1) The Vogues are an Ame… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with this name:
1) The Vogues are an American vocal group from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The original lineup comprised Bill Burkette (lead baritone), Don Miller (baritone), Hugh Geyer (first tenor), and Chuck Blasko (second tenor).
They are best known for their chart-topping singles "You're The One", "Five O'Clock World", "Magic Town", and "Turn Around, Look At Me". In addition to touring the world, the group appeared on American Bandstand, The Tonight Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
The group, originally named the Val-Aires, formed in 1958 at Turtle Creek High School. They signed with Pittsburgh manager Elmer Willet, who produced their first recording release "Which One Will It Be/Launie My Love". DJ Porky Chedwick became a supporter booking the group for his rock and roll shows and record hops. Chedwick put them on bills with the Drifters, the Platters, and the Dells. Clark Race of KDKA radio promoted the group on his KDKA-TV dance show. Having strong regional sales it was picked up for national distribution by Coral Records.
After high school, several members of the group joined the Army while others went to college. A few years later with their enlistments completed and degrees in hand, they decided to record again. They pitched in $100 apiece to record a demo tape. They hired Nick Cenci, who had broken Lou Christie, to produce the recording. In 1965, Cenci produced recording sessions for the Val-Aires at Gateway Studios in Pittsburgh. The band recorded vocals for a cover of the Petula Clark song "You're The One." It was released on the band's own Blue Star label. Cenci persuaded John Rook, program director of KQV, to play the single. With local airplay and sales Cenci signed them to the Co & Ce label as the "Vogues". He had the single distributed nationally. The song became a national hit reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Later in 1965, Cenci produced another Vogues recording session giving the world the no. 4 Billboard hit, "Five O'Clock World".
In 1966 Co & Ce Records released the singles "Magic Town", which reached no. 21 in February, and the no. 29 "The Land of Milk and Honey". The singles "Summer Afternoon" and "Lovers Of The World Unite" were released on Co & Ce in 1967. Co & Ce leased the Vogues to Reprise Records (distributed by Warner Bros.) where they scored with cover versions of "Turn Around, Look at Me" (#7), "My Special Angel" (#7), "Till" (#27), "No, Not Much" (#34), "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" (#42), "Moments To Remember" (#47), and "Green Fields" (#92).[2]
In 1971 The Vogues signed a recording contract with Bell Records and recorded 3 songs ("Love Song", "Take Time To Tell Her", and "American Family"). 1972 saw the group release 1 song on Mainstream Records ("Need You" b/w "Greatest Show On Earth"). By 1973 The Vogues were now a trio (Burkette, Miller, and Blasko). Hugh Geyer had departed to spend time with his family. Now recording for 20th Century Records the group released 3 recordings ("My Prayer", "Wonderful Summer", and "Prisoner Of Love"). With little commercial success, these would be the last singles released by The Vogues.
By the time the 80s came around the trio (Don Miller left in 1974 and replaced by an endless list of vocalists) was doing less touring and was concentrating on Western Pennsylvania venues. Bill Burkette left in 1983, leaving only Chuck Blasko to carry on as The Vogues. At some point in the late 70s or early 80s the group's manager had trademarked the name and assets of The Vogues. He then sold the trademark to another promoter who starting booking other quartets as The Vogues. The trademark was sold several times resulting in several groups of singers claiming to be The Vogues.
In 2000, the trademark was purchased by vocalist and Pittsburgh area native Stan Elich, who eventually would make this group the true Vogues. During these years Blasko continued to perform as The Vogues, and clash with the trademark group. At one point Blasko testified in front of Congress on The Truth In Music Act. A lawsuit filed by Blasko ended with the Pennsylvania court permitting Blasko's Vogues to perform in 14 Western Pennsylvania counties and the trademark group to perform everywhere else in the world as The Vogues. Chuck Blasko's Vogues continue to perform in Western Pennsylvania.
From 2004 until 2006, original member Hugh Geyer toured with Blasko's group in the 14 Western Pennsylvania counties that Blasko's group was permitted to tour in. After creative differences with Blasko, Geyer left that group at the end of 2006.
In March 2007, Geyer joined the national touring group of The Vogues of "trademark" owner Stan Elich. Geyer continued to perform with this group until his retirement in December 2012.
In May 2008, original lead vocalist Bill Burkette joined Geyer in touring the USA with the "trademark" Vogues. The members of this group included Burkette, Geyer, group owner Stan Elich, Troy Elich, and Jim Campagna. Stan Elich died in December 2010. His son Troy now owns the trademark "The Vogues".
