“The first Kinks show I saw at the Felt Forum, oh man, it was 74 I think, I was in no way prepared, the front of the aisles leading up to the stage were full of a mix of sprayed beer and vomit, when they did Alcohol Ray had a case of cans of beer and he shook them up and popped the tops, and the audience was at the ready armed with their own 12 oz’ers with which to retaliate. My friends and I always partied at a place in the Village called the Red Witch before the shows we saw, beer (the worst EVER) was two buxs a pitcher and we used to chug pitchers! So when we got to the Forum we were totally in synch with the Kinks and the crowd. Anyone remember the streaker at the Felt Forum show maybe circa 75-76? Me and almost all of the two dozen or so of my friends who were seated together all got naked after that and streaked the upper balcony, we got back to find our clothes misplaced. Dave Moyer, if you are alive and reading this, I owe you one :-D peaceand love to Wolfgangs Friends, long live the memory of Bill Graham and long live the Kinks.”

I had the absolute pleasure to chat with Mr. Joe Jacovino (you may know him by his screen name “fustercluck”) about this comment posted for The Kinks’ 1972 performance at Felt Forum.

Needless to say, this comment got us at the Vault curious to know more. Chugging pitchers of beer at a dive bar in the Village called the Red Witch, streaking in the upper balcony of Felt Forum, Ray Davies and the Kinks in a beer can spray–off with the fans…a 100% Rock n’ Roll memory. I had to know more.

The 1970s were Joe’s decade of young rock n’ roll debauchery.  He grew up in northern New Jersey, and used to hitchhike from Weehauken to the city, making his way one way or another to some of the best performances the Big Apple has surely hosted. Joe has seen more shows in NYC than he can remember. In recalling the list of venues like the Forum, the Fillmore East, and the Bottom Line, Joe’s been there and done that, seeing performances by The Kinks, The Grateful Dead, Cat Stevens, The Allman Brothers, The Who, Rod Stewart, Mott the Hoople, Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The New Riders, and Santana…just to name a few.

Not sure where to begin exactly, I posed my first question surrounding the intriguing streaking event.  According to Joe, the years 1974-’75 were really popular for streaking.  “That particular year, man, everyone was streaking…it was like open call…” So at the time, the idea of streaking at Felt Forum was a not just a bold idea, but a rather popular one as well!  The story began at the Red Witch bar chugging $2 pitchers of beer and ended in a naked and beer-soaked haze, so a good time was certainly had.

Joe remembers a life where fans could sit in the aisles to hear Cat Stevens play, a time when the law stepped in only when too many bottles smashed on Keith Moon’s gong, and how, just maybe, if a smoke cloud got too close to security you might lose your joint (but manage somehow not to). Venues like the Academy of Music were a “drugstore in a basement.” A time when your weekend consisted of seeing Waylon Jennings open up for the New Riders on Friday, the Kinks on Saturday, and Mott the Hoople on Sunday. A time when knowing a stagehand could get you backstage at a Santana concert. Joe recalled a particular instance in ‘74 or ’75 where he made his way backstage to meet the Bill Graham, who happened to be present at the show. Yes, Joe was a huge fan of Bill Graham (aren’t we all?!).

Roosevelt Stadium (R.I.P.)

Joe was at the famed Roosevelt Stadium to see the Allman Brothers on the night that Greg Allman “disappeared,” and remembers sharing the experience of ripping up the bleachers and stuffing them into trash bins to burn. This was what the fans did to keep warm during this four-hour show, and this night is what closed the Roosevelt Stadium for good.

He’s smoked with Jerry Garcia. Well, him and all the fans who partook in the sharing from the stage to the audience, to the stage again, surrounded by the Hells Angels (aka the Dead’s security). But what did Joe remember most of all from his first Dead experience? The girls. He remembers being young and amazed by the free-spirited and extra terrestrial Dead Head gals. This got him hooked and he’s seen over 50+ shows since then.

The Dead Head gals

All in all, Joe describes his life with his friends as the original “throw away boys;” they drank hard, lived fast, and celebrated often. Sadly, he’s seen many of his friends succumb to a fate of excess. But Joe’s been there and done that and man, has he got stories to tell!  It’s to Joe Jacovino that we tip our hats and say, thank you for being there, for living for the music and for sharing your story. It’s folks like you who keep the memories and the dream alive, even if the specifics are a little hazy.

