1976-07-10 - Record Mirror - "Supertonics" Interview

Interview text

Supertonics
THE TONICS' latest single, an old Beach-boys workout called ‘All Summer Long’ was definitely not made for the shade.
It's a Summertime scorcher, ideal listening when you're cruising in your T-Bird (if Daddy hasn't taken it away) or sipping your knickerbocker glory on the patio.
The Tonics are a group of seasoned musicians all of whom have pedigrees the length of Guy the Gorilla’s arm.
It all began when Adrian Baker, song-writer, jingle writer, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer and session man got together with his ol' pal Roy Morgan (drums) who between them co-produced Adrian's hit solo single, ‘Sherry’.
Prior to this Roy was in Stackridge. He was invited to play in the newly-formed Tonics along with another adroit musician, Roger Whatling (guitar).

Luckier
Their debut disc, a harmonised version of ‘White Christmas’, was released in November 1975, and it looks like second time round will be luckier for the band.
‘All Summer Long’ is already just a breath away from top fifty. Presently the Tonics are in the studios working on a debut album. That's where I jawed to them one sweltering morning.
Adrian took time off from tinkling the piano keys to explain why he chose that specific number: “The simple reason was we wanted to record the song because the Beach Boys had never released it as a single in this country.”
“One day when we were in the studios we decided that this Summer was gonna be a surfin' one so we did a quick Beach Boys’ number, the one we later recorded, and it worked out rather well.”
Adrian is an accomplished musician with various instruments and probably could make the grade as a solo per-former. Though there are one or two snags as a one man band. The obvious is what happens at live appearances?
But, before those snide remarks begin about him getting a band together purely for the abovesaid reason let's just get the record straight: The Tonics are all illustrious musicians / songwriters, who contribute equally to ideas and projects.
“We work well together,” Roy begins, “and it's a nice easy going set-up because I've known Adrian and Paul for ages, I've worked with them before, so we can feel each other musically.”
Obviously this ain't no manufactured job. Just watching them working in the studio, nice, easy and cool proves that the four guys all feel comfy together and more or less have the same musical ideas.

Harmony
Predominately the Tonics are a harmony orientated formation. A style of music that seems to be sadly ignored in this country - or if it is attempted by someone then the overall impression is, ‘wish they hadn't’. The Tonics, however, with the A1 harmony workouts are more than welcomed.
“I think there's a market ffor our type of thing,” says Paul. “There aren't that many vocal bands around in this country.”
Although they haven't yet got an album out they hope to be as musically diverse as possible, though still keeping the harmony aspect as one of the high sports.
“It's a natural thing,” interjects Roy, “there's four singers in the group. Just now we're compiling material that we think will be suitable for the Tonics style. We can only be hypothetical as we're a new band.”
Which is why touring would be tantamount to cutting their necks with a razor blade. Before they can even consider going on the road they must first have a hit single or preferably a charting album.
In order to crack the market, The Tonics realise that a hit single is fairly important.
Roy: “To be ultra-effective and to get on the play - list you have to be fairly simple, say whatever you want to say in three minutes. OK, there have been a few records eight minutes long, like the John Miles thing, but that's unusual.”
Paul: “We were lucky, ‘All Summer Long’ happens to be a very suitable record for this time of year” (he's right. It wouldn't have gotten airplay in mid-January). I mean I'm chuffed that it's got in thebreakers. Even if it doesn't get any higher I'll still be satisfied.”
For now they're at the teething stages. They're sticking out a few feelers here and there to see just what they pick up along the way.
They conclude: “For us the Tonics is a fairly new project and we'll be as adventurous as we like and see just what comes out of it.”
Good idea.