The "Rumblers Vocal"

Originally posted on November 15, 2018.

 

One highly unappreciated aspect of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers’ recordings and live performance is what DJ Caterina has dubbed the collective “Rumblers vocal.” 

It’s Tommy, Paul, Rob, Chris and even Jimmer (if he’s mic’d) singing In unison—sounding like that Philly street gang with an attitude that you always wanted to join. It’s distinctive, it’s got swagger, and, as an event, it’s kind of rare. 

But when it happens—hold on to something—‘cause it’s cool.
 

Some great examples in this list:

• Performing "Big Big Love" live at Market St. Station in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Sept. 8, 1988.
  
   
• At the end of a 1989 cover of “Philadelphia Freedom”—with other Philadelphia-based artists, singing "Freedom!"
• “Maybe She’s Just Not There” - recorded live at the historic Bayou in Washington, D.C., May 13, 1987.

• A cover of The Chambers Brothers original "Time Has Come Today" in 1987. 

• The Young Rumblers live in Milan, Italy, performing "Young Thing" in 1989.
• Performing I'm Not Your Man in 2017.

Cornerstone TCYR promo [1988]

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers promo image from Cornerstone Management, 1988. 

Photographer: Patrick Harbron

Rumble Released 33 Years Ago - 1988

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers released their national debut album 'Rumble' 33 years ago on August 8, 1988. 😎🎸🎶 

8️⃣-8️⃣-8️⃣8️⃣ 

August 9, 2018 - #Rumble30

Classic 80's TCYR images

Classic images of Tommy Conwell and his Young Rumblers--in concert and enjoying life. From the collection of Debra L. Rothenberg Photography.

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers - April 25, 2015 — at The Ardmore Music Hall

Images of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers performing at The Ardmore Music Hall on April 25, 2015. All photographs courtesy of Bud Fulginiti.

(Click images to see a larger file size.)

Guitar Trouble (live) - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Dude: Hey, DJ Caterina, tell me another one of your TCYR stories...

Me: Well, back in 1986, Tommy Conwell hired Rob Miller for the Young Rumblers and then put him on keyboards because, Tommy said, Rob was the better guitar player. 

Dude: Oh, come ON!!! 

Me: Yeah, interesting, right? But here's Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers live in 1990 playing Guitar Trouble with Rob Miller on lead guitar with Tommy. I just love the guitar duel going on here.

Dude: THIS IS AMAZING!

Me: Anyway, check it out, kids...

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers - 'Rumble' Press Release

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

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers 
- Biography - 
Columbia Records Press and Publicity

Philadelphia’s Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers play their music with one goal in mind – to keep it honest, with a distinctive edge. It has been this edge that’s taken Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers from the trenches of local rock to the brink of national acclaim. Rumble, their aptly-titled debut album for Columbia, grabs hold of the raw intensity and honesty that characterize both Conwell and his music. 

Each of the ten tracks on Rumble exhibits a straightforward approach to rock ‘n roll that is deftly meshed with touches of blues, pop, funk and gospel. The record is raw rock and pure pop; each cut as infectious as the one before. Rumble was produced by veteran Rick Chertoff, whose credits include Cyndi Lauper’s She’s So Unusual, Hooters’ Nervous Night and One Way Home, the Outfield’s Play Deep, and Patty Smyth’s Never Enough – which features Tommy’s guitar solo on the single, “Isn’t It Enough.” 

Uncharacteristic of many bands, Rumble is true to the sound of the band. There are no special effects or filler orchestration to detract from what is a distinctive rock ‘n roll album. What is most apparent is the startling clarity of the vocals and musical arrangements. Most importantly, says Tommy, “Rumble sounds like us.” 

This message is brought home on the opening “I’m Not Your Man,” a bluesy rocker that was Tommy’s first collaborative effort (with Philadelphia songwriter Marcy Rauer, who also wrote the gospel-soaked “Gonna Breakdown” with Conwell) that is also the LP’s first single. In between, Tommy’s passionate singing and the band’s well-crafted harmonies provide the album’s cohesive strength, starting with “Half a Heart,” a collective effort from Conwell, Chertoff, and Hooters Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian. 

“If We Never Meet Again,” described by the singer as “a real loving song,” was penned by Jules Shear; he and Tommy co-wrote “Tell Me What You Want Me To Be” with its strong Bo Diddley beat. Another collaborator is fellow Philly rocker Robert Hazard (composer of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”), who joined with Tommy on two songs, “Love’s On Fire” and “Everything They Say Is True,” the latter employing a “Texas trick” of playing the guitar directly into a Lesley lamp generally used for organs. 

Kae Williams is a funk songwriter/producer who provided the working groove for “I Wanna Make You Happy”; Chertoff and Conwell completed the lyrics to the song, which the singer says is “very much inspired by Sly Stone, with a ‘Family Affair’-type vibe to it.” The album closes with “Walkin’ On the Water,” an old Rumblers number brought up to date, also a bit of church/gospel feel in the background vocals. 

