1910 Fruitgum Company
| 1910 Fruitgum Company | |
|---|---|
 The 1910 Fruitgum Company performing live on November 17, 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Linden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Bubblegum pop |
| Years active | 1965–1969, 2007–present |
| Labels | Buddah |
| Members |
Frank Jeckell Mick Mansuetto Bob Brescia Glenn Lewis Keith Crane |
| Past members |
Mark Gutkowski Steve Mortkowitz Isaac Hirsch Pat Karwan Ross Oppenheimer |
The 1910 Fruitgum Company is an American bubblegum pop band of the 1960s. The group's Hot 100 hits were "Simon Says", "May I Take A Giant Step", "1, 2, 3, Red Light", "Goody Goody Gumdrops", "Indian Giver", "Special Delivery", and "The Train". Guitarist Frank Jeckell claimed to have adopted the name from a gum wrapper that he found in a jacket pocket while trying on a retro suit.[1]
Career
The band began as Jeckell and The Hydes in New Jersey in 1965. The original founding member was Frank Jeckell, with additional members Pat Karwan, Steve Mortkowitz, and Mark Gutkowski---all from Linden, New Jersey.
During 1967, they were signed to Buddah Records, where they released five LPs under their own name and a variety of singles, as well as appearing on the LP The Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus, which sounded like the usual Buddha studio band in spite of its promotion as a "bubblegum superjam". Their first hit single, "Simon Says", was written by Elliot Chiprut, but Jeckell persuaded the band to record it. During the process they changed the beat and patterned the song after "Wooly Bully" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. "Simon Says" soon became a success, hitting #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart[2] and was heard in the 1968 Frederick Wiseman documentary High School.
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The band started touring, opening for major acts such as The Beach Boys.[3] They went on to release the hits "May I Take a Giant Step", "1, 2, 3, Red Light" (U.S. #5), "Goody, Goody Gumdrops", and "Indian Giver" (U.S. #5).
Early during the 21st century, originator Frank Jeckell and Mick Mansuetto put the act back together which included Floyd Marcus, original drummer, along with a few musicians, and started touring again. They performed a concert on November 17, 2007 at the Caravan of Stars XIV, in Henderson, Tennessee. Also appearing at the show were Dickey Lee, Jimmy Gilmer, Carol Conners (of The Teddy Bears), Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, Jim Yester (of The Association), Jerry Yester (of The Lovin' Spoonful), Eddie Brigati (of The Young Rascals), and Dennis Tufano (of The Buckinghams).[4]
Million sellers
"Simon Says" sold three and a half million. "1, 2, 3, Red Light" and "Indian Giver" each sold over one million copies. All three were awarded gold discs.[5]
Members, past and present
Current lineup
- Frank Jeckell
- Mick Mansueto
- Glenn Lewis
- Bob Brescia
- Keith Crane
Former members
- Ralph Cohen (Douglas)
- Pat Soriano
- Jerry Roth
- Bruce Shay
- Mike Ilnicki
Floyd Marcus
- Michael Stoppiello
- Curtis Gashlin
- Rusty Oppenheimer
- Larry Ripley
Steve Mortkewicz
- Chuck Travis
- Randy Monaco
- Dennis Kubala
- Rich Gomez
Mark Gutkowski
- Stephen Young
- David Turinsky
- James Camando
- Mike LaVolpe
- Mike Edell
- Phil Thorstenson
- Charles Tedesco
- Oscar Dominguez
- Mitch Harb (Organ)
- Gary Poskay
- Eric-Claus
Bruce Plowshay
- Mike James
Discography
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Record Label | B-side From same album as A-side except where indicated |
Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | UK | AUS | |||||
| 1967 | "Simon Says" | 4 | 2 | 2 | Buddah Records | "Reflections from the Looking Glass" (Non-LP track) | Simon Says |
| 1968 | "May I Take A Giant Step (Into Your Heart)" | 63 | – | 42 | "(Poor Old) Mr. Jensen" | ||
| "1, 2, 3, Red Light" | 5 | – | 8 | "Sticky, Sticky" (Non-LP track) | 1, 2, 3, Red Light | ||
| "Goody Goody Gumdrops" | 37 | – | 29 | "Candy Kisses" (Non-LP track) | Goody Goody Gumdrops | ||
| 1969 | "Indian Giver" | 5 | – | 5 | "Pow Wow" (Non-LP track) | Indian Giver | |
| "Special Delivery" | 38 | – | 47 | "No Good Annie" | |||
| "The Train" | 57 | – | 68 | "Eternal Light" (Non-LP track) | Hard Ride | ||
| "When We Get Married" | 118 | – | 76 | "Baby Bret" (Non-LP track) | Juiciest Fruitgum | ||
| 1970 | "Go Away" | – | – | 77 | Super K Records | "The Track" | Non-LP tracks |
Albums
| Year | Album | Billboard 200 | Record Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Simon Says | 162 | Buddah Records |
| 1, 2, 3, Red Light | 163 | ||
| Goody Goody Gumdrops | – | ||
| 1969 | Indian Giver | 147 | |
| Hard Ride | – | ||
| 1970 | Juiciest Fruitgum | – | |
| 2001 | The Best of the 1910 Fruitgum Company: Simon Says | – | |
References
- ↑ - ClassicBands.com Interview
- ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 395. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ Floyd Marcus - Songfacts Interviews
- ↑ - Photo Journey Blog
- ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 244 & 264. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
External links
- Official website
- Group biography by Tom Simon
- Bubblegum University article by Kim Cooper
- Mark Gutkowski, , Piano Store
- The 1910 Fruitgum Company - Bubblegum Music Picture Page
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