Updated September 2010
“Won’t You Tell Me” is a song I used to cover when I played with a couple friends in the Trip 9’s. Running through those chords over and over would about make my arm fall off, but I never got tired of playing it.
The Vestells were a quartet from around Stroudsburg, northeast of Allentown. Their name seems to come from the vests they wore as stage outfits.
Two brothers, Bob and John Schick formed the basis of the band, originally with John Smoke on rhythm guitar and John Kegley on drums, later replaced by Clair Whitmore and Jim Cadue. They cut their only record at Cameo-Parkway studios in Philadelphia in 1966, then most of the band was drafted the following year.
“Won’t You Tell Me” was written by Bob Schick, and seems to feature only two guitars and drums, as I can’t make out any bass. The rhythm guitarist must have been pretty excited to be in the studio, he starts the song off so fast the drummer has a hard time getting the beat down! The song ends up at a noticeably slower tempo than when it began, but the shouts and spirited delivery really put this across. I love the ending, too, when first the drums then the guitars drop out.
The much more sedate flip side, “Please Walk Away”, was written by the group and features a different singer, Clair Whitmore. With harmonies and a bass line, I’d say the band spent considerably more time recording this song. It’s not bad if you like mellow pop ballads.
Bass player John Schick sent me the photo above and wrote to me about the band:
The pic is an earlier Vestells. I couldn’t find one with the players on “Won’t You Tell Me”. The band that recorded “Won’t You Tell Me” was Jim Cadue on drums, Clair Whitmore, rhythm guitar and vocal on “B” side of 45, and of course Bob and myself.
We played just about every bar and resort in the Poconos, including Mount Airy Lodge (now a casino), Buck Hill Inn, Fernwood, Pocono Manor, etc. We did get radio play in New Jersey (years after the band broke up).
We pressed a thousand. I’m not really sure how many we sold, given away, and lost. I still have 16 (just counted them).
Bob is now an organic farmer in Maine. He still writes songs, books, and articles on organic farming. Jim Cadue was Monroe County Commisioner for years (now retired), Clair Whitmore I believe has a sign business, and I’m still in the music business as a full-time composer. Some of my credits can be found on AudioSparx.com. All members except for my brother still live in the Poconos where the band originated.
John Schick
Update: drummer Jim Cadue passed away on May 14th, 2015.
you have no idea how badly i wanted to hear the other side of ”won’t you tell me” when i saw the vestells on here i thought ud feature ”wont you tell me and thats it” but you did both sides…thats amazing..i dont even care if the song isnt that great (havent listened yet) just adding it to my collection is something ive wanted to do..as a collector…thanks dude!!!!
It was nice having 75% of the Vestells in presence for Betty Schick’s funeral service the other day at Lanterman’s Funeral Home in East Stroudsburg. Betty is my grandmother and Bob and John’s mother. Bob Schick is my dad, and John is my uncle. Jim Cadue (recorded drummer of “Won’t You Tell Me” attended the funeral and said some very kind words about my grandparents and how they opened their home as The Vestells’ rehearsal space, and how during the turbulent ’60s, my grandparents’ house was a sort of sanctuary/safe haven from all the madness of that era. Uncle John’s compositions can be found all over the internet as his material is being picked up regularly on ABC and other major film works. Just google “John Schick” and see what pops up!!
I’m the drummer in the picture currently living in Schnecksville, PA with my wife Laurel. We have three children: Karen, Diana, and Jonathan all who have beautiful families of their own. I am the Plant Controller for Sappi Fine Paper in Foglesville, PA and still play the drums (electronic set) in our church orchestra. John Shick, thanks for the memories….they were great years for me and certainly a super experience. Maybe we can have a Vestells revival tour(???).
Hi John. Yes those years in the 60s were valuable learning experiences for us . Trust you’re doing well. Best, ‘Bob’ Schick
update from ‘Bob’ Schick, composer of ‘Won’t You Tell Me?” For what it’s worth, i am now composing a full-scale radical opera called ‘Sphere’ (the most passionate love triangle never imagined…though only 2 are ‘humans’–no, it’s not about bestiality!!!), that deals seriously with the current plight of ‘the most beautiful planet in the Universe, and perhaps, a means never considered in how to stop the human disgrace from laying waste to it. Today, 7-1-2016, i believe it will be completed before year’s end and no doubt dismissed by the powers of delusion…nothing new there, eh?
Another Vestell who recorded ‘Won’t You Tell Me?’ and sang the lead on the B side: ‘Please Walk Away’ (though all the members sing if i recall), Clair Whitmore, passed away in 2017. He was 70. Brother John and i still breathe. John is still becoming ever more famous as a composer, while i have an opera–Sphere–that is surely too radical for sociopathic nation, plus a Kindle e-book: The Melancholy Cafe, available on Amazon. It’s neither fiction or nonfiction but friction that finds human words the major culprit for our woes. 100,000 dangerous words. Go figure.
RIP Clair. Love you, ‘Bob’
The infinite rumors of a tell-all Vestell’s autobiography by one of its surviving founding members is unfounded to my knowledge. Still the rumors persist. One fact i can state though: there WAS a bass guitar on the original recording…the engineer was surely just a newbie at Cameo-Parkway at the time and didn’t know what the hell he was doing, but being there in that huge studio (we set up all the way in the back…why? Who the hell knows? But we were close to 1000 ft away from the engineer’s booth.) i can confirm there was plenty of bass played by brother John emanating from his Fender bass and Ampeg B-15 amp in the studio. i’ll let the salivating masses know if i catch wind of any further developments re: a Vestell’s autobiography.
Of possible interest to those who enjoy the song, ‘Won’t You Tell Me?” It’s the opening ‘song’ in the opening scene of the opera (operarth) ‘Sphere (The Most Passionate Love Triangle Never Imagined)’ with the main female character, Leeagh, singing it with her band in a seedy bar. Actually, she hates the song, having dated its 2nd-rate composer once upon a time, but the crowd loves it. This time, after singing it, so frustrated with what the human world has become, she screams out: “Without passion, what’s the fucking point?!” The crowd assumes it’s the passion of the song, but her band mates know better. Maybe one day it’ll be a film. Who knows any longer? Best, robert schick, rogue composer
Wanted to update my profile while I’m still with the living. So many of us old musicians are dying off. Better do now that I’ve turned 70. John Lawrence Schick: http://johnlarenceschick.com/home
Bro’ John & i still breathe re: the Vestells who did the recording above. Both of us still compose, a lot. John continues to gain notoriety and applause within the world of TV, film and other venues. i continue to compose operarths that are probably too hot to handle [maybe i need a new PR agent 🙂 ]. Music remains our passionate creative thrusts. — robert schick 111, rogue composer
My bro, Robert, is ahead of his time. I hope he’s still around when the World catches up to him.
Thanks Bro’ for your heartfelt words. Whether i’ll “be around” is a dubious proposition in these insane times. A quote from Paul Kingsnorth, in his essay ‘Uncivilization’, might be a passionate way to state it: “Creativity remains the most uncontrollable of human forces.” A force we both live by. Love you, the older bro’
Thanks Bro’ for your heartfelt words. Whether i’ll “be around” is a dubious proposition in these insane times. A quote from Paul Kingsnorth, in his essay ‘Uncivilization’, might be a passionate way to state it: “Creativity remains the most uncontrollable of human forces.” A force we both live by. Love you, the older bro’
Won’t You Tell Me? is used in my operarth (my term, neither fiction or nonfiction, more like friction) “Sphere (The Most Passionate Love Triangle Never Imagined)”. Sung by the amazing female character, Leeagh, with her band, hates the song, but the audiences love it. Go figure.