Drummers Bob Girouard and Gary Stevens See Their Dreams Come True
Editor’s note (Bob Girouard has written many articles for Modern Drummer, Classic Drummer and Elmore)
In what might be the longest delayed record deal in history, Forest, the Massachusetts-based eclectic blues/rock/jazz band that broke up back in 1979, has signed a distribution deal with BBE Records of London, England, who is re-releasing on vinyl Forest’s eponymous and only LP, recorded in 1978.
BBE is also releasing a single from the LP, Crazy Days, a track that has been widely sampled at dance clubs, primarily in Japan. Crazy Days is part of a BBE compilation album, a follow-up to their successful We Are The Children Of The Sun, to be titled One Again We Are The Children Of The Sun. Further information on the release date can be found at BBEmusic.com
THE LP contains 8 tracks, all original to Forest with tracks recorded at Concept Audio, Wilbraham, MA on 8 track and also at Nineteen Recording Studios, Hartford, CT on 16 track during late 1977 and early 1978. The band had been receiving cursory attention from a few national labels, and the LP aimed to showcase the band’s writing and performance talents in the frenzied music era of the late 70s.
“Well, better late than never”, quipped Forest founding member, Bob Girouard. “We are so excited that our music, recorded over four decades ago, will reach a new audience”. Girouard continued, “There’s a blues/rock song on the album called “Only Who You Know” which was sort of our complaint about trying to break through in the recording business in the late 70s without any real industry contacts, after encountering resistance in our quest for a deal and questioning our “luck”.
In the tune is a line, “When we’re all 41, well we may get signed up”, because we thought 41 was so old. We didn’t think it would be 44 years after! Luckily, BBE, with a substantial roster of eclectic artists was the type of label we would have wished for in our day. One that, in keeping with the times and the exploratory vibe of the era, would have allowed us to experiment a little and not try to force us into some niche to satisfy the marketing department. We are grateful that our desire to be a little different, a little varied, has at long last been accepted”.
In addition to Girouard on drums and vocals, musicians on the recording include Jim Lacaprucia on Hammond B-3, harmonica and vocals, Bob Strempek/Ward Allen; bass, Michael Hills; guitar, and Gary Stevens on drums, latin percussion and vocals. Forest was produced by Wes Talbot who also played Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer and flute on the disc. Talbot negotiated the deal with BBE.
After the initial release in 1978 failed to gain any traction, Forest, after a few personnel changes, called it quits in early 1979. Many alumni have enjoyed successful careers as touring musicians, composers and producers. On two occasions, the members of Forest, spanning all the many band member iterations, have reunited in support of Girouard’s stalwart battle against Parkinson’s.
Most recently Forest released a cover of People Got To Be Free, viewable on YouTube, with all of the parts recorded in seven different studios in seven different states.
For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Gary Stevens
P.S. from Bob Gitouard . If ever a musical era could define taste, the 1970’s were it. Broadening from where the 60’s left off, musicians on both sides of the pond were creating, expanding and defining popular music of the day.
Hailing from New England, Forest was one such band. From its inception in 1971, their influences combined blues, soul, funk, contemporary jazz, and driving rock and roll. Resplendent with powerful vocals, a driving rhythm section, fierce guitar, and anchored by a Fender Rhodes and Hammond B-3 there was no genre the band could not embrace…convincingly.
In retrospect, Crazy Days was a sleeper. Appearing as the last song on Forest’s eponymous debut LP, the song perfectly illustrated their creativity and originality. Keyboardist Wes Talbot’s synthesizer and Fender Rhodes piano perfectly punctuates the melody along with the richness of Jim Lacaprucia’s counter phrasing on B-3 throughout. Anchoring and driving the song is the primo rhythm section of drummer, Bob (Rox) Girouard, drummer/percussionist Gary Stevens and bassist, Ward Allen, who push and pull every inch of the pulse…literally launching the groove to new heights. Augmented by guitarist, Michael Hills’s stinging lead lines, it provides a maximum backdrop for Gary Stevens’ silky, smooth and ultra-soulful vocal, reminiscent at times of Motown’s Marvin Gaye.
One of the main keys to Forest’s popularity was the diversity of their sound. And although critics at the time blamed their direction on being too disparate, it was the main reason why the band had such a long run and popularity to go with it. In short, they weren’t afraid to try new things.
-Bob Girouard