So why am I writing about Sugarloaf and their big hit “Green-Eyed Lady” before I can write about the scores of other artistes on my list? That’s because I came to know of Jerry Corbetta‘s passing away just recently. Jerry was the band’s principal lyricist, singer and most important of all, their ace keyboardist.
They say everyone who has listened to this song the first time has a story. I have mine too and will I ever forget.
The year, 1998, I have just moved to the U.S and on my first day at work, I hire a cab to take me to my client’s place. I am staying at the Signature Inn (better than the Red Roof Inn or The Best Western), Bettendorf, Iowa and I need to go to ALCOA at Davenport. The cab driver is a friendly thin man in his late 50’s or early 60’s with grey hair in a pony tail. I realize as I get into my seat in the front beside him, one of those innumerable classic rock stations is already playing on the car radio.
No sooner had our journey begun, the infamous and unmistakable opening notes of the song (Jerry’s organ) blasts through the speakers. I am hooked instantly to the rhythm, the groove, the keyboard and guitar solos as every one else, who has fallen in love with this song. As the song progresses I have only one request. I plead with the driver to give the name the band. In his very patient manner, he responds saying, “Wait.” I was only praying we don’t reach the destination before the song ends. Luckily the 6+ minute number is over by the time we reach my client’s place and as I plead with him one more time, the driver says with a smile, “That’s Sugarloaf“.
While being posted in Lakewood, Colorado, I procured a hits compilation of the band on CD and also realized they were a Denver based band.
In the late 90’s members of Sugarloaf, Rare Earth and Iron Butterfly got together and formed the “The Classic Rock All-Stars” band and were on tour and I got the opportunity to watch them at the Tutty Baker festival at Freeport, Illinois in 1998. They were the opening act that evening for Loverboy. I didn’t care for Loverboy and we left immediately after the “The Classic Rock All-Stars” completed their performance. And if you are asking for the best song that evening, without a doubt, it was “Green eyed lady” sung by Jerry.
I still have the ticket saved from that concert.
May Jerry’s soul rest in peace.
And what a coincidence, “Green-Eyed lady” was released the same year (1970) as Ananda Shankar‘s album, my previous review.
Sugarloaf had one other big hit besides “Green-Eyed lady” and that was “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” (one that even Van Halen made a cover of). Meanwhile enjoy the songs below.
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