[Joe, The Kinks, and the Wild Years is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

Whether posted on the US Charts or not, Bryan Ferry has gathered a well groomed and star-studded cult following. Ferry made his breakthrough with his band Roxy Music’s self-titled debut album in 1972. With Ferry and co-founder Brian Eno, one of the most significant record producers of the late 20th century, the band was destined for success. From this potent collaboration, a style of music was cultivated that was distinctly its own category of glam-punk-new wave – before all three became distinctive genres. Indeed, the group is distinguished by their visual and musical sophistication, glamor, and decadence. Rolling Stone magazine payed homage to the band by ranking Roxy Music #98 on its “The Immortals – 100 The Greatest Artists of All Time” list. Listen to Roxy Music at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia, 1979.

Ferry followed his time in Roxy Music by picking his solo career back up with 1985’s Boys and Girls, which reached the number one position in Britain. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Ferry toured extensively, and released acclaimed studio albums such as Bete Noire (1987), Taxi (1993), and Mamouna (a collaboration with Eno, 1994) to name a few. Now Ferry is back again in his signature style with the album Olympia, out this month. For another taste of Ferry, listen to his solo performance at The Bottom Line in New York City, 1977.

[For Your Pleasure: Bryan Ferry Gives Us More is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

The Ash Grove was a club in Los Angeles that was a haven for folk and blues musicians alike. Two remarkable performances are now available to stream and download: Doc Watson, in a spectacular solo performance from 1965, and an early 1964 performance from the young and energetic Jose Feliciano!

Jose Feliciano, The Ash Grove, 1964, 1st Set

Journey back to the dawn of Feliciano’s career with this extraordinary recording from the Ash Grove archive, when he played a weeklong engagement opening for Irish troubadour Seamus Ennis in September of 1964. This exceptional recording captures Feliciano shortly after the release of his debut album for RCA Records, and is a stunning look at the Greenwich Village folk-scene. This performance showcases Feliciano’s intricate nylon string guitar virtuosity with material that underlines the rich soulfulness of his voice.

Doc Watson, The Ash Grove, 1965, 2nd Set

Doc Watson was a maverick on the strings. He was fluent in old time tunes and traditional folk music, but equally comfortable playing blues, bluegrass, jazz and popular music styles of the era. Watson would thrill record listeners and live audiences alike with his flat-picking dexterity and a knack for engaging stage banter. Indeed, Doc Watson was a star of the folk and blues revival of the early 1960s. This 1965 performance is a true homage to Doc’s unmistakable style on the strings. With Al Ross to accompany Doc on guitar, the evening was to be a sure success.

The oldest (for now) recording in the Vault is now available to both stream and download! A short set recorded at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival showcases the talents of Ms. Teddi King.

Teddi King, Newport Jazz Festival July 15, 1955

It was Teddi King whose beautiful voice so impressed George Wein that he signed her to his label and became her manager. King went on to sign with RCA, where she recorded three albums for the label, beginning with 1956’s Bidin’ My Time. Her single “Mr. Wonderful” made the Top 20 that year. Her following album, All the Kings’ Songs (1959) was critically praised. In the 1960s, she opened the Playboy Club, where she often performed. Sadly, Teddi King suffered from lupus, and died in 1977 at the age of 48.

[New Music From Newport Jazz and The Ash Grove is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

[Bowie Gets Excited is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

[Selection #49, please… is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

In 1988, Peter Gabriel served some eager fans in Argentina with a concert performance that proved his solo career was no misstep as he was still going strong over ten years after striking out on his own. Indeed, although I may miss Gabriel-Genesis like a long lost pen pal, Peter sure knows how to make music on his own terms. To celebrate this remarkable talent, I present today’s Daily Cut, “Shock the Monkey,” which just happens to be one of my first 45″ singles of a now rather expansive collection. Embrace the evening that awaits you with this amazing hit.

[Peter’s Monkey Shock is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

[Miss Vaughan’s Got it Bad… is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

Because Labor Day weekend is just a short hump over mid-week away, I thought of a fitting song to keep us rolling along for this last work week of the summer. As if you couldn’t guess, here is Loverboy…come on baby, lets go!

[Workin’ For the Weekend… is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

[Tears for Fears Shouts Some More… is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]

The West Side Story soundtrack inspired a number of jazz musicians during this time. For example, in 1961, Stan Kenton recorded a jazz version of the score that went on to receive a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance – Large Group (Instrumental), in 1962. That same year, the Oscar Peterson Trio recorded West Side Story: Oscar Peterson Trio. In 1966, Buddy Rich and his big band performed an arrangement called the “West Side Story Medley.”  Sarah Vaughan, the sassy lady of jazz, pays her own tribute to West Side Story with her vocal rendition of “Maria” at the 1964 Newport Jazz Festival. With the concert newly restored and released on Concert Vault, I bring to your ears a remarkable voice to a tune that would soften any heart…Miss Vaughan, take it away….

[The West Side Story, Jazzified is a post in From the Vault - The Wolfgang's Vault blog.]