After successfully responding to an ad seeking bands with original songs, The Last Word from Edison, New Jersey recorded approximately 10 songs that unfortunately were never released. The group, however, was very busy, and in addition to performing in the tri-state area, they also backed many different acts. Keyboardist Dave Papi helped form the band, but like all other members, quit playing in groups after The Last Word disbanded.
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An Interview With Dave Papi
60sgaragebands.com (60s): How did you first become interested in music?
Dave Papi (DP): I started taking piano lessons when I was seven years old, which started my interest in music. As a kid I always enjoyed listening to rock ‘n roll on my transistor radio.
60s: Was The Last Word your first band?
DP: We started as The Classics and then changed our name to the Last Word; none of us were in other bands. We met at J.P. Stevens High School in Edison, New Jersey in the beginning of our sophomore year in 1964.
60s: Where and when was The Last Word formed?
DP: In 1964, I met Rich “Frenchy” Franczak in school and he found out I played keyboards. He came over my house and we played a few songs together. He set up for me to meet a new band that was getting together with him that needed a keyboard player. I went to the First Aid Squad they were practicing at, and that is when we all met for the first time. We played some songs and I was in. We needed a name for the band and it was between The Inmates or The Classics. We chose The Classics because we thought no one would hire a band called The Inmates.
60s: Who all comprised the band?
DP: Dave Papi, keyboards (Farfisa keyboard and Ampeg amp); Rich Franczak, bass guitar; Steve Gotz, rhythm guitar (Fender Jazzmaster); Ron Skowronek, lead guitar and vocals (Fender Jazzmaster); and Al Dunich, drums (Ludwig). We also had Cindy (I forgot her last name) sing sometimes at certain jobs. She is in one of the pictures. She was from Newark, New Jersey and it was by chance we met her. She had a great voice and allowed us to do many songs from female singers or groups, like ‘Heat Wave’, ‘Misty’ or ‘Dancing in the Streets.’
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60s: How would you describe The Last Words’ sound?
DP: We did all of the top hits at the time. We tried to do them true to the record. I think we tried to use a style like The Rascals, but we did not try to use that style on all our songs. We were a solid rock band, but we knew one polka song for a wedding.
Our song list included songs by The Beach Boys (‘California Girls’), Doors (‘Light My Fire’), Box Tops (‘The Letter’ and 'Cry Like A Baby'), Temptations (‘My Girl’), Soul Survivors ('Expressway To Yoyur Heart'), Martha & The Vandellas (‘Dancing in the Streets’ and ‘Heat Wave’), Kinks ('You Really Got Me'), Zombies ('She's Not There'), Rascals (‘Good Lovin’), Tommy James (‘I Think We’re Alone Now), Blues Magoos (‘We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet), Rolling Stones (‘Satisfaction'), Paul Revere & The Raiders ('Kicks'), Animals (‘House of the Rising Sun), Wilson Pickett ('Mustang Sally'), Beatles (‘Nowhere Man’), Them (‘Gloria’), 'High Heel Sneakers,' 'You Belong To Me,' Troggs (‘Wild Thing’), Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs (‘Woolly Bully’ and ‘Little Red Riding Hood), and The Kingsmen (‘Louie Louie’). We also played instrumentals like ‘Wipe Out,’ ‘Sleep Walk,’ ‘Harlem Nocturne’ and ‘Pipeline,’ to name a few.
60s: What was the local rock ‘n roll scene like in Edison during the time you were performing?
DP: Edison was a suburban community with lower, middle and upper income families. Housing varied from post war developments to estate homes to apartments. The types of songs varied with the group you belonged to. Newarks, Preps or Soul…it was all there. Muscle cars were important to each group, too. I owned a 1966 Chevelle SS 396. There were GTOs, Mustangs, 442s and ‘Vettes all over, as well as Hot Rods. There were drive-in movies, streets to cruise on and meet friends, car hops and parties. All types and styles of music was enjoyed by all these groups and our band reflected that in our play list.
60s: Where did The Last Word typically play?
DP: We started out by playing at friend’s parties, local high schools, swim clubs and CYO dances and at our high school, J.P. Stevens.
We began to get noticed, our sound improved and we got gigs in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We entertained soldiers at Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth, played bars and night clubs in New York many with go go dancers in a cage, played almost every week at Rutgers University frat houses, at Rider University, a few weddings and anniversaries and reunions.
