This video was a first mix of the song so there are some parts that will sound a little bit different then the final mix on the CD – Test Drive  “RAW”. These video’s I have produce have been a home grown art form in stop motion format. Pictures and moments that are meant to ingrain and make a mark on the brain, like having a flash of light and when you close your eyes you still see that flash.
Japanese Tiles – (Japanese Lady with Dark Eyes) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Composed, Performed and Video imagined by Al B.
After playing the Bar scene for a few years we finally had enough cash to start on the 45′. Andy Blinx a good friend, fellow musician and artist had an in at Radio City Music hall with the engineer Don Hunnerburg. So we took some of the bar cash equity to record 4 songs at the Radio City studio’s shooting to do a 45 record on our own. We invited John Kessler along to help with the production on the mix. We had the mindset to record 4 songs and pick the best 2 to put on the 45 and release. Out of our repertoire of about 12 originals at the time, we picked the best 4. They were, Kangaroo, Space Trot, Banana Rock and Situation. The recording sessions began albeit from 12 midnight until 4 am. That’s the time we could get for about next to nothing in cost as the studio was vacant at that time slot.
Pete playing Vibes -Gary & Andy Blinx (in the back) watches
We started playing the Long Island Bar circuit in the late 70’s. We did cover’s of just about everything and a few originals here and there. Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Car’s, Elvis Costello, Devo, Doors, The Knack and anything that was new and hot on the radio at the time. You know, what people were into at that moment in time to make us relevant playing to the Friday and Saturday bar folks having a night out and to a lot of drunks. As previously blogged, it paid the bar tab and we started to squirrel some cash aside as our goal was to produce our own 45 record to release and see where it would go. Some of the places on Long Island we played at were Wooden Ships, Good Times, Camelot Inn, The Belmont Inn, Uncle Bobs, The Little Club are just a few of the many bar/clubs I can remember playing – there was so many back in the late 70’s early 80’s.
Where’s the money in playing clubs? Simply answer, there is none. Unless you are in demand or had a record deal or in our case for a while playing the bar scene doing cover songs. At least we got a little cash and paid the bar tab.
There must be many of our fellow musicians out there that can comment of this –Let’s hear some war stories!!! – Comments Please
Quickly another blow to the band came when Pete decided he was going away to college and he felt that his path, even though he was majoring in music wasn’t playing in the band anymore. Now to find a solid drummer. We put an ad in the Good Times local music rag and lo and behold there came an onslaught of drummers knocking on our door. Well about 6 to 8 drummers in a bushy haired kid came in with some solid chops, his name was Gary Sabshon. The Final 5 was set Myself, Ken Kern, Gary Citro, Jim Tucker and Gary Sabshon.
The Final 5 Lampshades Left to Right Al B., Jim Tucker, Gary Citro, Ken Kern, Gary Sabshon
The lampshades went through many band mates until it’s final 5 was established. The first true band set up was myself, John Donnelly, Pete Fagiola, Gary Citro and Robbie Nichole’s. We wrote a few original songs but the majority of the music was cover music. The covers that we played were very eclectic, from Pink Floyd to the B52’s, Devo and the Doors.
At 17 was starting to live and breath the moment
Robbie Nichole’s
John left the band and new member Kenny Kern joined us. Kenny was an extremely versatile musician and is a really great guitar player among the other instruments he could play he also sang very well. We continued to dabble in some original music but embarked on doing 3 sets of cover music so we could play the Long Island Bar circuit and earn some cash. Not too long into playing at some Long Island hot spots like Wooden Ships, Uncle Bob’s Rocking Fun House, Camelot Inn and some place in Massapequa in which right now the name eludes me. Soon after we started playing the circuit we had to part ways with Robbie, as he was tough to get along with and really was not a good musician or should we say his musical taste’s didn’t taste very good. Now to find another guitar player in comes Jim Tucker. Jim was a good solid rhythm man and could also sing. This group of 5, Ken, Jim, Gary, Pete and me started writing a bunch of original tunes. Still playing covers in bars and a few colleges to get cash, we began to integrated some of the original pieces into the sets. Andy Blinx a good friend, fellow musician and artist had an in at Radio City Music hall with the engineer Don Hunnerburg. So we took some of the bar cash equity to record 4 songs at the Radio City studio’s shooting to do a 45 record on our own. We invited John Kessler along to help with the production on the mix.
Don and John at the console
Being that Andy got us the inside track to record at Radio City, the only caveat was that we had the studio from 12 midnight to 4am. Needless to say what we did to keep up – was something called sex, drugs and rock & roll! Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Thank-you Mr. Blinx!
Aldo Buzzi Music 
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