Something of a mystery, my understanding is that although their second 45 has a Brooklyn, NY address on the label, the band was actually from Springfield, NJ.
The misspelled “Your Gona Break My Heart” has some cool slide effects on the intro, a fine guitar break and lots of echo. It was released with the band listed as the Abstrack Sound, on the CBM label in 1966, with a moody “Judge Him If You Can” on the flip.
On their second record, the stomping “I’m Trying” backed with the wild “Blacked Out Mind”, they’re called the Abstract Sound. This one was released twice in 1967, on the Gray Sounds and Sound of Soul labels, and was produced by E. M. Gray.
Bill Monetti and C. Catena wrote their songs, along with Denis Dreher on the second 45. However, the Gray Sounds release lists Dreher as co-writing “I’m Trying” while the Sound of Soul release gives him co-credit on “Blacked Out Mind”. BMI lists him on both songs along with Monetti, and drops Catena altogether! Obviously someone screwed up the credits somewhere along the way. To make things still more confusing, the labels are reversed on my copy!
Anyone have a photo of the group or scans of the CBM or Sound of Soul labels?
Can’t believe that I found this website, and more remarkable, someone found all of the records I made with my group, back in the mid sixties, “The Abstrack Sound”
Where have all the years gone, since those truly great days. Days I recall often. They were so much fun, even though at the time, they were kinda stressful, with all the goin ons of the changing forever, world of rock n roll, the sixties.
As for Carmen Catena, our one time manager from Newark… I did call him, 15-20 years ago, asking if he had any copies left of the records we made, including “Itchy Scratch”, which was his song, that we made a re-make of. Eddie Gray.. from Brooklyn, another one time manager, who was working hard to find a band to manage, make a few bucks, and possibly having a one hit wonder.. Never happened! He was a great guy.
More songs were recorded, including “Fran”, which I wrote, and would love for anyone out there reading this that may have a copy, to contact me, or up-load it onto the site.
On the flip side was “Wake Me Shake Me”, a re-make from what the Blues Project wrote, as did the Myddle Class from Summit. They too, “Myddle Class” are on this site.. Remember.. “Free As The Wind”, a great song that should have made it to the top.
I vividly remember all the guys in many of the groups I was in back in the sixties, to include, Dennis Dreher, Barry Cooperman, Gary DeStefano, Herbie Heilman and Benjie Williams from Union, and others as well. Geeze.. what great times they were, and all of the places we use to play at.. Yes, The Library in Springfield, Many house parties in Summit, Mountainside, Millburn, The Union Drive In Movie Theatre, P.A.L. in Union and Elizabeth, Scotch Plains High School, Union Catholic, Summit YMCA, Battle Of The Bands in Millburn, Springfield, Union, The one time, TV show on channel 47 with Zacherly, A few times on WWRL radio, Newark, all great times, and so much learned in such a short time in our lives.
After playing with the Abstrack Sound, I moved on and hooked up with a few guys from Kenilworth and Springfield, to play at some clubs, (underage of course), in Linden, Roselle park and finally in the big time topless nightclub, “The Sterling”, in Greenwood Lake, NY Best money at the time too… $250.00 for the group of four of us.
So many other groups from our area of NJ had great groups too, and one always comes to mind for the short time I played with them was the “Forty Fingers”, who had some great harmony and very good players.. Teddy O’Connell, Bruce Colendrea, Bruce Gerstein and Wayne Masiello. I can remember our sponsor at the time.. “Prince Maccaroni” and we had the chance to perform live at the Shop-Rite on Rt 46 in Totowa, and even had our pictures taken for the local newspaper, for which I still have a copy of!
Hope to hear from some of the guys in the band and really hope that someone out there has some copies of some of the records I made, so long ago, back at the great age range of 15-17 years old….
Email me at fredcdobbs@gmail.com .I can give you an update on alot of the guys you mentioned from Springfield.
Good to hear from you, and hope all is well in your life these days… Yes, you are correct, Gene, not Gary, what was I thinking… I remember, Gene was a few years older than what we were at the time. Yes, and I do remember, now that you mention… Tom Swifts Electric Ping Pong Balls”, and can remember the basic melody as well. I ve heard that Teddy and Bruce still play now and then in Springfield, at a bar/club on Springfield Avenue. Havent really kept in touch with anyone in Springfield, other than to hear a few things, rumors etc, from time to time. You can feel free to e mail me anytime. Again I hope all is well and it was great to hear from you. PS When I listen to the records that were made SO many years ago, back when we were just kids… They are terrible, but happy I have the memories! Take care, Bill Monetti
Bill, It was Gene Destafano not Gary. Gene became the lead singer and I, Tony Cicconi, joined the group on keyboard. We renamed the group “Tom Swifts Electric Ping Pong Balls”.
I remember when we showed up with all our equipment for the battle of the bands at J .D. Regional High School and we weren’t allowed to play because Mr. Pollack said we didn’t have our application in on time.
I always wondered how our version of the Velvet Undergrounds “Heroin” would have gone over.
The 40 fingers won and they let us play during the break of the block party gig which was the first prize but they only let us play 2 songs. They were real first rate second rate guys.
Some other trivia…
We lasted 10 minutes at a house party in Springfield until the cops broke it up for noise violation.
Ira Ryner, alias Mike alias Hollis wrote one of our songs.
Later I joined the 40 fingers when Ted O’Connell quit.
They brought in Josh (last name escapes me) as a lead singer and I played keyboard. That lasted 3 weeks until they made up with Ted.
I took the heat for a cigarette burn you made on Benji William’s keyboard. His gang came into town and he smashed me in the face with a watermelon.
Ahh..the good old days.
Hi!
Have you please some more records of abstrack sound you can share? that’s really the greatest band i’ve heared last time and it’s so sad to listerning only for these 4 songs…
thanks
hey i was just looking around for my dads band and i finally found it. My dad(Denis Dreher) told me stories about it and i wanted to check it out. He sends good wishes and asked me to ask you guys, “Do you think we would have been successful?”
I stumbled upon this group The Abstract Sound on youtube as I was listening to the 60’s music that I love so much. The first song I heard was I’m Trying and was blow away by how good it sounded. Similiar to the Animals sound. Who was the lead singer ?? Man he sounds so much like Eric Burdon. You guys could have definately been something had you kept at it wow….
Yup, the abstract sound were from Springfield. They use to play gigs at the old library here,and also use to if memory serves play sometimes with the 40 fingers,another very popular band from Springfield.I went to HS with Bill Monetti.He use to wear wild pants with those boat style sneakers.He was a nice guy.