The End “Bad Night” on Insegrievious

The End band at Andover
The End at Andover, photo courtesy of Tony Curtiss

The End came out of Philips Academy in Andover, a private boarding school. In 1966, the band traveled forty miles south to Continental Recordings in Framingham to make their only record. Continental’s label Cori pressed their 45 for them with the End’s custom Insegrievious label.

Many Andover bands recorded during the sixties, including the Invictas in 1961, the Satans’ Raising Hell LP from ’62, the Torques in ’63, the Apostles with two albums in 1964-65, and the Group with a four song EP in 1967. The Ha’pennys recorded their album Love Is Not the Same at Continental about the same time as The End made their 45.

A year later another Philips Academy band, the Rising Storm would also travel to Framingham to make their LP, Calm Before…, by far the most famous of all these releases.

The End only recorded one 45 while the rest of these bands (with the exception of the Group) recorded entire LPs. In any case they do well with their two original songs, especially the catchy “Bad Night”. The flip, “Make Our Love Come Through” is a fine ballad.

As for the label name, that apparently comes from the Batman TV series, hugely popular that year: “Catwoman, I find you to be odious, abhorrent, and insegrievious.” It’s not as bad as it sounds – a slang dictionary defines insegrievious as expressing anything and nothing at the same time in an impressive sounding way.

Tony Curtiss wrote to me about the band:

It was my cheesy organ solo in “Bad Night.” Here is the band’s lineup:

John Leone: The lead singer and writer of “Bad Night” and co-writer of “Make Our Love Come Through.”
Jeff Lemkin: Lead guitar
Chris Moore: Backup singer
Cai Underwood: Drums. Cai had earlier been drummer for the Apostles at Andover.
Bruce Curran: Rhythm guitar
Mel Kendrick: Bass
Tony Curtiss: Organ and co-writer of “Make Our Love Come Through.”

The band only made this one record in the Spring of 1966 as all but Mel Kendrick graduated from Andover in June of 1966 (Mel in June of 1967). We soon scattered to the winds. John Leone was off to Harvard, Chris Moore headed to Princeton, I went out west to Stanford etc. Thanks for remembering us, Tony Curtiss

Thank you to Tony for sharing these photos of the band.

The End at Continental Recording Studio, Framingham, MA
The End at Continental Recording Studio, Framingham, MA, “during the recording of ‘Bad Night.’ From left to right is me (Tony Curtiss), Jeff Lemkin’s dad who drove us, Bruce Curran, Chris Moore and John Leone (in glasses).

5 thoughts on “The End “Bad Night” on Insegrievious”

  1. My dad, R Lewis, is class of ’57 Philips Academy, a day student townie (born in bred in Andover, Massachusetts), farmer’s son, Liverpudlian’s grandson.

    Don’t let that piece of shit george bush cloud your opinion of Philips and Andover. And I would say that Humphrey Bogart is the most famous and noteworthy Philips Academy alumnus even though he was expelled.

    Since I’m “half-Andover” (farmer’s grandson)I really dig that you got these Philips boys here making the scene in ’66. What about The Rising Storm? Were they at Philips or at Philips Exeter in Exeter, New Hampshire?

  2. Isn’t this the same band “The End” that recorded “Can’t Get Free” on the Northeast label in 67? Listed on BTBG as from Worcester Mass.

  3. The End recorded two versions of “Can’t Get Free”, the 1st version is on a label without any label name, released in the fall of 1966. They re-recorded “Can’t Get Free” and the instrumental B side again and released it in April, 1967, on the Northeast label. It came with a cool picture sleeve.

    This group was from Worcester. These were the only sides recorded, then they changed their name after a member change or two (I think).

  4. It was my cheesy organ solo in “Bad Night.” Here is the band’s lineup:

    John Leone: The lead singer and writer of “Bad Night” and co-writer of “Make Our Love Come Through.”

    Jeff Lemkin: Lead guitar

    Chris Moore: Backup singer

    Cai Underwood: Drums. Cai had earlier been drummer for the Apostles at Andover.

    Bruce Curran: Rhythm guitar

    Mel Kendrick: Bass

    Tony Curtiss: Organ and co-writer of “Make Our Love Come Through.”

    The band only made this one record in the Spring of 1966 as all but Mel Kendrick graduated from Andover In June of 1966 (Mel in June of 1967). We soon scattered to the winds. John Leone was off to Harvard, Chris Moore headed to Princeton, I went out west to Stanford etc.

    Thanks for remembering us, Tony Curtiss

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