Story

Greg Pichler of the Progressive Shamanists has released the collection, Headlights By The Mile, Performed by the Headlights, by the Walt Whitman High School group, The Headlights, recorded over the course of the Summer of 1978.

Background

The Headlights, Eric Lefcowitz, Greg Pichler, and Raymund Cuevo, formed in the Fall of 1976. At that time all of the members of the group where students, attending their respective Sophomore year at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland.

Pichler first met Eric Lefcowitz in Geometry class. After school finished for the day Lefcowitz and Pichler often met to play acoustic guitars, largely covering Lennon/McCartney songs. The 15 year old boys largely met at Lefcowitz's residence on Custer Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland.

Later over the course of their Sophomore year, Lefcowitz introduced Pichler to Raymund Cuevo, whose residence was fully equiped with musical instruments, including a drum set, a Yamaha organ, a Fender guitar amplifier. In addition to the equipment, the Cuevo's also owned a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, and a Gibson SG electric guitar.

Lefcowitz, who had written an arsenal of songs, largely sang the lead vocal for the group. Raymund Cuevo played the drums and occasionally Cuevo played the Yamaha organ.

At first Pichler contributed to the group, playing the alto saxophone. However, later Pichler switched to the electric guitar.

Raymund's brother, Joseph Cuevo, also initially played in the band as a percussionist. However, Joseph, who was a year ahead of Raymund at Walt Whitman High School, eventually lost interest in the group.

The group auditioned to perform at the annual high school talent show, Circus Circus, performing Lefcowitz' original song, The Awakening, in front of the talent show committee, including committee chair, Bari Bergman, in the Fall of 1977. However, the committee outright rejected the group. Later in January, 1978 or thereabouts Lefcowitz and Pichler, undetered, auditioned to perform at a coffee house event at Walt Whitman. As there was little competition, the committee invited Lefcowitz and Pichler to open at the coffee house event. The coffee house event was held in February, 1978. Lefcowitz' parents attended the event.

Edward Rosenthal, who Lefcowitz knew while attending Bethesda Elementary School on Arlington Blvd, later joined the group in December, 1977. Rosenthal, whose father was the late Benjamin Rosenthal, a US congressman representing the New York 8th district for twenty-two years, also attended Walt Whitman High School in the same grade level as the other members. At first Rosenthal contributed on the harmonica and also sang on a number of compositions. However, later Rosenthal switched to the guitar, purchasing a Gibson ES 335, electric, guitar.

The collection entitled, Headlights By The Mile, was initially captured on the cassette tape entitled, By The Mile. The cassette tape was recorded at the Glenwood Road Studio over the course of a number of rehearsals in July, 1978 or thereabouts.

List of Tracks

The list of tracks from the collection, Headlights By The Mile, includes:

1. 00:00:00  (Track 1) Pump It Up (Elvis Costello)
2. 00:02:54  (Track 2) Midnight Rider (Gregg Allman, Robert Kim Payne)
3. 00:06:01  (Track 3) Nine To Five (E Lefcowitz)
4. 00:08:54  (Track 4) Before They Make Me Run (Keith Richards)
5. 00:12:39  (Track 5) Everytime I Climb a Fence (E Lefcowitz)
6. 00:16:53  (Track 6) Rock Me Baby (Jimi Hendrix)
7. 00:19:36  (Track 7) Can't Explain (Peter Townsend)
8. 00:23:48  (Track 8) If I Needed Someone (George Harrison)
9. 00:26:11  (Track 9) Ashes Can't Be Burned (GE Pichler)
10. 00:29:46  (Track 10) US Blues (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter)
11. 00:34:57  (Track 11) Obsession (E Lefcowitz)
12. 00:38:37  (Track 12) I Need You Tonight (Ric Ocasek)
13. 00:42:21  (Track 13) Down By The River (Neil Young)

Music Contributions

The members of the high school group, The Headlights, and their musical contributions are as follows:

• Raymund Cuevo: Percussion
• Eric Lefcowitz: Rickenbacher bass guitar, vocals
• Greg Pichler: Gibson Les Paul guitar, vocals
• Ed Rosenthal: Gibson ES335 guitar, vocals

Credits

The archive photos were taken over the course of Pichler's senior year attending Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland in 1977.

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