Before signing with Columbia Records and becoming well known for their jazz-rock and progressive sounds (and Jerry Goodman's use of an electric violin), The Flock was a popular local group that played all the major teen clubs in the Chicagoland area. Anybody that has heard their four singles on USA/Destination knows that the group was a force to be reckoned with, but it is this period of the band's existence that is rarely discussed. Guitarist and vocalist Fred Glickstein kindly agreed to fill 60sgaragebands.com in on the Flock's "garage band" days.
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An Interview With Fred Glickstein
60sgaragebands.com (60s): How did you first get interested in music?
Fred Gickstein (FG): I always loved music going as far back as I can remember. A friend of my mom taught me how to play some chords on the ukelele when I was 10 years old. I soon graduated to the guitar and the rest is history.
60s: Where and when was The Flock formed?
FG: I met my musical partner, Rick Canoff, in high school. Rick played the saxophone, wrote lyrics and sang. I played the guitar, sang and wrote songs. We formed a few groups between '63- '65 with names like The Squires, The Triumphs and The Exclusives.
Before we were The Flock we were The Exclusives but we didn't like that name and were looking for a new one. One evening there was a battle of the bands at The Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. The two bands that were battling were Chicago's own New Colony Six and a group from England called The Robin Hoods. After The Robin Hoods finished a set, I walked up to one of the members and told him that I really enjoyed his group. Then I asked him where they got the name 'Robin Hoods.' He said that they had chosen between two names,The Robin Hoods or The Flock. I then asked if there was another group using the name Flock and he said, "Not that I know of." So the name had to be imported from England and The Flock was born in Chicago, USA! That's how we got the name The Flock.
The Flock consisted of Ron Karpman (drums, vocals); Jerry Smith (bass and vocals); Rick Canoff (sax and vocals); Fred Glickstein (guitar and vocals); Rick Mann (guitar and vocals); Frank Posa (trumpet); and Tom Webb (sax, flute, harmonica and vocals).
60s: The Flock was somewhat unique, even during your early period, as you used instruments that many local groups did not. Was it your intention from the get go to separate yourselves from the so-called "pack"?
FG: Early on, we featured Canoff's sax and later (1967) added two more horn players. We did not intentionally try to be different.
60s: How would you describe the band's sound? What bands influenced you?
FG: This early Flock did basically cover material--rock, R&B, pop, etc. We started writing our own songs around 1966. Out of the four early singles, we wrote three songs and Robert Stanley (not a Flock member) wrote one. All the popular music of the '60s influenced us.
1. What Would You Do If The Sun Died / Magical Wings (USA 910)
2. Can't You See (That I Really Love Her) / Hold On To My Mind (Destination 628)
3. Are You The Kind / I Like You (Destination 631)
4. Take Me Back / Each Day Is A Lonely Night (Destination 635)
60s: Stanley was a member of another popular Chicago-area group named The Bryds. Do you recall how you got ahold of that song ('Take Me Back')?
FG: Our managers, Bob Monaco and Jim Golden, got the song for us.
60s: Were Golden and Monaco your managers from the start?
FG: We had four or five managers. I do not remember all of the details in this regard. We were also for a time managed by Terry Sachen, who managed The Beach Boys back then.
60s: Where did the band typically play during the '66-'68 period?
FG: We played schools, parties, and the teen clubs of the day like The Green Gorilla, The Wild Goose, The Crimson Cougar, The Deep End, The New Place and The Cellar.
60s: How far was the band's "touring" territory?
FG: Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.
60s: Did The Flock participate in any battle of the bands?
FG: We did compete in a battle of the bands that resulted in a second place loss to The Buckinghams. It was held at the high school next to Riverview Park.
60s: What were the circumstances leading to the band's opportunity to record for USA/Destination?
FG: (That happened) after we met Jim Golden and Bob Monaco, the owners of the record company. They acted as our managers during this time ('66-'68).
60s: Where did The Flock record?
FG: We recorded singles three and four at Chess Recording Studio, 2120 S. Michigan Ave. I'm not sure where we recorded the first two records.
60s: Who was the band's primary songwriter?
FG: I wrote much of the music, and Rick Canoff and I wrote the lyrics.
60s: Sundazed recently released an alternate take of 'What Would You Do If The Sun Died.' Are you aware of any other previously unreleased early Flock recordings? Or are there any vintage live recordings from the '66-'68 time period?
FG: No...and I'm not aware of any.
60s: Did the band make any local TV appearances during this time?
FG: I remember The Flock appearing with Art Roberts (Swingin' Majority) on Channel 26 in the mid '60s. We opened up for The Jackson 5.
60s: The Flock of course went on to great fame in Europe. During your local Chicago days, did you ever envision the heights you'd eventually hit, or the success that you would achieve?
FG: We always hoped that bigger and better things would happen.
60s: How do you best summarize your experiences with The Flock during your "garage band" days?
FG: It was great fun! It was an experience none of us will ever forget!
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| Fred Glickstein |
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