By the mid-1970s, the boys had progressed into one of the hottest dance bands in the area, and eventually began traveling as the show band "Ragweed". Eventually, they came to the attention of top entertainment booking agent John Sansone from Buffalo, NY, who took over the booking for the band and decided to re-name them "Flavour". The boys became "LaFlavour" with the release of the album "Mandolay" in 1980, which was mostly written and produced by Mark Avsec (of Donnie Iris and Wild Cherry fame). Two singles from the album made the Billboard charts, with Mandolay reaching #7. With a certified success under their belts, La Flavour was signed to MCA records, who thought it wise to separate their "show" image from their "recording" image.
MCA changed the band's name to "Fair Warning", and the boys and Mark Avsec recorded a second album, this time of catchy pop/rock tunes. "Fair Warning" included a sure-fire hit single written by Avsec titled "She Don't Know Me". However, an upcoming band from Jersey called Bon Jovi were recording their first album at this time, and the song was selected for them. This move more or less ruined the chances of the song being pushed as a single for Fair Warning, and since the success of "Mandolay" had come on the heels of the disco/dance craze, Fair Warning was not as well received, and MCA eventually shelved the album and the project.
Meanwhile, the show group LaFlavour was taking the country by storm in the big showrooms - the nightclubs and hotels across the country using live entertainment to do big business in the '80s. Since dance music was essential to the atmosphere in these rooms, La Flavour proved to be the perfect act to insure a full house. Since they were now internationally famous for their hit Mandolay, having LaFlavour on the bill was even a bigger draw. Plus, by this time the boys had developed to perfection a novelty in their act which proved to be their crowning jewel: the comedy-oriented floor shows featuring two simple muppet-style puppets, Franklin and Nick.
Franklin and Nick were actually two store-bought puppets operated by Pete Nervo. Gino became the voice of Franklin, and perched himself on Craig's left shoulder. With DeBock serving as the host/straight man, Franklin began each puppet show cracking funny lines and telling jokes while Craig led him through a multitude of subjects. Eventually, they would summon Franklin's brother Nick (voiced by Pete), who would grumble as he appeared on Craig's right shoulder - always slightly intoxicated and grumpy. The puppets provided the boys with the vehicle to say almost anything on stage, and audiences roared with laughter - since the material was being delivered by two puppets rather than human beings. Of all the great music LaFlavour performed over the years, and of all their different levels of success, they are probably best remembered for all the floor shows featuring Franklin and Nick.
Today, the "infamous" LaFlavour puppets are enjoying their retirement hanging prominently on the wall of a band member's family home, but the memories of all the fabulous comedy routines are still cherished by LaFlavour fans.
As LaFlavour entered the 1990's, the showrooms were beginning to fade. With the arrival of electronic multi-media, and entertainment outlets such as MTV and VH-1, Las Vegas-style shows were not impressing people the same any more. Also, the comedy material that was the cornerstone of the band's puppet shows began to collide with the country's changing political climate. While most didn't find it offensive hearing cagey comedy delivered by two cute puppets in the '80s, the 1990's brought on a whole different attitude toward "political correctness". LaFlavour needed a new direction to survive.
The 90's saw LaFlavour returning to a high-energy dance format, where they once again found success, as well as an audience from a new generation eager to experience "retro" dance music from the 70's & 80's, an era they missed but craved with a passion. With LaFlavour, they found the "genuine article." Here was a band who had actually been there - with a Top-10 disco hit to their credit, no less!
Although the "new" club audiences had lost interest in "show" bands and became obsessed with packed dance floors, there emerged an audience outside the club scene still wanting to be entertained. At the dawn of the New Millennium, LaFlavour suddenly found themselves in demand to deliver concert performances, particularly during the summer months. Thanks to energetic local concert promoters like Bill Curtain and Walt English, "the boys" began filling up their summer months with appearances at Community Concert Series events, headlining to thousands of fans of all ages who weren't necessarily "regulars" at their club dates. Performing a wide variety of popular music, LaFlavour became an annual favorite on this exciting new circuit, enabling them once again to show off the range of their entertainment abilities. The Summer Concert Series also gave longtime LaFlavour fans the opportunity to see all four "original" members onstage performing together. While Craig, Pete, and Gino have remained with the band for more than 30 years, original drummer/vocalist Steve Nervo retired in 1996 for health reasons. However, when he's able, Steve makes guest appearances with the band during the Summer Concert Series, most notably performing his remarkable lead vocals on the hit song "Mandolay." Along with LaFlavour veterans John Casey (guitar/vocals/keyboards) and Vince Scarpitti (drums/vocals), Craig, Pete, Gino, and Steve are still bringing to audiences the highest quality live entertainment available anywhere, filled with the same incredible music, fun, and antics they've become famous for during a remarkable career spanning nearly 40 years!
