WINTER STARR

Ruby Starr and Grey Ghost

Winterland (San Francisco, CA), 1975. 30 minutes.

Setlist:
 Burnin' Whiskey 
 You Need A Chain
 I Wanna Love You Sweet
 Long Wait
 Let Your Love Drift Away
 Money - Living Proof 
 I'll Come Back

ROCKIT RUBY

Remembering Ruby Starr who passed away from cancer on January 14-1995 If anyone out there has alink or info on the Ruby Starr CD "Stealin' The Show" or the single "Under Your Spell" I would like to obtain the music

A SILHOUETTE WAS ALL I NEEDED TO SEE

The Ruby-Grey-Star post is now complete. I will have to say that this one is tremendous. The Grey-Star LP from 1981 was really just a myth to me until just recently. I had heard a couple of cuts off it when surfing You Tube. Ruby does her version of "Piece Of My Heart" and Janis needs to give this woman some room to breathe. This may be the only version that I have ever heard that gives the great Janis a run for her money. Ruby's vocals are 100% on here and the "Guaranteed To Please" cut is pure perfection BUT the cut that is the most amazing is the song
"Silhouette" This song should have been a hit for Grey-Star and Ruby. This song will be Ruby's signature song for those of us who know how much talent she had. Pardon my language but .....
Fuck that Jim Dandy thing. This is Ruby Starr in her finest moment!
She had no hits She had a very short career. She was truly 100 lbs of woman and was a front runner for many female vocalists to come later. She fits the bill as " The Rose" of the mid west and her abilities as a vocalist could only have been matched by her fiery stage presence

A SONG IN HER VOICE

Starr formed her final road band, Henrietta Kahn, in the late 1980s. In the early 1990s, Starr quit the road and moved to Las Vegas playing at places such as the Riviera and Stardust hotels and several other clubs. After being diagnosed with lung cancer and a brain tumor Starr returned home to her family in Toledo where she died at age 44. Her career was incredibly short and had highs and lows but she was an amazing singer. Once again I think she deserved more but sometimes people have to live with their and others decisions.

REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE

In 1983 the band recorded their second album, "Telephone Sex". This album featured the band using electronic drums and more keyboards, adding an AOR/New Wave edge. The album was released in November of 1983. In the spring of 1984 Mike Grey decided to leave the band. His later band, SLAVE RAIDER had a modicum of success later in the decade.
Grey Starr became the RUBY STARR BAND in 1984, and released two singles in 1984 and 1985, as RUBY STARR.

GREY STAR - Telephone Sex (1983) USA
Private Pressing



01. All Over Now
02. Baby It's You
03. Downtown
04. Hurting You
05. In Crowd
06. Killing Time
07. Magic
08. Meet Me At The Same Time
09. Telephone Sex
10. You Don't Even Know

NORTHERN STARR

This is one ass-kicking band!


By 1980, Starr had formed a new band in Wisconsin called GREY STAR, playing all new original songs sometimes with 5 part harmony vocals, and laid down a two song demo recorded with BLUE OYSTER CULT producer Murray Krugman.
Grey Star toured about 300 days a year in 1980 and '81, taking a break in July of 1981 to record their "Grey Star" album. The album was released with financial help from a friend of the band in November of '81, with only a few thousand copies pressed which the band sold at their shows.
In 1982 the band signed a management contract with Charlie Brusco in Atlanta, he was the manager of the Outlaws and is the current manger of Lynrd Skynrd. Though he was unable to get the band a record deal he did help expand their bookings in the south. Charlie was also able to get the band a gig with the Who in December of 1981 when they played to 10,000 people in their hometown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Ruby Starr - Vocals
Mike Grey - Vocals
Fred Hodnik - Guitars/Keyboards/Vocals
Robb Hanshaw - Bass/Keyboards/Vocals
Mudslide - Drums/Vocals



1. Start Up A New Day
2. Piece Of My Heart
3. Don't Go And Leave Me
4. For You
5. Confidence
6. You Never Learn
7. Guaranteed To Please
8. Silhouette
9. Here Comes That Feeling

