Part 2 – APPLE JACKS 1978
CHRISTMAS 1978
We were invited to perform the music for the annual party at the Lumberville Store in Bucks County Pa. on the Delaware River.
Gerald the owner was famous for his homemade chicken salad and soups. He ran the post office and the general store. Keeping the tradition that had gone on for generations supplying food, supplies, and the US mail to the local folks. Coast to Coast the band of brother and sisterhood had been playing the bars and clubs up and down the Delaware river. We were so proud to be chosen to provide the musical entertainment on that very special evening on December 24, 1978.
It was a grand time. So much fun, laughter, and joyous moments of social exchange. Truly a wonderful time for those of us who still remain to enjoy the memory of it. Through the remainder of the winter and well into the spring, the band was playing every Thursday night at the Apple Jack cellar bar in Point Pleasant the next river town north of Lumberville. We had developed quite a following and as mentioned, before, in the previous Blog story, we met Joe Renzetti, who was very excited about our band and what we had to offer.
DURING THE LUNCH MEETING
Joe acknowledged that Lin and I had what he said was star material. I remember him looking me in the eye, and saying “you have what it takes, you could be a star.” He set up a meeting with a producer friend of his at Sigma Sound Studio in Philadelphia. David Bowie had just finished his Young American album there. I had encouraged Joe to stay and work with us, but he said he had way too much going on in Hollywood after winning an Oscar for the Buddy Holly Story movie. And that he just didn’t have time to give us the proper attention we needed. So after referring us to a friend, he set up a meeting and left me a phone number for whom to call.
ANOTHER SAGA TO THE STORY
I never was very proud of speaking about. It was a very volatile time in the midst of all the music concerts, and gigs, chaos, partying, and use of cocaine – a bit of a tragic event happened to me. During my success in the year before with the John Franklin Band, I was working in Doylestown at a local record store called Key Records. It wasn’t long before their business had become so successful that they asked me to be the manager of that particular store on Main street.
They had a total of four stores at that time, one in the famous Now and Then store in New Hope. One in Lansdale. One at the shopping center in Doylestown and the one in downtown Doylestown that I managed, Key Records. The store’s success grew very fast and the owners decided to include drug paraphernalia in their inventory of products for sale. I have vivid memories of all the albums that I was required to order by phone call (using a phone that had a chord) that would make every Tuesday to resupply inventory before the busy weekend. Then on Fridays the staff would restock hits like – Jerry Rafferty, The Roling Stones, Miss You and REO Speedwagon, You can Tuna fish, but You can’t Tuna piano, or was it the other way around?
I learned a lot of great music in those days during that period of time. Ubscure greats like, Larry Coryell, Brian Eno and a long list of others. During that time I opened for Michael Martin Murphy at the County Theater also in Doylestown with my band. It was a very special and exciting event. We had done our setup and sound check and we were hanging out on the loading dock outside of the backstage of the County Theater in the alley next to Kelly’s bar. It was late in the afternoon on a lovely summer day.
THE LARGE TOUR BUS
was parked in sight of us from down the alley that ran next to the theater. I remember seeing Michael Murphy stroll down that alley towards the loading dock to do his sound check. As he was coming towards us, I became very wowed about meeting such a star who had just become very famous for the song Wildfire. As he approached us, he was just magnificent. His hair was perfect. He was truly a Star. And he was very gracious to us.
We began to talk and tell stories and I could look down the alley next to Kelly’s bar and see the record store that I was actually managing. The Key Record sign was above the big window. I looked at him and I said, “would you mind signing a record for me” he said, “sure I would be happy to do that”. So I ran down and unlocked the door. Went into the record store and grab the only album of his that we had available. I can’t remember which one it was but I quickly grabbed it, locked the door, and went running back across Main Street down the alley next to Kelly’s up to the loading dock, and handed it to Michael for him to sign which he gracefully did. While he was signing the album I asked him how he “made it”. How did he become so successful?
HOW MICHAEL GOT HIS BREAK
He went on through the next what seemed to be an hour and told us an amazing story about how he had become discovered by Bob Johnston, the famous record producer from Nashville. How Bob had flown out to Austin Texas to hear him play in a small bar. Michael had played night after night in the local bars, and there was a fellow who came in faithfully every day after work, whos profession was a house painter. He would listen to Michael time after time, and say, ‘I’m gonna help you become famous someday’.
Michael would chuckle and thank him, knowing that probably would never happen. However, this wonderful soul believed in Michael so much that he, and his paintbrush, and his love for beer took him to Nashville. There he looked through the Yellow Pages, and found who the producers were of great Nashville music. He came upon Bob Johnston’s number and got a job painting his house. He became friendly with Johnston and finally suggested to him That he knew of a songwriter-player in Austin – Michael Murphy, who was worth him taking the time to fly out and listen. Johnston believed him, booked a flight and went out and listen to Murphy.
Michael continued his story and told me how he saw a man sitting at a table in front of the stage, wearing a suit, watching him, play his first set, and when he was done, Bob Johnston came up to the small stage and said to him “I want you to fly back to Nashville with me tonight and record an album.” An absolutely amazing story that any young artist would love to hear and would only hope that he would have the same magical person come into their life like the painter. And help them connect with the very power that would help them become a star.
I’ll never forget that story. I’ll never forget Michael Murphy for telling me that story. I’ll always thank him for that and I’ll always wish that I may have been so lucky, and so fortunate to have had the same opportunity. So a year or so later Joe Renzetti potentially gave me such an opportunity, but because of my particular situation, I was never able to follow through. Thank you Joe Renzetti for your gracious and kind efforts!
A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE
It turns out that a local drug dealer who had often come into the record store had set me up – having been busted, and the local DA wanted more people and he knew that I enjoyed cocaine. Nevertheless, it brought troubles upon me. It derailed my course. And it enabled me or didn’t able to me to fulfill that part of my dream. I was not able to connect to that producer at Sigma Sound in Philadelphia.
The details of why and how that all transpired will have to definitely be in another blog, or possibly a chapter of the book.
“Taking the long way, But I’ve got to go until I know” JAF
John Anthony Franklin © 2023
