May 9, 2006
I received my cd's the
best of and you also sent me the live cd , let me tell
you I love the best of cd, but when I listened to the Live
cd I cant stop listening to it ! I think it is one of
the best I've ever heard , the energy is incredible I haven't
heard a live album that good in a long long time !
thanks Manny Macias
Dec 24, 2005
Got my CDs
today (Christmas Eve in Kuwait). What a great Christmas
present. Sure does bring back some great memories of the
early seventies. I was in a band that played quite a few
Ballin'Jack tunes... great times!! Thanx again!!
THOMAS W. POULOS AMC LSE - CECOM Camp Arifjan,
Kuwait APO AE 09366
Oct 7, 2005
Hi Dan. I've been trying to follow Luther's
situation on the Ballin' Jack website. (news)
I hope he's doing well. I first saw Ballin' Jack in the early
'70s, as support for Grand Funk. I loved the energy and the music
blew me away. Over the years I've collected a lot of memorabilia
and hoped that someday someone like Rhino would reissue the
catalog on CD. It's no lie to say that I own 7 copies of Live
& In Color - I wear 'em out! But I think Special Pride is my
favorite studio set. I would be interested in a CD copy.
Larry AKA mrs_blackhouse
July 1, 2005
I am the Indian and she was the New Zealander
who used to be your regular visitors and audiences at your gig at
Mugen's and the Hold Up Club in down town Tokyo (Akasaka Mitsuek)
in 1974. A long time ago maybe. Your line up included a Keyboards
player named "King", Glenn and Ronnie as well. I am truly sorry to
hear of your condition (Luther) but hey man nothing can stop you I
know. That Plexi glass bass was made for you. I searched a lot for
you Guys wanting to record an album for you in the 80's when the
internet was non existent and gave up.
I understand the frailties of the condition you
suffer Luther but have to cheer you up with the thought that there
are others who will never have the opportunity to have life like
you had it. You were a natural and gifted and I pray that gift
still remains in your soul.
I am and have been a lawyer in Australia
(Attorney), for a while I worked as a recording engineer which is
why I was in Japan anyway those days, and then a prime ministerial
advisor in New Guinea just north of Australia. I had a daughter by
Sally who I am not married to anymore but still in touch with. We
have photos of all of us together in Tokyo. She lives in New
Zealand. We live in Melbourne and I am in the throes of financing
a Los Angeles based record company 4 Entertainments and am now re
entering the music business as an attorney. We are doing it
through an Australian client who owns a telco (telecommunications
company) and is diversifying into publishing and music. If you are
still in the game we should talk. Give us your nmber. If you chose
not to, God Bless you anyway.
I am glad to have had the opportunity to have
known you and the boys and will always cherish those
memories
of Tokyo 1974.
Quintin Rozario
May 25, 2005
Hi, I came across some
pics of Luther
Rabb on your web site.
I'd like to know if he is the same one that
played in our 1960's R&R Band - 'The Nite Sounds'
If so, I'd like to know if I can get in touch
with him. He taught me the chords to 'J A J' and let me play his
grand mother's piano back in the 1960's. He also played with a
group called 'The Stags'.Thanks,
John (Michael) Riccetti
March 22, 2005
SUPERHITS '70: THE FIRST OF 215 TRACKS TO
APPEAR ON PAUL'S BOUTIQUE
Ballin' Jack - Never Let 'Em Say - If you've
heard the Beastie Boys' "Shadrach," you've heard roughly four
seconds of this song: the first line ("never gonna let 'em say
that I don't love you") and a promising moment of wah-wah. If you
had to extrapolate what this song sounds like from just that
sample, your guess would probably come pretty close to the actual
article, which is damn well drowning in whockachicka and continues
along the idea that the lead singer is not interested in letting
other people say he's an ungrateful foolin' around type. You'd be
less likely to extrapolate the horn section that barges in halfway
through -- including a hell of a trombone slide -- that kicks
Chicago's teeth out. And you probably wouldn't guess that the
guitar solo that follows afterwards sounds strongly like Jimi
Hendrix, probably because Ballin' Jack were formed in Jimi's
hometown of Seattle and grew up hanging around with him,
eventually touring with him in '70 around the time their debut
album came out on Columbia. Nate P.
Jan 18, 2005
I remember the mighty BJ from the days you
played at the old Swing auditorium in San Bernardino. Those were
great days, & you were a great band.
Thanks for the great times!!
BWIL
Nov 27, 2004
I just want to say that I am very proud of the
work that Luther
Rabb has done throughout the years, and
it has been an encouragment for me to work in the arts. I am
glad that Grandfather was the man he was, also. I believe he
shaped us all in many ways, and I rememeber a little of Ballinjack
growing up in Seattle. I thought it was cool, then and
now.
I am glad to be a member of this family. love
you Uncle Luther, sending you some mail here shortly, and some
photo's of Mike's family.
