THE AMBOY DUKES

'The Amboy Dukes' were an American rock music band of the late 1960s and early 1970s from Detroit, Michigan, best remembered for their hit single "Journey to the Center of the Mind", and for launching the career of Ted Nugent.

Contents

History

Band line-ups

1967

1968

Discography

Trivia

See also

External links

History

Ted Nugent, then 17, formed the band when he moved to Chicago in the 60's. Nugent had heard of a Detroit Rolling Stones cover band called Amboy Dukes that had just broken up, and took the name for his new band. The 'The Detroit Amboy Dukes' had actually themselves stolen the name from a Brooklyn street gang of the same name (''see'' Louis Buchalter). A book called 'The Amboy Dukes' about teen-ager gang lifestyle was published in the 1940s. Written by Irving Shulman, it was circulated widely in mass market paperback and considered "hot stuff" in that more innocent time. It was filmed in 1949 as "The City Across The River," starring a young Tony Curtis. In interviews Ted Nugent said he has been given the book on many occasions but still hasn't gotten around to reading it.[1]
The Pre-Nugent, Amboy Dukes formed in Detroit in 1965 and nearly had a British guitar player as its lead. James Patrick "Jimmy" Page was originally named the lead guitar after responding to an advertisement in Pop Weekly magazine. Jimmy Page, then just a session musician in England, never actually joined the band since he did not want to give up his stable career. The Amboy Dukes then found guitarist Ron Medeiros who recently moved to Detroit from the Boston area music scene. In 1966 Ron Medeiros left the band to form his own band the Tangerine Zoo. After Ron Medeiros departure, the band broke up going their separate ways. Vocalist Bob Lehnert took the name and when contacted by a young Ted Nugent agreed to let him use the name providing he could sing vocals. Ted Nugent agreed, but changed the name to The Nugent Amboy Dukes when he formed the group in Chicago in 1967. Lehnert left the group over "creative differences" in 1967. This led to several band shake-ups and instability, despite signing a record deal with Mainstream Records and releasing numerous albums and singles.
The Amboy Dukes released three albums with Mainstream Records, Their self-titled debut of both hard and dreamy psychedelic rock from late 1967, was followed by their only album to produce a national top 10 (depending on the particular market and chart referenced) single,composed by band guitarist Gary Hicks, "Journey To The Center Of The Mind", which was also the album's namesake. It stirred national attention in mid 1968, and was a psychedelic "concept" album, a term used at that time, especially, to define albums that were comprised of a collection of similarly-themed musical compositions. Their third major release, "Migration", sometimes known as "Migrations" per later release from European CD's (which also titled the band "The American Amboy Dukes" and re-arranged the order of solos on its standout "Prodigal Man") was actually available for sale in the United States by late 1968, although the original vinyl record did not sport a copyright date, unlike the later CD releases and historical references, all of which characterize 1969. {It is not unusual for a published work to be released for sale in the year before, or after its original, official copyright date. Infrequently, more than a year's discrepancy can occur, but within a few months one way or another is not at all unusual, sometimes related to distribution. One notable example, for clarification, is the Beatles' first single with Ringo in the band, although not actually on the record in the case of "Love Me Do", recorded in mid-1962, but generally designated as 1964, the year when it became a hit single in the United States and elsewhere.} One reason to properly credit "Migration" with its 1968 availability is that it offered some unusually hard and heavy rock material that, for its day, featured unusual power and depth of recording quality, particularly notable on bass and drums. They were among the first prominent American heavy rock bands to attain this attribute in 1968, with other examples including Blue Cheer's "Outsideinside" (the second and final recording from their original lineup) and SRC's stunning debut, released in June of that year, which was likewise a "concept" album, typically characterized as Cosmic Psychedelic Rock. Having run their course with Mainstream Records, they signed with Polydor Records around 1970 and released in that year "Marriage On The Rocks - Rock Bottom" This studio recording retained four of the six members from "Migration". The final effort with members from the original band, also released in 1970 was a live recording from a ballroom concert in their "hometown" of Detroit. At this time Amboy Dukes song titles would display such period flavor as "Why Is a Carrot More Orange Than an Orange" and "The Inexhaustible Quest for the Cosmic Cabbage"; the latter number was a multi-part epic that incorporated both Béla Bartók and The Beach Boys.
The band quickly grew tired of Polydor Records and signed with Frank Zappa's DisCreet (Warner Brothers) label. They released two more albums and then broke up.
While the other Amboy Dukes receded into obscurity, Nugent, as the "Motor City Madman", became a very successful and quite visible solo musician, hunter, and political controversialist.
The disparity in career outcomes has led to differing recollections among the former Dukes about what happened during the band's lifetime. Nugent claims to have been the leader of the band, and at times the "babysitter" for the rest of the band, and that when he took a few months off the band fell apart. And despite the apparent drug references of many of their songs, Nugent fervently denies significant drug use.
The other members of the band, such as Gary Hicks, viewed the band differently. They say guitarist Hicks and singer Drake were the main songwriters and the de facto leaders of the Amboy Dukes; Nugent was not the "leadman". In an interview , Drake deprecated Nugent's creative role in the Amboy Dukes, and mentioned some rather embarrassing personal details about Nugent. From Drake's point of view, Nugent was the one who needed babysitting - he was a spoiled brat and none too intelligent. Hicks did emphasize that Nugent was the only member ''not'' involved in drug activity and promiscuous sex with groupies, so on that matter everyone is in agreement.