In 2010 The Vogues released a live album "The Vogues Sings The Hits Live" on the Desert Trax Music label. This marked the first time in 38 years that Burkette and Geyer recorded together.
The Vogues line-up, as of July 2017, was original lead singer Bill Burkette, Troy Elich, Royce Taylor, and fill in vocalist Bo Wagner. Taylor had previously been a member of The Vogues from 1991–97. Wagner is a former member of Blasko's Pittsburgh group. Current band members are Dean Mastrangelo (Lead Guitar), Artie Deleonardis (drums), JR Wright (keyboards), and Rich Gooch (bass).
The original group made many TV appearances in the 1960s, including The Tonight Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, Shindig, The Red Skelton Show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, American Bandstand, Hullabaloo, and several appearances on The Mike Douglas Show.
The original group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
Original lead vocalist Bill Burkette died on March 1, 2018 at age 75.
Studio albums
Meet the Vogues (1965)
Five O'Clock World (1966)
Turn Around, Look at Me (1968)
Till (1969)
Memories (1969)
The Vogues' Greatest Hits (1970)
The Vogues Sing the Good Old Songs (1970)
Singles
Year A-side B-side
From same album as A-side except where indicated Record Catalog Number Notes US US AC AU Album
1959 "Launie, My Love" "Which One Will It Be?" Willett 114 as The VALAIRES - - - Non-album tracks
1960 "Launie, My Love" "Which One Will It Be" Coral 62177 Re-release, as The VAL-AIRES - - -
1965 "You're The One" "Some Words" (Non-album track) Blue Star B-229 - - - - Meet The Vogues
1965 "You're the one" "Some Words" (Non-album track) Co & Ce 229 Re-release 4 - 55
1965 "Five O'Clock World" "Nothing To Offer You" (from Meet The Vogues) Co & Ce 232 - 4 - 64 Five O'Clock World
1966 "Magic Town" "Humpty Dumpty" (from Five O'Clock World) Co & Ce 234 - 21 - - The Vogues' Greatest Hits
1966 "The Land Of Milk And Honey" "True Lovers" Co & Ce 238 - 29 - - Non-album tracks
1966 "Please Mr. Sun" "Don't Blame The Rain" Co & Ce 240 - 48 - -
1966 "That's The Tune" "Midnight Dreams" Co & Ce 242 - 99 - -
1967 "Summer Afternoon" "Take A Chance On Me Baby" Co & Ce 244 - - - -
1967 "Lovers Of The World Unite" "Brighter Days" Co & Ce 246 - - - -
1967 "Lovers Of The World Unite" "Brighter Days" MGM 13813 Leased by MGM - - -
1968 "Just What I've Been Lookin' For "I've Got You On My Mind" (Non-album track) Reprise 0663 - - - - The Vogues Sing The Good Old Songs and Other Hits
1968 "Turn Around, Look At Me" "Then" Reprise 0686 - 7 3 43 Turn Around, Look At Me
1968 "My Special Angel" "I Keep It Hid" Reprise 0766 - 7 1 36
1968 "Till" "I Will" Reprise 0788 - 27 5 - Till
1969 "Woman Helping Man" "I'll Know My Love (By The Way She Talks)" Reprise 0803 - - - -
1969 "Woman Helping Man" "No, Not Much" Reprise 0803 Re-release 47/34 6/6 -
1969 "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" "P.S. I Love You" Reprise 0820 - 42 7 - Memories
1969 "Moments To Remember" "Once In A While" Reprise 0831 - 47 17 97
1969 "Green Fields" "Easy To Say" (From The Vogues Sing The Good Old Songs and Other Hits) Reprise 0844 - 92 19 - The Vogues' Greatest Hits
1969 "See That Girl" "We Only Have Love" (Non-album track) Reprise 0856 - - 13 -
1970 "God Only Knows" "Moody" Reprise 0887 - 101 21 - The Vogues Sing The Good Old Songs and Other Hits
1970 "Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye" "Over The Rainbow" (Non-album track) Reprise 0909 - 101 18 -
1970 "Theme (The Good Old Songs)" "Come Into My Arms" (From Turn Around, Look At Me) Reprise 0931 - - 27 -
1970 "Since I Don't Have You" "I Know You As A Woman" Reprise 0969 - - 8 -
1971 "Love Song" "We're On Our Way" Bell 991X - 118 23 - Non-album tracks
1971 "Take Time To Tell Her" "I'll Be With You" Bell 45,127 - - 38 -
1971 "An American Family" "Gotta Have You Back" Bell 45,158 - - - -
1973 "My Prayer" "I've Got To Learn To Live Without You" 20th Century 2041 - - 31 -
1973 "Wonderful Summer" "Guess Who" 20th Century 2060 - - 47 -
1974 "As Time Goes By" "Prisoner Of Love" 20th Century 2085 - - -/37 -
2) A Belgian band.