Working with producer Chertoff proved a positive experience. “Some people think producers force the artist to do what they want or think will sell, but Rick is just the opposite of that. He tried to get me to be my best, which is a very important goal, and the amazing thing is that he succeeded. We had a true artist/producer relationship. He pushed me to do things that I might not have done without him, but that were inside me.” 

Tommy Conwell was born and raised in suburban Philadelphia. Brought up in a supportive family, he remembers music always being an influence. “I remember the first record I ever bought was ‘Wipe Out.' I remember it because I went to the shop with my buddy who bought ‘I Never Promised You a Rose Garden’ and all the guys were laughing at him.” He got his first guitar in 9th or 10th grade and taught himself to play; soon after, he picked up an electric. His first band, the Elastics, had the distinction of once playing an outdoor concert event at Tommy’s high school. 

“I was real ambitious when I first started playing,” recalls Conwell, a bonafide guitar junkie from the start, who remembers staying home from school or cutting classes with only one thing in mind: playing guitar. “I wanted to be the best, the best guitar player. So I said to myself ‘What’s the hardest music?’ There was a lot of jazz in Philly, and that type of music was a challenge. Plus, it felt right. Traditional jazz was something I felt I could do and no one else was doing it.”

He first encountered the real blues when he entered the University of Delaware at Newark. “I saw blues as a liaison between jazz and rock. I was really into punk, which I loved for the performance, drive and party of the music, and jazz which I felt just emoted from the guitar. Blues seemed like earthy rock ‘n roll with a lot more improv.” 

While at school, Tommy joined an established grind-it-out-six-shows-a-night blues bar band as a sideman guitarist. Although the position wasn’t the one he aspired to, it was during that year and a half that he feels he got his “chops.” He also began turning the heads of local music scene insiders. 

Tommy Conwell formed the Young Rumblers in February 1984. By the fall, the lineup had solidified with Delaware musicians Paul Slivka on bass and Jim Hannum on drums. Almost immediately the Young Rumblers became a fixture on the mid-Atlantic music scene, consistently filling night clubs to capacity and clearly affecting the audience. Their stature grew to the extent that eight of their performances have already been broadcast live, including a television simulcast from Veterans Stadium on Labor Day 1986. 

That same fall, the Rumblers’ lineup expanded with the addition of rhythm guitarist and vocalist Chris Day, and keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Rob Miller, formerly with Robert Hazard and the Heroes, and the Hooters. Soon afterwards, the new group went into the studio with now-former Hooter Andy King, who co-produced Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers’ first album, Walkin’ On the Water. An independent regional release, the LP has sold over 70,000 copies and received heavy airplay on Philadelphia radio, as well as on numerous AOR, CHR and college stations across the country. 

Walkin’ On the Water also included early versions of four songs redone for the band’s Columbia debut: “I’m Not Your Man,” “Love’s On Fire,” “Everything They Say Is True,” and “Walkin’ On the Water.” The LP attracted the attention of record companies and national media, ultimately resulting in a deal with Columbia Records in May 1987. The summer of ’87 found the Young Rumblers opening for Squeeze, Robert Palmer, Pretenders, Bryan Adams, and David Bowie. By October 1987, Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers had been profiled in Rolling Stone; a month later, they received the “Most Promising New Artist” award at the first annual Philadelphia Music Foundation Awards show. 

As a musician, Tommy Conwell is influenced by a wide variety of artists. He cites Charlie Parker as his all-time biggest influence, but also includes Jimmie Vaughan (the Fabulous Thunderbirds), Chrissy Hynde (Pretenders), George Thorogood, the Sex Pistols, and the Ramones. Tommy’s innate talent strikes all who come in contact with him, but is something he develops without dwelling upon it. “From the start,” he says, “I think that my best asset is that God made me different from everybody else. Everyone has that asset, but not everyone chooses to use it.” 

The musicians that complete the Rumblers’ sound are best described as intense perfectionists. Jim Hannum’s strong drums and obvious love of the stage pervade each performance. A passionate music lover, he and Conwell often grill each other on new music. Paul Slivka’s steady rock bass playing shows control and technique that have developed strongly over the years. Rhythm guitarist Chris Day’s musical background is anchored in hard rock, and provides a creative balance with the leader’s often blues-oriented lead. Initially, however, it was Day’s stage presence and performance that drew Tommy to him. 

Rob Miller adds depth to the overall sound on keyboards and guitar. “He’s the analyst of the band,” laughs Tommy. It’s great because we didn’t have that before. He forces us to look at areas, to evaluate in a technically musical sense. I’m just interested in the magic. Rob is my other half, plus he’s a very, very talented musician.” 

The songwriting collaborations on Rumble are a natural extension of the process that started on Walkin’ On the Water. “Collaborating has helped me as a songwriter,” Tommy asserts. “After awhile, it’s lonely writing songs by yourself. It’s a lot more fun writing with someone else. When you write on your own, you’re thinking; when you write with someone, you’re talking, and there’s something nice about that. I’ve been real lucky in that all the people I’ve worked with are great writers.” 

