NRBQ – Stomp

The 1969 NRBQ self-titled debut album, released on Columbia Records, is a wonderfully scrappy introduction to a band that never played by the rules, even from the jump. This one caught my ear and never let go. I’m a newbie to the band, but I’ve listened to many of their albums and songs throughout their career in the past few months.

This is the beauty of blogs, everyone. When I first started, my foundation was the holy trinity of rock: the Beatles, the Who, and the Stones. I listened to more than them, of course, but now with all of your help, I’ve picked up on artists that I missed completely in real-time or the ones before I was aware or born. I love expanding my musical knowledge, and this band is part of that. It’s never too late to learn new/old music or movies for that matter. 

I believe that some of NRBQ’s greatest assets, such as eclecticism, unwavering artistic values, and humor, are also the reasons they never sold the millions of records they deserved. They are incredible musicians who have no problem being silly and loose as well.

While other bands at the time were chasing hits, studio trickery, and long jams, NRBQ (short for New Rhythm and Blues Quartet) decided to follow  Sun Records, Spike Jones, and Cecil Taylor, sometimes all in the same song. The album is a pre-punk, pre-power pop, pre-alt-country, pre-everything slab of glorious fun. There’s no single style to pin it down; it’s equal parts rockabilly, jazz, R&B, novelty, garage rock, and pure American musical mischief. One minute they’re playing jazz, the next they’re writing AM-radio pop that could’ve given Big Star a run for their money. In other words, if you want diverse music, NRBQ is the way to go. 

They were formed by pianist Terry Adams, guitarist Steve Ferguson, and drummer Frank Gadler, with the addition of bassist Joey Spampinato (originally Joey Spampanato) and drummer Tom Staley completing the lineup.

The album NRBQ peaked at #162 on the Billboard album charts. Stomp peaked at #122 on the Billboard 100 in 1969. The band has 24 studio albums, 14 live albums, and 15 compilation albums. Terry Adams, who formed the band, is still with them… to this day. 

Stomp

Everybody stomp, play it on the ground
Having lots of fun till the sun goes down
People got to know, miles and miles around
About the hidden secret of the stoppin’ so sound

Everybody stomp, play it on the ground
Having lots of fun till the sun goes down
Go and tell your friends, all about to stomp
They can tell there cousins and there mama and pa

And if you do refuse the rhythm my friend
Then you will have to miss the boat in the end
The biggest generation yet has come
But we got something for the old and young
And if you do refuse a+rhytum my friend
Then you will have to miss the boat in the end
You just might stop and stare and wonder why
But you’re just wasting time so come on try
(make it quick)

And if you do refuse a+rhytum my friend
Then you will have to miss the boat in the end
Everybody stomp, play it on the ground
Having lots of fun till the sun goes down
People got to know, miles and miles around
About the hidden secret of stoppin’ so sound
everybody stomp, everybody stomp
everybody stomp, everybody stomp
everybody stomp, everybody stomp
everybody stomp

…

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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.

28 thoughts on “NRBQ – Stomp”

    1. In this one they do…they are all over the place. Rock, jazz, pop and a lot of stuff…but yea they can have that sound as well. I love Commander Cody

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  3. I couldn’t agree more with you, Max, about blogging expanding the horizon. Thanks to fellow bloggers like you, I’ve been introduced to great bands I didn’t know, such as Big Star, The Raspberries and Blue Rodeo, just to name three.

    When I read NRBQ, I immediately recognized the name. Desperate moments require desperate measures – of course, I’m talking about searching my own blog!😂

    And voila, I found a previous reference to NRBQ. It was in connection with Bonnie Raitt’s most recent album “And Just Like That,” which includes a rendition of “Something’s Got a Hold of My Heart,” a great song by Al Anderson. The guitarist first joined them in 1971 and was with them for more than 20 years – okay, perhaps a bit convoluted! 🙂

    Last but not least, I’ve been listening to the first few tracks of NRBQ’s self-titled debut album while searching my blog and writing this clever comment. This definitely wants me to hear more of their music.

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    1. Thank you so much Christian! If not for blogs I would still be listening again to the Beatles, Who, Stones, and Kinks mostly…nothing wrong with that but now it’s a much larger net. We ALL have introduced music and influenced each other and I appreciate your blog because not only do you give me older ones you actually give me newer ones with Graham that I never heard and are really good.

