Alive 'N Kickin'

Last updated

Alive 'N Kickin'
Origin Brooklyn, New York
Genres
Years active
  • 1968–1971
  • 1976–present
Labels Roulette
Past membersDave Shearer
Sandy Toder
Pepe Cardona
Bruce Sudano
Jeff Miller
Woody Wilson
Vito Albano
Ronny Pell
Johnny Parisio
Richie Incorvaia

Alive 'N Kickin' is an American pop group formed in Brooklyn, New York. Led by singers Pepe Cardona and Sandy Toder, they are best known for their 1970 hit "Tighter, Tighter", which peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. [1]

Contents

The group's initial run lasted from 1968 to 1971, during which they didn't achieve success outside of "Tighter, Tighter", making them a one-hit wonder. In 1976, most of the original lineup reformed, and they've continued to perform to the present day, with various member changes. They have released one studio album, 1970's Alive 'N Kickin'.

History

Formation: 1968

The six original members formed the band when they were teenagers in 1968, in guitarist Dave Shearer's basement. The group also included Sandy Toder and Pepe Cardona on vocals, Bruce Sudano and Jeff Miller on keyboards, and Woody Wilson on bass. They gained some popularity when they began recording for Tommy James on the label he was signed to, Roulette Records.

"Tighter, Tighter": 1970

In early 1970, the band began recording sessions for their upcoming, self-titled studio album, which came out in January. A song written and produced by Tommy James and Bob King, and arranged by Jimmy Wisner, was to be recorded, and although James originally considered having his friends do this song—now known as "Crystal Blue Persuasion"—he liked it so much he decided to keep it for himself. As a gesture of friendship to the group, he wrote "Tighter, Tighter" for them. After recording the track, the group replaced Vito Albano (drums, percussion) and Dave with Ronny Pell and Johnny Parisio. With the new lineup, "Tighter, Tighter" was released. [2]

The song came out in May 1970 and stayed on the US chart for 16 weeks. [2] It sold over one million copies and received a Gold disc, awarded by the R.I.A.A. [2]

Two singles were almost immediately released to ride on the good fortune of the hit song, but after a lack of success with "Just Let It Come" and "London Bridge", and after increasing difficulties with their producer Morris Levy and the label's insistence on trying to make more singles so quickly, the band quietly broke up by early 1972. [3]

Reunion: 1976

Most of the group reunited in 1976, with a lineup that included Cardona, Wilson (this time on lead guitar), Shearer, Albano, and new bassist Richie Incorvaia. They played from the mid-1970s until the late 1980s. Since then, the band's lineup changed numerous times, though Cardona and Parisio remained a constant presence. Wilson, Albano, and Shearer left, and Incorvaia died. [4]

Later years

Pepe Cardona was diagnosed with stage-3 pancreatic cancer in August 2019. The tumor was removed in April 2020, but it had spread to his stomach. He died on July 28, 2020, aged 72. [5] [6]

Discography

Albums

YearTitle US Record label
1970Alive 'N Kickin'129 Roulette

Singles

YearTitle US Record label B-side Album
1970"Tighter, Tighter"7Roulette"Sunday Morning"Alive 'N Kickin'
"Just Let It Come"69Roulette"Mother Carey's Chicken"
1971"Good Ole Lovin' Back Home"Roulette"Junction Creek"
"London Bridge"Roulette"You Gave Me Something"

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commodores</span> American funk and soul band

Commodores, often billed as the Commodores, is an American funk and soul group. The group's most successful period was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Lionel Richie was the co-lead singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy James and the Shondells</span> American rock band

Tommy James and the Shondells is an American rock band formed in Niles, Michigan, in 1964. They had two No. 1 singles in the U.S. – "Hanky Panky" and "Crimson and Clover" – and also charted twelve other top 40 hits, including five in the Hot 100's top ten: "I Think We're Alone Now", "Mirage", "Mony Mony", "Sweet Cherry Wine" and "Crystal Blue Persuasion".

Skid Row were an Irish blues rock band of the late 1960s and early 1970s, based in Dublin and fronted by bass guitarist Brendan "Brush" Shiels. It was the first band in which Phil Lynott and Gary Moore played professionally before finding greater fame with Thin Lizzy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Four Seasons (band)</span> American rock band

The Four Seasons is an American rock and roll and doo-wop quartet formed in 1960 in Newark, New Jersey. Since 1970, they have also been known at times as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The band evolved out of a previous band called The Four Lovers, with Frankie Valli as the lead singer, Bob Gaudio on keyboards and tenor vocals, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar and baritone vocals, and Nick Massi on bass guitar and bass vocals. On nearly all of their 1960s hits, they were credited as The 4 Seasons. The band had two distinct lineups that achieved widespread success: the original featuring Valli, Gaudio, DeVito, and Massi that recorded hits throughout the 1960s, and a 1970s quintet consisting of Valli, Lee Shapiro, Gerry Polci, Don Ciccone and John Paiva, with Gaudio and Long providing studio support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mooney Suzuki</span> American garage rock band

The Mooney Suzuki is an American garage rock band that formed in New York City in 1996. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Sammy James, Jr., guitarist Graham Tyler, bassist John Paul Ribas and drummer Will Rockwell-Scott, the band has released four studio albums – People Get Ready (2000), Electric Sweat (2003), Alive & Amplified (2004) and Have Mercy (2007). The current lineup includes founding members James and Rockwell-Scott, guitarist Chris Isom, and bassist Reno Bo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy James</span> American musician

Tommy James, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, widely known as frontman of the 1960s rock band Tommy James and the Shondells, who were known for their hits including "Mony Mony" and "Crimson and Clover", and "I Think We're Alone Now".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart (band)</span> American rock band

