The Revelons are fronted by singer/writer Gregory Lee Pickard and guitarist Mark Suall
- Shades of Blonde is prelude to and thematic of the album. Gregory Lee Pickard aligns the quest for spiritual enlightenment with pop-culture. Ultimately religion and fashion concur: blondes do have more fundamentals. [Drummer Dave Purcell contributes]
- In Ave Maria the Mother of God is featured as the ultimate, unattainable, objet d’amour. This variation of Ave Maria acknowledges Jobim’s The Girl From Ipanema, Herb Alpert’s The Lonely Bull and the vocal styling of Jay Black and the Americans. [Drummer Jay Dee Daugherty of Patti Smith Group contributes/Mezzo-Soprano Lee Harrington contributes]
- The ambiguous The Lover explores unrequited, vicarious love, in which Glenn Campbells’s Gentle On My Mind cannot quite conceal lustful cries from the apartment above. The last line aptly mimics Led Zeppelin: “…and she’s buying the stairway to heaven”. (Drummer Jay Dee Daugherty of Patti Smith Group contributes)
- Beatle era innocence is in upheaval as it collides with Ramone/Punk culture in the incessant teen anthem I Don’t Wanna Hold Your Hand. [Drummer Tony Corsano contributes]
- The Rolling Stones covering Motown is evident in the cryptic Flesh & Blood. Elements herein also suggest a Burt Bacharach production. [Keyboardist Tommy Mandell (David Johansen, Bryan Adams, Dire Straits), contributes/Drummer Tony Corsano contributes]
- Nonsensical clichés make perfect sense in the lyrical, Lee Hazelwood-inspired Satin & Steel which features a provocative feed-back score written and performed by guitarist Mark Suall. [Drummer Tony Corsano contributes]
- Chevrolet Blue is an “auto”-biographical country/car song that embraces the “blues” and re-evaluates George Jones’ assumption that Blue Must Be The Color Of The Blues. [Drummer Tony Corsano contributes]
- In Wendy-O, an interpretation of the Beach Boy’s classic, Gregory Lee Pickard takes the privilege of invoking the late Wendy O Williams, her time and life and death. The youth and beauty culture inherent in rock & roll’s “Stay young, die pretty” attitude is measured herein. [Drummer Dave Purcell contributes]
- GOD Influenced by Easy-Listening melodies (More, Ebb Tide, Autumn Leaves), this epical song humanizes the Deity as He learns to play the Stratocaster.
- Reminiscent of Porter Wagner’s Rubber Room and other Psycho-country tunes of the 1950’s the ambiguous and haunting Child Killer concurs with the Rolling Stones (Satisfaction) that the brand of cigarette smoked determines manhood.
- Stone Like Thee (Title taken from the last line of the 1930’s film: Hunchback of Notre Dame) exemplifies motifs of sufferance and resignation found in songs such as Baby The Rain Must Fall and Elvis’ You Gave Me A Mountain. The “Sha la la” outro typifies refrains found in Hey Jude and in Steam’s Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye. [Drummer Dave Purcell contributes/Fred Smith of Television contributes the cowbell]
- In the quintessential rock & roll anthem Heroine, we follow the heroine—a guitar, from filthy garage to the stage at the Holiday Inn; a tribute to fortitude and a eulogy to punk. [Drummer Tony Corsano contributes]
- Johnny Mercer’s I’m An Old Cowhand inspired Buffalo Nickel; a contemporary view of the changing American landscape, this song evokes sentiment for the past in an age of S.U.V. con4X4mity. [Drummer Tony Corsano contributes]
- Jimmy Webb’s Wichita Lineman is the inspiration for the final cut on the album. Wichita Falling is an existential voyage; a homage to lost men, fallen women and babies taking their very first steps. [Drummer Dave Purcell contributes]
All songs mixed, engineered
and mastered by Fred Smith
Inside photo: Curtis “Champagne” Cates
Special Thanks to Richard Lloyd
|
1. RED HOT WOMAN
Recorded at HOUSE OF MUSIC Studios, NJ, 1980
For RED STAR RECORDS
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Jimmy Wynbrandt: Lead Guitar
Nels Pierce: Bass guitar
Dana Duquet: Drums
2. THE WAY (YOU TOUCH MY HAND)
Recorded at SORCERER SOUND, NYC, November 1, 1978
This 2-track recording was the REVELON’S first session,
which also included LOVER’S DILEMMA.
