Saturday, February 18, 2017
"Kind Of A Drag" #1 2/18/1967
In 1967 and 1968, the Buckinghams were probably the biggest rock act from Chicago. They were called the Pulsations when they were the house band on WGN-TV's "All-Time Hits" show, but changed their name to sound British - and sell records - and to reflect their hometown's famous Buckingham Fountain. (See the opening credits of "Married...With Children.") Great, hard-driving horns punctuate this rocker, which finally knocked "I'm A Believer" out of the top spot. Written by Jim Holvay, who fronted a Windy City band called The Mob. BTW, another horn-driven band got their start this week in 1967, called The Big Thing before becoming Chicago Transit Authority and then known as just Chicago. There's a connection between that group and the Buckinghams - we'll tell you later. This one's an absolute fave of mine.
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2 comments:
Both recorded for Columbia Records.
Both groups had the same producer, James William Guercio.
Ding ding ding! Apparently Guercio added that psychedelic passage to "Susan" without the band's OK, and he fell out with the Bucks. That was when he went on to assemble what became Chicago. He also produced the first Blood, Sweat & Tears album, too.
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