What happens to members of a hot, hit-making 1960s American pop group? We can't presume to know, but we CAN peek a bit into the lives of two former Union Gap-pers, Kerry and Gary!
Many thanks, Brad, for the opportunity to share my story about Gary (Mutha) Withem. Imagine, a (now retired) high school teacher with five gold records hanging in his living room!
Thank you, Jim, for sharing Gary's story with us! His is one of many after an early pop music success! Chase after the elusive gold record again (and some more), or discover another (possibly hidden) life's love to pursue? Gary's path is laudable and fascinating!
Love this! I know you told me you were collaborating with Jim, but somehow I forgot and was pleasantly surprised! How cool that his teacher trainer was such a rock star! I would bet that it isn't and wasn't so rare that music teachers across the country were music stars of days gone by. Especially supporting musicians, that weren't the singer or main songwriter. Names don't come to mind, but I feel like I have met a couple teachers who had a previous life in touring and recording.
I liked the Chater single, "Part Time Love." Sure, it wasn't adding anything new, but it was fun and that was often enough to get radio play. Or so I thought. Maybe the timing was late? That song had an Elton John vibe to it. The 80s Elton.
Great job! And I'm trying to play catch up in my small moments of downtime to read your plethora of pop!
Thank you, Steve! I appreciate you catching up...'cause I love when you read me, knowing what you dig! Plus, I like your comments! As I told Jim, I wasn't sure a stand-alone Withem piece would be strong enough. But, as I do, I made a post page for it, and as time went on as it sat in my Q, something made me run across Chater in my memory, or online, and then, it snapped!
Having 40% of a hit '60s band highlighting a "rest-of-their-lives" kinda piece not only made sense, but seemed fairly riveting, especially when my non-personal-meeting Chater portion met up with Jim's jaw-dropping intro to "Mutha"! At that point, it all but wrote itself (especially since Jim had already written half of it)! I'm most proud that Jim thought of me to offer it to....hey, if THAT ain't FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!!
You're right about your supposition about teachers as former rockers! Even my life follows that pattern to a degree....although, sadly, it lacks gold records and chart-toppers! But radio and retail records into youth ministry and teaching....kinda close! Plus, having taught elementary and middle school, my path has echoed Withem's on occasion.......I too, at times, have been called "Mutha"!!
Thanks, Paul! What's cool is that Jim felt comfortable to come to me to tell Gary's story, thinking I'd be the one to present it with all the bells'n'whistles! Thanks, Jim!
Great collaboration! Crazy how certain paths cross unexpectedly. I didn't know the band, but I can totally relate to this feeling of being in complete awe at realising one of your idols or someone you admire is in front of you, in the least likely of contexts!
Thanks, Andy! When Jim came to me with the Withem story, I wasn't sure it'd "float" on its own, but then I remembered Chater's 2 albums that I used to have! Put 'em both together, and we have a story of 2/5 of a hit band, and what they did post-'60s!
Jim or I mentioned that the Union Gap had few to no hits in the UK, so you not being familiar doesn't surprise. Go back and listen to their handful of hits....a couple of them they do live on that Sullivan clip! BTW, on the recording of "Lady Willpower," Gary sings "Did no one ever tell you the facts of life," and either Ed or the CBS censors of the day nixed that, so you'll hear Gary sing, instead, "Did no one ever tell you the way of life?"!! We were so provincial then!!
Yes, and Jim's reaction to "Mutha"'s introduction to him was classic!
Yeah, I think Fuller and Puckett, both, have answered to that thru the years; I think rifling thru the lyrics of some Poison, Warrant, Kiss, and other '80s hair bands' catalogs would yield even more felonious leers! And, then, of course, there's rap.........😱
I loved this piece, don’t get me wrong. But it got me thinking about Young Girl again, and … eesh.
It’s far from the only piece of art with problematic elements, and it’s possible to see the appeal in such works anyway (I’m currently working through The Bob Newhart Show, which is occasionally laugh-out-loud funny even with some “Wait, what?” moments).
But what finally struck me about Young Girl was: Who am I supposed to identify with in this song? What emotion am I supposed to take from it? It’s not like he’s telling us about this; he’s addressing her directly.
Try singing along to it. Who are you singing to, and are you enjoying inhabiting this persona?
Just weird. Still working out my thoughts on it. After all these years.
The most interesting thing about Ken Chater is that he had a pretty solid career as a songwriter in the 80s. He cowrote "I Know A Heartache When I See One" (Jennifer Warnes), "I.O.U." (Lee Greenwood), "You Look So Good In Love" (George Strait), "You're the First Time I've Thought About Leaving" (Reba McEntire), "If I Had You (Alabama) and "What She Wants" (Michael Martin Murphy).
