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It should’ve happened… multiple hits, a massive career, world recognition and all the rest.

 

Tim & Tam & The Turn Ons

A hit recording is an audio entity usually in the

form of a single or a collection–an album–that

sells notable copies––as a physical entity or

download––that becomes broadly “popular”

causing it to make an appearance on popularity

chart listings; in days of olde, regional radio station

Top 40, or nation Billboard or Cashbox Hot 100

listings. Few recordings achieve international success. Most only hit in the country of their origin and their

cultural affiliates. Some, however, make a big splash within a smaller segment; as a city, or a zone covered

by reginal radio; ergo they are the now near forgotten…REGIONAL HITS.

One such: Detroit’s Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons

It’s 1965 and the Beatles and their brethren affixed to the British Invasion have annihilated chartings by

near any recording act that appear to be US in origin or sounding “old hat,” or retro.

Despite the Four Seasons maintaining their stride with hit after hit near no other neo-doo-wop group is

allowed a charting position. The game seemed to have runned out for such groups…and it had—most

unfortunately. There were a few remaining violators of this new ruling: The Classics with “Till Then” and

The Earls with “Remember When.” Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons sounded very much like the Four Seasons

and old school; with a smidge of ‘60s energy. Possibly, what saved this group from certain oblivion was the

punchy drummer, Frank Schiavulli. GIVE A LISTEN. The tune is at quite a tempo, the vocalist—Rick “Tim

Tim” Wiesend, himself–sounds uncontrollable, piano fills in the cracks real nice, and the lyrics…does

anyone ever stop to figure their ontology?

It took 10 singer/musicians to make this classic:

Rick Wiesend, brother Danny, Nick Butsicaris, Donnie Grundman, John Ogen, Earl Rennie, Dave Fero

(guitar), Ken Sipos (piano), Carl Sweets (bass), and Frank Schiavulli (drums).

Before the wind was out of the bag, Palmer Records allowed Tim Tam and the twenty somethings to record

three more 45s. There was “Cheryl Ann” and “Kimberly;” each a little less pleasurable. They never got to

make an album. There never was enough audio fingerprints to fill album. Seems the guys did record as

Rick Reason and the Satellites two singles prior.

And then…oh gosh, the real world.