It's a Beautiful Day
Encyclopedia
It's a Beautiful Day is a band
formed in San Francisco
, California
in 1967, the brainchild of violinist David LaFlamme
.
LaFlamme, a former soloist with the Utah Symphony Orchestra, had previously been in the band Orkustra
, and unusually, played a five-string violin. The other members were his wife Linda (keyboards), Pattie Santos (vocals), Hal Wagenet (guitar), Mitchell Holman (bass) and Val Fuentes
(drums). Although they were one of the earliest and most important San Francisco bands to emerge from the Summer of Love
, It’s a Beautiful Day never quite achieved the success of contemporaries such as The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane
and Santana
, with whom they had connections. It’s A Beautiful Day created a unique blend of rock, jazz, folk, classical and world beat styles during the seven years the band was officially together.
, had previously worked with Jefferson Airplane
and Moby Grape
. The members of It's a Beautiful Day were unaware that the other two groups were already trying to end their business relationships with Katz. During 1967 and early 1968 Katz prevented It's a Beautiful Day from performing in San Francisco, telling them they were not ready. He booked their first public appearances at a club he controlled in Seattle, Washington formerly known as the Encore Ballroom. Katz renamed the club "San Francisco Sound". While in Seattle the group lived in the attic of an old house owned by Katz while writing and rehearsing new songs in between club performances. Few customers came to the club during It's a Beautiful Day's engagement in Seattle during December 1967.
The group's signature song "White Bird" was inspired by the experiences David and Linda LaFlamme had while living in Seattle. In an ironic twist on the band's name, the sad song was partly inspired by Seattle's rainy winter weather. In a later interview, David LaFlamme said:
By the time the group members returned to San Francisco they were broke and frustrated at Katz's attempts to manipulate their career. In desperation they began playing at a few clubs without Katz's approval. The band gradually began to gain some recognition and earn money. It's a Beautiful Day got their first big break when offered a chance to open for Cream
at the Oakland Coliseum on October 4, 1968. Around this time the group first began a long process of trying to disentangle themselves from Katz.
The band's debut album, It's a Beautiful Day
, was produced by David LaFlamme in Los Angeles and released by Columbia Records
in 1969. It featured tracks such as "White Bird", "Hot Summer Day", and "Time Is". The album reached an impressive #47 and stayed on the charts for 70 weeks. The theme from the song "Bombay Calling" was later used, at a slower tempo, by Deep Purple
as the intro to "Child in Time
" on its In Rock
album. The vocals and violin playing of David LaFlamme plus Pattie Santos' singing attracted attention including FM radio play, and nationally, "White Bird" bubbled under Billboard's Hot 100 chart
, peaking at #118.
, Netherlands
and at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music. Tom Fowler
(later bassist for Frank Zappa
) and Bill Gregory joined in March 1971, their very first performance being live on San Francisco's famous KSAN radio, with host Tom Donahue
introducing them as the band's two new members. In July 1971, It's a Beautiful Day were one of the last acts to appear at Fillmore West
in San Francisco. Their performance of "White Bird" appeared as part of the 1972 film
, Fillmore
.
The band continued on to record Choice Quality Stuff/Anytime in 1971 and the live album
Live At Carnegie Hall in 1972, touring until 1974 when they split up. In 1976, LaFlamme's solo version of "White Bird" finally cracked the Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at #89. Pattie Santos was killed in a car crash on December 14, 1989.
It's a Beautiful Day reunited in 1997 under the name "David LaFlamme Band" as well as "It's a Beautiful Day" as Katz briefly let his trademark of the name go un-renewed. The band features founder David LaFlamme and original drummer Val Fuentes. Other band members are LaFlamme's current wife, Linda Baker LaFlamme (vocals), Toby Gray (basses and producer), Gary Thomas (keyboards and producer), Rob Espinosa (guitars), and Michael Prichard (percussion). They continue performing today, with LaFlamme contributing to Jefferson Starship's 2008 release, Jefferson's Tree of Liberty
. This lineup is the longest continual band that has ever performed the IABD material.
A version of "White Bird" by violinist Vanessa-Mae
was released in 2001 and reached number 66 in the UK Singles Chart
. The song has also been recorded by bluegrass virtuoso Sam Bush as well as countless other regional acts over the years.
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
formed in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1967, the brainchild of violinist David LaFlamme
David LaFlamme
David LaFlamme is a virtuoso violinist in both classical and rock music.David's mother was from a Mormon family in Salt Lake City, and when he was eight years old, the family moved there to be near her family...
.
LaFlamme, a former soloist with the Utah Symphony Orchestra, had previously been in the band Orkustra
Orkustra
Orkustra was a band that tried a synthesis between symphonic orchestra and psychedelic band. The result was a sort of freeform psychedelia. According to member Bobby Beausoleil, the group was originally known as "The Electric Chamber Orchestra." The name was changed to avoiding limiting bookings...
