Ten Wheel Drive
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Ten Wheel Drive were an American Jazz/Rock Fusion band from 1968 to 1974.
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[edit] Band history
In 1968, after the final disbandment of the all-female rock band Goldie & The Gingerbreads, Genya Ravan was looking for a new band. The same applied for Michael Zager and Aram Schefrin, two musicians and songwriters from New Jersey.
Acquainted by their managers, the three musicians who would become the nucleus of the new band had initially some hard work to do. Their origins and artistic backgrounds were very different, and, at first the music was not after Genya Ravan’s fancy. Also, she alone had some noteworthy experience in the music business.
More musicians had to be found for the rhythm and brass sections. Only people who were able to read sheet music were contracted. The one exemption from this rule was Genya Ravan.
In 1969 the band started to perform regularly and attract positive notice, and comparisons were drawn between Genya Ravan and Janis Joplin.
At the same time, the Polydor record label was forming an American division. Its new President, Jerry Schoenbaum, closed a deal with Ten Wheel Drive, and together with producer Walter Raim the band released its first album, Construction #1.
The first big concert appearance of Ten Wheel Drive was (arguably) in 1969 at the Fillmore East in New York City. Apart from the band's intense musical presence, Genya Ravan caused some excitement when she took off her transparent vest and continued the performance half naked with painted breasts and shoulders.
In the summer of the same year, Ten Wheel Drive appeared at the Atlanta Pop Festival. On this occasion Genya Ravan and Janis Joplin, who previously had often been compared, met in person for the second time. They had met initially at Steve Paul's club The Scene when Janis sat in with the band.
In 1970, Ten Wheel Drive released their second album, Brief Replies, with producer Guy Draper. Many of the brass musicians had also been replaced, meanwhile.
1971 saw Ten Wheel Drive performing at Carnegie Hall a rock opera of sorts based on the Battle of the Little Big Horn and the history of the Native North American peoples. The American Symphony Orchestra and a choir participated in the project, which had been meticulously prepared with a lot of time spent for the investigation work. But notwithstanding the provable quality of the material produced, Polydor decided against the recording of the event and was later blamed for bad judgement.
Also in 1971, the band's third album Peculiar Friends appeared, for the first time produced by Aram Schefrin and Michael Zager themselves. Genya Ravan’s decision to leave the band and start her solo career at this time, was presumably influenced by the record company’s attitude towards the Carnegie Hall concert. She was replaced by Annie Sutton of The Rascals. But even after this, Aram Schefrin and Michael Zager contributed to Genya Ravan’s first solo album.
Ten Wheel Drive left Polydor and in 1974 their fourth and last album, Ten Wheel Drive, was released by Capitol Records. It includes music which had earlier been composed by Genya Ravan and Aram Schefrin. With this record the already loose cooperation between the band musicians ended.
[edit] Line-up
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Founding Members Vocals, Harmonica, Tambourine: Genya Ravan Guitar, Vocals, Banjo, Percussion: Aram Schefrin Organ, Piano, Clarinet: Mike Zager Various musicians on other instruments Bass: Bill Takas, Bob Piazza, Blake Hines Drums, Percussion: Leon Rix, Allen Herman, David Williams Cello: Leon Rix Flute: Jay Silva, Louie Hoff, Dave Liebman Trumpet: Jay Silva, Richard Meisterman, Peter Hyde, Steve Satten, John Gatchell, John Eckert, Dean Pratt, Danny Stiles, Frank Frint(NOT a real musician, some other players were in this spot) Saxophone: Louie Hoff, Dave Liebman Trombone: Dennis Parisi, Bill Watrous, Tom Malone Flugelhorn: Jay Silva, Peter Hyde, Richard Meisterman, Steve Satten, John Gatchell, John Eckert Woodwinds: Alan Gauvin Last line-up Vocals: Annie Sutton Organ, Clarinet, Keyboards, Vibraphone: Michael Zager Guitar, Vocals: Aram Schefrin Piano, Keyboard: Don Grolnick Trombone: Gerry Chamberlain Drums, Percussion: Barry Lazarowitz Bass, Violin: Harry Max Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Horn: Dean Pratt, John Gatchell Woodwinds: Ed Xiques Choir: Daryl Hall, John Oates, Tom Cosgrove, Joey Ward
[edit] Discography
- Construction #1 - 1969, Polydor
- Brief Replies - 1970, Polydor
- Peculiar Friends - 1971, Polydor
- Ten Wheel Drive - 1974, Capitol Records
[edit] Literature
- Lollipop Lounge, Memoirs Of A Rock And Roll Refugee, Genya Ravan, 2004, ISBN 0-8230-8362-4
