Thrills 3 recorded in 1983 and released on CD by Rewind Records a division of Song Haus Music in 2000

Pre-reviews had this as the Ultimate Pomp Rock Album which was typically characterized by prominent keyboards, drums, use of guitar effects, and a grandiose delivery.

After a fun Front Page News run, a change happened with the addition of Linda Mackley (drums/vocals) now alongside Tony Monaco (keyboards/synthesizers/all lead vocals); Dave “Peach” Fullerton (guitars/vocals); and the late Bill Gilbert (bass/vocals). Linda was a long time friend and also a Penn Hills PA native. Her skills were immeasurable which made her the obvious choice.

The band demoed and rehearsed over twenty five songs before selecting the final ten for the album.

Back at Smoketree Ranch Chatsworth CA with Doug Parry where all songs were recorded and mixed, the band’s studio and productions skills were at their highest.

Full of a revived energy and excitement for the songs, the band spent more time in the studio than ever before. Determined to have this be the one, the band’s identity was finally established with Tony handling all the lead vocals. Linda’s voice added to the already slick harmonies, Dave’s guitar leads sizzled, Tony’s keyboard playing was masterful and Bill was solid. Experience came into play and the sound was perfected. Everyone was focused.

This was the 3rd album for G&P Records and was slated to be distributed by MCA records which did not happen.

Fully rehearsed and ready to perform, unfortunately, this version of Thrills was never heard live and disbanded due to lack of label support. Although no longer a unit, their music and sound lives on.

Writers: Running Away (Ingegno/Frenchik), The Feelings Gone (Ingegno/Monaco), Best of Everything (Ingegno/Monaco/Fullerton), Let Me Love You (Ingegno/Fullerton), You’ll Be Back (Ingegno/Frenchik), Too Many First Times (Ingegno/Monaco), Falling Out of Love (Ingegno/Frenchik), Give It A Chance (Monaco/Ingegno), Make It Easy ( Ingegno/Monaco), It’s Too Late ( Ingegno/Monaco/Fullerton)

All songs arranged by Thrills. Produced by Mike Frenchik in association with Tom Ingegno for IF Productions and mixed by Mike Frenchik, Tom Ingegno and Doug Parry. This version was mastered by Bernie Becker in 2000.

All songs copyright and all songs published by Beautiful Day Music (BMI).

Cover design by Vance Hawkins.

Acknowledgements: Howie Stein, Rick Hawkey, John Stamos, Andy Stromfeld, Stephen B. Allen, Dane Spencer and Eric Abrahamsen/Rewind, Ryan Bitzer/800 Pound Gorilla Records, Jack Vaughn/The Slimstyle Recording Corp., Michael Epstein, our families and good friends.

After the release of First Thrills, the band constantly kept performing between Pittsburgh and New York picking up concert openings for Foreigner, Juice Newton, Nick Lowe featuring Paul Carrack, Arlen Roth, and Dr. John the Night Tripper before joining John Kay & Steppenwolf for a mini tour throughout the midwest. The road proved costly and unproductive. Everyone was itching to get back into the studio to record newly written material. Luckily, the label agreed.

Front Page News was the second album recorded on the G&P label. The band found its way back to Los Angeles only this time with more studio and recording experience. Due to budgetary restraints, and not wanting to compromise, studio time was negotiated with now friend, owner and engineer Doug Parry (who loved the band) at Smoketree Ranch Chatsworth CA. To facilitate this, the band began recording at 11pm finishing sometime around 8am daily. Certainly worth the compromise and it was a good thing the boys learned how to hit stop, rewind and record. Rick Romano also shared in the engineering duties.

Thrills developed a more mature sound and production. The song Tonight was released as the first single b/w Take A Bite and made it to # 2 and stayed in the Top 10 for about 13 weeks on radio station 96KX out of Pittsburgh PA a Parallel 1 radio station at the time. High Side of 55 was the station follow-up. 96KX  adopted Thrills and promoted them in a major outdoor concert at Point State Park (downtown Pittsburgh) which had over 18,000 people in attendance. Other Pittsburgh bands on the bill were The Silencers on CBS/Precision and Norm Nardini on CBS. Thrills hung around Pittsburgh for a while playing to sold out houses and sharing the bill with the B.E Taylor band for several shows. Thrills also opened for Donnie Iris and had a highlight performance at Pittsburgh’s Stanley Theater with Quarterflash.

