CHRIS HARLOT of the HARLOTS
updated as of fall 2011
interview with Seth Greenky producer of the Harlots added below...
band shot
NOTE THE PHOTO AT THE LEFT *
yea were really mining the lost archive of 70s N.y. glam rock, recently DAVID JOHNASEN said in an interview in aug '05 that these guys were the DOLLS biggest competition back in the early 70s in N.y.,
THE HARLOTS of 42nd STREET
' COOL DUDE AND FOXY LADY/SPRAY PAINT BANDIT ' ' 74
released on the Sunburst label, this is a BRILLIANT single and should have been a HIT, perhaps it was a minor anthem ? but one you' ve never heard except in your dreams.....begins with high hat, and melodic guitar, it's pop-rock with the trashy aspects of glam and the band plays like you figured they'd sound,......... trashy,...........it has charming aspects that would appeal to both fans of glam and pop, catchy chorus.......very good lyrics too, acoustic guitar plays alongside electric guitar, can even be classified as folk/glam, well umm almost, only the acostic guitar adds the folk sensibility within the song, but this band were anything but a folk band, really though this tune captures the magical times of '74 very very well with the guys singing along in the background.......
'.........ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE LAND OF R-n-R, THERE LIVED A BOY AND GIRL WHO LOVED TO LOSE CONTROL, THEY USED TO HANG OUT EVERY NIGHT AND DAY, AT PLACES AROUND N.y. WHERE THEY COULD HAVE THEIR WAY.......( chrous ).......HE's A COOL DUDE AND SHE's A FOXY LADY WHOA A WHOA........THEY HITCHHIKED TO A CLUB THAT WAS UNDERGROUND......................SHE's A COOL DUDE AND HE's A FOXY LADY WHOA A WHOA.................................( later )..............COOL DUDE AND FOXY LADY HAD MADE THEIR CLAIM TO FAME..................HE's A COOL DUDE AND SHE's A FOXY LADY'..........
'SPRAY PAINT BANDIT' on the b-side the band goes for a more or less straight ahead rocker with emphasis on bass and guitar, and they sound like they're taunting the dolls ..........' I'M A SPRAY PAINT BANDIT, AND I' M HEADIN' TOWARDS YOUR SUBWAY, I' M A SPRAY PAINT BANDIT AND NO ONE GETS IN MY WAY, I' M GONNA WRITE MY NAME ALL OVER YOUR WALLS, IN LETTERS BRIGHT AND TALL, AND WHEN YOU SEE YOUR SUBWAY TRAIN IT's NOT GONNA LOOK THE SAME........................................( later ).................IN LETTERS RED, WHITE, AND BLUE'.............
musically we give this band the thumbs up, allthough their music does not seem to be as strong as the DOLLS, but good comparisons can be found nonetheless, bet as a live band though they were something else.............so where are these live recordings of The Harlots of 42nd st. ?
We did read on a thread the CHRIS HARLOT has some studio or live recordings on tape somewhere, and last year we did find this photos that THURSTON MOORE of SONIC YOUTH included in a collage with other glam stars of the day, so another photo of the Harlots can be seen here ~
http://www.audiocircle.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=334&pos=23
this same review is on page 23 as well,
.........so wanna know how these 2 rare songs sound ? see our hard to find page on this link here, search out '42nd' -
https://www.angelfire.com/vt2/70sinvasion/ downloads7.html 'Polyethylena Purebred / Shake my Blues'
surfaced at the pure pop blog in march 2013, the first song is a cool glam tune with some pretty good guitar work wailing away, which allthough not as good as the 2 songs reviewed above, nonetheless gives a real interesting look into the world of 42nd st......'she was well educated, very well at home, her life was worked out to the last detail'...., the b side ain't as good as the flip but decent enuff.....'wanna (?) dancing, but it's just too late, the sweat is moving down my face, man says you better pay the rent or you can find another place'....
now then here is some philosophy to go along with these great photos, read these 4 quotes,
There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking.
Andre Gide:
Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.
Bertrand Russell:
Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise.
"The Philosophy of Logical Atomism"
Carl Sagan:
It seems to me what is called for is an exquisite balance between two conflicting needs: the most skeptical scrutiny of all hypotheses that are served up to us and at the same time a great openness to new ideas. If you are only skeptical, then no new ideas make it through to you. On the other hand, if you are open to the point of gullibility and have not an ounce of skeptical sense in you, then you cannot distinguish useful ideas from the worthless ones. (1987 lecture "The Burden of Skepticism")
Yes. I produced the Harlots. Doug (Harlot) McLean was the songwriter. I still have a few of the original 45s. We got a great review in Billboard or Cashbox (or both). The group should have been big. FYI, I'm in touch with some of the bandmembers to this day.
