The American Dream (self-titled)
Todd Rundgren produced this lost Philadelphia band’s only album back in 1970 off the Ampex record label. The American Dream’s album blends power pop, lite psychedelia, blazing hard rockers, folk-rock and roots music effectively throughout its 12 songs (almost 50 minutes of good music!).
Key influences are not a surprise, as listeners may hear strands of Crosby Stills Nash and Young, the Nazz, and the Beatles. The playing is full of youthful energy and the band manages to balance out hard rockers with attractive folk-rock power ballads. Raspberries has a slight psychedelic hangover, as it begins with a phased drum intro and showcases some wigged out guitar playing. Other quality songs like the Other Side, Storm (full of great Beatles-like melodies), I Ain’t Searchin’ and I Am You are predominately acoustic, tastefully arranged and have some great hook laden CSNY harmonies. Good News, a song that begins with a telephone conversation, eventually segues into some pretty country-rock harmonies. It’s a typical relationship hard rocker in which the band humorously shouts out “don’t be a jerkoff” at the end of the chorus. The third track of the original lp is the real highlight of this very solid collection. Big Brother has classic late 60’s psych lyrics (“listen to the words he is saying, conjuring the games he is playing”) and intense early Who power chords (it really sounds like an excellent Nazz outtake) that make it a real killer and a treat for fans of British rock.
The American Dream stood out from the local crowd with their strong, exciting songwriting and 3 guitar lineup. From this point, my knowledge of the American Dream ends. Can anyone provide further info on this great lost American band? Were there prior or post American Dream bands and did they release any singles or albums?
“Big Brother”
Original Vinyl | 1970 | Ampex | search ebay ]
[ American Dream on Myspace ]
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As far as I know this was the only album the band released. Nick Jameson went on to play with Foghat and released an amazing solo album in October 1977 called Already Free. In 1998 they have a reunion in Philly and another one in 2000 for Earth Day. Don Lee Van Winkle played a lot in the 80’s and released a solo album called Fallin’ Idol in 1999. Jameson has gone on to a successful career in TV, movies and voiceover work. If you watch 24, Jameson played the Russian president on last year’s series – it was a pretty significant role. There’s a cool story about Jameson at this link – http://www.philly.com/inquirer/entertainment/20070520_Jonathan_Storm___Russian_president_on_24_sure_plays_a_mean_guitar.html
Bruce Warren November 9, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
Bruce,
Thanks for the response, its greatly appreciated. I never knew a member of the American Dream played in Foghat. I only know Foghat’s well known singles that are played on the local classic rock radio station. I am not too familar with the 60’s Philly scene though I do know another great unknown psych era band, the Mandrake Memorial – though these guys were supposedly popular in Philly. I like this band quite a bit and also love the Nazz and early Todd Rundgren. Once again, thanks for the link and I will have to check out the Nick Jameson solo disc. Feel free to drop a line any time!
Jason N
Jason November 11, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
Winkle continues to play in and around the Philadelphia area. I worked with him in the 80’s and early 90’s as “Dave Rock” to his “Don Roll” (no kiddin’), and his band Winkle and the Wanderers was filled with talent in the mid-eighties as well.
David Moore April 12, 2008 @ 9:53 am
My band from the late sixties was The Sugar Blues Band; our median age was 16, we never recorded a thing but we did open for this band (The American Dream) at The Electric Circus in NYC. It was quite a thrill. We were a bit intimidated I must say!! I put their name into Google and was pleasantly surprised to find this site!
MicahVita@Aol.com
http://www.YouTube.com/MicahVita
Michael Evans May 15, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
Hey this is Don Ferris, i was the bass player for The American Dream.To say the least bit I’am basically still stuck in the stone age with technology and just out of curiousity had my son run a search to See what he could find about my old band.I was amazed to find what i found.Some of you even informed me of what a few of my old frienda have been up to! If anyone has any questions,comments, or whatever just send me an email or ill check back on this site. Im glad i found this site
Don Ferris June 3, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
Reading all this sure has brought back many missed memories!
Don Ferris June 3, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
Don Ferris,
I was a big American Dream fan back in the 60’s and 70’s.I stiill have that only album and remember buying it at a hip little mall that was built into an old parking garage on Sansom St.
Those were the days.
You guys opened for everybody. Saw you open for Iron Butterfly at The Allentown Agricultural Hall and also on a Saturday at The Atlantic City Pop Festival in 1969. Also many, many gigs at
The Old Electric Factory at 22nd and Arch and Fairmount Park.
I lived in Reading, PA back then and I used to do a light show at the PAL building on Walnut St. I believe Will Nally or Richard Brown who ran that venue at different times also booked your band for some shows at the City Park Bandshell in Reading.
I was always there doing some job or another.
I went on to be a keyboard player in a bunch of local bar bands and at one point I instigated a band I was in to cover a couple of Dream songs. So where are you at now and do you still play ?
I’m at pscull@wcupa.edu and would be glad to hear from you ! it’s been a long time.
