August 9, 2018 - #Rumble30

Chestnut Cabaret Encore 1988 - TCYR and The Hooters

#30Years #Rumble #TCYR
SATURDAY, JAN. 2 ,1988

In honor of the Philadelphia Eagles going to the Super Bowl …the most iconic musical Philly pairing ever!

A 25-minute encore set audio performance from Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers joined onstage by The Hooters at the Chestnut Cabaret--30 years ago this month!



With Eric Bazilian, Rob Hyman, David Uosikkinen and the rest of the Young Rumblers!

Songs:

• A cover of The Beatles’ “I’m Down” sung by Eric Bazilian
• Some blues with Tommy singing “Sweet Home Chicago” that then rolls into “Kansas City” – perfect!
• Both bands come back to the stage with a little reggae courtesy of Rob Hyman who covers Bob Marley’s “Stir It Up”
• Finishes with Tommy singing Chuck Berry’s "Reelin’ and Rockin’"—of course!

“I looked at my watch it was 10:07—Robby Hyman, let’s go to rock n roll heaven!” 

And in true rock n roll fashion, this amazing track also cuts off early.

KC Pitch | Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

          A December 1988 article from the KC Pitch, a free alternative weekly magazine distributed in Missouri's Kansas City metropolitan area. The article promotes Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers performing at The Lone Star in Kansas City on Dec. 13, 1988. 

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Rock with the Rumblers 

          Check your samplers and sequencers at the door. Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers play straightforward, on-the-edge rock and roll, with no special effects or gimmicks to get in the way. This band relies on raw playing, clear singing and crisp songwriting to put their point across. 
          From their early days in the trenches of Philadelphia’s rock scene, the group has had a reputation for musical honesty. And their new album for Columbia, the aptly-titled “Rumble,” proves it. 
          Unlike most recordings, “Rumble” is true to the sound of the band. Through the sensitive production of Rick Chertoff (Cyndi Lauper, Patty Smyth, The Hooters), the energy of Conwell and the Rumblers is brought alive. “Some people think producers force the artist to do what they want or think will sell,” says Conwell. “But Rick is just the opposite of that. He tried to get me to be my very best, which is a very important goal, and the amazing thing is that he succeeded.” 
          Other collaborators, including Jules Shear and fellow Philly rocker Robert Hazard, added to the band’s raw, distinctive sound. “Most importantly,” says Conwell, “’Rumble’ sounds like us.” But as powerful as the new album is, Conwell and the Rumblers pack their most potent punch live. See for yourself, Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the Lone Star.

Review of "Rumble" - Delaware County Sunday Times, 8/7/1988

DELAWARE COUNTY SUNDAY TIMES 
Sunday August 7, 1988 

Rumblers hit the big time
By Len Le Barth
Sunday Times Staff Writer 

Finally the wait is over.

One year after being the prized object sought in an intense war among a dozen record companies, local rock and roll heroes Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers are set to prove themselves beyond the Philadelphia area. This is the week Rumble, the band's debut album on Columbia Records, hits record stores across the nation.

The jury --- record-buyers and reviewers --- will be returning a verdict in the case of a hot-shot young rock 'n' roller and his four musical mates who have delivered a no-nonsense 10-track effort that accurately captures the straight-ahead approach espoused by the band on Delaware valley stages since its origin.
Longtime fans will surely be delighted that Rumble includes four songs found on the Rumblers' 1986 independent release, and the Chuck Berry-ish "Workout", which was an early Conwell composition. 

Produced by Rick Chertoff (Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual, Hooters Nervous Night and One Way Home), the album features the Rumblers' trademark blues-tinged, guitar-and-drums fueled sound but with a new focus on Rob Miller's keyboards (especially "Workout"), crafted harmonies and strong collaborative efforts between Conwell and several songwriters, including Jules Shear ("If She Knew What She Wants," a Bangles hit).
More importantly, however, is the fact that Conwell now sounds like a singer, not just another anonymous young punk who enjoys screaming and growling, although he does plenty of both on the promising debut. 

Think of [Conwell] as George Thorogood's younger brother who apprenticed with the Ramones but thinks Charlie Parker was the greatest musician that ever lived.

Side One kicks off with a frenetic reworked version of "I'm Not Your Man," that starts with buzz-saw guitar chords, then finds Conwell doing an amusing (albeit initially annoying) "bad woman" rap reminiscent of Springsteen's live comments back when the Boss was into having fun.

Always a great driving-with-the-top-down-and radio-blasting tune, the new rendition, which has been on local radio for a couple weeks, is now even more gutsy, with the guitar heroics of Conwell and rhythm guitarist Chris Day complemented by Miller's heavy pounding of the ivories. 

