Les Fradkin has been on the cutting edge of Guitar Synthesis since the dawn of MIDI back in 1983. But his experience with synthesis and sampling stretches even further back to 1970 when he began a long and distinguished career as an Artist, Composer, Producer and session Guitarist and Mellotron player in New York City and London. He's a MIDI Guitar Virtuoso and now, a 21st Century music innovator on the Starr Labs Ztar. He combines two handed tapping, finger picking and Ableton Live Clip triggering into a startling and innovative new technique which has no equal.
In the early 80's, he pioneered the introduction of tapeless MIDI recording with the SynthAxe, Roland Guitar Synthesizer and Yamaha DX7 and TX816 synthesizers recorded with the Yamaha QX1 sequencer and Synclavier 3200 in soap opera music. He also composed and programmed numerous successful jingles and movie soundtracks as well as many game show themes. He worked for Score Productions and ABC TV in New York City, wrote many national jingles (for such products as Cheerios, Campbel's Soup, Nestle's, Crisco,, American Express), 4 movie soundtracks and co wrote, programmed and played on all the music for the soap Opera "One Life To Live" for ABC-TV from 1984 thru 1988. He was the first composer to record entirely "Direct-To-Disk" in New York City. His sonic innovations at that time with the SynthAxe, Synclavier, Roland Guitar Synthesizer, Yamaha DX7, TX816 Digital Synthesizers and the Yamaha QX1 Sequencer earned him great accolades in the TV industry and established him as "Dr. MIDI." His dramatic ability with Scoring Cues as well as full blown themes blazed a trail that he continues today.
After recording and releasing several successful Guitar Synthesizer Instrumental CD's since 2005, featuring Guitar Pitch to MIDI Technology, Les felt the need to break through existing barriers he had experienced since the dawn of MIDI. Although he once owned and used a SynthAxe MIDI Controller, the company had long ceased doing business and there seemed to be very little to choose from in the way of advanced MIDI control that a virtuso guitarist could play in real time with reliable and predictable results with modern music technology. Always on the lookout for a MIDI Guitar that could track as fast as he could play, he discovered the Starr Labs Ztar in the Summer of 2007 which, unexpectedly, opened up a whole new Universe of performance and expressive possibilities for him as a composer, musician and guitar synthesist.
As a result of acquiring this new instrument, Les has some current work which involves the music and dynamic of Electronic sound as realized from the performance control of the Ztar. Searching for a means that could transport the listener to new realms of experience, he found himself now able to single-handedly orchestrate entire new worlds of sonic tapestry in real time with perfect tracking which were never before possible from previous MIDI Guitar technology. An entirely new merging of mind, heart, and computer technology resulting in new music was now posssible. Using a blend of Space Rock, Progressive, Electronic and Neo Classical signposts, Les' new CD's "One Link Between Them" and "Baroque Rocks!" open up a new door to a sound which has thrilled music fans the world over.
Les Fradkin - Biography
Les Fradkin is a virtuoso guitarist and one of the original members of the hit Broadway show "Beatlemania". He was a Guitar Synthesizer pioneer of the 1980's, a neoclassical surf guitar trendsetter in the 1990's and is now a 21st Century innovator on the Starr Labs Ztar. A classically trained musician as well as being a rock guitarist, he has found success as a recording artist, composer and producer with MGM Sunflower, ESP-Disk, Bell, Arista, RCA, and Laurie Records. Les has written the well known French hit "La Chansons Des Souvenirs" ("Song Of A Thousand Voices") for the famous French songstress Mireille Mathieu and the Latin Pop icon Roberto Jordan ("Donde"). He has played Mellotron, 12 and 6-string Guitar, Bass and Piano on dozens of Top 40 hit records throughout the early 1970's , scoring many US and UK chart placings throughout his career.
In 1976, Les was selected over thousands of other auditioning guitarists to appear in the original cast of the smash hit Broadway musical "Beatlemania" playing lead guitar and the part of "George Harrison" in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Running for two and a half years from May 1977 thru October 1979, every show (including over 1200 in New York alone) was sold out and the musicians quickly became celebrities with magazine cover stories ("Newsweek","Time", "People", "Rolling Stone") and many major television show appearances. With his guitar-playing in the international spotlight from the show, Fradkin developed a cult following that has avidly followed his career and made him a celebrity among guitar fans.
