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Rod McBrien interview

Q11.
How did the group Salt Water Taffy come about?

Like so many other records made in the sixties, Salt Water Taffy started out as a studio group - meaning the featured singers were all professional studio singers. It was not at all uncommon at that time to come up with the song first and then find an artist to record it as opposed to the other way around.

John Giametta and I wrote "Finders Keepers" and proceeded to produce a record with a singer named Mel. I can't remember Mel's last name. We recorded it at Allegro Studios where I was working at the time as an audio-engineer. Meco Monardo helped with the arrangement and Artie Kaplan contracted the band. The next day I ran upstairs - Buddah's offices were in the same building as Allegro, 1650 Broadway - to play our efforts for Neil Bogart, President of Buddah Records. Neil and I were friends and I was always able to get an audience with him. Neil loved the song but not the singer. "Fix it and I'll rush it out," is what he told me.

I assembled a group of studio singers and we re-recorded "Finders Keepers." Tommy Piccardo, a.k.a. Tommy West sang lead. As promised, Neil Bogart, released the record. Buddah was very high on the single and so a group was formed. John Giametta, Phil Giarratano and me, along with two beautiful young ladies, Janie Brannon from Tallahassee, Florida and Kathy Butler Weinberg from Pond Creek, Oklahoma, who had both just moved to New York, became the founding members of Salt Water Taffy. Photos were take, an album was in the works and Betty Sperber of the Action Talent Agency was booking the group all over the tri-state area. The Taffy was on their way.

Q12.
Can you tell us about the members of Salt Water Taffy?

Although Salt Water Taffy originated as a studio group, and from time to time incorporate studio singers in various recordings, the founding members of Salt Water Taffy and the recording group of record consisted of: John Giametta, Phil Giarratano, Janie Brannon, Kathy Butler Weinberg and me, Rod McBrien. However, over the years members of The Taffy changed often. Phil Tano and Kathy Butler were the only two original members to remain in the group through its existence. Others who wore The Taffy uniform at one time or another included: Tom Brannon, Sam Dalessio, Sarah Daly, Osa Danem, Terry Stallings, Bobbie Jacobson, Mary Lou Gilbert Scott, Bob Waite and Al Messenger.

Q13.
Where are they now?

John Giametta lives on Long Island and is enjoying a successful insurance business career. Married, two children. And still writing songs. Phil Giarratano* lives in Boca Raton, Florida. He sings as good as ever and has been very busy writing songs. Janie Brannon is back in Tallahassee and still singing - mostly in church. Married. Kathy Butler* is back living in Pond Creek, Oklahoma with her teenage daughter and is teaching school. Rod McBrien - I'm still alive and kicking and still making music. I live in New York City and my company, Rod McBrien Productions, specializes in creating and producing original music. Blah, blah, blah. . .
*The Taffy was directly responsible for one romance. Phil and Kathy married. They are currently separated.

Q14.
What kind of a group did you want Salt Water Taffy to be?

We saw ourselves as a white version of the Fifth Dimension. Both groups had three guys and two girls. Although most of our singles were 'bubble gum rock,' we performed much more sophisticated vocal arrangements in our act - at least we tried to. Very similar to the Fifth Dimension.

Q15.
What was your favorite number in Salt Water Taffy?

"Finders Keepers." That's the one that made it all happen. If not for Finders Keepers there would be no Salt Water Taffy. Neil Bogart, President of Buddah Records at the time, loved the song and gave me the opportunity to develop the group and make some records.

Q16.
Why at the end, Metromedia, United Artists was released from Buddah?

When Buddah lost interest in The Taffy and dropped us from the label I produced "Summertime Girl" with my own money and placed the master with United Artists. Nothing much happened with the record and I was able to negotiate getting the master back, which in turn I was able to get re-released on Metromedia.

Q17.
It sounds like Salt Water Taffy's lead vocal sound changed since the group first recorded. Why is that?

You have good ears. Our first record, "Finders Keepers," featured New York studio singers with Tommy Piccardo sing lead. Once an actual group was formed, Phil Giarratano was the primary lead sound of the group.

story goes on ...
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Rod McBrien interview

Interview : Kunihiko Sano(VANDA)
Traslation : Shin Iwai,Tsutomu Fukuhara
Owners of pictured record: Kunihiko Sano(VANDA), Tetsuya Ishiyama

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