Back on Long Island, WLIR’s John DeBella’s station pick was You Don’t Remember Me which he faithfully played at 8:30am for many weeks.

All songs arranged by Thrills. Produced by Mike Frenchik in association with Tom Ingegno for IF Productions and mixed by Mike Frenchik, Tom Ingegno and Doug Parry. All songs mixed and recorded at Smoketree Ranch. This version and available CD was mastered by Bernie Becker in 2009.

The Band: Tony Monaco (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals); Dave “Peach” Fullerton (guitars/vocals); Rob Owens (drums/vocals); the late Bill Gilbert (bass/vocals)

Writers: You Don’t Remember Me (Ingegno), Don’t You Know (Ingegno/Frenchik), Tonight (Fullerton); Take A Bite (Ingegno), I’ll Be On My Way (Monaco), Teaser (Monaco), Explorer Time (Ingegno) not the same version as on Magical Hands, Front Page News (Ingegno), Follow Your Dream (Ingegno/Frenchik), Take Me Away (Fullerton), High Side Of 55 (Monaco), bonus track Smiling (Ingegno) not on the original album.  It was the first original song played live and dedicated to the memory of the late Bill Gilbert.

All songs copyright and all songs published by Beautiful Day Music (BMI).

Lead vocals on You Don’t Remember Me, Don’t You Know, Take A Bite, I’ll Be On My Way, Teaser, Front Page News, Follow Your Dream, High Side Of 55 by Tony Monaco. Lead vocals on Tonight and Take Me Away by Dave Fullerton. Lead vocal on Explorer Time by Rob Owens not the same version as on Magical Hands/From Kingdom Come. Lead Vocals on Smiling (not found on the original album release by the late Bill Gilbert. Female voice on Tonight was recorded by Bonnie Hollis.

Acknowledgements: Lov Popov, Howie Stein, Rick Hawkey, Dallas Cupps, Andy Stromfeld, John Stamos, Randy Berry, vocal coach Perry Ames, Fr. Costa, agent Bill Hahn/Magna Artists Corp, Nick Cosmas, George Hornfeck, Tom Hession, Gary Hinston, Randy Meullier, Stephen B Allen, Eric Abrahamsen, Bruce Donachie/AOR-fm, Ryan Bitzer/800 Pound Gorilla Records, Jack Vaughn/The Slimstyle Recording Corp., Michael Epstein, our families and good friends.

Original album photos by Ebet Roberts and cover layout by Linda Venitelli.

Original 1981 album was mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Los Angeles CA.

First Thrills released in 1980 on G&P Records

In 1979, Thrills signed with the newly formed label G&P Records which was headed by former London Records executives. It was the fully produced demo Magical Hands/From Kingdom Come that lead to the signing. By then, many additional songs had been written and the band was anxious to update their recordings. Thrills immediately headed back into the studio to record newer songs that would work better in a touring/concert situation. First Thrills was recorded partially at the new Don Casale Studio Westbury NY, Smoketree Ranch Chatsworth CA and Kingdom Sound Syosset NY. This mastered version was done by Bernie Becker in 2009. Theoretically the second album, Not Gonna Run was the only song from Magical Hands/From Kingdom Come to be used. The song Breaking My Heart made “Screamer of the Week” on WLIR-FM 92.7, a major Long Island NY radio station famous for breaking bands in the United States. It was the release of First Thrills that led to a live radio broadcast on WLIR radio March 17, 1981 (See Thrills Live from My Father’s Place). The legendary My Father’s Place in Roslyn NY was also very instrumental in hosting and launching many great bands. The song Dream Away can also be heard on the WBAB-FM 102.3 Home Grown Album another popular Long Island NY station. Radio stations throughout the country loved the album cover and often requested extras (of the cover). First Thrills actually charted for one week on Billboard’s Top 200 coming in at # 198 knocking out Billy Joel (another Long Islander). First released single was Breaking My Heart b/w Blinded By Love.

All songs arranged by Thrills and all songs produced by Mike Frenchik in association with Tom Ingegno for IF Productions.

