Climax (band)

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Formed in 1970 in Los Angeles, California, Climax was a band most noted for their 1972 classic hit song "Precious and Few." Climax consisted of Marc Gordon, Larry Cox, John Stevenson, Walter Nims, and Sonny Geraci. The band is considered a one-hit wonder because no other releases gained much widespread success. However, Climax was not a typical "one-hit wonder." Lead singer Sonny Geraci, who was formerly the front-man for the 1960s garage rock band The Outsiders (of "Time Won't Let Me" fame), later sang on a number of hit studio recordings with other artists. Keyboardist John Stevenson wrote the song "Rock and Roll Heaven." Climax decided to sell the recording rights to The Righteous Brothers who turned the song into one of the pop classics. Though "Precious and Few" was the band's only major hit recording, Climax has played a somewhat influential role in the wider arena of rock music.

1 External links
2 Miscellaneous Notes
3 Album Information
4 Single Releases
5 Other songs recorded, but are unreleased

[edit] External links

Climax at All Music Guide

[edit] Miscellaneous Notes

Climax was together from 1970 to 1976. They recorded one album, many "45s" and a lot of unreleased sides. Also in the band was Walter Nims, who was their principal songwriter and guitarist. Walter Nims' younger sister Debbie Nims toured, played violin, and sang backup vocals with Garth Brooks.

Climax came out of the ashes of The Outsiders (Geraci's '60s band). A few sides were released under the Outsiders name, but when Tom King of the original band threatened legal action, they changed the name of the band to Climax. Released under the Outsiders name (but actually Climax) were "Lovin' You"/"Think I'm Fallin'" and "Changes"/"Lost In My World" (a totally different song from the Outsiders song Lost In My World). The name change followed and then they released the album "Climax Featuring Sonny Geraci".

[edit] Album Information

Their lone album came out in 1972 on Rocky Road Records. The album had 12 cuts and many were used as B-sides for subsequent singles. It has never been officially released on CD.

Side 1

1 Life & Breath
2 I've Got Everything
3 Prelude (Instrumental :50 Orchestral Version of I've Got Everything)
4 Picnic In The Rain
5 Face The Music
6 Precious & Few

Side 2

1 It's Coming Today
2 Rainbow Rides Are Free
3 If It Feels Good-Do It
4 Merlin
5 Postlude (Instrumental :48 Orchestral Version of Life & Breath)
6 Child Of December

One pressing has surfaced with 2 additional tracks, a 5:20 version of Park Preserve (Single was 3:47) was in between Life & Breath & I've Got Everything the early song Hard Rock Group was inserted between If It Feels Good-Do It and Merlin. Singer Sonny Geraci has said that it was a first pressing. The record label didn't want the heavier songs on the album. Without them the only heavier songs you get are It's Coming Today, If It Feels Good-Do It and Merlin which in turn was edited. (longer version unavailable) Apparently the original version of Merlin was between 5:30 and 6:00. Edited out was a little longer, more drawn out intro and more than half of the original guitar solo. This version was shortened even before the first pressing. After Precious & Few's chart success, they wanted the album more AM sounding. The band was disappointed because they were more into the rock sound.

[edit] Single Releases

Lovin' You/Think I'm Fallin' (Under The Outsiders name. Its actually Climax before the name change)
Changes/Lost In My World (Under The Outsiders name. Its actually Climax before the name change)
Hard Rock Group/(B-Side Unknown)
Precious & Few (#3 Billboard)/Park Preserve
Life & Breath (#50 Billboard)/If It Feels Good Do It (B-Side later covered by The Stories)
Caroline This Time/Rainbow Rides Are Free
Walking In The Georgia Rain/Picnic In The Rain
Rock & Roll Heaven/Face The Music
It's Gonna Get Better/(B-Side Unknown)