11 You Can Be Amazing

This was recorded on an old RCA reel to reel 1/4“ tape deck at 3 1/4ips in my family’s living room one night (no idea the date - early mid 70’s) as broadcast on WBRU and performed live in the studio. It wasn’t well advertised, the station was still free format at the time, and the only reason I knew about it was they rented my friend Bill Thomsen’s Fender Rhodes electric piano for him to play.

Most of the titles I had to guess, or pick up from various websites, and from seeing him at a live show in Bristol, RI later that week. During that show he came out wearing multiple layers of clothes and as the show progressed stripped down to his long underwear.

01 Static
02 Intro
03 Going Home
04 The Headlands
05 Foot Stomper Dough
06 I'm A Star
07 Do It Now
08 Story Telling Time
09 You Flip The Finger
10 Change The World
11 You Can Be Amazing

Uncle Vinty

Profile:
Comedian, magician and keyboard player known for his extensive use of props and offbeat humor. Originally from Barrington, Rhode Island USA, he traveled the country performing a one man show from his van known as, The Creampuff. In the early 1970's he relocated to San Francisco CA doing his performance art in the bay area before hitting the Midwest settling in Milwaukee WI where he performed with the band Those XCleavers. Together they produced an upbeat new wave version of The Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go". Uncle Vinty continued his one man show touring the country until his death in 1994.

Brother of drummer Ted Medbury with whom he performed together in The Ascots and The Movies, & The Deviled Ham.

Sites:
blog.unclevinty.com

Aliases:
Vin Medbury

Aside from this WBRU broadcast, a recording exists of Vinty playing an hour-long concert on TVOntario’s Nightmusic in 1976. The quality of the recording and the performance are great.

If I remember correctly, I believe his real name was Vinton Waterman Medbury Jr.

Uncle Vinty would stride to the piano, put on his Viking hat, wild hair poking out, and belt out hilarious, joyous and passionate tunes, a big grin on his face. Everyone loved him. He brought out our young-at-heart nature. One of my favorite songs had the refrain, “The moon is never going to let us down,’ and it can be seen on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV_HAiz9Pxk

ViNTON MEDBURY
Although it might look at first glance as if Ted was the most successful of the ex-Ascots, in terms of career longevity, that prize would go to his brother, Vinton. He relocated to the San Francisco Bay area of northern California and quickly built a reputation and following on the club scene. He performed under the stage name “Uncle Vinty” and he pioneered the concept of “performance art” on the West Coast at a time when the movement was just beginning to gain some strength in New York City with Lennon & Ono, the post- “Happenings” Warhol crowd, and the young Laurie Anderson. His territory and following extended into western Canada and over the course of 25 years, he released several independent recordings and films and, at one point, even had his own television show. In another ironic twist of fate, two of the musicians in his backing band during the 1980s were two former members of none other than Michael & The Messengers! Vin passed away in 1994, but his friends, fans and collaborators have posted an entire website and blog devoted to him where his life and work are discussed in detail with great fondness and reverence.

DISCOGRAPHY
THE ASCOTSSuper S-102: Monkey See – Monkey Do b/w You Can’t Do That (1966)Super S-103: Midnight Hour (Part 1) b/w Midnight Hour (Part 2) (1967)Super S-104: Sookie-Sookie b/w Put Your Arms Around Me (1967)Super S-105: I Need You b/w Knock On Wood (1967)
THE WHITE WATERZowie Z-1000: You Haven’t Seen My Love b/w You Better Think It Over (1968)
DEVILED HAMSuperK/Buddah LP SKS-6003: I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night (1970)
THE MOVIESArista LP AL-4085: The Movies (1976)Arista AS-0235: Satellite Touchdown b/w Ahead Of The Game (1977)Arista AS-????: Ahead Of The Game b/w Ahead Of The Game (1977)Arista AS-0261: Hello, Hello Young Lovers b/w Mystery Creek (1977)
UNCLE VINTYCriminial Records EP-101: Uncle Vinty Wants You (1980)
RICK DESILETSD&D D-1000: Look At Me (Vocal) b/w Look At Me (Instrumental) (19??)
BLUE ANGELDmix CD Album (no # shown): Just Not Right (1998)

Видео 11 You Can Be Amazing канала JohnHunterHousley