HEY, my brother Jim played keyboards for Harlequin (after Bert left)! Detroit, Tueys, Hammerheads, Mad Hatter, Speaks, Cheers, Ubey's OTJ, the OBI's, Baby Huey's--Those were the glory days of local club-rock bands!
This is so unreal to see this. As a young budding guitarist, I adored this band and was especially influenced by one of the most underrated guitarists on earth, Mark HItt (R.I.P.). Seeing bands in clubs in the mid 70's to early 80's was a different universe as opposed to what we have these days. But even so, RRC was a step (or several steps) above the rest. Here you got to see an Arena Style act with a high level of musician ship in a place even as small as The Fore N' Aft in White Plains. On Tuesdays you could see them at Glenn Island Casino in southern New Rochelle which was a much larger space (with plastic beer cups..!!) For me - a guitarist in his teens with a penchant for bands like U.K. and prog rock in general, to see a band in a local club looking and sounding like a polished full-blown arena act was absolutely mind blowing. These guys had it all for me. A fantastic band that could seemingly play all the music I loved with superior musicianship while honoring the original music they were depicting - and a band that had the stage presence of and act playing at Madison Square Garden - and all the best equipment stuffed onto a relatively small stage footprint with a far too large sound system to match - I could not have asked for a more glorious and life altering musical experience as a high-schooler learning his instrument. They were absolute Gods to me when I was 17-18 years old. These guys looked and behaved (and sounded) like the highest level national act. Not like these days (not to disparage any of the local acts these days) where the guys on stage basically look like they just came from work, where they were working on your wife's car a fixing her brakes. These guys looked and lived the part of rock stars and it was really a beautiful thing to have these guys to look up to. For me, Mark lead the pack with his signature "Block-Neck Gibson ES-335" and those monstrous HiWatt amps, and a huge stage presence that just could not be ignored. I get giddy with that same feeling of excitement watching this clip from 44 years ago. It was a glorious time - and some of my most exciting moments at this time of my life were getting to watch these guys do their thing up close. RRC shaped my musical education on how to be in a REAL band and not just some random guys playing in a restaurant and stuffed in the corner during dinner hour. They showed us young musicians how to actually perform and not just stand there playing our little set list. They played this music as if their lives depended on it, and after talking to them in later years, it did !! I felt like the luckiest kid in the world being able to see a band as professional and good as this close up for a $10 cover charge and a couple of beers. The world is a REALLY different place now, where music is a product like Brillo or Kleenex, and the next "hit" sounds like the last. There is definitely some great new music out there but it's only found if you take the time to sift through alot of the ear-pablum and rubber stamped out hits. So I have RRC to thank for showing all of us musicians who went to see them as often as humanly possible - how it's really done. !!
Rat Race was unbelievably talented...used to see them every week at a place called Gemini in Yorktown Heights...what great memories...thanks so much for the video footage!!
I remember living in Yonkers, New York, on McLean Avenue, and Rat Race Choir would always practice to the wee hours of the morning. I remember seeing them a lot at a club called "The Sunrise" on Yonkers Avenue. Also, when I was a DJ at the Mad Hatter in the Hamptons. They played once in a while at that club. Other notable bands that I worked with at the Mad Hatter Were: zebra, DC Star, The Good Rats, Twisted Sister. any of you went to the mad Hatter. Between 1981 and 1985?. I was DJ Rockin' Ron
Ronnie Wexler you are Thinking of a club called The Rising Sun- Yonkers ave. Just north of Yonkers Raceway. Those were the days! They used to pack that place.
Wow! I remember these guys from the early 70's. They played all the high school dances back in the day. At the Fore and Aft in White Plaines and New Rochelle, NY. They were the best! Great video, thanks.