In the early 80's, he pioneered the introduction of tapeless MIDI recording with the SynthAxe and Synclavier scoring many national jingles and TV film music and he continues to be one of the foremost virtuosos of MIDI Guitar in the world today. He has enjoyed chart success on the net as well with his songs reaching mp3.com's 1 position 16 times! New Gandy Dancer Rock Magazine named Les' CD "A Day At The Beach" it's 2004 Album Of The Year. In addition, Les has performed with The Ventures as 2nd Lead Guitarist. Nokie Edwards of The Ventures has performed with Les on several occasions and is a featured guest on his "While My Guitar Only Plays" CD. In fact, Les has been acknowledged as a guitar virtuoso for over 30 years and he has been featured in issues of 20th Century Guitar Magazine, Pipeline and New Gandy Dancer Magazines. Today, Les has released 20 solo CD's on his RRO Entertainment Indie label and has had over 360,000 downloads bringing him several substantial hits on Apple iTunes and other download sites across the Internet. His current music is a mixture of various influences and signposts including Progressive, Rock, Electronic and Classical.
FEARLESS FRADKIN - MGM/Sunflower SNF-5003 (unreleased LP) Prologue, God Bless California, Black Gypsy, I Challenge You, Christopher's Sorrow, Sometimes A Girl Must Carry On, You Can Cry If You Want To, Song Of A Thousand Voices, Days Of Sunshine, That's When The Good Feeling Starts
THORNTON, FRADKIN & UNGER PASS ON THIS SIDE (1974) ESP-3019 (re-issued as by The Godz) God bless California, M'Lady, Jimi, Christopher's sorrow, Walkin' guitar blues, Oh woman, To err is human, Sometimes Outtake : Eight miles high Les Fradkin-12-String Guitar, Mellotron, Bass, Vocals, Mandolin, Drums
SPLASH (2004) RRO-1002 - re-issue of Trackbytrack 7000 Bombara, Surfin' the classics Part 1 & 2, Apache, Body surfin', White sands, Walk don't run 2000, The cruel sea, Sandblaster, Walk the nose, Reverbia 2004 bonus tracks : Phil Dirt introduction, Body surfin', White sands, Surfin the classics Part 1 & 2 (all live)
A DAY AT THE BEACH (2004) RRO-1003 re-issue of Trackbytrack 7001 (2000) 2004 bonus tracks : Bombora, Reverbia (both live) A day at the beach, Kick sand, Pintor, Key West sunset, Nature calls, Good vibrations, The dirt surfers get wet, Wave rider, Beck's bolero, Hurricane warning, Joy of man's desiring, The bridge across forever
GODZOLOGY (2000) Renaissance RMED00132 (as by PAUL THORNTON & LES FRADKIN) I know you rider, Just like yesterday, The ballad of Belle Star, I'll be around, Down on my luck, I will, Give a damn, Lonely together, God bless California, Black gypsy, Good ol' rock 'n roll, Broadway is blue, Follow the leader,Universal soldier, A hard rain's a-gonna fall, Lay down your arms, The Thornton report, I can never say goodbye, Safe in space Outtake : Hungry for love (With Silver Apples)
REALITY - THE ROCK OPERA (2003) Reality Rock Org. RRO-1001 Reality 1 : Overture, Reality, Magic attic, You can't change me, 25 woman so little time, Reality idol, It's plastic, Here today gone tomorrow, Reality 2 : Everything is wrong, Obsolete, Rehearsals for retirement, Reality check, System crash, The rebirth of hope, Together, Alternate reality : Rehearsals for retirement, Here today gone tomorrow
PERFECT WORLD (2004) RRO-1004 Beach baby, God bless California, Funny how love can be, I can never say goodbye, Smile a little smile for me, I will, You belong to me, My baby loves lovin', Love grows (where my Rosemary goes), Perfect world
