Around 1980, Rick Mapel headed the L.A.-based progressive rock group, Rococo. Reworking classics from his earlier days, Rococo also served as an opportunity for Rick to experiment with some newer tunes. Perhaps the most notable was "Time Coast," a collaboration that featured the lyrics of J. C. McGowan, who later went on to write the definitive book on Brazilian music.
Rococo consisted of Rick Mapel on guitars and vocals, Brian Brady on fretless bass and vocals, Richard Brownell on drums and Pete Day on guitar and keyboard.
Rococo Studio Sessions
Rococo Live
Rococo Live - November 24, 1978
On November 24, 1978, Robert Soelberg set up his JVC KD-55 cassette deck in the living room of the Brady family home on Irving Street between 1st and 2nd streets in Los Angeles. Brian Brady had arranged for Rick's band, Rococo, to get together to play a small party. Rococo keyboardist/lead guitarist Pete Day asked longtime friend Robert, who earlier in the year recorded his "Too Nude To Think" album at his Zenith Studio in Malibu, to record the event.
Formally, the band, which also included drummer extraordinaire Rick Brownell, had stopped regular rehearsals earlier in the year. But the countless hours practicing in Brian's second-story, above-garage studio had paid off, and the intricate parts came back to the band.
Rococo played a nine-song set of songs written by bandmembers. The evening's set list (right-click to download individual songs):
Robert used two microphones to capture a simple stereo mix. But the mix had an atypical balance with drums, bass and rhythm guitar on one side and my overly loud lead guitar dominating the other. As a result, during the digital remix Pete used equalization to bring down the level of his lead, but the guitar's tone -- and other levels -- suffer as a result.
Joining the band on some songs are Mercy, who sang on "Lingering," Ben Brooks on flute on "Assembly," and saxophonist Neal Schleimer, whose soulful strains can be heard on the latter tunes. During the the band chatter segments there are voices and mentions of Elena Sherk, who was Rick's girlfriend, and others.
FLIGHT
Rick's mid-1970s group Flight
In the mid-1970s, Rick was at the center of Flight, a five-piece group based in Altadena. Joining Rick were Ben Brooks on flute, Peter Day on guitar, Bill Thompson on bass and Richard Brownell on drums. Brownell replaced Greg Vosburg, who was featured on some of the group's earlier recordings made at the University of Southern California. Produced by Ben, the USC recordings were engineered by Tom Gimbel.
MAPELBROOK
MapelBrook performs in Denver
Rick Mapel and Ben Brooks began experimenting with songs while in high school. Their blend of nylon-stringed guitar playing fused with melodic flute soon caught the attention of others. The duo won first place at the school's talent show, which earned them the grand prize of $20 and a solo concert in the auditorium. The school newspaper, the Titan Shield, said they wowed the crowd, which earned the boys an encore. As a result, the event went over schedule and students were late to their next period. Later, a record company executive expressed interest in Mapelbrook, and the duo recorded a demo at a professional recording studio.
"Click here to listen to Mapelbrook - The 1970 Recordings. Songs include "Assembly," "Dark as a Dungeon," "Go Away Mama," and "Got a Letter."
RICK'S BANDS
Photo by Clarissa Brooks
Rick Mapel, right, works on a song with members of The Glen Gang, which rehearses, records and socializes in Pasadena, California.2000-PRESENT - THE GLEN GANG (Pasadena)
1985-PRESENT - THE BAGMEN (San Francisco)
1979-1982 - THE BEAUCOUP BROTHERS (Glendale)
1977-79 - ROCOCO (Los Angeles)
1975-77 - FLIGHT (Altadena)
1973-75 - TARA (Denver)
1970-73 - MAPELBROOK (San Marino/Denver)
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