The Empires, Bryds,
Outspoken Blues & Hot Mama Silver
Bryds/Outspoken Blues 2008 Reunion!
To those of you who were able to make it in 2008 - we loved seeing you again! It was so much fun!
For those of you who couldn't make it, you'll never know what you missed!
It was a once in a lifetime event!
View Photos From The July, 2008 Reunion
More Photos From The July, 2008 Reunion
The Beginning
The Empires, Bryd's, The Outspoken Blues, The Prod, and Hot Mama Silver were all "garage bands" that were formed, and began performing, in the 60's, or early 70's, in North Chicago, Lake County, Illinois! One common thread for the five groups was that either my younger brother, Robert A. Stanley (Bob), or I, James K. Stanley (Jim), was a member of the group.
Bob (Lead Guitar) and I started the group, "The Empires", in 1963, along with Tom Nelson (Rhythm Guitar) and Tim Wagner (Bass Guitar). We added Bill Levak, a high school classmate of Bob's (Drums)! I left the group in early 1965 to return to college. The Empires broke up in late 1965, when one of the members of the group, Tim Wagner, decided to join the Air Force rather then get drafted.
Two of the three remaining members of the group, Bill Levak (Drums) and Tom Nelson (Rhythm Guitar), myself (Bass Guitar/Vocals), along with Bill Kirchmeyer (Lead Guitar) and Jim Korn (Bass Guitar/Vocals), (from a group named "Beat Incorporated"), then formed the "Outspoken Blues". A short time later, John Pencak (organ), joined our group, and Tom Nelson left the group.
We then went into a recording studio in Chicago (Recordings Unlimited), and recorded a demo record with "You're A Better Man Than I", and "Not Right Now" being the two tracks. We had 900 copies of the record pressed on Orlyn Records. I sang the vocals on "You're A Better Man Than I", and Jim Korn recorded the vocals on "Not Right Now"! (The Outspoken Blues' 45 has since become a valuable collector's item.) Jim Korn was drafted soon after, and he was replaced by Dave Luoma. The group eventually went through several personnel changes, including Ray Spoor, and later Jim Carmody, on Drums, and Steve Wypych on Bass Guitar.
John Pencak and myself, were the only individuals who were members the whole time the group was in existence!
Glenn Holverson was our original Saxophone player. He was great. He was later replaced by Rick Shultis. Chris Christopherson was added later on to play Trumpet when we had a small horn section.
Bob Stanley left the "Empires" and joined "The Bryd's", as lead guitarist, a group that had recorded two songs that he wrote for them ("Your Lies" and "Why Did You Have To Break My Heart"). After "The Bryds" broke up, Bob became a member of "The Outspoken Blues" for the summer of 1967, helping to create the strongest vocal and instrumental version of the group.
Bob left the 'Blues in the autumn of 1967, and reformed "The Bryds", adding an "e" to the group's name to become "The Brydes". He added two trumpets and a violin!
With the breakup of "The Outspoken Blues" in 1969, Jim again joined Bill Kirchmeyer (along with Herb Eimerman (Bass Guitar/Vocals), Gary Rosberg (Organ) and Larry (Butch) Maynard (Drums), in a group called "The Prod".
With the eventual breakup of "The Prod" in 1971, Herb Eimerman joined Bob Stanley who had formed "Hot Mama Silver"!
Jim Stanley and Bill Kirchmeyer formed a 10 piece group that played one time. The group featured piano, organ, two guitars, bass, drums, and 3 female backup singers! Bill Kirchmeyer and Bob Stanley were the guitar players for that performance at a high school prom!
If you have any photographs of The Empires, The Bryds, The Outspoken Blues, Hot Mama Silver, or In-Sex, please let me know! If you send them to me, I'll add them to this web page!
Sign And View The Guestbook
 Roadman's Hammer Review!Without a doubt, this is unquestionably the best music purchase I've made all year. What a musician! What an album! I don't know where to begin. It's not often that an album comes along that I like all the way through. Most times I've got to give it a few spins and let it grow on me. This one sprouted thick, tangled roots and dug in deep immediately. Roadman's Hammer has been in my CD player since I received it 3 weeks ago. I haven't listened to any other music for three weeks, I kid you not. The man's voice belies his age. His instrumental prowess is right up there with the biggest names in the business. The words he's written are sung with passion, power and finesse. His vocals are by turns as gritty and dark as coal smoke, powerful enough to drive a railroad spike and as beautiful and soothing as a far away train whistle. Robert's voice encompasses a full range of emotion and feeling that only comes from years of traveling life's tracks, taking note of the thing's he's seen and experienced along the way, writing about it and singing it like it just happened, still fresh and clear in his mind. A good album is like a good book: it should paint a vivid picture in the mind of the listener, and for me, it does exactly that. I can't wait for the next album. I'll be the first one at the ticket window for The Roadman's next ride. Bill Haines - Shake!: Nashville, TN, USA (Sep 7, 2008) |
Buy Robert Stanley's CD "Roadman's Hammer"!