      I can honestly say that my music range has grown so much…but not that exactly…I always liked this kind of music but you can’t like what you don’t know about.

      I’ve heard some say that you usually like what you heard in your teens and that is it mostly. The style yes but it’s great to grow and expand to keep newer or new/old music coming in that fits it. But on some like Mahavishnu Orchestra…I really listened for once and liked something that I wouldn’t have earlier.

      Sounds like the universe wanted you to know about this band! They are all over the place music wise…you will hear a little bit of everything…which is why I like them…also they do it in a melodic way.

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      1. Without meaning to sound corny, isn’t it amazing how the music we heard when were growing up still shapes our taste?

        I think I will always look at new music through a ’60s and ’70s lens. I just can’t help it!

        I don’t think it’s a coincidence I like to call out classic rock revival artists or acts with a “retro sound” – the two most recent examples are Dirty Honey and that song by Midnight Rodeo in today’s post.

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      2. Oh thats what I do! I even put the 80s through that lens and that is why I don’t care for it as much…of course there are A LOT of exceptions. But that is why I was listening to Tom Petty, Springsteen, and artists like that during that time.
        Yes I like them as well. I was just telling Deke about Bailey and his friends…listen to most of what we listen to…they want more of an organic feel.

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  4. I’d never heard of them! Not sure what to make of this one, not easy to pigeon-hole, but sounds quite good. Certainly from its time….it almost sounds like something that could’ve been from some stage rock opera like ‘Godspell’. Good find there, Max

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      1. it seems so, even this song has sort of country elements , big ‘stomp’in sounds, a bit of rock guitar. I can imagine radio people and even label execs might have been confused. But a decent sound anyway

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  5. They certainly did it there way. You went way back in the vaults fella. Always refreshing to hear stuff that doesnt get heard a lot. Love this band.
    (Max do yourself a favor and check out ‘Live On Night Music 1988’. 2 cuts ‘Crazy Like A Fox’ and ‘Want You To Feel Good Too’. Rock n roll doesnt get any better. Seven minutes you wont regret)

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    1. Yea I wanted to go back to the beginning…a lot of great feedback on this so far.
      Listening to it now…it’s intense as hell…like a train coming at you…love it!

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      1. You hit a lot of points on your take. Having fun playing music was one. Like I said I love these guys. I gravitate to people that are having fun and dont take it all to seriously. Plus the guys could play. Stampinato and Tommy lay it down. Could you imagine record companies getting them in the studio and trying to herd them into a genre. That would be funny.

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      2. NO…you cannot put these guys in a box. I spot listened to their career…they are not tied down. That is what drew me more in them. That is why I like The White Album…the different variety you get. This band has one formula….and that is…never follow a formula.

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  7. I like NRBQ too. They played at a rock club off of Hwy 100 and 70…what was that club called?…The Eagles Nest maybe?…I saw a bunch of bands there back in the day…bands that were on their second or third wind, but were still in good form. Anyway, didn’t get to go to that show. I was disappointed.

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    1. I think that is the name! I will go see them if they come…they have really impressed. I was telling CB. The reason the Beatles White Album is my favorite is because of the variety of it…same with bands. I like to hear different things and they do.

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      1. That’s been years ago, when they came to the club. I was wondering…is the club was still there?…I don’t think so. Anyway, I like when bands do different things too, when they explore their sound and add different elements to it. The Beatles did it masterfully. The Stones did it well too…and Led Zeppelin, though they took a lot of flack from their die hard fans about it. REM is another one that comes to mind.

        Although I really like NRBQ and their homage sound, I think it was too eclectic for their own good. To me, they never pinpointed their signature sound. They were a really great party band that played some original material.

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      2. Yea I don’t think it is…but I remember the name of it. I do like bands when they stretch out. But…yes I love AC/DC as well but that is rare for me.
        Oh yes…that was their weak spot commercially…I like it but the masses won’t a sound.

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  8. There’s a place and listeners for almost anyone who has some talent, so to find someone who can spin out over a few genres and not fu- f*nk it all to hell is a good find. And I completely understand the White Album comments. Something for everyone. Mother Natures Son to Helter Skelter to Happiness Is A Warm gun to Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey. And the gigly silly throwaays like Rocky Racoon that are not so silly when you look at the lyrics. Eclectic as Hell.

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    1. Yes…I knew you would get it obbverse. I love that variety…as long as it’s quality…it works. You won’t be a commercial juggernaut in most instances…but will build a long career.

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