Attendees at the 149th Annual, Lehigh vs. LaFayette game, Bethlehem, PA 2013

Crafting Original Music, Spanning Three Decades.

Founding Members of The Progressive Shamanists on break in the Poconos.

Greg Pichler of the Progressive Shamanists releases the collection, The Folded And The Forgotten, April, 1977, by The Headlights

Author
Greg Pichler
Date
Jun 13, 2024




Story

Greg Pichler of the Progressive Shamanists has released the collection, The Folded And The Forgotten, recorded in April, 1977, by The Headlights.

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 below was largely recorded from a number of rehearsals stretching from December, 1976 through April, 1977 or thereabouts.

The collection entitled, The Folded And The Forgotten, was initially captured on the cassette tape over the course of a number of rehearsals from December, 1976 through April, 1977. The cassette tape was entirely recorded at the Highboro Drive basement studio during the time span.

List of Tracks

The list of tracks from the collection, The Folded And The Forgotten, includes:

  1. 00:00:02 [Track 01] Indian Summer (E Lefcowitz)
  2. 00:03:33 [Track 02] Spinning Wheel (David Clayton-Thomas)
  3. 00:05:54 [Track 03] Rambling Man (Dickey Betts)
  4. 00:08:51 [Track 04] Can't Buy Me Love (Lennon, McCartney)
  5. 00:10:19 [Track 05] Give It Here (E Lefcowitz)
  6. 00:12:36 [Track 06] Jumping Jack Flash (Jagger–Richards)
  7. 00:16:00 [Track 07] Sunshine Of You Love (Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton)
  8. 00:20:07 [Track 08] With A Little Help From My Friends (Lennon, McCartney)
  9. 00:22:55 [Track 09] Incidental I
  10. 00:23:06 [Track 10] Doctor Boyle (E Lefcowitz)
  11. 00:25:33 [Track 11] Maybe I am Amazed (Paul McCartney)
  12. 00:29:45 [Track 12] Incidental II
  13. 00:30:26 [Track 13] The Awakening (E Lefcowitz)
  14. 00:36:31 [Track 14] She's Not There (Rod Argent)
  15. 00:40:17 [Track 15] Sunshine (Jonathan Edwards)
  16. 00:42:34 [Track 16] Long Tall Sally (Little Richard)
  17. 00:45:02 [Track 17] You Need Meat (The Doors)
  18. 00:47:54 [Track 18] Nights In White Satin (Justin Hayward)

Music Contributions

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

  • Raymund Cuevo: Percussion
  • Craig Lyons: Bass guitar, vocals
  • Eric Lefcowitz: Gibson Les Paul guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
  • Greg Pichler: Gibson Les Paul 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.

more information

circus circus program, dated March 16, 1978
talent show application, dated 1977
The Headlights' version of the Song, Ashes Can't Be Burned, recorded in July, 1978