Roadman's Hammer (aka Robert Stanley) on Myspace! Hear His New CD!
Robert Stanley's New CD
"Fire In My Bones"
View Photos From The July, 2008 Reunion
More Photos From The July, 2008 Reunion
Sign And View The Guestbook
Please feel free to contact me at the following address:
 L - R: Tim Wagner, Bob Stanley, Bill Levak, Jim Stanley, Tom Nelson!
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Left: This is a photo of the first rock and roll band my brother, Bob Stanley, and I played in, in 1964. The name of the group was "The Empires". That's my brother, Bob, second from the left. I'm on the right holding onto the microphone! Right & Below: The Empires in 1965!  L - R: Bill Levak, Bob Stanley, Tim Wagner, Tom Nelson! |
 L - R: Tim Wagner, Tom Nelson, Bob Stanley, Bill Levak! |
 The Outspoken Blues' "Not Right Now" is on this compilation CD from Greece. Without Our Permission!  Back From The Grave Vol. 8 The Outspoken Blues recording of "Not Right Now"is available on this compilation album released by Crypt Records.  AMF Union Card! |
 Waukegan Federation Of Musicians   American Federation Of Musicians  AMF Union Card! |
 . The Outspoken Blues recording of "Turn On Your Lovelight" is available on this compilation CD.   The CD above is available in this magazine with our permission! |
 .The Outspoken Blues European CD Front Cover. Released On July 9, 2008 Feathered Apple Records CD (FA 6513) Price: 24:00 Swissfranks - 14.50 Euro |
 .The Outspoken Blues European CD Back Cover. |
 The Outspoken Blues CD Label. OUTSPOKEN BLUES - ST (60's garage) - Label: FEATHERED APPLE RECORDS Any true '60's garage maniac should already be hip to The Outspoken Blues' monster '60s garage track 'Not Right Now' via Back From The Grave, Volume 8, as well as The Bryds' 'Your Lies' via Back From The Grave, Volume 6. Now, on this historic and completely official 17-track CD, the full musical output and story behind those legendary Chicago '60's garage bands is finally told. The compilation kicks off with both sides from The Outspoken Blues' ultra-rare and killer $5,000 single of 'Not Right Now' b/w 'Mister You're A Better Man Than I' that was originally released on the highly sought after Orlyn Records studio label in 1966; that single is followed by 11 fabulous and never-before-released 1967 garage/r&b tracks from The Outspoken Blues' unreleased album, including seven originals ('Not Right Now', 'Sitting On A Sunday', 'A Wonderful Summer', 'I Can't Make You Love Me', 'I'll Stay','All Your Love' and 'N.Y.P.D') and five covers ('Mister You're A Better Man Than I', 'I Know', 'Hold On I'm Comin'', 'Turn On Your Lovelight' and 'Since I Don't Have You'). Also featured are two great and previously unreleased 1968 garage tracks ('Poor Rich Man' and 'Jr. Saw It Happen') that were recorded under the moniker of "The Prod". As a final bonus, the CD is rounded out in great fashion with both tracks from The Bryds' super rare and fantastic 1965 teen garage 45, 'Your Lies' b/w 'Why Did You Have To Break My Heart', penned by The Empires' main songwriter, lead guitarist and lead vocalist, Robert Stanley." CD $15.00
Outspoken Blues' Interview!