WHILE MY GUITAR ONLY PLAYS (2005) RRO-1005 Here comes the sun, And your bird can sing, If I needed someone, I feel fine, I saw her standing there, I need you, Taxman, Paperback writer, I want to tell you, Strawberry fields forever, While my guitar gently weeps, Golden slumbers, Carry that weight, The end
SOMETHING FOR GEORGE (2005) RRO-1007 My sweet lord, Awaiting on you all, This is love, You, Here comes the sun (version 2), While my guitar gently weeps (version 2), Something, Isn't it a pity
LOVE YOU 2 (2006) RRO-1008 Taxman, If I needed someone, You know what to do, You like me too much, I'm happy just to dance with you, I need you, Don't bother me, Do you want to know a secret, Think for yourself, I want to tell you, Love you to
GOIN' BACK (2006) RRO-1009 Goin' back, So you want to be a rock and roll star, Have I the right, I can't let go, When you walk into the room, Only to you, Walk away Renee, I could make it last forever, Spare change, I'm gonna love you, I don't want to do it, Fellow travelers
JANGLEHOLIC (2006) RRO-1010 Jangleholic, I want you, You were on my mind, I'll never find another you, Arrow through your heart, Hazy shade of winter, The dangling conversation, Why is this man smiling ?, Sometimes a girl must carry on, Still on my way, Everything is gonna be all right
UNDER THE COVERS (2006) RRO-1011 Under the covers, Through the looking glass, Take a chance, Song of a thousand voices, You can cry if you want to, I cry, Reflections of my life, Here comes that rainy day feeling again, Montego Bay, I'd love you to want me, La chanson des souvenirs (Song of a thousand voices)
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS (2006) RRO-1012 I wish it could be Christmas everyday, Say you love me for Christmas, My baby loves Christmas, Ding dong ding dong, Christmas vacation, Jangle bells, Happy Xmas (war is over), Christmas sleeps tonight, Hello Christmas (goodbye year), There won't be Christmas this year (cause I won't be with you), A Christmas gone too soon, The spirit of Christmas
IF YOUR MEMORY SERVES YOU WELL (2006) RRO-1013 This wheel's on fire, Knockin' on heaven's door, The times they are a-changin', Like a rolling stone, Just like a woman, Love minus zero / No limit, The mighty quinn, Can you please crawl out your window ?, Absolutely sweet Marie, One of us must know (sooner or later)
PEPPER FRONT TO BACK (2007) RRO-1018 Sgt Pepper's lonely hearts club band, With a little help from my friends, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Getting better, Fixing a hole, She's leaving home, Being for the benefit of Mr Kite, Within you without you, When I'm 64, Lovely Rita, Good morning good morning, Sgt Pepper's lonely hearts club band (reprise), A day on the life, All you need is love
12 (2007) RRO I know you rider, The ballad of Belle star, Eight miles high, Alone again or, Down on my luck, Four strong winds, Mr tambourine man, A hard rain's a gonna fall, Lay down your arms
GUITAR REVOLUTION (2007) RRO-1024 Revolution, Jet, Live And Let Die, Within You Without You (Version 2), I'll Be Back, Free As A Bird, Ever Present Past, Dance Tonight, I Am The Walrus, Imagine, Rockestra Theme
ONE LINK BETWEEN THEM (2008) RRO-1027 Lift Off, Orbiter, From Venus With Love, Liberty, Caravan, Warp Drive, Sailing All Alone, Longing To Return, A Dim Twilight, Telstar
