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Splatt Gallery's History of Michigan Music Posters
Volume Nine - 1973 - Page Sixteen
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Ad for the Primo Showbar in Ann Arbor, Michigan with the schedule of events for November 19, 1973 through December 1st. Radio King, the Afro-American Drum Troupe, Riot, Rockets, Bob Seger Group (more one this coming up later), Radio King again, Mighty Joe Young (pictured), and Lightnin’.
Dennis Preston poster for Pharoah Sanders at The Stables in East Lansing, Michigan, November 19-21, 1973. Sanders was playing so often in the area that there was a rumor he was moving to Detroit to live, but he didn’t. He performed close to 20 Michigan shows in 1973.
Alice Cooper’s second album of the year was released on November 20, 1973. It was their first album not produced by Bob Ezrin after the four-album string starting with “Love it to Death”, and it was the last album that featured the original Alice Cooper band. Many fans consider “Muscle of Love” to be their best.
Alice Cooper – Muscle of Love (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D7Dycaimv0
A tribute to Popeye on this promo poster for Alice Cooper’s album “Muscle of Love”, released on November 20, 1973.
Full-page ads in Billboard magazine and in the British music magazine Melody Maker for the Alice Cooper album “Muscle of Love”, released on November 20, 1973.
A full-page Warner Bros. Records ad for Alice Cooper’s album “Muscle of Love”, released on November 20, 1973, one month into the OPEC Oil Embargo of 1973. The embargo was lifted in March 1974.
Newspaper ad with the Spinners appearing in Cleveland, Ohio on November 21, 1973.
Some Dennis Preston dudes in ads for a guitar sale at Marshall’s Music in Lansing, Michigan, published in the November 22, 1973 issue of the State News newspaper.
The ABC television show “In Concert” celebrated its one-year anniversary with two shows on November 23, 1973. If you were with us last year, you may recall Alice Cooper was the very first broadcast, in November 1972, which caused a panic in Cincinnati, Ohio.
A Globe Poster for a two-in-one event at the Capitol Centre in Landover, Maryland on November 24, 1973. An NBA basketball game with the Detroit Pistons vs the Washington Bullets, followed by a Motown post-game concert with the Four Tops, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, and the Marvelettes.
Somewhat surprisingly, Bob Seger did not perform that often in his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan, this show at the Primo Showbar on November 25, 1973, was his first Ann Arbor show in nearly two years, since appearing at the John Sinclair Freedom Rally in December 1971.
Seger was still about a half a year away from forming “The Silver Bullet Band” and his constantly evolving band was known as the “Bob Seger Group”, the “Borneo Band”, and “My Band”. The back cover of the “Back in ‘72” album listed “My Band” as Dick Sims – organ, pedal bass, piano, clavinet, Jamie Oldaker – drums, Marcey Levy – background vocals, Sergio Pastora – congas, timbales, tamborines, and Tom Cartmell – saxophones, flutes.
Sims and Oldaker came from the group of Tulsa, Oklahoma musicians who had recorded on the “Back in ‘72” album. They and Levy, from the Detroit band Julia (another Seger backing band for a while after Seger split from Teegarden & Van Winkle), would all go on to join Eric Clapton’s group in 1974.
Cartmell, also known as Alto Reed, had come from the Lansing, Michigan band Ormandy, and would become a member of the Silver Bullet Band, as would guitarist Drew Abbott, formerly of the Detroit band Third Power, who had also already joined Seger’s stage group.
Poster for the Rias Parade in Germany on November 26, 1973 with a long list of performers , including Suzi Quatro.
Dennis Preston poster for a “Fight the Final Exam Blues” concert at the Jenison Fieldhouse in East Lansing, Michigan, November 27, 1973. The Guess Who cancelled, but Peter Frampton with Frampton’s Camel, and the Steve Miller Band made it a great night for guitarists.
Dennis Preston ad for “the Concert of the Year” at the Jenison Fieldhouse in East Lansing, Michigan, November 27, 1973. The Guess Who cancelled, but Peter Frampton with Frampton’s Camel, and the Steve Miller Band made it a great night for guitarists.
Full-page ad by Dennis Preston for the three-group concert at the Jenison Fieldhouse in East Lansing, November 27, 1973.
One more ad by Dennis Preston for the three-group concert at the Jenison Fieldhouse in East Lansing, November 27, 1973.
Movie ads by Doug Huston in East Lansing, Michigan, November 27, 1973.
Poster by Micael Priest and Guy Juke for Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin Texas, November 28, 1973 through December 1st. Performances from these shows were recorded and released as the 1974 live album “Live from Deep in the Heart of Texas”.
A second poster by Micael Priest for Commander Cody & his Lost Planet Airmen at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin Texas, November 28, 1973 through December 1st.