Heart is an American rock band formed in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. The band evolved from previous projects led by founding members Roger Fisher (guitar) and Steve Fossen, including The Army (1967–1969), Hocus Pocus (1969–1970), and White Heart (1970–1973). By 1975, original members Fisher, Fossen, and Ann Wilson, along with Nancy Wilson, Michael Derosier (drums), and Howard Leese formed the lineup for the band's initial mid- to late-1970s success period. These core members were included in the band's 2013 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Johnston</span> American musician

Bruce Arthur Johnston is an American singer, musician and songwriter who is a member of the Beach Boys. He also collaborated on many records with Terry Melcher and composed the 1975 Barry Manilow hit, "I Write the Songs".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Shadows of Knight</span> American rock band

The Shadows of Knight were an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois, that played a version of British blues influenced by their native city. When they began recording in 1965, the band's self-description was "the Stones, Animals and the Yardbirds took the Chicago blues and gave it an English interpretation. We've taken the English version of the Blues and re-added a Chicago touch," to which rock critic Richie Unterberger commented: "The Shadows of Knight's self-description was fairly accurate."

Frehley's Comet was an American rock band formed and led by ex-Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley. The group released two studio albums and one live EP before Frehley left the band to release his 1989 solo album, Trouble Walkin'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marmalade (band)</span> Scottish rock band

Marmalade are a Scottish pop rock band originating from the east end of Glasgow, originally formed in 1961 as The Gaylords, and then later billed as Dean Ford and the Gaylords, recording four singles for Columbia (EMI). In 1966 they changed the band's name to The Marmalade and were credited as such on all of their subsequent recorded releases with CBS Records and Decca Records until 1972. Their greatest chart success was between 1968 and 1972, placing ten songs on the UK Singles Chart, and many overseas territories, including international hits "Reflections of My Life", which reached No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart and No. 3 on the UK chart in January 1970, and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", which topped the UK chart in January 1969, the group becoming the first-ever Scottish artist to top that chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul II Soul</span> British musical collective

Soul II Soul are a British musical collective formed in London in 1988. They are best known for their two major hits; 1989's UK number five and US number eleven "Keep On Movin'", and its follow-up, the UK number one and US number four "Back to Life". They have won two Grammy Awards, and have been nominated for five Brit Awards—twice for Best British Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savoy Brown</span> English blues rock band

Savoy Brown were an English blues rock band formed in Battersea, south west London, in 1965. Part of the late 1960s blues rock movement, Savoy Brown primarily achieved success in the United States, where they promoted their albums with non-stop touring. Founder, guitarist and primary songwriter Kim Simmonds was the sole constant member of the band from its formation in 1965 until his death in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sweet Inspirations</span> American R&B vocal group

The Sweet Inspirations are an American R&B girl group mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other R&B and rock artists. A founding member of the group was Dionne Warwick, who was later replaced by her aunt, Cissy Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanted Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi song)</span> 1987 single by Bon Jovi

"Wanted Dead or Alive" is a power ballad by American rock band Bon Jovi. It is from their 1986 album Slippery When Wet. The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora and was released in 1987, as the album's third single. During a February 20, 2008 encore performance in Detroit, Jon Bon Jovi told the crowd about running into Bob Seger at a Pistons game. As he introduced his song "Wanted Dead or Alive", he said it was inspired by Seger's "Turn the Page" hit and called the song the band's anthem. The song peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 13 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, making it the third single from the album to reach the Top 10 of the Hot 100. As a result, Slippery When Wet was the first glam metal album to have 3 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Sudano</span> American musician (born 1948)

Bruce Charles Sudano is an American musician and songwriter noted for creating songs for artists such as Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and his late wife, the Grammy Award-winning singer Donna Summer. Sudano is the founder of indie record label Purple Heart Recording Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O-o-h Child</span> Song by the Five Stairsteps

"O-o-h Child" is a 1970 single, written by Stan Vincent, recorded by Chicago soul family group the Five Stairsteps and released on the Buddah label.

"Cherry Blossom Clinic" is a song by British rock band The Move, written by their lead guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter Roy Wood, intended as the follow-up single to their hit "Flowers in the Rain", which reached number two in the Record Retailer chart. Like many of Wood's other songs, "Cherry Blossom Clinic" deals with clinical insanity and loneliness, and makes several pop culture references throughout, which he largely credits to an ambition for writing a children's book. The track was initially recorded in August 1967 at Advision Studios, but was abandoned for three months before being re-recorded in November of that year, and lacks a production credit.

Paul Michael Barry is a British songwriter and musician. Some of his best-known songs he has co-written include "Believe" by Cher, "Hero" and "Bailamos" by Enrique Iglesias and the 5-times platinum U.S. single "Let It Go" by James Bay. He has won three Ivor Novello Awards and ASCAP PRS writer of the year 2000. He has scored three US number-one singles, as well as other number-ones around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tighter, Tighter</span> 1970 single by Alive N Kickin

"Tighter, Tighter" is a song written by Bob King and Tommy James. Alive N Kickin' recorded it for their 1970 album, Alive N Kickin. The tune was produced by King and James. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1970. In Canada, the song peaked at No. 5.

References

  1. "Alive 'N Kickin' Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  272. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
  3. "Gary James' Interview with Pepe Cardona of Alive N Kickin'". classicbands.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  4. "Richie I of Alive-N-Kickin". Alive-n-kickin.com. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  5. Cohen, Jason (August 7, 2020). "Longtime City Island resident and musician Pepe Cardona sings his last tune". BronxTimes. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  6. "Pepe Cardona of Alive 'N Kickin' Has Died". rockawave.com. July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.