Tiffany Shade
Encyclopedia
Tiffany Shade was an American psychedelic rock band formed in 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio
. They broke up 1968.
They recorded and released one self-titled LP and two singles from the same album on the Mainstream label in 1968 prior to their demise.
On March 2, 1968, Tiffany Shade appeared at the Grande Ballroom
in Detroit on the same bill as Big Brother and the Holding Company, the MC5
and the Pink Peech Mob. They also appeared at the Grande Ballroom again on April 5, 1968 along with The Troggs
and the MC5. After Tiffany Shade album's release, the band made numerous appearances in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio and at the Sugarbush
ski resort in Warren, Vermont
before disbanding in late 1968.
After the band's breakup, keyboardist Bob Leonard went on to play with Mink DeVille
appearing on the bands 1978 debut LP,Cabretta
, and touring Europe to support the release. Leonard also appeared on Mink DeVille's 1979 album Return to Magenta
.
's Mainstream
label. (US LP Release info: Mainstream S/T 56015, Stereo S/6105. UK LP release info: Fontana TL 5469). Both the US and UK platters were released in 1968. The Mainstream label also issued two Singles: "Would You Take My Mind Out For a Walk" / "One Good Reason" released as Mainstream 677 in 1968 & "An Older Man"/ "Sam" released as Mainstream 680 also released in 1968).
Shads' Mainstream label was home to many other psychedelic bands in the late '60's including Janis Joplin
's first band Big Brother and the Holding Company
(Mainstream S/6099 released in 1967), The Tangerine Zoo (Mainstream S/6107), Ellie Pop (Mainstream S/6115), The Superfine Dandelion (Mainstream S/6102), The Growing Concern (Mainstream S/6108) and The Amboy Dukes
.
According to band member Mike Barnes, Tiffany Shade album, like most Bob Shad produced/Mainstream releases, was not promoted very well and the band and the LP faded from the scene with very little fanfare. Today, the original LP can fetch as much as $150 to $300 at auction in mint condition.
The Mainstream catalog has since been handed down to Bob Shads' children and several titles from the Mainstream catalog have recently been reissued on 180 gram vinyl. The 10 songs from Tiffany Shade LP are available on iTunes but according to sources, most notably the songs' authors themselves, the song writers are not receiving any royalties for these re-issues or downloads. In fact Michael Barnes and Robert Leonard were not even cognizant of the fact that their material was being sold until it was mentioned to them. Most likely, like most young bands of the day, Barnes and Leonard signed away all rights to any royalties or monetary gains in exchange for Mainstream releasing the LP. As bassist Robb Clark Murphy recalls "we never saw any money for that LP. Basically right before we were about to begin recording in the studio, Shad laid out a contract in front of us and told us to sign. We didn't want to lose our opportunity to record so we signed away all of our rights."
Singles
George Shuba (photographer)
Art Dussault (bass player for Audi-Badoo)
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. They broke up 1968.
They recorded and released one self-titled LP and two singles from the same album on the Mainstream label in 1968 prior to their demise.
History
Tiffany Shade was formed by keyboardist Bob Leonard (b. May 27, 1945), Folk Guitarist/vocalist Mike Barnes (b. May 21, 1948), 12-string guitarist/vocalist Barrow Davidian (deceased), bassist Rick Hohn, later replaced by bassist Robb Clarke-Murphy (b. September 26, 1944, d. September 2010) and drummer Tom Schuster (b. February 1, 1949).On March 2, 1968, Tiffany Shade appeared at the Grande Ballroom
Grande Ballroom
The Grande Ballroom is a historic live music venue located at 8952 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The building was designed by Detroit engineer and architect Charles N. Agree in 1928 and originally served as a multi-purpose building, hosting retail business on the first floor and a large...
in Detroit on the same bill as Big Brother and the Holding Company, the MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
and the Pink Peech Mob. They also appeared at the Grande Ballroom again on April 5, 1968 along with The Troggs
The Troggs
The Troggs are an English rock band from the 1960s that had a number of hits in UK and the US. Their most famous songs include, "Wild Thing", "With a Girl Like You", and "Love Is All Around"...
and the MC5. After Tiffany Shade album's release, the band made numerous appearances in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio and at the Sugarbush
Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush Resort is a ski resort located in the Mad River Valley in Warren, Vermont. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England. The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres total, 578 acres skiable, 53 miles of trails, and 16 ski lifts...
ski resort in Warren, Vermont
Warren, Vermont
Warren is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,681 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Vermont is located in Warren. It is set between the two ranges of the Green Mountains, with approximately 25% of the town under Green Mountain National Forest...
before disbanding in late 1968.
