Nov 1 | JohnG
We have our first show booked for 2020!
We’re back at Dairy Queen next July.
New video uploaded to YouTube
Our official YouTube channel has a new video from our August 14 performance in Shortsville. We would like to thank Ken for making the close to 200 mile trek to see us on a regular basis, and for bringing along his video recording gear. This is a good year to release videos because we feature an experienced lineup of vocalists and musicians. By the middle of August, we were running on all cylinders.
This segment is a cover of The Cowsills song, “The Path of Love.” We chose this song for two reasons, first off, Emma sounds great singing this one, and it is one the band likes to perform. Secondly, it is a tribute to the Cowsills, and specifically John Cowsill, who sang lead vocals as a youth on the original recording.
Back in 1999, we played in Los Angeles for the first time. The venue was a club called The Gig in Hollywood and we were one of several bands performing that night. Of course we were nervous, but the reception couldn’t have been better. Well, we started played “On the Beach Tonight,” and for some reason the girls were singing a half-step out-of-tune. We thought that when Don, our guitarist, started playing the solo, the girls would hear the key and adjust, but no, they came in again off-key. This was one of the most bizarre moments in group history!
Well, the guys held their heads low leaving the stage, but the girls were all smiles. We sulked back into the dressing room. Soon thereafter, one of the bouncers asked if someone could come backstage to meet us. We said, “Sure.” So in walks this guy who was just gushing about our performance, and mentioning that it reminded him of a band he once had with his family. He made us feel a lot better than we had about the show. When he left, the bouncer asked if we knew who he was. We didn’t and he said, “That’s John Cowsill of The Cowsills.” He only mentioned his name was John, and we were impressed by his humility, as he never mentioned his family band by name.
Later in the night, we cheered John on as he played drums in his band. I will never forget that night and the impression John made on us. From that moment I knew we had to cover a Cowsills number as a tribute to John, and finally in 2019, we did.
Fast-forward to 2012, and Paul and I went to see the Beachboys perform at Darien Lake. John was playing drums for them at that time, and Brian Wilson was back in the fold. It was a super concert. John Cowsill is an accomplished drummer, and Darian Sahanaja, a great guy, and fan of It’s My Party was playing keyboards and percussion that night. It was Darian who mentioned too us how much the vibraphone was used in ’60s girl group music, which led to us buying the instrument. He was so impressed that we brought our own glockenspiel the LA show, which he also attended. Unfortunately, our attempt to catch up with the guys back stage didn’t happen. It’s refreshing to see that accomplished musicians like John and Darian are grounded and supportive of others like us.
A Look back at the March 22, 1986 live performance at The Casablanca
(We originally posted this article in 2011, but it’s worthy of re-posting for our new followers)
This historic post contains a play-list of four live recordings by the original IT’S MY PARTY! girls. The date was March 22, 1986, the venue, the now defunct Casablanca on East Henrietta Road in Rochester, NY. Our road manager at the time, Arnie Kraft, captured the recording on, of all things, a cassette boom-box. Listen to that recording wonder machine “hard limit!” Which brings me to a one of my recording philosophies, equipment is the least important aspect of the recording process; all the equipment in the world will not compensate for a mediocre performance.
Liz, singing at the Casablanca
Track one is Liz, the second IT’S MY PARTY! girl to join the group, performing a Revillos/Rezillos’ tune “Bitten By a Love Bug.” The early group played seventies and eighties girl groups as well. Listen to Dave Carroll’s nifty guitar work on this track. Gary Skinner– the guy responsible for coming up with the name for the group — shows his versatility by adding the second guitar. This song was always fun to perform and a real crowd-pleaser.
Sonia, girl number three, sings our namesake, “It’s My Party.” What struck me immediately about Sonia was her ability to blend in a vocal harmony, a talent very few singers possess. On this track Sonia shows she can sing a strong lead vocal as well. It’s no surprise that someone with Sonia’s talent continues to endeavor in music; to see what Sonia is doing musically today, click Sonia Lee to arrive at her official website.
Sharon singing at the Casablanca
Never a group to shy away from performing an esoteric track, “On and On,” was originally recorded in the ’60s by Joy and the Sorrows. Sharon, the first girl to join the group, takes lead. This is an honest recording, perhaps the vocal ensemble is a bit out of tune here and there, but hey, you try singing while a band is blasting in your ears! And besides, I really like the emotion in Sharon’s delivery.
Gary, Dave, Liz and Sonia at the Casablanca
Finally, listen to Liz singing lead on The Chiffons’ classic “Sweet Talkin’ Guy.” Her brilliant rendition carries the proper emotion and more than compensates for the “tricky” drummer — myself! — who had to overplay. Sometimes it takes awhile to figure out that drums are an ensemble instrument. Listen to Gary Skinner’s solid opening on the keyboard and his attention to detail during the music break.
Related