The Good Rats


Band members                             Related acts

  line up 1 (1964-66) as U Men

- Eric Crane --

- Ted Haenlin -- 

- Peppi Marchello (RIP 2013) -- lead vocals

- Denny Ryan -- 

- Frank Stapleton --

 

  line up 2 (1966-68) as The Good Rats

- Eric Crane --

- Ted Haenlin -- 

- Peppi Marchello (RIP 2013) -- lead vocals

- Denny Ryan -- 

- Frank Stapleton --

 

  line up 3 (1968-69) 

- Art Fahey (aka Crazy Artie) -- bass

- Peppi Marchello (RIP 3013) -- lead vocals

- Jim roberge -- keyboards

- Denny Ryan -- 

- Mickey  Marchello - - rhythm  guitar

 

  line up 4 (1969-72) 

- Lenny Kotke - bass, vocals

- John Franco -- drums, percussion

- Mickey Marchello -- rhythm  guitar

- Peppi Marchello -(RIP 2013) -- vocals, harmonica

- Mike Raffinello (RIP 2014) -- lead guitar

 

  line up 5 (1972-81) 

- John Gatto -- lead guitar (replaced Mike Raffinello)

- Lenny Kotke - bass, vocals

- John Franco -- drums, percussion

- Mickey  Marchello - - rhythm  guitar

- Peppi Marchello -(RIP 2013) - - vocals, harmonica

  line up 6 (1981-83) 

- Schuyler Deale -- bass (replaced Lenny Kotke)

- Bruce Kulick  -- lead guitar (replaced John Gatto)

- John Franco -- drums, percussion

- Mickey  Marchello - - rhythm  guitar

- Peppi Marchello (RIP 2013) - - vocals, harmonica

 

  line up 7 (1995-)

- Gene Marchello -- lead guitar, vocals

- Peppi Marchello (RIP 2013) -- vocals, harmonica

- Stefan Marchello -- bass, vocals

 

  line up 8 (2013-)

- Mike Brenna -- drums, percussion

- Gene Marchello -- lead guitar, vocals

- Peppi Marchello (RIP 2013) - - vocals, harmonica

- Stefan Marchello -- bass, vocals

- Dan Smiraglia -- keyboards

 

 

 

- Kiss (Bruce Kulick)

- The Ladder

- Marchello (Peppi Marchello)

- Popzarocca (Peppi Marchello)

- Twisted Sister

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Genre: rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Tasty

Company: Warner Brothers

Catalog: BS-2813

Year: 1974

Country/State: Long Island, NY

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: promo sticker on cover

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4617

Price: $20.00

Cost: $66.00

 

Along with NRBQ, these guys may be American's best know unknown band.  I'll readily admit that these guys are a hit or miss proposition for me.  At least part of my reluctance to fully embrace them has to do with the fact that lead singer Peppi Marchello has a bizarre resemblance to Slade's  ...

 

"Tasty" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Back To My Music  (Peppi Marchello) - 

2.) Injun Joe  (Peppi Marchello) - 

3.) Tasty  (Peppi Marchello) - 

4.) 300 Boys  (Peppi Marchello) - 

 

(side 2)
1.) Fireball Express  (Peppi Marchello) - 

2.) Fred Upstairs & Ginger Snappers  (Peppi Marchello) - 

3.) Phil Fleish  (Peppi Marchello) - 

4.) Klash-Ka-Bob  (Peppi Marchello) - 

5.) Songwriter  (Peppi Marchello) - 

 

 

 

I didn't really get into the Good Rats until the original band had broken up, but it's funny how to me, this album just sounds like "where I come from" - and I've been kinda rediscovering this band lately. Sure, there are a few artists out there that one might say possess the "Long Island Sound" (no pun intended - though it also warrants mentioning that for those doubters, I'm actually not the first to coin the phrase - and I strongly maintain that it is identifiable in recordings), but none capture the working-class side of the people and places like the Good Rats. That's why in retrospect it seems fitting that my first exposure to the band was one summer after a day of working construction with my dad, when my uncle handed me a stack of vinyl that included "Tasty" - and told me that it was "just a great rock n' roll album".

