The strangeness continued. "I cashed the check and took the money down to the track. By the end of that day I had $3,400, which covered the production budget for both Earthquake's live album and Chartbusters. That's how we started."
From '73 to '75 Beserkley put out singles (assembled into Chartbusters in '75). The first was Earth Quake's great dueling-guitar (Robbie Dunbar, Gary Phillips) version of the Easybeats' "Friday On My Mind" - for years a weekend-kickoff staple at rock stations throughout the country. John Doukas' thick, powerful voice captures a feverish hedonism that was missing from both the original and David Bowie's Pinups version.
He worked quickly: "To record Jonathan Richman's 'Roadrunner' took the 3 minutes-35 seconds for the performance, about another 30 minutes to dump the background vocals on, and another 90 minutes to mix it," he said proudly, referring to the classic Jonathan Richman single.
The first version of "Roadrunner" (called "Roadrunner once") had been produced by John Cale for Warner Brothers in '72, but not released (Beserkley subsequently licensed Cale's tapes and released them as The Modern Lovers album in '76).
Kaufman produced the second version ("Roadrunner twice") and released the two versions together as a single in '77, which reached an astonishing No. 11 in the U.K.
Kaufman's version of the song lacks the electric drive of the original, but it captures childlike wonder as well as anything ever recorded - Richman positively squirms with delight as the late night open road stretches before him and the radio plays. His heart leaps out to fill all of the open space as stars wink in the black-ice sky.
"Jonathan was so prolific it was frightening," said Kaufman. "My problem with him was eliminating songs, not waiting for him to write good songs. My favorite session with Jonathan was 'Egyptian Reggae.' We came up with this idea of recording the whole song in the echo chamber in the bowels of the CBS studio. It smelled in there, but it was a great session. Glen Kolotkin is a great engineer - and he made it sound like a grown-up record."
Beserkley's purest pop came from the Rubinoos, a young Berkeley band. Jon Rubin's lead vocal on the band's cover of Tommy James and the Shondell's "I Think We're Alone Now," achieves an aching emotional vulnerability. The way he hangs on to the first line - "Children beha-a-ve" - simultaneously absorbs and mocks every humiliating parental slight ever directed at a teen.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - JR
Thanks for this post! Now I know which version of "Friday On My Mind" I grew up hearing. In later years I would hear the Easybeats version on the radio and it just didn't sound right.
2 - Eric Olsen
Thanks JR - it about killed me that no one had commented on this post yet. You have saved the day.
And I know what you mean about "Friday On My Mind" - once you know the Earth Quake version the original and the Bowie remake sound anemic.
3 - JR
I was never very hip to indie rock; but I grew up in "Silicon Valley" when it still had trees, and my dad had the radio permanently tuned to KSAN. This one was bound to resonate with me.
4 - Eric Olsen
Besides the music, I think the guy is quite a personality as well.
5 - Danielle Williams
I was wondering why none of the groups- Earth Quake, Greg Kihn, Rubinoos, Jonathan Richmon- were not recorded live at the Long Branch club in Berkeley where they all got their early start. Perhaps there are some old tapes that still exist that could be released so that fans could hear their original raw sound of the early 1970's. Maybe the club's owner (Malcolm ?) at that time has some audio tapes you could get. Let's hope! Thanks for the wonderful records over the years. I love all the boys! Danielle Williams
6 - Eric Olsen
thanks Denise, have passed your ideas on.
7 - Duke Zimmerman
Anyone know how I can reach Matthew King Kaufman? I would like to give him details about his high school reunion, Class of 1963, that is coming up in a few months. If you have any information please contact [eMail address edited out]. Thanks, D.
8 - Eric Olsen
forward it to me Duke and I can get it to him
9 - Philip Donkin
Hi I am looking to get in touch with Matthew King Kaufman as I want to make a radio documentary about Beserkley 30 years on from Chart Busters being released. I am based in London, England and want to show people here how great the music is and the stories behind it. If you can help contact me on [eMail address edited out].
10 - Bobbie Horton
Earthquake was the first band I saw at the Long Branch opening for Eddie Money. What a show! The place was jumping. Some girl stepped on my toe with high heels, and my toe has never been the same since. All in all those days at the Branch were some of the best I've ever had. Thanks for all the great music! What ever happened to Earthquake?
11 - Char Scott
Weekends were what weekends should be. Tearing up the dance floor at the Longbranch or Keystone to the music of Earthquake.
Please tell Matthew that we need to have a Longbranch reunion. Is he still in touch with Malcolm (the owner of the club)?
12 - obert
Nice article.