The only guitar lesson i ever had was standing in front of Mark and this band when i was a kid picking my mouth up off the floor along with all the others standing there with me. I didn't know how lucky i was to be able to go see musicianship like this on a regular basis. in local clubs no less .... Thank you Mark :)
Even UK tended to rush this track - Pretty amazing how these guys nail the tempo from start to finish. Tough track to bring off live! Everyone in the band is very impressive.
NyLawDog..... the videos U got that nite @ Gildersleeves --- they're treasures. And the quality is amazing considering - this was 35 yrs ago. I can't thank U enough for getting this stuff that nite!!! Really........ this stuff brings me back!
... that sounded wrong. The quality is great even by 2day's standards. Tell us what equipment you used to get this back in 1980. It's just very very classy.
my dad and me have been friends with dave chmela, the bassist and only original member, for quite some time. he's a great guy and i feel so bad that this band never took off. twisted sister just stole the new york dolls' gimmick, glamed it up and became the poster band for '80s metal. it sucks but dave and rat race are still going strong and we love 'em
I remember them there when I was the DJ At the Mad Hatter for 4 years in the early 80s. Bob Mayo went on to play with Peter Frampton in the mid-70s. . He Was in Rat Race Choir
moe was 178 years old when he was born. WOW, i forgot all about those 2 characters.believe me, they were cartoon characters but they were cool. did you know moe went back to vaudville days? yeah , he was in the business THAT long.
Actually, I had found that one first (while waxing nostalgic one day), which in turn led me to your postings. I just thought you may have had an old solo from the 70's. Thanks anyway, and thanks also for posting good, old memories!
It's a shame what happens to bands! Great bands...that played excellent music together for many years. I can't even get live recordings...that I played on...from former bands I was in!!!! I know they have them...but, it's like I never was in their bands. I've asked many times, for them...but not even a reply! They will reply about other things...but not about the recordings. I'm peeved!! Guess I'll never get hear live recordings...that I played on?? Dave...do I have a legal right, to hav
Great footage, thanks NyLawDog! You wouldn't also happen to have an early drum solo of Steve's, would you, from the 70's or so? He and I had nearly identical sets-FIBES. Mine is copper, though. And we both had a custom drum rack welded by the same guy--Vinnie Murray--from Yorktown Heights. I think that's the one he's using in this video. I was roadying for Harlequin at the time. (My brother was in that band).
Zeus banned four delinquents from Mount Olympus, these prodigies came back to Earth; they used their gifts to become beloved local gods Rat Race Choir. They collectively did so, to humbly beg their lord to let them ascend once again to the Mount. Rat Race made so many people happy that Zeus already took some back. Yes, an honor indeed.
neither i was/am a long island boy except for when i worked with rat race we all lived in yorktown heights(yeah - iknow- us in yorktown that's good for a few thousand stories)as far as new wave we kinda hit the same brick wall you guys did. but we hit it and kept going!did you ever hear rrc do "rock the casbah" i still can't figure out whether it was cool or sad. they also did flock of seagulls but (thank god) that didn't last too long.
louie was in the band after mark left. i worked for rrc for 13 years i think you can trust me on this one!when bobby mayo left he was replaced by hitt. don't believe me,ask mark.
I remember RRC from Speaks in Long Island, a couple of years before Van Halen blew up... Does anyone out there have any thoughts comparing Mark to Eddie Van Halen???
@mc2NY yea i use to see them at some place in queens village called beggers opera...is that guy pete breck with em....are they still around ? how id they not make it.....way back then i remember thinking they were light years better then twisted sister
Henry! Holy crap. There's a blast from the past! How the hell have you been? I remember seeing Sterling play in Quogue, on the beach there. Chris was your drummer, wasn't he? What are you up to now? Still playing? Still keep in touch with the other Harlequins? You guys should do a reunion tour. Everyone else seems to be, (Zebra, Harpy)! Still living in NY? Got any old footage of the band to post? Didn't Bruce video the LFO show in NYC? (How's Reesa's stinky pinky?!)
they did a version of "miles beyond" by mahavishnu orchestra better than the original.... mark (direct) hitt was my main inspiration as a guitarist...mostly saw them @ fore N aft in brewster ny....
