Wadsworth Mansion (band)

Last updated

Wadsworth Mansion (also known as Wadsworth Family Mansion) was an early-1970s American rock band from Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Its members were Steve Jablecki (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Wayne Gagnon (guitar, vocals), Russ Sevigny (a/k/a Russ Dana, original drummer), Mike Jablecki (drums) and John Poole (bass guitar). [1] The group took its name from Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill in Connecticut.

Contents

In November 1970, Wadsworth Mansion released their first single, a non-album version of "Sweet Mary", [1] backed by another non-album track, "What's On Tonight". [2] [3] "Sweet Mary" would prove to be the band's only hit song, peaking at No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the week ending 27 February 1971. [1] It peaked at No. 5 on Cash Box. It also reached No. 35 on the Easy Listening chart. [4]

In April 1971, Wadsworth Mansion issued their first and only album on the heels of their first single's success, the self-titled Wadsworth Mansion. [5] In support of the album, the group released their second single in April 1971 with the tracks, "Michigan Harry Slaughter" and "Havin' Such A Good Time", but the single failed to make Billboard's Hot 100 chart. [6]

In July 1971, Wadsworth Mansion issued their third and final single with the non-album track, "Nine On The Line", backed by "Queenie Dew". [7] The release would also fail to enter Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, sealing Wadsworth Mansion's status as a one-hit wonder.

In January 1972, Howie McDonald replaced Wayne Gagnon on guitar. The band recorded four new songs at the CBS studios in New York City. The songs recorded were: "Don't Ask Me," "Over and Over," "Dusty Angel," and "Why Does It Hurt So Bad." These were produced by James Calvert and Norman Marzano. In May 1972, Charlie Flannery replaced Mike Jablecki on drums. This was the line-up of the band until after their last tour of the south in August 1972, when the group officially disbanded.

McDonald and Steve Jablecki reformed the band in Hollywood in the summer of 1973, but changed the name to Slingshot at the producer's urging.

Select discography

Singles

Albums

Track listing

  • A1 "Long Haired Brown Eyed Girl"
  • A2 "Queenie Dew"
  • A3 "City Gardner"
  • A4 "She Said She Would"
  • A5 "Sweet Mary" (Note: April 1971 album version differs from November 1970 single version) [10]
  • B1 "I Like It"
  • B2 "Michigan Harry Slaughter"
  • B3 "Let It Shine"
  • B4 "Goodbye"
  • B5 "Havin' Such a Good Time" [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Promised Land (Chuck Berry song)</span> Song lyric written by Chuck Berry to the melody of "Wabash Cannonball"

"Promised Land" is a song lyric written by Chuck Berry to the melody of "Wabash Cannonball", an American folk song. The song was first recorded in this version by Berry in 1964 for his album St. Louis to Liverpool. Released in December 1964, it was Berry's fourth single issued following his prison term for a Mann Act conviction. The record peaked at #41 in the Billboard charts on January 16, 1965.

"Pledging My Love" is a blues ballad. It was written by Ferdinand Washington and Don Robey and published in 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devoted to You (song)</span>

"Devoted to You" is a song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.

"Morning Dew", also known as "(Walk Me Out in the) Morning Dew", is a contemporary folk song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bonnie Dobson. The lyrics relate a fictional conversation in a post-nuclear holocaust world. Originally recorded as a solo performance, Dobson's vocal is accompanied by her finger-picked acoustic guitar playing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There's a Kind of Hush</span> 1967 single by Hermans Hermits

"There's a Kind of Hush" is a popular song written by Les Reed and Geoff Stephens. Originally recorded by Stephens' group the New Vaudeville Band in 1967 as a neo-British music hall number, this version of the track became a hit in Australia and South Africa. However, in the rest of the world, a near-simultaneous cover was a big hit for Herman's Hermits. The song was a charted hit again in 1976 for The Carpenters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leaving on a Jet Plane</span> 1966 song written and performed by John Denver

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver in 1966, originally included on his debut demo recording John Denver Sings as "Babe I Hate to Go". He made several copies and gave them out as presents for Christmas of that year. Denver's then producer Milt Okun convinced him to change the title; the song was renamed "Leaving on a Jet Plane" in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get It On (T. Rex song)</span> 1971 single by T.Rex

"Get It On" is a song by the English rock band T. Rex, featured on their 1971 album Electric Warrior. Written by frontman Marc Bolan, "Get It On" was the second chart-topper for T. Rex on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it was retitled "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" to avoid confusion with a song of the same name by the group Chase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Hear You No More</span>

"I Can't Hear You No More" is a composition written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was originally recorded as "I Can't Hear You" in 1964 by Betty Everett. The most successful version was the 1976 top 40 single by Helen Reddy.

