TS: Sha-Na-Na vs. Flash Cadillac

I said, "This isn't Sha Na Na, come on Mom, I'm not Bowzer
Mom, please put back the bell-bottom Brady Bunch trousers
But if you don't want to I can live with that but
You gotta put back the double-knit reversible slacks"

Was about to post on this thread:

Is it remotely possible that Sha Na Na might have been good?

...until I noticed this one. Anyway, picked up Flash Cadillac etc.'s apparent third LP Sons Of Beaches (Private Stock 1975) for $1 few weeks ago; like the title suggests it's where they made their early Beach Boys surf-pop move, and it's way to wimpy to recommend overall. I do like the opener "Summer Means Fun," though that might just mean I have a subliminal memory of once upon a time hearing Bruce & Terry's #72 pop 1964 original vesion, who knows. (Bruce being future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston; Terry being '60s rock producer Terry Melcher.) Also, "Hot Summer Girls" is writer-credited to P. Shelley & M. Wilde, if that means anything. "Good Times, Rock & Roll," which is pretty icky, was Flash & the Kids' second biggest hit; peaked at #41 pop. (Later in '76, something called "Did You Boogie (With Your Baby)," featuring "spoken interludes by Wolfman Jack," apparently got to #29.) Band is dressed like a (six man) basketball team on the back cover, and instrument credits include which items they'd each bring to a barbecue. (Everybody brings beer and one other item.) Anyway, the red first-edition Rolling Stone Record Guide supports Rev. Hoodoo's five-year-old claim above that the first Flash Cadillac LP from '72 is the one worth getting. ("The cover of 'Muleskinner Blues' is so rabid that it works.") But I've never heard that one, and even that record guide says they got lamer later. (First LP was apparently respected enough by pre-punk '70s rock'n'rollers that Mark Shipper named a fanzine Flash after it, Chris Stigliano quoted on his blog a few years ago):

http://black2com.blogspot.com/2007/02/spotlight-on.html

Vinnie Taylor (1949–1974) (born Chris Donald), who replaced Henry Gross as the lead guitarist in 1970, died of a drug overdose in 1974. Escaped child killer Elmer Edward Solly assumed Taylor's identity and performed as him, though not with Sha Na Na, which eventually led to his discovery and capture.[11]

Bass player Dave "Chico" Ryan, among the television show lineup, died in 1998; while remaining in Sha Na Na, he joined Bill Haley & His Comets for the group's fall 1979 tour of Europe (Haley's last major tour before his death). Former Sha Na Na guitarist Danny "Dirty Dan" McBride, of their TV show lineup, died of cardiovascular disease in 2009. Member Reggie Battise died of cancer in October 2010.

Founding member of the band Robert Leonard is a professor of linguistics at Hofstra University, and had an appearance as a qualified expert in linguistics for the murder case of Charlene Hummert in the episode "A Tight Leash" of the TV medical detectives series Forensic Files in 2004.[12][13]

The group's first guitarist, Henry Gross, went on to become a solo performer, and had a hit single with "Shannon" in 1976. Another founding member, Alan Cooper, the lead singer in the group's performance of "At the Hop" in the Woodstock film, went on to pursue an academic career. He taught religious studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, for ten years, then became a professor of Bible studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, and now serves as the Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies and provost at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.[14]

Longtime member Jon "Bowzer" Bauman replaced Alan Cooper and became a recognizable member of the group as he taunted audiences while he flexed his muscles, burped and spat in the direction of the bass player. In the 1980s he had a brief career as a game show master of ceremonies. He continues to tour

Elliot Cahn, the group's original rhythm guitar player and musical arranger, later became the first manager of Green Day.

Joe Witkin, who was replaced by "Screamin'" Scott Simon, was the original keyboard player and singer of "Teenager in Love" on their first album. Witkin left the band in 1970 to finish medical school, and subsequently moved to San Diego in 1975 to do his internship and residency at the University of California in San Diego. He worked at Scripps Hospital East County from 1978 to 2000 as an ER physician, and currently holds the same position at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa. Witkin lives with his family in San Diego, California and plays with a band called "The Corvettes"[15] doing an oldies revue in his spare time.

Scott Powell is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.[16] He performed on the TV show under the stage name "Santini" (another alias was "Captain Outrageous"). Powell left the band in 1980 and returned to Columbia to take pre-medical courses.[citation needed] He is a member of the medical staff of U.S. national soccer teams, and is the team physician for the Federation Women's National Team and an associate clinical professor at USC.[citation needed] While Powell was with Sha Na Na, he sang the bulk of the Elvis revival songs.