100 LBS OF WOMAN

The third and final LP by Ruby on the Capitol label.This album once again gives us a great mix of rock, pop, soul and Southern rock and roll.Again recorded in Memphis at Ardent studios. There are some cover songs on the LP with Ruby doing a Buckingham Nicks,Jackie DeShannon and a remake of the Beau Brummels "Just A Little". Unlike the previous 2 LPs there are no songs penned by keyboardist Marius Penzcer even though he does appear on the album. His work with Ruby on the first LP's was top notch Latter tracks finally turn Ruby loose with 100 lbs of Woman setting the style

Smokey Places 1977

1. Time To Hide
2. Don't Let me Down Again
3. Just A Little
4. Don't Kill My Love
5. 100 LB's Of Woman
6. When You Walk In The Room
7. Love's Made A Fool Of You
8. Do I still Figure In Your Life
9. On Top
10. Let Your Feet Down Easy

Ruby Starr Lead Vocals
David Mayo Bass, Vocals
Marius Penczner Keyboards
Pat Taylor Vocals
Joel Williams Drums
Eddie Harrison Vocals
Jimmy Henderson Guitar
Greg Rding Guitar
Debbie Cathey Vocals

SHINING STARR

This is an excellent collection of songs, many written by keyboard player Marius Penczner, displaying Starr's vocal range and dominating personality. Far more commercial than Black Oak Arkansas, that band and their lead singer, Jim "Dandy" Mangrum, appear on "Fistful of Love" -- a fun and disciplined performance. You can't really call her version of "Be My Baby" reggae, but you can say it is one of the more interesting takes on the song, with Andrew Love of the Memphis Horns slipping in a wonderful sax at the end of it. "Drift Away," a Penczner original, has the band emulating early Deep Purple, especially the songwriter's keyboard riffs. "Mass Transit" is an interesting instrumental, but what is it doing on an all-too-short album by a vocalist? There are six words in the song, which Starr cameos several times; it's funky stuff that adds to the intrigue, but more activity from the star of the show would have been preferred. "Mass Transit" is one of the best sounding tracks on the record, the band no doubt showing off, but this lady can sing and should've been given an equal chance to vamp. "Maybe I'm Amazed" is a wonderful opening for this album, with Starr possessing that Kim Carnes/Bonnie Tyler rasp, giving the woman's point of view. She gives the McCartney classic a gospel feel without the help of a choir or additional vocalists. Impressive. Penczner proves to be a formidable writer; "Morning Glory" is a solid pop tune, and a nice break before the heavy "That's It," the only tune on the disc co-written by Starr. She works well with Penczner, and her overpowering voice makes it feel like she's co-written the rest of his originals. "I'll Meet You Halfway" changing moods again, giving the band a chance to be dramatic, and letting Starr soar. "Love On Ice" brings the album back to heavy pop with more of that Deep Purple keyboard sound, only a little more up-tempo. Scene Stealer is a complete and varied recording by an artist who should have made a bigger impact on rock & roll. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide

Scene Stealer 1976

1. Maybe I,m Amazed 3:02
2. Morning Glory 2:40
3. That's It 4:40
4. I'll Meet You Half Way 3:30
5. Love On Ice 3:35
6. Who's Who 2:30
7. Be My Baby 2:43
8. Mass Transit 5:00
9. Fistful Of Love 3:16
10. Drift Away 3:28
Ruby Starr Lead Vocals
Tommy Aldridge Drums
Jimmy Henderson Lead Guitar
Marius Penczner Keyboards/Vocals
David Mayo Bass

Andrew Love Saxophone ( Be My Baby)
Jim Dandy Vocal ( Fistful of Love)

