"BOA - WRONG ROAD" (60s GARAGE US 1971)

BOA's "Wrong Road" is a late 60s Garage album with a rough sound, cheesy organ, simple hooks, and lyrics about the singer murdering his girlfriend.
BOA ("Bob Maledon" (piano, bass guitar, organ, vocals), "Ted Burris" (bass guitar, vocals, organ), "Paul James" (guitar, vocals), "Brian Walton" (organ, piano) and "Richard Allen" (drums, vocals) has every bit as much Garage attitude as the best 1966 LPs.
Once upon a time in Rochester, Michigan there was one Folk singer called Ted. One day he chanced to meet upon a bass player, who, like him, was very weird. "Ted Burris" said, "Let us form a group!" "Bob Maledon" said, "OK, but who are you?" The two then got together and practiced. From out of nowhere a guitar player appeared and heard them. He said, "She-yit!" It was then decided Paul would join the group to improve the sound.


The three went about making noise until they decided it was time to add other members. "Bob Maledon" said to his friend Jim, "Find us an organist!": and here "Brian Walton". "Bob Maledon" said to "Ted Burris", "Let us make a good impression on "Brian Walton" so he will want to stay in our group".
When "Brian Walton" walked in the door to practice, the screen door fell upon him.
The impression that was made can still be found on his head today.


A series of drummers came and went. This was ended one day when "Ted Burris" looked down and saw a small being with drumsticks in his hand. "Richard Allen" said, "No one will give me a chance because I am so young". Kind hearted "Ted Burris" replied, "We will".
Henceforth the completed band was known as Anvil.
Their first job was on January 30, 1970 at a local high school.

Anvil on stage
Upon writing some original songs, the band decided to record an album.
The songs were "Give It", "My Woman", "Wrong Road", "Can't Stop Lovin You Baby", "Good Night", "What Will You Do", and "Woodward".
The record was cut March 7, 1970 at "Northwest Sound Studios" in Detroit, under the direction of engineer "Julian G. Skinner".
One of the many oddities of this man was that he recorded Rock bands without amplification. (The exception being "Brian Walton"'s Leslie speaker, which was placed in the bathroom). The highlight of the session was when "Paul James" said "I hate this song" into what he thought was a dead microphone in the middle of a song.
"Paul James" said, "She-yit!" when he heard the record and all agreed with him.

Paul Manning during BOA's Wrong Road sessions

The album was not released, only a few acetates were made of the session.
The group went back to practice to improve their sound.
By June 1970, musical tastes began to differ and the band broke up; all members went on to other things.
"Paul James" joined another band; "Richard Allen" went to jam sessions. "Ted Burris", "Bob Maledon", and "Brian Walton" stayed together, this time with "Ted Burris" playing guitar. (at least he tried to) "Jamie Eastman" and "Rick Myers" were tried out on drums, but the sound was not very good, and the band folded. (Not without making a few tapes first; there's always the tapes.)
In August 1970, the band got back together, except "Richard Allen". ("Ted Burris" had acquired a drum set). They recorded a few songs, but none were originals. They included "Dizzy Miss Lizzy", "On Top Of The World", and others.

Brian Walton on "Farfisa Compact Organ" and Paul Manning during BOA's Wrong Road sessions

"Richard Allen", "Bob Maledon", and "Brian Walton" got together next, and tried to start a band with a horn section.
Soon afterwards (November 1970 to be exact), Anvil was contacted to play a few gigs. It was agreed that all five needed money, so they decided to take them.
Three new members joined them on stage for these jobs.
The band, now known as "Brass Anvil", included "Kim Knust" on trumpet, "Mike Major" on saxophone, and "Mark Holfus" on trombone.
"Bob Maledon" had acquired an electric piano and alternated between it and bass guitar.
They played a few more times and disbanded again.
"Paul James" continued in the other band, and "Ted Burris" began jamming with "Vic Presnell", another drummer.
"Richard Allen", "Bob Maledon", and "Brian Walton" added "Gary Cummis" on guitar, and a new bass player, but never found a proper vocalist.

Bob Maledon on bass guitar, Ted Burris on vocals, Richard Allen on drums, Paul James on guitar, and Brian Walton on "Farfisa Compact Organ"

One day "Bob Maledon" said, "Let us make another album!" And the original five got back together again, which was fine.
This time "Ted Burris" played bass guitar part of the time, so "Bob Maledon" could play piano.
They wanted to change the name of the band, but could not think of a name.
From out of nowhere a burp arose which said, "BOA!" "Paul James" suggested "The One Eyed Boa".
After laughing about this for a while, the band thought "BOA" sounded cleaner.
The album was recorded live on a 2 track tape recorder ("Sony TC-200") at the "Tupperware Warehouse" in Auburn Heights, Michigan, owned by "Brian Walton"'s parents, and previously used by the band as a practice facility.

Bob Maledon setting up the tape recorder ("Sony TC-200")

BOA had tried recording in a studio, but after spending eight hours at $75 per hour to tape just a few minutes of music, they decided that since they were funding the record themselves, they could do just as well recording by tape.
All engineering was done by whatever friend or girlfriend happened to be there, The disc, known as "Wrong Road", contained nine songs.

Ted Burris bringing in the Vox SuperBeatle Top

The title song was the only one they had ever performed before. The other songs were learned at the moment to be forgotten as soon as the album was completed.
They are "Never Come Back", "You Don't Want Me Anymore", "Don't Go Away", "Angelisa", "Brave New World", "You Tell Me You Love Me", "Can't Be Real", "I Think I Been Had", and "A Restful Sleep".

Brian Walton during BOA's Wrong Road sessions

After recording the songs it became apparent (does that mean it had children?) that one song would have to be left off because of timing problems. "Can't Be Real" does not appear on the album because of this.
After the tape was completed, it was pressed into record form in Detroit.
"Wrong Road" is on sale at both Stereoland and Audioland in Rochester, as well as record centers throughout Detroit. There are copies available at the "Avon Township" library.
When "Paul James" heard the finished tape for the "Wrong Road" album, to the amazement of all, he did not say, "She-yit!" (He said another four letter word) "Paul James" did not want anyone to know he was on the album (he was jamming with another band at the time), so he used the alias and dressed up as Captain Hook in the photo.

Alternate album front photo

The others, however, were content and released the album May 20, 1971.
They also purchased a few radio and television spots for it.
They played one more time with "Gary Cummis" replacing "Paul James" on guitar.
The group then broke up, as it does at the end of every paragraph, and all members went on to other things.