Damn Yankees

[Guest]

Why was their 3rd album scrapped... was it really as bad as Kalodner said it was?

[DamnYankee]

11/15/00 - From the SFK Newsletter.....

Trouble brewing in the Damn Yankees camp as, according to Ted Nugent, the new album will be delayed indefinitely as he is not happy with the end result. Says Ted, "If it's out by September 2001, I'll be surprised. We recorded great, warbling, grunting, soulful rock and roll music then they went in and mixed it. I've never come so close to killing anybody in my life. It couldn't have been mixed more stupid. It was like a bad joke."


Although by now a bunch of the tracks have been released anyways

And here we have the Song list for the album: (not in order)

Mona Lisa
Don't Say Goodbye
Shine On - Jack solo
I Give Nobody Nothin'
We Are The Ones -Jack solo
Too Much on My Mind
Even Though
ClusterFunk - Ted Solo
Don't Stop Dreamin' (Tommy lead singing)
Damned if You Do (featuring an appearance by Ted's glock !!!) -Ted solo
Yes I Can -Styx
Sunshine of Your Love (Cream cover)[/i]


And this was on the main site here a couple days ago:

From Jack Blades:
In other news, talk continues about doing a new Damn Yankees album next year and a sequel to the awesome Tak Matsmoto Group album is definitely planned - probably not until next year also, due to Tak's B'z commitments.

[onestilllearning]

You no what to me the best post are straight 411 no commentary and stuf I would not have found on my own......Thanks Damn Yankee

[Monker]

Good post....

And, I don't remember JDK saying it was a horrible album. I do know he said it was a mistake trying to replace Tommy Shaw though.

Quite honestly, I would LOVE to hear a new DY album and tour. I would even give up a Styx album and tour for it to happen. I so miss DY.

11/15/00 - From the SFK Newsletter.....

Trouble brewing in the Damn Yankees camp as, according to Ted Nugent, the new album will be delayed indefinitely as he is not happy with the end result. Says Ted, "If it's out by September 2001, I'll be surprised. We recorded great, warbling, grunting, soulful rock and roll music then they went in and mixed it. I've never come so close to killing anybody in my life. It couldn't have been mixed more stupid. It was like a bad joke."


Although by now a bunch of the tracks have been released anyways

And here we have the Song list for the album: (not in order)

Mona Lisa
Don't Say Goodbye
Shine On - Jack solo
I Give Nobody Nothin'
We Are The Ones -Jack solo
Too Much on My Mind
Even Though
ClusterFunk - Ted Solo
Don't Stop Dreamin' (Tommy lead singing)
Damned if You Do (featuring an appearance by Ted's glock !!!) -Ted solo
Yes I Can -Styx
Sunshine of Your Love (Cream cover)[/i]


And this was on the main site here a couple days ago:

From Jack Blades:
In other news, talk continues about doing a new Damn Yankees album next year and a sequel to the awesome Tak Matsmoto Group album is definitely planned - probably not until next year also, due to Tak's B'z commitments.

[Ash]

Good post....

And, I don't remember JDK saying it was a horrible album. I do know he said it was a mistake trying to replace Tommy Shaw though.

woah... they tried to do a DY album without Tommy Shaw? Was it a 4 piece or what was the deal?

[Monker]

Good post....

And, I don't remember JDK saying it was a horrible album. I do know he said it was a mistake trying to replace Tommy Shaw though.

woah... they tried to do a DY album without Tommy Shaw? Was it a 4 piece or what was the deal?

Yeah, it started with Tommy. Then Tommy got involved with BNW and they brought in Damon Johnson of Brother Cane. I think Tommy contributed a bit to one or two songs with vocals or guitar...not sure about the songwriting. It fell apart during the mixing/production process, as Ted describes above, and was never released.

[kansas666]

Interesting. I thought Yes I Can was a Shaw/Blades song. Didn't realize it was supposed to be on a Damn Yankees album.

Ooops! I just cussed.

[DamnYankee]

Good post....

And, I don't remember JDK saying it was a horrible album. I do know he said it was a mistake trying to replace Tommy Shaw though.

woah... they tried to do a DY album without Tommy Shaw? Was it a 4 piece or what was the deal?

Yeah, it started with Tommy. Then Tommy got involved with BNW and they brought in Damon Johnson of Brother Cane. I think Tommy contributed a bit to one or two songs with vocals or guitar...not sure about the songwriting. It fell apart during the mixing/production process, as Ted describes above, and was never released.

