Pacific Gas & Electric (band)
Encyclopedia
Pacific Gas & Electric was an American
blues rock band in the late 1960s and early 1970s, led by singer Charlie Allen
. Their biggest hit
was "Are You Ready?"
in 1967, by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, second guitarist Glenn Schwartz (previously of The James Gang
) and drummer Charlie Allen
, who had previously played in the band Bluesberry Jam
. When it became clear that Allen was the best singer in the new group, he became the front man, and Frank Cook
, previously of Canned Heat
, came into the band on drums. Originally known as the Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name when they signed to Kent Records
, releasing the album Get It On in early 1968. The record was not a success, but following the band's performance at the Miami Pop Festival
in May 1968 they were signed by Columbia Records
.
Their first album for Columbia, Pacific Gas and Electric, was issued in 1969, but they achieved greater success with their next album, Are You Ready in 1970. The title track reached # 14 on the Billboard
Hot 100. After the album was recorded, Cook was injured in a car accident and was replaced on drums by Ron Woods, Cook staying on as manager. Marshall and Schwartz left, and were replaced by Frank Petricca (bass) and Ken Utterback (guitar), with Brent Block moving to rhythm guitar before leaving later in 1970. Unusually for the time, the band contained both black and white musicians, which led to rioting and gunfire on one occasion when the band, who toured widely, performed in Raleigh, North Carolina
.
In 1971, the band changed their name to PG&E, following pressure from the utility company of the same name. The band also expanded, Allen, Woods, Petricca and Utterback being joined by Jerry Aiello (keyboards), Stanley Abernathy (trumpet), Alfred Galagos and Virgil Gonsalves (saxophones), and Joe Lala
(percussion). They recorded the album PG&E, and also appeared in and provided music for the Otto Preminger
film Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon
starring Liza Minnelli
. The band then split up. A final album using the name, Pacific Gas & Electric Starring Charlie Allen, was recorded by Allen with studio musicians and released on the Dunhill
label in 1973. For a time the group also included Rick Durrett formerly of the band The Coven on keyboards.
Tom Marshall later suffered deteriorating health and personal circumstances, being homeless since the 1980s. Frank Petricca became a commodity broker. Charlie Allen died in 1990, aged 48.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues rock band in the late 1960s and early 1970s, led by singer Charlie Allen
Charlie Allen (singer)
Charlie Allen was one of the founding members of blues and rock outfit Pacific Gas & Electric and the vocalist for the group. By 1968 the group consisted of Charlie Allen, Frank Cook, Tom Marshall, Brent Block, and guitarist Glenn Schwartz...
. Their biggest hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
was "Are You Ready?"
Career
The band was formed in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1967, by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, second guitarist Glenn Schwartz (previously of The James Gang
James Gang
The James Gang was a rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966. Though the band was not a huge commercial success, except in the Northeast Ohio area, the fame garnered by guitarist Joe Walsh has since made the group more notable.- History :...
) and drummer Charlie Allen
Charlie Allen (singer)
Charlie Allen was one of the founding members of blues and rock outfit Pacific Gas & Electric and the vocalist for the group. By 1968 the group consisted of Charlie Allen, Frank Cook, Tom Marshall, Brent Block, and guitarist Glenn Schwartz...
, who had previously played in the band Bluesberry Jam
Bluesberry Jam
Bluesberry Jam were a blues rock band active in the 1960s. They were for a time geographically as well as chronilogically similar to Pacific Gas & Electric and Canned Heat...
. When it became clear that Allen was the best singer in the new group, he became the front man, and Frank Cook
Frank Cook (musician)
Frank Cook was a drummer and former member of blues bands Pacific Gas & Electric, Canned Heat and Bluesberry Jam. For a time he was also the manager of Pacific Gas & Electric.-History:...
, previously of Canned Heat
Canned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
, came into the band on drums. Originally known as the Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name when they signed to Kent Records
Kent Records
Kent Records was a Los Angeles based record label, launched in the 1960s by the Bihari brothers. It was a follow up to the bankrupted Modern Records and reissued Modern's records. It was later bought by Ace Records, England, which used the label name to release Northern Soul records.The label...
, releasing the album Get It On in early 1968. The record was not a success, but following the band's performance at the Miami Pop Festival
Miami Pop Festival
The Miami Pop Festival was the name of two different music festivals that took place in 1968 at Gulfstream Park, a horse racing track in Hallandale, Florida , just north of Miami....
in May 1968 they were signed by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
Their first album for Columbia, Pacific Gas and Electric, was issued in 1969, but they achieved greater success with their next album, Are You Ready in 1970. The title track reached # 14 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100. After the album was recorded, Cook was injured in a car accident and was replaced on drums by Ron Woods, Cook staying on as manager. Marshall and Schwartz left, and were replaced by Frank Petricca (bass) and Ken Utterback (guitar), with Brent Block moving to rhythm guitar before leaving later in 1970. Unusually for the time, the band contained both black and white musicians, which led to rioting and gunfire on one occasion when the band, who toured widely, performed in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
.
In 1971, the band changed their name to PG&E, following pressure from the utility company of the same name. The band also expanded, Allen, Woods, Petricca and Utterback being joined by Jerry Aiello (keyboards), Stanley Abernathy (trumpet), Alfred Galagos and Virgil Gonsalves (saxophones), and Joe Lala
Joe Lala
Joe Lala is an actor and voice actor, notable for his dubbing of Kun Lan of the video-game Killer7.He also played drums and percussion on 32 gold and 28 platinum albums. His credits include Blues Image, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Manassas, The Bee Gees, Whitney Houston, and many...
(percussion). They recorded the album PG&E, and also appeared in and provided music for the Otto Preminger
Otto Preminger
Otto Ludwig Preminger was an Austro–Hungarian-American theatre and film director.After moving from the theatre to Hollywood, he directed over 35 feature films in a five-decade career. He rose to prominence for stylish film noir mysteries such as Laura and Fallen Angel...
film Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon
Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon
Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon is a 1970 film directed by Otto Preminger. The film is based on the book by Marjorie Kellogg. The film starred Liza Minnelli as the title character, a girl whose face is scarred in a vicious battery acid attack by her boy friend. Later in an institution, she...
starring Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
. The band then split up. A final album using the name, Pacific Gas & Electric Starring Charlie Allen, was recorded by Allen with studio musicians and released on the Dunhill
Dunhill Records
Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...
label in 1973. For a time the group also included Rick Durrett formerly of the band The Coven on keyboards.
Tom Marshall later suffered deteriorating health and personal circumstances, being homeless since the 1980s. Frank Petricca became a commodity broker. Charlie Allen died in 1990, aged 48.
Albums
- Get It On (Kent, 1968)
- Pacific Gas and Electric (Columbia, 1969)
- Are You Ready (Columbia, 1970)
- P G & E (Columbia, 1971)
- Pacific Gas and Electric Starring Charlie Allen (Dunhill, 1973)