SRC (band)
Encyclopedia
The SRC was a Detroit-based rock band from the late 1960s. From 1966 to 1972, they were a staple at many Detroit rock venues, such as the Grande Ballroom
.
lead singer, with local band The Fugitives, which featured Glenn Quackenbush, Gary Quackenbush & E.G. Clawson, all based in Ann Arbor
, Michigan
. Jeep Holland, manager of The Rationals
, became their manager and suggested Richardson as lead singer. Bass player Robin Dale was added later.
Holland, also a record store manager, later served as Russ Gibb
's booking agent and was associated with many of the top Detroit based artists of his time such as MC5
, The Tymes
, and others. The Quackenbush brothers went to see Richardson at one of the final Chosen Few gigs at the Ann Arbor Armory, run by Pete Andrews (later SRC's manager). They formed the Scot Richard Case, later known as SRC.
and based the SRC stage show on this. The band recorded its first single "Who's that Girl"/"I'm So Glad
", the latter a cover of a Skip James
song, and released it to moderate reviews. However, fan reaction was good enough for the band's members to choose to drop out of Eastern Michigan University
to work on their music, a risk at the time as draft-eligible men were potentially subject to mandatory military duty in Vietnam
.
Soon the band's sound became more psychedelic
, influenced by the likes of Procol Harum
, for whom the band would later open. Their self-titled debut album was released by Capitol Records
, and the single "Black Sheep"/"Morning Mood" from this album drew fan and media praise. "Black Sheep", considered a psychedelic masterpiece, was released only in mono for the single, as an abridged version with different guitar sound and notation. The album version, recorded in well-blended as opposed to ping-pong stereo
, then still in use by some of the more limited recording studios in 1968, featured a longer mid-section with additional verses.
Later verses continue in the mode of unusual lyrics in the vein of psychedelic quest, again followed by a second deliberate, stretched dual lead guitar break that fades ever so slowly into infinity. "Marionette", "Onesimpletask", and "Refugeve" offer additional examples of the expanded guitar and keyboard style developed by the Quackenbush brothers Gary (guitar) and Glenn (Hammond organ), along with their musically adventurous bandmates. Plodding, articulate and heavy drums often complement the essence of the psychedelic realm depicted by the entire debut album.
With growing popularity, the band split from Holland and began to open in and around Detroit for several national and international artists such as Jimi Hendrix
, Traffic
, The Who
, The Rolling Stones
, Janis Joplin
and The Mamas & the Papas
among others. Soon after the success of their first record the band began to work on a second album. Milestones was released in March 1969. From this album they released the single "Up All Night" / "Turn Into Love" (Capitol) in 1969.
Robin Dale was replaced by Al Wilmot and Lyman would exit the band before Milestones was completed or released. Milestones was perhaps the band's best attempt at commercial and mainstream success and was even charted in the Billboard top 250, but never reached any position to help SRC break out of the Detroit or Ann Arbor area on to more national success.
Before the start of "Traveler's Tale" Gary Quackenbush was in his own words in a "severe" motorcycle accident that had him eventually hospitalized. Whether or not this had any additional effect on kicking him out of the group is unknown.
.
In the time leading up to the break-up, there were attempts to record without several key members of the band; the results of these sessions remained unreleased for several years. With the group's popularity dwindling, Goodman was released. Soon, the band added Richard Haddad (also known as "Shemp") on bass; he was soon replaced by Byron Coons.
In desperation the band changed its name to Blue Scepter and released a cover version of the Pretty Things
' "Out in the Night". After it failed to generate any interest, the band broke up.
, which starred Bob Dylan
and worked on sets for two of The Lord of the Rings
films. Gary Quackenbush went on to start SRC records and continued to session around the country. While all the members had a wonderful experience while involved in SRC and marginal success elsewhere, in other bands (such as Richardson who later worked with Ray Manzarek
of the Doors
), none of them were ever involved in a group more noted than this. Sadly, "Shemp" Haddad was killed in a road accident in California and E.G. Clawson died of cancer in the late 1990s. His death lead to SRC releasing Lost Masters, half of which includes the demos featuring Haddad's work.
While the original line up has never reunited, the band has seen a sudden rebirth in popularity since the mid-1980s. Their three albums have been re-released due to popular demand in the United Kingdom and sessions from their final years have been turned into two albums of material that were released in the late 80's and early 90's. SRC's influence spreads wide: In fact in recent years it has surfaced in Detroit News Papers that Peter Gabriel
was a very big fan of SRC. In fact, he was once quoted as saying he played their first album so much he wore down the groove. It has also been noted that the popularity SRC saw in the UK was much greater than in the United States.
