The Music of Friar Tuck and the Monks

 

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SOURCES FOR THE CD

 

This Friar Tuck CD has several sources. The live work was recorded by Dave Ljungdahl on reel-to-reel equipment in three different locations in Dodge City, Kansas.

 

1) The “last dance” in June of 1969 at the National Guard Armory 

2) The American Legion Club in early 1968

3) The Hillcrest Inn in Dodge City in late 1967

 

The Hillcrest job was a night of goodbyes as four Dodge boys were leaving for the Navy the next morning. Danny Trent, Donny Cecil, Jimmy Fitch, and Terry Livingston were sent off with a free keg of beer given away. 

 

Also included on this CD are the two sides of a Friar Tuck and the Monks single released in 1969. They were recorded at Webb Recording Studio in Emporia, Kansas. One side is a slowed and altered version of Help by the Beatles. The other side is a Friar Tuck and the Monks original called Escape.

 

Along with these songs are three additional cuts recorded by some of the guys at a Friar Tuck get together in 1990. The guys broke out three of Friar Tuck’s old tunes and laid these tracks down on a porta-studio unit. It sounds a lot like the band would have in 1968. The three songs are  “You Really Got Me”,  “Feel a Whole Lot Better”, and “Hey Joe”. 

 

WARNING: Hi-Fi audiophile enthusiasts may be disappointed in the sound quality on this CD. It has an AM radio sound to it and may sound better on a jam box than on a $3,000 stereo. Cuts from the live performances contain distortion due to the equipment used and the technique of taping. Tube amps are great for distortion on guitar but unfortunately also distort well with vocal signals. None of Friar Tuck’s amps had a “line out” feature. As a result the signal into the recording equipment was harder to control than today which in many instances resulted in an “overdriven” signal. With that said, the CD probably represents what would have likely been coming out of the speakers of the day and gives a great sample of the songs you would have experienced at a Friar Tuck dance. So crank it up and enjoy.     

 

  

THE MUSIC

 

1. Friar Tuck’s Music Machine

(Written by Friar Tuck and the Monks)

 

2. Keep On Runnin

(Written by Jackie Edwards– Published by Universal Songs of Polygram Int.)

 

3. You Really Got Me 

(Written by Ray Davies – Published by Sony ATV Songs LLC OBO Jay-Boy Music Corp.)

 

4. You Make Me Feel Good

(Written by C.White – Published by Filmtrax Copyright Holdings Inc. OBO EMI Al Gallico Music)

 

5. Hey Joe

(Written by William M. Roberts – Published by Third Palm Music)

 

6. Midnight Confessions
(Written by L.Josie – Published by Songs of Universal, Inc.)

 

 

7. Cry Like A Baby

(Written by Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham – Published by Screen  Gems-EMI Music)

 

8. Help  

(Written by J. Lennon, P. McCartney – Published by Sony Tunes, EMI Blackwood Music) (Recorded on Webb Records 1969)

 

9. Escape

(Written by Friar Tuck and the Monks, Recorded on Webb Records 1969)

 

10. Come On Down To My Boat

(Written by W.Farrel, J.Goldstein – Published by EMI Sosaha Music, Inc.)

 

11. Little Bit of Soul

(Written by Carter & Lewis – Published by Southern Music Pub. Inc. OBO Songs of Peer Ltd.)

 

12. I Love You

(Written by Chris White –Published by  Mainstay Music)

 

13. Feel A Whole Lot Better

(Written by Gene Clark – Published by Bug Music, Gene Clark Music)

 

14. Show Me

(Written by Joe Tex – Published by Sony/ATV Tree Publishing)

 

15. Love Is A Beautiful Thing

(Written by Felix Cavaliere, Edward J. Brigati – Published EMI Music, Eddie Brigati Publishing, EMI Blackwood Music Inc.)

 

16. Light My Fire 

(Written by John Paul Densmore, Robert A Krieger, Raymond D Manzarek, Jim Morrison – Published by Doors Music Company, Wixen Music Co.)

 

 DISCLAIMER: The words and thoughts expressed on this CD do not necessarily reflect the views of the guys thirty-five years later. It was the sixties and we pushed the edges on everything. We are different men today. Life has happened to us. Hopefully the line from Friar Tuck’s Music Machine has come true: “We are better people than we were yesterday.” Friar Tuck‘s Music Machine is only a memory. But predominantly, those memories are good ones. Thanks for your part in those days.