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MENERGY ...
THE FIRST HIT
Left: first success.
Right: Frank's brother,
Frank Loverde, Michael Finden, Linda Imperial and Don Miley
In 1978 Patrick
recorded an 16 minute long extended Remix version of the song " I
Feel Love" performed by Donna Summer . Later, in 1981 , this
Megamix was released by Casablanca Records. The Original 1977 version,
which was composed by Giorgio Moroder , lasted 8 minutes . This work
also would be a great success, specially among DJ's of whole world
over.
His first great hit was single 'Menergy ', reaching the
top of the charts at the end of October of 1981 as well as 'I Wanna Take You
Home '. These first productions by Patrick were released at Fusion
Records , but with Marty Blecman as associate producer, and later in the
Megatone's first album.
Letter from Los Angeles, California to Patrick and Marty
Blecman.
'Teen Planet ', the only song released with Patrick's
original voice and 'Sea Hunt' were also released. To compose the latter one, Patrick was inspired on the TV series
with the same name, starring by Lloyd Bridges (whom he admired) ,
Jo-Carol Block played some keyboards and sang the mermaid call
vocals.
Another first hit released on Fusion Records was 'I Got A Line On
You', Patrick Cowley's new version of the song that was performed by
Randy California in the year of 1969. He aslo met Frank Loverde at The City
Disco, for whom he composed the song "Die Hard Lover", which was
released by Moby Dick Records, which in turn would have another version
performed by Linda Imperial.
The new sound would later be known as Hi-NRG, and it would be the
standard of “dance” music in the following years on dance floors all over
the world.
Left : Patrick (31) and
Paul (28) , just before they worked on 'Right On Target' and 'Lift Off'.
Right : Amazing picture of Patrick
Cowley.
Under the auspices of his partner Marty Blecman, he wrote
the successful dance single 'Megatron Man' that opened the doors to the
album of the same name, released on March, 1982. Editing, recording and
mixing of this album were done at night.The sessions began at around ten PM and
ended byl four o'clock in the morning.
This singular success called the attention of an important
dance music producer from New York, Audrey Josephs.
THE PATRICK
COWLEY
SINGERS
1-2: Jo Carol Block (today Davidson, sadly passed away in
2003).
3: The Patrick Cowley
Singers, Carol McMacken, Lauren Carter and Jo Carol.
4: Jo-Lo (Jo Carol and
Lauren)
As an independent producer, Patrick Cowley counted on exellent singers
Lauren Carter , Jo-Carol Block and Carol McMackin.
Jo-Carol, born on May 13th , 1956 ,had moved to San Francisco a couple of years
before and was 25 at the time she met Patrick.
Lauren , Carol and herself were singing in a 6 person jazz
acapella group called 'Acapella Gold' with 3 guys. One of them was
Michael Finden, who used to be in Sylvester's band playing B3 organ.
Michael Finden brought the 3 of the girls to Patrick's studio and
the 4 of them sang on 'Menergy', then the 3 of the girls sang all of the songs
after that on the 'Megatron Man' album. After Patrick's dead, Jo-Carol y
Lauren would be known as 'Jo-Lo'. They really wanted to be like 'Hall
and Oates' since they were both songwriters as well as keyboard players and
vocalists.
Patrick loved their singing , he'd light up a joint, they'd
have a few hits and then ...sing, sing. Although Patrick had ideas, he counted
on them to come up with the harmonies and give him vocal ideas.
They also sang with Patrick at the Automatt Studio
during 'Mind Warp' production.
"Singing at the Automatt was great...very profesional
studio. Back in those days you had to sing everything ! There were no computers
to fix things or copy parts. You had to get it perfect and it took time.
We loved singing there and being in the studio. " (JO-CAROL BLOCK)
Jo-Lo (Jo Carol and Lauren)
“I’m impressed to see the
music community of San Francisco honor Patrick Cowley after so many
years. He was a wonderful human being and someone I’ll never
forget. If there ever was a gentleman in this world, it was Patrick.
I met Patrick through Michael
Finden. Michael and Patrick had toured with Sylvester in the ‘70s and
Michael joined “Acapella Gold”, a vocal jazz sextette around 1978 or ‘79, of
which I was a member. One night Patrick came to see the group perform at
the Savoy Tivoli in the city. He was intrigued with the women in the
group and asked us if we’d come over to his studio to work on some songs with
him. I remember at the time I was impressed with his studio because it
was clear he had invested in a lot of equipment, rented the space, and from what
I could tell, did it all by himself. I also remember how genuninely
sweet, charming and gracious he was. He definitely had the “boy
next door” quality about him. Jo-Carol, Lauren & I were excited about
recording with him and were intrigued by his volume of work. He had a
number of tunes in process, and I remember being fascinated by his signature
sound and thinking it took a lot of patience and dedication to create what he
did. He was the quintessential modest whiz kid….! I’m not sure, but
I think Patrick appreciated having us to bounce off of and offer feedback,
because he was used to working solo much of the time.