STRAT HEAVEN (2008) RRO-1029 Strat Heaven, Move Along, Crazy, This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race, Livin' On A Prayer, Nothing's Gonna Stop Us, Rock & Roll, Part 2, Stairway To Heaven, Good Night (With The Vienna Symphony)
THE WHITE SINGLE (2009) RRO-1030 Back In The USSR, The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill, Birthday, Savoy Truffle, Good Night
BAROQUE ROCKS! (2009) RRO-1031 The Myth Of El Cid, Handel Rocks!, All The King's Men, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter (from Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"), Classical Gas, Canon In D, Air On A G String, Baroque & Roll, Anthem For All Nations
Les Fradkin - Discography-Singles
FEARLESS FRADKIN
Song of a Thousand Voices
You Can Cry if You Want To
MGM/Sunflower SUN-101
Featuring Musicians:
Les Fradkin-Lead Vocals, Fender 12-String
Denny Seiwell-Drums
Russel George-Fender Bass
Randy Edelman-Piano/Vocals
Don Thomas-Lead Guitar
Dorthea Joyce-Background Vocals
Gail Kantor-Background Vocals
Dick Williams-Background Vocals
Phil Bodner-Oboe
Harry Lookofsky & Friends-Strings
Mike & Randy Brecker-Brass
Steve Katz-Engineer
THE YUMMIES
Patty Cake / Hippie Lady - MGM/Sunflower SUN-103
Featured Musicians:
Les Fradkin- Lead & Background Vocals, Guitar,
Farfisa Organ, Drums, Fender Bass
Eddie Deane- Background Vocals, Claps
Steve Katz-Engineer
THORNTON, FRADKIN & UNGER (ESP-Disk)
God bless California / Sometimes - ESP-63019
God bless California / M'Lady - ESP/Pink Elephant 22860 (Holland)
Featured Musicians:
Les Fradkin- Lead Guitar, Yamaha DX Synthesizers
Rob Hegel-Keyboards
Chuck Dembrak-Background Vocals
Denise Marsa-Background Vocals
LES FRADKIN
Spare change, Perfect world - digital singles
LES FRADKIN- "Telstar-The Single" (2008) (RRO-1028)
Telstar, Bohemian Rhapsody, A Dim Twilight (Version 1)
Les Fradkin - Sessions
Past:
EDISON LIGHTHOUSE Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) My Baby Loves Lovin'
The FLYING MACHINE Smile A Little Smile For Me
BELL RECORDS: The Left Banke
MERCURY RECORDS: The Left Banke Zobus (feat. Zoogz Rift Earl Lewis & The Channels
LAURIE RECORDS / 3C RECORDS:
New Hope
Tom Selden
California
Barbara M.
Gene King
Nell Carter
Marty Brill
Don Lombardi
Mara Lynn Brown
Barry Winslow
The Royal Guardsmen
ESP-DISK:
The Godz
Jim McCarthy
Thornton, Fradkin & Unger
ONE LIFE TO LIVE (Soap Opera)
ALL MY CHILDREN (Soap Opera)
CAPITOL (Soap Opera)
JINGLES and TV THEMES (1980's):
Score Productions (NYC)
Honey Nut Cheerios
American Express
Crisco Nestle's
US Post Office
Johnson & Johnson
First Bank Colorado
NBC Winter Olympics
NBC Tennis
Family Feud
WMAR TV
Lykes Meats
Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers
Goodson and Toddman Game Shows
Recent (The RRO years):
NAPOLEON'S GHOST They're coming to take me away Ha! Haa! /
!!Aah !Ah yawa em ekat ot gnimoc er'yeht (2006) RRO-1014 (digital single)
VENUS IN BLUEJEANS
VENUS IN BLUEJEANS (6-track EP) (2000)
VENUS IN BLUEJEANS (2005) RRO-1006
He's almost you, Miss Perfect, You can't control me, Sealed with a kiss, Dangerous, Dream away, Wild thing, Gone
LIKE AN ANGEL (2006) RRO-1017
Like an angel, Sailing, Across the universe, I cry, You showed me, Another brick in the wall, You really got me, Stairway to heaven
TIMELESS FLYTE - A Tribute To The Byrds
Executive Producer, Artist Contributor
Foreign Covers:
MIREILLE MATHIEU - La chanson des souvenir (Song of a thousand voices) - Philips 3210.020 (1971)
ROBERTO JORDAN - "Donde?" (Song Of A Thousand Voices) RCA Victor (1972)
Les Fradkin - Beatlemania!
Beatlemania !!
