The band debuted at "The Freak Out", a club in Youngstown, OH on October 3, 1969. They gained a loyal following playing an endless stream of one-nighters over that year. In October 1970, Bill Yendrek, was replaced by guitarist/songwriter Bill "Cupid" Bartolin.
Blue Ash continued playing 250-300 dates a year throughout Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia, while the songwriting team Frank Secich and Bill Bartolin accumulated an enormous amount of original material. In June 1972, Blue Ash signed a production contract with Peppermint Productions of Youngstown and started recording and sending out demos. In late 1972, they were signed to Mercury Records. Their first album "No More, No Less" was released in May, 1973 and received rave reviews in the rock press. It is considered a power pop classic, and is regarded as highly collectible among fans of that genre (it was finally released on CD on the Collectors' Choice label in September 2008). Blue Ash toured and opened for such acts as the Stooges, Bob Seger, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent and more but for lack of sales they were dropped by Mercury Records in May, 1974.
Blue Ash continued to play live and record, adding drummer Jeff Rozniata who replaced David Evans in 1974. They were signed to a singles deal with Playboy Records in 1977. The first single, "Look At You Now" became a regional hit in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Playboy then offered an album deal. The LP "Front Page News" was recorded in Los Angeles in August of 1977 and released in October of that year. It was selling well, but in early 1978 Playboy International pulled the plug on Playboy Records and Blue Ash was once again without a label. They called it quits in 1979.
A few audience-recorded live tapes of the band exist (including one of the original lineup from January 31, 1974 at the Packard Music Hall in Warren, OH) but are of generally poor recording quality. Other tapes recorded by a fan who followed Blue Ash to many of their gigs are rumored to exist, but have yet to surface on the collectors circuit.
In the summer of 2003 original members Frank Secich, David Evans, Bill Bartolin and Jim Kendzor got together privately in Ohio to play once again and decided to reform the band. On November 8 they played the International Pop Overthrow at the Khyber Club in Philadelphia.
In the late 1990s, renewed interest toward the band was given a boost as a large cache of unreleased Blue Ash recordings fell into circulation amongst collectors. In the summer of 2004 an official release of that material -- a two CD retrospective called "Around Again" -- was released on Not Lame Records. It contains 44 songs of unreleased material spanning their career.
For their "reunion" gigs from 2003-2009, Frank Secich moved from bass guitar to rhythm guitar, and former members Brian Wingrove (piano) and Jeff Rozniata (drums) completed the band along with Bobby Darke (bass).
On October 3, 2009, guitarist Bill "Cupid" Bartolin died from complications of cancer, thus bringing to a sad end the story of Blue Ash.
Frank Secich is now a member of Deadbeat Poets, who have released one critically acclaimed CD and are working on a second one.
http://www.myspace.com/officialblueash
http://www.myspace.com/frank_secich
http://www.facebook.com/#!/fsecich
http://www.myspace.com/deadbeatpoets
http://www.facebook.com/groups/34287558778/
What Can I Do for You
Blue Ash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feeling just like when it started
I wake, its a new day
No more heart ache breaking our way
Out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream
Sky blue, nothing to lose
Girl I want to get to know you
Its come from out of nowhere
All this changing, its in the air
Out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream
Into a free fall, out of the blue
Into a dream world, out of the blue
Into the sunset, out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Do you feel?
What I feel?
Is it real?
Can't conceal, so unreal
What I feel
Yeah!
Out of the blue
Not feeling broken hearted
Feeling just like when it started
Out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Into the slipstream
The lyrics to Blue Ash's "What Can I Do for You" suggest a newfound optimism and excitement for a potential relationship, free from past heartache. The singer expresses feeling as though they're starting anew, with a "new day" and a "changing" atmosphere surrounding them. They mention feeling as though they're "out of the blue" and in a "slipstream" - a state of being carried along effortlessly and swiftly like a flow of water. The lyrics evoke a sense of spontaneity and possibility, the singer wanting to "get to know" this person without hesitation.
The repetition of the phrase "out of the blue, into the slipstream" emphasizes this feeling of being swept away, while also alluding to a sense of uncertainty and not knowing what comes next. The singer asks if their feelings are real and "can't conceal" how they feel. The final repetition of "into the slipstream, out of the blue" reinforces the idea of taking a leap into the unknown, but with a sense of exhilaration and anticipation rather than fear.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a fresh start and a willingness to take a chance on a new connection, unburdened by past pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Not feeling broken hearted
I'm over the heartbreak and feeling like I did at the beginning of the relationship
Feeling just like when it started
I have the same emotions as I did when we first met
I wake, its a new day
I am starting fresh and moving on
No more heart ache breaking our way
We are past the pain of the past and moving forward
Out of the blue
Unexpectedly and suddenly
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Being swept up in a current or trend that we didn't anticipate or plan for
Sky blue, nothing to lose
Feeling carefree and unencumbered by the past
Girl I want to get to know you
I am interested and intrigued by this new person in my life
Its come from out of nowhere
This situation or person is unexpected in my life
All this changing, its in the air
I am experiencing a shift or transformation in my life
Into a free fall, out of the blue
Taking a risk or leap of faith without knowing the outcome
Into a dream world, out of the blue
Feeling like I am living in a fantasy or idealized version of reality
Into the sunset, out of the blue
Heading towards a bright future, moving on to better things
Do you feel?
Do you share the same emotions that I do?
What I feel?
My emotions and feelings towards this situation or person
Is it real?
Am I really experiencing what I think I am?
Can't conceal, so unreal
My feelings are too strong to hide, but at the same time they feel too good to be true
Out of the blue
Unexpected and sudden
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Being swept up in a current or trend that we didn't anticipate or plan for, and feeling excited about it
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Feeling like we are being carried along by something bigger than ourselves, without any control
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
Continuing on this journey towards the unknown, with excitement and anticipation
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
This new experience or person has completely taken over my life, and I am excited to see where it takes me
Into the slipstream, out of the blue
The unexpected nature of this situation or person has made everything more exhilarating and thrilling
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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Skew Eyed Records
One of the most underrated albums in rock music!
Fallion Water
Damn, I grew up listening to this album. Living in western Pennsylvania this band played at my Dad's drive-in at one of our rock-concerts. Freaking fantastic band...
Fallion Water
@Jim Ghee That is crazy. As if the manager could control the person who actually damaged the screen. Oh well, water under the bridge though. Hope your day is perfect Jim. <333
Jim Ghee
@Fallion Water Yeah, it got the manager fired.
Fallion Water
@Jim GheeKnowing how expensive screens are, I'd have to give the perpetrator a spanking. Tsk tsk tsk... :)
Jim Ghee
I saw them play at the Columbia Theatre In Sharon ... pretty kickass ... they punched a hole through the movie screen.
Fallion Water
Were Anytime at All re-released today, I am positive it would do very well on the charts. What a fantastic song. :)
felipe gordillo
El sonido es similar al The Byrds muy hermoso
Doug Smith
A tremendous yet, completely overlooked rock and roll album and, band!
So many pop hooks, swingin and tasteful drum action and, explosive, riff-tastic guitars here you are almost tripping over them throughout this incredible kickassery!!!
Doug Smith
I should've commented on the excellent and melodic, and busy but always super tasteful bass playing! And, as a bassist myself.TOTAL KUDOS to whomever engineered (and, whomever was responsible for instrumental microphone placement) because the bass sounds especially awesome in this great mix...just that the bass is REALLY outstanding sounding