NRBQ

NRBQ is a highly-acclaimed rock band, purveyors of a unique brand of "omnipop" since 1967. The abbreviation "NRBQ" stands for New Rhythm and Blues Quartet (originally Quintet), although a 1982 article in Creem magazine suggested a different meaning: "Nothing Really Beats Quality".

The band's music, a rollicking blend of everything from stomping rockabilly to Beatles-influenced pop to Thelonious Monk-inspired jazz, has attracted fans as diverse as Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, and Penn and Teller. NRBQ songs have inspired cover versions by Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos, and Dave Edmunds, among many others. In addition, they've served as the unofficial "house band" for The Simpsons in recent years, contributing several songs and even appearing in animated form during one episode.

NRBQ's devoted following has been stoked by years of legendary live shows. The band never works with a setlist, so fans never know what songs they may hear. A former staple of the group's gigs was "The Magic Box", a mysteriously-painted crate into which fans could drop slips of papers with requests on them. The band would play whatever songs they drew out of the box. The results could be anything from a sublime version of the Beach Boys' "Caroline No", to a discordant and nearly traumatic "Jingle Bells".

However, all of this rampant admiration from their peers and fans has never resulted in chart-topping success. More than once, NRBQ has garnered a major-label record deal, only to be dropped after one or two albums, due to poor sales. The situation is largely due to the cluelessness of the pop music scene, but the band's supremely eccentric sense of humor, while beloved by fans, hasn't helped their commercial potential, either. Over the years, the group has played festival sets while wearing pajamas, hired professional wrestler Captain Lou Albano as their manager, and exploded Cabbage Patch Dolls on stage.

History

NRBQ formed in 1967 in Miami, Florida, coming together from the shards of several other bands. The original members were keyboardist Terry Adams, guitarist Steve Ferguson, singer Frank Gadler, drummer Tom Staley, and bassist Joey Spampinato (originally known by the stage name of Jody St. Nicholas). In addition to their instrumental prowess, everyone except Staley sang lead vocals at various times. The group relocated to the northeastern US and gained attention in local clubs. They were signed to Columbia Records in 1969, and released their self-titled debut album the same year. The record featured cover versions of everyone from Eddie Cochran to Sun Ra, along with a number of similarly wide-ranging original songs. The following year, the group collaborated with rockabilly legend Carl Perkins on an album titled Boppin' The Blues.

However, before NRBQ could finish their third album, Columbia dropped the group, unhappy with their lack of chart performance. Over the next three years, the band would experience heavy turnover, with the departure of Ferguson, Gadler, and Staley, and the arrival of two new members: guitarist/singer Al Anderson and drummer Tom Ardolino (a fan who got the job by filling in on the spur of the moment at a gig). The Adams/Spampinato/Anderson/Ardolino quartet would stay together for twenty years (from 1974 until 1994), and is considered by most fans to be the classic NRBQ lineup. The quartet was often augmented by the Whole Wheat Horns, consisting of tenor saxophonist Keith Spring and trombonist Donn Adams, Terry's older brother.

During the 1970s and early 1980s, NRBQ recorded a number of great albums, mostly on Rounder Records or the band's own label, Red Rooster Records. However, the band got another shot at major-label stardom in 1983, with the release of Grooves In Orbit on Bearsville Records. However, a feud developed between the group and label owner Albert Grossman, and Grossman refused to let the band out of their contract. As a result, NRBQ couldn't record any new material for several years, until Grossman died in 1986. Fortunately, the band could still release archival material on their own label.

In 1989, free from the Bearsville debacle, the band got another one-album major-label deal with Virgin Records. Wild Weekend became the first NRBQ album to reach the charts since their 1967 debut, but it wasn't enough for Virgin to extend the deal.

The early 1990s saw appearances by various NRBQ members on albums by Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, and Johnnie Johnson. In addition, Ardolino became active in the rediscovery and release of musical recordings in the "song poem" genre.

The band's long-time classic lineup came to an end in 1994, as Al Anderson left to pursue a successful songwriting career in Nashville. He was replaced by Joey Spampinato's brother Johnny, formerly of The Incredible Casuals, and a formidable guitarist, singer, and songwriter in his own right. The band's recording and concert career continued unabated, with highlights including the first NRBQ children's album, 1997's You're Nice People You Are, and the creation of their new label, Edisun Records.

In May of 2004, the group celebrated their 35th anniversary with two days of concerts at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, Massachusetts. The shows featured every former and current member of the band, as Ferguson, Gadler, Staley, and Anderson came back for a mammoth NRBQ reunion.

Later that year, NRBQ went on hiatus when Adams came down with a severe case of tendonitis in his hands. In his absence, the three other members (Ardolino and the Spampinato brothers) started playing shows as a trio, under the name Baby Macaroni. Since then, Adams has recovered well enough to tour with former drummer Staley and Japanese rockabilly group the Hot Shots. However, there's been no indication as to when or if NRBQ will come back together, leaving some fans to speculate as to whether there are problems within the group.

Album Discography

1. NRBQ (Columbia) 1969
2. Boppin’ the Blues (w/Carl Perkins) (Columbia) 1970
3. Scraps (Kama Sutra) 1972
4. Workshop (Kama Sutra) 1973
5. All Hopped Up (Red Rooster) 1977
6. At Yankee Stadium (Mercury) 1978
7. Kick Me Hard (Red Rooster/Rounder) 1979
8. Tiddlywinks (Rounder/Red Rooster) 1980
9. Grooves in Orbit (Bearsville) 1983
10. Tapdancin’ Bats (Rounder/Red Rooster) 1984
11. She Sings, They Play (w/Skeeter Davis) (Rounder/Red Rooster) 1985
12. Lou and the Q (w/Captain Lou Albano) (Rounder/Red Rooster) 1986
13. RC Cola and a Moon Pie (Rounder/Red Rooster) 1986
14. Uncommon Denominators (Rounder-era compilation covering '72 through '84) (Rounder) 1987
15. God Bless Us All (live album) (Rounder) 1987
16. Diggin’ Uncle Q (live album) (Rounder) 1988
17. Kick Me Hard- the Deluxe Edition (reissue, w/8 bonus tracks) (Rounder) 1989
18. Wild Weekend (Virgin) 1989
19. Peek-A-Boo (multi-label compilation covering '69 through '89) (Rhino) 1990
20. Stay with We (compilation of Columbia years, w/unreleased songs) (Columbia/Legacy) 1993
21. Message for the Mess Age (Rhino) 1994
22. Tokyo (live album) (Rounder) 1996
23. You’re Nice People You Are (Rounder) 1997
24. Tapdancin' Bats - The Anniversary Edition (reissue, w/4 bonus tracks) (Rounder) 1998
25. You Gotta Be Loose (live album) (Rounder) 1998
26. Ridin’ in My Car (reissue of All Hopped Up, w/unreleased songs) 1999
27. NRBQ (sometimes known as "The Yellow Album") (Rounder) 1999
28. Scraps (reissue, remastered, w/3 bonus tracks) (Rounder) 2000
29. Atsa My Band (Edisun) 2002
30. Live At The Wax Museum (previously unreleased concert from '82) (Edisun) 2003
31. Dummy (Edisun) 2004
32. Transmissions (2-disc Japan-only compilation featuring about 40% unissued material) (Caraway) 2004