Peace,
Paul
Paul Scull June 12, 2008 @ 8:38 am
Around mid 70s Micky Brooks (drumer) Ran a bar in Ne Philly called the Sand Trap Tavern
it was a local hot spot for a bit. However micky passed away from a drug over dose.
He was a good heart and friend.
fred dorman July 14, 2008 @ 11:33 am
The American Dream was a fantastic rock band – full of character and talent (listen to the bass playing and drumming on ‘Big Brother’ to see what I mean) . I would go so far as to say that they were one of the great American bands. They were a little like Moby Grape in certain respects (with the three guitar line up and strong rhythm section and harmonies) but more versatile and with a lot more humour.
Sad to hear about Mickey Brooks passing away – he was a great drummer, a bit like a cross between Henry ‘H-Bomb’ Weck (of Brownsville Station) and Keith Moon, an explosive and dynamic player. Don Ferris was a very strong bass player who played in a driving style, a little like Greg Arama of the Amboy Dukes. And the three front guys and guitarists (Nick Jameson, Nick Indelicato, and Don Lee van Winkle) were simply marvellous and full of good humour, too. Yes, one of the great bands with so much going for them musically.
Steve Moller November 27, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
I came across the single ” I Ain’t Serching” here in Europe and loved it . It was an import that I found in a second hand store. As it was on a major label Ampex , I hoped that one day I could obtain the album on 12 vinyl. However, I never did find any trace of it. I wonder if the album will ever be issued on CD ? From the strength of the singel, this must certianly be one of the great lost treasues …………………………
Banco January 11, 2009 @ 11:42 am
I’m listening to the vinyl copy of the American Dream as i write this.I grew up in SE Jersey and this band was the first band to grab me by the balls,If you took a look around the scenery at the time bands like Humble Pie and Foghat stole there thunder..”My Babe”..they did first..interesting how Nick J had a lot to do with “Fool for the City”..I’m in Texas now and that’s MANY years ago..Don,we hung out in Cherry Hill around ‘74-’75 with a guy called Don Train before I ejected to Atlanta.BUT..The BEST song they did live was a song called “Fishkin Blues”..KILLER track that never got released…PS…Spooky Tooth,Humble Pie AND Argent..all opened for them..what great memories from a great band…So sorry to hear about Micky..a great drummer..and what about Nicky and Don Lee these days??
Kevin"snit"Fitzpatrick January 15, 2009 @ 5:21 am
I grew up listining to the American Dream practicing in Micky Brooks’s driveway. I lived right behind him. His brother Gibby was a friend of my brother. Both of them died before their time. WE USED TO GO TO THE Sand Trap all the time. Another hang out was Len’s Feed Bag run by Floss. Her son Zube was part of the gang, I could go on and on. Does anybody remember these places?
Ken "Babo" Bobrownicki January 18, 2009 @ 10:21 pm
Hey, So glad this site is here and that Don Ferris joined in quite some time ago. I’m 42 yrs old, so you know where I was when The American Dream were having “a time”. However, I had became a great fan of Todd Rundgren in the 80’s for some reason and a friend of mine told me about this produced by “Runt” album. Some old friends of his he went to school with (Lincoln High), called The American Dream. He found it at a yard sale. This was about 1993. Never heard of it, all scratched up. So I put a nickel on the arm where the needle goes and gave it a spin. It’s a truly amazing album, wonderfully produced with such an innocence almost perfectly captured in the moment by Band and Producer. I LOVE THIS ALBUM!! I really appreciate the uniqueness as the front and back of this album are reversed and hard to tell which is which. I lost my copy I had made on casette in my party years. I went to prison on a multiple DUI offense because of my very dangerous chemical dependency problem. I used to sing that whole album in my head to myself just to pass time.
When I got out of prison in 1999 and sobered up, I moved to California where I now reside. For so many years I had tried to find that album, but no one knew what the hell I was talking about. I started to think, “too much drugs, DUDE!”
I finally got my first computer last year 2008. As I found out, I can search around to find anything I want (and that scares the shit out of me still). I would always look for The American Dream, and got everything but “the real deal”.
I found out about this album being available on a late-nite American Dream “find the album or else” quest on like page 175 on the search engine at about 3a.m. A guy from Italy on ebay had it unopened and unplayed. Well noboby was gonna get it but me!! This album is so rare in that kind of condition that I was probably the only person in the whole world looking for it-or so I thought.
Long story longer, I did win that album bidding against 4 other people for a pretty nice hunk of cash, mostly because of it’s rare, pristine value. I checked the mail every day for two weeks straight, not believing this could be true, but finally there it was!!! I took it right away to an LP to CD remastering plant to get it copied. The man there had to manually gap the songs because they run so concurrently together, the machine would not gap correctly, which meant he had to listen to the songs several times over. Needless to say, he made a copy for himself he liked it so much and said it’s extremely rare that he gets any albums 38 yrs old unplayed. I said to him, “no shit”. By the way, the CD sounds probably better than when it was played on a 1970 hi-fi. Vinyl really does still kick-ass. I’ve turned many of my so-called “rock trivia pro baby-boomers” on to it, and some young people, too.