Of all of their recordings, "Tasty" is the one that stretches across genres with the most finesse, and has the most enduring songwriting and performances - including the title track, which is probably the song they are most known for and is still somewhat of a staple on Long Island radio.

As far as musicianship goes, in this genre you really couldn't ask for better - though for all of the technical proficiency, the album is consistently accessible and grounded - owed in part to the songwriting, and in part to the "just finished gargling with broken glass" vocals of lead singer Peppi Marchello. But don't take that to mean that he's one of those gravelly spoken-word type frontmen, Peppi's got some serious pipes.

This album is somewhat unique in the Rats catalog, since later discs were more about straightforward rock tunes that wrapped up around 3-4 minutes. Which is not to say that's a bad thing (if you're curious, "Rat City In Blue" and "From Rats to Riches" are recommended - and "Live At Last" is one of the best live albums ever, in my opinion - while the fidelity isn't so hot, a super tight and proficient band at the top of their game more than makes up for it). These songs stretch out a bit more, and are loaded with jazz influences - even a few bars of Ellington's "Caravan" on "Fred Upstairs & Ginger Snappers" (great title!) - and "Tasty" is worth a listen for the guitar work and pristine vocal harmonies alone.

All told, this doesn't try to be "high art", and that's what makes it so great - it is what it is - you can tell these guys are having fun and not putting too much thought into it, and we all benefit. A great album for rolling down the windows and driving through the old neighborhood.

If you look for it on ebay or half.com, expect to pay an arm and a leg for it - because original copies on CD (and vinyl) are out of print. However, if you're curious enough to jump on a recommendation like this, you can order copies of Rats CDs directly from the band (they still perform - Peppi is the lead singer, and other, younger Marchellos are in the new lineup) for a good price at www.goodrats.com.

Some Good Rats Trivia: My dad bought my first acoustic guitar from guitarist John "The Cat" Gatto, who was working at Musicland in Lindenhurst, NY at the time. =)

 Tasty (Warner Bros.) What can you say about a band admirers claim is the best to emerge from Long Island since the Vanilla Fudge? That even Shadow Morton isn't so foolish

 


Genre: rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  ... Live At Last

Company: Rat City

Catalog: RCR 998

Year: 1979

Country/State: Long Island, NY

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: double LP; gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1415

Price: $20.00

 

So I may be the only person outside of New York who owns the first six Good Rats studio albums.  While each of those studio sets had something going for them (1974's "Tasty" being my choice for the best of the lot), by and large those albums were disappointing; seemingly missing the energy and enthusiasm the group brought to their live shows.  Interesting,, while I never had an opportunity to see them live, they're one of the few bands who seem to have generate near universal praise for their live shows - I've literally never read a negative review of one of their concerts.   

 

So how did this 1979 concert set turn out?  Well, if you were looking for rock and roll sophistication, this probably wasn't the album to purchase.  Recorded in front of a highly partisan audience at a pair of July 4th, 1979 date at Long Island's My Father's Place, "... Live At Last" was a pretty impressive document.  While the collection didn't include anything off their 1969 debut "Good Rats", there were five tracks off of "Tasty", two off of "Rat City In Blue", three off of "Birth Comes To Us All", and four from "From Rats To Riches".  Hardcore fans will argue about the track listing, but I was happy with most of the selections and at least to my ears, virtually every one of the live performances proved superior to the original studio versions.   Peppi Marchello may not have been the finest vocalist you've ever encountered, but he had a true "rock and roll" sound (which occasionally made me think of an American version of Noddy Hodder).  John Gatto and Mickey Marchello provided the band with a dazzling twin lead guitar attack, while drummer Joe Franco stood as their secret weapon.   When he hit the drum, you knew it.  Musically what you got was an impressive collection of no-frills blue collar rock and roll with occasional nods to the band's penchant for quirkiness ('Tasty' and 'Fred Upstairs And Ginger Snappers').  Old fashioned showmanship with one song after another without the band engaging in between-the-songs patter with the crowd ...   Yeah a couple of the songs were stretched out to concert length ('Indian Joe'), but with the exception of Joe Franco's extended drum solo on  'Klash-Ka-Bob' there was little of the spotlight excesses that plagued so many other double album concerts collections.   Certainly one of the best double album concert sets to come out at a time when everyone and his brother was releasing similar collections.  