@exgroupiefromelmont1 Bands change members! This is a 32 yr old video? This is DAVE.You've got a problem with me? Mark has been out of RRC for nearly 20 YEARS.Obviously you dont follow Rat Race THAT CLOSELY.BAND DECISIONS WERE MADE *MUTUALLY*,UNDERSTAND?? Interesting Mark didn't reply to you either, isn't it? At least I DID.,
I’m gonna hear flack from fans of Twisted on this, but I don’t care. Rat Race Choir originals blew the doors off of TS originals. Well 2 different genres true. But TS got signed and RRC never did. There really is no justice.
I dunno. I saw RRC a few times and they were pretty good. But my girlfriends and me (at the time) really loved the bands Gates Pass and Gypsy. They were much more entertaining and the musicianship was at least as good. The guitar players in Gates Pass and Gypsy were awesome and the chic vocalist in Gypsy blew the RRC singer away. But... great times for sure. I miss all of them.
It's funny that you mentioned Gates Pass -Mark Hitt, guitarist from Rat Race, played with Gates Pass until Bob Mayo left Rat Race to join Peter Frampton's band. Mark replaced Bob. This video is with Mark. Also, Steve Loungo, the drummer, also sang lead in songs that needed a tenor. Cheers!
+Raymond Conklin My group of ladies were friends with Bob Mayo and the guys in most of the Westchester and Long Island based bands. He died a few years back. Very sad. He was a great guy and terrific musician. Definitely miss those awesome times in the 70's. Best bands and the best clubs on the planet for sure.
+Samantha String I remember Gates Pass. When I was in high school in the mid-70's I'd go to the Rising Sun on Yonkers Ave and see them. I thought then, (and still do), that their lead guitar player was amazing. I think his name was Louie. I remember he played a Gibson L6S. I always thought I'd he'd break through and become famous. Never did as far as I know. Anyway, good times. I miss them.
The Merry Pup was the guitarist's name Lou Ubriaco? He's of that time and place and he IS amazing! If he is who you saw, he is running his own music school in Croton-On-Hudson.
that is an idiotic statement.what are you? 12 years old? isn't there room for more than one band.brian m thought mark was a great guitar player but you pass judgement like that?
To this day, I consider it an honor to have seen this band during this period.
glassslide - I couldn’t agree more. Probably the finest “amateur “ band there ever was.
Same here. Saw them at Hammerheads in LI, NY and at Detroits upstate NY
HEY, my brother Jim played keyboards for Harlequin (after Bert left)! Detroit, Tueys, Hammerheads, Mad Hatter, Speaks, Cheers, Ubey's OTJ, the OBI's, Baby Huey's--Those were the glory days of local club-rock bands!
This is so unreal to see this. As a young budding guitarist, I adored this band and was especially influenced by one of the most underrated guitarists on earth, Mark HItt (R.I.P.). Seeing bands in clubs in the mid 70's to early 80's was a different universe as opposed to what we have these days. But even so, RRC was a step (or several steps) above the rest. Here you got to see an Arena Style act with a high level of musician ship in a place even as small as The Fore N' Aft in White Plains. On Tuesdays you could see them at Glenn Island Casino in southern New Rochelle which was a much larger space (with plastic beer cups..!!)
For me - a guitarist in his teens with a penchant for bands like U.K. and prog rock in general, to see a band in a local club looking and sounding like a polished full-blown arena act was absolutely mind blowing. These guys had it all for me. A fantastic band that could seemingly play all the music I loved with superior musicianship while honoring the original music they were depicting - and a band that had the stage presence of and act playing at Madison Square Garden - and all the best equipment stuffed onto a relatively small stage footprint with a far too large sound system to match - I could not have asked for a more glorious and life altering musical experience as a high-schooler learning his instrument. They were absolute Gods to me when I was 17-18 years old.