So maybe this is not such a big deal, but if it means anything to anybody, I had not felt the natural buzz of my anticipation for so long I can’t remember; without some good dope in my body. Truly, as a singer/songwriter/producer myself, I have heard many types of music in my life that has influenced me, but this album by The American Dream holds a very special place in the creative part of my soul, and by default should be. Why? Because if everyboby adored it, there wouldn’t be enough energy in it left over for me and a few others to enjoy so much. This album truly does withstand the test of time for those who remember it and very exciting memories. To me this album is all that’s left of The REAL AMERICAN DREAM, and the best thing to come out of it in years!!
I can be reached by any of you wonderful people by emailing me on My Space page http://www.myspace.com/funknthetrunk or jackiripa66@yahoo.com . I now feel that my American Dream is complete. I think I’ll die now!! lol JACKI
John Nawn January 21, 2009 @ 6:35 am
I grew up in Mayfair, now live In California. I had a band in my high school days and we used to play some of the songs from the album. To this day I still enjoy that album. I have three vinyls. One was in excellent condition so I digitized it and cleaned it up a bit via Adobe Audition. My Philly freinds are always asking for a copy. I also have an unopened vinyl, not sure what I’ll ever do with it.
I think the album was under rated, I still get a lot of joy listening to it, fantastic guitar solos that still hold there own.
Tim Formica January 22, 2009 @ 2:31 pm
Dear Tim Formica
I read you comment with interest and if I am right you say that you have a digitised version of the American dream’s album. One of my ambitions is to hear the full album . Is there any way we can get in touch and I can get adigital copy from you ?
banco January 22, 2009 @ 3:34 pm
Don Ferris,
Do you have any idea what became of the master tapes? Who has them? If you do please go to my website and email me http://www.animationbytim.com/
Oh and one more thing, I hope you can clear up for me. What does Nicky D’s grandmother say to him at the beginning of Good News? I’ve had this debate with my friend since the albums release. I think she called him “I said that Nicky, he’s a no good monkey pig or is it face” My friend thinks it’s No good F**king pig”
LOL Cool Grandma.
Banco – go to my website and send me an email and I’ll see what I can do.
Tim Formica January 22, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
It’s g**dam Monkey face..
John Nawn January 22, 2009 @ 9:53 pm
Nick Indelicato’s Grandma (it could ONLY be his Grandma!) seems to say ‘g**damn f****ing pig’. Anyway, she sounds like a character and a half, just like her grandson. Marvellous group.
I would love to hear ‘Fishkin Blues’, I really would.
Steve Moller January 23, 2009 @ 3:39 am
I really enjoyed reading all these comments! Don Ferris says he’s going to write and answer the question about what Grandma is saying!
Shelley Phillips February 5, 2009 @ 11:09 pm
In case anyone is interested, I just discovered this myspace site for the AD. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=69208235 You’ll find three cuts, one unknown, two demos that are a bit raw in the recording.
Pretty Cool!
Tim Formica February 6, 2009 @ 1:14 am
I first bought the record in the mid-80’s (due to me being a Todd Rundgren completist!), and was awestruck by the songs, playing, harmonies, energy and humour. An amazing album by a band I knew absolutely nothing about! Sadly my copy was pretty scratched and worn, and I didn’t dare playing it as much as I wanted. Today I found a mint unplayed copy for 25 kroner (about $3.50) at a Salvation Army thrift shop, did a search, and found this! Surely a timeless classic.
)
Roar Sorensen February 6, 2009 @ 11:52 am
Cool. Thanks for the link Tim. I’ve added it to the original post. Does anybody have correct or better cover art for this record?
Brendan February 6, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
here some video footage on the AD on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOdZunTqKwU,
Also, if you dig around this site http://www.geosound.org/the-american-dream.htm you will find a bunch of pictures of the AD as well as other bands from Philly and those that playes there from the 60’s and 70’s.
Tim Formica February 6, 2009 @ 3:31 pm
Thanks for all the interest in the Band! I was really blown away by all the comments, memories and praise for the band. It was a great time and my only regret is that I really didn’t appreciate it fully when it was happening. And by the way, Grandma said “God d**mn monkey face”. Thanks for letting me hear all your stories and memories and I am still amazed at the current interest in the band.
Don Ferris
Shelley Phillips February 7, 2009 @ 8:53 pm
This is Don Ferris again. Tim, the master tapes belong to Bearsville records. And I hope you read my previous post over Shelley’s name.
don ferris February 7, 2009 @ 8:59 pm
Thanks Don
Tim Formica February 7, 2009 @ 9:00 pm
I believe this comment would go out to any one of the band members of ‘American Dream’ that would remember their gig at the Electric Circus on St Mark’s Place in New York City. It was 1968 or ‘69 when both our bands played there. My band was ‘The Sugar Blues Band’ that opened for the American Dream, we were the ‘day band’ at The Cafe Wha? in the West Village. We were younger and not as good as the night bands which were at that time included ‘The Raves’, ‘Kangaroo’ with John Hall (Orleans). Understandably, this time was a ‘little foggy’! Do any of the band members of the American Dream remember this gig?
