Category Archives: Ascot

Barry Lee and the Actions

Barry Lee & the Actions Wine and Roses 45 Try MeBarry Lee is the stage name of Lee Cuilli, who came from the Italian section of Cleveland, like Bocky, both of them managed by Redda Robbins.

In 1964 Barry released his first 45 on the Redda label. One side is the upbeat vocal pop “Make It” which earned some radio play at the time and got the record picked up by UA subsidiary Veep. More interesting is “Things Gotta Change” a nice bit of r&b with guitar flourishes, credited to Lee, Redda Robbins and Tony Styles. The backing vocalists really getting a workout trying to keep up the bop-ba-shu-bop-ba-bas. The buckeyebeat site suggests it’s likely that Barry is being accompanied by Bocky & the Visions on vocals with their backing band Richie & the Fortunes.

Barry Lee found a group of teens from Euclid, a town northeast of Cleveland, to become his band the Actions. Members included Dave Zaller guitar, Vince Baskovic bass and Ken Ruscittio drums. With the Actions he released his second record in 1966, almost two years after the first. “For Such a Little Wrong” might best be called a power ballad, but on the b-side “Try Me”, Barry’s vocal blends perfectly with the band’s strong backing and harmonies. Production was by Kenny Lark, arrangements by Barry Lee and Fortunes guitarist Tony Styles (Tony Bodanza). Originally released on the Wine & Roses label, it too was picked up by a UA subsid., Ascot, for a quick ride to nowhere.

Interestingly, Barry Lee puts songwriting credits to both Barry Lee and Lee Allen Cuilli. Barry wrote a number of songs that he didn’t record himself, as BMI lists him as co-author of “Can’t Get You Home on Time”, “Down Down”, “I Can Dance”, “I’m Not Worth It”, “I’m Pickin’ Petals”, “Land Beyond the Moon”, “Little Wheel” and “When the Sun Goes Down”, all written with Tony Bodanza.

Info for this article from Buckeyebeat.com. Thanks to Mark Meinhart for the transfer of Things Gotta Change.

The Age of Reason

The Age of Reason, United Artists promotional photo

The Age of Reason Ascot 45 (Your Love Is Like a) MagnetThe Age of Reason were five teenagers from the northern half of the Bronx: Kenny Dale on guitar, Sid Sheres lead guitar, Andy Adams bass, Alan Turner on vocals and Larry Russell, drums.

Larry Russell recalled:

Our original name was The Loose Ends but, when we recorded “Magnet” on 9/8/66, our manager decided to change our name (that night) because there had been another band with the same name that had a record deal before us. On that day we recorded four songs, the other two besides the single were “(It’s a) Dirty Shame”, which was going to be our follow-up single, and “Pride”, written by our producer and which, in our opinion, sucked.

TV host Clay Cole died on Dec. 18, 2010. He was a pal and great guy who presented my band in 1967.

United Artists released “(Your Love is Like a) Magnet” on its Ascot subsidiary in March of ’67. The song was written by the lead singer Alan Turner, who also penned a fine b-side, “I’m a Free Man” that surprisingly has never been comped or featured before. The 45 made local charts and gave the band the opportunity to appear on afternoon TV shows and open for bigger acts like the Box Tops and the Young Rascals.

The Age of Reason live at Palisades Park, Spring of '67
Live at Palisades Park, Spring of ’67

“Dirty Shame” would have been a great follow-up, but UA wasn’t interested and it remained unreleased for over thirty years after the group broke up in 1968.

The Age of Reason – Dirty Shame

Thanks to Larry Russell for the photos and ad clipping.

The Age of Reason with Zacherley for the Disc-o-Teen Show, April 1967
with Zacherley for the Disc-o-Teen Show, April 1967
Hal Jackson and Clay Cole emcee the Age of Reason and other acts at Palisades Park
Hal Jackson and Clay Cole emcee the Age of Reason and other acts at Palisades Park
The Age of Reason at Rococo
The Age of Reason at Rococo
The Age of Reason at Rococo
The Age of Reason at Rococo