Tuesday, April 8, 2008

The Bougalieu - Let's Do Wrong / When I Was A Children - Roulette Records - 1967

After bringing this record home and doing a bit of research, here's what I came to learn about this group. ... ...pretty much nothing. They're from Albany, apparently, and have been comped on a few garage / psych records, most notably Pebbles. I, however, was unaware of this before buying this 45, purely on a whim.

Anyway, to the substance. This record is definitely a one-sider. "Let's Do Wrong" (which I believe is the A-side) is a fantastic rhythm & blues raving burst with a strangely atonal and nonsensical, albeit short, middle section. Clocking in at a wondrous minute and 45 seconds, this song delivers all that gets me jazzed in a nice short-attention-span-friendly package.

And then there's the flip side. "When I Was A Children" is a pretty forgettable, middle-of-the-road pop song. It's not good, and it's not bad, and I think that makes it worse. At least a REALLY bad song has the power to make me cringe, or feel embarrassed, sometimes even occasionally make me laugh. This is exactly mediocre, and I'm not impressed. Not one bit. Another convenient reason to not spin this side is that my copy has a locking skip in the final fading seconds of the song, and that can just about drive me nuts.

So what? I'll take a one-sider. Especially when that side is SO FUCKIN' GOOD.

On a side note: Isn't learning the ropes of good garage/fuzz/psych/whatever through Nuggets & Pebbles and What-Have-Yous at least kind of cheating? OK, buying them for the sake of owning those impossible gems (ie: Teddy & His Patches) on vinyl, or for DJ purposes seems to make sense, but having a nice little list laid out for you to begin with seems pretty passive and lazy to me. Isn't the thrill in the hunt? I guess some people just need to be told what's cool and what isn't... Then again, maybe I'm just a snobby music nerd. Who knows?
Psychedelic Elvis

56 comments:

Bill Gallagher said...

Elvis,
I played guitar in Bougalieu and agree with your critique. That was a 1 sided record and the flip side always made me cringe. The singer wrote it and insisted we record it. It was shit. We were from Albany and played throughout the NE,mid Atlantic area and Florida 1967-1968 then broke up. The drummer, bass player and I then formed Friends of Whitney Sunday and recorded with Capitol Records and then Decca until 1971.
Bill Gallagher

Anonymous said...

Hey Bill G,

I was a big fan of the Bougalieu. Used to go see you play at the Stadium and that place up in Saratoga.

Hung out with Mike and Gail at that apartment on Washington near the park.

I always thought you guys were great.

John Henry

markhn said...

Hi Bill,

Now that EMI Music owns Roulette's catalog has anyone approached you about doing a compilation album of The Bougalieu and The Friends Of Whitney Sunday?

Also, who else was in the two groups?

Thanks,
Mark Heimback-Nielsen
On This Day In Capitol Records History
http://popculturefanboy.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I was the drummer in The Bougalieu.
Bill G.and I am putting together a website. Check it out.
unsigned.com/thebougalieu

Larry Scarano

Eddie Saxe said...

I was the "inept replacement for Parker Kennedy" according to comments posted on an unsigned site, and I never played with Bougalieu at the Altamony Fairgrounds, and I was in the band when we broke up, as we had just finished recording two demos in NYC that Mike Havelin (nee Rothman) and I wrote together,so someone is smoking something, but thanks for the compliment. I should have joined the Blues Image when they asked me (Mike Pinera, lead guitar)to be their lead singer, but I felt that they needed someone more "ept" than I. I also did not turn down a chance to open for the Who in Florida,as was incorrctly statted. I asked for more money, and the guy would not pay it, so get your facts straight or sell your computer. OK? But I did trun down a chance to open for the Stones at the Palace Theater in Albany, Larry, and they were a lot bigger than the Who and even Charle Watts could play the drums better than you because he realized that he was part of a band, not a solo noise maker with a bozo the clown hairdo.

Eddie Saxe said...

One omre comment: The guy who called Eddie Saxe inept is living a life of hell because he never got to sniff Keith Moon's drum throne. That would be the internationally famous stand up comedian........drum roll....... please.........."Larry Copcar!!!" Copcar. Even that's hilarious. You might want to catch one of his sold-out shows in LA. He told me he is "tearing up LA." I just hope he leaves some toilet paper for the rest of us...Everyone knows him, ask any homeless person you bump in to, and they'll point him out. Behind the last dumster on the left, curled into a fetal position and crying over Keith Moon. And if you can't find Mr. Copcar, his real name is Larry Scarano and he was born in Albany, NY, he is NOT from LA as he states on his also hilarious web site. Just type Larry Copcar into Google and get ready for an enormous letdown. And if you have any toilet paper of your own handy, keep it close. As Larry once said, "keep your toilet paper close, and your enemas closer." Hey Larry, I'm funnier than you!!

Larry Scarano said...

Eddie Sax is a bitter old man.He was also a bitter young man,as I remember him.At around 60 he is still living in his original zip code.He wishes that he was involved in music and can only badmouth his former peers that still are.He is sleeping now to wake up for his endless day job.What a looser.
Larry Scarano AKA Larry Copcar

Anonymous said...

