The Hassles
The Hassles were a rock group in the 1960s, most notable for recording the … Read Full Bio ↴The Hassles were a rock group in the 1960s, most notable for recording the first releases to feature Billy Joel. The group released two full-length albums (United Artists Records) and a number of singles.
The original line-up of the group consisted of vocalist John Dizek, guitarist Richard McKenna, drummer Jon Small, and organist Harry Weber. In 1966 Weber was fired from the band due to excessive drug use (found dead a few years later on a railroad track) and was replaced by Howie Arthur Blauvelt and Billy Joel on bass and keyboards respectively. It is with this lineup that the band recorded their self-titled debut album in 1967. Blauvelt departed the band early in 1968 but returned later on in the year. Dizek departed the band in late 1968, at which point Joel took over on vocal duties. The band recorded their second album, Hour of the Wolf, in 1969, before disbanding. Following the demise of The Hassles Joel and Small formed the duo Attila, whilst Blauvelt later co-founded Ram Jam. Joel later went on to a successful solo career and Small became a video producer and director.
John Dizek passed away on June 27, 2017 following a long battle with cancer.
Members
Richard McKenna - guitars (1964-1969)
Jon Small - drums (1964-1969)
John Dizek - vocals, harmonica, tambourine (1964-1968; died 2017)
Harry Weber - bass, organ (1964-1966)
Billy Joel - keyboards, vocals (1966-1969)
Howie Arthur Blauvelt - bass (1966-1968, 1968-1969; died 1993)
Glenn Evans, John Abrant, and Mike Cohen - road managers
Discography
Albums
The Hassles
Produced by Tony Michaels and Vinnie Gorman, The Hassles' eponymous debut album was released on November 21, 1967, and featured a number of cover versions of soul songs. The single "You've Got Me Hummin'" was number 112 for one week on the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart, their only Billboard chart appearance.[3] The title should in fact be spelt "You Got Me Hummin'". In 1983, Billy Joel released a solo live recording of "You Got Me Hummin'" as a B-side to his hit "Tell Her About It" (available on the 12" maxi single, with the 'special remixed version' of the A-side).
Track listing
"Warming Up" (W. Joel) - 1:38
"Just Holding On" (L. Weiss) - 2:06
"A Taste of Honey" (R. Marlow, B. Scott) - 4:17
"Every Step I Take (Every Move I Make)" (W. Joel, T. Michaels, V. Gorman) - 2:30
"Coloured Rain" (S.Winwood, J. Capaldi, C. Wood) (originally by Traffic) - 3:22
"I Hear Voices" (G. Stashuk) - 2:53
"I Can Tell" (W. Joel) - 2:57
"Giving Up (Version #2)" (V. McCoy) - 4:16
"Fever" (J. Davenport, E. Cooley) - 3:19
"You've Got Me Hummin'" (I. Hayes, D. Porter) - 2:27
1992 Re-issued CD with following Bonus Tracks
"I'm Thinkin'" - 2:05
"I'll Be Around" - 2:01
"When I Get Home" - 4:23
"It's Not Enough" - 2:46
"Love Luck" - 3:21
"Look And You Will Find" - 2:58
"Blow My Mind" - 2:14
"Giving Up (Version #1)" - 4:08
Hour of the Wolf
Produced by Thomas Kay, the Hassles' second album was released on January 23, 1969. All songs on this album were original recordings written by Billy Joel, except where noted.
Track listing
"Country Boy" (W. Joel, J. Small) 2:35
"Night After Day" - 3:11
"Hour Of The Wolf" (W. Joel, J. Dizek) - 11:58
"Four O'Clock In The Morning" - 3:12
"Cat" - 4:15
"Hotel St. George" - 5:00
"Land Of Despair" (W. Joel, J. Small) - 3:36
"Further Than Heaven" (W. Joel, J. Dizek) - 7:16
Singles
Single "Great Balls of Fire" (B-side "Travellin' Band') United Artists label (1969)
Compilations
In 1992, the first album was released on CD, with a number of bonus tracks
In 1999, Razor & Tie re-released the Hassles' two albums as a "best of" collection on a single Compact Disc with "Hotel St. George" missing, but also with additional bonus tracks
In 2000, a low quality re-release of Hour of the Wolf was released along with demos from Cold Spring Harbor as Billy Joel Sings
In 2004, the same Hour of the Wolf tracks from Billy Joel Sings were released separately as Billy Joel: The Early Years.
The original line-up of the group consisted of vocalist John Dizek, guitarist Richard McKenna, drummer Jon Small, and organist Harry Weber. In 1966 Weber was fired from the band due to excessive drug use (found dead a few years later on a railroad track) and was replaced by Howie Arthur Blauvelt and Billy Joel on bass and keyboards respectively. It is with this lineup that the band recorded their self-titled debut album in 1967. Blauvelt departed the band early in 1968 but returned later on in the year. Dizek departed the band in late 1968, at which point Joel took over on vocal duties. The band recorded their second album, Hour of the Wolf, in 1969, before disbanding. Following the demise of The Hassles Joel and Small formed the duo Attila, whilst Blauvelt later co-founded Ram Jam. Joel later went on to a successful solo career and Small became a video producer and director.
