In this episode of Vinyl Vibes we are joined by Sandy Deanne of Jay and the Americans. Sandy is a founding member and backing vocalist with Jay and the Americans which he helped form in 1960. Music has been a part of Sandy's life since the beginning with artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith being regular sounds on the family's record player. But It was seeing Elvis on TV and hearing Dion & The Belmonts singing “I Wonder Why” that made him want to make music his career. He formed his first group and wrote his first local hit record in high school. This group was called The Harborlites and would evolve into Jay and The Americans. Originally with Jay Traynor on lead vocals, the group was soon signed by the famous Lieber & Stoller team. Their first big hit would by “She Cried” in 1962 reaching #3 in the charts. Jay Black would replace Traynor and well into the end of the '60s, the group would go on to have more hits such as "Come a Little Bit Closer", "Cara Mia" and "This Magic Moment". They disbanded in 1973. After a three-decade hiatus, in 2006 the band reformed with Jay Reincke on lead vocals and as of 2023 they are still performing. More recently their 1964 song "Come a Little Bit Closer" was featured on the sound track to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, bringing their music to a whole new audience.

Jack called direct to New York to talk with Sandy about his early music influences, the impact of seeing Elvis on TV, the forming of his first band 'The Harborlites', the signing of the group by Lieber & Stoller, the recording and success of "She Cried", opening for the Beatles on their first US concert, the story of how "Cara Mia" came to be, his thoughts on music today, how he felt about having the band's music featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and what the band's future plans are.

"And by now the kids are screaming 'We want the Beatles! We want the Beatles!' and Jay Black had quick wit and we walked out on stage and he went "Hey! wow I'm glad you guys all came to see us tonight!" and they all started laughing and then they shut up and listened and we sang our two songs, got a standing ovation and went back downstairs to the dressing room. While we are getting changed out of our stage clothes we heard them saying 'And now here they are, The Beatles!' and a scream went up. I've never heard anything like this ever again" - Sandy Deanne on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about the Beatles first US concert.

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

In this episode of Vinyl Vibes we are joined by Sandy Deanne of <a href="http://jayandtheamericans.net">Jay and the Americans</a>. Sandy is a founding member and backing vocalist with Jay and the Americans which he helped form in 1960. Music has been a part of Sandy's life since the beginning with artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith being regular sounds on the family's record player. But It was seeing Elvis on TV and hearing Dion &amp; The Belmonts singing “I Wonder Why” that made him want to make music his career. He formed his first group and wrote his first local hit record in high school. This group was called The Harborlites and would evolve into Jay and The Americans. Originally with Jay Traynor on lead vocals, the group was soon signed by the famous Lieber &amp; Stoller team. Their first big hit would by “She Cried” in 1962 reaching #3 in the charts. Jay Black would replace Traynor and well into the end of the '60s, the group would go on to have more hits such as "Come a Little Bit Closer", "Cara Mia" and "This Magic Moment". They disbanded in 1973. After a three-decade hiatus, in 2006 the band reformed with Jay Reincke on lead vocals and as of 2023 they are still performing. More recently their 1964 song "Come a Little Bit Closer" was featured on the sound track to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, bringing their music to a whole new audience.
Jack called direct to New York to talk with Sandy about his early music influences, the impact of seeing Elvis on TV, the forming of his first band 'The Harborlites', the signing of the group by Lieber &amp; Stoller, the recording and success of "She Cried", opening for the Beatles on their first US concert, the story of how "Cara Mia" came to be, his thoughts on music today, how he felt about having the band's music featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and what the band's future plans are.
"And by now the kids are screaming 'We want the Beatles! We want the Beatles!' and Jay Black had quick wit and we walked out on stage and he went "Hey! wow I'm glad you guys all came to see us tonight!" and they all started laughing and then they shut up and listened and we sang our two songs, got a standing ovation and went back downstairs to the dressing room. While we are getting changed out of our stage clothes we heard them saying 'And now here they are, The Beatles!' and a scream went up. I've never heard anything like this ever again" - Sandy Deanne on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about the Beatles first US concert.
Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

Vinyl Vibes is a new music show created by Jack Hodgins. It features in-depth interviews with those who were a part of the vinyl era of music. If you are rocker, a groover or somewhere in between then this show is for you. On the podcast version you can find the uncut interviews but on the On Demand version you can listen to interviews along with music.

