Idaho's Love Affair with Paul Revere

This was an unplanned blog. My wife and I attended the "Big Jack Armstrong Benefit Concert" last night at the Boise Centre on the Grove to see Paul Revere and the Raiders play in the intimate setting that made it seem like a private concert. Over $26,000 was raised last night to benefit the Armstrong family and help restore Big Jack's health.

It's been 20 years since I last saw Paul perform at the Centre on the Grove, when his wife sang "Happy Birthday" to me from the stage.

I was struck last night with the love affair between this wonderful showman and the hometown crowd. He was born and raised in Caldwell, Idaho, the self-described son of a potato farmer, and today, all of the Treasure Valley claims him as their own.

Last night, the band performed Cherokee Nation, Kicks, Good Thing, Hungry, American Band and Louie, Louie, and as Paul acknowledged his affection and respect for each member of his band, I was reminded of the great times I had belonging for a time to the family that was the Raiders. The band members' affection for their leader was clearly apparent. The show was, as always, a rock and roll retrospective, but for me, a brief link with those amazing days in the 60's when a truly "American Band",  Paul Revere and the Raiders, was at the top of the charts.

Thank you for 55 years of great American Rock and Roll, Paul !!

Charlie "Once-a-Raider-Always-A-Raider" Coe

Happy Fourth of July !

Hello all,
I decided to delay the song's announcement blog until July 2nd, figuring you all would be so busy with preparations for your 4th of July activities, and wouldn't have time to read it... since you'll be occupied with buying discount fireworks and matches - anyway. Tune in on the 2nd - and have a great holiday ! Charlie 

Announcing release of : Main Streets U. S. of A. - July 6, 2013

50's night scene looking east from 9th and Main Streets, Boise, Idaho

Copyright©2013 (Charlie Coe Music, LLC™) All Rights Reserved

Release date: July 6, 2013

Thank you to everyone who’s been following my blogs and the progress of my project, the release of my first original song: “Main Streets U. S. of A”. 

“It’s Saturday night, - everything is alright,

out on the Main Streets in U. S. of A.”

The inspiration for this song came to me one January afternoon while I was driving east on Main Street at 10^th in Boise. By the time I reached Capitol Blvd, three blocks later, I had the song concept clear in my mind. To the best of my knowledge, no one grown up cruising on Friday and Saturday nights all over the country. It’s something we all have in common, regardless of regional local cultures.

 “Yesterday, today, we’re cruising in the U. S. of A”. 

  

I went home and wrote the song in 15 minutes. The original pencil manuscript is dated January 21, 1980. During the past 30 years, I’ve only changed a handful of words. Some songs write themselves. 

When I was cruising there was only radio, and everyone had their music blaring, yelling at each other in their cars or standing on the sidewalks, impressing girls, and having fun in the hot summer nights, driving round and round a specific block route. It was the place to be, to be seen, and to meet friends. It was the same on Main Streets all over the country. I wanted to write an anthem about a social phenomenon unique to the U.S.A., begun in the 50’s that continues today.

About three weeks after I finished the original verses, I realized that I wanted to add a narrative to name specific main streets in cities and towns to personalize the experience. I didn’t complete that final part of the song until 2012. I recorded the basic lyrics with my friend Ron King on the drums, on a borrowed 4-track tape recorder in an apartment in Boise in 1980 and put it aside, not knowing how long it would be until I decided to finish it.

 

About three weeks after I finished the original verses, I realized that I wanted to add a narrative to name specific main streets in cities and towns to personalize the experience. I didn’t complete that final part of the song until 2012. I recorded the basic lyrics with my friend Ron King on the drums, on a borrowed 4-track tape recorder in an apartment in Boise in 1980 and put it aside, not knowing how long it would be until I decided to  finish it.

A couple of months later, listening to the song on a cassette in my car, I ran into Paul Revere and played it for him. He said that he liked it and “Hey,that has a really good hook, Chas.” When I visited my friend Steve Eaton in Pocatello in 1981, we recorded a version of it in his studio. In Steve’s words: “Hey man, I really think this song could be a hit.” But it wasn’t ready for release, I stopped playing music, and it sat in a drawer for about 25 years.

