WAX Is Back! Rediscovered Rare Live Recording Of Philadelphia’s Hottest ’60s Group WAX Gets The CD Treatment
One of the great lost rock n roll treasures of the early 1970’s has resurfaced much to the elation of fans amd music collectors across the globe. After 40 years, an amazing live recording of Philadelphia’s hottest band of the late ’60s WAX was discovered and recently released on CD by Lightyear Entertainment (distributed by EMI) titled ‘Melted.’
There was once a rock band so loaded with talent that its members, and even its management, went on to help shape the American music scene in the ’70s, ’80s and beyond. For a time WAX was the hottest band in Philadelphia. They opened for huge artists coming to town, and headlined at concerts and festivals all over the area, often promoted by rock FM radio powerhouse WMMR. “Inside six or seven months after forming, we were playing with The Byrds, Chicago, John Mayall, Manfred Mann, The Nazz and The Flamin’ Groovies,” recalled guitarist Rick Levy. With the help of their management team, the group signed with legendary producer Bob Crewe’s Atlantic Records distributed CGC label for a then impressive amount of $50,000. WAX then ventured into New York’s Record Plant to record their debut album. The band was in good company… At the same time John Lennon was recording ‘Imagine’ and The Who were recording ‘Who’s Next‘ at the famed studio. Unfortunately Bob Crewe’s label folded due to financial difficulties and WAX’s debut album was never finished. The group eventually broke up and its members went their own individually successful ways. But before that happened, an incredible album’s worth of material was recorded totally live in the studio. For nearly 40 years the tapes were lost until now!
WAX is:
Rob Hyman – keyboards, vocals – Rob went on to write the classic “Time After Time” and formed million selling band The Hooters.
Rick Chertoff – drums – Rick became a 5 time Grammy nominated producer (Cyndi Lauper, Joan Osborne, Sophie B Hawkins, The Hooters, Billy Joel, Mick Jagger)
Rick Levy – guitars, vocals – Rick went on to manage and/or play with ’60s legends Hermans Hermits, Bo Diddley, The Box Tops with Alex Chilton, Tommy Roe, Freddy Cannon, Jay & Techniques and many others.
David Kagan – lead vocals – Dave recorded with Rob in Baby Grand and ulitimately pursued a successful career in magazine publishing.
Beau Jones – bass, vocals – Beau went on to play bass with many ’60s classic pop groups before becoming ill. He sadly passed away in September 2010.
John Kalodner – co-manager – John became the legendary A&R man for Columbia/Sony known as the “rabbi”. He was influential in the careers of Aerosmith, AC/DC, Cher and many others.
Bill Sisca – co-manager – Bill went on to become one of the most successful infomercial directors in the country. He is now back as part of the WAX team.
When bassist Beau Jones was diagnosed with brain cancer in the summer of 2009, guitarist Rick Levy got everyone together to spend time and give support and love to Beau. Rob Hyman, Rick Chertoff, David Kagen, all reunited, and at that time, another friend Arnie Holland, CEO of Lightyear Entertainment, played this lost live recording of WAX. Everyone was amazed at the performance, songwriting, energy, timelessness and passion. They all decided the music should be heard, and Arnie said, “Let’s put it out on Lightyear.”
Here’s what the press have been raving about WAX’s ‘Melted’:
“Listening to WAX’s ‘Melted’ is all the more bittersweet, since WAX had a sound that would eventually be called progressive rock, a style that would enable bands like Yes and Kansas to become megastars. Songs like ‘Things She Likes To Do’ and ‘Only Twenty’ shift from balladry to ballsy rock with a seamless confidence. The baroque psychedelia of ‘I’m Just A Banked Flame’ finds company in other iconoclastic sounding acts of the day like Traffic or Vanilla Fudge. Perhaps what’s most impressive about ‘Melted’ is that the entire album was recorded live in the studio, with no overdubs or studio trickery. It’s a noble testament to a time when musicians were judged by the merits of their technical skills and originality. With an average age of 23, WAX comes across as stone equals to any rock band kicking out the jams in those heady days.” – Dan Brown, Folio Weekly
“The occasion was Beaufest, memorial honoring the late Beau Jones, WAX bassist who died Sept. 3. The band kicked off with the rollicking ‘Elmira Lane,’ danced through the art-house intricacies of ‘Things She Likes To Do,’ sailed through the steel-guitar drenched ‘Nearer To God,’ and finished off with a ripped, pulsing version of ‘It Don’t Matter At All.’ If they looked a bit…More mature than they did back when WAX was hot, it’s probably fair to say they never sounded better.” – Sam Hughes, editor in chief , Pennsylvania Gazette Magazine
“ ‘Melted’ is by a group that played with the early Flamin’ Groovies, the ’70s Byrds, Terry Kath era Chicago, and more…broad stylistically, with bits of boogie jams akin to The Faces, The Band, and Stephen Stills country rock, and the progressive rock of the time. Note: This LIVE session was uncovered last year by surprised ex-teen co-manager, and recently retired Sony A&R powerhouse, John David Kalodner, who signed Peter Gabriel and AC/DC thereafter… Some story!” – Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover
“Highly unique blend of rock, jazz, and blues from one of Philadelphia’s great bands.” – Billy Ifantis, Skylight Magazine
“Taking us back is this newly restored album from WAX, ‘Melted’… this is florid, jazzed, and progressive rock nodding to the west coast scene.” – Jonathan Takiff, Philadelphia Daily News
With the release of WAX’s ‘Melted’ comes the prestigious news that the album is now in contention for nomination for ‘historical album’ category for the 2010 Grammys!
WAX – ‘Melted’ CD is available through Amazon at www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=wax+melted and CD and Downloads at Lightyear Entertainment www.lightyear.com/index2.html
