Sundazed's 2131 South Michigan Avenue: 60’s Garage & Psychedelia from USA and Destination Records compilation featured several top 45s from the legendary Chicago label. Although not officially part of the USA/Destination roster, The Park Avenue Playground, from Lansing, Illinois, contributed a song that is undoubtably a highlight of the entire set. Written by George Eder, 'The Trip' is now rightfully regarded as a classic and receives far more praise and recognition that 'I Know', the top side. Both songs are excellent examples, however, of the Windy Scene late '60's scene.
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| U.S. Males (pre-Park Avenue Playground) |
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An Interview With George Eder
60sgaragebands.com (60s): The Park Avenue Playground started as The U.S. Males. Who were the original members?
George Eder (GE): Doug Maxeiner, drums; Ron Howard, lead guitar; Tom Tyrell, bass; Mike Jones, Farfisa organ/vox; and I played rhythm guitar/Vox. This band went through multiple bass players when Tom left the band in early '66.
60s: Was The Park Avenue Playground the same member line-up as The U.S. Males, or was there personnel changes?
GE: Pretty much yes. Doug, Ron and Mike with myself on bass duty!
60s: Why did the group change names?
GE: Because The U.S. Males was not original enough. There were at least three other bands with that name nationally so we wanted to pick something more unique. Our manager at the time (Larry Goldberg, a transplant from New York City) has recently told me he recalls giving us the name. I do remember he loved it because "Park Ave" was in it .. but I recall differently.
Being in a band is like being in a very small gang. We did everything together. As I recall, once we decided to change the name, the name game was on and, at our age, it became an obsession. When we heard that The Buffalo Springfield was the name of a land moving equipment company in SoCal, we immediately began putting local tractor, trailer, bulldozer companies under severe scrutiny for possible band names. Then we started pulling names from everywhere. We'd say out loud whatever we read off passing trucks and trains and buses, out of books, magazines and newspapers, and radio and TV commercials. My boyhood home was on Park Avenue in Lansing, Illinois. The playground for the local elementary school was a block north. The recess area was a full city block wide bordered on one side by Park Ave. and on the other Chicago Ave. Our band would occasionally meet on that playground and we'd have to define our rendezvous as either the Chicago or the Park Ave. side of the playground. I remember looking out my bedroom window up the street to see if the rest of the band was already on the Park Ave. playground and I recall thinking it would be a great name for a band. Possibly, at one of our business meetings with Larry, we vocalized the meeting place and he seized on it. I'm still waiting for the remaining band members to weigh in on the subject.
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60s: How did you land the 45 deal with USA Records?
GE: There was never a deal. We had 500 copies made for radio distribution. Someone at USA liked the record and plastered their label over the generic white label while we were in signing negotiations with them which never reached fruition.
60s: What was your inspiration in writing 'The Trip'?
GE: The Kinks meet Strawberry Alarm Clock.
60s: 'The Trip' has developed a cult reputation. What are your thoughts when listening to it today?
GE: It sounds so ...dated. I'm impressed with the musicianship though. The band rocked steady and I played bass pretty well when I was 18.
60s: Did you write any other songs during your Park Avenue Playground days?
GE: No. I wasn't very prolific. I'd only written one song prior and didn't write another one for two years after I'd hit my folk rock stage. I was learning that craft slowly as well.
60s: Did you record any other songs during your Park Avenue Playground days? Are there unreleased recordings, or live recordings?
GE: We recorded a lot but nothing went to vinyl as far as I know.
60s: Did The Park Avenue Playground make any TV appearances?
GE: Nope! Just a few live radio interviews on Chicago AM radio.
60s: Looking back, how do you best summarize your time with The Park Avenue Playground?60s: This band was my roots. It was Rock & Roll High School 101. I learned so much in those five years of constantly playing and learning that much of what I learned then I still use today. It kept me out of most of the trouble that a lot of teens experience because, while I was playing paying gigs, my friends were either earning a dollar an hour for 30 hours a week or exploring the "idle hands" theory. I was one of the lucky ones who found and pursued a passion early in life and I wouldn't trade a day of it for anything.
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| The U.S. Males in WCFL studios. |
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