Tommy helped write alot of the songs early on, but was only supposed to sing on 1 I think, also some occasional guitaring.

[Guest]

Tommy helped write alot of the songs early on, but was only supposed to sing on 1 I think, also some occasional guitaring.

Tommy goes where the money is.

[Monker]

Tommy goes where the money is.

I think there would have been AT LEAST as much money in DY. It would have been a major label release, with promotion, and a tour...Plus, I would think that DY would have had a better chance at radio play then Styx did.

IMO, Tommy simply wanted to do a Styx reunion more then another album/tour with DY. He had been there/done that with DY but had not done a Styx album in years...and the Styx fans wanted one. But, the 'reunion' quickly fell apart for whatever reasons you choose to believe.

The bottom line, IMO, is Tommy had a choice. He chose the option that was more interesting...not so much because of money.

I doubt anybody here really knows how much money DY would have made compared the BNW. In fact, I doubt Tommy did either -- at least not to an absolute certainty.

[Guest]

Tommy goes where the money is.

IMO, Tommy simply wanted to do a Styx reunion more then another album/tour with DY. He had been there/done that with DY but had not done a Styx album in years...and the Styx fans wanted one. But, the 'reunion' quickly fell apart for whatever reasons you choose to believe.

I think you're giving him a ton more credit than he deserves.

Tommy only went back to Styx when Damn Yankees lost their recording contract. Plain and simple.

Don't kid yourself, Styx is a MUCH bigger band than Damn Yankees... MUCH BIGGER. Now that Tommy has ousted Dennis and wields 50% of the power in the current line-up it's an even more attractive option than Damn Yankees.

Damn Yankees have nowhere near the pull, name recognition, hit records or album sales of Styx.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out.

[styxfanNH]

At the time, Damn Yankees was much bigger than Styx

[ek88]

At the time, Damn Yankees was much bigger than Styx

It's all relative, isn't it? Maybe Tommy should try and solicit an offer from Eminem. Based on recent sales, Eminem blows Styx and Damn Yankees away! Could you just imagine Tommy rapping?

[Guest]

At the time, Damn Yankees was much bigger than Styx

Even at their peak, DY was not selling out the types of venues on their own that Styx was in 1996.

Reality check.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

If I remember, I think I saw Damn Yankees open for Rush in Milwaukee. I'll have to find my old ticket stubs, again.

Here's an interesting Damn Yankee's article, if you haven't seen this one yet

http://lockgen.com/damnyankees/kerrangmay1990.php

She has a ton of goodies on her site!!

[Monker]

Tommy only went back to Styx when Damn Yankees lost their recording contract. Plain and simple.

LOL! I see, so he left in the middle of the writing of a new DY album and DY didn't have a contract. Makes perfect sense.

Don't kid yourself, Styx is a MUCH bigger band than Damn Yankees... MUCH BIGGER. Now that Tommy has ousted Dennis and wields 50% of the power in the current line-up it's an even more attractive option than Damn Yankees.

I don't think so. Tommy can always go back to Styx if he took a year for a DY album/tour. The 'power' in both Styx and DY is not focused on a single person. It seems to me that your point is irrelevent.

Damn Yankees have nowhere near the pull, name recognition, hit records or album sales of Styx.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out.

DY has the "pull" of THREE names: Styx, Night Ranger, and Nugent. Ted Nugent alone has as much weight as Styx.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

From John Kalodner's site (2003):

Ill keep this short and simple. What are the chances of ever hearing something new from the DAMN YANKEES and do you feel there is room for them in today's music scene. Did they not record a third album? Why was it never released? I am a big fan of the Yankees, Styx and just about anything that has to do with music from Tommy Shaw. Maybe a new solo album!!!!!

It's possible at some point there may be a new Damn Yankees album, and if so I would certainly sign them to Sanctuary. There was a third Damn Yankees album recorded when I signed them to Portrait Records; I didn't feel the record was good enough and reflective of how great the band is to release it. I consider it an A&R mistake on my part - these things do happen in an A&R person's career. I probably will do a Jack Blades and Tommy Shaw record for Sanctuary this winter, which will be out in the early summer.

Same site 2001:

When will the new Damn Yankees CD be released? I have heard that it is finished but that Ted Nugent is saying that the production was bad. Can this be fixed so Ted Nugent will approve it? A lot of us Damn Yankees fans have been waiting to buy this CD. How many songs were recorded? Does the album have a name?