This show is the full creation of Jack Hodgins who is the producer, host and editor for the show. Jack has been a lover of older music since he can remember with Buddy Holly being the person who got him into music. He is even a musician himself having released his own EP.

Vinyl Vibes is a new music show created by Jack Hodgins. It features in-depth interviews with those who were a part of the vinyl era of music. If you are rocker, a groover or somewhere in between then this show is for you. On the podcast version you can find the uncut interviews but on the On Demand version you can listen to interviews along with music.
This show is the full creation of Jack Hodgins who is the producer, host and editor for the show. Jack has been a lover of older music since he can remember with Buddy Holly being the person who got him into music. He is even a musician himself having released his own EP.

Vinyl Vibes

Jack Hodgins interviews the likes of Colin Hanton (Quarrymen) about their music and lives.

Jack Hodgins interviews the likes of Colin Hanton (Quarrymen) about their music and lives.

Sandy Deanne - Founding member of Jay and The Americans

In this episode of Vinyl Vibes Jack is joined by Sandy Deanne, founding member of Jay and the Americans. Music has been a part of Sandy's life since the beginning with artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith being regular sounds on the family's record player. But It was seeing Elvis on TV and hearing Dion & The Belmonts singing “I Wonder Why” that made him want to make music his career. He formed his first group and wrote his first local hit record in high school. This group was called The Harborlites and would evolve into Jay and The Americans. Originally with Jay Traynor on lead vocals, the group was soon signed by the famous Lieber & Stoller team. The group would soon have its first big hit, “She Cried” in 1962. Jay Black would replace Traynor and well into the end of the '60s, the group would go on to have more hits such as "Come a Little Bit Closer", "Cara Mia" and "This Magic Moment". They disbanded in 1973.

After a three-decade hiatus, in 2006 the band reformed with Jay Reincke on lead vocals. More recently in 2017 their hit song "Come a Little Bit Closer" was featured on the sound track to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, bringing their music to a whole new audience.

Jack called direct to New York to talk with Sandy about his early music influences, the impact of seeing Elvis on TV, the forming of his first band 'The Harborlites', the signing of the group by Lieber & Stoller, the recording and success of "She Cried", opening for the Beatles on their first US concert, the story of how "Cara Mia" came to be, his thoughts on music today, how he felt about having the band's music featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and what the band's future plans are.

"And by now the kids are screaming 'We want the Beatles! We want the Beatles!' and Jay Black had quick wit and we walked out on stage and he went "Hey! wow I'm glad you guys all came to see us tonight!" and they all started laughing and then they shut up and listened and we sang our two songs, got a standing ovation and went back downstairs to the dressing room. While we are getting changed out of our stage clothes we heard them saying 'And now here they are, The Beatles!' and a scream went up. I've never heard anything like this ever again" - Sandy Deanne on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about the Beatles first US concert.

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

In this episode of Vinyl Vibes Jack is joined by Sandy Deanne, founding member of <a href="http://jayandtheamericans.net">Jay and the Americans</a>. Music has been a part of Sandy's life since the beginning with artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith being regular sounds on the family's record player. But It was seeing Elvis on TV and hearing Dion &amp; The Belmonts singing “I Wonder Why” that made him want to make music his career. He formed his first group and wrote his first local hit record in high school. This group was called The Harborlites and would evolve into Jay and The Americans. Originally with Jay Traynor on lead vocals, the group was soon signed by the famous Lieber &amp; Stoller team. The group would soon have its first big hit, “She Cried” in 1962. Jay Black would replace Traynor and well into the end of the '60s, the group would go on to have more hits such as "Come a Little Bit Closer", "Cara Mia" and "This Magic Moment". They disbanded in 1973.
After a three-decade hiatus, in 2006 the band reformed with Jay Reincke on lead vocals. More recently in 2017 their hit song "Come a Little Bit Closer" was featured on the sound track to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, bringing their music to a whole new audience.
Jack called direct to New York to talk with Sandy about his early music influences, the impact of seeing Elvis on TV, the forming of his first band 'The Harborlites', the signing of the group by Lieber &amp; Stoller, the recording and success of "She Cried", opening for the Beatles on their first US concert, the story of how "Cara Mia" came to be, his thoughts on music today, how he felt about having the band's music featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and what the band's future plans are.
"And by now the kids are screaming 'We want the Beatles! We want the Beatles!' and Jay Black had quick wit and we walked out on stage and he went "Hey! wow I'm glad you guys all came to see us tonight!" and they all started laughing and then they shut up and listened and we sang our two songs, got a standing ovation and went back downstairs to the dressing room. While we are getting changed out of our stage clothes we heard them saying 'And now here they are, The Beatles!' and a scream went up. I've never heard anything like this ever again" - Sandy Deanne on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about the Beatles first US concert.
Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