BEATLEMANIA - THE ORIGINAL CAST
LIVE FROM THE WINTERGARDEN THEATER (1978) Arista 8501
Act 1
The Coming : I Want To Hold Your Hand, She Loves You
Making It : Help!, Can't Buy Me Love, Day Tripper
Listening : Yesterday, Eleanor Rigby, Nowhere Man
Tripping : Strawberry Fields Forever, Penny Lane, Magical Mystery Tour
Act 2
Dropping Out : Lady Madonna, The Fool On The Hill, Got To Get You Into My Life, Michelle, Get Back
Flower Power : All You Need Is Love
Bottoming Out : Revolution, Hey Jude
Moving On : I Am The Walrus, The Long And Winding Road, Let It Be
Les Fradkin-Lead Guitar, Vocals
Les Fradkin - The Left Banke Connection
STEVE MARTIN
Two by two (I'm losing you) / Love songs in the night (1970) Buddah BDA 219
Also included on the Soundtrack LP Hot Parts (Kama Sutra 2054)
STORIES
Hello people (1972 - unreleased)
LEFT BANKE
I could make it last forever, Goodbye, Lori's song (1972/1973 - unreleased)
Only my opinion, You say, Lorraine, Right by my side (1973 - unreleased)
And one day, Lorraine, Only my opinion, You say (1978 - unreleased)
Left Banke - I could make it last forever (2006 video)
LES FRADKIN / IAN LLOYD PROJECT
It's gonna be hard, Never been a man (unreleased - 1975)
Les Fradkin - The California Story
The CALIFORNIA Story (As told by Les Fradkin):
CALIFORNIA Discography: See you in September / Ivy Ivy (1973) Laurie 3612
Song of a thousand voices / Abraham Martin & John (1976) Laurie 3639
Jeans on / Doo-wop music - Laurie 3647 (1976)
I'm just thinking of you / Doo-wop music - (1976) Laurie 3649
Summer fun medley / Paris (1945) (1981) Laurie 3695
Brown eyed girl / Thank you for lovin' me - Laurie 3701
He's almost you / Three time loser (1982) Laurie 3706
Black gypsy / The land of fun & love (1983) Laurie 3710
He's almost you / Three time loser - RCA 306
Little brown jug / String of pearls - 3C-114
CALIFORNIA Performs ELECTRIC SWING - 3C-6000
COLLECTOR'S RECORDS OF THE 50's and 60's Vol 14 - (1982) Feat. See you in September
The story of the Laurie Records group CALIFORNIA has seldom, if ever been told. I was an original member and the only constant throughout the group's history from 1973 thru 1985. The group was originally formed by myself, Barry Butler and George Cameron (drummer of The Left Banke). Barry & I would write together on our matching Rickenbacker 12 string guitars and stumbled on a sound that, in some respects, predated the Fleetwood Mac sound of 1975 and, in other respects, shared influences of The Left Banke and The Beach Boys. Because of that trait, I asked George Cameron to be our drummer and third harmony singer and he enthusiastically agreed. We wanted to do big harmony pop. Went looking for a record deal in 1973 and after recording some demos at A-1 studios in NYC, landed a contract with Laurie Records. Their offices were on West 46th St in Manhattan, NYC. During the course of the contract negotiations, Barry got quite upset. He left the band and quit the music business. But he helped form the sound we used. Steve Martin from The Left Banke came onboard to replace him. Bev Warren was added at Laurie VP Gene Schwartz's suggestion.
The first release came out in 1973 and was "See You In September" b/w "Ivy, Ivy". The B-side, although the same title as the Left Banke tune was one of my originals. The group originally was myself, Steve Martin & George Cameron (from The Left Banke) and Beverly Warren (Female Vocalist). Mike Brown (composer of "Walk Away Renee") guested on these sides but was not a part of the group. That A-side had a "Let's Go To San Francisco" Flowerpot Men meets Motown meets Beach Boys feel. It ended up on a Laurie Compilation called Collector Records Of The 50's & 60's Vol. 14. Lineup for the first single: Les Fradkin - Lead Vocal (Ivy Ivy), 12-string guitar, 6-string Bass, Background vocals (A & B) George Cameron - Drums, Background Vocals Steve Martin - Electric guitar, Background vocals Mike Brown - Piano, Harpsichord Eliot Greenberg - Background Vocals and String Arrangements ("See You In September") Beverly Warren- Lead Vocal ("See You In September") "See You In September" got to #111 on the Billboard Charts if I recall correctly.