The answer to your questions are complex yet simple answers. When Damn Yankees got back together in 1999/2000, we added Damon Johnson to the fold. Having Damon Johnson in the group was a great addition, however Tommy Shaw was busy touring with Styx. Although he did play/sing some, on the CD, he did not have enough time and/or interest at that point. I didn't feel that the music on the CD was good enough to be released. I felt that it did not reflect how great of a band they actually are. That doesn't mean that something won't happen in the future. It can't be fixed unless the band was back together naturally. It was not up to Ted Nugent to approve. Even though I love Ted Nugent, as you can tell from my comments on his A & E Biography, the decision was up to me to approve it and I didn't. You can't control everything. Sometimes the songs just aren't there because it's art and not a product. 11 or 12 songs were recorded for the CD. I'm not sure about the name.

[Guest]

LOL! I see, so he left in the middle of the writing of a new DY album and DY didn't have a contract. Makes perfect sense.

Nope... I just recently read an interview where Tommy himself said Damn Yankees was let go from their record contract right before he got back with Styx. We're talking 1995... they had no record contract.... not 2000.

I will find that interview and post it.

I don't think so. Tommy can always go back to Styx if he took a year for a DY album/tour. The 'power' in both Styx and DY is not focused on a single person. It seems to me that your point is irrelevent.

It seems to me that you're just flat out wrong or it would have happend. Tommy had no interest in recording with DY and had someone replace him. The fact is the money is in Styx. Damn Yankees would have to get on a package tour at best and be 3rd on the bill.

Tommy is with the band that offers him the most success and money. That's not terribly dishonerable but don't make him out to be Mother Theresa.

You're wrong again.

Damn Yankees have nowhere near the pull, name recognition, hit records or album sales of Styx.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out.

DY has the "pull" of THREE names: Styx, Night Ranger, and Nugent.

They don't have the music and history to back it up. Two albums and two or three hit songs doesn't come close to touching Styx.

PLEASE BE SLIGHTLY OBJECTIVE.

Ted Nugent alone has as much weight as Styx.

Wow, you don't let the facts get in the way of a good argument, huh dude? Ted Nugent opened for f'ing KISS in 2000... are you saying Styx would open for KISS?

Maybe in a few years when Tommy and JY are finished running this once proud band into the ground.

[Monker]

From John Kalodner's site (2003):

You didn't even have to leave melodicrock.com...


The last Damn Yankees album didn't get released.
I didn't think it was quite good enough and at the time with 80's style rock you'd have to come up with something pretty spectacular. I was disappointed in the record mostly because of Tommy Shaw's non-participation. I say that was probably the greatest problem. Tommy was totally an integral part of it. He was busy with Styx and it was sort of my mistake because I just couldn't control him. It's one of those projects that I failed on.

It's interesting to hear you say that.
I mean the buck stops here. It lacked the input of Tommy Shaw.

[Guest]

Thanks Suite for posting those comments.

Proved two points I made and were disputed...

1. Kalodner did not like the material.

2. Tommy Shaw was not seriously interested.

[Monker]

And, from ClassicRockRevisited:

Jeb: Are Damn Yankees over?

Tommy: Until we all have a break from our day jobs! I took a tape of some writing demos over to a friend’s house and listened to them. Our third album would be our best album if we didn’t write another song. We did do a third album but it was just a disaster. The producer wasn’t really a fan of what we do. He took all the rough edges and the high vocals off of it and in essence he took all the energy off of it. He made it more like a Cure record. With all do respect to them that is not Damn Yankee music.

Jeb: You can’t take the rough edge off of Ted Nugent.

Tommy: You can’t take it off our vocals either. I am going to make a disc of our demos because it is just so good. That chemistry is so good. Damn Yankees came at a time when none of us were working our day jobs. We had a lot of time to devote to it. Until that ever happens again we are just not going to be able to do it.

[Guest]

And, from ClassicRockRevisited:

Jeb: Are Damn Yankees over?

Tommy: Until we all have a break from our day jobs! I took a tape of some writing demos over to a friend’s house and listened to them. Our third album would be our best album if we didn’t write another song. We did do a third album but it was just a disaster. The producer wasn’t really a fan of what we do. He took all the rough edges and the high vocals off of it and in essence he took all the energy off of it. He made it more like a Cure record. With all do respect to them that is not Damn Yankee music.

