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In 1982 I went to New York for the first time. It was the height of the New Wave era; the music was fresh and exciting in San Francisco and it was fantastic! It had evolved from hardcore punk: Jello Biafra aka Dead Kennedys, Toiling Midgets, The Offs, The Residents, AlieNation, Crime, Flipper, The Avengers, Hot Tuna, No Alternative, The Nuns, Mutants, The Units, Negative Trend, the VKTMS, SVT, Impatient Youth (and many, many other groups) into something that was totally unique and I wanted to see what was going on there in New York.
I searched out all the new wave music I could find and I was not disappointed. I discovered many exciting groups. The Stip was one of my finds.
The Stip vinyl LP record
front cover
front cover
photo by Styrous®
Although The Stip has been forgotten in the memory of the music world, much less the history of new wave, members of the group went on to perform with world class artists of many different walks in the music, theater and performance industries as well as social and political movements (more info below).
The Stip vinyl LP record
back cover
back cover
photo by Styrous®
As with all albums, I have a favorite track. The opener for the album, I'm Back, is my pick. It sounds pretty tame by today's standard but at the time, 1982, it was right up there with the best of the new wave coming out. It should have become a classic New Wave hit but somehow it never made it and it disappeared in the mist of time. It is a fast and driving-with-determination song. Rick Ulfik utilizes swooping synths with exquisite results. If you'd like to hear it, click on the arrow in the next panel to listen while you read the rest of this article.
The Stip - I'm Back
audio file
The Stip ©1982
The Stip ©1982
(click on arrow)
The Stip vinyl LP record
back cover detail
back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
As far as I know, the group only had this one release, however, executive producer, Carmine Stipo, released two solo works and a 45 single from one of them (see link below).
the members of the group:
Rick Ulfik (Keyboards):
Ulfik wrote the music for the soundtrack, Street Trash, in 1987; it won the Silver Raven award at the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film. The film has acquired a status as a cult classic independent horror-comedy and is one of a number of films known as "melt movies". He also wrote the music for Document of the Dead (1985), a documentary about the films of George A. Romero, with a behind scenes look at the 1978 film, Dawn of the Dead. He was founder of We the World, an organization dedicated to Global Peace and Unity; Co-Chair of The Foundation for Ethics and Meaning; U.N.
Representative, Communications Coordination Committee for the United Nations.
The Stip vinyl LP record, side 1
photo by Styrous®
Rick Cutler (Drums):
Some of the artists Cutler has performed and recorded with include Michael Franks, jazz violinist and record producer Noel Pointer, Stevie Van Zandt, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Don Rickles, Billy Eckstine, Gloria Gaynor, Rodney Dangerfield, Regis Philbin, Donna Summer, Larry Coryell, Jon Lucien, Johnny Hartman, Savion Glover, Perry Farrell (of Jane's Addiction), Richie Stotts (of the Plasmatics) and Charles Aznavour.
He has performed in many Broadway shows including Hair, The Wiz, Candide, They're Playing Our Song, Woman of the Year and Seesaw.
He was one of the original percussionists for, Mass, by Leonard Bernstein, which was written and performed for the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He performs on the original recording of that piece with Mr. Bernstein conducting.
He has performed in many Broadway shows including Hair, The Wiz, Candide, They're Playing Our Song, Woman of the Year and Seesaw.
He was one of the original percussionists for, Mass, by Leonard Bernstein, which was written and performed for the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He performs on the original recording of that piece with Mr. Bernstein conducting.
The Stip vinyl LP record label, side 1
photo by Styrous®
Chico Rindner (Bass):
The bass player for The Stip went on to perform with Jake & the Family Jewels, Gato Barbieri at the Festival International de Jazz de Monteal, (there is a DVD of the performance) and other venues such as the Broadway musical, Marlowe, in 1981. He also appears on the only album Beds produced and an album released in 2006 by Beach Boys lyricist, Neil Rosengarden, Upsidedown Furniture.
Alan Ross (Sax):
Ross has worked with Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Rush, the German pop group Queensberry, Tim Harding, Tata Young, Tony Santos, Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Roll Deep, Kristian Leontiou, Biz, Cherie, Vic Lewis, Sonique, C21, Liberty X, Aaron Carter, Damage, Fred Ross, Ross, Tom Jones, Gary Barlow, Tina Turner, Ali, 911, Melanie, John Entwistle, Louise, George Michael, Judy Cheeks, Melba Moore, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Wilson-Gale, Lisa B. Burns, Stanky Brown Band, Suntreader aka Morris Pert, Aaron Wright and the Aprils, Riders of the New Purple Sage, Renaissance, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, O’Jays, Denise Williams, Marvin Gaye, Lorna Luft, Liza Minelli and Cissy Houston.
His has prodiced commercials for Century 21, Pepsi, Mc Donalds, and IBM, and performed in the orchestras of such Broadway shows as Dancin, Barnum and Hey Ma.
The Stip vinyl LP record label, side 2
photo by Styrous®
The Stip 1982
Side 1:
I’m Back 4:27
Superpower 5:40
Summer Was 2:49
None of Your Business 6:43
Side 2:
Wandering Eyes 7:38
Our Worlds 4:24
All My Friends Have Gone To California 6:13
The Stip
204 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10014
Chelsea Sound Studios
Greenwich Village USA
mixed by Phil Bulla
produced, arranged and conducted by Rick Ulfix
Executive Producer: Carmine Stipo
Bass: Chico Rindner
Drums: Rick Cutler
Keyboards: Rick Ulfik
Synthesizers: Rick Ulfik
Sax: Alan Ross
Background Vocals:
Jocelyn Brown
La-Rita Gaskins
Connie Harvey
Voices:
Michael Meskers
John Oliver
Carmine Stipo
Side 1:
I’m Back 4:27
Superpower 5:40
Summer Was 2:49
None of Your Business 6:43
Side 2:
Wandering Eyes 7:38
Our Worlds 4:24
All My Friends Have Gone To California 6:13
The Stip
204 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10014
Chelsea Sound Studios
Greenwich Village USA
mixed by Phil Bulla
produced, arranged and conducted by Rick Ulfix
Executive Producer: Carmine Stipo
Bass: Chico Rindner
Drums: Rick Cutler
Keyboards: Rick Ulfik
Synthesizers: Rick Ulfik
Sax: Alan Ross
Background Vocals:
Jocelyn Brown
La-Rita Gaskins
Connie Harvey
Voices:
Michael Meskers
John Oliver
Carmine Stipo
Styrous® ~ Friday, July 29, 2016
I would love to hear their version of All My Friends Have Gone To California. Just discovered that Kander and Ebb song. They stretch it to 6 minutes!
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