The group played a couple of shows and opened for Dion in New Jersey once. Then, the group broke up temporarily. Nothing further on the group until 1976. ........ Gene Schwartz had the idea to revive the group and record a cover of "Jeans On" which at that moment, was NOT out in the US. Although he knew it was a risk, he plowed ahead anyway and asked me to put a new group together under the California name. Since George & Steve were unavailable and the Beatlemania show was still just in rehearsal with no real clue as to destination or possible success, I invited the Beatlemania group to participate. This single was recorded at Electric Lady Studios and is the ONLY California record I produced without Gene & Eliot. I insisted on the artistic autonomy and was granted the chance. The record got a Top 60 pick in Cash Box, Billboard & Record World. Lineup for "Jeans On" and "Doo Wop Music" Les Fradkin - Lead Vocal (Doo-Wop) Background Vocals, Moog and Bass Diana Haig- Background Vocals (Jeans On and Doo Wop Music) Joe Pecorino- Lead Vocal and Background Vocals (Jeans On) Mitch Weissman- Piano and Background Vocals (Jeans On) Justin McNeill- Drums (Jeans On and Doo Wop Music) FYI: This lineup was the ONLY appearance by the Original Cast Of Beatlemania on record OUTSIDE the context of the Broadway show. "Jeans On" was a cover of the David Dundas hit tune. We thought we could beat it out in the US. Not quite! :-) "Doo Wop Music" was written by Diana & I.
"Song Of A Thousand Voices" b/w "Abraham, Martin & John". Lineup: Recorded 1973 > Released 1976 Les Fradkin - Lead & Background Vocals, 12-String Gtr, Bass, Mellotron George Cameron - drums, vocals Steve Martin - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals Barry Butler - 12-String Guitar, Vocals "Song Of A Thousand Voices" (my song) had already been an international hit single for Mireille Mathieu and Roberto Jordan in French and Spanish language versions respectively. We thought it could hit in the US. Not quite! :-) "Abraham, Martin & John" was among the demos that got me my Laurie deal along with "Where Have All The Heroes Gone". Just as a side note, Barry Butler co-wrote "Where Have All The Heroes Gone" and "Everything Is Gonna Be All Right" with me. Those two songs were also among the first California demos. "Heroes" was eventually sung by my friend Tom Selden. I released "Everything" as the closing track on my solo "Jangleholic" CD in 2006.
"I'm Just Thinking Of You" Lineup: Les Fradkin- Lead & Background Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Mellotron Drum Programming Diana Haig- Background Vocals JoAnne Calabrese- Lead & Background Vocals This was a song that Joanne Calabrese wrote that I liked. It reminded me of Spanky & Our Gang as JoAnne had that same sort of vocal timbre. It didn't chart, unfortunately.
On to 1981: I returned to Laurie Records as a producer / artist after Beatlemania closed at the end of 1979. Gene & Bob Schwartz wanted to revive the group with a Stars on 45 type release. I suggested a Beach Boys type record and they said OK if I could find the right guys. I went searching in the Village Voice under the guise of "auditioning" for a band that was advertising. That was Tony Pernice and Richie Tuske. Their ad read: "Wally Bryson, where are you?" That, I thought, would be me.
Needless to say, it was a great match up. I brought the guys to the attention of Laurie Records and we got working on the medley. As you can hear, it turned out to be a pretty exciting record. It took 100 hours to record and mix at Minot Studios in White Plains, New York. Gene & Eliot co produced but my production direction held sway throughout. Tony, Richie & I arranged the vocals. I arranged the track with Gene. By that time, all tunes that California recorded were arranged t my home studio before going up to Minot to record final takes. This gave us a very clear idea of what to expect in the studio when the clock was running. Things evolved from there as the record took off fairly quickly across the country on radio. It swept to #1 in several markets and, as you may know, Dick Clark gave it an airing