Led by siblings Mike and Steve Jablecki and former Tangerine Zoo rhythm guitarist Wayne Gagnon (see separate entry), Wadsworth Mansion (the name came from a well known local landmark), was the epitamy of the one-shot wonder. Formed in Providence, Rhode Island (a well known rock oasis), the quartet survived long enough to record a single self-titled album in 1971.Issued by the small Sussex label, "Wadsworth Mansion" contained minimal information other than band members names, producers, song titles and a pair of blurred group photo. Largely written by Steve, material such as "Long Haired Brown Eyed Girl", "Michigan Harry Slaughter" and "I Like It" seldom offered more than anonymous boogie and conventional rockers. Lacking a strong singer or unique sound, the album wasn't exactly one of the year's most earth shattering efforts. Among the isolated highlights was the fluke top-10 single "Sweet Mary" b/w "What's On Tonight". Backed by a extensive touring schedule opening for a slew of acts including Edgar Winter, the set charted, though peaking at #218 it wasn't a commercial blockbluster (ha!).
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Steve was my uncles, and Mike is my father. Sadly, Steve passed away just a couple of years ago.
I remember a story, however, of one time that they were playing live.
The power was cut suddenly, and all of the equipment shut down. Amps no longer produced the sound of the guitars, organ or microphone, of course, but Steve didn't want the show to end.
In an off-beat, he quipped to his band members, "KEEP GOING!" and they listened.
Backed by a simple rhythm on the drums (courtesy of my father) they went all voice.
You might think this would have ruined the experience, but in fact the crowd cheered louder than ever.
Both my father and my uncle remembered it as one of the best shows they ever had.
Thanks for blogging about this great piece of American music history!
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