John Dizek passed away on June 27, 2017 following a long battle with cancer.
Members
Richard McKenna - guitars (1964-1969)
Jon Small - drums (1964-1969)
John Dizek - vocals, harmonica, tambourine (1964-1968; died 2017)
Harry Weber - bass, organ (1964-1966)
Billy Joel - keyboards, vocals (1966-1969)
Howie Arthur Blauvelt - bass (1966-1968, 1968-1969; died 1993)
Glenn Evans, John Abrant, and Mike Cohen - road managers
Discography
Albums
The Hassles
Produced by Tony Michaels and Vinnie Gorman, The Hassles' eponymous debut album was released on November 21, 1967, and featured a number of cover versions of soul songs. The single "You've Got Me Hummin'" was number 112 for one week on the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart, their only Billboard chart appearance.[3] The title should in fact be spelt "You Got Me Hummin'". In 1983, Billy Joel released a solo live recording of "You Got Me Hummin'" as a B-side to his hit "Tell Her About It" (available on the 12" maxi single, with the 'special remixed version' of the A-side).
Track listing
"Warming Up" (W. Joel) - 1:38
"Just Holding On" (L. Weiss) - 2:06
"A Taste of Honey" (R. Marlow, B. Scott) - 4:17
"Every Step I Take (Every Move I Make)" (W. Joel, T. Michaels, V. Gorman) - 2:30
"Coloured Rain" (S.Winwood, J. Capaldi, C. Wood) (originally by Traffic) - 3:22
"I Hear Voices" (G. Stashuk) - 2:53
"I Can Tell" (W. Joel) - 2:57
"Giving Up (Version #2)" (V. McCoy) - 4:16
"Fever" (J. Davenport, E. Cooley) - 3:19
"You've Got Me Hummin'" (I. Hayes, D. Porter) - 2:27
1992 Re-issued CD with following Bonus Tracks
"I'm Thinkin'" - 2:05
"I'll Be Around" - 2:01
"When I Get Home" - 4:23
"It's Not Enough" - 2:46
"Love Luck" - 3:21
"Look And You Will Find" - 2:58
"Blow My Mind" - 2:14
"Giving Up (Version #1)" - 4:08
Hour of the Wolf
Produced by Thomas Kay, the Hassles' second album was released on January 23, 1969. All songs on this album were original recordings written by Billy Joel, except where noted.
Track listing
"Country Boy" (W. Joel, J. Small) 2:35
"Night After Day" - 3:11
"Hour Of The Wolf" (W. Joel, J. Dizek) - 11:58
"Four O'Clock In The Morning" - 3:12
"Cat" - 4:15
"Hotel St. George" - 5:00
"Land Of Despair" (W. Joel, J. Small) - 3:36
"Further Than Heaven" (W. Joel, J. Dizek) - 7:16
Singles
Single "Great Balls of Fire" (B-side "Travellin' Band') United Artists label (1969)
Compilations
In 1992, the first album was released on CD, with a number of bonus tracks
In 1999, Razor & Tie re-released the Hassles' two albums as a "best of" collection on a single Compact Disc with "Hotel St. George" missing, but also with additional bonus tracks
In 2000, a low quality re-release of Hour of the Wolf was released along with demos from Cold Spring Harbor as Billy Joel Sings
In 2004, the same Hour of the Wolf tracks from Billy Joel Sings were released separately as Billy Joel: The Early Years.
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The Hassles Lyrics
4 O'Clock In The Morning Four o'clock in the morning and the two is on…
Cat She walks with the grace of a lion Her eyes are…
Country Boy I can remember I'm feelin' so weak When the nameless blonde…
Every Step I Take Everything I do I'm thinking thoughts of only you, girl Ever…
Everybody Loves You Now Baby all the lights are turned on you Now you're in…
Falling Of The Rain Once upon a time in the land of misty satin…
four o'clock in the morning Four o'clock in the morning and the two is on…
Further Than Heaven Come away with me I want you to see There's a different…
Got To Begin Again Well so here I am at the end of the…
Hotel St. George Well I'll be this quiet The hour is lame Oh, the clerk…
Hour Of The Wolf Fear And something gray has passed beside you In the ever fa…
I Can Tell I saw your new boyfriend Coming out of your apartment His ha…
Land Of Despair I, I remember the day That was a long ago You, you,…
Night After Day Ashes and cigarettes strewn on the floor Old faded photograp…
She's Got A Way She's got a way about her I don't know what it…
Tomorrow Is Today I've been livin' for the moment But I just can't have…
Turn Around Oh, sweet lady, runnin' like a stream You don't look…
Why Judy Why Of all the people in the world that I know You're…
You Can Make Me Free You can make me free You can make me smile You can…
You Got Me Hummin' Umm hmm hmm hmm oh Hmm hmm hmm hmm I don't know…
You Look So Good To Me Ah, you look so good to me With my eyes…
You've Got Me Hummin' Umm hmm hmm hmm oh Hmm hmm hmm hmm I don't know…