June 9, 2008

Gone Drummin’ and Pickin’.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Jim @ 10:59 pm

Yes, Peeps, tomorrow in the early morn we will be leaving for Hawaii for the Fourth Bi-annual Reunion of the band I played with in the sixties. We’re all Jersey guys, but we have scattered a bit over the years to places like Maui and Colorado. In 2002 (pre-blog), we gathered in Estes Park, Colorado. In 2004, the venue was Maui, and in 2006 we got together in Jersey.

We decided to return to Hawaii for this reunion, but rather than Maui, we will be rockin’ in Kona (on Hawaii, the Big Island). I’ll be bringing the electric axe (for use when I’m not drumming), and the other guys will be bringing a keyboard, guitars and bass. We have arranged to rent a set of drums and a sound system. There will be plenty of music, lots of bullshitting, tons of laughter and a cocktail or two.

Back in the sixties, the name of the band was “Saby and the Orientals,” a name that would now beget much howling from the politically correct peeps of the world, but it was a cool name back then for a band comprised of three Japanese American brothers and two Irish lemons, all from the same town in Jersey. Back in the day, we played at all sorts of places, including some pretty rough Buckets of Blood.

We did find time to cut a record in 1966. The “A” and “B” sides were both originals, written by Saby. We heard back then that it got about three minutes of air play in Albany and, oddly enough, in Hawaii (who knew?). After that, it became a mere conversation piece. However, just this week, we learned from the son of one of the guys that our 45 has become somewhat of a half-assed collector’s item. Someone on the web is selling it for $200.00! We also learned that the record is part of a compilation on an album available online called, “The White Group Sound.” I found that to be particularly comical, given that 3/5 of the band isn’t “white.”

Hell it doesn’t even raise us to the level of being “One Hit Wonders,” but we all got quite a kick out of seeing that our foray into the record world is still alive (albeit moribund) out there somewhere. I think I still have a few copies of the 45, and, if I can, I’ll figure out a way to post it, provided you’ll all agree to be kind.

The other band member who still lives in New Jersey and I (with spouses) will spend five days in Kauai before heading into Kona for the actual reunion. I expect to be back in Jersey, tired and hung over on June 21.

I have invited several most excellent bloggers to leave a few droppings here in my absence, so be sure to stop by to see their stuff, some of which will undoubtedly be most unkind to Yours Truly.

Play nice while I’m gone.

10 Comments »

  1. WooHoo – have a great party! Wish I could be there to watch all the fun and games. We want to know if you all manage to drink the bar dry. *grin*

    Comment by Teresa — June 9, 2008 @ 11:07 pm

  2. I can still sing most of “Baby Come My Way.”

    Comment by Cousin Jack — June 10, 2008 @ 12:11 am

  3. Can youse guys perform “Aloha Oe”? It’s kinda like “Free Bird” in Hawaiian.

    Have a ball!

    Comment by Jerry — June 10, 2008 @ 4:30 am

  4. Jeez, has anyone warned Hawaii to stock up on Chocolate Vodka? (I notice there’s no gators in any of those places you listed as reunion sites.)

    Have a great time.

    Comment by joated — June 10, 2008 @ 8:48 am

  5. Jimbo, we would never be unkind to you while you’re gone. Cruel, evil, mean, rotten, nasty, and vile, yes – but never ‘unkind’.

    Comment by DMerriman — June 10, 2008 @ 10:41 am

  6. Have an awesome trip! 🙂

    Comment by RT — June 10, 2008 @ 5:22 pm

  7. …. 200 bucks??… that is awesome!…. have a great trip, big guy……

    Comment by Eric — June 11, 2008 @ 8:16 am

  8. Aloha oy, Hairboy…I am loathe to confess this, but I miss you already. Gimme another day or so and I’m sure I’ll get over it.

    Comment by Erica — June 11, 2008 @ 10:28 am

  9. Has there ever been a month when you didn’t go somewhere on vacation?

    Comment by Ken Adams — June 11, 2008 @ 10:28 pm

  10. Hello,

    I have written a book (discography) on vocal group harmony (The Ultimate Vocal Group Reference Guide) and your record is listed. Would you be kind enough to let me know who the members of your group were at the time of your Mel-Par recording? Also your groups hometown in New Jersey and where the Mel-Par record label was from (city/state).

    Thank you in advance,

    Dennis Holran
    http://www.ultimatevocalgroup.com

    Comment by Dennis Holran — January 4, 2009 @ 1:34 pm

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