The Feelies
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The Feelies was an alternative rock band from Haledon, New Jersey. They formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1992. They frequently played at Maxwell's, a live music venue and bar restaurant in Hoboken in the 1980s. Their first album, Crazy Rhythms (Stiff Records, 1980) was cited by the Athens, Georgia band, R.E.M., as a major influence. The Feelies rarely worked with outside producers and created shimmering soundscapes with multiple guitar layers that sounded unique compared to the punk/new wave atmosphere of the late 1970's and early 1980's.
Early days
Glenn Mercer, Bill Million and Dave Weckerman began playing together in 1976 in Haledon, New Jersey in a band called the Outkids.Crazy Rhythms
Most of the vocals and songs were written and sung by Glenn Mercer. Along with original band members Bill Million, Keith Clayton and Anton Fier, The Feelies released their first single “Fa Ce La” on Rough Trade Records in 1980. The album that followed on Stiff Records, Crazy Rhythms, was #78 in Rolling Stone's top 100 albums of the 1980s, and #69 on Pitchfork Media's similar list.After the departure of Fier and Clayton, Mercer and Million collaborated with other local New Jersey musicians, forming a band called the Trypes, featuring future members of The Feelies, Brenda Sauter, David Weckerman and Stanley Demeski.
Other members of the Trypes, which released one EP on the Coyote label, ”The Explorer's Hold” became members of the band Speed The Plough circa 1982.
The Good Earth
As a quintet, The Feelies recorded The Good Earth in 1985 with Peter Buck of R.E.M. as producer. The Feelies enjoyed success as an opening band for Lou Reed as well as R.E.M. that year. The band also found the time and energy to record the songs of David Weckerman under the name Yung Wu in 1986. The album was released on Coyote Records and was titled “Shore Leave”. The only difference between The Feelies and Yung Wu was that the songs were sung by Weckerman and featured John Baumgartner of Speed The Plough on keyboards.Only Life
In 1988 the Feelies signed to a major label and released their album Only Life on A&M Records. The smooth sound of the two guitarists, two drummers, and the sensual bass playing of Brenda Sauter made Only Life a critical favourite. Mercer and Million produced the album and achieved a great deal of texture in the recording.Time for a Witness
Their final album, Time for a Witness, was released in 1991. The album broke little new ground from Only Life but still earned the band critical praise.Film Appearances
The band was featured in a Jonathan Demme movie called Something Wild playing as a high school reunion band. They were not however featured on the soundtrack. Credited as the Willies, they performed bits of five songs, including "Crazy Rhythms" as well as covers of David Bowie's "Fame," and the Monkees' "I'm a Believer". A Feelies song also made it onto a Demme soundtrack with the film Married to the Mob, although the band did not appear in that film. Million and Mercer were also brought together by director Susan Seidelman to create the score for her film, Smithereens.Side Projects & Alumni Bands
The band has spawned many side projects such as:- Wild Carnation featuring Brenda Sauter and her husband Richard Barns (both also of Speed the Plough).
- Wake Ooloo featured Mercer and Weckerman; they released three albums with both Mercer and Weckerman singing in turn.
- Anton Fier formed The Golden Palominos and has toured with Bob Mould.
- Stanley Demeski joined the band Luna and went on many successful tours with them.
- Currently both Feelies drummers, Demeski and Weckerman, along with Glenn Mercer have been playing in a band together called the Sunburst which features Toni Paruta and John Baumgartner both of Speed The Plough.
- Bill Million reportedly moved to Florida and became a locksmith at Disney World. On one occasion he helped Michael Jackson with his services there.
Legacy
The Feelies are remembered as one of the most underappreciated indie-rock bands of the 1980's and to this day have many fans throughout the world. Although the band never sold many records, they are considered to be tremendously influential in the indie rock scene today, with a great number of current artists name-dropping the band and citing them as influences. A WFMU DJ once said that they were "The best thing to come out of New Jersey since the light bulb", and that assessment is viewed as correct among fans of the 1980's jangle-pop and indie music scenes. The novelist Rick Moody has also cited the band as one of his influences (allegedly, he based the punk band in his first book "Garden State" on them).Band members
- Keith Clayton - Bass (1979-1982)
- Brenda Sauter - Bass and Vocals (1983-1992)
- Bill Million - Guitars (1976-1992)
- John J. - Bass (1976-1979)
- Vinny Denunzio - Drums (1976-1978)
- Anton Fier - Drums (1978-1979)
- Glenn Mercer - Vocals and guitars (1976-1992)
- Dave Weckerman - Percussion (1984-1992)
- Stanley Demeski - Drums (1983-1992)
Discography
- Crazy Rhythms (1980)
- The Good Earth (1986)
- No One Knows EP (Coyote / Twin\Tone) 1986
- Only Life (1988)
- Time for a Witness (1991)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album |
| US Modern Rock | |||
| 1988 | "Away" | #6 | Only Life |
| 1991 | "Sooner or Later" | #13 | Time for a Witness |
External links
- [a Feelies web site]
- [Sunburst web site]
- [Wake Ooloo web site]
- Trouser Press article on The Feelies
- [Twin Tone record label]
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