THE HONDELLS 1981 REUNION
By
CMusic Books
"A RARE PIECE OF MUSICAL HISTORY"
FILMED ON APRIL 11, 1981 AT THE HOME OF DICK BURNS IN WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA
This is a reunion of “The Troops”, the musician buddies of Gary Usher who formed the backbone of Usher’s studio productions during the early to mid sixties.
Those present include Dick Burns, Wayne Edwards, Randy Thomas, Dennis McCarthy, Al Ferguson (all of whom formed the “Younger Girl” period Hondells, amongst numerous other studio group creations), Les Weiser (Super Stocks/Four Speeds/Sunsets, etc), former KFWB disc jockey and songwriter Roger Christian and of course Gary Usher himself.
PART ONE is taken from a film commissioned by CMUSIC, but never used.
The cinematographer was the late Dick Campbell, another figure in the musical career of Gary Usher.
Usher and Campbell worked together extensively during the early seventies, writing an assortment of tunes encompassing varied subject matter and musical styles.
In PART ONE you will see Usher and his “Troops” joking amongst themselves before they launch into an impromptu live version of Younger Girl.
“Live?” queries Usher. “We were never that good!”
This performance of Younger Girl is followed by a jam session in which Usher, Burns, Edwards, Weiser and McCarthy attempt to wail on a version of The Champs’ Tequila.
PART TWO encompasses a home movie filmed by Stephen McParland that captures much of the same event.
This is preceded by some footage of the Usher family and the now demolished Usher homestead of El Rancho De Paz nestled snugly between Woodland Hills and the Malibu hinterland.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
All footage filmed (1981) on Super 8mm and transferred digitally in 2004.
PART ONE is sound.
PART TWO has a dubbed soundtrack.
Running time is approximately 14 minutes.
© 1981 & 2006 CMUSIC ARCHIVES
FILMED ON APRIL 11, 1981 AT THE HOME OF DICK BURNS IN WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA
This is a reunion of “The Troops”, the musician buddies of Gary Usher who formed the backbone of Usher’s studio productions during the early to mid sixties.
Those present include Dick Burns, Wayne Edwards, Randy Thomas, Dennis McCarthy, Al Ferguson (all of whom formed the “Younger Girl” period Hondells, amongst numerous other studio group creations), Les Weiser (Super Stocks/Four Speeds/Sunsets, etc), former KFWB disc jockey and songwriter Roger Christian and of course Gary Usher himself.
PART ONE is taken from a film commissioned by CMUSIC, but never used.
The cinematographer was the late Dick Campbell, another figure in the musical career of Gary Usher.
Usher and Campbell worked together extensively during the early seventies, writing an assortment of tunes encompassing varied subject matter and musical styles.
In PART ONE you will see Usher and his “Troops” joking amongst themselves before they launch into an impromptu live version of Younger Girl.
“Live?” queries Usher. “We were never that good!”
This performance of Younger Girl is followed by a jam session in which Usher, Burns, Edwards, Weiser and McCarthy attempt to wail on a version of The Champs’ Tequila.
PART TWO encompasses a home movie filmed by Stephen McParland that captures much of the same event.
This is preceded by some footage of the Usher family and the now demolished Usher homestead of El Rancho De Paz nestled snugly between Woodland Hills and the Malibu hinterland.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
All footage filmed (1981) on Super 8mm and transferred digitally in 2004.
PART ONE is sound.
PART TWO has a dubbed soundtrack.
Running time is approximately 14 minutes.
© 1981 & 2006 CMUSIC ARCHIVES
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