Looking this up (I remembered he had some hits, just not the specifics), I learned he co-wrote "I.O.U" with Austin Roberts, who is best known for his slightly creepy mid-1970s hit "Rocky."
I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but while his earlier albums aren't on Spotify, there is a 2012 album I'll be checking out today.
Thanks for all this, Rick! I knew Chater went on to a successful country-songwriting career, but I didn't look any of them up (my bad), and as he was sharing "room" with Withem on this, I didn't expand. So, I'm really happy you've filled in those important aspects of Kerry's post-pop career! Readers, now, can fill in those '80s (and beyond) career highlights (and, I'll be right behind them)!
As for Kerry's two WB albums, I think he fell into "the same hole" that befell Stephen Michael Schwartz on his '74 RCA LP.....if the label never digitizes your product (for CDs in the early '80s), you have no hope of being found online, later. What's odd about Chater, though, is that he had TWO WB albums (as opposed to Stephen's one RCA disc).
What COULD happen for Chater's albums is that a re-issue label (like Collectibles) could justify licensing his albums to re-issue them on a single CD (which could easily fit them both, info-wise). For Stephen (and, I think I spoke to him about this at one point), his lone LP wouldn't be cost-efficient for a re-issue label to justify licensing his 35-minute album for a CD that can hold 80 minutes of info! Now, having said that, Stephen has digitized his album, and the tracks can be found on his website!: https://www.stephenmichaelschwartz.com/new-album
INCLUDING his cover of the classic Spector/Greenwich/Barry "Da Doo Ron Ron" that Shaun Cassidy had a hit with just 3 years later! For my money, Stephen's arrangement tops Shaun's (and, clearly, I'm a Shaun fan: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/thats-popnroll-shaun-cassidy-and), but not only wasn't it released by RCA as a '74 single, IT DIDN'T MAKE THE FINAL TRACK LIST CUT FOR THE ALBUM! Thanks again, Rick!
Many thanks, Brad, for the opportunity to share my story about Gary (Mutha) Withem. Imagine, a (now retired) high school teacher with five gold records hanging in his living room!
Thank you, Jim, for sharing Gary's story with us! His is one of many after an early pop music success! Chase after the elusive gold record again (and some more), or discover another (possibly hidden) life's love to pursue? Gary's path is laudable and fascinating!
Love this! I know you told me you were collaborating with Jim, but somehow I forgot and was pleasantly surprised! How cool that his teacher trainer was such a rock star! I would bet that it isn't and wasn't so rare that music teachers across the country were music stars of days gone by. Especially supporting musicians, that weren't the singer or main songwriter. Names don't come to mind, but I feel like I have met a couple teachers who had a previous life in touring and recording.
I liked the Chater single, "Part Time Love." Sure, it wasn't adding anything new, but it was fun and that was often enough to get radio play. Or so I thought. Maybe the timing was late? That song had an Elton John vibe to it. The 80s Elton.
Great job! And I'm trying to play catch up in my small moments of downtime to read your plethora of pop!
Thank you, Steve! I appreciate you catching up...'cause I love when you read me, knowing what you dig! Plus, I like your comments! As I told Jim, I wasn't sure a stand-alone Withem piece would be strong enough. But, as I do, I made a post page for it, and as time went on as it sat in my Q, something made me run across Chater in my memory, or online, and then, it snapped!
Having 40% of a hit '60s band highlighting a "rest-of-their-lives" kinda piece not only made sense, but seemed fairly riveting, especially when my non-personal-meeting Chater portion met up with Jim's jaw-dropping intro to "Mutha"! At that point, it all but wrote itself (especially since Jim had already written half of it)! I'm most proud that Jim thought of me to offer it to....hey, if THAT ain't FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!!
You're right about your supposition about teachers as former rockers! Even my life follows that pattern to a degree....although, sadly, it lacks gold records and chart-toppers! But radio and retail records into youth ministry and teaching....kinda close! Plus, having taught elementary and middle school, my path has echoed Withem's on occasion.......I too, at times, have been called "Mutha"!!
Puckett was one of the most dynamic singers of the late 1960s, and his recordings with the Union Gap demonstrate that.
Yes, he was! Fun to sing in karaoke, too! He had quite a range for what I think was his baritone voice (I'm a second tenor).
a wonderful song douglas/fpxworthy&keery chater are closing album with if we get back togerher again be careful alan/gordon lp not worth stratospheric price https://www.discogs.com/release/14673836-Alan-Gordon-The-Extragordonary-Band
Excellent collab, guys!
Thanks, Paul! What's cool is that Jim felt comfortable to come to me to tell Gary's story, thinking I'd be the one to present it with all the bells'n'whistles! Thanks, Jim!
Jim is one of my Substack brothers. As are you. Nome Sain?
