The Shaw-Spector Group

[FormerDJMike]

Never heard of this before...

http://www.amazon.com/Shaw-Spector-Group/dp/B00VU4SJSK/ref=sr_1_42?ie=UTF8&qid=1433150222&sr=8-42&keywords=styx

In the early-to-mid 1970's there was a rock club in Chicago called Yellow Brick Road owned by brothers Chas and Phil Peluso. During the heyday of Yellow Brick Road they booked such bands as Head East, Pezband, Shadows Of Night, Iron Butterfly, Cheap Trick, Cain, M.S. Funk, and Sparkle, to name just a few. As time went on, the Peluso's developed special relationships with many of the musicians they presented, but two in particular stood out for them - the lead singer from Sparkle, Sherwin Spector, and the guitarist from M.S. Funk, Tommy Shaw. After several meetings with Sherwin and Tommy, the Peluso brothers decided to go into the studio and produce an EP of their songs. Chas and Phil produced recordings of three Shaw & Spector tunes in 1973, which were then lost and forgotten . . . until recently.

Of course, Tommy Shaw went on to become a rock star with the band Styx, and then later formed Damn Yankees with Ted Nugent, not to mention many other solo projects.

Unfortunately, Sherwin Spector was cut down in 1993, shot dead in a street deal gone wrong. But (thankfully!) we still have these rare recordings to remember him by.

Listening to these great songs today gives one a nostalgic thrill for that halcyon period of rock history in Chicago. We also get a clear reminder of what was to become the catalyst for the huge commercial and artistic successes of Styx, that being of course the natural gift of Tommy Shaw's compositional techniques. Now, presented with digital mixing and mastering, here is The Shaw-Spector Group.

[Baron Von Bielski]

Maybe a worthy purchase. Thanks for the link.

[Cassie May]

Really interesting. I have the MS Funk Platform Shoes CD. I listened to the preview of the three Shaw/Specter songs. "Where Do You Go" is on the MS Funk CD as a song called "Bitter Suite," which then became the Styx song "Mademoiselle." "Sneaker" is on the Funk CD as "The Sneeker," with Tommy singing lead. "Tell It All"--the music and "wo wo's" were put into Styx's "Ballerina" on the Crystal Ball album.

[Boomchild]

That's too funny. I just saw this yesterday and was going post a thread here about it.

[Baron Von Bielski]

Really interesting. I have the MS Funk Platform Shoes CD. I listened to the preview of the three Shaw/Specter songs. "Where Do You Go" is on the MS Funk CD as a song called "Bitter Suite," which then became the Styx song "Mademoiselle." "Sneaker" is on the Funk CD as "The Sneeker," with Tommy singing lead. "Tell It All"--the music and "wo wo's" were put into Styx's "Ballerina" on the Crystal Ball album.

How'd you get ahold of a copy? I'm surprised it was ever transferred to CD. Not that there's anything wrong, but just popularity.

[Cassie May]

Really interesting. I have the MS Funk Platform Shoes CD. I listened to the preview of the three Shaw/Specter songs. "Where Do You Go" is on the MS Funk CD as a song called "Bitter Suite," which then became the Styx song "Mademoiselle." "Sneaker" is on the Funk CD as "The Sneeker," with Tommy singing lead. "Tell It All"--the music and "wo wo's" were put into Styx's "Ballerina" on the Crystal Ball album.

How'd you get ahold of a copy? I'm surprised it was ever transferred to CD. Not that there's anything wrong, but just popularity.

Several years ago, there was talk amongst members of MS Funk about putting out a 3 disc collection. They had worked with a producer who had recorded the band live at a couple clubs in Chicago back in 1973. The 3 disc set never materialized, but one disc was put out and sold on Cafe Press. I don't even remember now how I found out about it, but I ordered one and I'm glad I did. MS Funk was definitely a band I would have loved to have seen. They were really good. The CD includes a cover version of "The Thrill is Gone", which Tommy was known for and had played with bands in Montgomery.

If you go to Soundcloud, you'll find the whole CD there. Search Platform Shoes under the Playlist tab.

[Baron Von Bielski]

Really interesting. I have the MS Funk Platform Shoes CD. I listened to the preview of the three Shaw/Specter songs. "Where Do You Go" is on the MS Funk CD as a song called "Bitter Suite," which then became the Styx song "Mademoiselle." "Sneaker" is on the Funk CD as "The Sneeker," with Tommy singing lead. "Tell It All"--the music and "wo wo's" were put into Styx's "Ballerina" on the Crystal Ball album.

How'd you get ahold of a copy? I'm surprised it was ever transferred to CD. Not that there's anything wrong, but just popularity.

Several years ago, there was talk amongst members of MS Funk about putting out a 3 disc collection. They had worked with a producer who had recorded the band live at a couple clubs in Chicago back in 1973. The 3 disc set never materialized, but one disc was put out and sold on Cafe Press. I don't even remember now how I found out about it, but I ordered one and I'm glad I did. MS Funk was definitely a band I would have loved to have seen. They were really good. The CD includes a cover version of "The Thrill is Gone", which Tommy was known for and had played with bands in Montgomery.

If you go to Soundcloud, you'll find the whole CD there. Search Platform Shoes under the Playlist tab.

Thank you.

[FormerDJMike]

I also think at one time you could buy the MS Funk disc from Tommy's website. If you do get it from Amazon be aware that it is a CD-R on demand so you would be better off getting the digital files and saving some money.

[Toph]

The ultimate would have been to get the cassette tape of Out on A Day Pass that JY personally recorded for you on his home stereo because he never got the rights sold for the cassette version - just the album....You got a Memorex and the record sleeve.

[FormerDJMike]

The ultimate would have been to get the cassette tape of Out on A Day Pass that JY personally recorded for you on his home stereo because he never got the rights sold for the cassette version - just the album....You got a Memorex and the record sleeve.

Ha! Yeah I remember that and almost ordered it at the time! But I ordered the white vinyl instead. Eventually ordered the CD too (non Water Dog version). Wish I still had my white vinyl, no idea where it is and the last one I saw for sale was $130.

But yeah, I remember it was something like a "high quality Maxell or Memorex cassette". Did anyone here actually get the cassette version??

[Toph]

The ultimate would have been to get the cassette tape of Out on A Day Pass that JY personally recorded for you on his home stereo because he never got the rights sold for the cassette version - just the album....You got a Memorex and the record sleeve.

Ha! Yeah I remember that and almost ordered it at the time! But I ordered the white vinyl instead. Eventually ordered the CD too (non Water Dog version). Wish I still had my white vinyl, no idea where it is and the last one I saw for sale was $130.

But yeah, I remember it was something like a "high quality Maxell or Memorex cassette". Did anyone here actually get the cassette version??

Picturing JY in his living room timing pushing play and record at the same time as the record starts....

"I'm really busy today Susie, got 5 cassette orders to do."

[StyxCollector]

This one went poof, so if you didn't buy it ... you missed it.