Magic Town
The Vogues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But these dirty sidewalks are gray and concrete cold
They said neon lights were a beautiful sight
But how 'bout the one blinking in
My room all night
And where's the magic in this magic town?
Where's the good life they said could be found?
I gotta find it, girl, before I send for you
I gotta find it, girl before I send for you
I gotta find it, girl, if it can be found
Before I bring you to (to coda)
They said in this town you get rich in no time
But here I am and I'm down to my last dime
I just don't know why I bother to try
When nobody here gives a hang
If I live or die
In The Vogues' song "Magic Town," the singer is disillusioned with the promises made about the supposed magical qualities of a town. The song's lyrics contrast the expectations with reality, as the streets are not paved with gold and the neon lights are not as beautiful as described. The singer is searching for the magic within the town that was promised to him, hoping that the magic will make his dreams come true. However, he has not found it yet, as he is down to his last dime and nobody seems to care about him. The singer expresses a sense of loneliness and disappointment, as he has not found the community or success that he was hoping for.
The song conveys a sense of longing and dissatisfaction that resonated with many Americans during the time period it was released. During the 1960s, many people were moving from rural areas to cities in search of better opportunities and a more vibrant community. However, the reality of city life often fell short of the ideal, leading to a sense of disillusionment and frustration. "Magic Town" captures this sentiment, as the singer searches for the elusive magic that was promised to him but remains out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
They told me the streets were all paved with gold
I was promised a grand and luxurious place where everything is perfect and effortless.
But these dirty sidewalks are gray and concrete cold
Yet, all I found was a dull and lifeless place, where the reality falls far from the fantasy.
They said neon lights were a beautiful sight
Fanciful tales were told about the bright lights and beauty of this place.
But how 'bout the one blinking in My room all night
Now, all I see is the blinking light that pours into my room and keeps me from sleeping.
And where's the magic in this magic town?
I was promised a magical place, but where is it?
Where's the good life they said could be found?
Where is the lavish lifestyle that was promised and said to exist here?
Where's the magic to make all my big dreams come true
Where is the power to manifest all of my greatest aspirations and wishes?
I gotta find it, girl, before I send for you
I need to discover all of this myself before I call you to join me.
I gotta find it, girl before I send for you
I cannot bring you here until I locate the treasures this place holds.
I gotta find it, girl, if it can be found
I must find it first, that is, if it's even possible to find such a thing.
Before I bring you to (to coda)
Before I bring you to join me and live in this place.
They said in this town you get rich in no time
Rumors of quick and easy riches were spread about this place.
But here I am and I'm down to my last dime
Yet, here I stand, broke and desperate.
I just don't know why I bother to try
All my efforts seem to be in vain, and I can't figure out why.
When nobody here gives a hang if I live or die
In this town, it seems that nobody cares about me or my well-being.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mazafakabitch1113
They told me the streets were all paved with gold,
But these dirty sidewalks are gray and concrete cold.
They said neon lights were a beautiful sight,
But how 'bout the one blinkin' in my room all night.
And where's the magic in this magic town,
Where's the good life they said could be found,
Where's the magic to make all my big dreams come true?
I gotta find it girl before I send for you.
They said in this town you get rich in no time,
But here I am and I'm down to my last dime.
I just don't know why I bother to try
When nobody here gives a hang if I live or die?
And where's the magic in this magic town,
Where's the good life they said could be found,
Where's the magic to make all my big dreams come true?
I gotta find it, girl before I send for you.
And where's the magic in this magic town,
Where's the good life they said could be found,
Where's the magic to make all my big dreams come true?
I'm gonna find it, girl,
If it can be found,
Before I bring you to
This magic town.
This magic town (repeat to fade)
@janetatp
This song should have a million plus views. Absolutely beautiful song...
@geggy310
surprisingly it’s not in the content id system
@raiderdanCA
The Vogues performed at Methodist College in NC my sophomore year. They had just released this beautiful, touching piece -- not many dry eyes in the place at song's end.
@junbiswas1451
I first heard this on Cities Skylines
@isaacbentham3731
Jun Biswas same here 🤣
@Scutti
that game brought me here
@OIIsaifIIO
Came here from cities skylines too ✌
@unwiser
Same
@ilubuverimac2841
Golf fm
@EVIEHEARS
I cannot stop listening to this song....it is one of my very favorites. I still have the 45 that I found in a dime store back in the 60's...and I still play it ! Wishing someone would make great music like this again....Thank God these guys did...!