The Choir
Listen – The Choir – It’s Cold Outside – MP3
Greetings all.
I hope everyone had a fine weekend.
I’ve been a busy little blogger, digi-ma-tizing and stockpiling vinyl for at least four new Iron Leg Digital Trip Podcasts.
The track I bring you today is one that I discovered in a typically half-assed way.
Back in the day, when my mates and I were digging the Chesterfield Kings, as the trucked into NYC from the Rochester hinterlands to put on some of the ass-kickingest live shows of the 80s, the bands first LP ‘Here Are the Chesterfield Kings’ was in heavy rotation.
One of the tunes on that album was a cover of a tune by someone named Dan Klawson called ‘I’m Going Home’. It was a Stones-y number (which might describe a good thirty percent of all 60s garage punk originals) and at the time, before the dawning of the great maw now known as the interwebs, that’s all we knew.
A few years on someone – I don’t recall who, hepped me to the fact that the tune was a cover of an original by a Cleveland, Ohio band called the Choir. Not long after that, providence being what it is I happened upon a nice, clean copy of the 45 for about a ten spot, and gave it a good home. I got the 45 home (this was also pre-portable), flipped it over and realized that I’d picked up what we record nerds refer to as a two-sider. The flip (actually the A side) was a fantastic pop tune called ‘It’s Cold Outside’.
So…I whip the tunes onto a mix tape, which I happen to be playing at work one night when one of the editors comes over and is all
“Wow! The Choir! I love that song.”
‘What song?” says I.
“It’s Cold Outside.”
“Huh?” says I.
It turns out that the editor grew up in Cleveland, where ‘It’s Cold Outside’ was a HUGE hit in 1967, and has been a fixture on local oldies radio ever since then.
“Far out!” says I.
As the years went on, I found out that some of the cats in the Choir (Dave Smalley – who sang the tune – Wally Bryson and Jim Bonfanti) went on some years later to help for a little band known as the Raspberries, who just happened to be one of the great power pop bands of all time.
It’s not hard to hear the roots of that sound in ‘It’s Cold Outside’. There’s enough pop here for the teenyboppers to cream their jeans, and enough of an edge to keep their boyfriends from losing their minds. That chorus is a killer.
I’ll have to digi-ma-tize that B-side some day, as it is also quite groovy.
I hope you dig the tune.
Peace
Larry
Iron Leg 
Very cool, love it. I had the “Nuggets” version, just never gave it a good listen.
Broke down and bought the CD “Choir Practice” today.
Thanks again, Larry!
Larry, based on your taste in music, I think you were born too late. The Choir was a great band live, they covered all the best Stones/Them/Pretty Things/and then would do a perfect cover of a Marvin Gaye tune. Cleveland had a nice music scene in the sixties, they took the British Invasion to heart. When Dylan went electric and brought his band to town in ’66, the Choir was in the audience taking notes. No boos. Check out Behind Locked Doors on Dynovoice by the Missing Lynx for another great tune from a Cleveland band.
Euclid
Your first statement is right on the money (I’ve often thought the same thing myself).
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for that Missing Lynx 45.
L
I grew up in Mentor, Ohio and as a music fanatic (in addition we all danced then!) but of course one of our favorite night spots was the Painesville Armory, a city next to Mentor, and to be part of the following crowd of The Mods, predecessor name for most of the guys later move forward to become The Choir, as written about here. The original band members featured Dann Klawon(drums), Dave Smalley(lead vocals), Wally Bryson ( lead guitar and vocals) and never to be forgotten a Bass player , a guy who really knew his stuff and was a fantastic showman, Dave Burke. Many of us, friends and followers, attended jam and practice sessions at the Burke homestead and Dave would really show his style to the upper limits there.
As their local popularity grew, they added Jim Bonifanti, a second drummer, with style and was eft-handed, as I recall. Their sound and renditions, generally playing tribute songs, as most local groups did at that time, was spot on, at least for their followers. I will never forget the double drummer display and sound. Klawon and Bonifanti had such different styles, yet constantly and consistanlt complimented each other. That was a show to remember.
I’ve seen Wally Bryson and Dann Klawon, on occasion at rerunion type events, Rumor has it that Burke may like to come back to music in some capacity once he finishes his stint filling mailboxes! Bonifanti is still in Northeast Ohio.