Musical Snobbery at it’s finest

Happy 53rd Birthday Marisa Defranco….(she’s the chick on the right)

To anyone who was around in the summer of 1973 could not escape the sound of “Heartbeat, It’s a Lovebeat” on AM radio. It’s infectious sound was catchy even as one was trying to avoid it (although unless you turned your transistor** that wasn’t going to work). In fact, the hook just wouldn’t let go…much the same way the Hanson brothers did with “Mmm bop” over 20 years later.

** If you don’t know what a transistor is….please ask your parents or anyone over 40….

The Defranco children were born in Ontario Canada to Italian parents. Benny, the oldest took up the guitar, and was playing professionally by the time he was 18. Marisa followed by learning the accordion and organ and Nino also took up the guitar. Merlina took up the drums, and little Tony (4 at the time) was given the maracas.

As the Defranco quintet, they played at weddings, on local TV, and other functions staying solely to instrumentals. One evening, after being bribed 5 dollars to do it, Tony sang onstage. The response convinced the group to focus more on vocals and to allow Tony to sing lead.

Pictures of the group were sent to Charles Laufer who was publisher of Teen Beat Magazine. Shots were taken of them and placed in an issue of the teen rag. The response convinced him that these kids were special. A few sides were cut and brought to Russ Regan who was president of 20th Century Records who signed them after hearing the sides just once.

“Heartbeat, it’s a Lovebeat” was released in June of 1973 and rose to a high of #3. Shortly after came “Abra-Ca-Dabra (#32) in January of 1974 and the last top 40, “Save The Last Dance For Me” (#18 ) in the spring of 1974. The last song pointed to the beginning of the end, as their handlers were pushing for more of the “covers” route, while the group wanted to do original material, even to write some of their own as well. Things broke down during the recording of the third album and after several more years of touring, called it quits in 1979.

How good is this stuff? It only makes sense to compare them to groups similar to them. The sound is distinctive of other groups of the day (Partridge Family, Cowsills), but at least to my ears, somewhat fresher. Tony had a great voice of a kid, but one that could be a bit whiny, however that probably did not deter any of the legion of girls who had his face pined upon their wall.

Before I leave the birthday wishes behind and face tomorrow….I do have to wonder what woulda/coulda/shoulda have happened to talented teenagers if in the hands of music business people who actually cared about their future and allowed them to grow in their talent instead trying to push them to places they did not want to go. On the other hand, one could argue that being Tony Defranco (or any Defranco for that matter) has not hurt in opening doors for them as they all grew up and found success on their own terms

….best left to the past…but a hell of a lot of fun listening to them this afternoon.

till tomorrow….peace