, and unusually, played a five-string violin. The other members were his wife Linda (keyboards), Pattie Santos (vocals), Hal Wagenet (guitar), Mitchell Holman (bass) and Val Fuentes
Val Fuentes
Val Fuentes is the original and current drummer for the psychedic folk-rock band It's a Beautiful Day...
(drums). Although they were one of the earliest and most important San Francisco bands to emerge from the Summer of Love
Summer of Love
The Summer of Love was a social phenomenon that occurred during the summer of 1967, when as many as 100,000 people converged on the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, creating a cultural and political rebellion...
, It’s a Beautiful Day never quite achieved the success of contemporaries such as The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
and Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
, with whom they had connections. It’s A Beautiful Day created a unique blend of rock, jazz, folk, classical and world beat styles during the seven years the band was officially together.
Early history: 1967–1969
The group's original manager, Matthew KatzMatthew Katz
Matthew Katz is a music manager and producer, most notable as the former manager of Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape and It's A Beautiful Day. Katz was also one of the vanguard litigants in the famous Napster litigation, where he fought to protect property rights of music publishers.-History:Matthew...
, had previously worked with Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
and Moby Grape
Moby Grape
Moby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting and that collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz together with rock and psychedelic music...
. The members of It's a Beautiful Day were unaware that the other two groups were already trying to end their business relationships with Katz. During 1967 and early 1968 Katz prevented It's a Beautiful Day from performing in San Francisco, telling them they were not ready. He booked their first public appearances at a club he controlled in Seattle, Washington formerly known as the Encore Ballroom. Katz renamed the club "San Francisco Sound". While in Seattle the group lived in the attic of an old house owned by Katz while writing and rehearsing new songs in between club performances. Few customers came to the club during It's a Beautiful Day's engagement in Seattle during December 1967.
The group's signature song "White Bird" was inspired by the experiences David and Linda LaFlamme had while living in Seattle. In an ironic twist on the band's name, the sad song was partly inspired by Seattle's rainy winter weather. In a later interview, David LaFlamme said:
- "Where the 'white bird' thing came from ... We were like caged birds in that attic. We had no money, no transportation, the weather was miserable. We were just barely getting by on a very small food allowance provided to us. It was quite an experience, but it was very creative in a way."
By the time the group members returned to San Francisco they were broke and frustrated at Katz's attempts to manipulate their career. In desperation they began playing at a few clubs without Katz's approval. The band gradually began to gain some recognition and earn money. It's a Beautiful Day got their first big break when offered a chance to open for Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
at the Oakland Coliseum on October 4, 1968. Around this time the group first began a long process of trying to disentangle themselves from Katz.
The band's debut album, It's a Beautiful Day
It's a Beautiful Day (album)
It's a Beautiful Day is the self-titled debut album by San Francisco psychedelic band It's a Beautiful Day. This album's song "White Bird" was the band's biggest hit...
, was produced by David LaFlamme in Los Angeles and released by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1969. It featured tracks such as "White Bird", "Hot Summer Day", and "Time Is". The album reached an impressive #47 and stayed on the charts for 70 weeks. The theme from the song "Bombay Calling" was later used, at a slower tempo, by Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
as the intro to "Child in Time
Child in Time
"Child in Time" is a song by British hard rock band Deep Purple. Featured on their 1970 album Deep Purple in Rock, the song is 10 minutes and 18 seconds long.-History and characteristics:...
" on its In Rock
Deep Purple in Rock
Deep Purple in Rock is an album by English rock band Deep Purple, released in June 1970. It was their fourth studio album and the first with the classic Mk II lineup. Rod Evans and Nick Simper had been fired in June 1969 and were replaced by Ian Gillan and Roger Glover, respectively...
album. The vocals and violin playing of David LaFlamme plus Pattie Santos' singing attracted attention including FM radio play, and nationally, "White Bird" bubbled under Billboard's Hot 100 chart
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
, peaking at #118.
1970s and beyond
By 1970 the original lineup of the band had changed somewhat; the LaFlammes had split up and Linda left the band, replaced by Fred Webb. The following album, Marrying Maiden, released in 1970, was a chart hit. In that year, the group also performed at the Holland Pop Festival at the Kralingse Bos in RotterdamRotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music. Tom Fowler
Tom Fowler
Thomas W. Fowler is an American musician. He has played with It's a Beautiful Day, Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ray Charles and many others...
(later bassist for Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
) and Bill Gregory joined in March 1971, their very first performance being live on San Francisco's famous KSAN radio, with host Tom Donahue
Tom Donahue
Tom "Big Daddy" Donahue , was a pioneering rock and roll radio disc jockey, record producer and concert promoter....
introducing them as the band's two new members. In July 1971, It's a Beautiful Day were one of the last acts to appear at Fillmore West
Fillmore West
The Fillmore West was an historic music venue in San Francisco, California made famous by concert promoter Bill Graham. Named after Graham's original "Fillmore" location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it stood at Market Street and South Van Ness Avenue and was formerly...
in San Francisco. Their performance of "White Bird" appeared as part of the 1972 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Fillmore
Fillmore (film)
Fillmore — also known as Fillmore: The Last Days, and as Last Days of the Fillmore — is a music documentary film, primarily shot at the Fillmore West auditorium in San Francisco, California, from June 29 through July 4, 1971. It was released on June 14, 1972.Fillmore documents the final run of...
