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Crazy 8s (band)
American band From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Crazy 8s is an American rock and ska band from Oregon. Although widely recognized as being a ska band, the manager and other members deny this label.[1] In 1991 the band was described as "Original razor-tight horn lines ride upon endless clots of tropical polyrhythms ranging from ska and reggae to harder funk fusions."[2]
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History
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Formation and first album
The Crazy 8s were formed in Corvallis, Oregon as "The Cheeks" in 1982.[3] However, because a UK band had already used this name, the band changed its name to "The Sweet Cheeks." During their earliest days, they were notorious being "wild" and were banned from Oregon State,[1] and mostly covered songs by their favorite bands. Later in 1982, Todd Duncan, former sax player of Eugene rock band "The Sneakers", proposed that The Sweet Cheeks open for Billy Rancher and the Unreal Gods at La Bamba's in Portland. The month before the gig, Todd changed the name of the band to "Crazy 8s" and added several new songs to the band's lineup. During their performance, the members of the newly monikered group were noticed by Tony DeMicoli, the owner of La Bamba's, who hired the band to perform in the upcoming months.[4] In addition, Crazy 8s became a regular opening act for Billy Rancher's band.
The band opened for Romeo Void at Oregon State on October 5, 1982 and with The English Beat at the University of Oregon the same year.[3] In Rolling Stone magazine, the Crazy 8s were defined as one of "nine bands to watch"[5] In addition, the Crazy 8s played alongside several well-known bands such as The Clash, the Violent Femmes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, The Three O'Clock, and the Beach Boys between 1984 and 1985.[6]
In order to release their 1983 debut album, Law and Order, the band formed their own record label titled "RedRum Records". Not having the financial means to fund such an endeavor, the Crazy 8s turned to Joe Johnson's brother, Steve Johnson, an Oregon State University and NBA player, who invested $2,000 in the recording, production and distribution of the album. The band rejected offers from several major labels, including Warner Brothers. The original Law and Order album [1984], is missing two tracks "Jump Rock" and I'm Ok Your'e Ok" written by the bands then manager Joe Johnson.
Reception
Law and Order sold over 12,000 units, and earned the band a number 9 rating on Rolling Stone for independent bands in the nation. The next album, Nervous in Suburbia, sold 6,000 within the first week. The band was named "Northwest Band of the Year" in 1985 by Seattle's Rocket music publication and the Oregonian.[7]
After the release of the hit single "Johnny Q", the band's album reached the "Top 20" on the Gavin Report.[7]
The Crazy 8s were written up in several newspapers, magazines and other news sources, including Rolling Stone Other, The Oregonian, The Rocket, The Seattle Times, The Chicago Sun-Times, the Scene Magazine, ISU Daily, The Varsity, Two Louies, This Week, The Corvallis Gazette-Times, The Mast, Billboard and Willamette Week.[6][better source needed]
Greg Barbrick, a British writer for The Rocket, wrote:[8]
[Crazy 8s'] vision is of expanding the parameters of popular vision...[their album, Doggapotamus] is a melting pot...
For Barbrick, Crazy 8s was a group that deserved to be "international sensations." In another issue of The Rocket, released not long after the Rolling Stone article, he wrote that:
[The Crazy 8s are] on the edge of pop success...
However, Crazy 8s did not break into mainstream pop culture.[9]
Their 1985 song "Touchy Situation" reached the #6 position at CFNY (Toronto) and #13 at Z100 (Portland, Oregon).[6][better source needed]
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Founding members
- Phil Allen, tenor saxophone
- Todd Duncan, lead vocals and alto saxophone.[6] - played in The Sneakers, from Eugene, Oregon in 1979 to 1982.[10]
- Bruce Marler, trumpet
- Casey Shaar, keyboard.[6]
- Malcolm Smith, bass guitar
- Tim Tubb, trombone.[6] - wrote the piece "Johnny Q."[11]
- Mark Wanaka, guitar.[6]
- Rick Washington, drums.[6]
- Gary Williams, percussion
Additional members
(listed chronologically)
- Joe Johnson, tenor saxophone.[6]
- Jim Wallace, bass guitar
- Mike Regan, bass guitar[6]
- Carl Smith, percussion[6]
- Dan Schauffler, tenor saxophone, flute, keyboard[6] originally a member of the band Nu Shooz.[7]
- Jerry Burton, tenor sax
- Megan Murphy, alto saxophone, flute, keyboard[6]
- Ron Regan, keyboards and alto sax
- Lance Kreiter, drums, replaced Howard Clarke in 1993 and was in the band through the NYE show of 1994/1995 at Key Largo. Rejoined in August 2014.
Discography
- 1984 - Law and Order. [12]
- 1985 - Nervous in Suburbia.[12]
- 1987 - Out of the Way.[12]
- 1988 - Big Live Nut Pack.[12]
- 1989 - Doggapotamus World.[12]
- 1992 - Law and Order re-release .[6]
- 1992 - Still Crazy After All These Beers.[13]
Most albums were released under the Crazy 8s' official label, RedRum Records.[6] The final album, Still Crazy After all these Beers, was released under BDC Records.[14]
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Awards and honors
Player of the Year Award:
- 1987 - Dan Schauffler[15]
Horn Player of the Year Award, The Crystal Award:
- 1992 - Tim Tubb.[citation needed]
Oregon Music Hall of Fame, 2007 [16]
- Billboard Hits
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References
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