Founding members Jim Brady (born August 24, 1944, Los Angeles), Mike Piano (born October 26, 1944, Rochester, New York) and Richard Shoff (born April 30, 1944, Seattle) first performed together in the Mitchell Boys Choir,[3] before forming the Four Seasons with friend Nick Cahuernga. Due to the rising popularity of a group with that name from New Jersey, they changed their name to the Grads and continued as a trio.[1][4][5]
Although the Grads did not enter the charts with their early recordings, they performed well enough to secure a residency at Harrah's Lake Club (now Harveys Lake Tahoe) where a friend brought them to the attention of Herb Alpert of A&M Records.[1][6] Alpert was impressed with the Grads, but after one single without success the group agreed to a name change, choosing the Sandpipers out of a dictionary.[7] After the name change, their producer, Tommy LiPuma,[3] recommended they record the Cubananthem "Guantanamera" and they had their first hit.[1] The use of female singers[3] (including Robie Lester)[8] to add background vocals on "Guantanamera" established a trend that the Sandpipers would incorporate in multiple future studio recordings and live shows.
Initially Kathy Westmoreland (de) (later with Elvis Presley) toured with the group[9][10] to provide the lyriclessvocals that were used much like second strings, adding an ethereal quality to the Sandpipers' sound. Later Pamela Ramcier was the primary back-up vocalist.[1][11][12] At times two or more back-up vocalists were used. For the Sandpipers' first live show in San Diego, two female singers were on stage, the well-known folk singer Penny Nichols and Pat Woolley. Early pressings of the Guantanamera LP showed a five person group—two females with Piano, Shoff, and Brady—on the back cover while later pressings had just the male trio. Subsequent albums depicted only the original trio. Other backup singers followed including Stormie Sherk in 1967,[13] and Diane Jordan and Kathy Westmoreland in 1969.[14] Some pressings of the 1970 Come Saturday Morning LP credit "solo voices" Patrice Holloway, Carolyn Willis, and Susan Tallman.
In 1968, following a South Africa concert tour, they participated at the Festival di Sanremo in Italy, a highlight on the Italian music calendar.[17] They were, as then usual, alongside Anna Identici as one of the two performers of the song "Quando M'Innamoro," which attained sixth place. The song would become more popular in the interpretation by Gigliola Cinquetti. The English version by British pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck, "A Man Without Love", became a global hit.
In 1969, the group embarked on a European tour with appearances in London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Madrid, and Berlin.[18] In 1970 "Come Saturday Morning" was nominated for Best Original Song and was performed by the Sandpipers at the 42nd Academy Awards ceremony. In the mid-1970s, Michael Piano left the group and was replaced in turn by Michael Brady,[a] Gary Duckworth[b] and Ralph Nichols (later with The Lettermen). The final 1979 single, "Singapore Girl", featured only Brady and Shoff.
In 1965–66, an American girl group from Pensacola, Florida, briefly toured and recorded as the Sandpipers, backed by an early Gregg and Duane Allman band called the Allman Joys. After "Guantanamera" was released they became the Daisies.[20]
Another group known as the Sandpipers (or sometimes the Golden Sandpipers) sang for Golden Records, most notably the theme to Mighty Mouse, the version that is now the best known and perhaps the original (although some sources cite the Terrytooners with Mitch Miller and orchestra).[21][c]
A South African folk rock group active in the 1960s was also named the Sandpipers.[22]
A female choral group at Albertus Magnus College known as the Sandpipers released an LP in 1961.
A South Florida trio (Art Williams, Wally Pape, Billy Stuart) released one LP, The Singin', Swingin' Sandpipers, in 1965 on the Art label.[23]
A New York group released one single as the Sandpipers in 1966 on the Kismet label.[24]
A Detroit group released one single as the Sandpipers in 1966 on the Giant label.[25]
The Nashville-based Cypress label released a single by the Sand Pipers in 1966.[26]
A Malaysian group released three EPs as the Sandpipers in the 1960s: Hey Tak Malu (with Azim Chan) on the Maria label, and Nyatakan Lah Pada Ku and Deritaan Insan (with Siti Khatijah Hamid) on the Playboy label.
An instrumental group from Mason City, Iowa, released an LP, The Sandpipers Play Fiesta! and Other Favorites, in the late 1960s on the Fredlo label featuring several Herb Alpert covers.
A country and western LP, Silver Dollar Saloon, and an EP, Irish Eyes, were released in 1975 by Gary Lane, Chris Beckett, and the Sandpipers.
