Staccatos - Initially

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Take Your Time	02:31
	2	Bad Boy	02:07
	3	It's a Long Way Home	02:16
	4	Something's Got a Hold On Me	02:46
	5	Small Town Girl	03:00
	6	Move to California	02:03

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	You Only Die Once
	2	Nightfall
	3	Poor Baby
	4	Million Kisses
	5	If this is Love
	6	Do You Mind

Photos

Videos

No Video

Information/Write-up

Before the Five Man Electrical Band, there was the Staccatos - the first sparks of a fantastic band with great vocals, and a great songwriter, Les Emmerson-then paired with with early Staccatos member Vern Craig-who wrote most of their tunes together with Les. After Signing with Capitol records, The Staccatos began to score many local successful singles in the Ottawa Area. "Small Town Girl, "Move To California", "It's A Long Way Home", "Poor Baby", "Do You Mind" - all of which are contained on this album, along with several other originals like "Nightfall", "Something's Got A Hold On Me", "If This Is Love". Along with covers like "Take Your Time" & "Bad Boy" Recorded in a very short period of time, the Staccatos managed to pull off a winner. With jangly guitars, uptempo rhythms and music to keep you moving. Certainly not your typical debut album from a 60's band. This album features the ultra rare first pressing high gloss laminated front cover. Dean Hagopian (vocals; 1963-64) Brian Rading (bass) Rick 'Bell' Belanger (drums) Les Emmerson (vocals, guitar) Vern Craig (guitar; 1963-68) Mike 'Bell' Belanger (2nd drums; 1968-73) Ted Gerow (keyboards; 1968-73)

Formed in 1963, The Staccatos, featuring singer/disc jockey Dean Hagopian, emerged from the Ottawa scene in the mid-'60's with some recording on Allied Records. However, their first single of prominence was "Small Town Girl" which was picked up by Paul White for Capitol Records. Through the financial backing of journalist Sandy Gardiner, The Staccatos launched their next release called "Moved To California". In 1966 "Let's Run Away" winning Best Produced Single and Vocal Instrumental Group Of The Year Junos.

They began to receive more notice with gigs in Toronto's Yorkville Village after the release of "Half Past Midnight" (1967) which became a national hit and won another JUNO award for Best Produced Single.

Around this time they hooked up with Coca-Cola Company for some radio jingles and shared half an LP recorded at Hallmark Studios with The Guess Who called 'A Wild Pair' on Jack Richardson's Nimbus Records. The album was a big seller prompting Capitol U.S. to release "Half Past Midnight" along with a commitment to record new material in L.A.

Though they received a lot of hype in California from the record label, the group was seen as being 'too Beach Boy sounding' and The Staccatos records failed. They would soon change their name to The Five Man Electrical Band after the title of The Staccatos second album and waited out their contract. Once free, they hooked up first with MGM with no success, then with Lion Records owned by writer Jimmy Webb and producer Dallas Smith. And the rest, as they say, is history...

They recorded the album Goodbyes & Butterflies (containing controversial cover art). The jacket was changed and the first single "Signs" went to No.3 in the U.S. and No.4 in Canada selling more than 2 million copies worldwide. The band's next single "Absolutely Right" also was No.3 in Canada and Top-20 in the U.S. By 1973 they were exhausted and pursued solo careers. In 1986 they reformed for a one-off benefit concert which has lead into a fun Eastern Canada tour every year with no business pressures. The song "Signs" also saw a revival with the 1990 international hit by hairspray band Tesla. A 'best of' package of Five Man Electrical Band material was released on CD in 1995.

Ottawa, Canada's favorite band of the 1960's-who later evolved into the Five Man Electrical Band. While most bands of the era were filling their albums with cover tunes, Songwriters Les Emmerson & Vern Craig were cranking out some great original thoughful provoking rock, pop and some with a touch of blues and gospel as well. Tracks like "It Must Be Love", It's A Long Way Home", Small Town Girl", "You Only Die Once", "Nightfall", "Do You Mind", "Move To California". Many of the tracks on the album became singles as well-that's how good they were. Some tracks featured pounding drums, drivin' bass and high pitched guitars, while others offered softer and melodic tunes - but all featuring the trademark Staccatos vocal harmonies-absolutely flawless. A much sought after album. This copy features the rare original thick matte cover and the original capitol inner sleeve.

The Staccatos formed in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1963. Their initial vocalist was Dean Hagopian, a local personality, but he left in 1964 and went on to a solo career, but with little success. The band were unique for employing two drummers, brothers Rick and Mike Bell. After a couple of 45s for Trans-Canada and Allied they signed to Capitol in 1965 and Small Town Girl, which climbed to No. 20 on 2nd August 1965, became the first in a string of hits over the next three years. Over this period they built up a loyal following by working the club circuit, recording a series of coke jingles that led to a collaborative album, Wild Pair, with The Guess Who. Their most successful 45, Half Past Midnight, penned by Les Emmerson, was one of the biggest Canadian rock singles of the year, selling just under 20,000 copies. It was later covered by an Australian group, The City Stompers. In March 1968 they recorded an album, The Five Man Electrical Band, and changed name to The Five Man Electrical Band the following year. In 1973 Les Emmerson launched a successful solo career whilst remaining with the group. He later formed his own Emmerson Electrical Band in 1976 and formed Blue Blood in 1980. In the nineties he was a third of the trio Cooper, King and Emmerson. Girl and Gypsy Girl later resurfaced on Follow That Munster Vol. 1 and 2 respectively. Back in 1965 Small Town Girl and If This Is Love figured on Meet The Lively Ones.

Dean Hagopian: vocals
Brian Rading: bass
Rick 'Bell' Belanger: drums
Les Emmerson: vocals, guitar
Vern Craig: guitar

Comments