I only have vague memories of Eddie Saxe. Was it a Sam & Dave kinda thing? Anyhow, once you've booked out of LA for 40+ years, that's where you're from. Anyplace I've lived for more than half my lifetime is where I call home. I don't have a place like that, but if I did, it would be.

Anonymous said...

I am not sure what the lates comment about Eddie Saxe, and LA was all about, but I have to say the writer was certainly articulation-challenged. Maybe that's an LA kinda malady...??

The Bougalieu said...

Eddie Sax was flown down to replace Parker who blew his guts out from trying to be heard through bad PA systems of the day.
We had a really good singer from Miami who we wanted, but went with Sax because we knew we were going back to Albany. It was the beginning of the end and we all knew it.
It seems form his comments here, that he spent more time turning things down than he did ( The Blues Image, The Who, The Rolling Stones!)
The only thing he should have turned down was the PA when he was "singing".

Anonymous said...

By the way, are there any more than 4 or 5 people who visit this silly blog? Tell your friends abotu it, and while you are at it, tell them to go see the internationally reknowned Larry Copcar comedy extravaganza next time you are in LA. Where is he playing you ask? The nearest landfill, I believe.And that's a step up from where he has been all his sad life. There was that role as a Munchkin in a low-budget remake of the Wizard of OZ, though. He y Larry, sing a couple of bars of "We Are the Lollipop Kids," for everyone, wil ya? Huh? Please? In Larry's comedy act (as Larry Copcar) he impersonates a midget reacecar driver, very well, I might add.

Anonymous said...

Larry Skarranno is just bitter because Eddie Saxe turned down a chance to open for the Who and Larry Skarranno was madly in love with Keith Moon and now Keith is dead and so is Larry's pathetic comedy wanna be "career." Het, Larry opened once for Sam Kinnison. Wow, that's the highlight of his little dwarfy life. Visit his Web site-he has a CD. I hace CD's too, but none that bad. Booo hoooo little man.Oh, did I spell Skarranno wrong? I meant Larry Scumbaggo. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

By the way, the Bougalieu said nothing. Larry was only our drummer, not a good one at that, and he has no business posing as the official Bougalieu spokesperson. When he was in the band we never gave him a microphone, maybe we should have and then now he'd shut up and try to find a real job 'cause that Larry Copcar commedy career is going nowhere fast. Hey Larry, enjoy your Social Security 20K per year because there's no way in hell you ever made enough money to prepare for your twilight years. Of course, you could always pull that midget impersonation you do so well out of your bag and maybe get a job at a low-budget carnival.....

Larry Scarano said...

Thanks Eddie Sax,
You always did hit below the belt.
Making fun of my Family name and my skeleton.Real class.
Tell you what. I didn't write that BOUGALIEU comment.
And I'll meet you at the Albany YMCA or The Jewish Community Center down the street from my Parents' house anytime you say,Pal.
We'll put the gloves on and see who is a midget.
I am rock solid and very fast from playing drums nonstop for 45 years.
How is your salesman body?
Ready for five rounds? And we'll put the bout on The Bougalieu sit.You have a lot to say. Let's see what you can do besides type shit.
How can a secretary trash a comic and drummer?
Stay in Schenectady all their life.

Anonymous said...

Hey bozo headed noise maker,

Did you ever email Mike Pinera to see if he lied in his email about wanting to
ME to be his lead singer, shorty?
Oh yeah, and don't believe this either but when I was 16 I took boxing lessons
ay the Y in Albany on Washington Ave. and I knocked Hawaii's gold gloves champ
on his ass. And I'll knock you on your midget little nappy headed ass too you
failure at life. Your "music" on your pathetic little Web site sucks. It's
vulgar and childish, like you. Seems like you're the one who can't let go of
your musical dream. Or should I say nightmare. I let a couple of people listen
to it. It's pure noisy crap, like you, when you try to bang on the drums.

News flash: Keith Moon is dead, you will never get to meet him, except maybe in
hell you little Whitehall Road loser. Hahahaha. Never got to meet hima and will
never get to meet him. Larry the loser. Went to LA to find himself, eh? Why
didi't you stay in Las Vegas? Oh yeah, because after you opened for coke head
Kinnison nobody would hire you again. Still tearing up LA? Tearing up newspapers
from critics of your stupid act is closer to reality. Maybe you & Nord can one
day be the remake of Martin and Lewis, or the Smother's Brothers? Sure.

So, If I get out your way, what's the name of the big house you are filling
with Copcar devotees? The Sandbox? The LaBrea Tar Pits? The Dumpster? That's it,
isn't it? Hahahahahaha. Ever see the movie "Little Big Man?" You are little
little man. Little in mind, short on talent and struggling to express yourself
without any sort of articulate skill or even a modicum of command of the English
language. (I bet some of those words will send you scrambling to the
dictionary-you probably never even heard of words like those). You're no match
for me, you're swimming against an intellectual tide pal, and you're about to
drown. Give it up.You're outclassed, outwitted, and broke-mentally and
financially, I am sure.

