The Chimes of Freedom came from Scotia, New York, near Schenectady and Albany. “Jungle Rock” is known from Girls in the Garage, but the Dead Wax blog shows this was not an all-girl group: Mari Salato vocals, Chip Vedder vocals, Bill Pytlovany lead guitar, Paul Hamilton rhythm guitar, Jeff Austin bass guitar, and Darrell Francis drums.
Bonnie Carbin Kruger commented below that she played keyboards on this record.
Hamilton, Francis and Pytlovany wrote “Jungle Rock”, while the original A-side was “Did You Ever”, a ballad by Francis and Pytlovany.
This is a hard single to date, I don’t see anything in the dead wax other than stamped 102A/B, and the label code USS 102 is also obscure. The Robert Barry Music credit helps connect this to the Vibra-Sound Recording Studio in Schenectady.
The Times Record reported on May 4, 1970 that the Chimes of Freedom would participate in a Battle of the Bands at the Colonie Coliseum Summer Theater against three Colonie bands: Iron Image, Reverend Blackbird, and Three Steps in the Mill, plus a group called Horton Strong from SUNY Albany.
On September 11, 1970, the Troy Record reported the Chimes of Freedom would play a cafeteria dance for the Shenendehowa Festival on September 26. That’s all the press I can find on the group.
Anyone have a photo of the band?
Hi. Did Mari Salato sing this song? We were good friends in high school. I haven’t talked to her in over 40 years.
Darlene Church-Davis
Yes it was. I’m sitting with het next to a fire and we just found this. Mari lives in troy now
Hey, I was a member of this band and played on this recording as well…..keyboards…Bonnie Carbin Kruger. Fun times!
I remember watching them practice for the Battle of the Bands in a garage at a house on Sacandaga Rd. in Scotia, NY. which I believe they went on to win. I’m thinking that contest is what got them the recording.
Yes it was at my house on in Scotia/Gleenville.
Blast from the past. A great time in life. Still love and play the guitar.
So wild to see the interest in our small town band that made some wonderful memories of good times and beautiful friends! I miss them all!