in a passing car. Sounded awesome + stayed in my head for hours. \m/
Duke & the Drivers. Awesome. Nuff said.
These guys were a blast. Saw 'em at Govt. Center (9/75), Xaverian H.S. (4/76), and at UMass/Amherst during my freshman year of '76-77. Anyone remember the name of the smaller bar at UMass in the Student Union/Campus Center that wasn't the Blue Wall ?
"I ain't particular" was one Helluva RR tune.
favorite song from these guys. I saw them open for blue oyster cult and z z top at the old boston garden in october 1975. great song!
I was there too good times
awesome show , what a better world
My first concert, when they opened for J. Geils at the Boston Garden. I was 13 years old!
WBCN!
Awesome rock !!!
I was in a band called "Winterwood Fire" that backed up Duke at the the Exposition Center in Portland Maine in 1975. I remember them playing this song.
They packed every joint.
I consider this the best song of all time for me, and i,m a huge Beatles fan and they run the rest after this song
Serious ? Oh man
What you got. . . . Awesome!!!!!
Oh ya they usually opened for James Montgomery. Saw them open for Geils. We were from Westford MA and had a ball with all of them. Went wherever..
Thanks so much for posting this, i have loved this song since i was a teenager....
I beleive they were all local boys from the boston area!
Yeah, the Hatch, thanks a lot ! I saw them there. Gets me to thinking why they weren't at the Blue Wall, which was the bigger venue. Anyway, thanks again for the blast from the past.
Actually John Ellison's recording of this song (with Soul Brothers Six) was also a cover of it. The song was written by a "C. Armstrong" and was originally recorded by a lady singer whose name escapes me at the moment.
CLASSIC!
Great band
It was Westboro (Westborough, MA) Speedway. I was there as well. :)
Thanks 🙏🏻🤘🏼🤘🏻
My name is Rhinestone Mudflaps IV, long estranged love child of Rhinestone Mudflaps III.
@twinsof 86 - Yes, that's exactly what happened at that concert. I still have the Duke and the Drivers money bill.
Masterpiece!
i remember hearing this on wblm back in the day 🔥
Commonwealth Armory 1976....Cadillac Jack and the boys rocked....the Duke didn't show, he was busy
Saw them at The Beachcomber many times , Duke was at the Clambox most nights but was always a no show .
I was there!
Andy,,,,,,was that the show with The New York Dolls on the bill too.?
i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/TpsAAOSwHiFbc8Kf/s-l225.jpg
I remember this song being played on Boston radio stations. I wonder whatever happened to this band?
Been a while, Rock On Children AFFA AMERICA FIRST FIRST AMERICA ✌️ 🇺🇸
I remember hearing this on a Columbus Ohio station in 1975.
I saw them open for Lour Reed at Orpheum - and the New York Dolls (at Commodore?) in Woosta. Great band, and should have hit bigger wider further.
We Had A Skate Competition in Massachusetts So My Whole Family
and my friend Chin Li went. When we got There we met our friends From
the Massachusetts team!!! There were many other groups of skaters there
as well!!! The Competition was a Dance Competition Only!!! So It was a little
unusual to us!! But Our Friends Said we Can have A Little More Fun In This
Competition!!! The First part Of the Competition, We Joined Up With The Team
From Massachusetts and Brought the House Down!!! then Later in the Second
part There was a Competition Involving only Girl & Women Skaters!!! there was a
Group of girls from Rhode Island who Stole The Show And were Leading!!! My
Sister Eva Decided to put My girlfriend Debbie, and my Sister Caroline on the
skate Floor!! I Asked Eva Why And She Said that "They had Worked on some new
Dance moves and they worked out Nice"!! So I Said "Okay"!!! "Let's go with it!!!
Then Debbie and Caroline Got on the Skate Floor And This song was Playing
And Then they Proceeded To Blow Everyone AWAY!!! I Screamed "HOLY SHIT!!
My Mother, My Sisters Eva, Nancy, And My friend Chin Li!! TOTALLY FREAKED OUT!!!
I Never saw two Girls Synch Dance With Such Continuity!!! I DEEPLY Hugged and Kissed
My Sister Eva!!! I told her Sis!!! You Are A GENIUS!!! Between the Sweet Looks and
Magnificent Routine that Debbie and Caroline Put On!!! We won the Competition Hands
Down!!! When We won The Trophy I gave it to Eva, Caroline, And Debbie!!! I said" This
Competition You guys Won And You Deserve This"!!! Debbie And Caroline Were Crying
They wanted to do it again!! So we Were Able to And My Sister Eva Joined Them!!! The
Rink TOTALLY ROCKED when They Took the Floor!!! Even My Mother Was Crying!!! My
Sister Nancy Got into the Act And put On a Skate Show Of Her Own!!! Our Friends From
Massachusetts Were So Proud of Us!! They told Us it Is an Honor And Privilidge to dance
with the Best Roller Skating Team In New England!!!
Heard it at the Westboro Speedway
@bucknorm Word. One of the best rock and roll albums of all time.
i saw them at some racetrack in Mass. in 1973 opening for Aerosmith
Probably Westboro Speedway
@mugfordpete You never saw the duke he was always a noshow.But the Drivers covered for him.
Saw them in Waltham with the Road Apples. Leary Field maybe 1974 or 1975?
i believe they opened for steely dan on their 1974 tour....
They played at UNH, probably more than once, in the 1974-1975 timeframe. I know I saw them, just don't rmember who they played with.
Yeah... now THAT is the real thing!
remember when their show at the Garden got cancelled, because one of the headliners was waay too late?
@tron1953
No, you've got this mixed up with "Check Your Bucket" which Eddie Bo wrote.
Super party band
1975, my hot as hell Plymouth Roadrunner and an even hotter brunette by my side. This always brings back such memories.
The Lowell Coliseum? Where was that? You sure it wasn't the Commodore?
what about the song SLOW MOTION??????-where is it on youtube??
the Hatch
Duke and the Drivers put a better spin on this old number by the soul brothers six.
Saw them at the Salem Mass Armory.What year??
where can i get this mp3? itunes version sucks!!
the Hatch---beers were a ittle more expensive
It does not sound like the 50’s it sounds like the 70’s
I saw them open for both Lou Reed and the Dolls. The Drivers were better!
That was at the Arlington St Armory,,,Boston Ma....city of Champions,,, ,,That was Saturday July 13 of 1974...The previous night,,,the 12th...I saw Eric Clapton at the Gahden......What a fucken weekend....ahahahaha....
Sorry to all -- we used to call them puke in the driveway in the 70's! I know, I know, not justified -- just sayin' ....