Corinthia Rabb
Nov 22, 2004
I was just surfing the net when I ran across
this site!
That is my uncle!
Kimberly Rabb
Nov 13, 2004
Thanks A MILLION for the website on one of the
greatest bands of all time!!!! Where can I find the CD's? Couldn't
find a link on the site, but I may be missing
something...
God, i can't wait to hear that stuff again: I'd
worn my vinyls down to the nubbin....
thanks again!
Gary Giessmann
Oct 31, 2004
I checked in and was happy to see how much
you've done on the site since I talked to you last! Impressive! I
think I listen to this CD more than the person I got it for! I
really appreciate all the talent and hard work all of you guys
have shared.
Thanks,
Jennie Talvitie
Sep 30, 2004
Hope all's well. I've been keeping my eye on
the website to see if anything has transpired with the band,
namely a new CD, a re-release of their LP's and availability of
Ballin'Jack baseball caps. I'm still enjoying the CD I got from
you and am also thinking of buying the Special Pride/Live
CD.
Keep me posted on the happenings, and hope
Luther is getting better.
Darrell in Seattle
Sep 27, 2004
Where can I purchase a copy of the original
BALLIN
JACK CD??
Thank you
Frank R. Romero
July 19, 2004
Well after looking nearly everywhere for a song
called "Ballin'Jack" that I could listen to, unseccessfully I
might say, I'll just resort to sending you fan mail.
I have a friend that asked me to try a find
this song about a month ago and I have been on a mission to find
it. I'm thinking it will be a rarity if I ever get a chance to
hear it. I've been surfing and to Barnes & Noble to listen to
all the songs that come up that even slightly resemble
"Ballin'Jack", but have not been able to find the 1970 release.
Now my friend is in the hospital recovering from a motorcycle
accident and I was once again trying to find a downloadable copy
of it.
If you have any leads for me, we'd appreciate
hearing from you!
Also thanks for being available for me to at
least write to you and getting this obsessive search out of my
head! lol
Sincerely,
Jennie
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004
From: "Jeff Cox"
<JeffC@compunite.com>
To: specialprideorg@yahoo.com
Subject: contribution
i came across your website when i was looking
for ways to acquire a ballin jack cd. i first heard their music in
1970 and fell in love with it!
the cd i am looking for has "found a child" and
"superhighway" ... the front of the album jacket simply had the
name "ballin jack" across the top of it in orange "fade-to-yellow"
music, with the rest of the cover solid black.
is this cd available if i were
to make a donation?
thanks in advance for your reply
jeff cox
July 5, 2004
Oh my gosh!
I've had a Ballin' Jack album since 1970 and
could never find anything about these guys!
Amazing - thanks for putting up the web
page!
Edmond B. (Ted) Gregory - Frederick, MD.
July 8, 2004
Hi Dan,
Just checking on how the new band is doing and
was wondering if you had any luck with the Ballin'Jack hats. Hope
all is well!
Darrell
Jun 6, 2004
Hey Brotha Dangl'in,
I've been waiting for year's for the honky
establishment to wake up to 'dis fantastic thang that is Luther.
Appreciated.
Timothy C.Thompson
May 21, 2004
Hi there. Was looking at the web site. Lots of
fun.
When do you anticipate CD release as referenced
on the website?
Thanks,
Rich Virkelyst
May 13, 2004
I just wanted to say that Ballin'jack is the
best 70's band I have ever heard, hands down. I am glad to see
someone is into to them because I don't know anyone that has even
heard of them. I love to turn people on to them because every
person that hears them flips, they can't believe how good they are
and their from the North West. Keep up the good work and thanks
for the info.
Marco
P>S> will their ever be a reunion show?
Apr 27, 2004
Folks,
Can you tell me when the re-release of
Ballin'Jack on CD will happen? It's been way too long!
Tks - Bob
March 17, 2004
Great site!! Is it really true that
Ballin'Jack's music is out on CD? If so, please tell me how I can
get a hold of them. I've been waiting for this for a while, but
haven't been able to find them. Please respond! Thanks.
Darrell in Seattle
PS - If this is true, you have made my day!
Apr 28, 2004
Found this website surfin'. This is the coolest
thing about the internet, being able to see some old bands that
todays music can't hold a candle to. Ballin'jack was a truly
wonderful and underrated band!
I saw Ballin'Jack back in the summer of ' 73 at
the age of 14 in Medford, Oregon. I was wondering why such an
incredible band was playing at such a small venue. Grossly
underrated tunes. Maybe it was the horns, as I know a lot of
people who don't like horns in rock, though Chicago and The
Grassroots did quite well. I had their album collection until some
prick ripped off my 70 albums in HS. It's nice to see the internet
keep alive some very forgotten but deserving bands.
Thanks for the memories.