These guys looked and behaved (and sounded) like the highest level national act. Not like these days (not to disparage any of the local acts these days) where the guys on stage basically look like they just came from work, where they were working on your wife's car a fixing her brakes. These guys looked and lived the part of rock stars and it was really a beautiful thing to have these guys to look up to. For me, Mark lead the pack with his signature "Block-Neck Gibson ES-335" and those monstrous HiWatt amps, and a huge stage presence that just could not be ignored. I get giddy with that same feeling of excitement watching this clip from 44 years ago. It was a glorious time - and some of my most exciting moments at this time of my life were getting to watch these guys do their thing up close.
RRC shaped my musical education on how to be in a REAL band and not just some random guys playing in a restaurant and stuffed in the corner during dinner hour. They showed us young musicians how to actually perform and not just stand there playing our little set list. They played this music as if their lives depended on it, and after talking to them in later years, it did !! I felt like the luckiest kid in the world being able to see a band as professional and good as this close up for a $10 cover charge and a couple of beers.
The world is a REALLY different place now, where music is a product like Brillo or Kleenex, and the next "hit" sounds like the last. There is definitely some great new music out there but it's only found if you take the time to sift through alot of the ear-pablum and rubber stamped out hits. So I have RRC to thank for showing all of us musicians who went to see them as often as humanly possible - how it's really done. !!
Well said! An epic era long gone but relived with these recorded performances.
Sad to read of the passing of Mark Hitt, guitarist extraordinaire!
Rat Race was unbelievably talented...used to see them every week at a place called Gemini in Yorktown Heights...what great memories...thanks so much for the video footage!!
I grew up in Westchester, I remember those days! RRC was amazing.
I remember living in Yonkers, New York, on McLean Avenue, and Rat Race Choir would always practice to the wee hours of the morning. I remember seeing them a lot at a club called "The Sunrise" on Yonkers Avenue. Also, when I was a DJ at the Mad Hatter in the Hamptons. They played once in a while at that club. Other notable bands that I worked with at the Mad Hatter Were: zebra, DC Star, The Good Rats, Twisted Sister. any of you went to the mad Hatter. Between 1981 and 1985?. I was DJ Rockin' Ron
Ronnie Wexler you are Thinking of a club called The Rising Sun- Yonkers ave. Just north of Yonkers Raceway. Those were the days! They used to pack that place.
Mad Hatter? Every time I was going Vixen was there. I could only stomach them for a set. Never saw RRC at Hatter. But lots of other places!
Wow! I remember these guys from the early 70's. They played all the high school dances back in the day. At the Fore and Aft in White Plaines and New Rochelle, NY. They were the best! Great video, thanks.
They played at my eight grade dinner dance at Blue Mountain Middle School in Montrose, NY!
The only guitar lesson i ever had was standing in front of Mark and this band when i was a kid picking my mouth up off the floor along with all the others standing there with me. I didn't know how lucky i was to be able to go see musicianship like this on a regular basis. in local clubs no less .... Thank you Mark :)
yes and it was as if you never had to play again because he did it so well, he continues to amaze us with his perfection.
Even UK tended to rush this track - Pretty amazing how these guys nail the tempo from start to finish. Tough track to bring off live! Everyone in the band is very impressive.
NyLawDog..... the videos U got that nite @ Gildersleeves --- they're treasures. And the quality is amazing considering - this was 35 yrs ago. I can't thank U enough for getting this stuff that nite!!! Really........ this stuff brings me back!
... that sounded wrong. The quality is great even by 2day's standards. Tell us what equipment you used to get this back in 1980. It's just very very classy.
These guys are legends on Long Island. Great band.
I really enjoyed seeing this band back in the day. good times..
