line up 1 (1970)

- Conrad Catalano -- drums, percussion

- Dick Domane (aka Richard P. Di Domenico) (RIP 2022) --

   keyboards, vocals

- Joe Emma -- sax

- Bob Fiocco (RIP 2011) -- bass, trombone

- Johnny Vastano (aka Patricia Lauro John Vastano) (RIP 2018) --

  vocals, guitar

- Dick Domaine (Conrad Catalano, Bob Fiocco and

  Johnny Vastano)

- Dick Domani And The Demons

- White Water (Conrad Catalano, John Emma, Bob Fiocco and

  Johnny Vastano)

Genre: horn-rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title: Nascence

Company: Map City

Catalog: MAP 3014
Year: 1970

Country/State: Providence, Rhode Island

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $35.00

Here's one I bought for the label it was issued on - Peter Anders and Vini Poncia's short-lived Map City Records (same label that released collectable albums by Popcorn Blizzard, Purple Image and Yesterday's Children).

This set of Blues Jays shouldn't be confused with the early-'60s California based doo-wop group, or the Moody Blues offshoot project featuring  Justin Hayward and John Lodge.  

I read somewhere that starting in the late 1950s Providence, Rhode Island's The Blue Jays had a twenty year career performing throughout New England.  Sadly during that timeframe the band only managed to release one album and four singles.  By 1969 when they were signed to Map City the line-up featured drummer Conrad Catalano, keyboardist Dick Domane, sax player Joe Emma, bassist Bob Fiocco and singer/guitarist Johnny Vastano.  The quintet subsequently made their label debut with a Domane penned non-LP single:

- 1969's 'Hang On' b/w 'Hard Thing To Accept' (Map City catalog number MC 300)

While the single stiffed, Map City went ahead releasing an album.  Produced by Vini Poncia, 1970's "Nascence" (defined as the point at which something begins), featured a collection of horn-powered soul and rock numbers. Eight of the nine tracks were originals, with singer/guitarist Vastano penning seven of the tunes and keyboardist Domane contributing the propulsive 'Wahka Wahka.'  The album was rounded out by a cover of Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber's 'Jackson.'   For a group who had already spent a decade working as a bar band, the results were impressive.  Years spent playing together were reflected in an ensemble that was talented and comfortable with one another.  Their playing was tight and economical - no six minute exercises in naval gazing like early Blood, Sweat and Tears ('Variations On A Theme By Erik Satie (1st And 2nd Movements'), or Chicago ('Free Form Guitar').  With Vastano handling lead vocals material like 'Hey Little Lady', 'Hard Things To Accept'' and 'Beg, Borrow & Steal' reflected a mixture of Young Rascals blue-eyed soul; Otis Redding-styled hardcore soul and Blood, Sweat & Tears influenced horn rock.  The BS&T comparison was even more apt given Vastano sounded like a less pompous David Clayton-Thomas on tracks like 'Freedom - Where Have You Gone', 'Reason To Cry' and a cover of Jerry Leiber's 'Jackson.'  Admittedly it was not the most original album of 1970 and I suspect it already sounded a little dated when it was released - not that anyone outside of their small fan base heard the LP (for some reason it was also released in Brazil.  Maybe just my ears, but there was a mid-to-late '60s vibe throughout the set. Still, with the exception of their remake of 'Jackson' I enjoyed it from start to finish.  Shame the album was so overlooked given the public's early '70s infatuation with horn-rock.

"Nascence" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Hey Little Lady (John Vastano) - 3:37 rating: **** stars

Powered by Johnny Vastano's rugged, soulful voice (loved the James Brown-styled yelps), wah-wah guitar and some blazing horns, I sure wasn't expecting to hear something as raw and propulsive as 'Hey Little Lady.'  Imagine a less irritating David Clayton Thomas and Blood, Sweat & Tears had they been signed by Stax. No kidding, this would have given any self-respecting Stax band a run for their money.  For goodness sakes, there was even some backwards lead guitar.

