The Human Beinz


Band members                             Related acts

  line up 1 (1966-68)

- John Richard "Dick" Belley -- vocals, lead guitar 
- Joe Ting Markulin -- rhythm guitar 
- Mel Pachuta -- bass, vocals

- Gary Coates -- drums, percussion

 

  line up 2 (1968)

- John Richard "Dick" Belley -- vocals, lead guitar 
- Joe Ting Markulin -- rhythm guitar 
- Mel Pachuta -- bass, vocals
NEW - Mike Tatman -- drums, percussion (replaced Gary Coates)

 

 

Glass Harp

 

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Genre: rock

Title:  The Human Beinz/Mammals

Company: Gateway

Catalog: GLP-3012

Year: 1967

Grade (cover/record): NM/NM

Comments: still in shrink wrap; WOC

Available: 1

Price: $40.00

 

 

One of Youngstown, Ohio's contributions to mid-'60s garage-rock, The Human Beinz (singer/guitarist Richard Belley, rhythm guitarist Ting Markulin, bassist Mel Pachuta and drummer Mike Tatman), started their careers as a modestly talented cover band. The quartet's initial break came when they released a pair of obscure 1966 singles ("My Generation" b/w "Evil Hearted You" and "Hey Joe" b/w "Spider Man") for the small local Elysian label. Opting for a name change (The Human Beinz) and a shift to the Gateway label, they managed to attract regional attention with their 1967 label debut; a nifty cover of Them's "Gloria" b/w a competent rendition of Dylan's "The Times They Are-a-Changin'". With the follow-on single "You Can't Make Me Cry" b/w "The Pied Pier" attracting some local sales, Gateway invested in a supporting album. 

In actuality 1967's "The Human Beinz/Mammals" wasn't a true Beinz's solo  effort. Side "A" featured four band efforts, while the flip side featured label mates The Mammals.

"The Human Beinz/Mammals" track listing:

 


(side 1)

1.) Pied Piper    (Kornfeld - Duboff) - 2:14

2.) My Generation   (Pete Townsend)  - 2:41

3.) Gloria   (Van Morrison) - 2:45

4.) The Times They Are a Changing   (Bob Dylan) - 2:00

5.) Nobody But Me    (Ronald Isley - R. Isley - O. Isley) - 2:10

 

(side 2) 

1.) I Say Love    (P. Medley - B. Russel) - 2:15

2.) Hey Little One   (D. Burnette - B. DeVorzon) - 2:27

3.) Stop! In the Name of Love   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland)  - 2:40

4.) Hold On! I'm Comin'    (Isaac Hayes - David Porter) - 3:30

6.) Ooo Baby Baby   (Smokey Robinson - Moore) - 3:00

6.) Up Tight   (Henry Cosby - Sylvia Moy - Stevie Wonder) - 2:45

 


Rating: *** (3 stars)

Genre: psych

Title:  Nobody But Me

Company: Capital

Catalog: ST 2906

Year: 1968

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog number: 11281

Price: $30.00

 

Produced by Lex de Azevedo (who was also credited with contributed four songs to the collection),1968's "Nobody But Me" found The Human Beinz finally making it to the big time via a contract with Capital.  Musically the set offered up a standard mix of popular covers with the band allowed to record a couple of originals.  Admittedly it was inconsistent, but given their youth and inexperience, I've always found this set to be charming.  On YouTube, rhythm guitarist Markulin described the band as "We were four self taught musicians that really didn't have much studio experience before Capitol signed us.  We just listened to the way the Beatles recorded abd realized nmost of the fullness of their sound came from the piano and acoustic guitar."   I'd argue that was somewhat of an understatement since the overall sound was quite diverse and technically impressive.  While their cover of Hendrix's "Foxey Lady" wasn't anything special, elsewhere 'The Shaman', '' and 'Turn On Your Love Light' were all strong garage rockers. Blessed with a suitably taunt and raw voice, Belley proved well suited for the material, while the rest of the band displayed more competence than expected from your average bar band.  Elsewhere 'Flower Grave', a cover of the traditional ballad 'Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair' and the bizarro Beach Boys-collide-with-The-Beatles 'It's Fun To Be Clean' were interesting in that they found the band taking tentative steps towards a more psychedelic-oriented sound.  At least to my ears the album's most atypical performance was also the standout - 'Dance On Through'.  With a distinctive pop edge, the combination of  strumming guitars and tinkling organ made the song irresistible.  

"Nobody But Me" track listing:

(side 1)
1,) Nobody But Me   (Rudolph Isley) - 2:16   rating: **** stars

Usually young white bands covering classic soul bands stands as a recipe for disaster, but this was one of those rare exception, with vocalist Richard Belley and company giving their everything to get through the two minutes.  Released as a single, the band enjoyed an unexpected worldwide hit.  The irony is that 99% of fans know the song from seeing it in an episode of "The Office" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfokPqeSNcw 

- 1967's 'Nobody But Me' b/w "Sueno" (Capitol catalog number 5990) 
2.) Foxey Lady   (Jimi Hendrix) -2:35 
  rating: *** stars