"Make It Easy on Yourself" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David which was initially a hit for Jerry Butler in 1962. The best-known version is the 1965 recording by the Walker Brothers, for whom it was a No. 1 UK and Canadian hit. Dionne Warwick, who made a demo of the song in early 1962, later had a hit with it in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel Baby (Rosie and the Originals song)</span> 1960 single by Rosie and the Originals

"Angel Baby" was a 1960 single by Rosie and the Originals. The group recorded the song independently on a two-track machine, located in a facility in the small farming community of San Marcos, California. At the time, lead singer Rosie Hamlin was only 15 years old. She had written the lyrics for "Angel Baby" as a poem for "[her] very first boyfriend" when she was a 14-year-old student at Mission Bay High School in San Diego, California.

"Love Will Keep Us Together" is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. It was first recorded by Sedaka in 1973. The brother-sister duo Mac and Katie Kissoon also recorded a version in 1973. American pop duo Captain & Tennille covered it in 1975, with instrumental backing almost entirely by “Captain” Daryl Dragon, with the exception of drums played by Hal Blaine; their version became a worldwide hit.

"Wedding Song (There Is Love)" is a title of a 1971 hit single by Paul Stookey: the song—which Stookey credits to divine inspiration— has since been recorded by many singers (with versions by Petula Clark and Mary MacGregor returning it to the Billboard Hot 100)—and remains a popular choice for performance at weddings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of the Road (song)</span> 1965 single by Roger Miller

"King of the Road" is a song written by country singer Roger Miller, who first recorded it in November 1964. The lyrics tell of the day-to-day life of a traveling hobo who, despite having little money, revels in his freedom, describing himself humorously and cynically as the "king of the road". It was Miller's fifth single for Smash Records. The song won Miller 5 Grammy Awards in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steamroller Blues</span> 1970 song by James Taylor

"Steamroller Blues", is a blues parody written by James Taylor, that appeared on his 1970 album Sweet Baby James. It was intended to mock the inauthentic blues bands of the day. The song later appeared on two of Taylor's compilation albums and has been recorded by a variety of other artists.

<i>The Sweet</i> (album) 1973 compilation album by Sweet

The Sweet is a compilation album released as Sweet's debut album in the US and Canada, substituting for the 1971 UK album Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be.

"Funny How Time Slips Away" is a song written by Willie Nelson and first recorded by country singer Billy Walker. Walker's version was issued as a single by Columbia Records in June 1961 and peaked at number 23 on the Hot C&W Sides chart. The song has been featured in several live action films and television shows, such as in the first episode of the second season of AMC’s Better Call Saul and in the 2020 Netflix drama The Devil All the Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)</span> 1951 single by Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys

"I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" is a song written and originally recorded by Hank Williams on MGM Records. It hit number two on the Billboard country singles chart in 1951. In his autobiography, George Jones printed the first six lines of the song and stated, "Its lyrics couldn't be more simple - or profound."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Mary</span> 1970 single by Wadsworth Mansion

"Sweet Mary" is a song written by Steve Jablecki and performed by Wadsworth Mansion. "Sweet Mary" was featured on their 1971 album Wadsworth Mansion and was produced by Jim Calvert and Norman Marzano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Early in the Morning (Vanity Fare song)</span> 1969 single by Vanity Fare

"Early in the Morning" is a song by British band Vanity Fare, released as a single in June 1969. It became an international hit, peaking at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was awarded a gold disc for sales over one million.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2605. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  2. ↑ "Sussex Records US 45 Discography". 45cat.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "Wadsworth Mansion's April 1971 album track, "Sweet Mary", is a different, slower version in comparison to the November 1970 single, "Sweet Mary"". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 250.
  5. ↑ April 1971 release of the Wadsworth Mansion album entitled Wadsworth Mansion. 10 April 1971. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "Sussex Records US 45 Discography". 45cat.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "Sussex Records US 45 Discography". 45cat.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  8. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2015). The Comparison Book Billboard/Cash Box/Record World 1954–1982. Sheridan Books. ISBN   978-0-89820-213-7.
  9. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2018). Top Pop Albums 1955-2016. Prometheus Global Media. ISBN   978-0-89820-226-7.
  10. ↑ "Wadsworth Mansion's April 1971 album track, "Sweet Mary", is a different, slower version in comparison to the November 1970 single, "Sweet Mary"". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "Track listing for the 1971 Wadsworth Mansion album entitled Wadsworth Mansion". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
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.