CALAMITY JANE AND THE CONFEDERATE GENERAL

In mid 1974 Ruby needed to put together her own band to support her on the road. She and her manager approach members of a local Memphis band( Target) while in town. Members drummer Joel Williams and keyboard player Marius Peczner are recruited into Starr's backing band. She added guitarists Ronnie Mason and Gary Levin with bassist David Mayo. This band became Ruby Starr and Grey Ghost The grey ghost in question being a reference to Confederate Civil war hero General Mosby.After some short rehearsal time touring ensued as support to BOA, Mountain and Heartsfield.
As 1975 dawned the band gained a major label deal with Capitol Records immediately after a television appearance on the 'Midnight Special' show. The band recorded their debut album at the legendary Muscle Shoals studios produced by former Hombres bassist Jerry Masters with later sessions taking place in Memphis. Throughout 1975 the band was rarely off the road opening frequently for major rock acts.
This is the first LP for Ruby. As the album was released it entered the Billboard charts at number 172. Much in demand Starr and her cohorts were straight back on the road playing major venues across the country
This LP is the first of three releases on the Capitol label for Ruby and her associated musicians. Many believe this to be her best LP overall. It is more than likely that these three LP's represent Ruby in her finest moments and Grey Ghost was undoubtedly her tightest and most talented band.

Grey Ghost 1975

1. Burnin' Whiskey
2. Sweet, Sweet, Sweet
3. Witchin'Hour
4. Did It Again
5. Everything Comes And Goes
6. Long Wait
7. You Need A Chain
8. Fork In The Road
9. Living Proof
The 1974 promo poster for the Grey Ghost Tour.Concert Poster from Armadillo World Headquarters featuring Ruby with Bob Seeger in Dec of 75

JIM DANDY TO THE RESCUE???

I thought I would call this one by the Jim Dandy reference because we do have to acknowledge the fact that Jim Mangrum did bring Ruby Jones to the fore front of rock and roll by asking her to join his band Black Oak Arkansas as a back up vocalist. And so Ruby Starr is born. I mentioned on the last post that rock and roll was like playing poker. I think Ruby should have held her own in this decision because from day one her stage presence outclassed BOA and it was not long before Ruby moved to a solo career. Her relationship with BOA was a good one I am assuming because of the input they had on her career whether it was good or bad. making her first solo LP for Capitol Records while still filling the bill as a backup singer for BOA
You just gotta love the 70's and how it was back then. You still have to remember that it was Ruby herself that made her career decisions.

These tracks are from a live BOA concert in 76 and they show the talents that Ruby had and to some degree her allegiance to BOA. Three of the four songs are from her then current Capitol LP..Scene Stealer

1. Jim Dandy
2. Fist Full
3. Maybe I'm Amazed
4. Love On IceA promotional poster for the BOA tour of 76 Ruby is billed as the opening act. Things would change for Ruby during this time frame. The poster shows the promo spot for Ruby's second Capitol LP....... What happened to the first?

A TALE OF ROCK AND ROLL INJUSTICE

Rock and Roll sometimes does talent an injustice and passes an individual by. So is the case for this young lady who had one of the most powerful voices in rock. You do not see much on the web about her..... Her music is hard to find..... She passed away too soon....Another injustice! So here you have the beginnings of a fantastic female vocalist and a tribute to her because I believe she deserved more than what she got. I guess that being in rock and roll is like playing poker... you have to know when you play the right cards.

Born Constance Henrietta Mierzwiak in Toledo, OH, in 1949, the future rock singer got her start at the age of nine (performing renditions of Brenda Lee songs) before changing her stage name to Connie Little and forming the Phil Spector-esque Connie & the Blu-Beats. Following stints in such obscure outfits as the Downtowners and the Blue Grange Ramblers (aka BGR), the latter of which mutated into the outfit Ruby Jones (a name that the singer was going by at the time). Signed to Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label, the recording of Ruby Jones' 1971 self-titled was even supervised by Mayfield. A very good lp that shows off the potential of this young lady.
...... She shows that she is equal in vocal talent to Janis Joplin, funky, raucous, wild...

Ruby Jones - Stone Junkie (1971)

99, 000 Times
Looking Out at Tomorrow
46th Street
Have No Witness
Freely Away
Oh Baby
Tightrope
Bicycle Built For Everyone
Stone Junkie
You Better Run