The Band: Tony Monaco (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals); Dave “Peach” Fullerton (guitars/vocals); Rob Owens (drums/vocals); the late Bill Gilbert (bass/vocals)

Writers: Breaking My Heart (Ingegno/Monaco/Frenchik), Changing My Ways (Monaco), Blinded By Love (Ingegno/Frenchik), Good Friends (Ingegno), Won’t Be A Fool (Ingegno), Lie For Your Love (Monaco), Dream Away (Ingegno/Monaco/Fullerton/Frenchik), Not Gonna Run (Ingegno), Carrie (Ingegno/Fullerton), Going Out (Ingegno/Fullerton)

Dream Away, Carrie, Going Out recorded at Smoketree Ranch engineer Doug Parry.

Not Gonna Run recorded at Kingdom Sound engineer Don Casale.

All other songs recorded and all songs mixed by Mike Frenchik and Tom Ingegno at Don Casale Studio engineer Don Casale.

All songs copyright and all songs published by Beautiful Day Music (BMI).

Lead vocals on Breaking My Heart, Changing My Ways, Blinded By Love, Lie For Your Love, Dream Away and Going Out by Tony Monaco. Lead vocals on Good Friends by Dave Fullerton. Lead vocals on Won’t Be A Fool, Not Gonna Run (not the same version as on Magical Hands/From Kingdom Come) and Carrie by Rob Owens.

Dream Away was originally self-released on First Step Records b/w Not Gonna Run (see First Thrills) in 1979.

Dream Away was also released on the WBAB 102.3 Long Island NY Home Grown album.

Acknowledgements: Lou Popov, Howie Stein, Rick Hawkey, Dallas Cupps, Andy Stromfeld, John Stamos, Randy Berry, Nick Cosmas, George Hornfeck, Tom Hession, Rick Morgan, Mike Anthony, Stephen B. Allen, Dane Spencer, Eric Abrahamsen, Ryan Bitzer/800 Pound Gorilla Records, Jack Vaughn/The Slimstyle Recording Corp., Michael Epstein, our families and good friends.

Original 1980 album was mastered at Frankford/Wayne Mastering Labs by Tom Coyne.

Cover illustrations: Marianne M. Sachs

Thrills Live From My Father’s Place recorded and broadcast live on Long Island NY radio station WLIR-FM 92.7 March 17, 1981 from My Father’s Place in Roslyn NY to celebrate the release of First Thrills. CD was released on Rewind Records a division of Song Haus Music in 2002.

The Band: Tony Monaco (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals); Dave “Peach” Fullerton (guitars/vocals); Rob Owens (drums/vocals); the late Bill Gilbert (bass/vocals)

Tony performed the entire show on crutches due to an automobile accident.

Intro by John DeBella from WLIR and features two songs not on any other originally released album. The song Show Me featured the late Bill Gilbert on lead vocal with Tony Monaco on bass. The song Keep On Trying became the band’s anthem and signature closer (studio version on Magical Hands/From Kingdom Come).

Writers: Not Gonna Run (Ingegno), Dear Buddies (Ingegno/ Monaco/Fullerton/Owens/ Gilbert), Good Friends (Ingegno), Lie For Your Love (Monaco), Won’t Be A Fool (Ingegno), Blinded By Love (Ingegno/Frenchik), Carrie (Ingegno/Fullerton), Changing My Ways (Monaco), Dream Away (Ingegno/Monaco/Fullerton/Frenchik), Show Me (Ingegno/Monaco/Fullerton), Breaking My Heart (Ingegno/Monaco/Frenchik), Going Out (Ingegno/Fullerton), Love To See You All Again (Ingegno/Monaco/Fullerton/Gilbert/Owens), Good Friends Coda (Ingegno), Keep On Trying (Ingegno/Monaco/Fullerton), Encores: Get Ready (Robinson) and Are You Ready? (Allen/Hill)

All songs copyright and all songs published by Beautiful Day Music (BMI). Get Ready published by Careers BMG Music/Hexagram Music (BMI) and Are You Ready? published by Jobete Music (ASCAP).

Management Tom Ingegno and Mike Frenchik for IF Productions

Mastered by Bernie Becker in 2002.

House engineer Howie Stein – Remote engineer Jeff Kracke Workshoppe Mobile Recording Studio

Lead vocals on Lie For Your Love, Blinded By Love, Changing My Ways, Dream Away, Breaking My Heart, Going Out, Keep on Trying, Are You Ready? by Tony Monaco. Lead vocals on Not Gonna Run, Won’t Be A Fool, Carrie, Get Ready by Rob Owens. Lead vocals on Good Friends, Keep On Trying by Dave Fullerton. Lead vocals on Show Me by the late Bill Gilbert.

