The Buckinghams - "Susan" (1967)

The Buckinghams are an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in 1966 and went on to become one of the top selling acts of 1967. The band dissolved in 1970 but reformed in 1980, and still tour as part of "oldies" shows in America.

In 1965, guitarist Carl Giammarese and bassist Nick Fortuna were invited to join a band called The Centuries. They, along with keyboardist Dennis Miccolis, later became members of another band, The Pulsations, whose members included drummer John Poulos and vocalists George LeGros and Dennis Tufano. By early 1966 LeGros was forced to leave after he was drafted. After winning a local battle of the bands competition, The Pulsations secured a job as the house band on WGN-TV's variety show called All-Time Hits in 1966. The show's producers suggested they adopt a name reflective of the British invasion, which was popular at the time, and the band adopted the name The Buckinghams, which was suggested by a security guard at the station.

In early 1966 the band signed their first record contract with local label USA Records and recorded twelve songs that year. Several were released as singles, including "I'll Go Crazy", a song originally recorded by James Brown & The Famous Flames and The Beatles' "I Call Your Name". However, it was their number one single, "Kind of a Drag", that provided them with national exposure. "Kind of a Drag" was written by Chicago-based songwriter Jim Holvay, who had been performing with a group called The Mob, and spent two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1967. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The co-producers of "Kind of a Drag" were the band's first personal manager Carl Bonafede and big band leader Dan Belloc, owner of the Holiday Ballroom in Chicago. The arranger of the horn sound was Frank Tesinsky. The engineer at the first recording sessions held at Chess Records in Chicago was Ron Malo. Following this, the band's debut album, also entitled Kind of a Drag, was released on USA Records and featured the band's early recordings.

In late 1966 keyboardist Miccolis was replaced by Larry Nestor, who only stayed in the band a short time and was, in turn, replaced by Marty Grebb in early 1967. Around this time the band members were introduced to James William Guercio, formerly the bassist and road manager for Chad & Jeremy, who then signed them to a management contract with Ebbins-Guercio Associates. The Buckinghams were courted by several record labels before deciding on promotion specialist Jim Scully, who quickly got them a new contract with Columbia (CBS) Records. Guercio, who became the group's producer, continued the group's "brass-rock" approach, and the band produced four more Top-20 hits in 1967: "Don't You Care" (#6), "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (#5), "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)" (#12) and "Susan" (#11), (three of which were written by Jim Holvay and Gary Beisber). The same year, The Buckinghams were named by Billboard magazine as "The Most Listened to Band in America."

By mid-1968 The Buckinghams had parted company with Guercio and Columbia Records assigned staff producer Jim Wisner to work with the group on their third album, In One Ear and Gone Tomorrow. The album featured material written by Grebb, Giammarese and Tufano, Despite the release of a new single, Back in Love Again, they were unable to duplicate their 1967 success without Guercio, who had gone on to explore the "brass rock" concept further with Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago. By late 1968 Marty Grebb and Nick Fortuna had left and were replaced by keyboardist John Turner and bassist Curtis Bachman, a former member of The Centuries along with Giammarese. Bachman had also been a member of The Pulsations briefly before leaving to join the band Saturday's Child. There were no more hits, though, and band dissolved in early 1970, and a greatest hits record was released in 1975 by Columbia called "Made in Chicago". After the break-up, Tufano and Giammarese formed the duo Tufano & Giammarese and recorded three albums for Lou Adler's record label, Ode Records, forming a touring band in time for their second album. Drummer John Poulos, who had secured the Ode Records recording contract for the duo, became a manager of several rock bands, including The Boyzz from Illinoizz. Poulos died of drug-related heart failure on March 26, 1980

Read more complete details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Buckinghams

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[NJBRAT61]

GREAT

[TheLonniemac1]

My wife's name is Susan and this always makes me think of her.We were teenagers when I first

[waynebrasler]

Yes, the psychedelic break was edited into the record and the group wasn't happy. But it pumped up the radio play tremendously as did the fabulous string section and horn section.

[Wacokid48]

wish they could all get along and bring back some of these memories..in fact..I'll play guitar for them..hey Carl..do you remember Lane Tech and the 60's?

[StanBennet]

@greenpilgrim50 They were in Las Vegas at a fans house when they heard this song for the first time. They were all like "What the hell was that?"

[TonyHickschick]

I didn't know there was a song about me, lol

[lazur1]

Anyone recall name of theater on Fullerton Ave Buckinghams played c.1966?

[Nickie0016]

Great quality! love this song!

[greenpilgrim50]

I read that the psychodelic part of this song was a terrible point of contention between the band and it's producers, the band NOT wanting it in this song, I totally agree! I LOVE THIS DRUMMER! RIP Jon Poulos

[Tarantulisimo]

Is that original key man Dennis Miccolis in the 2nd photo @ 0:04?