Mandolay
La Flavour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Known throughout the continent where people love to dance
There's a dark-skinned lady there
Whose legs have brought her fame
She dances in the center ring, and the people call her name
Mandolay, say hey
Say Mandolay
Say hey
All the men they know her
Or at least they think they do
She knows she can have them all
She thinks all men are fools
So she winks and smiles at them and brings them to their knees
Leaves them with their fantasies, but the people never see
Mandolay, say hey
Say Mandolay
Say hey
Say Mandolay
She can make men happy
But she'll never let them know
Mandolay, she's much too cool to let her feelings show
So she'll tease them with her moves,
Confuse them with her mind
Make love to everyone of them,
But only with her eyes
Mandolay, say hey
Say Mandolay
Say hey
Say Mandolay
The song "Mandolay" by La Flavour is about a Spanish disco in a European town where people love to dance. The disco is known for a dark-skinned lady named Mandolay, who is famous for her dancing skills. Mandolay dances in the center ring, and everyone in the disco knows her name. The men are drawn to her, but she believes that they are all fools. She uses her moves, mind, and eyes to confuse them, tease them, and bring them to their knees. The singer implies that Mandolay can make men happy but never allows them to know how she feels.
The lyrics suggest that Mandolay is a seductive and mysterious woman who enjoys the attention of men but keeps her emotions hidden. She is in control of the situation, and the people are oblivious to her true feelings. Mandolay appears to be amused by the attention she receives but is never completely satisfied. She is a symbol of beauty and temptation, and the men in the disco are powerless to resist her.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a Spanish disco in a town not far from France
In a town near France, there's a nightclub that plays Spanish music
Known throughout the continent where people love to dance
The nightclub is popular across Europe for people who love dancing
There's a dark-skinned lady there whose legs have brought her fame
There's a well-known lady with dark skin who is famous for her leg movements
She dances in the center ring, and the people call her name
She performs her dance in the center of the nightclub while the audience cheers her on
All the men they know her or at least they think they do
All the men at the nightclub know her or believe they know her
She knows she can have them all, she thinks all men are fools
She believes she can easily have any man she wants and thinks all men are foolish
So she winks and smiles at them and brings them to their knees
She uses her seductive charm to attract them and make them weak
Leaves them with their fantasies, but the people never see
She leaves them with their imagination, but the audience does not realize this
She can make men happy, but she'll never let them know
She can satisfy men, but she won't reveal her true feelings to them
Mandolay, she's much too cool to let her feelings show
Her stage name is Mandolay, and she keeps her emotions hidden by being too cool
So she'll tease them with her moves, confuse them with her mind
She'll playfully tease them with her dance and confuse them with her thoughts
Make love to everyone of them, but only with her eyes
She flirts with all of them, but only with her gaze
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK AVSEC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bettyparalikas6786
I’m 21 years old any time I hear this! 💕💕💕💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻
@arielattalli5292
Me, 17!! ❤
@nayeresfandiari520
@@arielattalli5292You have superb taste I'm music.
@tonysonia1696
Here’s a great story, we were out in Bradenton, Fl early 1990s visiting a club I knew this song and band name well so as I looked at the band and saw their name LA FLAVOUR on the front of the base drum I said dam! I walk up as they were breaking for the next set and asked them did you sing MANDOLAY lead singers looked surprised and said yes! I asked if they would play MANDOLAY when they come back out ,gave me a THUMBS UP he was true to his word he dedicated the next song to my group and myself and we danced our feet off!! This will always stay with me.
@kawboyzx1400
Nice, hope y’all got your feet back ❤️
@barbieblue3336
Surprised? Why lol. I know this song well
Great story
@markfromct2
Tony. I have watched the live version. They all seemed like nice guys....captured the moment in time with a great track. Peace 🙏
@rudypablo2162
You are a liar.
@vassodalaklidou717
Who is listening in 2020? i love disco music.
@JoseSanchez-sp2ex
Me too. Todays music suxs