Micah
MicahVita@Aol.com
Micah Evans February 7, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
Don,
Perhaps you can help me with some of life’s mystery’s. . .
What’s a Credemphil? Is that a Tasty Cake that was never made?
Re: Frankford El song: When I was in the Boy Scouts, Troop 84, Holmesburg, mid to late 60’s we used to sing that song around the campfire. Except that after the first verse was sung we’d change the lyrics to poke jabs at one another, like, “You can’t get to heaven in Carls’ shoe becuase Carl’s shoe is full of goo” typical 13 year old humor. Anyway I’ve often wondered where you guys got the song from cause I was surprised to hear it again years later on the Dream album. Oh yeah,I still sing it with my Philly buddies.
Tim Formica February 8, 2009 @ 2:20 am
This comment represents pure thi nking at the moment but:…..
I have spent quite abit of my life tracking down and obtaining CD reissues of many bands from the 60s and 70s. The criteria for a record company to issue such material is usually:: that there will be a market for the reissue………….( Clearly here on this essage board there is healthy interest!)…………The band can be consulted/involved ….give consent ( and get some profit) …the
tapes exist and can be brought up to modern day standards…………extra material could exist to be included to boost intetest……there are some demos etc…………….My thoughs are …….how o we inteterest AMPEX/BEARSVILLE or one of the reissue companies ………….to put out such a trasure as the American Dream album?????
banco February 8, 2009 @ 4:31 am
Micah, I remember the gig at the Electric Circus. We played with Steppenwolf as I recall and the third band must have been yours.
Tim, Credemphil was just a word that was made up to go in the song. It didn’t mean anything. I enjoyed hearing your Boy Scout story about the Frankford El. The Frankford El was an elevated train that ran from downtown to NE Philly. I took it downtown to practice. “You can’t get to heaven on the Frankford El” was just a spoof.
Banco, your comment was flattering, but I don’t think there is enough interest to have the album re-released.
Thanks guys for all your interest.
don ferris February 8, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
Just heard the American Dream tracks on MySpace music that Tim Formica above kindly mentions. Fantastic and really, really, good to hear these demo. The one that is untitled is possibly the best and has all the usual Dream strengths – like good tune, witty lyrics (the guy smoking a cigar who does not know where its at .. .), great harmony singing, bright guitars and a forceful guitar solo, strong bass playing and drumming, and it moves like a freight train. Made my year hearing this track.
Steve Moller February 10, 2009 @ 4:44 pm
I listened to the demos also. I liked the Frankford El demo better than the one on the album. I wasn’t on the unreleased demo.
don ferris February 10, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
I was about 13 when this album came out. My big brother, Bob Kelly, was the rodie for these guys. Best I can remember they were just a bunch of guys having a good time.
I hung out with all of them and they were my heroes. OK, I didn’t hang out, but my brother took me to a bunch of heir shows. Most of them were at my house from time to time.
Anyway… they were just a typical garage band, but I always thought they could have moved beyond the Philly scene. But drugs and egos got in the way.
So now I’m 50 and still love their music. All the so called critics can compare them to whoever and say they were influence by whatever. Screw that shit. They were just a group of cool guys who made some pretty good Philly music.
My little sister still has their original album. But who the hell has a turn table to play it.
Put that shit on CD and I’ll buy it. It’s still good music.
Mike Kelly NE Philly
Mike Kelly February 16, 2009 @ 1:24 am
I got to throw this in before I take a nap.
I have been searching for a copy of the American Dream album for years. My sis has the vinyl, but we live way far away. I was in the Marines for 22 years. Been away a lot.
Anyway… I searched the Internet many times. Nothing. I just now searched and found a shit load of sites with American Dream stuff. Mostly just song names, but it’s cool that it’s out there now.
Bout time they got recognized.
By the way….anybody know Cookie. She was my lady friend in the late 70s. Haven’t been to Philly in a long time. I been all over the world. Nothing as cool and funky as Philly. Damn I miss that place!
Mike Kelly February 16, 2009 @ 1:51 am
Mike,
Was your brother also a roadie for the Kit Kats?
Tim Formica February 16, 2009 @ 1:56 am
Micah and others interested:
I have owned the American Dream LP since its release and still play it. Good to see all the interest in this fine recording. FYI, re John Hall. He is now a NY State Congressman. His former bandmate in Kangaroo, Barbara Keith, has led her band, The Stone Coyotes, for many years. They are based in western MA and have released many fine CD’s. Her voice and guitar playing are really worth a listen.