The three other tunes from the Rumblers' local-label record Walkin' on the Water --- "Love's on Fire," "Everything They Say is True," (both co-written by Conwell and Robert Hazard) and the title track --- remain virtually unchanged on the new vinyl, save for added vocal prowess and a more delicious thump-a-thump sound from the rhythm section of bassist Paul Slivka and drummer Jim Hannum. "Love's on Fire" was a great choice but "Do You Still Believe in Me" is conspicuously absent. 

As far as collaborations go --- and Rumblers' manager Steve Mountain said to expect them --- the album's weakest cut, oddly enough, is "Half a Heart," the collective effort from Conwell, Chertoff, and the Hooters Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian. It's just too obviously geared for the commercial Top 40. 

What should be on the radio soon is "If We Never Meet Again," a wonderful six-string dominated tune penned by Shear that finds the band harmonizing well on this hook filled love song. Conwell sounds like he believes the words when he sings "I know how just one smile/Can be planted like a seed/ And I want to do that for somebody else/The way it was done for me."

Shear and Cowell also combined for the bluesy romp, "Tell Me What You Want to Be."

The bass-heavy and keyboards-driven "Gonna Breakdown," co-written with area songwriter Marcy Rauer (who also collaborated on "I'm Not You Man") is the Rumblers' fine idea of a gospel stomp.

Over wailing guitar, Conwell imparts his spirituality:

Sing it strong and sing it loud
I believe I'm glory bound
Broken wings take up and fly
Kiss the ground and touch the sky 

The surprise gem of the album is the first track on Side Two, which finds the Rumblers getting down and groovy on a tune ground-worked by funk songwriter/producer Kae Williams. Conwell cites Sly Stone as an influence on this song, but the gritty shuka-shuka guitars and mean vocals recall the best of the Stax-Volt hits of the Sixties. There's more than a liberal dose of Steve Cropper-like guitar licks sprinkled throughout the tune that could easily be a product of the Muscle Shoals studio. 

For someone who's followed Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers progression over the years, it's impossible not to feel a dose of hometown pride about the band's national breakout. There's a temptation to gloss over the less-than-brilliant moments on Rumble, but Conwell and his music is nothing if not honest --- and that's why the band will progress far beyond this promising start.

WMMR - Tommy Conwell Special

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 8 - August 8]

WMMR aired the Tommy Conwell Special, hosted by Cyndy Drue, in August 1988, the night before the release of Rumble--the national debut album of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers on Columbia Records.

Columbia Records Press Release - January 1989

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 9 - August 9] 

From the Columbia Records Press and Publicity Department:

For Immediate Release 

January 20, 1989 

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers To Play At American Music Awards: “If We Never Meet Again” Is Second Single and Video from ‘Rumble’ LP 

Columbia recording group Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, whose non-stop touring schedule takes them to California this last week of January, are set to perform live on the 16th annual “American Music Awards,” the 3-hour special to be broadcast on the ABC-TV network next Monday night, January 30th, 8-11 p.m. (Eastern and Pacific). 

The Young Rumblers have been touring actively since the release of Rumble last summer, their first album for Columbia, produced by Rick Chertoff. With the overwhelming success of their second single, “If We Never Meet Again” – top 10 Most Active in R + R (Radio and Records) this week – Conwell has added even more followers. 

Upcoming dates in California include The Stand in Redondo Beach (January 25th), Bachanal in San Diego (26), The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano (27), and The Stone in San Francisco (February 1st). In addition, a live taping is scheduled for the Arsenio Hall Show on Friday, February 3rd, with guests Don King and Mike Tyson. 

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers comprise Tommy Conwell on vocals and guitar, keyboardist Rob Miller, guitarist Christopher Day, bassist Paul Slivka, and drummer Jim Hannum.

WEHR Radio - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers 1988

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 9 - August 9]

An interview with Tommy Conwell from college radio station WEHR, formerly a radio station in Penn State's East Residence Halls ("EHR" stands for "East Halls Radio").

In a segment called 'Rock Celebrity Spotlight,' WEHR interviews Tommy Conwell about the new album, Tommy's early goals for the Young Rumblers, his influences and being the band's leader.

The segment also includes a review of each track from the band's first national album release in 1988, Rumble.

Reaching Out Through Music

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 9 - August 9]

For as long as I can remember, I've always had an intense passion for music.

When I first started listening to Tommy Conwell and his music, it brought me back to the great true foundation artists – as I call them – namely the founders of rock ‘n’ roll.

Back in 1988, I was a lifelong fan of Philly radio and especially WMMR. But I was too young to  attend all the hot Philly talent playing local venues like the Chestnut Cabaret - you had to be 21 years old to get into the clubs!

My love of Tommy Conwell started when I heard the song "I'm Not Your Man" – and the message and lyrics of the song were perfectly in sync with a relationship I was experiencing at that time. It never ceases to amaze me when an artist can capture how I'm feeling.