Great photos of you on your sophomoric Web page. You look really, really happy
and well-adjusted. Two ticks from the funny farm. I'd be embarrassed to put mug
shots like that up for people to see, but hey, they're probably what you think
are the good pictures of your self....and they probably are. YOU ARE U G L Y !!
UGH!!

---- Larry Scarano wrote:
> Larry Scarano has left a new comment on the post "The Bougalieu - Let's
> Do Wrong / When I Was A Chil...":
>
> Thanks Eddie Sax,
> You always did hit below the belt.
> Making fun of my Family name and my skeleton.Real class.
> Tell you what. I didn't write that BOUGALIEU comment.
> And I'll meet you at the Albany YMCA or The Jewish Community Center
> down the street from my Parents' house anytime you say,Pal.
> We'll put the gloves on and see who is a midget.
> I am rock solid and very fast from playing drums nonstop for 45 years.
> How is your salesman body?
> Ready for five rounds? And we'll put the bout on The Bougalieu sit.You
> have a lot to say. Let's see what you can do besides type shit.
> How can a secretary trash a comic and drummer?
> Stay in Schenectady all their life.

Anonymous said...

Oh Larry, I forgot to comment: You classify yourself as a "drummer" and a comic. If that is what you are, then I am the ruler of the universe.

And when you learn how to spell my name correctly, I will reciprocate. Until then, tata Mr. superstar drummer and comedian non pareil. All my best, Keith Moon.

Larry Scarano said...

How many people would like to see
me kick Eddie Saxe,The Meshuggnah's ass ?
I am going to set the event.And watch him chicken out.
Any bets that he will just keep mouthing off about 1968 and be to afraid to face me in the ring?
Is anybody as bored with this as I am yet?
Not much else to do in Schenectady on a Sunday, I quess.

Larry Scarano said...

Sax, Saxe, or Tuba.
You put your money where your mouth is ,Meshuggnah.
You think I am ugly.Wait until you look at that Hitler face of yours after the second round.
By the way, do you think I should post your sorry ass apology to me from my email of Sept 16? Where you were "hurt" by the Bougalieu bio.And you said I was a good drummer.A wormy attempt to cover your ass.
You better get a good cut man.This ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around,little man.
You are in over your head,Bubala.

Anonymous said...

Larry,

I think you need a nice vacation. You seem a bit stressed. How's that comedy/drummer career going........??could be why you have that angst thing out of control.Ever consider an anger management counselling session? Oh, I forgot, you probably don't have any health care coverage since you are self-employed, or is actually unemployed? Rakin' in the dough eh? By the way, I used to have to show you HOW to play the songs we did on the drums. I still play mine every day and I am even better at that than you. Hahahaha.

Anonymous said...

By the way, your anti-semitic use of phrase "How many people would like to see
me kick Eddie Saxe,The Meshuggnah's ass ?" is further testament to your limited education. It's not a noun, and I am not Jewish. I'm Catholic, sorry.
Also, it's poorly worded. Try this: How many people would like me to kick the ass of meshugenah Eddie Saxe? Answer. All the people reading this blog. about 4 of them, myself excluded. I am so scared of you I think I may hide under my bed. Hahahahahah. You couldn't even reach me with those little teensy weensy arms of your, that is why you had to buy longer drumsticks-just to reach the heads. How's that comedy career going, lighting up the marquees all over LA? Copcar 54, where are you? Hahahahahaha!

"mad, crazy, stupid," 1892, from Heb. meshugga, part. of shagag "to go astray, wander." The adj. has forms meshugener, meshugenah before a noun.

Anonymous said...

Wow,
This is heavy shit,man.And very unhippie like of you groovy guys.
Like 99.9 % of people I never heard of The Bougalieu when their record was around.I wasn't even born yet.As a fan of 60's garage rock,
I bought Psychedelic Microdots Vol.3 in a bargain bin.A compilation disc of unknown 60's bands.
For like $1.99.
Then I went to The Bougalieu website because I liked their song on it.
That band's only claim to fame was the ignored single
"Let's Do Wrong" on which Parker Kennedy is listed as the singer and co writer
and is in the picture on the CD liners, along with the drummer Larry (whatever he calls himself now)
There is no mention of Eddie Saxe
(or Sax). So why is he so involved in a feud and going bullshit on a guy who was in the band when the 45 was recorded?
According to the bio on their site,Eddie joined the band, they went back to Albany,N.Y. and disappeared.So what is his beef?
He had nothing to do with "Let's Do Wrong" the only reason anybody ever heard of them.
Chill,Dude.Nobody cares.

Anonymous said...