Volume Nine - 1973 - continues - HERE
Poster/flyer by Gary Grimshaw for the return of the Afro-American Drum Troupe to the Primo Showbar in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 18, 1973.
Poster/flyer by Gary Grimshaw for Esther Phillips at the King Pleasure jazz club in Ann Arbor, November 22-24, 1973.
Two color versions of a poster/flyer by Gary Grimshaw with Bob Seger appearing at the Primo Showbar in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 25, 1973, and with upcoming shows by Mighty Joe Young and the Coasters.
A full-page MCA Records ad for Wishbone Ash live dates, including a show at Masonic Auditorium in Detroit, Michigan (second line, last column) on November 24, 1973.
An RCA Records ad for Brian Auger, coinciding with two Michigan shows, at The Brewery in Lansing on November 26, 1973, and at the Midtown Theater in Grand Rapids on November 28th.
A full-page Capitol Records ad for the Steve Miller Band on tour, including the Michigan Palace in Detroit, Michigan on November 17, 1973. Schedules do change, however, and the band performed at the Grand Valley State Colleges Fieldhouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November 17th, and in Detroit, at the Masonic Temple, on November 19th.
Small illustrated ad, possibly by Mike Brady, for a benefit show for the Ann Arbor Sun newspaper with Okra, Lightnin’, and the Afro-American Drum Troupe at the Primo Showbar in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 18, 1973.
Newspaper ad for the Back Door in Kalamazoo, Michigan with Ted Nugent & the Amboy Dukes on November 18, 1973, followed by Bob Seger three days later.
A newspaper ad for Bill Graham Presents with Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen opening for the Beach Boys at the Winterland in San Francisco, California on November 18, 1973. Two Generations of Brubeck were also performing that same night in Oakland, California.
Poster/flyer by Gary Grimshaw for a SUN benefit show with Lightnin, Okra, and the Afro-American Drum Troupe at the Primo in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 18, 1973.
We know that coming up in a few years, Rob Tyner will bill his new band as “The MC5”, and he will be rebuked for it, but it looks like Wayne Kramer may have done the same thing even earlier, if this poster is authentic. And it does appear to be, it is for a show at Hanna’s (also known as Humpin’ Hannah’s) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 16-17, 1973. The local band Crossfire dates this as at least before 1977 when they changed their name to Bad Boy. We have no idea who is pictured with Kramer, (early Kramer’s Kreemers?) but maybe one of you can tell us.
An ad with Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen opening for Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids in Long Beach, California on November 16, 1973. Also, former Detroit musician James Montgomery opening for Humble Pie and Foghat at the Forum in Inglewood the night before and in San Diego also on November 16th.
The National Lampoon Radio Hour came to WABX-FM in Detroit, Michigan, starting November 17, 1973.
Dennis Preston poster for Steve Miller at the Grand Valley State Colleges Fieldhouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan, November 17, 1973. The poster art reflects the album cover art of Miller’s just-released eighth studio album “The Joker”, the album that marked the second phase of Miller’s career, evolving from psychedelic blues to radio-friendly pop hits.
Poster by an unknown artist for Willie Dixon at the Primo Showbar in Ann Arbor, Michigan, November 14-15, 1973. Coming attractions Bob Seger and Mighty Joe Young and the ban Detroit the night before.
Incredibly, this was only the second Michigan appearance by Willie Dixon, his first was a four-night run at the Mink & Martini Lounge, a strip club in Detroit that briefly experimented being a jazz club in the summer of 1973. Dixon, the author of so many songs that you know from recordings by other artists, is seen here performing one of them:
Wille Dixon (Spoonful) (live on Saturday Night Live 1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBE8hh8h5e0
An events calendar for the King Pleasure jazz club in Ann Arbor, Michigan, starting with Chico Hamilton on November 15, 1973.
Poster by Salt Lake City poster artist Neil Passey for a show at the University of Utah on November 16, 1973, with headliners Rare Earth, supported by Blue Oyster Cult and Buddy Miles
Poster/flyer by Gary Grimshaw for Chico Hamilton at the King Pleasure jazz club in Ann Arbor, November 15-16, 1973.
An ad from WABX-FM radio in Detroit, Michigan for a broadcast of a Mott the Hoople concert on November 11, 1973. However, as explained in the radio station’s later apology, the West Coast producers of the show were merely playing Mott the Hoople album tracks and adding fake crowd reactions, which WABX caught onto during the broadcast and pulled the plug mid-show.
Terry O’Connor poster for the Climax Blues Band at The Brewery in East Lansing, Michigan, November 12, 1973.
Dennis Preston poster for Muddy Waters at The Stables in East Lansing, Michigan, November 12-17, 1973.
Newspaper ad for Todd Rundgren at Ford Auditorium in Detroit, Michigan, November 13, 1973.