 
"... Live at Last" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Taking It To Detroit  (Peppi Marchello) - 

The more I listen to Peppi Marchello's voice, the more I appreciate these guys.   Yeah, he sounded like a flu-riddled version of Slade's Noddy Hodder, or maybe an asthmatic Bon Scott, but you had to love the guy's gruff, ball-bustin' voice and it seldom sounded better than this opening rocker.   rating: **** stars 

2.) Does It Make You Feel Good  (Peppi Marchello) - 

For anyone who though these guys weren't capable of anything more subtle than slash and burn rockers, I'd suggest listening to this slice of power pop.  It rocked hard enough with lead guitarist John Gatto pulled out a blistering solo, but the song had a surprisingly nice and commercial melody.   You had to wonder how top-40 radio consistently ignored these guys.  rating: **** stars
3.) You're Still Doing It
  (Peppi Marchello) - 

Ah, life's tough as a rock star ...   Nice power ballad (one of their prettiest compositions) with Peppi all but shredding his vocals this time out.   rating: *** stars
4.) School Days
  (Peppi Marchello) - 

In college I had a buddy who'd somehow picked up this album and played this track in heavy rotation.   Nice rollicking tune with a melody that was quite radio-friendly.   rating: **** stars
5.) Cherry River
  (Peppi Marchello) - 

Kicked along by some thundering John Gatto guitar, 'Cherry River' was a pounding, atmospheric rocker and one of the album's standout performances.     rating: **** stars

 

(side 2)
1.) 
Injun Joe  (Peppi Marchello) - 

Stretched out to concert jam length, 'Injun Joe' was one of their signature concert tunes and quite unlike the majority of their catalog given it included a considerable dose of jazzy influences.  And here's the funny thing - unlike most extended concert jams, this one was quite entertaining from start to finish.  Kudos to John Franco  for the truly thunderous drums.  Listening to this track through  quality pair of speakers and it sounds like the room is about to tumbled down.   rating: **** stars
7.) Let Me
  (Peppi Marchello) - 

The first mild disappointment, 'Let Me' was a pedestrian ballad that sported one of Mickey  Marchello's prettiest solos, but otherwise didn't have a great deal going for it.   rating: ** stars

 

(side 3)

1.) Tasty  (Peppi Marchello) - 

Such a strange tune ...  autobiographical and old school,  The only other band I can think of that could have pulled something like this one off would be NRBQ.   rating: **** stars
2.) Fred Upstairs And Ginger Snappers
  (Peppi Marchello) - 

Another strange one off the "Tasty" album, 'Fred Upstairs And Ginger Snappers' was a seriously jazzy tune, though with some impressive rock riffing going on.   rating: *** stars
3.) Klash-Ka-Bob
   (Peppi Marchello) - 
Always loved the John Gatto and Mickey  Marchello twin lead guitar workout on the slightly progressively oriented  'Klash-Ka-Bob'.   Normally the kiss of death for a live album, even Franco's drum solo proved mildly listenable.    rating: **** stars

 

(side 4)
1.) 
Fireball Express  (Peppi Marchello) - 

One of their best rockers, if you were skeptical of my comparisons to Noddy Hodder and Slade, then check out the blazing 'Fireball Express'.   rating: **** stars
2.) Victory In Space
  (Peppi Marchello) - 

Maybe because it saw the band injecting a touch of progressive influence into their sound, 'Victory In Space' has always been a personal favorite.   rating: **** stars
3.) Reason To Kill
  (Peppi Marchello) - 

Always loved the thundering and ominous 'Reason To Kill' opening.    rating: **** stars
4.) Local Zero
  (Peppi Marchello) -

Probably the album's heaviest tune, 'Local Zero' was a full-force rocker, every bit as dark and ominous as your Scandinavia death metal entity.   rating: **** stars. 

 

Sadly having undergone heart surgery, Peppi Marchello died of  cardiac arrest in July 2013.

 

 

For anyone interested, there's a nice Good Rats web site at: http://www.goodrats.com/

 

 

 

 

BACK TO BADCAT FRONT PAGE

BACK TO BADCAT CATALOG PAGE

BACK TO BADCAT PAYMENT INFORMATION