SRC (band)
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[edit] The early years
The SRC (short for Scot Richard Case)(or Scott Richardson Consort?) was a Detroit/Ann Arbor based rock band from the late 1960's. From 1965 to 1970 they were a staple at many legendary Detroit rock venues such as The Grande Ballroom which is perhaps best remembered as the setting in which the MC5 album Kick out the Jams was recorded.
Originally called the Ravins and then the Fugitives and formed by guitarists Steve Lyman and Gary Quackenbush, the early core of the group was granted an audition with Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Jr. who turned them down for lack of an established stage show. However, a new shape of the band began to appear after a meeting with a well known Ann Arbor area manager by the name of Hugh "Jeep" Holland.
Holland, also a record store manager, served as Russ Gibb's booking agent and was associated with many of the top Detroit based artists of his time such as MC5, Bob Seger, The Rationals, Amboy Dukes and Thyme. While originally impressed with the bands sound, he felt it lacked a "front man" and chose to select a new singer for the band before he would sign and manage them. In the selection process Holland narrowed the search down to two singers to place in the band: Scott Richardson, the singer of a local band known as the Chosen Few or a young stock boy at his store by the name of James Osterberg (known to the masses as Iggy Pop ) who he would later place with The Psychedelic Stooges.
[edit] The Scott Richardson Years
Upon the addition of Richardson, the original line up was as follows: 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 drew heavy influence from the Pretty Things and based the new SRC stage show around theirs. The band recorded their first single Who's that girl and I'm so glad which was a cover version of a Skip James title and released it to moderate reviews. However, fan reaction was tremendous. It was around this time that the bands members dropped out of Eastern Michigan University to work on their music. This was a risk due to the fact that these were the days when young men were being drafted for duty in Vietnam.
Soon, the bands sound became a touch more psychedelic in nature and was influenced by the likes of Procol Harum (whom the band would later open for). This is evident on their self titled debut album which was first released by A2 or A-Square Records (Holland's label) and then picked up by Capitol Records later on. The single "Black Sheep" / "Morning Mood" was released from this album and drew a great deal of fan and media praise.
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 Mama's and the Papa's among others. Soon after the success of their first record the band began to work on a second album. Milestones was released in March of 1969. From this album they released the single "Up All Night" / "Turn Into Love" (Capitol) in 1969
Important to note: Robin Dale was replaced by Al Wilmot and Lyman would exit the band before Milestones was completed or released. Milestones was perhaps the bands best attempt at commercial and mainstream success and was even charted in the Billboard top 250, but never reached any significant 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. Wether or not this had any additional effect on kicking him out of the group is unknown.
[edit] The Final Years
With a new line up in place that featured newly added Ray Goodman (who replaced Gary Quackenbush), SRC recorded and released Travelers Tale, their third and final album from the line up while it was still known as SRC. The album was a total failure showing them stylistically moving away from psychedelic rock to prog-rock resulting in the band being released from their contract with Capitol.
In the time leading up to the break up there were several changes and attempts at recording without several of their key members who made their early sound what it was. These session remained unreleased for several years. With their popularity vanishing, Goodman was released. Soon, the band added Richard Haddad on bass (also known as "Shemp") and then after a short stint with him added Byron Coons to replace him.
Before the official break up, the band changed their name to Blue Scepter and released a cover version of the Pretty Thing's "Out in the Night" which was to be their last attempt at success. After it failed to generate any interest, the band broke up.
[edit] After The Break Up
In the years following the break up 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 Fire, 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 some marginal success elsewhere in other bands (such as Richardson who later worked with Ray Manzarek of the Doors), none of them even went onto a group more noted than this. On a side note "Shemp" Haddad was killed in a road accident in California and E.G. Clawson died of cancer in the late 1990's. His death lead to SRC releasing the Lost Masters half of which included the demos Haddad had played on.
While the original line up has never reunited the band has seen a sudden rebirth in popularity since the mid-1980's. 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 the groove down. It has also been noted that the popularity SRC saw in the UK was much greater than in the United States.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- "I'm So Glad"/ "Who Is That Girl" (1967, A-Square)
- "Get The Picture"/ "I Need You"(The 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" (1972, Rare Earth Records)
[edit] Albums
- SRC (1968, Capitol Records)
- Milestones (1969, Capitol Records)
- Traveler's Tale (1970, Capitol Records)
- "The Revenge Of The Quackenbush Brothers" (1987, Bam Caruso)
- "Lost Masters" (1993, One Way Records)
[edit] Re-Releases
- "Milestones" (1991, One Way Records)
- "Traveler's Tale" (1993, One Way Records)
- "SRC" (1993, One Way Records)
- "Black Sheep" (2000, RPM)
- As Blue Scepter
[edit] Links
- http://www.humvee.net/src/ the only src website
- http://www.furious.com/perfect/src.html an in-depth article about the band's records and history
