Treat Her Right
Encyclopedia
Treat Her Right is a blues rock group formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1984. The band originally featured Mark Sandman
on guitar, Billy Conway on drums, Dave Champagne on guitar, and Jim Fitting on harmonica
. Singing and songwriting duties were shared by all but Conway. Champagne and Fitting reformed the band in 2009 with new members Steve Mayone and Billy Beard.
In addition to being the forerunner to the successful indie rock
band Morphine
, Treat Her Right is often credited with helping to spawn the punk-blues hybrid (sometimes dubbed cowpunk
, among other titles) that achieved prominence in the early 2000s.
and the Traits, "Treat Her Right
." The group's self-financed and self-titled debut was released on a small Boston record label in 1986, and their first recording attempt was a modest success – Champagne's "I Got a Gun" and Sandman's cover of James Blood Ulmer's "Where Did All the Girls Come From?" received some play on college radio. "I Think She Likes Me" describes Sandman's experience in a Fairplay, Colorado
bar where a woman came on to him. The group signed to RCA Records
, who reissued the debut in 1988.
Tied to the Tracks was issued in 1989. Sales did not meet RCA's expectations. In the notes for their third record, the group writes, "RCA decided that if our little basement tape could do so well, why not spend fifty times more money and it will be fifty times better! (They think everything works like that.)" Treat Her Right were dropped from their RCA contract.
What's Good for You, their third album, was issued on Rounder Records
in 1991. The ragged, live-in-the-studio sound was partly modeled on the model established by Chess Records
, which had released many classic blues and early rock and roll
records. Shortly after this third release, Treat Her Right disbanded.
The group reformed in 1995 under the direction of Rolling Stones backup guitar player Bob Anderson, but disbanded for the second time in 1998.
, The Coots and Session Americana
. Champagne remained musically active, playing with groups such as The Jazz Popes. Sandman formed Morphine
in 1989, which Conway joined in 1993. Although more blues-based than Morphine, Treat Her Right sowed the seeds of Sandman's later sound with its unusual instrumentation (Sandman's guitar with Treat Her Right was a three string custom model, making it sound more like a bass guitar) and slightly dark focus, most evident on the Sandman-penned songs.
Sandman died of a heart attack while onstage with Morphine in Italy
in 1999.
soundtrack, released in 2009. In the summer of this same year, The Lost Album, a record of unreleased Treat Her Right material, was released by Hi-n-Dry
. Shortly thereafter, Treat Her Right reunited to mark the ten-year anniversary of Sandman's death at the Mark Sandman Memorial Concert in September, and the band continued activity thereafter. Champagne and Fitting led the new version of Treat Her Right, joined by Steve Mayone playing low guitar and Billy Beard (previously of the Boston new wave band Face to Face
) playing drums.
Mark Sandman
Mark Sandman was an American singer, songwriter, musical instrument inventor and multi-instrumentalist.An indie rock icon and longtime fixture on the Boston/Cambridge music scene, Sandman was best known as the lead singer and slide bass player of the band Morphine...
on guitar, Billy Conway on drums, Dave Champagne on guitar, and Jim Fitting on harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
. Singing and songwriting duties were shared by all but Conway. Champagne and Fitting reformed the band in 2009 with new members Steve Mayone and Billy Beard.
In addition to being the forerunner to the successful indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Morphine
Morphine (band)
Morphine was an American alternative rock group formed by Mark Sandman and Dana Colley in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1989. They disbanded in 1999 after frontman Sandman died of a heart attack....
, Treat Her Right is often credited with helping to spawn the punk-blues hybrid (sometimes dubbed cowpunk
Cowpunk
Cowpunk or Country punk is a subgenre of punk rock and New Wave that began in the UK and California in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It combines punk rock or New Wave with country music, folk music, and blues in sound, subject matter, attitude, and style...
, among other titles) that achieved prominence in the early 2000s.
Career (1984–1998)
The band derived its name from the 1965 international smash hit by Roy HeadRoy Head
Roy Head is an American singer, best known for his hit "Treat Her Right."-Career:Head achieved fame as a member of a musical group out from San Marcos, Texas known as The Traits. The group's sponsor landed their first recording contract in 1958 with TNT Music in San Antonio, Texas while they were...
and the Traits, "Treat Her Right
Treat Her Right (song)
"Treat Her Right" is a soul music song, with a standard twelve-bar-blues structure. Written by Roy Head and Gene Kurtz, it was recorded by Roy Head and The Traits and released on the Back Beat label in 1965. The song reached number two in the United States on both the Billboard pop and R&B charts...