I remember Harlequin - I used to see them pretty often - I started listening to Genesis because of that band but clearly RRC was my favorite.
my dad and me have been friends with dave chmela, the bassist and only original member, for quite some time. he's a great guy and i feel so bad that this band never took off. twisted sister just stole the new york dolls' gimmick, glamed it up and became the poster band for '80s metal. it sucks but dave and rat race are still going strong and we love 'em
Absolutely incredible
Mark Hitt Man R.I.P.
You're right about the Fibes drum set of Steve's... legendary! He still is amazing in TorQue. Hope to see them one day.
Sounds great Steve Longo first time I heard it
loved seeing them at the fore n aft brewster ny in the early 70's
I remember seeing RRC several times in Norwalk, Ct. at the NITE OWL CAFE...around 79-81...awesome. thanks for posting!
Now this is a HOT cup of coffee. Thank you, and may Zeus grant you the power of virtuosity, as we remember it here.
Classic UK song performed as only RRC could!! God I love this video - thanks again for posting these!!!!
I remember them there when I was the DJ At the Mad Hatter for 4 years in the early 80s. Bob Mayo went on to play with Peter Frampton in the mid-70s. . He Was in Rat Race Choir
Agreed...and i saw U.K. live...never knew anyone covered their music...very well done
Wow, I've NEVER heard anyone cover a UK song before!... and a great job too! Bill Bruford and Alan Holdsworth would be proud- and they ain't dead yet!
moe was 178 years old when he was born. WOW, i forgot all about those 2 characters.believe me, they were cartoon characters but they were cool. did you know moe went back to vaudville days? yeah , he was in the business THAT long.
I had no idea who UK were, until I heard RRC play this song. Went out and bought the album. I really dug it, but the Rat Race version was so heavy
Actually, I had found that one first (while waxing nostalgic one day), which in turn led me to your postings. I just thought you may have had an old solo from the 70's. Thanks anyway, and thanks also for posting good, old memories!
It's a shame what happens to bands! Great bands...that played excellent music together for many years.
I can't even get live recordings...that I played on...from former bands I was in!!!! I know they have them...but, it's like I never was in their bands. I've asked many times, for them...but not even a reply! They will reply about other things...but not about the recordings. I'm peeved!! Guess I'll never get hear live recordings...that I played on??
Dave...do I have a legal right, to hav
EXCELLENT VOICE & GROUP!!!!!!!!!!
Great footage, thanks NyLawDog! You wouldn't also happen to have an early drum solo of Steve's, would you, from the 70's or so? He and I had nearly identical sets-FIBES. Mine is copper, though. And we both had a custom drum rack welded by the same guy--Vinnie Murray--from Yorktown Heights. I think that's the one he's using in this video. I was roadying for Harlequin at the time. (My brother was in that band).
I recognize the look and sound of the RMI Electrapiano in this tune. Used to have one myself. Great instruments!
Zeus banned four delinquents from Mount Olympus, these prodigies came back to Earth; they used their gifts to become beloved local gods Rat Race Choir. They collectively did so, to humbly beg their lord to let them ascend once again to the Mount. Rat Race made so many people happy that Zeus already took some back. Yes, an honor indeed.
neither i was/am a long island boy except for when i worked with rat race we all lived in yorktown heights(yeah - iknow- us in yorktown that's good for a few thousand stories)as far as new wave we kinda hit the same brick wall you guys did. but we hit it and kept going!did you ever hear rrc do "rock the casbah" i still can't figure out whether it was cool or sad. they also did flock of seagulls but (thank god) that didn't last too long.
louie was in the band after mark left. i worked for rrc for 13 years i think you can trust me on this one!when bobby mayo left he was replaced by hitt. don't believe me,ask mark.
Looking forward to more... if possible...!
yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-heard about them on WLIR 92.7 forever!!!!!-YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I remember RRC from Speaks in Long Island, a couple of years before Van Halen blew up... Does anyone out there have any thoughts comparing Mark to Eddie Van Halen???
Mark had so many styles. He is Page, Holdsworth, Barre, Townshend, and Summers all-in-one. RIP Mark Hitt.
