Today we focus on Wisconsin rock n' roll.
We start with the Robbs.
Their records were often heard on our local stations and I often get requests for tunes like Bittersweet, Race With The Wind, and Last Of The Wine.
Many remember the national appearances on Where The Action Is.
The Robbs hailed from Oconomowoc. The Donaldson brothers changed their last name for show biz purposes and they were joined by cousin Craig Krampf.
Craig, the drummer for the group, joined me on the air in 1994.
The Robbs were on Mercury Records , Atlantic, and later ABC. There was never a great deal of chart success.
Craig Krampf later had hit records as a writer, including a song he co-wrote for Steve Perry called "Oh Sherrie." Craig's love of making records began many years before that with the Robbs.
The next Badger State band we feature today is the Messengers.
The original group hailed from Milwaukee. A primitive version of the Wilson Picket hit 'Midnight Hour' was recorded in a house in Milwaukee and it eventually made it in several radio markets, including #5 on WLS in 1967.
A second band called the Messengers (not from Wisconsin) used a similar sound with an updated version of (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet later that year. Milwaukee Messengers lead singer Jeff Taylor joined my show in 1995.
Ironically, Jeff Taylor and another Milwaukee area musician, Reed Kailing, later became the singing voices and touring members of the Hardy Boys.
The cartoon aired on ABC television and a group was assembled to tour and promote the RCA Records releases. Reed later played Paul McCartney in the Broadway Hit Beatlemania, toured as later day member of the Grass Roots and Badfinger, and has a gold record on his wall after playing on the first album by Player (Baby Come Back). His first local success came while he was the leader of a Milwaukee band known as the Destinations (Hello Girl - 1967.)
Reed Kailing joined me on WRCO in 2012 to talk about he and Jeff Taylor becoming Hardy Boys.
The Robbs were considered "The Kings of Bubbling Under" on the Billboard Charts. In 1967, "Race With The Wind" spent seven weeks on their chart, peaking at #103 ... but became a Top 20 Hit here in Chicago (#16, WLS). "Bittersweet" didn't make the Billboard Chart at all but was a big hit in Texas! "Rapid Transit" bubbled under for a couple of weeks in '67, peaking at #123 in Billboard and #109 in Record World ... yet all three records performed well in Milwaukee where the boys were Hometown Heroes. ("Race With The Wind" and "Rapid Transit both hit #14 while "Bittersweet" went to #3.) Other charted sides on the Milwaukee charts include Girls, Girls," "I Don't Want To Discuss It," Changin' Winds," which hit #10 in 1969, "Movin'," and "Last Of The Wine." Thanks to their frequent appearances on "Where The Action Is," they enjoyed a bit of teen idol status, having their photographs plastered all over the teeny-bopper magazines of the day. ("16," "Tiger Beat," etc.) They also started a very successful recording studio and production company called Cherokee, which kept them connected to the music business long after their own pop career ended.
We have covered the back story on The Robbs many times over the years in Forgotten Hits ...
Here is one feature you might enjoy for more information on the group ...
The story I heard on Michael and the Messengers was that this was a case of the record company (USA Records) trying to take advantage of a "proven name" in order to help push radio stations to jumping on both remakes, "Midnight Hour" (a #6 hit in Milwaukee / #5 Chicago) and "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet" (#12 Chicago.) Neither of these records made The Top 100 on the National Charts. Actually, The Messengers had an even bigger hit in 1971 after signing with Rare Earth Records, where they released "That's The Way A Woman Is," which went all the way to #3 in Milwaukee and #42 in Cash Box / #62 in Billboard.
You'll also find a WHOLE lotta information about (Michael and) The Messengers here ... they, too, have been the topic of discussion in FH numerous times in the past ...
While with The Hardy Boys, Reed Kailing hit #19 in 1969 with "Love And Let Love" ... while his earlier group, The Destinations, fared considerably better in '67 with "Hello Girl." (Neither of these records made The National Top 100.) kk
TONIGHT ON THOSE WERE THE DAYS ...
Phil Nee and I play some of our very favorite songs from 1972!
We each picked 40 of our favorites (along with a few "Guilty Pleasures" thrown in as well) ... and you can hear the whole thing this evening, kicking off at 6 pm Central Time, on WRCO ...
Listen Live here: WRCO AM FM Radio Richland Center Wisconsin
