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?
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“Big Brother”
Original Vinyl | 1970 | Ampex | search ebay ]
[ American Dream on Myspace ]
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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,
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
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
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
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
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
American Dream on MySpace. I put this together last year.
http://www.myspace.com/americandream2
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 !!!
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
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!!!!
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
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
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
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.
I remember seeing the Dreamers play at the Gold Bug coffeehouse in Merchantville, NJ. Those were the days!
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.
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.
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.
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?
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,
“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’
Great bands Joe….they don’t make ‘em like that anymore! BTW, I Ain’t Searchin’ is up on Youtube.
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 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.
I Ain’t Searchin’
could be THE best song never heard
TR Rools
I just found this site – I used to be in a band called the Fat Band, in Philly – we were just starting out, and lived 1/2 block from the Dream – we were good friends with Winkle, Nick, and Mick and Don – used to go to their shows at the 2nd Fret, etc. – we all moved to Vermont in 1969 – I”m still playing, mostly jazz, folk, whatever pays the bills…. Most of the rest of our band is dispersed, or passed on. George Lewis, guitarist, still plays.
The Dream were our mentors and heros – along with Woody’s Truck Stop – big time! So great to hear the clip provided – like to heaR MORE! My vinyl album is long lost to the mist of rockandrolll.
Don, if you check in, great to hear you’re with us – wondering if you might have a contact for Winkle…
very best, Will Patton
Just found a vinyl copy of the album I make/record music in philly now great story. Album for Sale $25 1531 south street philly pa 19146
I play bass with Winkle every other Thursday at a place in Conshohocken,PA.called Bobby Burgers.Winkle just released a new solo disc called 13 Angels. The drummer is Jim Cavanaugh who you might remember from Wanderlust.Winkle is still rockin’ strong! We’re on this Thursday(Oct.21 2010) unless the Phillies playoffs cancel us out.
Hey Bernie, give Winkle my best – tell him to get his buns up to Vermont sometime, where all the gigs are! Glad he’s rockin’ on!
Bill Patton
Will do Bill! I used to love you guys to! I remember the Fat Band well and fondly. Used to see you at the 2nd Fret & the various be-ins. Whatever happened to that weird strat your guitarist had?
Hey Bernie,
Where can we get a copy of the new Winkle CD 13 Angels ?
I’m also, looking for a copy of Fallin Idol.
Any info would be appreciatted.
Sorry about taking so long to get back.Winkle’s new CD 13 Angels is available from CD Baby.If you are intrested in Fallin Idol you can a hold of me at my E mail & I’ll pass it on to Don.I’ll see him this Thursday. My e mail is b_carville@yahoo.com Thanks!
american dream, greatest philly rock band of ALL time. great watching them do all the free concerts at fairmount park and belmont plateau… i think they played once at the spectrum when they opened for someone. i remeber them but not the main act…
Looks like I’m the first entry for 2011.
WXPN played ” I Ain’t Searching” again this morning. The song is truly timeless.
Maybe if we pester them they’ll play some Edison Electric or Mandrake Memorial too !
Thank XPN for keeping The Dream alive !
Peace,
Paul Scull
Paul,
Excellent suggestion. I would add Color Scheme by Woody’s Truckstop, White Lace and Strange by Thunder and Roses, and throw in some Elizabeth for good measure.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=woody%27s+truck+stop&aq=0s
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thunder+and+roses&aq=0
http://frankpiotrowski.net/phillybands/phillybands.htm
http://www.lotharandthehandpeople.com/
that was their signature song. should have been a fm radio hit. nick indelicato did a great version on a early 80′s solo album. can’t find it on the internet.
Do you mean Nick Jameson? His solo album Already Free (including I Ain’t Searching) is available for download on iTunes, Amazon, and Rhapsody.
yea, you are correct, i will check it out and download. i had the plastic when it came out.
i’ve been rackin my somewhat damaged brain to remember what the title of that track was that was an anti-war song, one of the lines was “the king is in the countinghouse laughing and stumbling”. the album was acually exported as far as delaware where i bought it, but was ,unfortunatly, part of the great album rip off of 1972. btw, there is a video of “Frankford El” on you tube.
@jim Earth Opera – “Great American Eagle Tragedy” from album of same name. It is on youtube.
Just a point of interest…
The church in Wildwood WAS “The Guiding Light”. Also Elizabeth performed there that summer. I doubt that the Vanilla Fudge played at the VFW which was called “The Electric Alice” that summer, and had a house band called Yum Yum (Philly local- and coincidently opened at The Allentown Fairgrounds that summer for Vanilla Fudge and Mandrake Memorial).
@QuakerSteve – Thanks for confirming The Guiding Light in Wildwood. Unfortunately I never got to go but perhaps you did. If so, I’ll bet you saw some great bands!
If I ask “bellsys1″ from Youtube nicely and if there’s any demand from others, like from those at this site he might be willing to put up some additional American Dream tunes as well as some Mandrake Memorial tunes. His MM vinyl album is in pristine condition. At least that what he says.
Any requests?
Truck Stop link – http://www.answers.com/topic/woody-s-truck-stop
- it mentions Joe DiCarlo. There was this minister named Father Bob who converted old churches into coffeehouses in Camden, and I remember jamming with Joe at one of the coffeehouses.
Rock Prosopography 101 – http://rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/search/label/Philadelphia – mentions the Mothers of Invention at the Trauma for New Year’s Eve 1967. I sat in the front row for that show and later ran into Zappa taking a leak in the men’s room. I remember him mumbling, “Hey man, how ya’ doin’?”
Nazz link – http://www.answers.com/topic/the-nazz
Sweet Stavin Chain – http://www.answers.com/topic/sweet-stavin-chain
Elizabeth – http://www.answers.com/topic/elizabeth-1968-album-by-elizabeth
maida, thank you so much for the earth opera info, had forgotted how good they were. another great song from that album was “home to you”. once again, thank you for your help
Frank,
I used to go to a coffee house 68/69 but the one I went to was in the basement of the Holmesburg Library on Frankford Avenur in NE Philly. It was converted into a coffee house I think on Friday or Saturday nights. Complete with a parachute for the ceiling , candles in wine bottles and psychedelic lights. I remember a duo who used to perform there and am wondering if it was you and Joe?
It was run my a minister that looked like a white man’s version of Maharashi Yogi. LOL I think his name was Lowell.
Any chance that was you and Joe performing?
Tim F,
That wasn’t me. I only jammed with him that one time.
jim_g, I wish! I toured the GL when they were just remodeling it but never got back to see any bands. I must have seen them all in Philly as opening acts at the Factory, Trauma, Kaleidoscope, Fret etc but the only one I remember was Mandrake M – and of course 40+ years of brain clouds don’t help. I think I saw AD at the Fret in ’68. Did they have that homemade “synthesizer”?
Here is an interesting link for Todd Rundgren and Daryl Hall fans.
http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/currentep.html?ep_id=22
They do a nice cover of Expressway To Your Heart.
Philly bands will always have a special place in my heart. !
Peace,
Paul Scull
QuakerSteve, I saw AD at Belmont plateau and one or two other venues but I can’t recall where. I don’t know if they had the homemade synthesizer.
What a great time it was to be a musician or a fan of the music back then. We’re having one of the old WDAS-FM DJs (Hyski’s Underground days) over for dinner soon. I’ll try to see what all he recalls from back then. Probably not much if he’s like everyone else.