Elephant's Memory

Last updated

Elephant's Memory
Also known asPlastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band
Origin New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres Psychedelic rock, experimental rock, soul
Years active1967–c. 1976
Labels

Elephant's Memory (also billed as Elephants Memory, without the apostrophe) was an American rock band formed in New York City in the late 1960s, known primarily for backing John Lennon and Yoko Ono from late 1971 to 1973. For live performances with Lennon and Ono, the band was known as the Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band.

Contents

History

Formation and early career (1967–1972)

Elephant's Memory was formed between 1967 and 1968, by Stan Bronstein (saxophone, clarinet, and vocals) and Rick Frank Jr. (drums). In 1968, they briefly added Carly Simon as a vocalist. By 1969, the line-up had expanded to include John Ward (bass) with Danny Adler (guitar and keyboards) who originally performed in the Blues Doctors (1964-1966), Chester Ayers (guitar), Myron Yules (bass trombone), R. Sussmann (keyboards), Michal Shapiro (vocals), Guy Peritore (guitar and vocals), David Cohen (guitar, keyboards, and vocals), and Michael Rose on guitar.

Two of the band's songs, "Jungle Gym at the Zoo" and "Old Man Willow", appeared on the 1969 soundtrack to the film Midnight Cowboy . Elephant's Memory received a gold disc for their contribution to the soundtrack. [1]

In 1970, the band had a minor hit single with the song "Mongoose" on Metromedia Records, peaking at number 50 on the Hot 100 on October 17, 1970 but at number 5 on Chicago's WCFL on November 23, 1970 [2] and reaching number 1 in Pittsburgh on KQV. In Canada, "Mongoose" reached number 71 on September 26, 1970. [3] In 1971 the band released the single "Skyscraper Commando," of which Record World said "the lyric is powerful and the instrumental track is right up there with 'Mongoose'." [4]

Between 1970 and 1973, the line-up remained more or less constant around Bronstein and Frank, together with guitarists Wayne "Tex" Gabriel, keyboardist Adam Ippolito and bassist Gary Van Scyoc.

Work with Lennon and Ono, and later career (1972–1976)

Known around the Greenwich Village area as a politically active street band, Elephant's Memory backed Lennon and Ono on their album Some Time in New York City during recording sessions in March 1972. The album was released in June 1972 in the United States, and in September 1972 in the UK.

Later in 1972, they were billed as the Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band and performed with Lennon and Ono on various TV shows, albums and concerts. On August 30, 1972, with the addition of John Ward on bass and Jim Keltner on drums, the band played with Lennon and Ono at the famous One to One Concert organized by Geraldo Rivera, to benefit the Willowbrook State School for children with intellectual disabilities. The concert was filmed and recorded, later released in February 1986 as the album Live In New York City . On September 4, they played live again with Lennon and Ono at the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon , performing "Imagine", "Now or Never" and "Give Peace A Chance". [1]

In April and May 1972, the band recorded their second self-titled album, co-produced by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, [5] and released on the Beatles' Apple Records label, together with an accompanying single "Power Boogie." Billboard called it a "selection of good, strong unpretentious rock." [6] It also contains various contributions by Lennon himself on guitar and vocals. This album has never been re-issued on compact disc. From October to November, the band recorded material for Ono's double album Approximately Infinite Universe , released in January 1973.

On September 5, 1973, the band appeared at the Hells Angels "Pirate Party" held on the SS Bay Belle, together with a band featuring Jerry Garcia. [7] [8] This performance was later featured in the 1983 documentary film Hells Angels Forever. [7]

The line-up of Elephant's Memory included at various times, Daria Price on castanets, Robert O'Leary on bass, and John La Bosca on piano. However, the line-up that recorded Angels Forever in 1974, was Stan Bronstein and Richard Frank, plus Gary Van Scyoc on bass, Chris Robison and Jon Sachs.

In 2010, Van Scyoc and Ippolito appeared in LENNONYC , a documentary about John Lennon for the PBS American Masters series. [9]

In May 2010, guitarist Wayne "Tex" Gabriel died at the age of 59. [10]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<i>Some Time in New York City</i> 1972 album by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephants Memory and the Invisible Strings

Some Time in New York City is a part-studio, part-live double album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono as Plastic Ono Band that included backing by the American rock band Elephant's Memory. Released in June 1972 in the US and in September 1972 in the UK on Apple Records, it is Lennon's sixth album to be released under his own name, and his fourth with Ono. Like Lennon's previous solo albums, it was co-produced by Lennon, Ono and Phil Spector. The album's agitprop lyrics are politically charged compared to its predecessors, addressing political and social issues and topics such as sexism, incarceration, colonialism, and racism.

<i>Live in New York City</i> (John Lennon album) 1986 live album by John Lennon

Live in New York City is a posthumous live album by English rock musician John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band. It was prepared under the supervision of his widow, Yoko Ono, and released in 1986 as his second official live album, the first being Live Peace in Toronto 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic Ono Band</span> Rock band

The Plastic Ono Band was a rock band and Fluxus-based artist collective formed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1968-9 for their collaborative musical and sound art projects, films, conceptual art projects and eventual solo LPs. The creation of The Plastic Ono Band, which began in 1967 with Ono's idea for an art exhibition in Berlin, allowed Lennon to separate his artistic output from that of The Beatles.