Given this was an almost note-for-note rote cover of the Hendrix tune, there wasn't anything wrong with it, other that why would you bother listening to a copy.  Yeah, after a couple of beers, this one probably sounded pretty good in a small club.  Docked a start for not putting any type of uniqueness on their cover.  For hardcore fans, Capitol Records tapped it as a Japanese single:

 

 

 

 

- 1968's 'Foxey Lady' b/w 'The Face' (Cappitol catalog number CR 1990)


 

 

 

 

3.) The Shaman   (Lex de Azevedo) - 2:26   rating: **** stars

Okay, they didn't write it, but their performance of producer de Azevedo's 'The Shaman' was simply killer.  The combination of Pachuta's rumbling bass line and Belley's vocals and fuzz lead guitar made this a winner.  Shame the song was longer.
4.) Flower Grave  (John Belley) - 2:14  
rating: **** stars

One of two original compositions, 'Flower Grave' was a decent, psych-tinged ballad.  Once again, Pachuta provided a killer bass line.  The song title always makes me smile ...  
5.) Dance On Through   (Dick Whittington) - 3:03  
rating: **** stars

While the sound was a little more conventional than your standard Human Beinz track,  I'd argue that 'Dance On Through' was one of the album highlights.  The combination of strong melody, strumming guitars and tinkling organ made for one of those songs that I find hard to shake out of my mental playlist. 
6.) Turn On Your Love Light   (Don Malone) - 2:13  
rating: **** stars

Bobby Blue Bland had the original hit with''Turn On Your Love Light' and while his take stands as the classic version, I'll give these guys credit for turning in a more than credible cover.   Yeah, Belley couldn't match Bland's intensity and their were no horns, but their version was still enjoyable.  The song was tapped as the album's second single:

- 1968's 'Turn On Your Love Light' b/w 'It's Fun To Be Clean' (Capitol catalog number 2119)

 

(side 2)
1.) It's Fun To Be Clean   (Lex de Azevedo) - 2:06  
rating: **** stars

I've seldom heard a song that managed to meld Beach Boys and Bealtes influences as well as 'It's Fun To be Clean'.  Yeah, the lyrics were kind of MOR goofy, but it was still a fund two minutes.  Geez, they even copped the Beatles' trumpet sound ...
2.) Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair   (adapted by Lex de Azevedo) - 4:24  
rating: **** stars

My first exposure to this Scottish traditional track came via Nina Simone's stunning performance.  About all I can tell you is that complete with acid drenched strings, ghostly sound effects and Belley's stoned vocals, this is the most psychedelic version you'll ever heard.  A+ performance.
3.) This Lonely Town   (Bob Scherl - Lon Leatherwood) - 2:22  
rating: *** stars

Co-written by Youngstown-based artist Alan Cassaro under the pseudonym Lon Leatherwood (aka Alan Leatherwood), the ballad 'This Lonely Town had more than a little mid-'60s Dylan dripping from the grooves.  Nice enough, if one of the album's more forgettable tracks.
4.) Sueno   (Ting Markulin - Mel Pachuta - John Belley - Mike Tatman) - 2:06  
rating: *** stars

The album's lone group composition, 'Sueno' was a pretty ballad with some nice acoustic guitar and what sounded like a flute solo kicking it along.
5.) Serenade To Sarah   (Lex de Azevedo) - 1:58  
rating: *** stars

'Serenade To Sarah' was the album's contractually mandated big ballad ...  Ever heard one of those Richard Harris albums ?   Think along the lines of the pretentious 'Macarthur Park' ...   Yeah, that was seemingly one of the inspirations here.   I'll give it an extra star for over-the-top earnestness and for keeping the whole enterprise under three minutes.

 

 

 



Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Evolutions

Company: Capital

Catalog: ST 2926

Year: 1969

Grade (cover/record): G+/VG

Comments: radio station copy; ring wear; SOC

Available: 1

Price: $30.00

 

Released the following year, "Evolutions" found the band largely abandoning garage rock in favor of a blatantly psychedelic sound. With de Alzevedo again producing and writing the majority of material, their third effort was actually far more interesting and entertaining than the first two sets. Exemplified by tracks such as "The Face", "Every Time Woman", "I've Got To Keep On Pushing" and the meltdown stunner "April 15th" the set was full of nifty melodies, feedback guitar and Belley's snarling vocals - ah a wonderful receipe. Actually, one of the set's highlights was the atypical country-flavored "Two of a Kind" - always wondered if the were actually destroying a piano in the studio ...

"Evolutions" track listing:
1.) The Face (Lex de Alzevedo) - 2:32
2.) My Animal (Lex de Alzevedo) - 2:44
3.) Every Time Woman (Lex de Alzevedo) - 2:08
4.) Close Your Eyes (Jim Murray) - 2:36
5.) If You Don't Mind Mrs. Applebee (Lex de Alzevedo) - 2:08
6.) I've Got To Keep On Pushing (Lex de Alzevedo - R. Youshock) - 2:35
7.) Cement (Richard Belley) - 2:10
7.) Two of a Kind (Jim Murray - B. Kruck) - 5:05
8.) April 15th (instrumental) (Lex de Alzevedo - Richard Belley) - 7:05

Following the release of one final single ("This Little Girl of Mine" b/w "I've Got To Keep Pushing"), the band called it quits.

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