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| This is the tape Ted gave me in 1986 to learn for my LOOB audition. |
LOOB '85
Here's what I know (I wasn't there):
30 years ago, in the spring of 1985, Ted, Rich & Ward - students at the Stony Brook School - formed a loose combo called The Vagrants and played a school talent show ("In The City" by the Jam). They ditched the name "The Vagrants" (a name that had already been used, on Long Island, by Leslie West) and changed their name to Life Out Of Balance (taken from the film "Koyaanisqatsi")*.
* Hubie, Ted and I never felt great about the name and were always trying to change it, we could just never agree on one, nor could we even think up a worthy contender! Life Out Of Balance at least had meaning to it, especially with this lot! Anyway.....the other day I realized...I like the name!
* Hubie, Ted and I never felt great about the name and were always trying to change it, we could just never agree on one, nor could we even think up a worthy contender! Life Out Of Balance at least had meaning to it, especially with this lot! Anyway.....the other day I realized...I like the name!
Months earlier, Ward had played a jam with this guy who had been in a real punk band! Hubie Poole. Ward invited him to play and Hubie - who hadn't been playing much of late - agreed to come jam. Ted told me he was expecting a guy with green teeth and safety pins stuck in his face; instead in walks Hubie who - according to Ted - looked like he had just stepped out of "Brideshead Revisited"! "The nicest guy in the world!", Ted recalled (see bottom paragraph)
They began rehearsing on the stage of the school auditorium (Carson Hall, I believe Neil Aikens is a name that should be thanked here. The drumset they used was a clear Ludwig kit donated by John Russell! Do I know my LOOB trivia or what?!). The first song they worked on was "Policeman" but they quickly switched to doing Clash covers. Still, according to Ted, they rehearsed a lot and started working up a batch of originals including: "I Cried", "Time Is Cruel" (according to both Ted & Hubie, they worked on this song incessantly), "Job Security" (which had a middle bit relating to Frankie Goes To Hollywood), "The Man Within", "Feast Of Reason", "Not My Girl" (Ted: "I don't know how long the 'doorstop' line has been in there. I know that's my line." (Ted, 1987), "Rain", and a gag song called "Hubie Get The Mail".
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| Brideshead Revisited. No safety pins stuck in the face |
They began rehearsing on the stage of the school auditorium (Carson Hall, I believe Neil Aikens is a name that should be thanked here. The drumset they used was a clear Ludwig kit donated by John Russell! Do I know my LOOB trivia or what?!). The first song they worked on was "Policeman" but they quickly switched to doing Clash covers. Still, according to Ted, they rehearsed a lot and started working up a batch of originals including: "I Cried", "Time Is Cruel" (according to both Ted & Hubie, they worked on this song incessantly), "Job Security" (which had a middle bit relating to Frankie Goes To Hollywood), "The Man Within", "Feast Of Reason", "Not My Girl" (Ted: "I don't know how long the 'doorstop' line has been in there. I know that's my line." (Ted, 1987), "Rain", and a gag song called "Hubie Get The Mail".
At this point, Ward and Rich shared drumming duties, depending on who was singing lead. They played at least two gigs during this period: a garden party (this party was recorded! I've never heard it! Anyone have the tape? Let me know!) At one point the police came and handcuffed Ward to the microphone stand! The highlight of the show musically, I was told, was a rendition of General Public's "End Of The Party" which Hubie sang while Rich played keyboards.
They also played a gig at Ted's father's bar, Jerry's Place. During "I Cried" Hubie jumped up and began dancing on the bar, to which Ted's dad shouted: "Hey Twinkletoes! You wanna get off my bar?!" According to both Hubie & Ted, Life Out Of Balance went over well - in stark contrast to our appearance there the following year! But that's another story for another time!
They also played a gig at Ted's father's bar, Jerry's Place. During "I Cried" Hubie jumped up and began dancing on the bar, to which Ted's dad shouted: "Hey Twinkletoes! You wanna get off my bar?!" According to both Hubie & Ted, Life Out Of Balance went over well - in stark contrast to our appearance there the following year! But that's another story for another time!
At the end of the summer, with Rich about to go to England for a year, they quickly recorded a demo at an 8-track studio in Smithtown, the probable date was Friday, August 29 (with mixing done by Ted & Hubie the following day).
The tape begins with Rich counting off and Ward singing "I Cried", one of my favorite early LOOB tunes. I've always preferred this original version to the one we re-recorded a year later.
Even moreso "Feast Of Reason" which follows, a song Hubie brought in and in my mind the "first" Life Out Of Balance song. It's still the first song I think of when I think of Life Out Of Balance, isn't that funny? When Ted played me this tape, he started with this song. I can't say I was knocked out of my chair, but I was intrigued by many things, one being that it had a sound, a mood, cool structure, and some good melody, especially the end, when Ward & Ted sing behind Hubie. But even more than all this was simply the idea that there was someone on Long Island that was playing what was then called "New Music" (after the term "New Wave" became passe, and "alternative" hadn't yet been coined. Pathetic.). In my town, I could only find people who wanted to play Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Rush. It was as if punk and New Wave had never happened. I was itching to play something contemporary, not Bonehead Rock. Plus, Ted and I were a team. If he was in the band, that was good enough for me. Ok, I'm getting ahead of myself! Back to the demo!