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Jimmy Wynbrandt: Lead Guitar
Nels Pierce: Bass guitar
Dana Duquet: Drums
3. LOVER’S DILEMMA
Recorded at SORCERER SOUND, NYC, November 1, 1978
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Jimmy Wynbrandt: Lead Guitar
Nels Pierce: Bass guitar
Dana Duquet: Drums
4. 97 TEARS
Recorded at BLUE ROCK Studios, NYC, June 1979
For ORK UK RECORDS Produced by: Fred Smith
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Jimmy Wynbrandt: Lead Guitar
Nels Pierce: Bass guitar
Dana Duquet: Drums
5. BRIGHTER SIDE
Recorded at 195 Chrystie Street, September 6, 1981
This 4-track rendering was recorded
and mixed at Chrystie Street loft/rehearsal space
and featured a reorganized band.
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Mark Suall: Lead guitar, vocals
Fred Smith: Bass guitar, vocals
Jay Dee Daugherty: Drums
6. OUTLAW WITHOUT A GUN
Recorded at SKYLINE STUDIO’S, NYC, March 3, 1981
Released by NIGHTFLIGHT RECORDS for PLAYBOY magazine’s “1981 Music Poll” STREET ROCK album.
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Guest guitarist: Patrick Barnes
Fred Smith: Bass guitar
Jay Dee Daugherty: Drums
Keyboards: CP Roth
7. MY TOWN
Recorded at SKYLINE STUDIO’S, NYC, March 3, 1981
Released by ZOO RECORDS for the original motion
picture soundtrack: POMPATUS OF LOVE, 1996.
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Mark Suall: Lead guitar
Nels Pierce: Bass guitar
Gordon Knox: Drums
8. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL LIFE
Recorded at SKYLINE STUDIOS, NYC, August 14, 1982
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Mark Suall: Lead guitar, vocals
Fred Smith: Bass guitar
Jay Dee Daugherty: Drums
Arno Hect: Alto & Tenor saxophone
Crispin Ceo: Baritone saxophone
Keyboards: Greg Husted
9. WHITE ELVIS
Recorded at SKYLINE STUDIOS, NYC, August 14, 1982
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Mark Suall: Lead guitar
Fred Smith: Bass guitar
Jay Dee Daugherty: Drums
Arno Hect: Alto & Tenor saxophone
Crispin Ceo: Baritone saxophone
Keyboards: Greg Husted
10. ALL THESE THINGS (STAY TOGETHER)
Recorded live at CBGB’s, NYC, August, 1983
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Mark Suall: Lead guitar
Xsessive: Bass Guitar
Steve Bray: Drums
11. A CHILDREN’S STORY
Recorded at SKYLINE STUDIOS, NYC, August 14, 1982
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Mark Suall: Lead guitar
Fred Smith: Bass guitar
Jay Dee Daugherty: Drums
12. THE WAY (YOU TOUCH MY HAND)
Recorded at BLUE ROCK Studios, NYC, June,1979
For ORK UK RECORDS Produced by: Fred Smith
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Jimmy Wynbrandt: Lead Guitar
Nels Pierce: Bass guitar
Dana Duquet: Drums
13. SAIL AWAY
Recorded at COYOTE STUDIOS, Brooklyn, NY, May 7, 2002
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal
Mark Suall: Rhythm guitar, lead guitar, vocals
Fred Smith: Bass guitar
Drums: Ned Brewster
14. ARCHITECTURE OF LOVE
Recorded at COYOTE STUDIOS, Brooklyn, NY, May 7, 2002
Gregory Lee Pickard: Lead vocal
Mark Suall: Rhythm guitar, slide guitar, lead guitars
Fred Smith: Bass guitar
Drums: Ned Brewster
THANKS TO OUR FANS
AND, IN NO SPECIFIC ORDER:
B.G. BERLIN, MITCHELL HACKER, B.G. HACKER, HILLY KRISTAL, XSESSIVE, JON BONFIGLIO, CAROLINE SCOTT, ANDY SHERNOFF, BRUCE BRODY, RICHIE FLEIGLER, ADAM ROTH, C.P. ROTH, JIM FERRAT, THE UPTOWN HORNS, TINA THURSTON, CARRIE KELLY, MARIAH AGIAR, MICHEAL MCKENZIE, STEVEN BRAY, JIMMY ACARDI, PATRICK BARNES, MARTY THAU, TERRY ORK, MARK SILVERT, GORDON KNOX, GREG HUSTED, J. ELLIOT BROWN, PAT IVERS, EMILY ARMSTRONG, & MINDY
To the clubs: CBGB’S, MAX’S KANSAS CITY, HURRAH’S, THE PEPPERMINT LOUNGE, THE ROCK LOUNGE, DANCETERIA, THE MUDD CLUB, THE BOTTOM LINE, THE RITZ, A-7, TRAX
|