<i>Approximately Infinite Universe</i> 1973 studio album by Yoko Ono

Approximately Infinite Universe is the third solo album by Yoko Ono, released in early 1973 on Apple Records. A double album, it represents a departure from the experimental avant garde rock of her first two albums towards a more conventional pop/rock sound, while also dabbling in feminist rock. It peaked at number 193 in the United States. The 1997 CD reissue on Rykodisc added two acoustic demos of songs from this era, that were later released on 1981's Season of Glass. It was released again by Rykodisc in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woman Is the Nigger of the World</span> 1972 song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

"Woman Is the Nigger of the World" is a song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono with Elephant's Memory from their 1972 album Some Time in New York City. The song was produced by Lennon, Ono and Phil Spector. Released as the only single from the album in the United States, the song sparked controversy at the time due to the use of the word nigger in the title, and many radio stations refused to play the song as a result.

<i>Bio</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Chuck Berry

Bio is the seventeenth studio album by Chuck Berry, released in 1973 by Chess Records. The backing musicians were Elephants Memory, except on "Rain Eyes" and "Got It and Gone".

<i>Instant Karma: All-Time Greatest Hits</i> 2002 greatest hits album by John Lennon

Instant Karma: All-Time Greatest Hits, a three-disc compilation album of music recorded by John Lennon, is a budget release targeted for sale at warehouse-type stores such as Sam's Club and Costco. The album was released in 2002 by Timeless/Traditions Alive Music under license from Capitol/EMI Special Projects.

"Attica State" is a song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono as Plastic Ono Band. It appeared on the album Some Time in New York City. The song is a lamentation of the loss of life in the Attica State prison riots, as well as the poor living conditions and human rights prisoners are afforded in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisters, O Sisters</span> 1972 single by Yoko Ono

"Sisters, O Sisters", also known as "Sisters O Sisters", is a song written by Yoko Ono that first appeared on John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's 1972 Plastic Ono Band album Some Time in New York City, backed by Elephant's Memory. It was also released as the b-side to the couple's "Woman Is the Nigger of the World" single. It has been covered by a number of artists, including Le Tigre and Tater Totz.

"The Luck of the Irish" is a song written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono that was first released on the couple's 1972 Plastic Ono Band album with Elephant's Memory, Some Time in New York City. It was written in late 1971 and was performed by Lennon and Ono live at several protest rallies and television appearances before being released on the album. It had been slated to be the first single from Some Time in New York City backed by "Attica State" but the release was shelved in favor of "Woman Is the Nigger of the World". A live acoustic performance was released on several John Lennon compilation albums.

"Born in a Prison" is a song written by Yoko Ono and first released on her 1972 album with John Lennon Some Time in New York City as part of their Plastic Ono Band project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City (John Lennon and Yoko Ono song)</span> 1972 song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono as Plastic Ono Band

"New York City" is a song written by John Lennon that was first released on Lennon's and Yoko Ono's 1972 Plastic Ono Band album Some Time in New York City.

"We're All Water" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on the 1972 John Lennon and Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band album Some Time in New York City. It was the last song on the first record of the album, and the last song on the album that was recorded in the studio.

Chris Robison was an American musician, songwriter and recording artist. He toured with the New York Dolls, Steam and John Lennon’s backing band, Elephant's Memory. He died in December 2021, at age 73

<i>S.I.R. John Winston Ono Lennon</i> 1995 studio album (bootleg) by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Elephants Memory

S.I.R. John Winston Ono Lennon is a bootleg album of rehearsals before a concert of British musician John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono, recorded in studio in late August 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch Me (Yoko Ono song)</span> Song by Yoko Ono

"Touch Me" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on her 1970 album Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band. An edited version was later released in the U.S. as the b-side to John Lennon's single "Power to the People."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)</span> 1969 single by Yoko Ono and Plastic Ono Band

"Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for A Hand in the Snow)" is a song by Yoko Ono that was originally released by Plastic Ono Band in October 1969 as the B-side of the "Cold Turkey" single, and was later released on Ono's 1971 album Fly. Several live versions have been released, including on Plastic Ono Band's Live Peace in Toronto 1969 and the John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band With Elephant's Memory album Some Time in New York City in 1972. An early version was titled "Mum's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow". It has been covered by several other artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death of Samantha (song)</span> 1973 single by Yoko Ono

"Death of Samantha" is a song written by Yoko Ono and first released on her 1973 album Approximately Infinite Universe. It was also released as a single, backed by "Yang Yang". It has also been covered by a number of artists, including Boy George, Hermine Demoriane and Porcupine Tree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now or Never (Yoko Ono song)</span> 1972 single by Yoko Ono

"Now or Never" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on her 1973 album Approximately Infinite Universe. It was also the lead single off the album, backed by "Move on Fast." A remixed version of "Move on Fast" was later released as a single and reached #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" is a song written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono that was first released on their 1972 Plastic Ono Band album with Elephant's Memory, Some Time in New York City. The song addresses the Bloody Sunday massacre of 1972 and is one of two on the album that addresses the contemporary Northern Ireland conflict, "The Luck of the Irish" being the other.

References

  1. 1 2 Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 234. CN 5585.
  2. ↑ "WCFL Big 10 Countdown". Oldiesloon.com. November 23, 1970. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  3. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - September 26, 1970" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  4. ↑ "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. February 27, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Elephant's Memory - Elephant's Memory". Johnlennon.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Billboard Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. September 30, 1972. p. 63. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Jackson, Blair (2000). Garcia: An American Life. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 257. ISBN   9780140291995. Garcia also agreed to appear in the film ... playing with the Saunders-Garcia band during a September '73 Hell's Angels "Pirate Party" aboard the ferryboat SS Bay Belle circling around Manhattan ...
  8. ↑ "Jerry Garcia And Merl Saunders: SS Bay Belle (New York City Harbor)". JerryGarcia.com.
  9. ↑ "Gary Van Scyoc". The Cavern Club.
  10. ↑ "Wayne "Tex" Gabriel Obiturary". Legacy.com . Archived from the original on December 22, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.