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Topic: Harpo's 1985

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Richard
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Harpo's 1985
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Ray: Way back in 1985 the band played a venue called Harpo's the concert was broadcast on the radio. In the set were 2 new songs which Gil says were recently written and recorded. The first one is called "It's Only Love"
and the second Gil introduces as "If you need me honey just call and i'll come loving", Mark is singing lead on both of them.

What can you tell us about these 2 tracks Ray, what project were they planned for, and what other tracks were recorded at the same session?.
In my opinion It's only Love is such a strong song, it's a shame it did not come out.( or did it?).  Do the tapes still exist? I have allways wondered what the studio versions of these tracks sound like.

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Doogie
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I have heard those songs and they are pretty damn good.  Perhaps Gil Bridges can tell us about them

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RAY MONETTE
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RICHARD,

HARPO'S WAS AN OLD THEATRE ON THE EAST SIDE OF DETROIT THAT DID CONCERTS FOR MANY YEARS. WE PLAYED THERE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES.
THE FIRST TIME WAS AFTER WE MOVED TO L.A. AND JOHN PERSH CAME DOWN TO SEE US. IT AS GOOD SEEING JOHN.THAT WAS THE LAST TIME.

THE SONGS IN QUESTION WERE WRITTEN BY MARK,GIL,EDDIE,AND MYSELF AROUND 1983.THEY WERE NEVER RECORDED IN A STUDIO. WE DID THEM AS DEMOS AT EDDIE'S HOUSE.DURING THAT PERIOD WE WROTE SEVERAL OTHER SONGS THAT WE DEMO'D. WE WERE TRYING TO GET A DEAL,AND A COMPANY ON THE EAST COAST BECAME VERY INTERESTED,ESPECIALLY IN "IT'S ONLY LOVE". UNFORTUNATELY,NOTHING CAME OF IT,AND MARK LEFT THE BAND SHORTLY AFTER.

I'M SURE THAT GIL STILL HAS THE RECORDINGS.HE DID ALL THE ENGINEERING FOR US.
I'LL HAVE TO TALK TO HIM AND SEE IF I CAN GET HIM TO VISIT THE FORUM.

RAY

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trevor bozman
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i heard that song  i'll come loving, it was so good

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Jocko D
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Too bad there's not a tape from the 72 Harpo's show making the rounds. I'd give my left arm for a copy. I wonder if any of the other Harpo's shows were broadcast on FM radio? Jocko D



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Mike
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Jocko D wrote:

Too bad there's not a tape from the 72 Harpo's show making the rounds. I'd give my left arm for a copy. I wonder if any of the other Harpo's shows were broadcast on FM radio? Jocko D


The April 1980 Harpo's gig was broadcast. I have that one.



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jljbird
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Any chance for a B & P? 

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Richard
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jljbird. What's a B & P ?.



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jljbird
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B & P is where I trade supplies....recordable CDs, cases, photo paper, other stuff that you can use for the trade and whatever else you want.  You typically get enough to make it worth your while.  I think it stands for "burn & play".  An example would be if you were kind enough to burn a copy on CD, I would trade you say 5 blank CDs with CD cases.  B & Ps's are seen with a lot of the "jam" bands.

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Mike
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biggrin B&P stands for blanks & postage.

I just need your address and I'll send it off.

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jljbird
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shoot me an e-mail at jljbird59@aol.com and I'll catch up to you.  Thanks!!!!!


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Jocko D
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Mike, The Harpos April 1980 show you mentioned would mean there's at least two Harpos FM broadcast shows in circulation. I have the 1985 show and I would definitely be interested in a copy of the 1980 show. I have lot of items to offer for trade of we can do a B+P if that's OK with you. Thanks, Jocko D


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Mike
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Jocko D wrote:

Mike, The Harpos April 1980 show you mentioned would mean there's at least two Harpos FM broadcast shows in circulation. I have the 1985 show and I would definitely be interested in a copy of the 1980 show. I have lot of items to offer for trade of we can do a B+P if that's OK with you. Thanks, Jocko D

Hi Jocko,

As far as I know there's only 2 Rare Earth Harpo gigs in circulation. That's about the extent of what is out there in trading circles amongst Rare Earth fans. After that...it's whatever Ray, Pete, or Gil might have in their collection somewhere. I just need your email...I'll get a copy off to you and jbird.


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Harpo's show holders.......
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Hey guys, Jay here again.  Keep me in mind for the B & P's!  e-mail me at jljbird59@aol.com

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mike
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Jocko,

A trade or B&P is fine with me. Just out of curiosity, what have ya got? biggrin

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mike
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Harpo's show holders....... wrote:

Hey guys, Jay here again.  Keep me in mind for the B & P's!  e-mail me at jljbird59@aol.com



check your email. :)

Mr. Monette,

You're welcome to a copy as well. After all, you're on this recording. smile



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RAY MONETTE
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HI MIKE,

THANKS FOR THE OFFER. I'D LOVE TO HAVE A COPY. WHO WAS IN THE BAND AT THAT SHOW?
I'M QUITE SURE YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT ONLY TWO BROADCAST SHOWS AT HARPOS.
MY E-MAIL IS:  rayofsun1@hotmail.com.

RAY


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mike
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RAY MONETTE wrote:

HI MIKE,

THANKS FOR THE OFFER. I'D LOVE TO HAVE A COPY. WHO WAS IN THE BAND AT THAT SHOW?
I'M QUITE SURE YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT ONLY TWO BROADCAST SHOWS AT HARPOS.
MY E-MAIL IS:  rayofsun1@hotmail.com.

RAY


Hi Ray,

I'll send an email tonight after I get off from work.