Sandy Deanne - Founding member of Jay and The Americans (Remastered Version)

In this episode Vinyl Vibes Jack is joined by Colin Hanton, Drummer of The Quarrymen. In 1956 school mates John Lennon and Eric Griffiths formed a group called The Quarrymen. Colin would soon join as the band's drummer. The group originally played skiffle music influenced by the skiffle craze started by Lonnie Donegan but soon discovered their love for rock 'n' roll numbers by the likes of Elvis and Gene Vincent.

Paul McCartney joined the group on guitar in 1957 after meeting John Lennon at the now famous St. Peters Church gig at. The group decided they needed another guitarist after a not completely successful first performance by McCartney and so George Harrison soon joined. Colin played with the band through all these historical performances. In July 1958 the band went into Phillips' Sound Recording Services to record straight to a 78 RPM disc. This first recording that McCartney, Lennon and Harrison ever made - a cover of Buddy Holly's That’ll Be the Day. Colin played along side these future Beatles on this very recording.

Colin left the group in 1959 after an argument with the other members and went on to work as an upholsterer. However in 1997, after decades of disbandment, The Quarrymen were put back together with three original members including Colin.

In 2018 Colin released a book on his time with Quarrymen called "Pre:Fab!: The Story of One Man, His Drums, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison".

Jack called direct to Liverpool and Colin spoke about his early musical beginnings, how he came to play drums, how he become a part of The Quarrymen, meeting John Lennon for the first time, The famous St. Peter's Church gig, the recording of their first record, why he left the band in 1959, and his life and work with the post Beatles members.

“He was just one of the lads, we knew he had a decent voice but I mean there was nothing to indicate what would have happened later, you know, that was just beyond everybody’s wildest dream, wasn’t it.” - Colin Hanton taking about meeting John Lennon for the first time.

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

In this episode Vinyl Vibes Jack is joined by Colin Hanton, Drummer of <a href="http://www.originalquarrymen.co.uk/">The Quarrymen</a>. In 1956 school mates John Lennon and Eric Griffiths formed a group called The Quarrymen. Colin would soon join as the band's drummer. The group originally played skiffle music influenced by the skiffle craze started by Lonnie Donegan but soon discovered their love for rock 'n' roll numbers by the likes of Elvis and Gene Vincent.
Paul McCartney joined the group on guitar in 1957 after meeting John Lennon at the now famous St. Peters Church gig at. The group decided they needed another guitarist after a not completely successful first performance by McCartney and so George Harrison soon joined. Colin played with the band through all these historical performances. In July 1958 the band went into Phillips' Sound Recording Services to record straight to a 78 RPM disc. This first recording that McCartney, Lennon and Harrison ever made - a cover of Buddy Holly's That’ll Be the Day. Colin played along side these future Beatles on this very recording.
Colin left the group in 1959 after an argument with the other members and went on to work as an upholsterer. However in 1997, after decades of disbandment, The Quarrymen were put back together with three original members including Colin.
In 2018 Colin released a book on his time with Quarrymen called <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Pre-Lennon-McCartney-George-Harrison/dp/1912362570">"Pre:Fab!: The Story of One Man, His Drums, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison"</a>.
Jack called direct to Liverpool and Colin spoke about his early musical beginnings, how he came to play drums, how he become a part of The Quarrymen, meeting John Lennon for the first time, The famous St. Peter's Church gig, the recording of their first record, why he left the band in 1959, and his life and work with the post Beatles members.
“He was just one of the lads, we knew he had a decent voice but I mean there was nothing to indicate what would have happened later, you know, that was just beyond everybody’s wildest dream, wasn’t it.” - Colin Hanton taking about meeting John Lennon for the first time.
Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