on American Bandstand. There was even a story in Billboard about it. We were booked to open for Todd Rundgren & Utopia at The Last Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY. That was a pretty cool show. I played a Rickenbacker doubleneck at that time. In fact, the whole band used Ricks and matching Vox Amps. JP Patterson played drums with our live shows as Bob Miller had other work as the drummer of The Metro Men who recorded for Genya Raven's Polish Records label. Summer Fun Medley Lineup: Les Fradkin-Lead & Background Vocals, Lead Guitar, Keys Tony Pernice- Lead & Background Vocals, Bass Richie Tuske- Lead & Background Vocals, Rhythm Guitar Bob Miller- Drums
Paris Lineup: Les Fradkin- Guitars, Bass, Drum Programming Brown Eyed Girl Lineup: Les Fradkin- Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars, Theremin, Piano, Mellotron Tony Pernice- Background Vocals and Bass Richie Tuske- Background Vocals and Rhythm Guitar Bob Miller - Drums Thank You For Lovin Me Lineup: Tony Pernice- Lead Vocals Les Fradkin - Guitar & Bass Other Instruments from existing track from Laurie Archives
By 1982, the group started to evolve a bit out of the strict Beach Boys style and into a kind of Blondie like atmospheric Pop sound. Tony & Richie branched off to form The Singles which also included myself on guitar. Meanwhile Laurie & I replaced them in California with two new members from the Beatlemania show: Gigi Hageman-Teeley (wife of my understudy Tom Teeley) on Vocals and Keyboards and Don Linares on Bass and Vocals. Bob Miller stayed on board on Drums. Gigi had a very interesting and unique voice. The first single for the new group was a tune Diana Haig & I wrote called "He's Almost You" A very unique but commercial song about jealousy and wandering thoughts of someone else other than the "one you're with". I loved the chorus hook: "He's Almost You.... But he's not you!" This song has since been covered by the girl group Venus In Bluejeans on my RRO Entertainment label. The B-Side, "Three Time Loser" was a Laurie catalog tune that Gene wanted us to try. "He's Almost You" charted Top 50 in the U.K. The follow up "The Land Of Fun ^ Love" did not se any chart action. He's Almost You / Three Time Loser / Land Of Fun & Love Lineup: Les Fradkin- Background Vocals, Guitar, Electric Piano, Mellotron Gigi Hageman-Teeley - Lead Vocals, Piano Don Linares - Bass, Background Vocals Bob Miller - Drums
The group had run it's course by 1983 but Gene & I revived the name for the 1985 album "Electric Swing" which was the first Guitar Synthesizer album ever made and a very early MIDI programming miracle for those days. An interesting cross of pop, rock and big band arrangements were the chief highlight of that release. At that point, the book closed on California. Little Brown Jug / String Of Pearls Lineup: Les Fradkin- Guitar Synthesizer and all other instruments This was the FIRST Guitar Synthesizer album EVER made. One of these days, EMI (who owns it all) will do a compilation, I hope. And when they do, I'll remaster it if they're interested.
Les Fradkin - The LAURIE Records Sessions
CALIFORNIA See you in September / Ivy Ivy (1973) Laurie 3612
Song of a thousand voices / Abraham Martin & John (1976) Laurie 3639
Jeans on / Doo-wop music - Laurie 3647 (1976)
I'm just thinking of you / Doo-wop music - Laurie 3649 (1976)
Summer fun medley / Paris (1945) (1981) Laurie 3695
Brown eyed girl / Thank you for lovin' me - (1982) Laurie 3701
He's almost you / Three time loser (1982) Laurie 3706
Black gypsy / The land of fun & love (1983) Laurie 3710
He's almost you / Three time loser - (1982) RCA 306
Little brown jug / String of pearls - 3C-114 (1984)
CALIFORNIA- ELECTRIC SWING - 3C-6000 (LP) (1984)
COLLECTOR'S RECORDS OF THE 50's and 60's Vol 14 - (1982) Feat. CALIFORNIA- "See you in September"
JERRY BOCCINO / BO KENO Produced by Les after her Phil Spector period
MARTY BRILL THE MISSING TAPES (1974) Laurie LCS 5002 (LP) Spaced out, Plugging the leaks, The godfather, Zeigler, Camp David and Goliath, Zeigler #2, Smut !, Zeigler #3, Confidentially speaking, Zeigler #4, Showdown at credibility gap, Hot line #1, The spirit of '76, Hot line #2, Psalm of these days, Doctor Quackenbusch, From soup top nuts, Spaced way-out