When I heard this song, I called WMMR immediately. The DJ gave me the scoop about Tommy and his Young Rumblers. And the station even aired my call because they said I was so enthusiastic!

Of course, there was no social media back then. I was an avid reader of Circus Magazine and part of a rock fan pen pal circle from all across the country. We would make mix tapes of our local bands and share them with others. Needless to say I was sending Tommy's music to people as far away as Hawaii, Colorado, Virginia, Washington, etc.

One of my best memories was the thrill I had in seeing Tommy appear on the American Music Awards in 1989! A lot of my pen pal circle at the time saw the performance as well – it led to a lifelong love of Tommy's music.

Interview on MTV's Mouth to Mouth | 1988

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 9 - August 9]

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers interview in front of a studio audience. From Mouth to Mouth, a 1988 MTV talk show hosted by Steve Skrovan.

Life was a Cabaret!

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 9 - August 9]

Marc from Kennett Square is a long-time Young Rumbler "chronicler" with his website and photographs. Read more about his past work. He shares his memories about Rumble and what it meant for him to see his favorite band go national in 1988.

     Cheers to a GREAT band who left a lasting impression. Here is what I recall.....

     In 1988 I was a brash junior at Drexel and feeling good about life after returning from a semester abroad in London. I had money and energy to burn -- and there was nothing more exciting to me than live music with Philly bands like Dynagroove, Beru Revue, The Hooters, and of course my favorite, Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers.

I was a Rumbler FANATIC and went to countless gigs during that magical period after the local release of Walkin' on the Water and Rumble.

     Columbia Record's release of Rumble was a clear tipping point for this Philly kid. The album was released with a major national media blitz. There were album release parties, billboards, videos on MTV, WMMR radio broadcasts from Europe, David Letterman shows, and even Rolling Stone mentions. On one hand, it was surreal to see the Rumblers EXPLODE. However, this time period also turned into a real void as my weekend road trips to the Stone Pony, Stone Balloon, and Bottle and Cork came to an abrupt end. Life was no longer a cabaret! I imagine that we all moved on with our lives and careers.

     What do I like about Rumble? The art work was absolutely brilliant!  I think the cover photo of the band is one of the slickest rock and roll shots. It captures the interesting chemistry that was always evident amongst the Rumblers - Tommy, Paulie, Jimmer, Chris, and Rob. As far as the songs, "If We Never Meet Again" and "Gonna Breakdown" are my winners. "Breakdown" has great spirit and reeks of optimism. I always thought that was a real highlight in their live gigs. "Never" is simply timeless. The song was perfectly executed on the recording.

     The 1980's are long gone but Rumble left a lasting impression. I will never forget that exciting time period in Philadelphia.

Marc Pelletier
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Everything They Say Is True (live) - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers recorded live at the Bottom Line, NYC in 1988. Performing "Everything They Say is True." 

'Rumble' On The Streets - Review of First Album from Philadelphia Daily News

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 8 - August 8]

'Rumble' On The Streets Tommy Conwell Brings Back 'Heartland' Sound

By JONATHAN TAKIFF, Daily News Staff Writer

Posted: August 09, 1988

     When a band has been warming up in the bullpen as long as Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, you might suspect they'd go a little crazy, act a bit excessive, when they finally take the field with their major league album debut.

     On the contrary, one marvel of "Rumble," the group's four-years-in-the- coming Columbia album hitting the streets (and stores) today, is how straightforward, how frill-free and nitty-gritty, their musical nuggets seem.

     Another marvel - much more important - is how often these guys seem to be connecting with home runs, track after track. And they make it look so easy!

     Close those eyes and hold the 'phones to your ears. You'll readily envision this blues-rocking quintet performing live - knocking out their 1950s- flavored Chuck Berry-ish tribute "Workout" or flying high on the giddy ''Walkin' on the Water," cutting to the quick with their rebel yell "I'm Not Your Man" or wailing their "Boss"-like "Love's on Fire."

     Tommy's raspy/righteous vocals are just as warm and intimate on tape as in concert. I can almost see this consummate mugger rolling his eyes and licking his sweat. His spitfire guitar runs are a mite abbreviated compared to his showboating live renderings (playing one-handed or behind his back), yet recorded versions still maintain the sting and vigor.

     Overall, the band (original drummer Jim Hannum and bassist Paul Slivka, late 1986 additions Chris Day on guitar and keyboardist/guitarist Rob Miller) sounds cohesive but never sterile or packaged in this Rick Chertoff-produced long player. And the good impression lingers even after hearing the album a half dozen times.

     Don't take just my word for it. America's rock radio programmers have also responded well to Conwell's clarion call of back-to-the-basics "heartland" music, by making "I'm Not Your Man" the most-added track to their playlists for two weeks running. Other ear-catchers like "Half a Heart" and the touching ballad "If We Never Meet Again" (a Jules Shear original also found on his Restless Sleepers album in a less-accessible rendering) are already being talked about as strong follow-up singles.