He also liked our energy, as we were always game to keep on singing until the
sound was just right. We would tease him because he was very
disciplined with his eating habits. While he would eat yogurt and health
foods in the studio, we were ready to go out to Hamburger Mary’s! I
cherish those times because they were full of life and laughter…..
We were all so amazed when
the first song we recorded “Menergy”, on an 8 track tape mind you, started
hitting the clubs and taking off. Then “I Wanna Take You Home”, “Thank
God for Music” & “Get a Little”. After that life sped ahead of us at
a clip that was phenomenal. We ended up dissolving “Acapella Gold”,
because we were invited to sing at clubs all over the U.S. It was an
amazing and magical time of our lives and I, for one, am so grateful to
Patrick.
In October of 1982, we
just had come off a tour and I found out that Patrick was sick and in the
hospital. I went to visit him and was stunned because of his grave
condition, and baffled as to how he could be in intensive care. This was
before anyone knew about AIDS. I spoke to the doctor on the floor about
his condition and he guided me toward an article in the New England Journal of
Medicine that had just been printed that month. I wandered into the
hospital library and read a very long article about a mysterious fatal disease
that was affecting immune systems in homosexual men living in New York and
L.A. I started crying and couldn’t fathom how poor Patrick was
susceptible at such a young age, and especially since he took such good care of
himself. A few weeks later he was gone, just at the peak of his career.
After his memorial, I’ll
never forget meeting Patrick’s father, Kenneth Cowley. He stayed in San
Francisco for a couple of days after the service and Jo-Carol and I went out to
dinner with him. It’s funny how I remember that night so vividly, because
of course, no surprise, Patrick had a loving father, and Jo and I wanted him to
know what a lovely son he had and how much we appreciated him. Grateful to
Patrick Cowley . Patrick remains in my heart to this day. “ (Carol McMackin, one of the Menergy singers)
(2002) John Hedges - Leo Frappier - Jo Carol (one of her
last rehearsals)
PATRICK
COWLEY' S
PROFILE
Right: Original painting of 'Megatron man' (Mister X)
created by Dean Motter.
He looked handsome and youthful. He was rather short and blonde, he
always wore a moustache and sometimes, a light beard. He liked to
wear leather motorcycle jacket, jeans and white running shoes. He was
quite interested in observing people, and proving his sociability. Engaging,
with a born instinct for leadership, while also being very rebellious. He
never bragged, although he would very offhandedly tell some very outrageous
stories, but not to show how wild he was, but because there was something funny
in the story itself.
Patrick never had a long term love relationship with a person; there was
always someone special in his life, but it was usually with music in mind
that a relationship would grow.
Buffalo newspapers the day after Patrick died.
"He was a very quiet man. He was actually a very dedicated and creative
workaholic but when he was stricken by inspiration, he quite often ended up
exhausted. He was a sweet, talented, unassuming person who was driven by music;
very dedicated and very prolific.
He really didn't have much of a social life.
He loved music , and the world's music, he loved the many percussive sounds
that were out there but Americans couldn't hear. His life was practically music
and 'baths' only. That´s probably how he got sick. He constantly
was in the studio all day long and he'd get out real late when there
wasn't much to do." (FRANK LOVERDE )
PATRICK
AND PAUL
PARKER
Left: Paul singing at 'The Saint', New York.
Rignt: with Lauren
Carter
Patrick Cowley lived in The Castro, the area in San Francisco
that developed into Gay Mecca. He met Paul Marion Parker through
a mutual friend. Paul had two demo songs that a friend, another songwriter, had
composed, and Patrick invited him to come over to his studio to try singing a few
songs he had finished, and they became close friends immediately.
Patrick Cowley original writing.
Paul , born in
"Patrick was fun. He was
funny and never too serious. At the time he was very into his Masculine Music
trip. We often talked of doing these great gay records about hanging around in
deep dark places doing these nasty and wonderful things." (SYLVESTER)
But from the songs that Patrick Cowley composed and produced , the
one that undoubtedly left a fire mark in Paul Parker's career was 'Right
On Target' , which reached the top of ' Billboard’s Disco charts', on july
31, 1982, remaining there for two weeks, only five months after he did it
with 'Megatron Man'.
" Patrick had already created the track for 'Right On Target', and the
basic chorus and words for the written verse. We had somewhat grown
apart at this time, as I had moved across town and gotten a steady job. I
had already given up on the whole idea of singing. However Patrick told
me to drop by and just sing, and to use a blues style just like some of the
black singers had done when he had worked with them. So I adlibbed for
several hours. A
few weeks later, I performed the song at a local bar during the disco night. I
realized that night how 'Right On Target' should be completed, and
went to Patrick's studio to sing again." (PAUL PARKER )
Left : DJ Glenn Rivera and
Paul Parker with his gold hit "Right On Target".
Center: John Hedges,
Paul Parker and Ken Krivello.
Right:
Paul Parker.
The final singing was already made. This song was actually one of the
first ones to be completed, even before 'Menergy', 'Wanna Take You Home', and
some others. It gave Patrick and Paul a clue of how to actually write a song
and complete the lyrics and the melody.
Most of their songs before 'Right On Target' had been demo material
only, but never saw the light of day.
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