LOST TREASURES

THE LAUGHING DOGS

“The Laughing Dogs”

By Peter Marston

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The Laughing Dogs were one of the many bands to come out of the New York City Club scene in the late 70s. The members of the band had come from a variety of Tri-City area bands, including, most notably, Foxtrot, the band that backed Rupert Holmes on his second album, Rupert Holmes. Just after that project, Ronnie Carle and James Leonard—two of the Laughing Dogs’ principal songwriters—moved into a loft together and began shopping demos of their songs to various labels with no success. At the time, the Laughing Dogs were working mainly as a covers band and were frustrated by the lack of venues for original rock music.

Then came CBGB’s, whose manager, Hilly Kristal, took a quick shine to the Laughing Dogs and booked them in a series of engagements with other up-and-comers such as the Shirts, Talking Heads, Blondie, and Mink DeVille. Kristal even featured the Laughing Dogs on the legendary Live at CBGB’s album in 1976. At the center of this extremely vital scene, the Laughing Dogs developed their hallmark sound: high energy power pop cut with humor and harmonies.

As it was with many of the bands at CBGB’s, record labels were now eager to sign the Laughing Dogs. Indeed, most of the same labels that had passed on their earlier demos were now offering the band record deals. Former Zombies lead guitarist Paul Atkinson, then an A&R man for Columbia, got the nod and the Laughing Dogs headed to the studio to record their self-titled debut with Bruce Botnick at the producer’s desk.

The album opens with “Get ’Im Out of Town,” an upbeat rocker that alternates back and forth between dark and cheery tonalities and features great harmonies—a formula that is repeated on “Low Life,” “I’m Awake” and “It’s Just the Truth.” “No Lies” is built around an eighth-note piano rhythm and is sort of a cross between early 10cc and Huey Lewis and the News’ “If This Is It” (though it preceded the latter track by a good three years). “Johnny Contender” is fairly straight rockabilly in the verses and then pivots on an almost British new wave turnaround into the chorus. “Reason for Love” is perhaps the highlight of the album—a very catchy and simple pop tune that evokes both the Everly Brothers and late-period Brinsley Schwartz, though to be honest, the Laughing Dogs’ harmonies are even better! “I Need a Million” is the hardest-rocking track, sounding a little like a punked-up Ian Hunter song. “Round and Round” is a grinding, angular rock song, again featuring tight harmonies throughout.

“Reason for Love,” “Johnny Contender” and “Get ’Im Out of Town” were all released as singles, but none had substantial chart success, despite being selected as Billboard magazine picks. The Laughing Dogs went on to record a follow-up LP just as strong: The Laughing Dogs Meet Their Makers. The album cover for the latter release features a hysterically funny photo of the Laughing Dogs being pushed around by overbearing mothers. It may also be of interest to PGH readers that the Laughing Dogs were the backing band for a 1977 tour by Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz just a couple of years before the release of The Laughing Dogs.

The Laughing Dogs is currently available on CD as a two-fer with The Laughing Dogs Make Their Makers. Released on American Beat Records, this collection is first-rate power pop and well worth the price of admission. Woof!

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Pop Pioneer and “Lost Treasures” writer, Peter Marston is the leader of long-running power pop band, Shplang, whose most recent album, “My Big Three Wheeler” has been described as “the Beatles meet Zappa in pop-psych Sumo match.”  Peter has a new project in 2015 under the name MARSTON.   They will have a track on the upcoming “Power Pop Planet – Volume 5” compilation due in May, 2015.

You check it out at this link:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shplang

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LINKS:

Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Laughing_Dogs

Band web site:  http://www.thelaughingdogs.com/

AMG Review:  http://www.allmusic.com/album/laughing-dogs-mw0000839413

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheLaughingDogs

VIDEOS:

LOW LIFE:

GET ‘IM OUTTA TOWN

I NEED A MILLION (live)