Liner Art selected for planned Sugar & Ames album
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lthough Sugar & Ames failed to become successful by commercial standards, the band left behind a
legacy both in its musical artists and in the paths it forged in folk music. Many bands that became key players
in the growing upstate New York music scene in the 70's were influenced by the S & A sound. In addition,
the songs they wrote lived on -- some even until today -- as snapshots of a world many of us have long
forgotten.
Back Alley: A country/rock fusion band that played upstate and New York City
in 1974 and 1975. Their standard set included a southern-flavored rendition of "Blue Jean Lady" that they
wrote after hearing the song at a Gary Krajicek solo show in late 1973.
Cart Blank: From Albany, they became the most successful of the Sugar & Ames
inspired bands. They played
the Albany, Troy, Schenectady scene for 4 years, carrying the folk torch after the breakup of Sugar & Ames.
Originally a pop/rock styled band, the S & A show at St. Peter's Garden in 1969 caused such a revelation in the band members that they
retooled to a folk style and saw their success almost instantly take off. Jean Van Ness, singer/guitarist for
Cart Blank said in a 1970 interview:I think as a group, we came to an epiphany while playing and being a part of the St. Peter's Garden Folk Rock Show last year. We saw so many great pure folk bands and the way they expressed themselves through their music was exactly what we were looking for. Sugar and Ames came back on at the end and everything was so perfect, the harmony, the lyrics, the music... even the crowd felt like part of some huge awakening. We just looked at each other and said "that's our sound."Cousin It: Gary Krajicek's first effort after Sugar & Ames was to join this rock band in late 1970 and he quickly became the lead singer and guitarist. Playing a set that contained at least seven different S & A songs at various points, the band toured the East Coast as far south as Richmond, Virginia in 1971 and early 1972. George Jackson: Callie Young played behind George on and off beginning during the Sugar & Ames 1970 hiatus. Though a very different style of music, a careful ear to some of George's early 1971 work can hear Callie using a few fills from the S & A days. The Goose Farm: A local Schenectady group that had been playing clubs since 1967, changed over to a folkier, more vocally harmonic sound in May of 1969, due in part to lead singer Jeff Corliss watching a few early S & A shows at The Cellar. Continued folk sound into late 1971. The Hudson Six: A folk band that played the Albany area in 1969 and 1970. They covered a few S & A originals including "Love, Rain, or Me" and "Gaslamp". Mason's Funhouse: A funky cover band that played mostly in Troy in 1968 and 1969. Their sets included everything from folk to psychadelic rock to soul. After playing with S & A at The Circle Club, the band regularly performed 3 different versions of "Dime Store Candy", including a psychadelic dreamy version that included a 4 1/2 minute guitar solo. Papa Zitt: Gary Krajicek came out of musical retirement in 1978 to sing and play guitar for this Boston area hard rock group. They toured New England from 1978 to 1980 and even released a rare (and forgettable) album in early 1980. They were known to cover "Blue Jean Lady" on stage at times. The Scrunge: Callie Young drummed and did some vocals for this upstate rock band from late 1971 through most of 1972. The S & A influence comes out in two of the songs Callie contributed on: "Doctor Blue" and "Dreamtime". Tom & Jenny: They were a folk duo that played Schenectady-area clubs and shows from late 1969 until the early 70's. They covered many of the S & A tunes as part of their sets and opened for S & A at their last Cellar show. The Who: A band who needs no introduction, their only link to S & A came through their inclusion of "Love Reign O'er Me" on their 1973 Quadrophenia album. This song was based on an entirely rewritten version of Sugar & Ames "Love, Rain, or Me".
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