In 2010 when I decided to record a number of my old original songs using today’s music production technology, all I had in mind was a digital four track recorder. I learned quickly that in order to get back into music, I’d first need to learn to use a computer, then music production software, and finally, revive my guitar, bass, and keyboard skills, and … would my voice still be strong enough for the lyrics?

My wife provided the IMac, software, and instructions about how to turn on the computer, then left me to figure out Garage Band, interfaces, MIDI, and multi-track recording. Welcome to the 21^st century! 

 

At Guitar Center in Boise I met Shaun Fitzgerald, who sold me new equipment to get started. He patiently coached me on Apple’s basic Garage Band program for over a year while I practiced to regain the skills to play all of the instruments for the recording. When I was ready to upgrade from the ’50 Studebaker version (Garage Band) to the Ferrari (LOGIC Pro 9, a professional audio recording package), Shaun was there to answer questions again and again. Without Sean’s personal expertise and patience, I’d still be tearing my hair out rather than utilizing LOGIC to produce my first song’s final tracks.  Now, two years after I began my digital recording adventure, Don Cunningham of Cunningham Audio Production here in Boise, helped me with the final mix and provided terrific mastering talent. Thanks to Don and all the people who’ve supported my dream, I have my first release. I hope you like it and will recommend it to your friends. Let me know what you think and post your comments.

                                      
                                                                                 Here I am today with my 1966 Epiphone Sheraton.
 

There’s more to come soon in the form of an album of original, never-before recorded songs. I think they’re great – I hope you do too. This is just the beginning – and that’s show biz!

 

You’ll be able to link directly from Facebook to ITunes to purchase your download on July 6^th.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie-Coe-Music/445014715586680

Charlie

Muscle Cars Forever !

 “Muscle Cars Forever!”

(Charlie Coe Music, LLC™)

America’s great car culture will never fade. From Henry Ford’s first horseless carriages that made the spread-out lifestyle of the West possible, to today’s “fast and furious” stripped, ripped and tricked-out street racers, driving for the sheer pleasure, rush, or vanity of it will always be an integral part of our American culture and persona.  

I owned a 1960 Studebaker Hawk 289 V8 with a custom metallic lime green paint job, chrome wheels, and rolled and pleated black naugahyde upholstery.

Those were the days of the legendary cruising cars – classics like the ‘57 Chevy, ’57 T-Bird, ’61 Chevy Impala SS 409, ’63 Corvette Sting Ray V8, ’63 Buick LeSabre V8, ’65 Mustang 289, ’67 Pontiac GTO, ’68 RSS Camaro 396, Porsche 356 Super 90, and the ’70 Chevelle Malibu 350 V8.

 

When one of these perfectly restored beauties with a pristine paint job passes by, with its low, vibrating, V-8 rumble, heads turn, regardless of their generation. Personal nostalgia aside, they were and always will be icons of American culture.

We will embrace green hybrid technology, and reduce the environmental impact and cost of operation, but we’ll never stop driving or loving the self-expression and freedom they represent. The great rail systems of Europe and Asia are practical, but there’s no sense of control, power, individuality, or identity projection that defines Americans’ love affair with our cars.  

Hang in there – with next week’s blog my ramblings will make sense. – Visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie-Coe-Music/445014715586680 to receive my blogs at your email address.
Charlie



Joplin, Portland, and Corona del Mar

“Joplin, Portland, and Corona del Mar”

(Charlie Coe Music, LLC™)

In my first song, to be released on July 6, 2013, I specifically pay homage to a few key cities in the US. The reasons will become clear in the song, but for now I want to mention my personal connection with three of the locations.

Raiders fans will remember the iconic cover of Paul Revere and the Raiders’ REVOLUTION album, my first album cover with the Raiders, released in 1967 and photographed on the front porch of an antebellum mansion in Joplin, Missouri. The Raiders played in Joplin once while I was in the group,  and the southern hospitality we received there was memorable. Part of our American identity is associated with the famous US66 “Route 66” that passes directly through the center of Joplin.

I was born in Portland, Oregon, … long, long ago, and far, far away … well actually not so far away, since I still live in the Northwest, and have family in Portland. It’s a great town with a unique music, food and wine culture, and its just plain cool. The other great 60’s band I joined, Don and the Goodtimes was based there. I frequently visit Portland and will always consider it a second home.