." The group's self-financed and self-titled debut was released on a small Boston record label in 1986, and their first recording attempt was a modest success – Champagne's "I Got a Gun" and Sandman's cover of James Blood Ulmer's "Where Did All the Girls Come From?" received some play on college radio. "I Think She Likes Me" describes Sandman's experience in a Fairplay, Colorado
Fairplay, Colorado
The Town of Fairplay is a statutory town that is the county seat and the most populous town of Park County, Colorado, United States. Fairplay is located in South Park at an elevation of . The town is the fifth-highest incorporated place in the State of Colorado. The population was 610 at the...
bar where a woman came on to him. The group signed to RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, who reissued the debut in 1988.
Tied to the Tracks was issued in 1989. Sales did not meet RCA's expectations. In the notes for their third record, the group writes, "RCA decided that if our little basement tape could do so well, why not spend fifty times more money and it will be fifty times better! (They think everything works like that.)" Treat Her Right were dropped from their RCA contract.
What's Good for You, their third album, was issued on Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
in 1991. The ragged, live-in-the-studio sound was partly modeled on the model established by Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
, which had released many classic blues and early rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
records. Shortly after this third release, Treat Her Right disbanded.
The group reformed in 1995 under the direction of Rolling Stones backup guitar player Bob Anderson, but disbanded for the second time in 1998.
Other projects and post-breakup
Fitting later played with The TheThe The
The The are an English musical and multimedia group that have been active in various forms since 1979, with singer/songwriter Matt Johnson being the only constant band member.-Early years :...
, The Coots and Session Americana
Session Americana
Session Americana is a Boston-based band consistently referred to in articles by variants of “a folk-rock [or roots] supergroup,” a “who’s who” or “all-star” band featuring members Sean Staples , Billy Beard , Jon Bistline , Ry Cavanaugh , Jim Fitting and Dinty Child...
. Champagne remained musically active, playing with groups such as The Jazz Popes. Sandman formed Morphine
Morphine (band)
Morphine was an American alternative rock group formed by Mark Sandman and Dana Colley in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1989. They disbanded in 1999 after frontman Sandman died of a heart attack....
in 1989, which Conway joined in 1993. Although more blues-based than Morphine, Treat Her Right sowed the seeds of Sandman's later sound with its unusual instrumentation (Sandman's guitar with Treat Her Right was a three string custom model, making it sound more like a bass guitar) and slightly dark focus, most evident on the Sandman-penned songs.
Sandman died of a heart attack while onstage with Morphine in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1999.
Reformation (2009–present)
The Treat Her Right song "Rhythm & Booze" was featured on The HangoverThe Hangover (film)
The Hangover is a 2009 American comedy film directed by Todd Phillips and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha and Jeffrey Tambor...
soundtrack, released in 2009. In the summer of this same year, The Lost Album, a record of unreleased Treat Her Right material, was released by Hi-n-Dry
Hi-n-Dry
Hi-n-Dry is a Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA-based independent record label and recording studio. Founded by the late Morphine singer and bassist Mark Sandman, the studio and label are currently managed by former Morphine bandmates Dana Colley and Billy Conway along with Laurie Sargent and Andrew...
. Shortly thereafter, Treat Her Right reunited to mark the ten-year anniversary of Sandman's death at the Mark Sandman Memorial Concert in September, and the band continued activity thereafter. Champagne and Fitting led the new version of Treat Her Right, joined by Steve Mayone playing low guitar and Billy Beard (previously of the Boston new wave band Face to Face
Face to Face (new wave band)
Face to Face was a new wave Boston, Massachusetts quintet.-Formation:Guitarist Stuart Kimball formed the band in New Hampshire during the late '70s with a close group of friends...
) playing drums.
Discography
- Treat Her Right (1986)
- Tied to the Tracks (1989)
- What's Good for You (1991)
- The Anthology 1985-1990 (1998)
- The Lost Album (2009)