Fandango (American band)

Fandango
OriginUnited States
GenresPop rock, hard rock, southern rock
LabelsWounded Bird Records, RCA Records
Past membersJoe Lynn Turner
Rick Blakemore
Abe Speller
Bob Danyls
Larry Dawson
Denny LaRue
Santos
Lou Mondelli
Joe De Lia
Ron Zampini

Fandango was an American pop rock band which began as a four-piece, playing in the local clubs in the Tri-state area: New Jersey, New York, Connecticut (circa 1976) before adding three more members prior to their first recording contract being signed in March 1977.[1] It was fronted by vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (who by then had already changed his given name 'Linquito' through a suggestion by guitarist Rick Blakemore).[2] Larry Dawson (stage name of Larry Dvoskin), one of the band's keyboardists, would later play for Uli Jon Roth.

The band opened for acts like The Allman Brothers, The Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie, Billy Joel, and Chicago.[3] Phil Walden's Paragon Agency (who initially represented such artists as Otis Redding, Percy Sledge, and Sam & Dave in the early 60s) were responsible for booking Fandango.[4] Turner has stated that the band took influences from the Eagles and southern rock. The group, after the release of their fourth album (Cadillac), disbanded shortly after their equipment was stolen at Chicago Fest.[5] Turner's work with the band got him noticed by Barry Ambrosio (who was Ritchie Blackmore's personal assistant). He put Blackmore on the phone and asked Turner to audition for Rainbow.[6]

Discography

Fandango (1977)

Track listing

Side One
  1. "Headliner" – (Denny LaRue, Rick Blakemore) – 3:40
  2. "Down Down Down" – (LaRue, Blakemore) – 4:41
  3. "Jesse And Will" – (Blakemore) – 4:49
  4. "San Joaquin" – (LaRue, Blakemore) – 4:02
  5. "Life Of The Party" – (music: Joe Delia / lyrics: LaRue, Joe Delia, Joe Lynn Turner) – 4:43
Side Two
  2. "Shadow Boxing" - (LaRue, Blakemore) - 3:01
  3. "Helpless Heart" – (Carole Meyers, LaRue, Blakemore) – 4:07
  4. "Devil Rain" – (LaRue, Blakemore) – 6:08
  5. "Misery Road" – (LaRue, Blakemore) – 4:15
  6. "Goin' Down For The Last Time" – (LaRue, Turner) – 4:11

Personnel

Additional Personnel

Last Kiss (1978)

Track listing

Side One
  1. "Last Kiss" – (Bob Danyls, Dennis La Rue, Joe Lynn Turner, Larry Dawson, Richard Mason Blakemore) – 4:04
  2. "Sure Got The Power" – (La Rue, Blakemore) – 4:17
  3. "Mexico" – (La Rue, Turner, Blakemore) – 5:52
  4. "Losin' Kind Of Love" – (Turner) – 3:38
  5. "Hotel LaRue" – (La Rue, Blakemore) – 5:16
Side Two
  2. "Feel The Pain" - (La Rue, Turner, Blakemore) - 5:12
  3. "CIty Of Angels" – (La Rue, Blakemore) – 7:09
  4. "The Mill's On Fire" – (La Rue, Blakemore) – 5:49
  5. "I Keep Going/Hard Bargain" – (La Rue) – 5:36

Personnel

One Night Stand (1979)

Track listing

Side One
  1. "One Night Stand" – (Dennis La Rue) – 2:40
  2. "Thief In The Night" – (La Rue, Joe Lynn Turner, Rick Blakemore) – 3:48
  3. "Hard Man (Bless My Soul)" – (Bob Danyls, La Rue, Turner, Blakemore) – 3:56
  4. "Hard Headed Woman" – (La Rue, Blakemore) – 3:28
  5. "I Would Never Leave" – (La Rue, Turner, Larry Dawson, Blakemore) – 5:21
Side Two
  2. "Dancer" - (La Rue, Turner, Blakemore) - 3:33
  3. "Little Cherie" – (La Rue, Blakemore) – 4:05
  4. "Late Nights" – (La Rue) – 3:15
  5. "Two Time Loser" – (Turner, Blakemore) – 4:29
  6. "Ain't No Way" – (Danyls, Turner, Dawson, Blakemore) – 3:48

Personnel

Cadillac (1980)

Cadliac was Fandango's final album before Joe Lynn Turner joined Rainbow in the fall of 1980. Released on RCA Records. Re-Released on CD in 2008 on Wounded Bird Records in the United States and in 2010 on Canyon in the United Kingdom.

Track listing

Side One

1. "Blame it On The Night" – (Rick Blakemore/Dannie LaRue) – 3:42
2. "Rock 'n' Roll You" - (LaRue/Joe Lynn Turner) - 5:44
3. "Hypnotized" - (Blakemore/LaRue/Bob Danyls/Turner) - 2:32
4. "Don't Waste My Time" - (Danyls/Turner) - 3:06
5. "Stranger (in a Strange Land)" - (LaRue/Blakemore) - 4:10

Side Two

6. "Cadliac" – (LaRue/Turner) – 3:10
7. "Fortune Teller" - (LaRue/Blakemore/Turner) - 4:10
8. "Getaway" - (Danyls/Turner) - 3:52
9. "Headliner" (1980 version) - (LaRue/Blakemore) 4:42

Personnel

  • Arranged By [Arrangements & Musical Direction] – Denny LaRue
  • Artwork By [Art Direction & Design] – Pat McGowan
  • Bass, Vocals – Bob Danyls
  • Drums – Abe Speller
  • Engineer – Jack Malken, Michael Barry
  • Engineer [Assistant] – Ed Sullivan (3)
  • Guitar, Vocals – Rick Blakemore
  • Keyboards, Synthesizer, Organ – Larry Dawson
  • Lead Vocals, Guitar – Joe Lynn Turner
  • Mastered By – Howie Weinberg
  • Percussion – Santos (11)
  • Piano – Joe De Lia
  • Producer – Ed Newmark, Warren Schatz

References

  1. ^ "Presenting Fandango". Artista, RCA Sign New Artists. Cash Box. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 43. George Albert. March 12, 1977. p. 10.
  2. ^ Turner, Joe Lynn. Personal Interview. (1 March 2017). "Rick Blakemore suggested changing my name...I like the Blues...He said, Big Joe Turner!...His cousin had the middle name 'Lynn'...very common in (the) southern states...so he yelled out, Joe Lynn Turner!...And it stuck! RCA loved the name when we signed the record deal."
  3. ^ Julie, Kevin (July 1999). "Joe Lynn Turner Speaks". Universal Wheels.
  4. ^ Harrison, Ed (August 19, 1978). "Paragon Shaping New Wing" (pdf). Billboard. p. 44 – via AmericanRadioHistory.com.
  5. ^ Balogh, Mark (November 2007). "Interview with Joe Lynn Turner – Legendary singer satisfied with this Second Hand Life". Rock Eyez. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  6. ^ Popoff, Martin (September 2005). Rainbow: English Castle Magic. Simi Valley, CA: Metal Blade Records Inc. pp. 117, 118. ISBN 0-9752807-2-4.