Frederick "Denny" Greene left the group to pursue studies in law.[17] After graduating from Yale Law School, he became the vice president of production and features at Columbia Pictures.[citation needed] He was a professor at the University of Dayton. Greene was known for his skilled dancing, and sang the lead in "Tears on My Pillow", "Duke of Earl", and others. He died on September 5, 2015 after a brief illness.

Bruce "Bruno" Clarke is now a professor of English at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

Richard Joffe is currently a class-action litigator for a law firm in New York City.

Original Sha Na Na vocalist Dave Garrett ran Earth Sound Research, a Long Island-based musical instrument amplifier company, during the 1970s. He now is businessman, and I ives in New York City.

Members[edit]
Alan Cooper (1969–1970 + part of 1971): original bass singer; brief return in 1971 due to Bowzer's illness
Billy Schwartz (1971): guitarist on Canadian tour in 1971 due to Chris Donald's inability to enter Canada
Bruce C. Clarke, a.k.a. "Bruno" (1969–1973): original bass guitarist
Bryan Cumming, a.k.a. "Mighty Joe" (1987–1989): guitarist; replaced guitarist Glenn Jordan
Buzz Campbell (2002–2006): guitarist; replaced Rob Mackenzie
Chris Donald, a.k.a. Vinnie Taylor (1971–1974): replaced Larry Packer
Danny McBride, a.k.a. "Dirty Dan" (1975–1980): replaced Elliot Randall
David Garrett (1969–1970): original vocalist
David Ryan, a.k.a. "Chico" (1973–1998), replaced Bruce Clarke
Donald York, a.k.a. "Donny" (1968–present): original vocalist
Dora Pearson (1984–1988): original female vocalist
Elliot Cahn, a.k.a. "Gino" (1968–1973): original rhythm guitarist
Elliott Randall, a.k.a. "Enrico Ronzoni" (1974–1975): replaced Chris Donald
Frankie Adell (1999–2005): saxophonist and vocalist; replaced Lennie Baker
Frederick "Dennis" Greene, a.k.a. "Denny" (1968–1984): original vocalist
George Sluppick (1999–2000): drummer
Gene Jaramillo (2006–present): guitarist; replaced Buzz Campbell
George Leonard: conception and choreography
Glenn Jordan, a.k.a. "Guitar Glenn" (1980–1986): guitarist; replaced Danny McBride
Grover Kemble (1970): briefly replaced Rob Leonard, has been replaced by vocalist Johnny Contardo
Guerin Barry, a.k.a. "Tito Mambo" (1984–1988): bass singer; replaced Jon Bauman
Henry Gross (1969–1970): original lead guitarist
Jim Waldbillig, a.k.a. "Billy" (1990 – 2011): guitarist
Jimmy Hun, a.k.a. "June" (1987) briefly played keyboards
Joe Witkin (1969–1970): original pianist
John Marcellino, a.k.a. "Jocko" (1969 – present): original drummer, vocalist
Johnny "Kid" Contardo (1971–1983): vocalist; replaced Grover Kember

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, April 2000.
Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, a.k.a. "Bowzer" (1970–1983): bass singer; replaced Alan Cooper
Kal David, a.k.a. "Casual Kal" (1984): interim replacement for Jon Bauman (filling in for Guerin Barry)
Larry Packer (1970): briefly replaced Henry Gross and was subsequently replaced by Chris Donald
Lennie Baker (1970–1999): saxophonist and vocalist
Lisa Sunstedt (1993–1995): third female vocalist
Louie King (1995): bass guitarist
Michael Brown, a.k.a. "Downtown Michael Brown" (2005–present): replaced Frankie Adell
Pamela Day (1989–1991): second female vocalist
Paul Kimbarow, a.k.a. "Paulie" (2002 – 2013): drummer
Reggie Battise, a.k.a. "Reggie de Leon" (1989–2010): bass singer; replaced Guerin Barry
Richard Joffe, a.k.a. "Joff" (1969–1973): original vocalist
Robert A. Leonard (1969–1970): original vocalist
Rob Mackenzie (1990–2001): guitarist; replaced by Buzz
Scott Powell, a.k.a. "Captain Outrageous", a.k.a. "Tony Santini" (1969–1981): original vocalist
"Screamin" Scott Simon (1970 – present): pianist; replaced Joe Witkin
Tim Butler (2006, 2009, 2011–present) bass guitarist
Ty Cox (2013-present) drummer