Dear Anonymous post from: November 16, 2009 8:04 PM

To answer why the feud, Larry Copcar, or whatever he calls himself tady, took a swipe at Eddie Saxe in his comments below (inept replacement) from the Bougalieu site. It was all based upon his revering Keith Moon of the Who, and how Ediie, allegedly, was single-handedly responsible for causing The Bougalieu to miss an opportunity to open for Larry's musical idols. It IS silly shit and goes back to 1968 or 69. Ediie Saxe came across this criticism by accident. Larry's comments were, again, what started this feud. For your information, not that you would or should care, Eddie, while in Florida subbing for Parker Kennedy, was asked to join the band by Mike and Lester, the founding members. Larry had no say in the matter, period. Eddie was also asked personally by Mike Pinera of The Blues Image (and later Iron Butterfly) to join his band, Eddie declined because he liked what The Bougalieu was doing musically, period.I have know Eddie for many years and also Larry. Neither were "hippies." They only "looked" like hippies. They were musicians, Larry a drummer in LA still playing and Eddie has not performed for a very long time. I agree that should both grow up and shut up as no one really cares to hear about this personal matter here or elsewhere. But, to write an article (as Larry did on the Bougalieu history) and find it necessary to strike out at Eddie over the Who incident-which Eddie really could not have killed himself having only joined the band a few days earlier-this was a universal decision by the other band members)was unprofessional and childish and shoowed a long and deep resentmant which he needs to get over. Both guys are 60+ years old and need to act their age. Thanks for your comments, they are spot on.

With an inept replacement for Parker, one Eddie Sax ( who took it upon himself to make the call to turn down a gig for The Bougalieu opening for The Who at The Code One in Ft. Lauderdale) . The band limped through the Summer of '68 at The Aerodrome in Schnectady opening for the likes of, The Hassles ( Billy Joel's Vanilla Fudge influenced band) and Steppenwolf (Magic Carpet Ride). A couple of dead end studio experiences in New York City followed and The Bougalieu played their last gig in August 1968 at a State Fair in Altamont, N.Y.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for responding to my comment of Nov 16.Very interesting.
Being a 60's garage fan as I have stated, this is what I cannot get clear...
Mike Pinera sang lead on The Blues Image hit "Ride Caption Ride".
Why would they want a singer to joim them? Mike was clearly the "front man" of that band.As he is now with his "60's All Star Band" today.
And second,why would Eddie Saxe turn down an opportunity to join a band that was obviously going places like The Blues Image to stay in a band that was on it's last legs like The Bougalieu?
Good acid?

Anonymous said...

Your assumptions make it sound to cut and dry. When Eddie Saxe "turned down" the chance to be in the Blues Image, the Blues Image were no more than a house band sharing the bill with the Bougalieu (known at the time as the Corners of the Heavens-whi I don't know). I say "turned down"because as Eddie has told me, the BI already had at least two singers (although Joe Lala was the lead singer, not Mike) and if Eddie had a crystal ball he maight have foretold the hit record to follow, but he did not, and always looked up to the Bougalieu. So, he truned down really nothing at the time. In case you do not believe this,and you don;t sound like any of it makes any sense to you at all, here is a copy of the email reply from Mike to Eddie (also known as Walter-Eddie is his middle name)that he sent to me recently. So, in closing, no one including the Blues Image knew they would be making a hit record when all of this was happening, and no one knew the Bougalieu was on "its last legs" as you state at this time. I am not at all sure where you got this information except from the Bougalieu BIO which is filled with innaccuricies including the fact that they NEVER opened for Steppenwolf. John Fred and His Playboy Band, yeah, but Steppenwolf? Nah. Hope this helps clear up some mysteries and myths and misconceptions.

Anonymous said...

Sorry for some reason this did not copy into the prior blog comments: Email from MKie Pinera to Eddie (Walter) Saxe
mike pinera
pineramusic@yahoo.com
To
wsaxe@arobotics.com
02/08/2008 03:54 cc
AM
Subject
Re: Thee Experience, Collins Ave.,
Miami Beach, 1968- Love ya man









Hi Walter:

Nice to hear from you. I remember you from those days, it was some crazy
and great times. Do you still live in South Florida? My wife Valerie and I
get back there to visit every now and then, my band the Classic Rock All
stars recently play a benefit concert at Gulfstream Park for the slain
policemen and a few months before that we played a "Love In" at Greynold's
park in North Miami Beach. We live in Southern California.

Keep in touch if you like and if we get back to Florida, I will give you a
call.

Take care,
Peace,
Mike


wsaxe@arobotics.com wrote:

MIke,

Don't know if you remember me, but you asked me to join The Blues Image
after me & Joe Lala did a little drum duet- Fire- Hendrix. I was the
replacement singer/front man for the Bougalieu (upstate NY, changed our
name to the Corners of the Heavens while in Miami) Parker Kennedy got a
hernia and I was called in and eventually replaced him.

Mike Rothman was our lead, Billy Gallagher on rhythm, Larry Scarano on
drums and Lester Figarsky on bass. Marshall Brevitz owned the joint before
somebody "offed" him.

