Those who never saw this band perform live have no idea how truly good they were. These guys were (and two of them still are) personal friends of mine. I was there when this album was recorded in Fort Worth, and worked with them before, during and after the recording sessions. First, Hank's last name is Dandini - it was misprinted on the album notes. His instrument was NOT a Wurlitzer, or anything that remotely resembled one. Hank played a Hammond M-3 organ, and is a classically trained keyboardist who once auditioned for Frank Zappa. Tony's father was an operatic producer and his mother was a major opera singer. Tony has a special gift for music as a composer, singer, guitarist and producer.
Darrell Glenn, who produced the album, is the son of Artie Glenn who wrote "Crying in the Chapel", a song made famous by Elvis. Darrell was a producer of country and Elvis-type music, though he was also producing Ike and Tina Turner at the same time he produced "The Abstracts". To his credit, Darrell was wholly unfamiliar with the band and had never produced anything like their music before. The studio was very limited in its capabilities, but it was the one provided by Pompeii Records, owned by Pat Morgan, a Dallas nightclub owner who had his custom label distributed by Atlantic Records. The sounds that come from that album can be attributed to a less-than-topnotch studio and a producer with little knowledge of the band or its musical style.
Hearing The Abstracts play live would give one a completely different perspective on just how good these guys really were. In the first place, all were professionally trained as classical musicians except drummer Mike Thatcher, who was a rock drummer from Dallas, Texas. They viewed music from a mathematical perspective that allowed them to communicate voicings and structure in a strictly-defined format that few musicians of that day possessed (and fewer possess today!) The Abstracts became the backup band for Paul Revere and The Raiders before Tony became the featured guitarist with The Carpenters. Hank has played with many great performers as a sideman. Tony produced several songs for the venerable songwriter/singer/guitarist Danny O'Keefe.(excerpt from a review on rateyourmusic.com by reader Canoeman in 2010)
Very versatile band. That's why this album is very popular with me. Enjoy.(Frank)
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Thanks, Frank, can only repeat myself:
ReplyDeleteGreat band, indeed (no wonder with all those references, let alone "featured guitarist with The Carpenters"). Musicianship, compositions, arrangements and (even the overall insufficient) production are often ahead of the times and directly pointing to later 1970s bands.
Best, however, is the hilarious front (and rear) photo with the band posing in that pathetic manner (as if Sauron's big crimson eye in the sky had opened and let loose a "Boo!!").
But maybe the band is just witnessing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (since that wonderful album was released by Pompeii Records)...
Say there, I'm trying to write a story about this band and find all kinds of dead ends. If you are truly someone who knew the band and knows the players, could you contact me at my direct email address oldereck@msn.com I've worked with several bands and would like to include The Abstracts in the project. Been working on this for 25 years and hope to publish before years end 2020. I am sincere about my request. Please contact. Thanks, Dave Handyside Ina-Gadda-Da-Records
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