Jeb: You can’t take the rough edge off of Ted Nugent.

Tommy: You can’t take it off our vocals either. I am going to make a disc of our demos because it is just so good. That chemistry is so good. Damn Yankees came at a time when none of us were working our day jobs. We had a lot of time to devote to it. Until that ever happens again we are just not going to be able to do it.

That proved nothing...

[Monker]

Thanks Suite for posting those comments.

Proved two points I made and were disputed...

1. Kalodner did not like the material.

2. Tommy Shaw was not seriously interested.

What she posted did not prove that Kalodner said it was a BAD ALBUM. He did NOT say he didn't 'like' the material on the album. He said it was not good enough to release and show how GREAT of a band DY really is.

The fact is that BOTH Ted and Tommy said they had some great songs but they were messed up in the production/mixing phase. JDK canceled the final product...which it seems NOBODY was satisfied with.

He did NOT say Tommy was not 'seriously' interested or did not participate...he said Tommy was busy touring with Styx and did not have enough time and/or interest. He was on the BNW tour (and not touring stadiums, as you seem to think...but doing fairs and such with REO or Kansas, or whoever.).

It was JDK's decision to move on without Tommy instead of waiting for the appropriate time. JDK admitted it in both the interview that Suite posted, and the interview here at mr.com, and Tommy kinda alludes to it in the crr interview I posted.

[Monker]

That proved nothing...

It answers the question of the state of DY after the third album was canceled. It shows Tommy is still interested in doing a DY album, when the time is right. It also shows that he was more then passively involved or interested in DY during the recording of the failed third album.

[onestilllearning]

I don't get it if this was to be their best DY album but for the poor remixing why not just have someone else remix the demos? Or why not release it unremixed and have the 3rd album be DY "Naked".

[Monker]

I don't get it if this was to be their best DY album but for the poor remixing why not just have someone else remix the demos? Or why not release it unremixed and have the 3rd album be DY "Naked".

You would have to ask JDK those questions since he canceled the project. It sounds to me like he lost confidence in DY without Tommy, that it was a mistake (JDK's mistake) from the beginning, and he feels the band needs to come together on their terms before a new DY album is released. Anything else simply does not live up to the potential the band has.

[Guest]

That proved nothing...

It answers the question of the state of DY after the third album was canceled. It shows Tommy is still interested in doing a DY album, when the time is right. It also shows that he was more then passively involved or interested in DY during the recording of the failed third album.

No, Tommy was not involved in the 3rd DY album which was a JOKE.

It only shows that, as usual, Tommy wants to keep all his options open in case there is an opportunity to make money down the line.

Now get back to your Tommy Shaw Fan Club duties...

[Monker]

That's interesting. I used to lurk at Styxnet years ago. It was so busy I could never keep up with all the messages...and it seemed to take forever to load on my dialup...it was sloooooow. It seemed like I could spend all of my free time trying to read the forums there, and still not keep up.

[/quote]
No, Tommy was not involved in the 3rd DY album which was a JOKE. [/quote]

I see, so he write and records for some of the songs, he owns demos of the songs, he is convinced that it could have been their best album, but he wasn't involved. Riiiight.

It only shows that, as usual, Tommy wants to keep all his options open in case there is an opportunity to make money down the line.

Or, once you are a damn yankee, you are always a damn yankee. I think I'll believe Ted over you. Tommy would be foolish to completely drop DY...I guess he could have sued DY to stop them from continuing on without him, instead of supporting it as best he could.

Now get back to your Tommy Shaw Fan Club duties...

Why? I don't see you going back to your Kiss fan duties. Perhaps talking DY is more fun for you?

[Guest]

Monkey = King Tommy Shaw Apologist.

Perhaps you get wet also when he sings "One With Everything"

LOL

P.S. Learn to quote properly.

[Monker]

Monkey = King Tommy Shaw Apologist.

Perhaps you get wet also when he sings "One With Everything"

LOL. That's all you can come up with? Must be frustrating to invent things in your head and then be backed in a corner and have nothing to say.

When you look at the big picture, it's OBVIOUS where Tommy stands with DY, and where DY stands with Tommy.

P.S. Learn to quote properly.

I was probably quoting msgs before you were even online. I just don't always proofread as much as maybe I should. You should learn to let such insignificant things pass by. Most people get annoyed because I *DO* quote so much.