If it helps you to remember, you guys did Keep Me Holdin' On and we did
Rollin' and Tumblin'. I Played blues harp and sounded vocally, according to
you, like Jack Bruce. One night, when you were, let's say, "experiencing"
you told me you were bummed because everything you played sounded like
Clapton and I told you that I'd give both arms to be able to play the axe
that good. I think you were 19 and soooooooooooo good on the lead, man.

lAnyway, I've been following your history all these years. I know you have
had your personal struggles, haven't we all? You sound better then ever.
Keep it up guy, you have been given a gift. And no one can ever take that
wonderful gift away from you.

By the way, Malcolm gave me a Styrofoam hat, a white, plastic pith helmet,
and wrote Eddie Mojo on it. Or maybe Lala wrote that, can't recall.

In closing, because of memories, it would be really great to hear from you.
Please reply, even if you (like Joe Lala) don;t recall when we co-hosted at
Thee Experience... Thanks MIke, and keep it coming.......

Kind regards,


Walter Saxe

Anonymous said...

By the way, Eddie also told me that Larry, in a private email to him some months ago, shared a big laugh with Billy Gallagher over Eddie's "unbelieveable" claim that Mike Pinera asked him to join the Blues Image. We hope that the above copy of the email shuts them both up. What's the big deal, the BI was a great band but hey, they were not the freaking Stones or the Beatles......what's so hard to believe? And when Mke asked Ed to join the band it was more because Ed sang like Jack Bruce, played the blues harp and the drums. OK? Now you have it all. See ya. PS The Bougalieu were a more musically interesting group at the time, ok?

Anonymous said...

"Anonymous" and "Anonymous",
After Parker Kennedy left The Bougalieu,they dwindled into nothing more than a run-of-the-mill cover band.Not even a distant cousin to the "Let's Do Wrong" band.("The Corners of The Heavens", gimme a break).Game over. As far as making it was concerned.And, being blown off the stage nightly by The Blues Image.
Mike Pinera's amazing guitar and soulful voice,a crack English bass player,great B3 man,and TWO bad ass Cuban/American drummers (Joe La La became a famous session percussion player. On everything from Steven Stills to The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack).And the other drummer Manny Bertamati went on to play with Bobby Womack among others.
This band did not need any more members.Trust me.
And the very idea that anyone would pass on the chance to join these amazing guys who were packing Thee Experience, the hottest hippie haven in an electric 1968 Miami to limp back to a slushy,gloomy two-mule hometown of Albany,N.Y. to ride an old,tired reputation into the ground is a trip in itself.No crystal ball needed.

Anonymous said...

The Bougalieu was far from a "cover band." They did not "limp back" to slushy Albany but instead had prior bookings at colleges in Virginia and elsewhere. They played a live radio show at Code One in Yonkers opening for, sorry, John Fred and His Playboy Band and then became the house band at the Aerodrome in Schenectady, a much bigger "hippie haven" then the Image (previously named Thee Experience in Miami) where the likes of BB King (who?), Led Zeppelin (who are they?) Jeff Beck Group with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart (has anyone heard of them?) and Janis Joplin (do we know her?) began their careers, so whomever is the anonymous fool with the prior comments I say get real. You are all wet pal. And only one guy from the Bougalieu felt it necessary to run to warm weather while all of the other cold weather guys have had a more comfortable life, made more money, traveled to faraway places, raised families and have had zero problems adjusting to life beyond music. Thank you. And by the wya, the Blues Image were an excellent group, but 100% of their music was cover songs-like You Keep Me Hangin' On by Vanilla Fudge. Need I say more? Game, Set, Match. I am sure the 3 people who have ever visited this sleepy blog are now thoroughly confused about who is telling the real story vs. who is the bitter boy pouting in the corner, but I hope the 3rd guy is finding the reading stimulating. I know I am!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous,
According to The Bougalieu website there is only one member of the band still living in Albany,N.Y.

Who the Hell is "John Fred and The Playboy Band"? Did Gary Lewis guit?
Jeff Beck, Janis Jopolin, and Ron Wood "getting their start" in Schenectady, N.Y.!
Now I see why this guy really does believe he "turned down" the Blues Image and The Rolling Stones.
And he(or she)also should know that the internet can sent you from one site to another depending on what you "google".
There are a hell of a lot more than three people digging this 60's band's trip.

Anonymous said...

Boy, do you think you are smart. Read this and weep:

the web site won't let me copy the whole article to this blog page so I will do it in two parts. Or, type into google Metroland drome sound and you will find this article which is also a fiction of my imagination as it, and the world according to your misguided opinion does not exist!

What year were you born and what makes you think you are so damn smart? Huh? Now write that Metroland does not exist, Mike Pinera is dead, and you are the world's expert on 60's music. If I were you I would just read the blog and shut up on matters that are apparently beyond your base of knowledge, dig? You make yourself soun dumber and dumber by the second. Have you figured out yet that I can back up every word I write? If not, try harder friend. Because so far you are 0 for 3 hitting into 3 triple plays.