Band line-ups

The Pre-Nugent Detroit band was as follows:

★ Ron Medeiros (Lead Guitar)

★ Dave Opatic (Guitar)

★ James Jackson (Bass)

★ Ben Vineyard (Drums)

★ Bob Lehnert (Vocals)

1967

The Nugent Amboy Dukes began in Chicago and moved back to Detroit. Before landing a record deal, the members were as follows:

★ Bob Lehnert (original vocalist 1965–1968

★ Ted Nugent (Guitar)

★ Gary Hicks (Guitar)

★ Dick Treat (Bass)

★ Gail Uptadale (Drums)

1968

After a band shuffle for signing a deal with Mainstream Records of New York, the band members were:

★ John Drake (Vocals)

★ Ted Nugent (Lead Guitar, Vocals)

★ Steve Farmer (Guitar, Vocals)

★ Rick Lober (Keyboard)

★ Bill White (Bass)

★ Dave Palmer (Drums) ex The Galaxy Five ex The Citations
''Journey to the Center of the Mind'' saw another member shake-up:

★ John Drake (Vocals)

★ Ted Nugent (Lead Guitar, Vocals)

★ Steve Farmer (Guitar, Vocals)

★ Andy Solomon (Keyboard, Sax, Vocals) ex The Apostles

★ Greg Arama (Bass) ex The Gang

★ Dave Palmer (Drums)
''Migration'' saw another line-up:

★ Rusty Day (Russell Edward Davidson) (Vocals, Harmonica) ex Rusty Day & The Midnighters

★ Ted Nugent (Lead Guitar, Vocals)

★ Steve Farmer (Guitar, Vocals)

★ Andy Solomon (Keyboard, Sax, Vocals)

★ Greg Arama (Bass)

★ Dave Palmer (Drums)

Discography

★ ''The Amboy Dukes'', The Amboy Dukes' first album, was released in November 1967 Mainstream Records 56104 mono and S/6104 stereo. It crept into the top 200 and its highest was #183. It contained the debut single "Baby Please Don't Go" which did not chart.

★ ''Journey to the Center of the Mind'', The Amboy Dukes' second album, was released in April 1968 on Mainstream Records 56112 mono (promo only) and stereo S/6112 stereo. It creeped into the top 100 and its highest position was #74. The single of the same name peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. The album and song were classic examples of acid rock; for example, the original album cover depicted fifty different kinds of marijuana-smoking devices.

★ # "Mississippi Murderer" – 5:12

★ # "Surrender to Your Kings" – 2:52

★ # "Flight of the Byrd" – 2:49

★ # "Scottish Tea" (instrumental) – 4:01

★ # "Dr. Slingshot" – 3:08

★ # "Journey to the Center of the Mind" – 3:33

★ # "Ivory Castles" – 3:21

★ # "Why Is A Carrot More Orange Than An Orange" – 2:25

★ # "Missionary Mary" – 2:34

★ # "Death Is Life" – 2:08

★ # "Saint Phillips Friend" – 3:32

★ # "I'll Prove I'm Right" – 1:38

★ # "Conclusion" – 1:57

★ # "You Talk Sunshine, I Breathe Fire" – 2:44

★ ''Migration'' The Amboy Dukes' third album was released in fall 1968 on Mainstream Records stereo only S/6118. It failed to chart. In the UK, it can be found in mono, catalog number is London/Mainstream HAT 8393.

★ ''You Talk Sunshine, I Breathe Fire'' - buoyed by the success of the "Journey" 45, in 1968 they released this non LP, Mainstream 693. It didn't chart.

★ ''The Best of the Original Amboy Dukes'' released after The Amboy Dukes left Mainstream Records, Mainstream S/6125, failed to chart.

★ # "Journey to the Center of the Mind"

★ # "Baby Please Don't Go"

★ # "Psalms of Aftermath"

★ # "Colors"

★ # "Down on Philip's Escalator"

★ # "Night Time"

★ # "Mississippi Murderer"

★ # "Scottish Tea"

★ # "Dr. Slingshot"

★ # "Flight of the Bird"

★ # "Why Is a Carrot More Orange Than an Orange"

★ # "Saint Philip's Friend"

★ # "You Talk Sunshine, I Breathe Fire"

★ # "Migration"

★ # "Prodigal Man"

★ # "Good Natured Emma"

★ # "For His Namesake"

★ # "Loaded For Bear"

★ ''Marriage on the Rocks/Rock Bottom'' (1970)

★ ''Survival of the Fittest Live (At the Eastown Theatre, Detroit)'' as Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes in 1971 - Polydor 24-4035. Charted highest #129.

★ # "Survival of the Fittest"

★ # "Rattle My Snake"

★ # "Mr. Jones' Hanging Party"

★ # "Papa's Will"

★ # "Slidin' On"

★ # "Prodigal Man"

★ ''Call of the Wild'' was released in 1973 on Frank Zappa's DisCreet label after the band left Polydor - Discreet 2181 - didn't chart.

★ # "Call of the Wild"

★ # "Sweet Revenge"

★ # "Pony Express"

★ # "Ain't It the Truth"

★ # "Renegade"

★ # "Rot Gut"

★ # "Below the Belt"

★ # "Cannon Balls"

★ ''Tooth, Fang & Claw'' released in 1974 was the last album - Discreet 2203 - didn't chart.

★ # "Lady Luck"

★ # "Living in the Woods"

★ # "Hibernation"

★ # "Free Flight"

★ # "Maybellene"

★ # "The Great White Buffalo"

★ # "Sasha"

★ # "No Holds Barred"

Trivia

★ It is rumoured that "JB Special" was to be the single, but was scrapped when ''Journey to the Center of the Mind'' was perfected. It can also be found on the Capitol label, as it was a record club hot pick.

★ In the UK, ''Migration'', can be found in mono, catalog number is London/Mainstream HAT 8393

See also

★ Ted Nugent

External links

★ classicbands.com

★ Motorcitymusicarchives.com

★ The recording of Survival of the fittest