Installment Vol.4 Page 5

1976 was starting off strong. The Patti Smith Group's first album was released on Arista Records, produced by John Cale, and was entitled "Horses." Patti was acclaimed queen of punk by her following and by the press. The Ramones were becoming the hottest punk band around. Their 17 minutes of non stop energy was exhilarating. Everyone was talking about them even the rock critics loved them especially Robert Christgau of the Village Voice. I remember, one of the top female stars of the 70s, Linda Ronstadt, and her entourage came slumming to CBGB's to hear the Ramones and see what all the fuss was about. I got them right up front, but they lasted less than 5 minutes. She literally flew out the door holding her ears. Another group was "Orr and Ocasick" which played in the spring '76 having broken up as "Milkwood." They reformed as "Captain Swing" and then again as "The Cars". Billy Falcon's Sunshine Thunder Band" played many times and latter received a major recording contract. "Nantucket" was a southern rock band, from North Carolina, with a fresh twist. "The Dixie Dregs" were a bluegrass rock band, mostly instrumental. They went on to a very successful career. "Musica Orbis" from Swarthmore college in Pa., was a very different sort of group. Elements of folk, classical and rock were their makeup centered around a lovely young flutist named Kitty Brazelton who sang and played beautifully, but not at the same time. "Camille O'Grady" who was actually the lead singer in one of the very first bands in 1975" came back with her own group and did some very strong performances. Philip Rambow, returning from a success in Europe, was a new wave singer/songwriter; a constant barrage of new talent who wanted to play CBGB's were coming at me at a fast and furious rate.

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