The Front Line were based in San Rafael, in Marin County, California. Members included Gary Philippet on keyboards, Bill Bowen on drums, Rex Larsen, Jim Brewer and Dennis Lanigan. Philippet had been in a few earlier bands, including the Mystics and the Pullice. Bowen and Philippet were both part of Electric Train, who recorded two songs found on an acetate but not released at the time.
The York label was part of Charles Greene and Brian Stone’s York/Pala production company. Greene and Stone produced Sonny and Cher, and also worked with the Daily Flash and with the Buffalo Springfield on their early sessions at Gold Star. With a distribution deal with Atco, it’s no surprise that the Front Line 45 was released in the UK on Atlantic. Green and Stone’s connections also landed the Front Line opening slots on a Sonny and Cher tour.
Their second 45 was “Saigon Girl” / “Three Day Pass” on the Titan label, which I haven’t heard yet.
Rex Larsen wrote to me with information from the beginnings of the group:
The Front Line formally The Mystics were formed in 1961 in my freshman year of high school. We, the group were all serious about making a great band. Aside from a drummer change we played all through high school every weekend all over the san Francisco bay area. We were from San Anselmo in Marin County.
I was, at that time also working at Sherman Clay Music store in San Francisco during the summers. The store decided to open one in San Rafael right near where I lived. I managed the musical instrument department. Then the store decided to start a music school in a house they leased nearby. I was in charge of the school also giving guitar lessons. One of my students was the son of the manager of Coast Recorders in San Francisco. His father asked me if I wanted to exchange studio time for guitar lessons and of course I said yes. The Mystics recorded 3 or 4 songs there.
Then Gary Phillips and I went to Los Angeles to see if we could get a record deal. Very brave at the ripe age of 16. We decided on two places to go. Phil Specter and Green and Stone Productions. To make a long story short both wanted to sign us but we went with G&S. Several weeks after, I think, the 2nd trip down to L.A they called us and asked us if we wanted to back up Sonny and Cher and do our own set. His name was The rest is history.
I never knew about the single being a hit in England until many years later. Jim Brewer quit the group during the Sonny and Cher tour. There is more to the story for me but maybe for another time.
Late in ’66, Bowen went into an early lineup of the Sons of Champlin. Philippet, later known as Gary Phillips, joined Freedom Highway, Copperhead and Earthquake. He passed away on January 17, 2007.
Sources include the Gary Phillips tribute site www.garyphilippet.com/ – now defunct. Thank you to Rex Larsen for info on the early days of the group.