“Tears, Tears” is a great pop number, one of better Beatles-inspired songs of the mid-’60s. If you want to hear it dig out Highs in the Mid Sixties, Michigan volume 3! The flip is “Don’t You Know It’s Love?” for fans of moody ballads.
The band was from Kalamazoo, Michigan, 140 miles distant from Detroit where the single was recorded. Alan Birdsall wrote both sides of the single, published by Pavilion Music, BMI. It was released on the Topper label in March, 1966.
Someone who know the band wrote to me:
The band members were students at Kalamazoo Central High School:
Alan Birdsall, Junior, Rhythm Guitar
Greg Mauchmar, Junior, Lead Guitar
Terry De Moor, Senior, Bass
Robert Moffitt, Junior, DrumsAll Gibson guitars… I think it would be illegal to live in Kalamazoo and not play one! The record was made in Spring 1966 in Detroit. Earlier that year, they had won a “Battle of the Bands” contest in Kalamazoo, and appeared in the Kalamazoo Gazette. They recorded (I think) 4 songs that day, but only one record was made, so the best two songs were used. One of them was named “Don’t You Know It’s Love”, but that song did not appear on the record. The recorded B-side song was really called “Because I Love You” (makes sense, since that’s the lyric), but someone screwed up the label. Greg Mauchmar wrote that song, but for whatever reason, Birdsall was given credit (probably because it was Birdsall’s band, or it was another screw up).
Topper had about a half-dozen releases of soul artists such as Priscilla Page, Dottie & Millie, and Tobi Lark, all in demand on by collectors. The Decisions was the only garage or rock type single on the label that I know of. Like most of those singles, the producer on the Decisions is the legendary Dave Hamilton.
What a fabulous find! This website answers so many questions for me. If you are in contact with Danny, PLEASE give him my email address. Our North Plainfield High School Class of 1965 has been looking for him for 50 years! We would so much like to have him join us at our September 2015 both Reunion. Free As The Wind was an anthem! Danny was always a great pal. We spent a lot of time together at Sam’s, the candy store up the street from his home in NP. bmorkavich@aol.com http://www.NPHS1965.com
My brother Bob Moffit was the drummer in the band, The Decisions. So happy to find this, since I lost him years ago.
I went to Kalamazoo Central with these guys. In fact, I grew up with Greg and in our junior year we discovered that we were cousins. I remember jamming in Alan’s bedroom with Greg and Alan, who we called ‘Bird.’ After the Decisions Alan formed the group ‘Tiers.’ He had a van with the name painted on the sides. One weekend he and I drove it to Milwaukee. Trip details are blurry, but I remember him dancing naked in the motel room window laughing maniacally. In ’67 Greg and I were going to drive west to the Monterrey Pop Festival but neither dad would let us borrow a car. In ’69 a friend of one of the band members knew a roadie touring with the Grateful Dead. They were playing at the Electric Theater in Chicago. We drove over, met the band members at the Holiday Inn on Lake Shore Drive, spent the day with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan, Phil Lesh, then rode with them in limos to the venue. Wow! A chain of events that began with the Decisions and gave me a first hand glimpse into rock’n’roll history.
Well it’s 2022 & i picked up Tears, Tears at Amoeba Hollywood ýesterday for 8$ . I’m awfully glad I grabbed it & had enough sense to check it out on YouTube . In a mere nano second I knew it was good & added it to my pile. Some 16 hours later I gave it a real listen & I’m pretty fRicKen happy with it. It’s perhaps more Beau Brummels than Beatles & if you’ve heard it and the lyrics you’ll likely agree. Good Shit, kids
Sounds great , wrong video , not right for song .