Discography
Albums
U.S. releases on A&M Records unless otherwise noted. Some releases in U.K. and other countries had different titles, alternate covers, and variations in track lists.[2]
"Broken Slumber" (Brady-Seeburg) "Living Is a Lovin' Thing" (J. Duncan)
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Satril 119 UK release
1978
"It Should Have Lasted Forever" (Benson-Clarke-Hyams) "Darling I Apologise" (Lane-Roberts)
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Satril 127 UK release
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1979
"You're a Great Way to Fly - Singapore Girl" (Bobby Hart-Fred Bongusto) "You're a Great Way to Fly - Singapore Girl" (instr.) (Fred Bongusto)
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Singapore Airlines SIA-3
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Reissues
"Guantanamera" / "Cuando Salí De Cuba"
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A&M 8526
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"Quando M'Innamoro" / "La Bamba"
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A&M 8527
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"Come Saturday Morning" / "The Wonder of You"
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A&M 8544
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"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Notes
^Brother of Jim Brady and former bassist for the group's backup band. After three years with the group, he left to become a notable studio bassist.
^Duckworth, along with George Green and Jim Brady's brother Mike, formed Griffin and released an eponymous LP and several singles in 1972 on the L.A.-based Romar label. He also released one single in 1976 on the Nashville-based D.P.A. label ("Move Out of the City"/"Stop, Look and Listen").
^Regular members included Mike Stewart, Ralph Nyland, Dick Byron, and Bob Miller. Other members were Anne Lloyd, Sally Sweetland, Mary Jane Sutherland, and Peter Hanley.
^Released in Mexico as Lo Maravilloso De Ti with song titles translated into Spanish (and in many cases differently from the translations for the same songs for the Spanish Album).
^Also released in Philippines with same catalog number. Released in Japan as Singapore Girl (Satril YX-7145-SR) with different track order. Released in Spain on cassette in 1978 (Satril STC-5001) and again in 1984 (Satril 50.271). Not released in U.S.
^All songs in Tagalog language. LP cover has text "The First Tagalog Album From An International Group".
^U.S. jukebox EP tracks: "Cuando Salí de Cuba", "And I Love Her", "Fly Me to the Moon", "Strange Song", "Misty Roses", "Daydream".
A&M 7AMD-10002 ("Angelique", "Softly as I Leave You", "Quando M'Innamoro", "Cuando Salí de Cuba")
A&M 7AMD-10014 ("Himno Á Alegria (Song of Joy)", "The Wonder of You", "Come Saturday Morning", "The Long and Winding Road")
France
Columbia ESRF 1802 ("Guantanamera", "What Makes You Dream, Pretty Girl", "Everything in the Garden", "Stage Door"), 1966
Columbia ESRF 1826 ("Louie Louie", "Things We Said Today", "La Bamba", "Angelica"), 1966
Germany
Star SL 101 ("Guantanamera", "To Sir with Love", "San Francisco", "Let's Pretend"), 1967
Iran
Top4 EX-4189 ("Guantanamera", "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", "What Makes You Dream Prety [sic] Girl?", "Angelica"),
Japan
A&M LS 158 ("Quando M'Innamoro", "Louie Louie", "Cuando Salí De Cuba", "Guantanamera"), 1968
A&M AMS-13 ("Stasera (sic) Gli Angeli Non Volano (For The Last Time)", "The Long and Winding Road", "A Song of Joy (Himno a La Alegria)", "Come Saturday Morning"), 1970
A&M AMS-25 ("Today", "Santo Domingo", "Cuando Salí De Cuba", "Ayer")
Tizoc ED-221 ("Guantanamera", "Extranos En La Noche" (Strangers In The Night), "Enamorado", "Lanza Tus Penas Al Viento (Cast Your Fate to the Wind)"), 1966
Tizoc ED-270 ("Cuando Me Enamoro", "Viento Primaveral", "Extraña Melodia", "Corazon De Madera"), 1968
A&M AME-10 ("Guantanamera", "Llevame A La Luna", "Cuando Salí De Cuba", "Ojos Españoles), 1968
A&M AME-46 ("Ven El Sabado En La Mañana", "Santo Domingo", "Himno a La Alegria")
A&M AME-75 ("How Can You Mend a Broken Heart", "Never My Love", "It's Too Late", "Never Can Say Goodbye"), 1972
New Zealand
A&M 11218 ("Guantanamera", "What Makes You Dream, Pretty Girl", "La Bamba", "La Mer (Beyond the Sea)"), 1966
A&M 11231 ("Louie Louie", "Things We Said Today", "For the Last Time", "Angelica"), 1966
A&M 11398 ("The French Song", "Bon Soir Dame", "Rain, Rain Go Away", "Yesterday")
Portugal
A&M/Alvorada EP-25-1 ("Guantanamera", "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", "Enamorado", "Strangers in the Night")
Pye International NEP 44081 ("Guantanamera", "Things We Said Today", "Louie Louie", "What Makes You Dream, Pretty Girl"), 1966
Pye International NEP 44085 ("Angelica", "Enamorado", "Strangers in the Night", "Carmen"), 1967
A&M AME 801 ("Cast Your Fate to the Wind", "La Mer (Beyond the Sea)", "La Bamba", "Strasera Gli Angeli Non Volano (For the Last Time)")
^Ten songs from first four albums. Also released in Japan (A&M AML-59), UK (A&M AMLS 940, different cover), and Spain (A&M 80694, 1974, titled Grandes Exitos)
^Double LP with 24 tracks from previous albums. Group poster included.