Schenectady music store Drome Sound celebrates 40 years in rock & roll

By Josh Potter

This summer, while much of the region was busy celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival, a cadre of area rock stalwarts had occasion to reminisce about a different show, played only three nights later, before a crowd of 2,000, by a band that declined an invitation to Woodstock because they’d “have just been another band on the bill.” According to fan comments on the band’s official Web site, the show was legendary and featured everything that the era would become known for a PA system overloaded with blues rock, a tight-slacked singer yelling into the women’s bathroom to see if anyone wanted to “ball,” and a Pepsi machine ransacked by a Les Paul-abusing guitarist with a fondness for Jack Daniel’s. The band was Led Zeppelin and the venue was Schenectady’s now-defunct Aerodrome Night Club.

Tony Popolizio was a bit young to have made the show that night, but he says he’s heard plenty of stories. His brother, Frank, owned the converted bowling alley on State Street, where the Aldi supermarket now stands, and Tony used to help clean the place out after busy nights. The venue lasted only a couple years into the ’70s, but, as Popolizio says, “It was perfect timing for that whole Woodstock era.” Just as the Aerodrome helped launch up-and-coming acts like Janis Joplin, Rod Stewart, and the Velvet Underground, the legacy of those figures has helped turn Popolizio’s music-equipment shop Drome Sound into an area institution.

Anonymous said...

In 1968, Frank Popolizio and his partner Pat Ragozzino decided to open a gear shop due to demand from the touring musicians they booked at their club. In 2004, Tony acquired the store from his brother and moved a few doors down State Street across from the Fuccillo auto complex. This year Drome Sound celebrates 40 years of family-run business.

“I’ve been working with Drome Sound for 30 years,” says Popolizio, “and a lot of things have changed.” During his tenure, he’s seen the rise and fall of countless musical trends, and the shop’s ceiling is lined with autographed photos of those musicians who have paved the way. “I’ve got three boxes full and I haven’t even hung them all up yet.” Most are fading shoots from the ’70s: B.B. King, ZZ Top, Keith Richards, CSNY, Ace Frehley. But the ’80s are also well- represented in all their teased-out glory: Garth Brooks, Eddie Van Halen, U2. Most come from in-store clinics, but a few were received in return for having rented gear to touring acts. Popolizio points to a photo of James Brown, sweaty under a hot spotlight at SPAC. In the background, you can just make out the words “DROME SOUND” stenciled onto the front of a bass amp.

As a whole, though, Popolizio doesn’t make a big deal about the famous folks who have passed through the shop. “People are people,” he says, “famous or not.” Instead, he’s interested in serving a local clientele that spans multiple decades and generations. “I know a lot of the musicians in the area and try to stay on a friendly basis with them. It’s funny now because—not that I’m too old, but—a lot of the musicians are bringing their kids in who are teenagers now, so it’s cool to see that transition.” To stay competitive with corporate retailers like Guitar Center and Sam Ash, as well as growing Internet sales, Popolizio says he has to offer high-end gear like Gibson and Martin guitars, Fender amps, drums, keyboards and home-recording equipment at low prices, as well as instrument instruction and annual “shred-fest” guitar competitions. More important, though, is hiring sales staff who gig around the area, know the gear they’re selling, are well-versed in parts and repair, and can maintain the long-running relationships the store has established.

Keyboard-department manager Jim Matrazzo has been working with Popolizio for more than 20 years, and many of the 10 Drome employees have logged upwards of 15 years. “As much as I hate to admit this,” Matrazzo says, kidding Popolizio, “work here is very much like a family environment. It’s definitely what distinguishes us from other stores.”

If anything, the store has cultivated an overly welcoming presence. Popolizio reflects on one of his dearest mementos, a board that Janis Joplin had signed in the shop after having played two separate sets in Schenectady, one at the Aerodrome and one at the Crosses. Someone later swiped it in broad daylight. “We’re a family-owned business. We’re hands-on, and we like to help people right away,” he says, but as for the photos that keep the place’s legacy alive: “That’s why we keep them up high now.”

Back to 2009 Local Music Guide

Anonymous said...

http://www.metroland.net/guides/2009_local_music/musicbusiness.html

Anonymous said...

Anonymous,(all of a sudden)
I was born in 1969,thus, my passion for this era.
Janis and Jeff Beck "getting their start" as you stated as opposed to passing through Schenectady on
their way to gig in a real city is an example of the spin you use.Like your vile,lowlife attacks on someone that you disagree with.Like me and the drummer that you seem to be obsessed with,or jealous of.
The bottom line is that you were not a part of "Let's Do Wrong".My an everybody else's only interest in The Bougalieu.Your opinion on them is moot.
Go blog on a site about a family man or something.This is about music here.

Anonymous said...