60s: Did you play at any of the teen clubs?
DP: We played at The Hullabaloo Night club in Manville, but there were basically no teens clubs in the area at the time.
60s: Did The Last Word participate in any battle of the bands?
DP: We participated in many battles of the bands. One in particular we won was in Woodbridge New Jersey, which lasted a week and included 300 bands. We received $500 and the Hullabaloo booking for first place. I do not remember many of the bands there; I think one was The Roots of Heaven and another was The Glass Menagerie.
60s: Did The Last Word have a manager?
DP: We had a manager. He was associated with the recording studio; his name was Walter.
60s: How popular locally did The Last Word become?
DP: We did quite well and I made enough money to pay for my car, and to have a lot of fun.
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60s: What led to the band’s opportunity to record?
DP: We answered an ad looking for new bands with original songs. We went there and (the guy that ran the ad) liked our sound. (That led to) jobs. We worked as a backup band for other singers and groups and (then) recorded our songs.
When we went to record our first record, the agent told us that the name The Classics was already used and we had to change it. We all suggested different names and then agreed on The Last Word.
60s: Where did The Last Word record?
DP: We recorded at a studio in a shopping mall located in the rear of a barber shop. It was called GinoViscione Productions/Duda Music, Regent Sound Studios in Manville, New Jersey. The recording sessions were long, from 8-10 hours. We would lay down the instrumental tracks first and then the vocals. It was not like today’s studios.
We wrote at least 10 original songs. I can remember ‘Hearts Desire,’ ‘Anytime You Want,’ ‘Frenchy’s Theme’ (instrumental), ‘Hey Baby,’ ‘Girl or I’m Telling You Right Now’ and ‘It’s Too Bad.’ All of the song lyrics were written by me and Ron.
I also remember we did the backup music for four girls known as The Barefoot Contessas for the song ‘You Don’t Know My Name.’
60s: Did you perform any of your original songs while playing live?
DP: We always did our original songs when we played; unfortunately, we were not good businessmen as we should have brought records with us to sell to those who asked for them.
60s: How many of these songs still exist?
DP: I have only the one demo in a frame at my home. It is for ‘Hearts Desire’ and ‘Anytime You Want.’ 'Anytime You Want' would have been released, but they wanted another group to do the song and we said no. I don’t know were all the tapes are with the other songs. I guess Gino may still have them. At least eight songs went unreleased.
60s: Did The Last Word make any local TV appearances?
DP: There was really no local access TV like they have now. There were no video/sound cameras or VCRs. We did make our own sound recording tapes but they are lost I think. When you live it, you never think it will be over so it did not seem important to us to capture our music. We were also in local and school newspapers, and did a radio interview with WCTC in New Jersey.
60s: When and why did The Last Word call it quits?
DP: We stayed together until around 1969 while we were in college. The Vietnam War was taking its toll on everyone and we were no exception. Four of us served in the military: Air Force, Navy, Army and National Guard. That pretty much broke us up; it was over.
60s: Did you join or form any band after The Last Word?
DP: None of us ever played with another band; however, we did try to replace members as they went in to the service but it was not the same.
60s: What keeps you busy today?
DP: I serve as Director/Health Officer for the Middlesex County Public Health Dept. I am also a part-time college professor at Middlesex County College. I am married to my wife Pamela, who has two sons, two daughters and two grandsons. I have two daughters, Rebecca and Christina, and three grandsons: Cole, Ethan & Brody. They all keep me quite busy, plus I put a little time aside to work on my 1973 'Vette. I haven’t played in a band since we ended The Last Word. My life went in another direction.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the status of the other members: Ron Skrownek, is married with children, and works for a laboratory; Rich Franczak, is single and owns his own design company; Steve Gotz, is married with children, and works as an electrician; and Al Dunich, is married with children, and a former Air Force pilot and businessman.
60s: How do you best summarize your experiences in The Last Word?
DP: I can sum it up in three words: Music, girls and booze! The '60s was a great time for fun and it had what I felt was the best music of any generation. I was at a great age to enjoy the experiences we went through. How many kids at 15 or 16 years old were out playing music, surrounded by girls, having a beer and coming home at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning? One thing we always did was keep the driver alcohol free; we were never in an accident or any trouble. It was truly a remarkable experience--one that I will never forget.
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