The Cryan' Shames
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The Cryan' Shames are an American
garage rock Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock music that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The style is ...
band from
Hinsdale, Illinois Hinsdale is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States, with a small portion in Cook County, Illinois, Cook County. It is one of the wealthiest communities in Illinois. Hinsdale is a western suburb of Chicago with a population of 17,395 ...
. Originally known as The Travelers, the band was formed by Tom Doody ("Toad"), Gerry Stone ("Stonehenge"), Dave Purple ("Grape") of The Prowlers, Denny Conroy from Possum River, and Jim Fairs from The Roosters, Jim Pilster ("J.C. Hooke", so named because he was born without a left hand and wore a hook), and Bill Hughes. The band's most successful song was their cover of
The Searchers ''The Searchers'' is a 1956 American epic Western film directed by John Ford and written by Frank S. Nugent, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May. It is set during the Texas–Indian wars, and stars John Wayne as a middle-aged Civil War v ...
' " Sugar and Spice".


History

In 1966, upon learning that another band was already using the name “Tommy and the Travelers”, they needed to find another name. J.C. Hooke was familiar with Tommy Krein of that band, and asked him if he would be interested in joining their band instead; when Krein (pronounced Cryan) declined, Hooke remarked that it was "a cryan' shame," thus naming the band. After the Cryan' Shames signed with Bob Monaco, the promotion manager for Destination Music, their first single was supposed to be
George Harrison George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician, singer and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Culture ...
's song "
If I Needed Someone "If I Needed Someone" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by George Harrison, the group's lead guitarist. It was released in December 1965 on their album ''Rubber Soul'', except in North America, where it appeared on the J ...
"; however, due to publication issues, it was not released (although it was included on their debut album). Instead, their first single was " Sugar and Spice," a
Tony Hatch Anthony Peter Hatch (born 30 June 1939) is an English composer for musical theatre and television. He is also a songwriter, pianist, arranger and producer. Early life and early career Hatch was born in Pinner, Middlesex. Encouraged by his mu ...
song that had been a 1963 hit for the English group
The Searchers ''The Searchers'' is a 1956 American epic Western film directed by John Ford and written by Frank S. Nugent, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May. It is set during the Texas–Indian wars, and stars John Wayne as a middle-aged Civil War v ...
. The Shames' version reached number 49 in the US and number four on Chicago radio ( WLS). Another single was released just before the end of 1966 called "I Wanna Meet You" b/w "We Could Be Happy", both composed by Jim Fairs. This record made it to number one in Chicago and number 85 nationally. The Shames signed to Columbia in 1966, and they focused on their first album release, which was heavily influenced by
The Byrds The Byrds () were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) being the so ...
. Their album, ''Sugar and Spice'', was recorded in just two days, but it was strengthened by cover versions of contemporary popular songs like " We Gotta Get Out of This Place" and "
Hey Joe "Hey Joe" is a song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and been performed in many musical styles by hundreds of different artists. The lyrics are from the point of view of a man on the run and planning to escape to Mexico after sho ...
". Upon its October 1966 release, the album became a hit in Chicago and charted at number 192 nationally. Dave Purple and Gerry Stone left following the first album release. They were replaced by Isaac Guillory and Lenny Kerley. Follow-up singles met with lesser success, but, in August 1967, "It Could Be We're in Love" was #1 in Chicago on both WLS and WCFL. Before the development of their second album, Stone was drafted to fight in the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
and lineup changes followed. Their second album, an experimental combination of
psychedelic rock Psychedelic rock is a rock music Music genre, genre that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelia, psychedelic culture, which is centered on perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music incorporated new electronic sound ...
and studio arrangements, charted at number 156. Their productions and vocal harmonies had improved, which was reflected positively in album sales. Jim Fairs and Dennis Conroy left following the release of the second album. They were replaced by Dave Carter and Alan Dawson. The group's new lineup released their final album, ''Synthesis''. The album marked attempts at
progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...
with
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
influences. The album charted lower than their previous effort and was considered a disappointment. The group disbanded in December 1969, but they later reunited and continue to tour. The Shames were never a national success, but their singles and albums sold well in the Chicago area. Jim "J.C. Hooke" Pilster and Tom Doody (Toad) are the only remaining original members in the current lineup. Two members of The Cryan' Shames have died: bassist Dave Purple in June 2001, and his replacement, Isaac Guillory, on December 31, 2000. In 2023, the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Rt 66 in Joliet, IL inducted the Cryan’ Shames into its Hall of Fame. J.C. Hooke Pilster accepted the award while performing classic hits like “Sugar and Spice” among others.


Discography


Singles


Albums


References


External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cryan Shames, The Musical groups established in 1966 Garage rock groups from Illinois 1966 establishments in Illinois