In 1965 Surrey Records, a budget label for Mira Records, had a scheduled European release date for a number of albums. One of those albums was SONGS OF PROTEST AND ANTI PROTEST by Chris Ducey. The album was completed by Ducey, and the album jackets were ready, with the titles of Ducey's songs on the face of the jackets, along with a picture of Brian Jones, from The Rolling Stones.
Before they could get the album off, Ducey backed out, because of contractual problems. Surrey Records, which was owned by Randy Wood and his partner from VeeJay, Betty Chiapetta, were stuck with the album jackets and no record. Surrey figured out that they could rerun the jacket artwork, change the D in Ducey to an L, and come up with a new name, Chris Lucey.
Now they had to find someone who could write/rewrite all Ducey's songs, and use his titles, which were still printed on the album jackets. Then they would have to find someone to record all the new songs. This had to be accomplished in 30 days to save the European release deal from going down. The reason it was so important to the entire deal was the cover, they loved that cover in Europe and wanted that record.
Enter Bobby Jameson, who had just returned to the states from his time in England. Randy Wood and Betty Chiapetta didn't know me or my work from Adam. They wanted someone they knew, but couldn't get anyone to do it on the cheap. I agreed to rewrite the songs and record them for a fee of $200, which I did. No contract, just a fee. I was a hired hand.
Marshall Leib was lined up to produce the sessions and hated it, but owed Randy Wood and Betty Chiapetta a favor, so he reluctantly agreed. The album came together in a far better way than anyone had anticipated, and once concluded, Randy wanted me to sign a contract. This had never been part of my arrangement, and I refused to sign it. As Abe Somer, Wood's attorney, looked on, Randy Wood exploded when I refused to sign the Somer-penned document&183; Wood threw me against his office wall and threatened me, but I still wouldn't sign it.
To say the least, I saved Surrey's ass by completing the album and becoming Chris Lucey. I was never paid any royalties from the album and retained, and still do, all the rights to my songs. Chris Lucey was also released in parts of the world as Too Many Mornings by Bobby Jameson, and again, I received no royalties. For decades, the album remained nothing more than a quirk, and not very many people ever knew that I was Chris Lucey.
Sometime prior to 2002, Ace Music/Records bought a bunch of masters from Betty Chiapetta, who was the only living partner from Mira/Surrey left. The Chris Lucey album got thrown in with all the other things purchased by Ace, in the questionable sale/deal with Chiapetta, and was leased to Revola Records and Joe Foster. In 2002, without any knowledge or agreement by me, Chris Lucey's SONGS OF PROTEST was released as a CD on Revola.
At that time, no one knew if I was dead or alive. I had not been in the music business for almost 20 years. I had given up out of frustration, and quit in 1985. In 2003, I received a telephone call from Steve Stanley who had located me in San Luis Obispo, CA. As I talked with Steve, he told me Chris Lucey had been released on Revola, an English company. In almost a state of shock I listened and could hardly believe what I was hearing.
I did not complain, if anything I was pleased. What changed my opinion was simply this. I was not paid a single penny by anyone for the release of my album on Revola. To the contrary, I was told for years that no one owed me anything because Ace owned the masters and Revola leased them from Ace. I complained that that had nothing to do with the fact that I wrote the songs and recorded them and was entitled to a royalty and an accounting of how many albums had been sold.
No one, outside of Steve Stanley, thought I deserved anything, and would not even speak to me for 5 years. In 2007, Joe Foster finally contacted me because he wanted to represent my publishing in Europe. I said OK, but first someone has to pay me something for Chris Lucey. Joe Foster said no! Later I was contacted by Alec Palao, who said he was trying to reach an understanding with me in regards to Ace Music, and a re-release of Chris Lucey, and I said fine, but someone has to pay me for the Revola version that's been out for 5 years, at that point, he also said no.
Admittedly I have become extremely combative about this issue, because I have received nothing. I am not interested in Ace's agreement with Revola and Joe Foster. Chris Lucey is my voice singing my songs and it has been sold all over the world and I am entitled to be paid, period. Just because 3 parties got together in a deal doesn't mean I don't get anything, unless your name happens to be Bobby Jameson.
Girl from the east...I love that song. I like making song sets up and have thought at times it's a perfect song to play just before listening to "Gomper" by the Stones...
Nice to hear these songs again. Thanks for posting and for continuing to document this remarkably quirky story of the music industry: an entire album based on someone else's titles with someone else's face on the cover, all accomplished in a matter of weeks! An amazing and strangely cool accomplishment!
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