Ten Wheel Drive
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Ten Wheel Drive was a rock ensemble from the United States that operated between 1968 and 1974.
History
After the breakup of the all-female rock outfit Goldie and the Gingerbreads in 1968, vocalist Genya Ravan joined forces with New Jersey-based songwriters Michael Zager and Aram Schefrin. Their managers introduced them, forming the nucleus of Ten Wheel Drive.
The group assembled accomplished musicians for their rhythm and brass sections, emphasizing those capable of reading musical notation. By 1969, they were regularly performing live and receiving favorable critiques.
Polydor Records, under the leadership of president Jerry Schoenbaum who was establishing its American branch, signed the band. Their debut album, Construction #1, was produced by Walter Raim.
Their first major live appearance took place at New York City's Fillmore East in 1969. Ravan's compelling stage presence attracted attention, especially when she performed partially unclothed with body paint.[1]
That summer, Ten Wheel Drive appeared at the Atlanta Pop Festival, where Ravan reunited with Janis Joplin, whom she had previously been compared to and met at Steve Paul's The Scene.
In 1970, the band issued their sophomore album, Brief Replies, produced by Guy Draper. The brass section experienced several personnel changes during this period. Reviewer Robert Christgau highlighted the album’s intricate arrangements by Zager and Schefrin and lauded Ravan’s passionate vocal style.[2]
In 1971, Ten Wheel Drive presented a rock opera at Carnegie Hall centered on the Battle of the Little Big Horn and Native American themes, featuring accompaniment by the American Symphony Orchestra and choir.
That same year saw the release of their third album, Peculiar Friends, with production handled by Schefrin and Zager. Following this release, Ravan left to embark on a solo career and was succeeded by Annie Sutton from the Rascals. Schefrin and Zager also contributed to Ravan’s initial solo project.
After parting ways with Polydor Records, Ten Wheel Drive released their fourth and final album titled Ten Wheel Drive in 1974 through Capitol Records. This album included the track "Why Am I So Easy to Leave," co-written by Ravan, Schefrin, and Zager.[3] This album marked the end of the band’s collaboration. Subsequently, Michael Zager found success in disco with his 1978 hit "Let's All Chant."
Line-up
| Original members | |
| Vocals, harmonica, tambourine: | Genya Ravan |
| Guitar, vocals, banjo, percussion: | Aram Schefrin |
| Organ, piano, clarinet: | Michael Zager |
| Additional instrumentalists | |
| Bass: | Bill Takas, Bob Piazza, Blake Hines |
| Drums, percussion: | Luther Rix, Allen Herman, David Williams |
| Cello: | Luther Rix |
| Flute: | Jay Silva, Louie Hoff, Dave Liebman |
| Trumpet: | Jay Silva, Richard Meisterman, Peter Hyde, Steve Satten, John Gatchell, John Eckert, Dean Pratt, Danny Stiles Francisco, Frank Frint, Dick Green |
| Saxophone: | Louie Hoff, Dave Liebman |
| Trombone: | Dennis Parisi, Bill Watrous, Tom Malone |
| Flugelhorn: | Jay Silva, Peter Hyde, Richard Meisterman, Steve Satten, John Gatchell, John Eckert |
| Woodwinds: | Alan Gauvin |
| Final roster | |
| Vocals: | Annie Sutton |
| Organ, clarinet, keyboards, vibraphone: | Michael Zager |
| Guitar, vocals: | Aram Schefrin |
| Piano, keyboards: | Don Grolnick |
| Trombone: | Gerry Chamberlain |
| Drums, percussion: | Barry Lazarowitz |
| Bass, violin: | Harry Max, Bill Abrams |
| Trumpet, flugelhorn, horn: | Dean Pratt, John Gatchell, Dick Green |
| Woodwinds: | Ed Xiques |
| Choir: | Daryl Hall, John Oates, Tom Cosgrove, Joey Ward |
Albums
| Year | Album Title | Billboard 200 US |
Record Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Construction #1 | 151 | Polydor Records | |
| 1970 | Brief Replies | 161 | ||
| 1971 | Peculiar Friends | 190 | ||
| 1973 | Ten Wheel Drive | — | Capitol Records |
Compilations
Singles
| Year | A-side Track | B-side Track | US Position |
Record Label | Catalog Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | "Tightrope" | "Lapidary" | — | Polydor | PD 2-14015 |
| "Eye of the Needle" | "I Am a Want Ad" | — | 2066 015 | ||
| 1970 | "Morning Much Better" | "Stay with Me" | 74 | PD 2-14037 | |
| "Down in the Cold" | "Last of the Line" | — | PD 2-14052 | ||
| 1971 | "No Next Time" | "The Night I Got Out of Jail" | — | 2066 122 | |
| 1973 | "Monsoon Rain" | "Close Up the Cheese" | — | Capitol | P-3700 |
| Entries marked with "—" indicate singles that did not chart. | |||||
External links
- [ Ten Wheel Drive at allmusic.com]
- Michael Zager biography
- Ten Wheel Drive on Genya Ravan's website
- Podcast - The Ten Wheel Drive Chronicles
- Horn Rock Heaven blog
- Horn Rock Heaven on MySpace