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Left: That's me, with my long hair! And, Me (Left) and Jim Korn (On leave from the Army). The 'Blues recorded a single with "You're A Better Man Than I", and "Not Right Now", in 1965 on Orlyn Records. "Not Right Now" is available on a compilation album released by Crypt Records, called "Back From The Grave, Vol. 8".  The notorious "Blues House" Waukegan, IL
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 L-R: Ray Spoor, Glen Holverson, Dave Luoma, Bill Kirchmeyer (1967)
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 Bottom L-R: Dave Luoma; Chris Christopherson; Jim Stanley; Middle L-R: Jim Carmody; Monty Sigurdsson; Steve Wypych; Top: John Pencak |
 Jim Stanley |
 Bottom L-R: Steve Wypych; John Pencak; Dave Luoma; Middle L-R: Jim Carmody; Chris Christopherson; Monty Sigurdsson; Top: Jim Stanley |
 L-R: Jim Stanley, Steve Wypych
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 On a break at Miller's Pub in Half Day, IL.  Jim Stanley and Jean Beiersdorf |
 L-R: Steve Wypych, Chris Christopherson, Jim Stanley, Dave Luoma, Rich Shultis
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 | Another just sold for $5,000.00. An acetate of this record sold on Ebay for $1,802.00! |
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 The "Bryds" L-R: Yanez Jamnik, Bob Stanley, Bayard Jones, Dave Inman, Jim Wesley
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While a member of The Bryds, the following songs, composed by Bob Stanley, were recorded by the artists listed:
1. "Take Me Back" - The Flock (Destination/Columbia Records - 1967).
(Also, Bob Stroud's Rock & Roots Compilation CD Vol. 7.)2. "Gotta Take It Easy" - Michael And The Messengers. (USA Records 897 - 1968) 3. "Gotta Take It Easy" - Cherry Slush (USA Records - 1967) (Also available on a compilation CD of USA/Destination Records 45's that was just released by Sundazed Records.) In 1965 before Bob Stanley joined them, the Bryds, with Frankie Laurie doing the vocals, recorded: 7. "Your Lies", was recorded in the '80's for an album entitled "Grusomology" by a Canadian group called "The Gruesomes"! The album was recently re-released on "Sundazed Records"! 8. "Your Lies", was also recently recorded by a band from Nebraska called "The Terminals"! 9. "Why Did You Have To Break My Heart" is on a compilation album called "Shutdown '66"!  Above: L-R: Yanez Jamnik, Bob Stanley, Bayard Jones, Dave Inman, Jim Wesley
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 Back From The Grave Volume 4  Back From The Grave Volume 6. The song "Your Lies" recorded by The Bryds, is available on the compilation albums shown above, which were released by Crypt Records! |
  Copies of this 45 recently sold on EBay for $900.00 and $500.00! |
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The Bryds Web Page.
Right: The Flock - "Take Me Back"
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Sign And View The Guestbook
 L-R: Bill Bobrowski, Dore Capitani, Bob Stanley, Herb Eimerman |
Left and Right, "HOT MAMA SILVER"! |  L-R: Dore Capitani, Jeff Payne, Herb Eimerman, Bob Stanley! |
 Bob Stanley! |
 Dore Capitani! |
 Herb Eimerman |
 Jeff Payne! |
 Bob Stanley! |
 Bob Stanley! |
 Herb Eimerman |
 Herb Eimerman |
 Dore & Bob! |
 Dore & Bob! |
 Dore Capitani! |
 Dore Capitani! |
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 Masonic Temple, Waukegan, Illinois. (The Coop)
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 The Wild Goose, Waukegan, Illinois. |
 Slovenic Hall, Waukegan, Illinois.
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 Ad in the Waukegan News-Sun (1967) |
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Buy Robert Stanley's CD "Roadman's Hammer"!
View Photos From The Bands' July, 2008 Reunion
More Photos From The Bands' July, 2008 Reunion
Waukegan, IL. Area Garage Bands
Bob And Jim's Guitar Collections!.
Vita Ley Music Publishing and RasJas Music Publishing,
(December 31, 1946 - May 30, 1993) (Outspoken Blues: Road Manager) Chris Christopherson (Outspoken Blues: Trumpet) Rick Shultis (April 11, 1949 - August, 1980) (Outspoken Blues: Tenor Saxophone) Dave Luoma (December 15, 1946 - August 8, 2006) (Outspoken Blues: Lead Guitar - Bass Guitar) Bill Levak (August 20, 1949 - March 29, 2008) (Empires, Outspoken Blues, Brydes: Drums) Steve Wypych (November 5, 1940 - August 15, 2010) (Outspoken Blues: Bass Guitar, Guitar) |
(June 14, 1951 - April 25, 2002) Linda (Bombolis) Kane (January 25, 1953 - March 8, 2010) Wilson E. (Willie) Collazo (April 10, 1950 - December 2, 1972) Edward Guy Gamberale (May 6, 1942 - March 17, 1990) Ann Gossard (December 9, 1952 - August, 1975) Sharon L. Johannsen (August 9, 1953 - December 28, 2008) Yvonne S. Luoma  (November 20, 1949 - September 13, 1997)  Betty (Strolberg) Sibley (1953 - 2006) |
Please feel free to contact me at the following address:
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