line up 1  (1966-71) as Change

- Mike Bugara -- lead vocals, rhythm guitar

- Mike Duruttya -- vocals, flute, sax

- John Fugate -- bass

- Jim Korleski -- lead vocals, keyboards

- Bill McCrea -- lead vocals, percussion

- John Sineri -- drums, percussion

- David Sorge -- lead guitar

  line up 1  (1971-73) as Clockwork

- Mike Bugara -- lead vocals, rhythm guitar

- Mike Duruttya -- lead vocals, flute, sax

- Jim Korleski -- lead vocals, keyboards

- Bill McCrea -- lead vocals, percussion

- John Sineri -- drums, percussion

- David Sorge -- lead guitar

NEW - Gary Zeigler -- bass (replaced Jom Fugate)

  supporting musicians:

- Jim Miller -- harmonica

- Avenue

- Agnetha Brooke

- Change

- The Commonwealth

- Copperfield

- Groove Warhaus

- Jimmy and the Soul Blazers

- PW Blues Band

- The Sorge Brothers Band

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Clockwork

Company: Greene Bottle

Catalog:  GBS 1013
Year: 1973

Country/State: Alliance, Ohio

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: die cut, gatefold gimmick sleeve; promo sticker on cover

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 3501

Price: $60.00

Prior to his untimely death, I regularly corresponded with  music collector Patrick "The Lama" Lundborg.  Lundborg was a fascinating guy.  Even though he was Swedish, his knowledge of American psychedelic bands (and the entire breadth of the psychedelic expereince), was simply breathtaking.  If you're a music collector and have never checked out The Acid Archives website, do yourself a favor and spend a little time checking it out (in the interests of full disclosure, I'm one of the folks who contributed to the website and to Lundborg's Acid Archives book).  Anyhow, how did I get from Lundborg to Clockwork?  Well, Clockwork was the first LP I ever bought that was inspired by reading The Acid Archives.

Formed in Alliance, Ohio, they started out as the blue-eyed soul cover band Change.  After years on the midwestern club circuit, they started to include original material in their shows.  The result was a contract with Kapp Records.  The label floated a pair of instantly obscure singles and financed an album  - 1971's "Change" (which was subsequently shelved), before dropping the band from its recording roster.  

- 1971's 'Sante Fe Stage' b/w 'Ballad of Oliver David Jones (1st Movement)' (Kapp catalog number K-2157)

- 1972's 'Hitchcock Railway' b/w 'Country Side Woman' (Kapp catalog number K-2181)

After a short stint as The Jones, the group reorganized as Clockwork.   With a line-up featuring singer/rhythm guitarist Mike Bugara, singer/sax/woodwind player Mike Duruttya, singer/keyboardist Jim Korlesk, drummer John Sineri, lead guitarist David Sorge, and bassist Gary Zeigler, they were signed to Charles Greene's short-lived Greene Bottle label.  Produced by Carl Maduri, 1973's "Clockwork" found the band having dropped their earlier blend off blue-eyed soul, Motown, top-40, and R&B repertoire in favor of original rock material.  Although I've loved this album for years, I can understand why it's all but unknown.  Overlooking the fact they were signed to a record label that was in it's final, dying days, the biggest issue here was these guys simply lacked a readily identifiable sound.  "Clockwork" was one of those rare albums that didn't have a bad track on it.  At the same time, it lacked that killer, breakout performance that would have ignited radio station excitement.  'Country Side Woman' came close, but was probably too country-rock/Southern rock-tinged for top-40 radio.  It seems counter-intuitive, but given such a multi-talented line-up, these guys were graced with an over-abundance of talent.  Take lead singers - Duruttya, Korleski and McCrea. Each got a shot at the spotlight and all three were impressive, but they all had slightly different styles which served to weaken the album's overall impression.  The result was an album that dabbled in a myriad of sounds including West Coast psych ('Music Box'), blues-rock ('Hitchcock Railway'), and country-rock/Southern rock (''Now That You Know').  Song-for-song it was quite enjoyable, but you were left wondering who these guys really were.  (It was even stranger if you've ever heard their blue-eyed soul material.)  Perhaps a result of David Sorge's tuneful lead guitar and Mike Duruttya woodwinds, on tracks like 'After Today' and 'Now That You Know' they frequently remind me of primetime Marshall Tucker Band. 

"Clockwork" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Music Box   (Bill McCrea - Mike Bugura) - 4:05   rating: **** stars

The mid-tempo rocker 'Music Box' nicely encapsulated their sound.  A surprisingly commercial rocker, the tune reflected an unexpected West Coast vibe with nice group vocals and Mike Duruttya's brass and woodwinds adding a mellowing jazzy feel.  

2.) Hazy Shade of Winter  (Paul Simon) - 2:25   rating:*** stars

With Duruttya handling lead vocals, their cover of Simon and Garfunkel's 'Hazy Shade of Winter' wasn't half bad.  Their arrangement slowed the tune down and toughened the song up a bit, but really didn't mess with the original melody.  'Course if I wanted to hear a cover, I'd probably opt for The Bangles' snarling cover.

3.) Nothing Left for Me   (Bill McCrea - Mike Bugura) - 2:24  rating: **** stars

And just when you thought you'd figured these guys out, along came the shimmering, country-rock ballad 'Nothing Left for Me'.  Geez, it even featured what sounded like CSN&Y harmonies and an electric harpsichord fills.   Bill McCrea on lead vocals.  Would have made a nice single.

4.) Hitchcock Railway   (Donald L. Dunn - Tony L. McCashen) - 3:35  rating: **** stars

As mentioned, 'Hitchcock Railway' had previously seen daylight as a single released under the band's earlier Change identify.  As far as I can tell, this is the same track.  Showcasing Duruttya's growling voice, this was a nice blues-rocker with considerable commercial potential.  I'm guessing that's why Joe Cocker latched on to the song.  Bet this was a kick-a*s tune in their live repertoire.

5.) After Today   (Jim Korleski) - 4:45   rating: *** stars

Pretty, but somewhat anonymous ballad.  David Sorge's double tracked lead guitar has always reminded me of something out of The Marshall Tucker Band repertoire.  

(side 2)

1.) Now That You Know   (Mike Duruttya) - 4:36   rating: *** stars

A breezy, slightly Latin-tinged track, the mid-tempo 'Now That You Know' has always struck me as a mash-up of Stephen Stills-meets-The Marshall Tucker Band.

2.) Bye Bye Lady    (Jim Korleski - Mike Duruttya) - 5:10  rating: *** stars

Again showcasing David Sorge's muscular guitar, 'Bye Bye Lady' showcased the band at their most rockin'.   Quite impressive.

3.) Country Side Woman   (Bill McCrea - Mike Bugura) - 4:15   rating: **** stars

With a criminally infectious melody, Mike Bugara scratchy rhythm riff and Sorge turning in  just a tinge of Allman Brothers-styled lead guitar, 'Country Side Woman' was easily the album's most commercial and radio friendly performance.  How was this one overlooked as a single?

4.) Rock 'n' Roll Woman  (Stephen Stills) - 3:35   rating: *** stars

The most surprising thing about their Buffalo Springfield cover was how much Duruttya sounded like Stephen Stills.  Nice cover with some awesome harmony vocals, but why not put on the original?

The band subsequently morphed into Jimmy and the Soul Blazers and under the leadership of Korleski, they're still active on the Ohio club and festival circuit.  In case anyone wants to check them out, here's a link to their website (guys, get a better web designer ...):  Jimmy & the Soulblazers Home Page