I hear ya, bruh.....ah-yeet!
Great collaboration! Crazy how certain paths cross unexpectedly. I didn't know the band, but I can totally relate to this feeling of being in complete awe at realising one of your idols or someone you admire is in front of you, in the least likely of contexts!
Thanks, Andy! When Jim came to me with the Withem story, I wasn't sure it'd "float" on its own, but then I remembered Chater's 2 albums that I used to have! Put 'em both together, and we have a story of 2/5 of a hit band, and what they did post-'60s!
Jim or I mentioned that the Union Gap had few to no hits in the UK, so you not being familiar doesn't surprise. Go back and listen to their handful of hits....a couple of them they do live on that Sullivan clip! BTW, on the recording of "Lady Willpower," Gary sings "Did no one ever tell you the facts of life," and either Ed or the CBS censors of the day nixed that, so you'll hear Gary sing, instead, "Did no one ever tell you the way of life?"!! We were so provincial then!!
Yes, and Jim's reaction to "Mutha"'s introduction to him was classic!
Hey Brad. Remember also the lyrics to "Young Girl," which alludes to having a relationship with an underage girl.
"With all the charms of a woman
You've kept the secret of your youth
You led me to believe you're old enough
To give me love
And now it hurts to know the truth."
and ...
"Beneath your perfume and make-up
You're just a baby in disguise
And though you know that it's wrong to be
Alone with me
That come on look is in your eyes"
Whoa!
Yeah, I think Fuller and Puckett, both, have answered to that thru the years; I think rifling thru the lyrics of some Poison, Warrant, Kiss, and other '80s hair bands' catalogs would yield even more felonious leers! And, then, of course, there's rap.........😱
I loved this piece, don’t get me wrong. But it got me thinking about Young Girl again, and … eesh.
It’s far from the only piece of art with problematic elements, and it’s possible to see the appeal in such works anyway (I’m currently working through The Bob Newhart Show, which is occasionally laugh-out-loud funny even with some “Wait, what?” moments).
But what finally struck me about Young Girl was: Who am I supposed to identify with in this song? What emotion am I supposed to take from it? It’s not like he’s telling us about this; he’s addressing her directly.
Try singing along to it. Who are you singing to, and are you enjoying inhabiting this persona?
Just weird. Still working out my thoughts on it. After all these years.
I will! Lots for me to explore. Lol the censors of the day 😆 Crazy to think the amount of stuff that gets released nowadays, uncensored!
The most interesting thing about Ken Chater is that he had a pretty solid career as a songwriter in the 80s. He cowrote "I Know A Heartache When I See One" (Jennifer Warnes), "I.O.U." (Lee Greenwood), "You Look So Good In Love" (George Strait), "You're the First Time I've Thought About Leaving" (Reba McEntire), "If I Had You (Alabama) and "What She Wants" (Michael Martin Murphy).
Looking this up (I remembered he had some hits, just not the specifics), I learned he co-wrote "I.O.U" with Austin Roberts, who is best known for his slightly creepy mid-1970s hit "Rocky."
I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but while his earlier albums aren't on Spotify, there is a 2012 album I'll be checking out today.
Thanks for all this, Rick! I knew Chater went on to a successful country-songwriting career, but I didn't look any of them up (my bad), and as he was sharing "room" with Withem on this, I didn't expand. So, I'm really happy you've filled in those important aspects of Kerry's post-pop career! Readers, now, can fill in those '80s (and beyond) career highlights (and, I'll be right behind them)!
As for Kerry's two WB albums, I think he fell into "the same hole" that befell Stephen Michael Schwartz on his '74 RCA LP.....if the label never digitizes your product (for CDs in the early '80s), you have no hope of being found online, later. What's odd about Chater, though, is that he had TWO WB albums (as opposed to Stephen's one RCA disc).
What COULD happen for Chater's albums is that a re-issue label (like Collectibles) could justify licensing his albums to re-issue them on a single CD (which could easily fit them both, info-wise). For Stephen (and, I think I spoke to him about this at one point), his lone LP wouldn't be cost-efficient for a re-issue label to justify licensing his 35-minute album for a CD that can hold 80 minutes of info! Now, having said that, Stephen has digitized his album, and the tracks can be found on his website!: https://www.stephenmichaelschwartz.com/new-album
INCLUDING his cover of the classic Spector/Greenwich/Barry "Da Doo Ron Ron" that Shaun Cassidy had a hit with just 3 years later! For my money, Stephen's arrangement tops Shaun's (and, clearly, I'm a Shaun fan: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/thats-popnroll-shaun-cassidy-and), but not only wasn't it released by RCA as a '74 single, IT DIDN'T MAKE THE FINAL TRACK LIST CUT FOR THE ALBUM! Thanks again, Rick!