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Phil - and anyone who knows:
The 2nd to last song (Magnum 44 aka Pipeline) on Phil Dirt's final
show was, if I got all that, the first Pit recording from 1965? Who
was the band and what else did they do? It was a great version.
Thanks,
BN
Brian, the band was the Van Slyke, who were an early folkrock band from
San Jose. They took their name from one of the guy's maternal
grandfather. They played three songs that day, "Magnum 44,"
"Summertime" (vocal),a nd "Waking Down The Road," which they recorded a
year later for Brent Records (Mainstream subsidiery) at the same time
Big Brother and the Holding Company, the Harbinger Complex signed with
Mainstream. On Brent, they became the Other Side, and later Bogus
Thunder. members of the band went on to the Chocolate Watchband and the
Syndicate of Sound, among others.
Skip Spence, Skip Battin, Danny Phay, Ned Torney, Danny Kemlin I think.
Not entirely sure who was there. Ned for sure, because I've talked to
hi about that session since - licensed the track from him.
I played the Other Side version of "Walking Down The Road" earlier
tonight.
Remaining from the KFJC session were "Summertime" and "Magnum 44." The
othe rtrack was lost to tape deterioration. Summertime is very shaky,
but has been captured, though no mastering has been done. "Magnum 44"
(an earlier title for "Pipeline" along with "Liberty's Whip") required
extensive mastering (post production), but sounds great. It appears as
a special hidden 16th track on the Reverb Central CD (sold out long
ago).
"Magnum 44" was their only instrumental. It was cut with two mics to
half-track tape at 7-1/2 ips in the Fall of 1965.
Phil
ps - some other notes from elsewhere: The Other Side with Skip Spence,
later of Jefferson Airplane, was a transitory member of this San Jose
outfit, originally a surf act known as The Topsiders, who were close
friends of The Chocolate Watch Band. Indeed in 1965 both bands
underwent a change around in personnel with Phay, Torney and Kemling
all joining The Other Side from The Watchband and Dave Tolby moving
across to join The Watchband. Mark Loomis also had a brief spell with
The Other Side after Jim Sawyers had joined The Vejtables, and
Watchband bassist Rich Young had been drafted.
--- Brian Neal <> wrote:
Phil - and anyone who knows:
The 2nd to last song (Magnum 44 aka Pipeline) on Phil Dirt's final
show was, if I got all that, the first Pit recording from 1965? Who
was the band and what else did they do? It was a great version.
Thanks,
BN