When my wife attended a reunion of her Corona del Mar High School Class of 1971, she exposed me to the surfing culture of the home of “Hobie” boards, landmarks like Little Corona, the Newport Pavilion, the Wedge, and the endless sand of Huntington Beach. And I saw that despite 35 years in Idaho, life “at the beach” would always be in her blood. All roads lead to Pacific Coast Highway, the artery of the Southern California coast, where Ferrari and Porsche dealerships have replaced the site of the original Chart House, the best breakfasts could be found at Coco’s (until March of 2013), and the world’s greatest cars have always been seen cruising up and down PCH, with or without surfboards.

… great traditions never change.

Look for my next Blog on the 22^nd at http://charliecoemusic.blogspot.com/ and visit my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie-Coe-Music/445014715586680 where you’re welcome to post your comments or memories of the Good Old Days of Rock and Roll.

Charlie

Charlie Coe is BACK ! yea

Hello to my old fans new friends and rock aficionados everywhere.

Welcome to Charlie Coe Music !

“Remembering the Good Old Days”

To give you a little personal background, I began my music career at age 15, taking guitar lessons when I was a sophomore at Boise High School. Upon graduating, I became a guitar instructor in Boise, with about 30 students who spent most of their time trying to figure out what I was trying to teach them.

After about a year of that, Paul Revere, the leader of Idaho’s own iconic rock and roll band, Paul Revere and the Raiders, hired me and I was off to the world of performance entertainment. I only remained with the Raiders for five months and left in total despair and utter confusion. It wasn’t the group’s fault, it was mine.

After spending the next two years playing in local Boise groups while attending Boise Junior College, at age 23, I was hired by Jack Ely and relocated to New York City. Everyone knew him as the lead singer of The Kingsmen on their most popular version of “Louie, Louie”.

After just four months in New York City, the East Coast lifestyle didn’t particularly suit me. While playing Ray Farner’s innagural National Car Show in Kansas City, I received a call out of the blue from Don McKinney, leader of Don and the Goodtimes, based in Portland, Oregon. Don told me that he’d seen me play in the Raiders in Canon Beach, Oregon in 1963, and wanted me for Lead Guitar in the Goodtimes. He offered a no-risk opportunity to sit in and see if I wanted to join the band, and sent a round-trip ticket to me in Kansas City. My response was: “I’ll see you tomorrow!” and I was on my way back to the Northwest.

Playing with Don and the Goodtimes put me a group comprised of superb musicians – in my opinion - all better than myself, who contributed greatly to improving my skills. It was a terrific time and a great privilege to have been part of them. In January of ’67 the Goodtimes were signed by Dick Clark Productions to be one of the house bands on “Where The Action Is”.

“Well, that’s show business!”  I don’t recall who came up with that line, but it says it all. Whatever happens in this business happens – right, wrong or indifferent.

Four months later, in the spring of ’67, Paul Revere rehired me. It was the heyday of classic Rock and Roll, and Paul Revere and the Raiders had rocketed to national fame, released million-selling records, and was also the featured group on “Where The Action Is”. After I joined the Raiders for the second time, we were frequent guest stars on many television shows such as “The Johnny Carson Show”, “The Jack Benny Specials”, and the “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour”, as well as having our own television shows: “It’s Happening” and “Happening ‘68”. The following year and a half was filled with endless concert dates, recording sessions and television appearances.

The demands of show business were relentless and I became increasingly disenchanted and isolated from the life. Despite being advised by Beverly Noga, our publicist, that I would severely disappoint my fans, I voluntarily left the Raiders and the whole Beverly Hills scene, and moved back to Boise, where I’ve lived ever since. I had then and always will have the greatest respect and affection for my long time friend, Paul Revere, who with his Raiders, continues to perform to this day.

My last involvement with a somewhat serious group was when I joined the “Little Big Band”; the house group at Joe’s LB in downtown Boise in 1973. For awhile I had a wonderful time and enjoyed participating with the first class talent of local musicians Terry and Yvonne Miller and Johnny Drinkall.

Now, a lifetime later, I’ve returned to my first love, music, and will be releasing my first original tune in the near future. Please watch for my weekly Saturday blogs updating you about this new project.

I hope you’ll give me the opportunity to earn your appreciation once again, and look forward to making some great music!

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Charlie