Crabby Appleton – Go Back ….Power Pop Friday

I’m reaching into the obscurity bin for this one but it’s a good song. They didn’t have any hits further, leading them to be called as a one hit wonder.

Crabby Appleton was founded in Los Angeles, California, founded by Michael Fennelly. Fennelly was previously with another band The Millenium, a pop band that recorded one album, Begin.

Fennelly was also Crabby Appleton’s principal songwriter, and the lineup was rounded out by bassist Hank Harvey, keyboardist Casey Foutz, percussion Felix “Flaco” Falcon, and drummer Phil Jones. The group was initially named as Stonehenge but re-named themselves as Crabby Appleton, after a Tom Terrific cartoon character.

Crabby Appleton from Tom Terrific | Artsy, Cartoon characters, Cartoon

This band was not exactly a household name but this single is really good. Go Back was released in 1970 and it peaked at #36 in the Billboard 100. The album, Crabby Appleton, made it to #175 on the Billboard 200 album charts.

It was produced by Don Gallucci… formerly of the Kingsmen. The drummer Phil Jones also played percussion and drums for Tom Petty on every song but one on Full Moon Fever. He has also played with Joe Walsh, Johnny Rivers, and Waddy Wachtel.

Fennelly embarked on a solo career and recorded two albums Lane Changer and Stranger’s Bed from the early to mid-1970s. He also went on to work with other artists such as Steely Dan.

The band did release two albums before breaking up in 1971. Bands like this fascinate me. I listened to their debut album and it’s really good…I have to wonder if Electra didn’t push them enough.

I do remember hearing this song in the 70s.

Go Back

You don’t hold me so well
And it’s not hard to tell
When you know in your heart
That it’s wrong

‘Cause your thoughts are not here
And you’re making it clear
That the one you love is gone

Well, I can’t tell you your life, no
I can’t tell you what to do
But you know, yes, you know
That’s it’s true

I think you better go back
Go back to your lover, go back
He’s the one you really love
Go back, go back to your bed
I said, go back
He’s the one you’re thinking of

Go back, go back to your bed
I said go back, girl
As fast as you can, go back

Now you look good to me
Still, I can’t help but see
You’ve been thinking of him
All the time

And you know it’s not right
When you kiss me tonight
You pretend his lips are mine

Yeah, I can’t tell you your life, no
I can’t tell you what to do
But you know, yes, you know
That it’s true

I think you better go back
Go back to your lover, go back
He’s the one you really love
Go back, go back to your bed
I said, go back
He’s the one you’re thinking of

Go back, go back to your bed
I said, go back, girl
As fast as you can
Go back, whooooooa
Go back, go back to your lover
Go back
Go back, go back to your bed
I said, go back

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

31 thoughts on “Crabby Appleton – Go Back ….Power Pop Friday”

  1. I thought for a second the name Crabby Appleton was going to be about Don Henley! lol I have never heard this or saw this until now. Good job Sir

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  3. You have a knack for digging these obscure bands out of the ground. Good job. I had never heard of these guys, but I did watch Tom Terrific cartoons. They look similar to Big Brother and the HC, but all the LA back bands looked that way. No one smiled; it was verboten. You must have a perfect rock n roll scowl or a look of indifference.

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    1. They did fit the image really well..yea that sullen look. I heard these guys when I was a kid..this song was played in the Nashville area a lot.

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      1. Good name for a band. I wanted to name our group one of two, “Don’t Hit Your Sister” or ” Little Junior One Hand And the Blasting Caps.” None of the guys bought either. Wonder why?

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      2. I like the Blasting caps one! I was in a 2 gig band called the Flying June-bugs…didn’t exactly scream rock and roll

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  7. Wow, another new band and song to me! Great name, crabby Appleton. Obviously a lot of talent in there, with their future connections, and as a song, it’s well-played but… something about it to me ends up the total being less than the sum of the parts. By no means bad, but just doesn’t particularly grab me. But it’s nice to add one more to the list I’ve heard! Have you heard anything else they did?

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    1. No…. This one came out when I was a kid and played heavily here… it was a large hit locally.
      I re-found it a few years ago.

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    1. Oh cool! Glad you saw them all. Luckily all the posts you have seen from me were written in May and June… we have another months worth left

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  9. There is a very vague recollection of hearing this somewhere sometime, ditto with the name, but it’s lost in the hazy mists of time. Pretty decent tune that zips along but not quite one of those that smacks you right between the ears.

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  14. I discovered this about a decade ago as I scouring through the Billboard Chart Hits of 1970 and went on youtube. Loved it right away and downloaded it. A cracking romping rock track. Still think it’s terrific!

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