Grande Ballroom
The Grande Ballroom is a historic live music venue located at 8952 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The building was designed by Detroit engineer and architect Charles N. Agree in 1928 and originally served as a multi-purpose building, hosting retail business on the first floor and a large...
.
The early years
The SRC was formed by Scott Richardson, the Chosen FewChosen Few
-Bands:*The Chosen Few , a Jamaican reggae group*The Chosen Few, a 1960s rock group from Newcastle, England who evolved into Skip Bifferty*The Chosen Few , a 1960s Detroit garage rock band, whose members included Ron Asheton...
lead singer, with local band The Fugitives, which featured Glenn Quackenbush, Gary Quackenbush & E.G. Clawson, all based in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Jeep Holland, manager of The Rationals
The Rationals
-History:The Rationals formed in 1964 and first recorded a single for a local label, A2 Records, in 1965. After scoring a local hit with the tune "Gave My Love", they recorded a cover of Otis Redding's "Respect". This won them a contract for national distribution by Cameo/Parkway, and the single...
, became their manager and suggested Richardson as lead singer. Bass player Robin Dale was added later.
Holland, also a record store manager, later served as Russ Gibb
Russ Gibb
"Uncle" Russ Gibb is a former concert promoter, and media personality from Dearborn, Michigan, probably most famous for his role in the Paul is Dead phenomenon, a story he broke as a DJ on WKNR-FM....
's booking agent and was associated with many of the top Detroit based artists of his time such as MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
, The Tymes
The Tymes
The Tymes are an American soul vocal group, who enjoyed equal success in the United Kingdom as their homeland. They share the distinction of being one of the few acts to have one and only one chart-topper in both the U.S...
, and others. The Quackenbush brothers went to see Richardson at one of the final Chosen Few gigs at the Ann Arbor Armory, run by Pete Andrews (later SRC's manager). They formed the Scot Richard Case, later known as SRC.
The Scott Richardson years
Upon the addition of Richardson, the original lineup included: Scott Richardson (vocals), Steve Lyman (rhythm guitar and vocals), Gary Quackenbush (lead guitar), Glenn Quackenbush (organ), Robin Dale (bass and vocals) and E.G. Clawson (drums). Richardson was influenced by the Pretty ThingsThe Pretty Things
The Pretty Things are an English rock and roll band from London, who originally formed in 1963. They took their name from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing" and, in their early days, were dubbed by the British press the "uglier cousins of the Rolling Stones". Their most commercially successful...
and based the SRC stage show on this. The band recorded its first single "Who's that Girl"/"I'm So Glad
I'm So Glad
"I'm So Glad" is a song originally recorded by Skip James in the early 1930s. The song is derived from a 1927 song by Art Sizemore and George A. Little entitled "So Tired"...
", the latter a cover of a Skip James
Skip James
Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James was an American Delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter, born in Bentonia, Mississippi, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
song, and released it to moderate reviews. However, fan reaction was good enough for the band's members to choose to drop out of Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
to work on their music, a risk at the time as draft-eligible men were potentially subject to mandatory military duty in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Soon the band's sound became more psychedelic
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
, influenced by the likes of Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
, for whom the band would later open. Their self-titled debut album was released by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, and the single "Black Sheep"/"Morning Mood" from this album drew fan and media praise. "Black Sheep", considered a psychedelic masterpiece, was released only in mono for the single, as an abridged version with different guitar sound and notation. The album version, recorded in well-blended as opposed to ping-pong stereo
Ping pong recording technique
The Ping Pong recording technique is used in sound recording, to condense program material by dubbing multiple parts to just one or two tracks, allowing more room for overdubbing or to simplify mixdowns.The two most common methods consist of A)Dubbing tracks between two tape recorders The Ping...
, then still in use by some of the more limited recording studios in 1968, featured a longer mid-section with additional verses.
Later verses continue in the mode of unusual lyrics in the vein of psychedelic quest, again followed by a second deliberate, stretched dual lead guitar break that fades ever so slowly into infinity. "Marionette", "Onesimpletask", and "Refugeve" offer additional examples of the expanded guitar and keyboard style developed by the Quackenbush brothers Gary (guitar) and Glenn (Hammond organ), along with their musically adventurous bandmates. Plodding, articulate and heavy drums often complement the essence of the psychedelic realm depicted by the entire debut album.
With growing popularity, the band split from Holland and began to open in and around Detroit for several national and international artists such as Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Traffic
Traffic (band)
Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason...
, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
and The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
among others. Soon after the success of their first record the band began to work on a second album. Milestones was released in March 1969. From this album they released the single "Up All Night" / "Turn Into Love" (Capitol) in 1969.
Robin Dale was replaced by Al Wilmot and Lyman would exit the band before Milestones was completed or released. Milestones was perhaps the band's best attempt at commercial and mainstream success and was even charted in the Billboard top 250, but never reached any position to help SRC break out of the Detroit or Ann Arbor area on to more national success.
Before the start of "Traveler's Tale" Gary Quackenbush was in his own words in a "severe" motorcycle accident that had him eventually hospitalized. Whether or not this had any additional effect on kicking him out of the group is unknown.
The final years
With a new lineup featuring a single guitarist, Ray Goodman, in place of both Gary Quackenbush and Steve Lyman, SRC recorded and released Traveler's Tale, its third and final LP. Showcasing a stylistic shift away from psychedelic rock and toward prog rockProgressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
.
In the time leading up to the break-up, there were attempts to record without several key members of the band; the results of these sessions remained unreleased for several years. With the group's popularity dwindling, Goodman was released. Soon, the band added Richard Haddad (also known as "Shemp") on bass; he was soon replaced by Byron Coons.
In desperation the band changed its name to Blue Scepter and released a cover version of the Pretty Things
The Pretty Things
The Pretty Things are an English rock and roll band from London, who originally formed in 1963. They took their name from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing" and, in their early days, were dubbed by the British press the "uglier cousins of the Rolling Stones". Their most commercially successful...
' "Out in the Night". After it failed to generate any interest, the band broke up.
After the breakup
In the years following the breakup of the SRC each member went onto his own personal success. Richardson relocated to Los Angeles and became involved in films. He served as writer on Hearts of FireHearts of Fire
Hearts of Fire is a 1987 American musical drama film starring Bob Dylan, Fiona Flanagan and Rupert Everett. The film was essentially a vehicle for Dylan based on his success as a rock musician...
, which starred Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and worked on sets for two of The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
films. Gary Quackenbush went on to start SRC records and continued to session around the country. While all the members had a wonderful experience while involved in SRC and marginal success elsewhere, in other bands (such as Richardson who later worked with Ray Manzarek
Ray Manzarek
Raymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
of the Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
), none of them were ever involved in a group more noted than this. Sadly, "Shemp" Haddad was killed in a road accident in California and E.G. Clawson died of cancer in the late 1990s. His death lead to SRC releasing Lost Masters, half of which includes the demos featuring Haddad's work.
While the original line up has never reunited, the band has seen a sudden rebirth in popularity since the mid-1980s. Their three albums have been re-released due to popular demand in the United Kingdom and sessions from their final years have been turned into two albums of material that were released in the late 80's and early 90's. SRC's influence spreads wide: In fact in recent years it has surfaced in Detroit News Papers that Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
was a very big fan of SRC. In fact, he was once quoted as saying he played their first album so much he wore down the groove. It has also been noted that the popularity SRC saw in the UK was much greater than in the United States.
Singles
- "I'm So Glad"/ "Who Is That Girl" (as "The Scot Richard Case", 1967, A-Square)
- "Get The Picture" (as "The Old Exciting Scot Richard Case")/ "I Need You" (by "The Early Rationals") (1967, A-Square)
- "Black Sheep" / "Morning Mood" (1968, Capitol Records)
- "Up All Night" / "Turn Into Love" (1969, Capitol Records)
- "Never Before Now" / "My Fortune's Coming True" (1970, Capitol Records)
- "Born To Love" / "Badaz Shuffle" (1971, Big Casino Records)
- "Out In The Night" / "Gypsy Eyes" (as "Blue Scepter", 1972, Rare Earth Records)
Albums
- SRCSRC (SRC album)SRC was the eponymous debut studio album by SRC, released in November 1968 on Capitol Records. This would be the only album that Robin Dale would play on as he left shortly after this album was released.-Track listing:All songs by SRC....
(1968, Capitol Records) - Milestones (1969, Capitol Records)
- Traveler's Tale (1970, Capitol Records)
- Lost Masters (includes 1970 recordings for a fourth album, 1993, One Way Records)
Re-Releases
- Milestones (1991, One Way RecordsOne Way RecordsOne Way Records was a record label established by Larry Norman in 1970 to distribute his own work, and that of other Christian musicians including Randy Stonehill, after he had been released by Capitol Records in 1969.-History:...
) - Traveler's Tale (1993, One Way Records)
- SRC (1993, One Way Records)
- "Black Sheep" (2000, RPM)
- As Blue Scepter