Sax on Get Ready by John Boyle.

Acknowledgements: Michael “Eppy ”Epstein, John DeBella, Ray White, Rick Hawkey, Dallas Cupps, John Stamos, Andy Stromfeld, Stephen B. Allen, Dane Spencer and Eric Abrahamsen/Rewind, Ryan Bitzer/800 Pound Gorilla Records, Jack Vaughn/The Slimstyle Recording Corp., Michael Epstein, our families and good friends.

Thrills was originally from Penn Hills (a suburb of Pittsburgh PA) where they eventually settled on Long Island NY and became a very successful cover band. While traveling back and forth between the two regions (1975/77), Thrills amassed a strong following of very loyal fans. It was then, that it became time to take things to the next level. While still performing, and becoming the most popular band on Long Island in a 1978 Good Times Magazine band poll, originals started being added to the set list never mentioning their origin. This was a perfect way of testing and therefore, many songs were never recorded and dropped from the playlist. Chapter one begins.

The album Magical Hands/From Kingdom Come (1978/79) actually never had a title but was the first fully produced Thrills demo used to shop for a record deal. Recorded at Kingdom Sound Syosset NY, this was the bands first time in the studio. At the production helm was Mike Frenchik (co-writer of Dancing on the Ceiling) with Don Casale (famous for his work with the Young Rascals/Rascals) at the controls. To save money and get more time, a studio deal was cut financially and the sessions ran from 10pm until 6am for several weeks.

Searching for an original and unique sound, Thrills: Tony Monaco (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals); Dave Fullerton (guitars/vocals); Rob Owens drums/vocals; the late Bill Gilbert(bass/vocals) and under the direction of Tom Ingegno and Mike Frenchik, pulled out all the stops including the use of live strings and harp. As the true story goes, these recordings were completely financed by an avid fan who constantly supplied the team with endless bags of money, literally. The cash pick-ups were made on a street corner in Queens NY.

While shopping the recordings in Los Angeles, Phil Spector called once to say that, “Thrills was destined for bigger and better things than Longs Island.”  He was never heard from again.

All songs arranged by Thrills; strings and harp arranged by Mike Frenchik.

Strings by The Irving Spice players.

Mixed by Mike Frenchik and Tom Ingegno at Smoketree Ranch Chatsworth CA engineer Doug Parry.

Produced by Mike Frenchik in association with Tom Ingegno for IF Productions.

Writers: Magical Hands (Ingegno/Monaco), Let Me Play My Music (Ingegno/Monaco), Explorer Time (Ingegno), Without Love (Ingegno), Beautiful Day (Frenchik), Halfway (Ingegno/Fullerton/ Monaco/Gilbert/Owens), Ladies In Waiting (Ingegno/Monaco/Fullerton), Not Gonna Run (Ingegno), Keep On Trying (Ingegno/Monaco/Fullerton), cover Are You Ready? (Allen/Hill)

All songs copyright and all songs published by Beautiful Day Music (BMI) except Are You Ready? published by Jobete Music (ASCAP).

While Explorer Time and Not Gonna Run are on other compilations, these are the original recordings and mix.

CD mastered at The Hook Studio Los Angeles CA.

Not Gonna Run (see First Thrills) was originally self-released on First Step Records b/w Dream Away in 1979.

Lead vocals on Magical Hands, Explorer Time, Not Gonna Run by Rob Owens. Lead vocals on Let Me Play My Music by Tony Monaco and Dave Fullerton. Lead vocals on Ladies in Waiting, Keep on Trying, Are You Ready? by Tony Monaco. Lead vocals on Halfway by the late Bill Gilbert. Lead vocals on Without Love and Keep On Trying by Dave Fullerton. Lead vocals on Beautiful Day by Thrills.

Acknowledgements: Lou Popov, Howie Stein, Rick Hawkey, Dallas Cupps, John Stamos, Andy Stromfeld, Stephen B. Allen, Ryan Bitzer/800 Pound Gorilla Records, Jack Vaughn/The Slimstyle Recording Corp., Michael Epstein, our families and good friends.

Cover photo by Bruce Smith with model Joline Towers.

Original Album mastered at Frankford/Wayne Mastering Labs by Tom Coyne 1980.

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