I just saw Malcome last month and will
see him again in August.
I'd like to get in touch with Kaufman too.
How do I forward a request to you Eric?
13 - Greg 'Curly' Keranen
Memories...
I was the original bass player in The Rubinoos.
I found your site while trying to figure out the exact date of our gig with Earthquake, Link Wray and Jefferson Starship at Winterland (opening night of the "Sounds of the City" series).
Does anyone know?
Jonathan Richman sat in with us on 'Sugar Sugar' on that gig and got pelted with bananas from the crowd...
Yes, many memories of Longbranch Saloon. I may even have some tapes somewhere.
- Greg
14 - Eric Olsen
wow, great to hear from you guys - my email is lsited at the top of the front page of the site - I can get a message to Matthew - thanks!
15 - john p
Earthquake the best band ever to not become a supergroup. Live WoW. Jon Doukas was amazing. Anyone here of a reunion? Let us prey brothers...
16 - Derek M
Thanks for the great overview of the Beserkeley/Earthquake/Greg Kihn era. I was there, going to school at Berkeley at the time. I too thought Earthquake was a great band and deserved more national recognition. The had a great live show also. Greg Kihn's Again album is a classic. Too bad Kihn himself is such a jerk!
17 - Craig Barney
Does anybody know anyhting about posters? I have a Star and Garter poster from June of 75 advertising a concert at Pauley Ballroom with Earthquake headlining and the Rockets, the Neckelettes, Freaky Ralph and Hoo Doo. if you could get back to me witn any info you have id appreciate it.
18 - Rick
Last I heard, Robbie is playing guitar with Larry Lynch from the Kihn band and John is living in England
19 - R.J. Fernandez
Hi, I am looking for information concerning one of the Berserkely releases from 1978: The Spitballs. I don't own the record but there is an excellent version of Smokey Robinson's "Way Over There" on it, which I've got on a Berserkley Compilation. I know that several members of the Berserkely stable of artists contributed to that album, but I'm not sure who is actually doing the playing/singing on this amazing song(it sounds kind of like Jonathan Richman but I can't be sure). Please help and thanks in advance.
20 - Bill Coffin
Berserkeley records put out an EP recorded by Earthquake at the same time they recorded Monday I Got Friday On My Mind. The EP was titled Yukon Pete and the band name was listed as "Son of Pete and the Muffdivers". The EP was accompanied by a booklet of the lyrics illustrated by underground cartoonist S. Clay Wilson.
One side of the EP was the instrumental version of Yukon Pete. (The version with vocals was too obscene for radio play.) The instrumental version received quite a bit of airplay on KSAN. The musical saw part is played by me. (I also recorded a jews-harp track for Monday I Got Friday On My Mind, but it's mixed so low that you can't hear it.) I did both tracks in one take each, both on the same day -- Berserkeley didn't have much money for studio time...
I am named on the Berserkeley Chartbuster's liner notes but no reason is given. And Matthew Kaufman still owes me $20. But I'm happy to be part of a historical footnote.
-Bill
21 - Richard (Reno, NV)
I'm a 61-yo man, and if I ever made a list of my Top 10 all-time favorite rock songs, Earthquake's "Friday on My Mind" would definitely be on it. I played it so much I wore the grooves off my old Beserkely vinyl 45. Younger folks who've never heard it don't know what they're missing!
22 - Cheshire
Love this article and all the comments. I remember Char! Agree about their version of 'Friday'. Used to play it all the time in the car, great drive music.
I gave up rock and roll for racehorses and have lived in England now for many many years but remember those days in the Bay Area fondly.
23 - Phil Brown
I did both tracks in one take each, both on the same day -- Berserkeley didn't have much money for studio time...
I am named on the Berserkeley Chartbuster's liner notes but no reason is given. And Matthew Kaufman still owes me $20. But I'm happy to be part of a historical footnote.
-Bill
That's nothing, Bill. He owes me $2500. I was an engineer at CBS in San Francisco where most of the Berserkeley stuff was cut. I seconded on some sessions and mastered most of the records. Matthew is a real character. And Egyptian Reggae wasn't cut in the echo chambers, which were small and tucked between the 1st and 2nd floors of the building, but in the men's room.
Phil Brown
24 - obert
Purple Earthquake is playing a gig on
Aug 23rd of 09 in Concord, ca
Dukas is in Africa
Kaufman is still in Berkeley but not involved in music.
Greg Boyken passed away last yr
25 - obert
Hi
I was in error when I said Kauffman is no
long involved in music
He founded mp34U a couple of yrs ago
and has produced a couple of records for
a ska band.
Obert