     "We want radio to tell us what the hits are," said Rumblers manager Steve Mountain. "We want them to spread the word, rather than us hype them."

     Leading up to their radio coup, the Rumblers stomped a whole lotta rump at a recent Columbia-organized showcase performance at the Chestnut Cabaret (on the stormy night of July 21). Lured by a big advance buzz on this band - including a favorable Rolling Stone profile, the 70,000 sales of the group's indie record "Walkin' on the Water" and a bidding war involving 13 record labels for the Rumblers' services - the pilgrims came to Philly in droves. They included the nation's top 15 concert promoters, representatives of the 10 biggest record chains and 30 radio programmers from the United States and Europe. And when all was said and sung, these seasoned pros cheered as hard as the old-line hometown Conwell fans.

     How is Tommy Conwell reacting to all this fuss? With the same sort of low- stress, forthright and good-humored attitude that makes his music seem so fresh. "Nobody can schmooze like industry people. They can make you feel like Beethoven," he related the other night before hitting the stage at 23 East. ''All that's nice. It's fun, if you don't take it too seriously. But what I do take seriously is that people seem genuinely enthused, ready to support us, and that's no jive."

     Asked why he chose to tack a comical rap onto the beginning of "I'm Not Your Man," Conwell suggested (tongue-clearly-in-cheek) it's "because we're always controversial. Yeah, The Rumblers are such upsetters. Actually, we're giving radio two versions - with or without the talk - so they can play it as they want."

     Quite a student of soul and blues music, Conwell, 26, concedes that his rap was inspired by a "soul humorist of the '60s, Rudy Ray Moore. He was the soul version of Lord Buckley, a really hysterical guy."

     Yet in general, there isn't nearly as much straight-ahead blues to be heard in the Rumblers' sound today, at least not compared to four years ago, when the group first started as a trio. Conwell, a native of Bala Cynwyd, started out taking piano lessons in second grade and in high school started to play jazz guitar. Then, at the University of Delaware, he started making connnections between jazz and blues, and learned how to emote through his ax.

     "I still love the blues, still go to the record store and buy blues records all the time. But I haven't written a song like 'A Million Pretty Girls' in a while. I guess it comes down to the realization that I'm not black and I don't live in the 1950s. I'm a white man in 1988. I do the blues because I love it, but I don't think I can do it justice as much as with rock and roll, which is music for young white guys who love the blues. That's how it was when Elvis Presley did it. And how I want to continue holding onto it, in my way."

     "There are no blues songs on this album," said Conwell. "But in my guitar solos I flatter myself to think I can hear the influences of Chuck Berry and B.B. King, Albert King and Elmore James. There's also some Philly funk - on Kae Williams' collaboration 'I Wanna Make You Happy' - and Texas blues when I play my guitar through a Leslie organ amp on 'Everything They Say Is True.' So while it's basically rock and roll, there are blues nods all over the place."

Young Rumblers in Concert - 1988

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 9 - August 9]

An e-mail from New Jersey:

"Hi! Thanks for the TCYR month of Rumble posts on your blog. Here are some pictures when the band first launched their tour in Sept. 1988. The venue might have been Chestnut, but we saw them lots. Time, memories are fuzzy by now.

Also, got some autographs from Rob and Jimmer - my two prize possessions! 

Tommy Conwell Interview on Super Channel (1988)

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 9 - August 9]

A Rumble-era interview with Tommy Conwell for Europe’s Super Channel television in 1988. The best part comes at the end with all of the Young Rumblers running up the “Rocky steps” and giving a victory cheer at the top of the 72 stone steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

25th Anniversary of Rumble - August 8, 1988

August 8, 2013

25th anniversary of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers 1988 debut national album, Rumble

Audio Rumble celebrates the release of Rumble with a month-long retrospective [July 8 – August 8] featuring articles, audio, images, interviews, video and lots of other bonus material!

If you would like to contribute your memories related to the band and the release of Rumble, please send your e-mail to djcaterina@yahoo.com. Audio Rumble already has several contributions waiting in the wings…

In 2004, Philadelphia Weekly listed Rumble at #100 in the 100 Best Philly Albums of All Time!

I'm Not Your Man - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers (1988)

The first song that Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers perform live on MTV's Mouth to Mouth, 1988 - I'm Not Your Man. The band closes out to commercial [again -- too briefly!] with Workout!

[Updated version.]

If We Never Meet Again - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers (1988)

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers - Live on MTV's Mouth to Mouth, 1988. Performing If We Never Meet Again. And then the band closes out to commercial [too briefly] with Walkin' on the Water!

Rumble - LP

Tommy Conwell on the back of the 1988 LP "Rumble."