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Johnny B. Goode 2:270:00/2:27
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You Made Me Cry 3:040:00/3:04
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Bye, Bye, Love 3:130:00/3:13
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Stay Away 3:080:00/3:08
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Play With Fire 2:090:00/2:09
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Summer Love 2:450:00/2:45
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Great Balls Of Fire 1:560:00/1:56
"Raw & Roll" (1965) "The Chosen Few": Chet Nichols, Tom Peck, Wayne Welch & Jeff Weinstein
Artist & Album Notes
Back in the early 1960's while in high school, Chet NIchols started a couple rock 'n' roll bands. Like many other your people at the time, Chet was searching for the right players to create a "sound". Also, he wanted players who were solid musicians and singers, as Chet was writing "Original Songs" for his band. Not surprisingly, his originals became "instant" fan "favorites". Chet was writing a couple new songs a week and anxious to find a way to record his band and their songs. It was at this time that Chet helped to form the band and they called themselves, "The Chosen Few". This group of young musicians were brimming with talent!
Then, a local music lover, fan of the band and young engineer named, Bill Bradley, offered to record the band in his house. It was a huge 3-story home and Bill set-up each musician to in a separate room with mics and had the mixing board set-up in his living room. Once the levels were set, the band went to work recording the songs.
Thus, the title "Raw & Roll", because the songs were very rock 'n' roll centered and VERY RAW in their presentation and sound. This collection of tunes were some of the first "basement band" recordings done by the bands in the area. A deal appeared, but it dragged on to a point where the band broke up because of the Viet Nam war and because a couple guys went off to college. Sadly, it was Chess Records who was interested,
Anyway, the songs were still on this tape and it was rediscovered back in 2012 and, with the help of friend, the songs were transferred into a digital format. Chet then took it upon himself to re-mix and master these VERY OLD tapes because he kept running into people who wanted to hear these old songs and the band.
The band consisted of Chet Nichols on lead vocals and lead guitar, Tom Peck on lead, background vocals and bass, Wayne Welch on drums and vocals and Jeff Weinstein on guitar and background vocals.
So, here you have a rough and raw demo of a great band just starting to hit it's stride in the mid-1960's. Still, the essence of the band and the potential of the songs shine through.
Finally, thanks to everyone who worked on making this collection of tunes happen.
Recorded/Mixed at The Magic Garage Studio, Wilmette, Il, USA
Song & Album Reviews
Performance Biography
Chet has an international following and has toured extensively and
performed at coffee houses, listening clubs, large concert venues,
major concert tours and college concert tours across the USA and Canada,
as a featured performing artist and as an "opening act" for artists and bands
including......
B.B. King
Jethro Tull
John Denver
The Jefferson Airplane
Linda Ronstadt
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Jimmy Messina
Timothy B. Schmidt
Rusty Young
Papa John Creach
George Carlin
Steve Martin
POCO
Hot Tuna
Dan Hicks & The Hotlicks
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
It's A Beautiful Day
Pacific Gas & Electric
Jimmie Spheeris
Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen
Mary Travers
The Charlie Daniels Band
Country Joe McDonald
The Grassroots
Mason Proffit
The Persuasions
Blue Oyster Cult
The Grateful Dead
Big Brother & The Holding Company
Leonard Nimoy
James Taylor
Bollo Sette
Southern Comfort
John Lee Hooker
The Chad Mitchell Trio
Roger McGuinn
Ian & Sylvia
Humble Pie
Modern Folk Quartet
Richard Pryor
KC Grits
Ewing Street Times
Danny Cox
Biff Rose
The Guess Who
Steve Goodman
The Mary Clayton Band
Billy Spears
Brewer & Shipley
Ted Anderson
The Kansas City Philharmonic ... and many more.
Chet has worked in recording studios and recorded with .....
Bill Bradley (Universal Studios)
Stephen Barncard (David Crosby)
Nicky Hopkins (The Rolling Stones)
Nick Gravenities (Big Brother)
Laura Allan (Laura Allan)
Dave Garabaldi (Tower of Power)
Zakir Hussain (Ravi Shankar)
John Kahn (Jerry Garcia)
Spencer Dryden (The Jefferson Airplane)
Pete Sears (The Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, New Riders)
Henry Lewie (Joni Mitchell)
Fuzzy John Oxendine (Sons of Champlain)
Buddy Cage (New Riders Of The Purple Sage)
The New Riders Of The Purple Sage
Jack Schroer (Van Morrison)
Brewer & Shipley ("Live" album)
Don Preston (Wings)
Dick Marx (Dick Marx & Associates)
Sal Marquez (The "New" Tonight Show Band)
RJ Fox (Sherry Fox)
Steve Sperry (The Steve Miller Band) ..... and many others.
Please feel free to hang-out and listen to any of Chet's album and to contact Chet.
Or you can add your info to his mailing list or send any comments or questions his way.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a current and evolving site, as well as being a fun and
informative "historical" site about an influential, independent, American composer,
musician and singer-songwriter, Chet Nichols.
So, we are always looking for and seeking any and all old posters or photos
from Chet's shows.
If you have any, please let us know. We would be happy to provide you with
a nice collection of Chet's music of your choice in exchange for any reviews,
photos or posters you can provide.
Contact Us: MagicGarageMusic@protonmail.com
Website Designed and Produced by Chet Nichols for
Magic Garage Productions, Magic Garage Music (ASCAP)
and Magic Garage Records. All Rights Reserved.