Don
don adler March 3, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
Thought the following info might be of interest to everyone: ‘The American Dream’ LP , on Ampex Records, was reissued on CD in 1995 in Japan. The enclosed booklet identifies it as being part of “The Todd Rundgren Collection”, and only the song titles, and lyrics, are in English. The official catalog info is: Pony Canyon PCCY-00843; it’s a ‘Bearsville Records’ reissue, and “Ampex” is nowhere to be found. In addition…Nick Jameson’s second solo LP, from 1986, is called ‘A Crowd Of One’, on Motown 6210 ML. I have a promo copy of this; it’s possible it never made it to the stores…The American Dream were a GREAT live band. I saw them about a dozen times, and, yes, “Fishkin Blues” was their tour-de-force highlight, great solos all around. The LP doesn’t do them justice; wish a live tape or two would turn up… John
John from Delco May 27, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
After seeing someone named Williams destroy ‘Frankford El’ song on youtube I had to research if there were extant bits of it. Thankfully someone here posted an Earth day ‘Tube bit of it.
ah, the WWWeb…
I believe the dream opened for CTA (Chicago) at a Temple U. venue @ ‘69,’ 70.
Was there a group called Good News also on the card? Did they cover the “El” song?
So much of that period sketchy…..’scuse me while I kiss the sky….
Anyway, The “El” song was memorable and Chicago up close was great.
I’d buy the American Dream CD if avail.
-mack
philly son
Mack May 29, 2009 @ 7:10 pm
I was driving to work in West Chester, Pa. this morning and listening to WXPN on the radio.
It was a little bit after 7:00 AM and the news had just ended, when I began to hear a familiar
guitar riff intro. I could hardly believe my ears. It was the intro to the American Dream’s song
“I Ain’t Searchin’ ” I actually got goose bumps ! ! !
What a bright spot in an otherwise rainy gloomy day. T
he memories of
places I’d heard the band play and friends that I saw them with came flooding back.
I can’t belive how much time has passed and that I still love that band.
Their music really still does stand the test of time.
Thank you WXPN and Michaela for playing that song and making my day a little brighter.
Tim Formica, if you read this message, please conatct me. pscull@wcupa.edu
Peace, Love and Light,
Paul Scull
P.S. I recently spotted Nicky Indelicato working at the Post Office in Bala Cynwood.
He looked good ! God Bless You Nick and may long live the memories of The American Dream and all the other great Phillie bands.
Paul Scull June 5, 2009 @ 8:35 am
I alos heard the song on XPN this morning. I am trying to download a copy of I ain’t searching but cannot find it on line. Does anyone know where it is available?
chance the dog June 5, 2009 @ 3:43 pm
The RECORD CASTLE in Philadelphia, PA, offered some LP’s and CD’s (!!!) of the good old original Dream album. I bought two of those CD’s years ago; don’t know if its still available right now but no one knows! The CD I have identifies as follows: “The American Dream”, 1970. Contains the original album plus extras – - that is, a very rare 7 song Demo Tape with unreleased tunes “taken from a reel tape stored by an old friend of the band for all those years”!! CDR issue; El Gato Records EG-1795 (Import). The cover is exactly the same as the old LP, except for the unobtrusive mention of bonus material…
jean July 10, 2009 @ 3:15 pm
What are the names of the unreleased tunes?
don ferris July 20, 2009 @ 5:32 am
July 20, 2009
There are currently several American Dream 33 RPM records available on ebays international sellers list. One is listed as new and sealed at $ 40.00.
Get em while there hot. ! I just bought a cassette of the recording.
Peace,
Paul Scull
Paul Scull July 20, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
Hi, Don! The CD I have only says “Unreleased Tune Nr 1, Nr 2 and Nr 3 (no further detail) plus the other songs in this Original Demo – Good News, Storm, FrankfordEl, Future’s Folly, different from the Ampex LP. There is also, to complete, a version of Big Brother identified as “Early Nick Jameson – The Finestuff” (old band?). BTW, in case you dident get this CD at all, I could let go one of my two copies and send one out to you—let me know if you’re interested. (BTW, the CDs back cover indicates “El Gato (Records) Ltd. — © (Copyright) 2001 — Made in Mexico”) !
jean July 20, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
Hi Jean, gosh a copy would be great! My boys would love it! Could you email me at cshelley33442@yahoo.com to make arrangements?
BTW, do we know each other?
don ferris July 20, 2009 @ 4:44 pm
Don,
That’s ok, i’ll send you an email.
Regarding your question, i know you only (or the rest of the band, for that matter) through the music of T.A.D., and this for many moons ago–back to my high school days! (i’m 44) Indeed, when the group was active i was sort of just a little toddler… But, hey ! we got that damn good album, after all, with those tunes that stick like color posters on the walls of our minds.
jean July 21, 2009 @ 9:47 am
winkle is a great guitar player…and a pretty nice guy
gerry mcwilliams July 31, 2009 @ 11:58 am
Jean,
Thanks so much for sending the CD. I can’t tell you how much the boys and I appreciate it as well as the other info you sent. That was a really special treat.
don ferris July 31, 2009 @ 3:15 pm
You’re welcome, Don!