2.) What Do You Want From Me Woman (John Vastano) - 3:40 rating: **** stars

A funky little Vastano's guitar riff and some sterling horn charts powered this awesome soul tune. Funny that today folks may know the song for having been sampled by Large Professor for the NAS track 'It Ain't Hard To Tell'.  I'd love to know how it came to be, but with the title translated into Spanish ('Que Quieres De Mi Muje')  the song was released as a promotional single in Argentina:

- 1970's 'Que Quieres De Mi Mujer' b/w 'Motivo Para Llorar (Reason To Cry)' (Map City catalog number 504)    

3.) Freedom - Where Have You Gone (John Vastano) - 3:35 rating: *** stars

Though there was still a blue-eyed soul component (notably the chorus), 'Freedom - Where Have You Gone' was far jazzier than the earlier tunes.  Given the prominent Emma and Fiocco horn arrangement you could easily have  confused this for a Blood, Sweat & Tears number.  Vastano turned in another first-rate guitar solo: economical and biting.  Map City released the track as a promotional 45:

- 1970's 'Freedom - Where Have You Gone' (mono) b/w 'Freedom - Where Have You Gone' (stereo) (Map City catalog number MC 307)

4.) Reason To Cry (John Vastano) - 4:06 rating: *** stars

If you doubted the Vastano - David Clayton Thomas comparison, check out the bluesy ballad 'reason To Cry'.  Couple of cold beers and I bet this was an awesome live slow dance. Awesome Joe Emma sax solo.

5.) Independent Man (John Vastano) - 3:29 rating: **** stars

Darn Vastano could get a "dirty" tone out of his guitar !!!  Yeah the lyrics may not have aged all that well but powered by that guitar riff it was a great tune.  If you didn't think these guys could rock out and the group chant "independent man" chant was pure joy.

(side 2)
1.) Wahka Wahka (Dick Domane) - 5:40 rating: **** stars

Powered by a crushing Bob Fiocco bass line and Conrad Catalano's tribal drumming, the propulsive 'Wahka Wahka' pushed the band to the edge of funk.  Surprised this one hasn't been sampled up-the-Wahoo.  If Map City couldn't garner a hit with this one, the label was clearly lost.  The track was tapped as a promotion single in the States and also released in France.

- 1971's 'Wahka Wahka (Sane One)' b/w 'Jackson' (Map City catalog number MC 311)

2.) Jackson (Billy Edd Wheeler - Jerry Leiber) - 3:23 rating: ** stars

If you grew up with the Johnny Cash and June Carter version, then The Blue Jays' horn powered arrangement is going to be a shock.  Their version is enthusiastic, but Vastano comes way to close to David Clayton-Thomas vocal excesses on this one. The result was the album's first outright disappointment. The song also appeared as the "B" side on their 'Wahka Wahka (Sane One)' single.

3.) Beg Borrow and Steal (John Vastano) - 3:08  rating: **** stars

'Beg Borrow and Steal ' found Vastano trotting out his best Otis Redding vocal delivery.  As a big Redding fan, I'll tell you the performance was not bad for a skinny 28 white guy.  

4.) Hard Things To Accept (John Vastano) - 3:13 rating: **** stars

Powered by some of Vastano's most impressive vocals, the bouncy 'Hard Things To Accept' sounded like a mash-up of Motown and Stax horns. To my ears the results were irresistible; the best of both musical styles.  Map City should have been released as an "A" Side 45.  Funny, but if you listen to the lyrics the album track listing got the song title wrong - it should be "Hard Thing to Accept' (singular).  The song also appeared as the "B" to their non-LP debut 45 'Hang On.'  The single got the title right.  

The good news for fans of the group is they reappeared three years later under the name White Water with an album on RCA Victor "Out of the Darkness" (RCA Victor catalog number APL1 0091).  

Yes, it's on my list to locate and check out.

 © Scott R. Blackerby May, 2025