Record company ad touting Todd Rundgren’s busy year in 1973. The first song he had ever written, “Hello It’s Me”, originally recorded by his band The Nazz, had been released as a single in September and became his only Top Ten hit, he had produced Grand Funk’s “We’re An American Band” album and the New York Dolls debut album, he had released his own fourth album “A Wizard, a True Star” earlier in the year and had completed his fifth album “Todd” which would be released in early 1974.
Todd Rundgren – International Feel (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHb3bgXF3L0
A very nice poster by an unknown artist for America at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti on November 9, 1973. The group, which formed in London, England and re-located to Los Angeles, California, had made their first Michigan appearance earlier in the year, at the Masonic Auditorium in Detroit on January 31st.
They next appeared at the Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston on August 9th. Then, there was this four-show swing through Michigan college towns, with Michigan State University in East Lansing on November 2nd, Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant on November 8th, the above show at Eastern Michigan University on November 9th, and finally, at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo on November 11th.
A nice promo poster for the Electric Light Orchestra that appeared in the November 10, 1973 issue of Billboard magazine. ELO had performed twice in Michigan by this time, opening for Quicksilver Messenger Service at Pine Knob in June, and opening for Foghat at Masonic Temple in Detroit in October, just a few weeks before this ad.
Dennis Preston poster for Three Dog Night at the Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Michigan, November 11, 1973.
Newspaper ads for Three Dog Night at the Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Michigan, November 11, 1973.
Record company ad for The Moody Blues with tour dates, including Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan (last on the list), November 8, 1973. It was the band’s ninth Michigan appearance, beginning at the Grande Ballroom in 1968, and it would their last for five more years, as the band went on a long hiatus after this tour.
The Moody Blues – I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock & Roll Band) (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_J-hmyAS6c
On November 7, 1973, Coleman Young won election as Detroit’s first black mayor. He campaigned on the slogan “Make Detroit Great Again”. Cover illustration from the Fifth Estate newspaper by unknown artist.
Poster by Chris Frayne (Ozone) for Stanley Turrentine at the King Pleasure jazz club in Ann Arbor, November 8-10, 1973.
Ad by an unknown artist for Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee at Michigan State University in East Lansing, November 8-10, 1973.
An ad for Los Angeles, California musician Sherman Hayes with a three-night appearance at the Mariah Coffee House in East Lansing, Michigan, November 8-10, 1973 and the release of his second album. Here is the title track from his first album, released earlier in the year.
Sherman Hayes – Catman (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17BXdAlsbw
Motown Records ad for Eddie Kendricks’ single “Keep On Truckin’” which hit #1 on the Billboard magazine Hot 100 chart, November 10, 1973. Kendricks was the only former member of The Temptations to have a #1 record as a solo artist. This song, as well as his “Girl You need a Change of Mind” on an earlier album, was a favorite of the NYC underground party scene that led to Disco.
Eddie Kendricks – Keep On Truckin’ (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aElKjhSwjBc
Three posters by Penelope Grill depicting scenes from The Loft in New York City. Inspired by his experiences using LSD, an aspiring DJ, David Mancusco, threw his first party, called Love Saves the Day (LSD) at his apartment building near the Lower East Side in 1970. By not selling any food or beverages he was able to operate without a NYC cabaret license and the success of “The Loft” led to the creation of numerous private discotheques. Mancusco also created the system of “record pools” that facilitated the distribution of records between disc jockeys.
We’ve already featured the records by Babe Ruth and Eddie Kendricks that were proto examples of the new genre becoming known as “Disco”, but perhaps the most significant record of this nascent scene was by a saxophonist and singer from the African country of Cameroon named Manu Dibango.
Manu Dibango – Soul Makossa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF92yOsv3Y8
Dennis Preston poster for Les McCann at The Stables in East Lansing, Michigan, November 5-10, 1973.
Ad for the first Michigan appearance by the British band Babe Ruth, at The Brewery in East Lansing, Michigan, November 7, 1973, using an image from their first album cover designed by Roger Dean. A single from that album called “The Mexican” became a favorite of the underground dance parties that were becoming popular in New York City, leading to the birth of a new musical genre called “Disco”.
Babe Ruth – The Mexican (1972)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV8Wv_LsN6E
Poster/flyer by Gary Grimshaw for Luther Allison, November 6-8, 1973, at the Primo Showbar in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Poster by an unknown artist for Herbie Hancock at the Louis Armstrong Theatre at Grand Valley State Colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan, November 4, 1973. This was Hancock’s 22nd Michigan show in just the past two years, during which time he also released three albums, the latest, his twelfth, called “Head Hunters”, released just nine days before this show, became his most famous.
Herbie Hancock – Watermelon Man (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bjPlBC4h_8
Ad with Chris Frayne (Ozone) musical notes for Monday nights with Radio King & his Court of Rhythm at the Primo Showbar in Ann Arbor, Michigan, beginning November 5, 1973.