: )
jean August 1, 2009 @ 11:08 am
I’m in little late on this conversation as I just stumbled on to the website. Being a Todd fanatic from the get-go made me seek out The American Dream in 1970. I bought the album when it was still readily available and immediately fell in love with it. Played it to death for several years
and always hoped there would be a follow up, but alas……I bought the Pony Canyon CD release
when it came out in ‘95 and it was truly a disaster. Stay away from it at all costs as the transfer
from analog to the digital domain is severely compromised. Somehow the tape slows down from start to finish and by the time you get to “Raspberries” the tape is barely moving. Just shocked that quality control was so shabby in this instance. Don Ferris if you’re still coming back to this site, I’m just wondering what your thoughts are on this matter? And didn’t you guys play on Todd’s “Birthday Carol” from the Runt album? Care to comment on those sessions?
Thanks for reading. Bob
Bob September 21, 2009 @ 1:35 pm
Bob,
I played on the song with Van Winkle, Mickey Brooks and Todd. I was a little nervous because it was my first time recording on Todd’s album and we didn’t even hear the song until an hour before we recorded. I would have liked more time to rehearse but I was happy to do it. We didn’t even know if it would be on the album.
I’m really glad you liked our album. It was a great time for me. I didn’t hear the Pony Canyon CD so I can’t comment. I really appreciated the CD Jean sent me. It was such a surprise. (See the previous comments from Jean.)
Thanks for writing, Bob.
don ferris September 21, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
Don,
Glad your still checking in periodically. Would you tell us where and what you are doing these days, and do you still play ?
Thanks,
Paul Scull
Paul Scull September 22, 2009 @ 8:14 am
Don,
Just found this site – two questions – saw you guys in Wildwood (summer of ‘68 I think) at a venue on Pacific Ave. – it was an old church converted to a club – do you remember the name? – also saw the Dream reunion (?) at the new Factory – when was that?
Joe Bajacito
Joe Kolb October 13, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
Gosh Joe, I really don’t remember the name of the place you’re asking about. Maybe someone else will. Also, I wasn’t at the reunions. But thanks for asking.
Don
don ferris October 13, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
A friend from work was asking me just yesterday about a Doors concert I went to back in 1968 at The Arena in Philly and wouldn’t ya know it, The American Dream played there also. There were 4 bands that night. First up was a band from New York called “All That The Name Implies” who got into a verbal flap with the crowd and got booed off. Next was “Mandrake Memorial” who were great. Then “The Doors” played and after they left, “The American Dream” came out and played a set. What a night that was!!! Maybe you guys only put out one album, but I bought it when it came out, I still have it and I still love it. And I love when friends say, “Hey, what’s that”? I tell them that it’s great music that you just can’t get any more. Thanks guys for all the memories. Craig Hallman – Birdsboro
Craig Hallman October 28, 2009 @ 6:20 am
Hey Don,
George Manney here from Philly-Lincoln High. Hope you are doing well. Sure would love to interview you for the new documentary I am producing, Philly Pop Music, that would cover your part with the Dream. I also posted the Dream Demos on the MySpace page that I put together. Had the honor to play at the Dream Reunion shows at the new Factory with headliners, the Band & Richie Havens. I did my best to play Mickey’s drum parts at this show & the Earth Day 2000 concert. Anyway, please check my websites for photos, etc. & my Facebook page has photos of you & the Dream. I also just interviewed Bob Kelly & I posted this on my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/nusound
http://www.PhillyPopMusic.com
http://www.geosound.org
George Manney November 4, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
American Dream on MySpace. I put this together last year.
http://www.myspace.com/americandream2
George Manney November 6, 2009 @ 9:53 am
I have posted before on this subject but now that I know that these threads can get back to the members of the group I feel that I will post one more:
Several postings here suggest that the album should be reissued and I believe that a poor attempt was made in Japan to do this . Clearly the reissue would not be a massive one but I have a friend in the music industry who has reissued his material with great success in limited editions through the following company in Germany They are Repertoire Entertainment GmbH
Borsteler Chaussee 85 – 99
22453 Hamburg
Germany
E-mail: enquiries@repertoirerecords.co.uk
They are experts at reissues of material like the American dream album and I am sure that they would be interested to help and reissue it in a high quality way
If the band members are reading this …………..Try the e-mail make a contact with repertoire and try it !!!
Banco November 6, 2009 @ 11:09 am
This is part 1 of a response I made back to Nicky and Bob Kelly after they emailed me in October ‘09. Sorry I took so long. I don’t check my email much.