2 Was there more material, maybe enough for a whole album ?
-------------We recorded about enough for one side of an LP. They had more than enough material for at least an LP at that time. But, that single was the only material released. It was very frustrating that we had to go with such a small label as these guys were really talented, Gene could really sing. In my opinion, the Dolls and the Ramones had their own things but they didn't really have good musicians, melodies or good lead vocals. The Ramones used to rehearse, before they got well-known, in the rehearsal studios of my then-partner and I saw them and heard them constantly. We didn't like them. We went with The Harlots and, musically and creatively, I stand by that decision. The music of the Harlots had stories and melodies. Ahhhh, the music biz.....go figure.
3 Hard to believe you guys didn't like the Ramones music or maybe it was just a personal thing, anyways please tell the world the names of the other songs and how they sounded in comparison with the 2 great tracks that were released by the Harlots ?
---------------------I was only speaking for myself. I don't know how the guys from The Harlots felt about the music of the Ramones. I just don't think they were particularly musical. Perhaps my point of view comes from the fact that I was classically schooled in music and didn't appreciate what the Ramones were doing. But, I did play in rock and R&B bands and produced rock, pop & R&B. My tastes were always eclectic. You like what you like and don't what you don't. Everyone's entitled to an opinion.
I don't know if I can remember all of the other tracks we recorded. Let's see: "S & M (I Can't Live Without You)," "Dead End," and "Refuse To Be Misued." Another song we recorded was "Polyethalena Purebread." There were probably more. All of the ones I just remembered could have been singles. Should have been, too. Many others that were going to be recorded but didn't happen.
4 Did the Harlots get along with the Dolls and were they influenced by any of the glam acts from across the ocean ; T.Rex, Bowie, Sweet, Slade, etc. ?
--------------------You would have to ask them. 5 Did the band get along with other bands in the N.y. underground at the time, any of these bands that you may recall ; Ruby and the Rednecks, Milk-n-Cookies, Rags, Magic Tramps, Dorian, Teenage Lust, or maybe Television in their early days with Richard Hell ?
---------------From what I can recall most were all a friendly bunch of guys and got along. I don't recall any feuds but I didn't hang out with all the bands. I did go to some gigs with The Harlots (some very interesting memories from "The Continental Baths," "The Coventry," "Max's," (I think "Club 86") and some others as well as rehearsing them and taking them into the studio. Also, some meeting with some record company execs. Richard Hell needed a place to crash and spent the night on my couch around that time.
6 Seems old Hollywood also had an effect on the music of glam bands of the 70s to an extent, can you recall any films you guys all liked and maybe were influenced by ?
-------------------I thing Gene Harlot was into Gene Harlow (at least he was paying an homage) and I think he wore an actual G-String that once belonged to Gypsy Rose Lee whenever he performed.
7 Also what were the band members names aisde from Doug Mclean ?
-----------------Everyone went by the last name of Harlot. Therefore, Gene Harlot (get the pun?), Tony Harlot, Doug Harlot, Frank Harlot, and Chris Harlot
8 Do you know what 70s magazine these promo illustrations came from ?
( were referring to the images you can find on our Harlots gallery 2 and 3 )
-------------------It was done by the group or their girlfriends. It was the promo material we used.
9 Umm walking around the dirty streets of N.y. late at night did any of you ever happen to meet by chance Bozo the Clown ?
---------------------LOL. I would love to make up a deliciously funny and creepy story but it would all be a lie.
Thank you Seth for a fine interview, maybe one day the music world will get to hear some of the unreleased gems recorded in N.y. so long ago.......we'll have some upcoming photos in our gateway 8 of the 70s invasion. This same interview also appears in our other Harlots section on page 23 - The N.y. Underground -
THE STILLETOES
THE STILLETOES featuring DEBBIE HARRY pre - BLONDIE ! another rare photo of this band can be seen atop our gateway 4
see N.y. scenester DEBORAH OLIN's interview for more info on forgotten bands on N.y. early - mid 70s -
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=deborah+olin&fr=FP-tab-web-t&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8
