SRC (band)

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[edit] The early years

The SRC (short for Scott Richardson Case) 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 band's 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 band's members dropped out of Eastern Michigan University to work on their music. This was a risk because these were the days when draft-eligible young men were potentially subject to mandatory military duty in Vietnam.

Soon, the band's 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 released on Capitol Records. The single "Black Sheep" / "Morning Mood" was released from this album and drew a great deal of fan and media praise. Black Sheep, often considered an essential psychedelic masterpiece per above mention, was released only in mono for the single, and it was a somewhat abridged version, and with a slightly different feel to the "stun" guitar, as well as a decidedly different choice of lead guitar notation at a few points during the stretched, rubato-like guitar breaks for which the piece is noted, among its other unique characteristics. The album version, captured in well-blended, as opposed to "ping-pong" stereo, then still in use by more limited recording studios of 1968, featured a longer mid-section with additional verses {all words and music by SRC per original album credits, notwithstanding bonus tracks on later releases such as "Morning Mood" (with 19th century Norweigian composer Edvard Grieg credited as well)} added to the song that features imagery, wordplays, distant Biblical and Chaucer-like references as excerpted from the first part, "Black Sheep , outcast, misfit, Ishmael", followed by, "Every stranger each his own tale" (perhaps foreshadowing their third album title "Traveler's Tale (1970) and then with "Waking, faced with dreaming thinking, laughing, crying, being, winking", upon which arrives the first of the legendary pair of "Black Sheep" guitar breaks.

Later verses continue in the mode of unusual lyrics in the vein of psychedelic quest, again followed by a second deliberate, strecthed 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 and 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 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. Still, as history can only be judged by the passage of time, SRC has, by many accounts appeared to have been perhaps ahead of its time or not privy to the forces that make for huge hits when they were active, but seem to be increasingly recognized for their unique contributions to psychedelic and pop rock at the end of the 1960's. A sealed original copy of their debut album from 1968 was recently sold on eBay for nearly $225 U.S. In its day, on sale, it was probably $3.98. The old question kicks in about how to measure the value of art...and additionally, SRC's first album is well known for its cover. It is aglow with color and literally dripping with references to the content of the music within. Due in small part to their effort, many older music fans lament the loss of classic "album art" from the heyday of the 12" LP vinyl record.

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.

[edit] 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 rock, the album was a total failure, resulting in the band's being released from its contract with Capitol.

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 Sceptre and released a cover version of the Pretty Things' "Out in the Night." 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.

The band's member Glenn Quackenbush now has an amazing child named Morgan Quackenbush. He is the most charismatic, genuine, amazing person/musician on the face of the earth. Everybody should be his friend.

[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