Colin Hanton - Drummer of the Quarrymen (Remastered Version) 

In this episode of Vinyl Vibes Jack is joined by Al Kooper, a songwriter, producer, and well known session musician. Al has been in the music business since he was 14 when he joined The Royal Teens, a well known rock and roll group, in 1958. He co-wrote his first number one hit when he was 21 years of age in 1965, "This Dimond Ring" which was made famous by Gerry Lewis and The Playboys. In the same year, Al played the famous organ riff on Bob Dylan's Like A Rolling Stone, making him in high demand for session work forever after that. Some of the albums Al has been a session musician on include Blonde on Blonde, The Who Sell Out, Electric Ladyland, and Let it Bleed. 

Al was a founding member of The Blues Project (1966) and Blood Sweat and Tears (1967), and is featured on studio albums of both groups. Al was a performer at the famous 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival, a festival where many other artist have also performed including the Grateful Dead, The Who, and The Byrds. In 1972 he discovered Lynyrd Skynyrd and would go on to produce their first three albums which included the songs Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird. He would go to make 11 solo studio albums and perform on many other albums as a session musician in the coming decades. 

In this episode Jack talks with Al about his early musical influences, the impact rock and roll had on him as a kid, his time in the Royal Teens, his upcoming 4-CD boxset chronicling his entire music career, his 1972 album A Possible Projection of the Future, playing on Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone, his 1973 cover of John Prine's Sam Stone, his work with BB King, the recording of Super Session, and his discovering and producing of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

"(Mike Bloomfield) just sat down to noodle and out played me out of the room. So, I packed up my guitar and I put it in the corner and I went in the booth where I belonged and then they move the organ player to piano and they took a break to do that and I sat down at the organ and luckily it was turned on because I didn't know how to turn it on....(the producer) says 'what are you doing out there' and everyone in the band laughs and then he laughs and he says 'Ok, here we go, this is Like a Rolling Stone take four'."  - Al Kooper on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about playing organ on Like a Rolling Stone 

The original unremastered version of Jack's interview with Al Kooper can be found here

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

In this episode of Vinyl Vibes Jack is joined by <a href="https://alkooper.com/bio.html">Al Kooper</a>, a songwriter, producer, and well known session musician. Al has been in the music business since he was 14 when he joined The Royal Teens, a well known rock and roll group, in 1958. He co-wrote his first number one hit when he was 21 years of age in 1965, "This Dimond Ring" which was made famous by Gerry Lewis and The Playboys. In the same year, Al played the famous organ riff on Bob Dylan's Like A Rolling Stone, making him in high demand for session work forever after that. Some of the albums Al has been a session musician on include Blonde on Blonde, The Who Sell Out, Electric Ladyland, and Let it Bleed. 
Al was a founding member of The Blues Project (1966) and Blood Sweat and Tears (1967), and is featured on studio albums of both groups. Al was a performer at the famous 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival, a festival where many other artist have also performed including the Grateful Dead, The Who, and The Byrds. In 1972 he discovered Lynyrd Skynyrd and would go on to produce their first three albums which included the songs Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird. He would go to make 11 solo studio albums and perform on many other albums as a session musician in the coming decades. 
In this episode Jack talks with Al about his early musical influences, the impact rock and roll had on him as a kid, his time in the Royal Teens, his upcoming 4-CD boxset chronicling his entire music career, his 1972 album A Possible Projection of the Future, playing on Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone, his 1973 cover of John Prine's Sam Stone, his work with BB King, the recording of Super Session, and his discovering and producing of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
"(Mike Bloomfield) just sat down to noodle and out played me out of the room. So, I packed up my guitar and I put it in the corner and I went in the booth where I belonged and then they move the organ player to piano and they took a break to do that and I sat down at the organ and luckily it was turned on because I didn't know how to turn it on....(the producer) says 'what are you doing out there' and everyone in the band laughs and then he laughs and he says 'Ok, here we go, this is Like a Rolling Stone take four'."  - Al Kooper on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about playing organ on Like a Rolling Stone 
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/vinyl-vibes-podcast/al-kooper-the-forrest-gump-of-rock?in_playlist=podcast">The original unremastered version of Jack's interview with Al Kooper can be found here</a>
Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

Sandy Deanne - Founding member of Jay and The Americans

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