After the band's breakup, keyboardist Bob Leonard went on to play with Mink DeVille
Mink DeVille
Mink DeVille was a rock band known for its association with early punk rock bands at New York’s CBGB nightclub and for being a showcase for the music of Willy DeVille. The band recorded six albums in the years 1977 to 1985. Except for frontman Willy DeVille, the original members of the band played...
appearing on the bands 1978 debut LP,Cabretta
Cabretta
Cabretta, known as Mink DeVille in the United States, was the 1977 debut album by Mink DeVille. It peaked at number 186 on the Billboard 200 chart and was voted the 29th best album of 1977 in the Village Voices Pazz & Jop critics' poll...
, and touring Europe to support the release. Leonard also appeared on Mink DeVille's 1979 album Return to Magenta
Return to Magenta
Return to Magenta, issued in 1978, is the second album by the rock band Mink DeVille. The album was the last to feature all the original members of the band. For this album, the band was joined by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Steve Douglas on sax and, on piano, Dr...
.
Recordings
The group recorded one album and two singles for Jazz Producer Bob ShadBob Shad
Bob Shad was an American music producer and record label owner. He produced the first album by Big Brother and the Holding Company...
's Mainstream
Mainstream Records
Mainstream Records was an American record label, which released jazz, rock music, and soundtracks during the 1970s.It was founded in 1964 by Bob Shad, and in its early history reissued material from Commodore Records and Time Records in addition to some new jazz material...
label. (US LP Release info: Mainstream S/T 56015, Stereo S/6105. UK LP release info: Fontana TL 5469). Both the US and UK platters were released in 1968. The Mainstream label also issued two Singles: "Would You Take My Mind Out For a Walk" / "One Good Reason" released as Mainstream 677 in 1968 & "An Older Man"/ "Sam" released as Mainstream 680 also released in 1968).
Shads' Mainstream label was home to many other psychedelic bands in the late '60's including Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
's first band Big Brother and the Holding Company
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jefferson Airplane. They are best known as the band that featured Janis Joplin as their...
(Mainstream S/6099 released in 1967), The Tangerine Zoo (Mainstream S/6107), Ellie Pop (Mainstream S/6115), The Superfine Dandelion (Mainstream S/6102), The Growing Concern (Mainstream S/6108) and The Amboy Dukes
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...
.
According to band member Mike Barnes, Tiffany Shade album, like most Bob Shad produced/Mainstream releases, was not promoted very well and the band and the LP faded from the scene with very little fanfare. Today, the original LP can fetch as much as $150 to $300 at auction in mint condition.
The Mainstream catalog has since been handed down to Bob Shads' children and several titles from the Mainstream catalog have recently been reissued on 180 gram vinyl. The 10 songs from Tiffany Shade LP are available on iTunes but according to sources, most notably the songs' authors themselves, the song writers are not receiving any royalties for these re-issues or downloads. In fact Michael Barnes and Robert Leonard were not even cognizant of the fact that their material was being sold until it was mentioned to them. Most likely, like most young bands of the day, Barnes and Leonard signed away all rights to any royalties or monetary gains in exchange for Mainstream releasing the LP. As bassist Robb Clark Murphy recalls "we never saw any money for that LP. Basically right before we were about to begin recording in the studio, Shad laid out a contract in front of us and told us to sign. We didn't want to lose our opportunity to record so we signed away all of our rights."
Discography
Album- Tiffany Shade (1968). Track listing:
- Would You Take My Mind Out For a Walk (Michael Barnes)
- An Older Man (Robert Leonard-Michael Barnes)
- Sam (Robert Leonard)
- Jaguar City Blues (Rob Murphy-Robert Leonard)
- A Very Grand Love (Robert Leonard)
- Come Softly to me (Gretchen Christopher-Barbara Ellis-Gary Troxel)
- No Reality (Michael Barnes)
- One Good Reason (Michael Barnes-Robert Leonard)
- A Quiet Revolution (Michael Barnes)
- Not Worth the Pain (Michael Barnes)
Singles
- Would You Take My Mind Out for a Walk / One Good Reason
- An Older Man / Sam
Sources
- Colin Dussault interviewed Robert Leonard, Robb Clark Murphy, Michael Barnes, Tom Schuster, Duane Verh, Michael Stanley. Article on Tiffany Shade written by Dussault appeared in the #26 Winter/Spring issue of Ugly Things Magazine.
- "The Art of Rock" by Paul D. Grushkin
- "Cleveland-The Rock 'n Roll Connection" by Deanna Adams.
George Shuba (photographer)
Art Dussault (bass player for Audi-Badoo)