"The Man Within" is a funky tune that Rich sings with Graham Greene-inspired lyrics and some real solid drumming from Ward. Plus a great sort of "rap" between Hubie and Rich at the end! The tape winds up with two mixes of a chimey ditty Rich sings, "Rain". Once in a blue moon - as late as December of 1990 - we would break into this one if the mood struck us!
Around this time LOOB had a sort of manager named J.L. He came and watched the band at Carson Hall and immediately got them a gig at Traxx in Manhattan. The show was on the Monday after the session. According to Ted & Hubie, the gig was marred by Hubie's guitar (The Paul!) not staying in tune, with epic tuning breaks. To fill time, Ted took to the microphone and asked Ward how his first day at NYU went. (there may be a tape of this show in existence, as well)
The tape begins with Rich counting off and Ward singing "I Cried", one of my favorite early LOOB tunes. I've always preferred this original version to the one we re-recorded a year later.
Even moreso "Feast Of Reason" which follows, a song Hubie brought in and in my mind the "first" Life Out Of Balance song. It's still the first song I think of when I think of Life Out Of Balance, isn't that funny? When Ted played me this tape, he started with this song. I can't say I was knocked out of my chair, but I was intrigued by many things, one being that it had a sound, a mood, cool structure, and some good melody, especially the end, when Ward & Ted sing behind Hubie. But even more than all this was simply the idea that there was someone on Long Island that was playing what was then called "New Music" (after the term "New Wave" became passe, and "alternative" hadn't yet been coined. Pathetic.). In my town, I could only find people who wanted to play Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Rush. It was as if punk and New Wave had never happened. I was itching to play something contemporary, not Bonehead Rock. Plus, Ted and I were a team. If he was in the band, that was good enough for me. Ok, I'm getting ahead of myself! Back to the demo!
"The Man Within" is a funky tune that Rich sings with Graham Greene-inspired lyrics and some real solid drumming from Ward. Plus a great sort of "rap" between Hubie and Rich at the end! The tape winds up with two mixes of a chimey ditty Rich sings, "Rain". Once in a blue moon - as late as December of 1990 - we would break into this one if the mood struck us!
Around this time LOOB had a sort of manager named J.L. He came and watched the band at Carson Hall and immediately got them a gig at Traxx in Manhattan. The show was on the Monday after the session. According to Ted & Hubie, the gig was marred by Hubie's guitar (The Paul!) not staying in tune, with epic tuning breaks. To fill time, Ted took to the microphone and asked Ward how his first day at NYU went. (there may be a tape of this show in existence, as well)
With Rich in England, the band went on hiatus for a year. According to H & T, while he was abroad, Rich had some contact with a person from Island Records. The feedback was both encouraging (hey, interesting stuff!) and discouraging (but it's not ready for prime time!).
So......how do I know all this? In 1987, I actually interviewed both Ted & Hubie! In this box, I found a tape of Ted's interview (which I shall now destroy to protect the innocent....and the guilty!)...and I found a piece of looseleaf in another box that had part of Hubie's remembrances! Clearly I was preparing myself for this blog even then!
Anyways.......enjoy this moment in time, preserved on this lowly cassette!
Happy 30th Birthday, Life Out Of Balance!
So......how do I know all this? In 1987, I actually interviewed both Ted & Hubie! In this box, I found a tape of Ted's interview (which I shall now destroy to protect the innocent....and the guilty!)...and I found a piece of looseleaf in another box that had part of Hubie's remembrances! Clearly I was preparing myself for this blog even then!
Anyways.......enjoy this moment in time, preserved on this lowly cassette!
Happy 30th Birthday, Life Out Of Balance!
Life Out Of Balance, 8-track demo 8/29/85
I Cried
Feast Of Reason
The Man Within
Rain
Rain (1st mix)
Richard Wittman - vocal, drums on "I Cried" & "Feast Of Reason"
Ward Regan - vocal, drums on "Man Within" & "Rain
Hubert Poole - guitar, vocal
Ted Schreiber - bass, vocal
Recorded at Justin Studio, engineered by Chris Tito
probable recording date: August 29, 1985 / probable mix date: August 30, 1985
mp3 and lossless flac (you can delete the flac if you don't want them)
https://www.mediafire.com/?8sz6y8q2w0ex210
Feast Of Reason
The Man Within
Rain
Rain (1st mix)
Richard Wittman - vocal, drums on "I Cried" & "Feast Of Reason"
Ward Regan - vocal, drums on "Man Within" & "Rain
Hubert Poole - guitar, vocal
Ted Schreiber - bass, vocal
Recorded at Justin Studio, engineered by Chris Tito
probable recording date: August 29, 1985 / probable mix date: August 30, 1985
mp3 and lossless flac (you can delete the flac if you don't want them)
https://www.mediafire.com/?8sz6y8q2w0ex210
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| The Paul |
