The Ducks

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Infobox musical artist
Background = group_or_band
Name = The Ducks


Img_capt = The Ducks in 1977. From left to right: Bob Mosely, Johnny Craviotta, Jeff Blackburn, Neil Young
Years_active = 1977 - 1977
Origin = Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
Associated_acts = Crazy Horse
Moby Grape
Genre = Rock and roll
Country rock
Hard rock
Folk rock
Rock
Label = None
Current_members = Neil Young
Bob Mosley
[http://www.shoprecords.com/ Jeff Blackburn]
Johnny Craviotta

The Ducks were a short-lived hard rock band formed in the summer of 1977 by singer/songwriter Jeff Blackburn, and consisted of musicians Bob Mosley (an original member of Moby Grape), Neil Young, and Johnny Craviotta. The band played around the Santa Cruz area due to contractual limitations. Fans would often quack and blow duck callers before the band began playing.

History

In the spring of 1977, former Moby Grape leader Jerry Miller was working various combinations of people and Neil Young found his way on stage one night with Jerry (whom he knew from Fillmore days) and a singer/songwriter named Jeff Blackburn (who co-wrote "My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)". Young began hanging out and jamming with Blackburn in the days that followed with Blackburn on rhythm guitar, Bob Mosley on bass, and Johnny Craviotta on drums. Craviotta had previously played on tracks for Arlo Guthrie and Ry Cooder. They decided to call themselves the Ducks and within weeks every duck call within miles had been purchased. ["http://www.rollingstone.com/news/profile/story/9102787/neil_young_the_last_american_hero"]

The local entertainment tabloid got wind something was up and had a conversation with the group. They announced they were forming a band called the Ducks, that would play local clubs for cover charges of less than $3. Further Young was moving to Santa Cruz and would stay "as long as it remains cool." This exchange was later written up as a front-page story in a local newspaper. He also said they could play "Mr. Soul" better than Buffalo Springfield. By mid-June the Ducks began to play, usually two sets a night, three or four times a week. Sometimes there was enough warning that they'd be listed in the Good Times. The Ducks became a secret, local institution.

The set list for their shows was very democratic. All four could sing and had material, so they took turns throughout the sets in a strict manner. Highlights included "Mr. Soul", a Blackburn tune called "Silver Wings", a Moby Grape tune of Mosley's entitled "Gypsy Wedding", and hard Chuck Berry-esque rock and roll sessions sung by Johnny Craviotta. "Comes a Time" was played as a country rocker before turning up in its acoustic studio authenticity. They also did "Homegrown", a cover of Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds" with Young singing lead, and an instrumental guitar showcase entitled "Windward Passage". Early in the summer "Passage" was done in a kind of psychedelic/surf manner, it grew into a more traditional Young guitar piece as the weeks went on. Young played "Old Black" which sported a Santa Cruz sticker that summer. He usually wore a plaid shirt with local drawstring pants that were high fashion at the time. In the smaller clubs they would shake hands with the crowd at the end. Even in larger venues like the Catalyst which had a maximum capacity of 1,000 people, people would often bump into Neil and the others waiting in line at the bar between sets.Young seemed to be living a fantasy of a small town simpler life. Nevertheless, he clearly was spending some of his big star money that summer on the band, by midsummer they were doing exceptional projections of animations overhead and large mobile recording vans were usually spotted in the alley during most gigs.

They played every place in town, from the showcase Catalyst, to the very cozy Crossroads, to down-to-earth spots like the Veteran's Hall. They were not without some rock and roll cliché drama, Craviotta seemed kind of thirsty some evenings, and he passed out behind the drum kit during intermission at a show. Near the end of the summer they played two larger shows, one at the Civic Auditorium that had the current edition of Moby Grape, which the benefit turned out to be their final performance with Young. And an outdoor gig at Cabrillo Community College opening for Elvin Bishop.

Turmoil and downfall

Young had a contract with Crazy Horse that specified he could only tour with them and so the Ducks were required to confine themselves within the city limits so as not to tour. [ [http://www.human-highway.org/pages/stories/ducks.html The Ducks! ] ] One very interesting moment came when Crosby & Nash came into town for a concert. Everyone wondered if a reunion of the big four might take place. Young did indeed take the stage and surpassed the other two.

The Ducks managed to end a mere seven weeks after they began. Young's rented house was burglarized and he lost a number of instruments and other items of great sentimental vaule. [ [http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2002/March/03/style/stories/01style.htm SantaCruzSentinel.com - Sentinel ] ] As word had spread in the national media about Young joining a local group crowds increased with out of town "Duck Hunters" less content to let the band have its own identity and more inclined to mindlessly yell requests for old Neil Young classics. The Ducks continued on for a while without Young and held out hope that he might return, but it was not to be.

The Ducks played a total of 22 shows and 178 performances. Their longest show featured 28 songs, which took place at the Crossroads Club in Santa Cruz, CA. They performed the Jeff Blackburn song "Silver Wings" at every show. [ [http://www.butterweck.de/nytourix/index.htm?http://www.butterweck.de/nytourix/nymap14.htm Numbers On The Site ~ The Neil Young Tour Statistics ] ]

The Ducks at The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, California August 22, 1977

Part One
* "A Deeper Mystery"
* "Gypsy Wedding" "(originally performed by Moby Grape)"
* "Sail Away"
* "Slow Down"
* "Helplessly Hoping" "(originally performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash)"
* "Take Me Down Behind the Sun"
* "Only Loving You"
* "Crying Eyes" "(originally performed J.J. Cale)"
* "Bye Bye Johnny" "(originally performed by Chuck Berry)"
* "Your Time Will Come Around"
* "Do Me Right"
* "Are You Ready for the Country?" "(originally performed by Neil Young)"
* "Silver Wings"

Part Two
* "Two Riders"
* "Your Love"
* "Gone Dead Train" "(originally performed by Crazy Horse)"
* "Mr. Soul" "(originally performed by Buffalo Springfield)"
* "Hold on Boys"
* "My, My, My"
* "I'm Ready" "(originally performed by Muddy Waters)"
* "Comes a Time" "(originally performed by Neil Young)"
* "Windward Passage"
* "Younger Days"

The Ducks gigs of 1977

Notes

References

* [http://www.thrasherswheat.org/rns/DucksGigs.html ThrashersWheat.com] - The Ducks Gigs
* [http://www.human-highway.org/pages/stories/ducks.html Human-Highway.org] - Extended Information
* [http://www.butterweck.de/nytourix/index.htm?http://www.butterweck.de/nytourix/nymap14.htm Butterweck.de] - Tour Dates

ee also

* Music of California
* Neil Young
* Jerry Miller
* Moby Grape
* Crazy Horse

External links

* [http://www.neilyoung.com/ Neil Young official website]
* [http://livingwithwar.blogspot.com/ Living with War: Neil's blog]
* [http://www.sugarmtn.org/ Sugar Mountain] - Neil Young's concert performance set lists
* [http://hyperrust.org/ HyperRust.org] - Comprehensive Neil Young site
* [http://www.warr.org/grape.html/ Wilson and Aroy's Record Reviews] - Moby Grape reviews
*
* [http://www.shoprecords.com/ Jeff Blackburn Bio at Shop Records] -