The Buckinghams
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Biography
Formed in 1965 in Chicago, Illinois, The Buckinghams are a pop / rock band best known for the 1966 hit âKind of a Drag,â which accented their brass-led rock sound. Founded by members of various local bands, the line-up included guitarist Carl Giammarese, bassist / guitarist Nick Fortuna, drummer John Poulos, keyboardist Marty Grebb and vocalist Dennis Tufano although there would be line-up changes along the way. Originally calling themselves The Pulsations, they became the house band on a variety show on WGN-TV, although they were asked to change their name to sound more like they were part of the British Invasion. Signing to USA Records, they released a series of singles that sold well locally but they did not score a national hit until 1966âs âKind of a Drag,â which went to number 1 on Billboardâs Hot 100. While The Buckinghamsâ sound was initially leaning towards a raw garage rock sound, the success of the soulful, horn fueled âKind of a Dragâ â and the album of the same name - inspired a move into a new blue eyed soul / pop direction. After hooking up with producer James William Guercio, they signed to Columbia Records and released their second album, Time & Charges (1967), and the hit singles âDonât You Careâ (number 6) and âMercy Mercy Mercyâ (number 5). Later that year, they released the Guercio-produced album Portraits and the hit singles âHey Baby (Theyâre Playing Our Song)â (number 12) and âSusanâ (number 11). The Buckinghams became one of the biggest groups of 1967. However, Guercio abandoned the producerâs chair, and Jimmy Wisner produced their next album, In One Ear and Gone Tomorrow (1968), which was not as successful as their first three full-length albums. The albumâs single, âBack in Love Again,â didnât even make the Top 40 and subsequent singles didnât even make the Top 100. The Buckinghams soldiered on after several more line-up changes, but they finally called it quits in 1970. In 1980, most of the group reunited for a Chicagofest event and decided to continue performing together. Since then, there have been several different variations of the bandâs line-up performing live and releasing occasional albums including A Matter of Time (1985), Terra Firma (1998), Reaching Back (2007), and The Joy of Christmas (2008).
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
- Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)
- Don't You Care
- Susan
- Kind Of A Drag
- Where Did You Come From
- Difference of Opinion
- Jean Jacket and Lace
- Dance To the Music/Higher featuring Survivor
- Next Bend in the River
- I Call Your Name
- Say It Ain't So
- Why Don't You Love Me
- I'll Be Back
- Summertime
- Back In Love Again
- You Misunderstand Me
- Expressway To Your Heart
- World Without Love
- Nothing Left to Cling To
- Don't Want To Cry
- Terra Firma
- 99.9
- I Think About You