@@rockersedvitae8413 Thanks for the reply
mark got to love ya
@mc2NY yea i use to see them at some place in queens village called beggers opera...is that guy pete breck with em....are they still around ? how id they not make it.....way back then i remember thinking they were light years better then twisted sister
gates pass where do you think the guitar player in the video came from. mark was originally in gates pass.
Seen them @ Speaks weekly..... w / T. Sister, Zebra and G.Rats.
Henry! Holy crap. There's a blast from the past! How the hell have you been? I remember seeing Sterling play in Quogue, on the beach there. Chris was your drummer, wasn't he? What are you up to now? Still playing? Still keep in touch with the other Harlequins? You guys should do a reunion tour. Everyone else seems to be, (Zebra, Harpy)! Still living in NY? Got any old footage of the band to post? Didn't Bruce video the LFO show in NYC? (How's Reesa's stinky pinky?!)
The video does not do justice to how good RRC SOUNDED LIVE. GEMINI 80S
...right, to have these recordings? Live & Studio.
who was the guitar player in teaser, i think i remember you guys.
they did a version of "miles beyond" by mahavishnu orchestra better than the original.... mark (direct) hitt was my main inspiration as a guitarist...mostly saw them @ fore N aft in brewster ny....
nor would queen want to cover uk.we are talking about 2 totally different type of bands.both do what they do well.
@exgroupiefromelmont1 Bands change members! This is a 32 yr old video?
This is DAVE.You've got a problem with me? Mark has been out of RRC for nearly 20 YEARS.Obviously you dont follow Rat Race THAT CLOSELY.BAND DECISIONS WERE MADE *MUTUALLY*,UNDERSTAND?? Interesting Mark didn't reply to you either, isn't it? At least I DID.,
I’m gonna hear flack from fans of Twisted on this, but I don’t care. Rat Race Choir originals blew the doors off of TS originals. Well 2 different genres true. But TS got signed and RRC never did. There really is no justice.
Not even close to the covers they did for Who, Zeppelin..Procol Harum....Long live the Fore. N. Aft!!!!!!
I dunno. I saw RRC a few times and they were pretty good. But my girlfriends and me (at the time) really loved the bands Gates Pass and Gypsy. They were much more entertaining and the musicianship was at least as good. The guitar players in Gates Pass and Gypsy were awesome and the chic vocalist in Gypsy blew the RRC singer away. But... great times for sure. I miss all of them.
It's funny that you mentioned Gates Pass -Mark Hitt, guitarist from Rat Race, played with Gates Pass until Bob Mayo left Rat Race to join Peter Frampton's band. Mark replaced Bob. This video is with Mark. Also, Steve Loungo, the drummer, also sang lead in songs that needed a tenor. Cheers!
+Raymond Conklin My group of ladies were friends with Bob Mayo and the guys in most of the Westchester and Long Island based bands. He died a few years back. Very sad. He was a great guy and terrific musician. Definitely miss those awesome times in the 70's. Best bands and the best clubs on the planet for sure.
+Samantha String I remember Gates Pass. When I was in high school in the mid-70's I'd go to the Rising Sun on Yonkers Ave and see them. I thought then, (and still do), that their lead guitar player was amazing. I think his name was Louie. I remember he played a Gibson L6S. I always thought I'd he'd break through and become famous. Never did as far as I know. Anyway, good times. I miss them.
The Merry Pup was the guitarist's name Lou Ubriaco? He's of that time and place and he IS amazing! If he is who you saw, he is running his own music school in Croton-On-Hudson.
+Raymond Conklin That MIGHT have been him. I never knew the guy's full name. If so it's good to hear he's still playing.
@exgroupiefromelmont1 From DAVE>> ITS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
that is an idiotic statement.what are you? 12 years old? isn't there room for more than one band.brian m thought mark was a great guitar player but you pass judgement like that?