Doug Klinkebiel
Apr 24, 2004
This is Keith "buzzy" wolk from
Jerusha
Band.
Isee you are are Ballin Jack freak and so am I
, as well as Jo Renfro.
I think he had referanced our website
www.jerushaband.com to you and if you would
like, I would like to exchange links with you.
I too was at the swing aud. BJ show and am an
avid fan.
best regards,
Buzzy
Mer 31, 2004
When I was in high school I used to listen to
Ballin'Jack all the time.
Are there any plans to release their music onto
CDs? Thanks in advance
for your reply.
Pat Connell, Omaha, NE
Feb 13, 2004
I was a big fan of the band back in college. Is
that first album (blue background, orange
logo) available on CD?
Thanks,
Gary
Jan 5, 2004
it was great visiting your ballin' jack's
webpage.
to my question , do you have complete cd of
their first album (1970) ?
thanking you in advance.
regards
utama atmadilaga
Jan 3, 2004
Seeing these concert ads and handbills takes me
back to a time when this band, Ballin'jack really drove their
point home, with straight-ahead, no nonsence rock and funk, and
even dixie-land jazz.......like no band before them, or since,
Ballin'jack were originals, and their great studio works have
stood the test of time.......
Listening again is a great joy, and the
memories of them "killing" headliners night after night, remains a
fond part of the story....
They were my first concert and became my
favorite live band.....the excitement they generated was
phenomenal....and we have never forgot the band or the great shows
they gave us......
Thank you, Luther, Ronnie, Glenn, Jim C, Jim W.
and Tim.......you guys ROCK!!!!
Johanna lynn
Los Angeles, CA
October 29, 2003
I'm a Seattle-based writer for Rolling Stone
and book author (most recently of "Heavier Than Heaven," the
best-selling Kurt Cobain biography). I'm presently writing a
biography of Jimi Hendrix for Hyperion Books and I'm in the course
of doing research for that book. I was also the Editor of The
Rocket, Seattle's music magazine, for an 18-year span so I've
spent my entire career writing about Northwest music.
My friend Mary Willix passed on your contact
and suggested I contact you. She told me you were working with
Luther Rabb on doing a re-release of Ballin' Jack material. I'm
not sure how far along you are&emdash;I've spoken to Luther a few
times on the phone recently but haven't been able to get that info
straight&emdash;but if I can help you in any way, by publicizing
it in the Seattle or national media once it's together, do let me
know. You probably have a liner note writer set up&emdash;Pat
MacDonald would be an ideal candidate since he constantly talks to
me about how great Ballin' Jack were live&emdash;but if not, let
me know. And do keep me informed on how the release progresses: I
write frequently for the Seattle Weekly, and both daily papers
here, and preserving the legacy of Northwest music a subject
that's important to me.
Unfortunately I haven't yet come across any
photos of Hendrix and Luther, though Luther is constantly
mentioned in the interviews I've done with musicians that grew up
with them. I've only been able to chat with Luther
briefly&emdash;and I'm hoping his recovery progresses&emdash;but
everyone has only kind things to say about him. However I will
keep my eyes open for photos during the rest of my research
efforts and you never know what I might dig up.
Don't hesitate to let me know if I can help you
in any way.
Cheers,
Charles R. Cross
Date: Mon, 07 Dec 1998 From The Bottom Line Online Magazine #438 -
1998
Subject: ethics of covering tunes
Mike Lankford sez:
So what are the ethics of covering tunes? When
is it a rip off and when it is homage? My sense is that Setzer is
reviving Prima's tunes and helpin to bring them to a new audience.
Because of Setzer, I now know Prima. The complication seems to be
that Prima did not get his due while alive and now . Setzer is
getting for him---or from him, if you think he's ripping him
off.
RESPONSE:
Well, Louie Prima definitely DID get his due
when he was alive. He was pretty successful, had hit records, was
a huge draw in Veags, etc. Heck, just for writing "Sing Sing Sing"
which Benny Goodman covered and turned into a huge hit, he was
probably living comfortably on his publishing royalties! He was
still hip enough to get the nod from Walt Disney himself to appear
in "The Jungle Book" (he played King Louie). He had a career that
lasted thirty years or more, that's not too shabby.
However, his style of music was not popular
with the rock and roll generation and like many of his
contemporaries slowly faded from the public view. That's nothing
new, think of all the rock bands of the 60s and 70s that are long
forgotten (Sir Lord Baltimore or Ballinjack, anyone?) My fave
Prima tune? A Christmas ditty called "What Will Santa Say WhenHe
Finds Everybody Swinging?". So my question is---What is the proper
approach to resurrecting tunes from that past so that the
originator is not co-opted or ripped off? The only thing I feel is
important is acknowledging the sources. The worst sin is to steal
writing credits (i.e. Led Zeppelin) when doing a cover.
Brian Rost
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