BANG - SELF-TITLED (original Capitol label)

$

36

Bang

Self-Titled

VG/VG+

US 1972

Capitol Records - ST-11015
This band started in Philadelphia as The Magic Band with members Frankie Gilcken (guitars, lead vocals), Frank Ferrera (bass, vocals) and Tony Diorio (drums). Initially they added C.J. as (lead singer) but things didn't work out as planned.
Relocating to Claymont, Delaware, a short 30 miles west of Philly, they set up at the Dress Discount Store for practices. Tony was ten years older than both Frank's, he was married with a kid and owned the store. He wrote prose and poetry and was the lyricist for the band. A few songs were written and they were already planning to record an album but there was no record deal in the works.
For eighteen months they would open the large metal door next to the store during practice on weekends and perform for the street audience that would happen by. Captain Beefheart had his Magic Band were touring everywhere, so they changed the band name to Bang.
They found out that Tone Distributors in Miami was looking for acts to sign. So, off they went. On their way there they found out that Rod Stewart and the Faces were playing in Orlando. They found their way to the venue he was playing at, the day of the show, and burst into the promoter's room. Rick Bowen of East Coast Concerts, happened to be there and was talked into an impromptu audition. He was impressed enough to add them for that night's performance, opening as the audience walked in.
Rick Bowen became their manager. Suddenly they were on the road, added as support for other national acts like Steppenwolf, Mountain, Alice Cooper, Humble Pie and others. The outdoor stage shows included fireworks that would spell out the name 'BANG' and crowds would rush the stage during any performance. They opened for Black Sabbath in Fayetteville, NC (1972) and inspired Ozzy to start throwing up his double "V" hand signature during their concerts. As a headlining act, Fleetwood Mac and Bruce Springsteen were opening for them.
Capitol Records signed them to a four-album record deal. They went to Criteria Studios in Miami to record their first album, Death of a Country, a concept album relating to death, pollution, space and time travel, with all the songs perfected over several months. Capitol records didn't like the concept tact for fear that folks just wouldn't get it and felt that the album wouldn't sell. So, it sat on the shelves. But Capitol believed in them and hired producer Michael Sunday, who produced Blue Cheer and had all the credentials to oversee a power trio. He said Frank Ferrera should be the lead singer and gave them two weeks to write new material.
New songs were written by Tony and they went back to Criteria with Michael Sunday back on board. A huge promotion for the band and the album occurred at the Capitol Tower in Los Angeles with balloons, guns, explosions, posters. Capitol referenced the name 'Bang' to sex and there were pornographic movies showing on all the TVs strategically placed at the event. The big gala was called Capitol Bang Day.
The single "Questions" peaked on Billboards top 100 and could have gone higher but things suddenly changed at Capitol where they fired most of the promoters including Michael Sunday. He left for the Epic Record label but the band couldn't join him because of their contract with Capitol. The new promoters that were hired had their own bands. Bang did record a third album, Mother/Bow to the King, at Sunset Sound, but Tony wasn't allowed to play the sessions, per producer Dave Hassinger. Bruce Gary came in as replacement on drums.
Promotion was null and void but they still had to fulfill the obligation to Capitol for a fourth album. Firing Rick Bowen, they hired Tony Diorio as their manager and renegotiated their Capitol contract to record a final album, Music. A complete change of direction and surprise for their fans, it was much more commercial than the others. Three-minute songs and harmonies. Their new producer was Jimmy Ienner, who produced The Raspberries. During the sessions Capitol promised them a tour in support of Van Morrison, but it was all a sham. They were actually 'blackballed' from the label once the album was complete.
Bang broke up in disillusionment. But they did reunite with original members in 1996 playing venues and putting out three additional albums on CD. The first album, Death to a Country, was finally released on CD 2011.
Musically a power trio with heavy guitars influenced by Highway Robbery, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Help, Charlee, Blue Cheer, Grand Funk Railroad and others. The last album is comparable to The Raspberries, which was a great band but far different than the power trios mentioned.
This was the first Capitol label LP. An original Capitol label issue.
Cover has some very slight shelf wear with corner dings. Record looks clean but for a scratch between the first and second song on side two. The song ends abruptly on the very last note due to a skip. Otherwise, the record plays very clean with no other audible imperfections. Generic inner sleeve.
Drastically reduced in starting bid price due to the scratch, but that is the only flaw on this fabulous record.


I was Ina-Gadda-Da-Records.

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SHELF WEAR generally means that the cellophane was removed when the LP was new and it sat on a shelf or in a box without a plastic sleeve, before they were available, for several years, so there can be some rub blemishes, sticker residue if it was purchased used, tiny tears, slight seam splits and other defects.

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