Bob & Nicky,
Holy shit!! I’m sitting here in my RV right now, reading this email. It’s 4 A.M. I just smoked a bowl of really good pot, opening a beer and listening to my pristine CD version of The American Dream, remastered from a 43-year-old, unopened, original copy I aquired from a guy on Ebay in Italy. You’ll have to excuse me. I’m a little nervous right now. To me, having this album, hearing Don Ferris’ chat on The Rising Storm and getting a personal email from Bob Kelly and Nicky Indelicato makes me feel quite intimidated. Like a Beatles fan getting a call from Paul Mc Cartney!! I don’t feel that’s a far stretch at all. Everybody picks their poison. I and MANY others chose to Rolodex this phenominal classic AMERICAN GEM as a unique and personal treasure, undoubtedly historic in it’s own right, carrying huge power in the universe and allowing the people who survived to talk about these “good ol boys of psych-pop”-recollecting fond memories of that era, when things seemed to be much easier. I’m not convinced that many rock bands with 1 official album under their belt (in limited print), are getting the same kind of honor, love and respect from fans long ago as well as new ones that are fortunate enough to ever get to hear a “This is how the big boys do it”-type album that’s as important in American/Philly/Pop-culture as the Liberty Bell. I get aprehensive towards people when they ask what my influences are artistically and they whince when I say, ” Check out The American Dream. I almost won’t be theiir friend if they don’t give it a listen. I’m a big Zappa fan and I don’t ask anybody to listen to that. To me it’s like a gauge to see if one’s open-minded enough to understand something that’s cool and simple, and selfless enough to take a few minutes to listen to what has shaped me as a person. Something I love in life.What makes me tick. I think I might have chatted earlier that I first heard this album (the scratchy version), in 1992 or so. I never had one person I played The American Dream album for say it sucks. MANY people have asked me to play it again the next time we hung out. People in Southern Ca. are hard to please, with very short attention spans. I am really suprised that they even remember they heard it at all. The American Dream has a very long reach-both in time and distance. We sort of have an unannounced American Dream Fan Club here. Like the renaissance on Rising Storm, low-key /high energy.
Gotta go for now. My generator’s about to quit. Much more to say. I LOVE THE AMERICAN DREAM. Please keep in touch! I believe that I wouldn’t be such a big Todd Rundgren fan if it weren’t for you guys. FUCKIN’ A!!!!
Love and Respect,
JACKI
John Nawn November 22, 2009 @ 9:17 am
AMERICAN DREAM HISTORIC MOMENTS?? I say “Yes”.
1) First album ever released by AMPEX Records #A10101. After a very short 3-year stint in “vinyl record distribution” Ampex went back to what they did best: manufacturing Analog recording tape.
2) First sessions recorded in the now historic BEARSVILLE STUDIOS
3) First “Recognizable” band production by the now world-known multi-media wizzard TODD RUNDGREN.
4) NICK JAMESON later on went to play on one of the greatest party albums released in the 70’s- Foghat’s “Fool For The City” featuring the golden classic “Slow Ride.” YAAAAAHHHHH!!!!
John Nawn November 22, 2009 @ 10:14 am
The Dream lives on.
This morning at 7:18 AM WXPN FM in Philadelphia played “I Ain’t Searchin’ ” .
Made my day. Here is a song that is 40 years old and sounds every bit as good as, or better than anything else out there today.
After all these years I never tire of hearing these songs.
Man, I’d love to see the band do another reunion concert.
Peace,
Paul Scull
Paul Scull November 25, 2009 @ 9:10 am
The first time I saw American Dream was the Easter Be-in in Fairmount park – guess I was 16 at the time- and thought they had something unique, even though the sound system wasn ‘t that great. The next time I saw them was maybe 8-9 months later at electric factory- WOW! I was a fan then and still am.A couple years later, my band was opening for Cactus at a high school(!) in Delaware, and a few bars into our opening song I look up and there was Nick Jameson Standing about 10 feet in front of me, leather jacket the same as album cover,giving me a thumbs up. That was in 1971. In 1978, I had the pleasure of being in one the bands that played a rock show at a banquet hall in Northeast Philly – forget the name, but the headline act was Nicky Indelicato- got to hang out with him for awhile and swap war stories. This was a big deal for me, because all my friends would go to the factory back in the day to see the headliners; I went to see The Dream. Iwas a fan then and still am-
Steve Taylor
steve taylor November 25, 2009 @ 7:11 pm
[...] Help Try this site as a start! The American Dream (self-titled) | therisingstorm.net __________________ And In The End The Love You Take Is Equal To The Love You [...]
Pingback What are some good unheard of rock bands? - Page 2 - Music Discussion December 27, 2009 @ 7:20 am
Dream Album for sale on E-bay
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEAR-MINT-D-J-COPY-LP-THE-AMERICAN-DREAM-AMPEX-1970_W0QQitemZ170420032879QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_on_Vinyl?hash=item27add3556f
Tim January 1, 2010 @ 6:12 pm
Hi there! A friend of mine & I used to hike from 22nd & Walnut to Belmont Plateau for the free shows. One of those hikes was the 1st time I saw American Dream & I was blown away. Mickey Brooks was almost as big an influence on my drumming as was Keith Moon & Ringo Starr. The album is still one of my favorites. I’d love to find a copy on cd.