.
The band continued on to record Choice Quality Stuff/Anytime in 1971 and the live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
Live At Carnegie Hall in 1972, touring until 1974 when they split up. In 1976, LaFlamme's solo version of "White Bird" finally cracked the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at #89. Pattie Santos was killed in a car crash on December 14, 1989.
It's a Beautiful Day reunited in 1997 under the name "David LaFlamme Band" as well as "It's a Beautiful Day" as Katz briefly let his trademark of the name go un-renewed. The band features founder David LaFlamme and original drummer Val Fuentes. Other band members are LaFlamme's current wife, Linda Baker LaFlamme (vocals), Toby Gray (basses and producer), Gary Thomas (keyboards and producer), Rob Espinosa (guitars), and Michael Prichard (percussion). They continue performing today, with LaFlamme contributing to Jefferson Starship's 2008 release, Jefferson's Tree of Liberty
Jefferson's Tree of Liberty
Jefferson's Tree of Liberty is a 2008 studio album by Jefferson Starship, released on September 2, 2008. It is the tenth studio album recorded by the band under the Jefferson Starship name, the first studio album since 1999's Windows of Heaven and the first on a major label by the band since 1989...
. This lineup is the longest continual band that has ever performed the IABD material.
A version of "White Bird" by violinist Vanessa-Mae
Vanessa-Mae
Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson , known professionally as Vanessa-Mae , is an internationally known British violinist. Her music style is self-described as "violin techno-acoustic fusion", as several of her albums prominently feature the techno style...
was released in 2001 and reached number 66 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The song has also been recorded by bluegrass virtuoso Sam Bush as well as countless other regional acts over the years.
Personnel
- David LaFlammeDavid LaFlammeDavid LaFlamme is a virtuoso violinist in both classical and rock music.David's mother was from a Mormon family in Salt Lake City, and when he was eight years old, the family moved there to be near her family...
- violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Linda LaFlamme - Keyboards, background vocals, tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
(1967–1970) - Pattie Santos - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1967–1974) - Linda Baker LaFlamme aka Dominique Dellacroix - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1977–present) - Hal Wagenet - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1969–1971) - Mitchell Holman - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1967–1971) - Tom Fowler - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1971–1973) - Bud CockrellBud CockrellBud Cockrell was a bassist and vocalist for the California based rock and roll band Pablo Cruise. Cockrell was member of the band at its conception in 1973, but left the band in 1977 before they recorded their most successful album, Worlds Away...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1974) - Toby Gray - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1980–present) - Val FuentesVal FuentesVal Fuentes is the original and current drummer for the psychedic folk-rock band It's a Beautiful Day...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1967–present) - Fred Webb - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1970–1974) - Gary Thomas - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(2000–present) - Bill Gregory - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1971–1974) - Rob Espinosa - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2000–present) - Greg Bloch - violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
(1974)
Albums
- It's a Beautiful DayIt's a Beautiful Day (album)It's a Beautiful Day is the self-titled debut album by San Francisco psychedelic band It's a Beautiful Day. This album's song "White Bird" was the band's biggest hit...
(1969) US Album Chart No. 47/UK Album Chart No. 58, 1970 - Marrying Maiden (1970) US Album Chart No. 28/UK Album Chart No. 45, 1970 - Guest Artists on Marrying Maiden - Jerry Garcia: pedal steel guitar, banjo; Richard Olsen: clarinet
- Choice Quality Stuff/Anytime (1971) US Album Chart No. 130
- Live At Carnegie Hall (1972) US Album Chart No. 144
- It's a Beautiful Day...Today (1972) US Album Chart No. 114
- 1001 Nights (Compilation) (1974)
- White Bird Amherst Records (1977)
- Inside Out Amherst Records (1978)
- It's A Beautiful Day / Marrying Maiden (Rerelease) (1998)
- Beyond Dreams (2003)
- David LaFlamme - Live in Seattle (2003)
- David LaFlamme - Misery Loves Company (2005)
Singles
- "Bulgaria" / "Aquarian Dream" (1968) San Francisco Sound 7
- "White Bird" / "Wasted Union Blues" (1969) Columbia 44928
- "Soapstone Mountain" / "Good Lovin'" (1970) Columbia 45152
- "The Dolphins" / "Do You Remember The Sun" (1970) Columbia 45309
- "Anytime" / "Oranges and Apples" (1972) Columbia 45536
- "White Bird" (live) / "Wasted Union Blues" (live) (1973) Columbia 45788
- "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" / "Time" (1973) Columbia 45853
External links
- Rare Album Review http://rare-albums.com/albums.php?id=26
- Itsaboutmusic.com
- PsychedelicSight.com
- [ Allmusic.com]