I NVER stated "getting their start" as you claim. Read what I stated. Began their careers is 100%accurate. The Jeff Beck Group with Rod & Ronnie were on their very first tour when they made the Aerodrome their stop in 1969. Led Zeppelin had only been together since 1968 so Schenectady was one of their first US tour gigs. Janis's career in blues lasted from 1966-70 when she died of a drug overdose and her visit to the Aerodrome was around 1969, sorry if I made it sound like this was one of her very first gigs, it was not. So, I was not out in left field on my comments except I shopuld have stated "Led Zeppelin and Jeff Beck/Rod Stewarts gigs at the Aerodrome in Schenectady were among their earliest ever performances." How's that better now? You are right, I personally was not a part of any Bougalieu music and I too thought Let's Do Wrong was a good one. When I was a Children was, as Billy Gallagher stated earlioer in this blog "SHIT." Most of the stuff written by Parker Kennedy was just that which is one of the reasons he got the boot. The other was because he could not sing. He could grunt and pretend he had a vibrato in his voice which was laughable at best. He became so strung out on pseudophedrine that no one could talk to him. He was no singer, he was a red-headed, long-haired wacko, period. The fact that YOU think otherwise is testament to your lack of musical savvy. The next thing we may hear from you is the reason Led Zeppelin broke up is because Robert Plant heard Parker Kennedy was coming out of retirement and Robert was afraid Parker would show him up, so Plant ran away! Yikes! Parker Kennedy a singer? And you take issue with my comments about begining careers? How can only one of us be all right and the other all wrong? Oh yeah, tell me where Parker performed pre and post Bougalieu. I will help you: In his shower. So, if this blog is about "music" then let's keep those whom were musically-challeged out of here. And, the Albany-Schenectady area has hosted nearly every major rock and other musical act around, except maybe the Beatles. Van Halen, The Grateful Dead, Billy Joel, The Hollies, Edgar and Johnny Winter, Tina and Ike Turner, The Lovin' Spoonful, Jorma of the Jeff. Airplane & Hot Tuna, Pete Best (1st Beatles drummer) and hundreds more all played in Albany or Schenectady. The Palace Theater, Times Union Center and Proctors and the Egg have hosted Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, and even Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears.This area is not sleepy or slushy or pumpkintown. People who used to live here and moved to big old LA can knock this area all they want, but the many of the same acts who perform in LA have also performed here. What "real city" do you call home? I bet your dog's bigger than mine too, eh? Got a little deflated ego/insecurity problem going on inside your head? Wanna talk music? Tell me the bands that you like that are playing today, they do not have to be platinum-selling artists, but they should have had at least one CD/Record that is known coast to coast,such as Protest the Hero, or All That Remains, or Queens of the Stoneage, for example. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

so.... i guess the 40 year reunion is out of the question???

-billy mcdungeon

Anonymous said...

Anonymous,(all of a sudden).
I just listened to "Let's Do Wrong" on my ipod.Parker Kennedy is no Otis Redding of that time,but neither was Lou Reed.That was the style of the music.I bet you think Henry Rollins is bad too.You are an old fart arguing about some glory days that you never really had.
Parker did not get"the boot".Unless everything on The Bougalieu website is a lie.If so, the five real members of the band just look the other way and only "anonymous" knows the truth.
I live in a City with a population smaller than Albany, N.Y.
Do I have to list every band that ever played here? What does that prove? That we have a Holiday Inn?
If Eddie Saxe was such hot shit,why did they not get a second record out with him in the band?
I bet the drummer is relieved that you have turned your vile insults on Parker and given him a rest for now.He seems to have shut up,why don't you.And why do you not use your real name?

Larry Scarano said...

Wow,
Piece out boys.It's only rock 'n roll.
I can answer the last question.
Bill, Lester, and I were so burned out with ashes of The Bougalieu by August of '68 that we already had formed and were practicing with
"Whitney Sunday".We went on to release a single on Capital and an LP on Decca.We relocated in the Philly/South Jersey area because of it's many live six night a week club gigs.
Mike was done with music altogether for then and already had an apt.with his Wife in Rochester.

Anonymous said...

Eddie asked me to write because I not only know him, I also know Larry. I was "connected" to the band but not as a member. They are both being a little silly here. The guy who stated the Bougalieu was nothing more than a run of the mill cover band after Parker Kennedy left also sings their praises. Assumption: Hello Parker, how's the restaurant business? Must be you because Larry would not say the band stunk after you leaft and neither would Eddie or the others bcause they were still a part of it. I knew that eventually you would expose your identity.

In any case, despite the many other people commenting on this blog (still 3) I will depart peranently because my comments may be preventing the thousands of others from getting in their comments. Tata.

Larry Scarano said...

Let's pump up the volume.
No more "anonymous"comments,please.
You were "connected"? Like we were the Mob.
We will see if there is really only three people on this blog.I know there are more.I got the clap every
month when I was in The Bougalieu.

Ron said...

I agree.Sign your name.
My name is Ron.I live in
Olympia,Washington.
My comments Nov 16 8:04
18 4:09
19 8:46
19 9:43
19 11:00

Anonymous said...

November 18 10:02
Is not Parker Kennedy's comment.
I too was "connected" to the band.
But not in it.I wrote that comment.

That means there are four people on this blog.
TaTa,yourself.