^Split LP: 7 songs by the Sandpipers and 7 by Judith Durham.
^Double LP with 20 tracks from all seven previous studio albums.
^Double LP with 30 tracks including all 24 songs from Spanish Album and Second Spanish Album plus "Strasera Gli Angeli Non Volvano (For the Last Time)", "Chotto Matte Kudasai (Never Say Goodbye)", "Kumbaya", and "Santo Domingo".
^Sandpipers song appears twice as the first and last track on the LP. Multiple CD reissues.
^Released in Australia as The 16 Greats (A&M/Summit SRA250-012) with different cover.
^Released in UK in 1970 as Tribute to Burt Bacharach (A&M AMLB 1018) with different cover.
^Label credits "Marti-Angulo-Seeger" based on earlier versions and arrangements.
^International releases included Australia (Festival FK-1426), Belgium (London 5.571), Brazil (Fermata 33177), Canada (A&M 082X), Congo (London 55.71), France (Columbia SCRF 964), Germany (London DL 20 953, A&M 210 005, & A&M 14 661 AT), India (A&M 806), Iran (Merica 2027), Ireland (Pye International 7N.25380), Italy (Derby DB 5167, B-side "Angelica"), Jamaica (London American 806), Kenya (Pye 7N.25380), Netherlands (London DL 20953), New Zealand (Festival FK-1426), Nigeria (Pye International 7N.25380), Rhodesia (A&M AM-504), South Africa (A&M AM-504), Spain (A&M/Hispavox H-125, B-side "Louie Louie"), UK (Pye International 7N.25380), Yugoslavia (A&M S-53510).
^Label also has "Spanish lyric by C. Ortega & N. De Caro" in addition to "R. Barry" (sic) songwriter credit.
^The October 8, 1966, issue of Billboard magazine reviewed the single in the "Pop Spotlights - Top 60" section saying, "The Kingsmen's former hit is cleverly revived much in the smooth ballad fashion of the Sandpipers' original "Guantanamera." Another winner."
^International releases: Australia (A&M AMK-1548), Canada (A&M 819X), France (London 5.587), Germany (London DL 20 957), Japan (London TOP.1104), Mexico (Tizoc 259 X 45, B-side "Enamorado"), Netherlands (London FLX 3174), Spain (A&M/Hispavox, A-side "Guantanamera"), UK (Pye International 7N.25396)
^A white label promo single was released in Canada (A&M DJ #2) with "Enamorado"/"Things We Said Today" and text "Available on A&M album LP-117".
^Label credits "H. J. Dutschendorf (sic), Jr.". John Denver's birth name was Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.
^Length is 3:10 on 1976 single and Greatest Hits album vs. 3:00 on 1966 single and album.
^Released in Canada in 1977 by Disques Direction Records (D4-126). Also released on 12” vinyl (DD-8003) with additional 5:08 disco mix of "Hang On Sloopy".
^Tim Hollis and Greg Ehrbar (2006). Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records. Oxford, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. p. 95. ISBN1-57806-848-7.
^Information from Larry White, musical director for the group 1964-1966.
^Lanza, Joseph (2004). Elevator Music: A Surreal History of Muzak, Easy-Listening, and Other Moodsong. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press. p. 119. ISBN0-472-08942-0.