This show comes from April 1980...the lineup is: Pete, Gil, Mark, Eddie, Ray and as for the bassist...I don't know. I assume it's Mike but I don't know when he left the band. At one point Pete says something like  "we'd like to dedicate this next song to Jennifer. Jennifer's the new baby girl by our original bass player who's here but won't show his face". That one boggles me.
In short, I'm not sure who's on bass. I enjoy this show for a variety of reasons...especially to hear Pete and Mark singing together...and Mark's harmonica part on Big John is really funky. The only flaws in this show are:

1. Whoever taped this didn't have their FM tuner and antenna set exactly right...a little bit of static early on in the tape.

2. The broadcast ended after 70+ minutes...the station didn't broadcast Get Ready though.

Since I am a collectoru of shows by bands I like, this is a rare (no pun intended) one as there's almost NO material in trading circles...the 2 Harpo gigs are it! Unless someone out there has somethingn an attic somewhere and forgot about it.



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RAY MONETTE
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MIKE,

FROM WHAT YOU TOLD ME ABOUT THE PERSONNEL,AND JENNIFER,I'M SURE IT WAS MIKE URSO ON BASS. JOHN CAME DOWN TO SEE US THAT NIGHT. THAT'S WHY PETE SAID WHAT HE DID. JOHN AND HIS WIFE HAD JUST HAD A BABY(JENNIFER).WE ASKED JOHN TO SET IN,BUT HE DECLINED. THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW JOHN.

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Jimmy19029
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Does the 1985 Harpo's show say who the lineup of the band is?

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Jimmy19029
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What year did John pass on? In Pete's book he listed 1976 but I've seen different sources that have different years listed as well......

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Mike
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RAY MONETTE wrote:

MIKE,

FROM WHAT YOU TOLD ME ABOUT THE PERSONNEL,AND JENNIFER,I'M SURE IT WAS MIKE URSO ON BASS. JOHN CAME DOWN TO SEE US THAT NIGHT. THAT'S WHY PETE SAID WHAT HE DID. JOHN AND HIS WIFE HAD JUST HAD A BABY(JENNIFER).WE ASKED JOHN TO SET IN,BUT HE DECLINED. THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW JOHN.


Hi Ray,

Now that you mention it...the bass playing does have Mike's playing style.

Ever since I got this show (5 years ago)I wondered if Pete's comment was about John. Pete's book mentions John passing on in 1976. Like you said, John came down to see the band that night. 12 years ago, Ken Folcik repsonded to a letter I sent and he did mention John passing on in the early 80's. I sure wish I had that letter, as well as the ones from Mike Urso & Gil Bridges. That was in my collge days and I'll bet they got tossed at some point.

Back to the topic, the 1980 show is a really good one. I only wish the fidelity was a little better. I sent Pete a copy in 2002 and he seemed to enjoy it from what he said in email. I sure hope so.

And it's a shame there aren't more recordings of Rare Earth in the trading community. Here's to hoping that I'll snag a copy of Live In Chicago. Someone I met online says he has it somewhere...fingers crossed.

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Mike
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RAY MONETTE wrote:

MIKE,

FROM WHAT YOU TOLD ME ABOUT THE PERSONNEL,AND JENNIFER,I'M SURE IT WAS MIKE URSO ON BASS. JOHN CAME DOWN TO SEE US THAT NIGHT. THAT'S WHY PETE SAID WHAT HE DID. JOHN AND HIS WIFE HAD JUST HAD A BABY(JENNIFER).WE ASKED JOHN TO SET IN,BUT HE DECLINED. THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW JOHN.


By the way, when did Mike depart?



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RAY MONETTE
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SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOT A BIT OF A MYSTERY HERE. IF THE HARPO'S SHOW IS 1980 FOR SURE,THEN JOHN WAS DEFINITELY STILL ALIVE. IN THAT CASE,KENNY'S TIME FRAME IS MORE ACCURATE. I REMEMBER WELL,JOHN COMING TO A HARPO'S SHOW,BUT NOT THE YEAR. WITH WHAT PETER SAID ON THE TAPE,JOHN HAD TO BE THERE,AND IT'S THE ONE I REMEMBER.
IT'S LIKE PETE SAID HIMSELF,IT'S REALLY HARD TO BE ACCURATE ON THINGS THAT HAPPENED SO LONG AGO. I KNOW I CAN BE GUILTY OF IT TOO.

MIKE URSO LEFT THE BAND IN 1974,WHEN WE BROKE UP,BUT WE ALL GOT BACK TOGETHER IN 1978 FOR "BAND TOGETHER ", AND "GRAND SLAM".
I'M NOT SURE WHEN HE LEFT AFTER THAT,BUT IT WAS BEFORE REGGIE MCBRIDE CAME IN.

RAY

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JP2
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Jennifer was born on 2/9/80
JP passed away on 1/27/81

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Mike
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JP2 wrote:

Jennifer was born on 2/9/80
JP passed away on 1/27/81



There we have it! Thanks John.



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Jocko D
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Mike, I have very little Rare Earth material for trade but I do have a decent collection of live recordings of other bands. I'm sure I'll have something you're intrested in. My e-mail address is Jocko90@optonline.net  Thanks, Jocko

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Bob
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Pardon me...who's jennifer?

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UK Dave
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Jennifer is John Persh's daughter

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Harpo's 1985 B & P?
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I did a B & P with Mike (5 blank CDs with slim cases) for the 1980 show and would love to do one with you for the 1985 show.  Can you contact me at jljbird59@aol.com please?

Thanks.

Jay

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Mike
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Check your email :)

I'll send one out to you.

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