Visual Sound: Issue 16

Written By Mike Greenblatt

Reg Mason
“Handshakes”

Dig that mid-song jazz break! Reg Mason—plus his longtime rapper friend GINI—used to rap on the street corner outside of Union High. Filmed at Mason’s uncle’s house in Orange, “Handshakes” is off his just-released debut TESTDRIVE’ album.

 

Story Road
“Armageddon”

Marc Ribler has been a Jersey Shore mainstay for more years than he’d probably care to admit. His new band Story Road with drummer Charley Drayton and bassist Jack Daley is one bigtime jet-propelled trio.

 

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The Young Rascals
“A Girl Like You”

Gotta love this blast from the past by The Young Rascals who got their start in Bergen County at a Garfield bar called The Choo Choo Club.

 

The Royal Teens

The Royal Teens, from Fort Lee in Hudson County, had two future Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famers in their ranks. Look closely. That’s Bob Gaudio (who wrote this song at age 15) playing piano. He would go on to form The Four Seasons with Frankie Valli. And that’s Al Kooper playing lead guitar. His credits would fill a book. This was the #3 song in America for a brief time in 1958.

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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