I have a question for Steve Taylor if he ever checks in. Steve, did you have long red hair & play bass. I think I knew you at the Underground in Wilmington, DE.
Philip Rigby January 28, 2010 @ 11:07 am
I remember seeing the Dreamers play at the Gold Bug coffeehouse in Merchantville, NJ. Those were the days!
Frank Piotrowski April 6, 2010 @ 7:34 pm
I long ago lost my copy of the American Dream album, I would love to replace it if anyone has a copy for sale, contact me at ohara147@aol.com.
Patrick O'Hara April 26, 2010 @ 11:56 am
May 1st catch the American Dream in concert…
On May 1st, jt’s Philadelphia House is proud to announce a truly extraordinary concert experience in a wonderfully intimate setting… the Philly Pop Music series. The series will including the filming and recording of each performance, and the marketing and promotion of the series.
Curator for this series is George Manney.
Where:
7312 Castor Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
Phone: (215) 342 – 1161
http://www.jtphiladelphiahouse.com
We will also be screening part of the music documentary in production, Philly Pop Music, The Lost Pioneers.
The film features archival footage, performances & interviews of the great Philadelphia musical community.
The event will be hosted by WMGK 102.9 – Sirius/XM DJ, Michael Tearson.
The tickets are $15.00 and includes draft beer & roast beef from 7:00 till 12:00 and they will have a cash bar all night.
George Manney April 26, 2010 @ 12:23 pm
As a Brit I wouldn’t know these guys if they mugged me in the street, but isn’t it wonderful to find a small-time outfit held in such affection all these years on? The comments above give me a warm feeling just reading them. Rock on, fellas.
Len Liechti April 27, 2010 @ 3:47 pm
This track reminds me of some track by other composer which I very much liked . I can’t really recall which :0 does anybody know who I’m referring to?
Amir Thompson June 6, 2010 @ 12:28 am
Joe Kolb and Don Ferris…. I just happened onto this site. Been a fan of AD for many years and always thought that AD didn’t get nearly the attention they deserved locally or nationally, they were an outstanding band!
I believe the church in Wildwood converted to a club was called “The Guiding Light”. I had friends that played in a band called “The Last Rezort” that I think were the house band in the summer of ‘68. I remember seeing a poster for the club with their name and the name of the featured band, which may have been The American Dream. Also recall an article in the Philadelphia Daily News about the Guiding Light and the bands that played there. The headline was “Soul and Psych at the Guiding Light” and was a mostly favorable article about the club.
Still have the LP and it’s in pretty good shape, at least the vinyl is in good shape, the cover not so much, but not bad.
jim_g July 8, 2010 @ 10:46 am
jim_g,
“The Guiding Light” – still doesn’t jog the old memory but I’ll trust in yours – also saw the Vanilla Fudge down the street at the American Legion or was it the VFW? – it was long ago & far away.
George Manny’s “Philly Pop Music” sounds interesting – sorry I missed TAD in April – brings back fond memories of the old Electric Factory & The Trauma (Mandrake Memorial, Sweet Stave & Chain, Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Pink Floyd, Cream, etc.)
Keep on rockin’
Joe Kolb July 9, 2010 @ 10:47 am
Great bands Joe….they don’t make ‘em like that anymore! BTW, I Ain’t Searchin’ is up on Youtube.
jim_g July 9, 2010 @ 10:52 am
40 years later and the American Dream still sounds great…I remember gettin’ on the 66 bus, goin’ to Mayfair and buying the album at the Music Scene at Frankford and Cottman. I grew up a few houses away from Mickey Brooks and would listen to the band play in Mickey’s driveway. We used to go to Len’s Feed Bag as kids and hang with the band…they had a great juke box with “I Ain’t Searching”, and “Sky Pilot” by the Animals . Got to hear the American Dream headline at Pennypack Park…me, a 13 year old, my dad with his white t-shirt and buzz cut, and 20,000 hippies…still remember it . In the 70’s, played with Marty Ahearn(current American Dream line-up) in Manta Rhodes; in the 80’s, played with the Impossible Years at JC Dobbs where Don Lee Van Winkle did sound. This was the band that inspired me to play music and I’ve been doing so since ‘71…God bless the American Dream.
howie luberski July 9, 2010 @ 5:33 pm
Howie and the rest of your rock animals, I was there.
Remember the guys from Roosevelt Playground. I was also at Belmont Plateau with Elizabeth. Wish I could go back in time. Hope the American Dream — Philly’s answer to the Greatful Dead, Velvet Underground and David Peel and the Lower East Side.
Wish we could just go to an island and rock n’ roll forever. Shit. Gotta get back to work. Reality is with bands like LeCompte, but haven’t seen them is a while Big Daddy Graham is a big fan. Been outta town. I’ll check back on this site to see what’s going on.
GaryC July 18, 2010 @ 1:39 am
I Ain’t Searchin’
could be THE best song never heard
TR Rools
Jeff'Weavil'Gauss September 4, 2010 @ 6:03 am