NEW HOPE Green green grass / Oh my lady - Laurie 3608 (1973)
TOM SELDEN Where have all the heroes gone / Willin' - Laurie 3609 (1973)
MARA LYNN BROWN God bless California / He's gone - Laurie 3611 (1973)
ROYAL GUARDSMEN Snoopy for president / Sweetmeats slide - Laurie 3646
GENE KING Bag O' Tricks / Uncle Funk - Laurie Records-LR3699
DON LOMBARDI Sunny afternoons / The roadie's dream - Laurie 3709
NELL CARTER Must Be With You Tonight - Laurie Records
THE HITS Count On You / All The Girls (Wanna Be In Gangs) - (1981) Nobell Records
BARBARA M HI STEPPIN' - 3C 6001 (1987) Hi Steppin' / Sweet Talkin' Guy - 3C Records- 7C-119 Judgement day / I don't want to set the world on fire / I'm not your girl anymore (1987) 3C 7C-121 Got You Where I Want You / Turn Up The Night - 3C Records- 7C-123 Lonely Town / If I Had A Time Machine - 3C Records- 7C-125
VALERIE TYLER Rock 'n roll high school / Catherine street - 3C-101 Indian woman / Don't cry for me - 3C-106 I'm dancin' / I'm dancin' (Instrumental) - 3C-110
BARRY WINSLOW I love a good mystery / Only love has the right - 3C-116
Les Fradkin - Odds & Ends
LES FRADKIN, MICK RONSON, HILLY MICHAELS Sessions
Spare Change, Sailing, I'm Gonna Love You, I Can Never Say Goodbye, Calling All Girls (all unreleased, except for 'Spare change' which is on the Goin' Back CD)
JUNE RECORD
Destiny (2000) digital single
VARIOUS ARTISTS
THE PALER'S PROJECT : FROM SHADOW TO SHADOW
Les' track : Fellow travelers
KATIE (Produced by Lon Van Eaton)
ANGEL EYES
You're the one for me (2002) digital single
1000 GUITARS (feat. Les Fradkin)
Louie Louie (recorded live at Louiefest 2004) (2005)
Les Fradkin - Endorsements
Les Fradkin plays and endorses: Starr Labs Ztar Model Z7S MIDI Guitar w/Air Power Wireless System
Les Fradkin plays and endorses Ableton Live Suite 8 for Ztar Clip Triggering Les Fradkin plays and endorses the Akai APC40 Les Fradkin plays and endorses Propellerhead Reason 4 and Record 1
Les Fradkin plays Native Instruments Reaktor
Arturia Modular Moog V2.5
MOTU Digital Performer
Les Fradkin's Gear - Equipment for Stage & Studio
For stage:
Starr Labs Ztar Z7s
Apple MacBook Laptop with 4 Gb RAM 2.26Ghz
4 Glyph 500 Gb External Hard Drives
Ableton Live Suite 8 with Max for Live
Akai APC40 Ableton Live Controller
Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Controller
Propellerhead Record Propellerhead Reason 4
GForce M-Tron Pro Virtual Mellotron
Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1
Native Instruments Kore 2
Native Instruments Reaktor 5
Native Instruments Absynth 5
Native Instruments Massive
MOTU Symphonic Instrument
MOTU Ethno Instrument
Vienna Symphonic Library
Arturia Modular Moog V2.5
Arturia Minimoog V2
Arturia ARP2600V
Updates on what what gear I'm using on my recordings:
MIDI GUITARS:
Starr Labs Ztar Z7S MIDI Guitar with custom electronics software
Wilson Bros VM-10 Ventures Model with Roland GK-2A MIDI Pickup and Custom Electronics
Fender "Rocky" Stratocaster with Roland GK-2A MIDI Pickup and Custom Electronics
GUITAR SYNTHESIZER RIG:
Roland VG-8EX V-Guitar System
Roland GR-1 Guitar Synth
Roland GR-33 Guitar Synth
Roland GI-20 Guitar MIDI Interface
Roland US-20 Switcher
Roland PK-5 MIDI Bass Pedals
Roland XV-5080 Synthesizer
Roland VM-3100 Pro Digital Mixer
Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Controller
Emagic Unitor 8 MkII Router
Yamaha MEP4 MIDI Mapper (2)
Yamaha MCS2 Controller
Yamaha TX7 Module
SOFTWARE:
Ableton Live 8.1.1
MOTU Digital Performer 7.1
MOTU Synphonic Instrument
MOTU Ethno Instrument
MOTU MX4 V2.2
Vienna Symphonic Library
Reason 4 (Thor, Malstrom, Subtractor, NN-XT)
Propellerhead Record
Apple Logic 9.1
Arturia Moog Modular V2.5
Arturia Minimoog V2
Arturia Jupiter 8V
Arturia Brass
G-Media M-Tron Pro (Mellotron)
NI Kore 2
NI Reaktor 5
NI B4 II
NI Massive
NI Absynth 5.1
NI Pro 53
NI FM8
Wave Burner
COMPUTER: Mac Book with 500 GB Hard Drives (4) 4GB RAM, 2.26 Ghz Intel Core Duo Processor
Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1 Audio Interface