Larry Scarano said...

Where is everybody?
If anybody ever told me in '67 that I'd be typing about The Bougalieu in almost 2010, I'd of took another Black Beauty and shit my pants.
I wish The band had a gig tonight. We didn't know how lucky we were.
Man, they waz fun times.

Larry Scarano said...

Oh Yea,
I forgot to tell the angry fellow who makes tennis metaphors and suggests that I was sad because I missed the chance to "sniff Keith Moon's drum seat" (yikes!)...
My drummer idols were Gene Krupa and Louie Bellson(who played two bass drums long before Keith and Ginger.)Not all of us got into music because we fell in puppy love with The Mop Tops on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Larry Scarano said...

Listen, Angry Man,
When they changed Darren on TV Bewitched it wasn't the second guy's fault that even if he was good , everybody was in love with the first guy.
That is where it's at,Man.Parker was first.You were a sub. A band aid.
You,as the second singer in The Bougalieu( actually the third)... Fact is,good,bad,or even being better than the other two...doesn't mean a rat's ass.
Parker sang the 45 that people dig, (somehow still to this day).


There may have been better drummers in Albany at that time. Like George Leary. But I was the right guy with the right time. Better does not always mean best.
You were the wrong guy at the wrong time.
Dig,Man?
Calm the fuck down.You talk like a drunk in a bar looking for his last fight.
Watch out for pool Q's....and flying 8 balls.
You are having an argument with the mirror.
When you attack me next time..call me a WOP.
I want to see how low you can go.
...And sign your name this time..or shut the fuck up.Forever.

Anonymous said...

This comment is from Michael (Rothman) Havelin, former leader of and lead guitar for the Bougalieu.
The reason that Ed Saxe was brought to Florida where we were playing, was that our regular "singer" (who I also agree was somewhat musically challenged) had a hernia that took him out for surgery for a number of weeks. Ed Saxe was singer for another band in Albany and he knew our repertoire 'cause his band tried to follow our lead. After a month of singing with us, and doing a fair job of it as I remember, he gave us an ultimatum. Either we put him on permanently, or he would go back to his own band in Albany. Larry (drummer), Lester (bass) and Billy (Rhythm) voted to keep Ed Saxe and oust Parker who was still recuperating from surgery in North Carolina. I felt loyalty to Parker and didn't want to do it, but because I ran the band in a more or less democratic fashion, I was over-ruled and, as leader, had to call Parker and tell him what had happened. Ed was a coherent singer who did a workman like job for us, but without Parker's craziness, the "juice" had left the band. I stayed with the group for another 8-10 months, during which time we recorded two more tunes that were much better than the first two that the world knows us by. The band was at its best musically: powerful and like a locomotive, but I was tired of the road and left the band to do photography.
At 65, I still play music, primarily blues and swing guitar, and have played with a big band (Basie & Ellington type) and a small western swing combo. You can hear some of my tunage at michaelhavelin.com.
All this back-biting between former members of the band makes me sick. Grow up, you guys.

Anonymous said...

This is Ed Saxe and I agree with Michael that the back-biting is out of order. Sorry Larry, I was reacting to the "innept singer" reference you placed, and then removed from the Bougalieu site, that's all. That is what started it, and the removal of that reference now ends it. For clarification, I never gave an ultimatum to be in the band. I was surprised when Michael and Lester approached me and asked me to stay, sorry Michael but that is how I recall the event. It matters not in any case, we were what we were and it was time to move on.

Larry Scarano said...

Eddie Saxe,As you can see from Mike's comment, no two guys seen it the same. And just for the record, had you emailed me and we simply talked man to man about that you were bugged instead of starting a little girl hair pulling fight,the comment would have been gone immediately.

Larry Scarano said...

Eddie, the "inept" comment... It was just sloppy.Not malice.That war lasted longer than the band.And was almost as loud.

Anonymous said...

Micheal Havelin has a copy of the last two Bougalieu songs recorded in NYC at Beltone Studios in 1969. I would like to see these added to the Bougalieu site and let the listeners decide if they like them or not. After all, it's about the music, right? Michale should beable to send Larry a .wav file or similar format. Thanks Larry.
by
Eddie Saxe.

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Unknown said...

When I Was A Children was the hit here in the Albany area! I've had the 45 on my jukebox since it came out! I guess I'm different, but I don't care for the other side!

Larry Scarano said...

Yea, Ray.
Thanks for the interest.
WTRY. What a great time that was for us.I still itch.
The band was just as surprised as anybody when "Let's Do Wrong" showed up on 60's sites and on the CD "Psychedelic Microdots 3" as the hit. (Two versions, no less.)

Larry Scarano said...

Unearthed. Rare photos of The Bougalieu.Shot November 1967 by Peggy McNally at Rafael's in Latham, N.Y.
Check them out on the website.

Larry Scarano said...

Unearthed roll of film shot by Peggy McNally at Rafaels, Latham, N.Y. November 1967 now posted on The Bougalieu website.