Although Tommy Conwell has achieved a degree of stardom in his own right in the mid-Atlantic region for some years now, noticeably absent is the arrogance or attitude often witnessed in new up-and-comers. Sincere, amicable, and unaffected by the national recognition that looms ahead with his first Columbia LP, Tommy is as real as his hard-hitting music. Yet with his music, he is stubborn and meticulous. 

As Rumble hits the streets, he is very excited to say the least. “This LP really captures what we’ve come up to over the past four years, and I’m really proud of that.” 

“I can’t wait to tour,” he adds. “That’s when I’ll know we’ve really made it, when we’re playing in California to a happening crowd. But right now I try not to have expectations. I’ll work hard today and take the results as they come.” 

With its mix of musical prowess, raw energy and intensity, and a sound that transcends characteristic boundaries, Tommy Conwell’s new album packs a potent punch. No doubt, this band’s time has come, and there’s no telling how big they will become. Just put your ear to the ground and feel the rumble.

Rumblers to Release Columbia Debut

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

Rumblers to Release Columbia Debut

Friday, July 29, 1988  
By Lauren R. Feola
Collegian Arts Writer

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, a group that has been around the block and up and down the East Coast. are on the brink of national exposure. 

"Look out, baby, here I come," sings Conwell, frontman and namesake for the group. To Philadelphia-vicinity fans, the lyric and name are familiar. But on August 9th, the Young Rumblers' new release Rumble on Columbia Records, will put their name into the national scope. 

Of course, the world of music television will be a factor. "The video, a performance video, was filmed last week, downstairs (in the 23 East Cabaret, a few miles outside of Philadelphia in Ardmore.) It will coincide with the release and be on MTV," said Patty Rose, an agent at Cornerstone Management. 

The bluesy hard-pop band's slow-brewing popularity has developed from a recipe of an independent album, a few friendly AOR radio stations and three years of constant roadwork.

A sparse Young Rumblers grouped early in 1984. Six months later, the three member band of Conwell on guitars, Paul Slivka on bass and Jim Hannum on drums signed with Cornerstone Management, the same company that the Hooters are with. 

After an intense touring schedule and the addition of Chris Day on guitar and Rob Miller on keyboards, the Young Rumblers' sound had solidified. They took to the studio in December 1986 and released the independent Walkin' on the Water. The album, which has sold approximately 50,000 copies, and more touring, which included a stop at the 1987 Interfraternity Council Dance Marathon, has gained the Young Rumblers some recognition and airplay. 

Some of the band's singles are occasionally exposed locally on WWZU. "They've gotten a lot better," disc jockey Shawn Carey said. "We've been playing the new version of 'I'm Not Your Man'". From the sound of the single, revamped from the independent album, the Young Rumblers have become musically stronger and more personalized. Especially, Miller's keyboard work has developed into a more important facet of the sound. 

The new album has samples of the group's past, present and future, according to Patty Rose at Cornerstone. "The album has things people heard in shows, stuff from the Walkin' on the Water and some brand new surprises that you've never heard before," she said.

The first single and video will be the newer, edgier "I'm Not Your Man," a coy farewell tune. Other titles mentioned by Rose were "I Wanna Make You Happy," with rollicking twangy guitars and "Gonna Breakdown," a gospel-influenced rocker.

"Tommy has a lot of influences, as you can tell on the new album," Rose said. "Mainly Bo Diddley as one, but the album is musically more complicated."

The Young Rumblers have promises of tour support from Columbia, which will eventually pull them from bar-band status. Besides Philadelphia, Harrisburg, New Jersey shore and Georgetown clubs, the band has had some positive larger-crowd experience. Last summer, they opened headliners David Bowie and Squeeze, Bryan Adams, and the Hooters. Most recently, the Young Rumblers performed in Hershey, opening Robert Plant's show last weekend. "They were fantastic," said Carey at WWZU.

WWZU is attempting to negotiate a sponsored performance for later this year. "We're not sure, though," said Carey. "They're talking about maybe going to Europe."

Locally, the shows are going on; the Young Rumblers will be in Wilkes-Barre for a show at Market Street on August 4th. Next weekend, performances will be at the 23 East Cabaret, soon to be immortalized by MTV. A performance on August 12th in Atlantic City will be broadcast live on Philadelphia's WMMR.

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.

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! 

I'm Home (live) - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers at Veterans Stadium

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers (Jim Hannum, Paul Slivka, Rob Miller, Chris Day) perform "I'm Home" live at Veterans Stadium. Performance in front of an audience after a Temple University football game, Sept. 24, 1987.

If We Never Meet Again - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers (1989)

For the Conwell faithful, one of the best episodes of Late Night with David Letterman aired on Wednesday, January 4, 1989.

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers (Rob Miller, Chris Day) perform a shortened version of If We Never Meet Again. Includes a brief interview with Tommy and Dave at the end.

Guests: Kevin Kline, Marv Albert
Musical Guest: Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Everything They Say Is True - MTV (live) 1988

Left to right: MTV VJ Adam Curry, Chris Day, Tommy Conwell and Rob Miller

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers -- only two! Chris Day and Rob Miller -- perform "Everything They Say Is True" on MTV with the leather-clad host Adam Curry. This was the 80's!...The Young Rumblers were promoting "Rumble" in 1988.