Hi Jan, thank you very much for your interest in Fortune Teller!! I will answer to best of my recollection, a lot of water has flowed past that particular bridge!!
01. What year did "Fortune Teller" form? And how did it come about?
Fortune Teller was formed with the sole purpose of making a record. I think we formed in 1978 during the summer and the record was recorded in the fall. We were just some neighborhood guys sitting around, we had had bands together in the years before Fortune Teller so we knew each other. It was me, John, the singer, and the bass player Joe decided, and John brought the drummer Mark, who was a recent immigrant from Russia. Bob Wells I believe was brought in by Joe since he had some songs and money to pitch in. Bob is also the key to the 1968 date on the album.
02. When the band first formed what were it's primary purpose and goals?
The purpose was to just make a record to see if we could sell any, and believe it or not. We gave them away, I know I lost at least 95 of my 100 copies when I moved out of that house. To this day, I don’t know what went with Mark’s and Bob’s copies. Joe sold his to a collector as I was told back in the 90’s, and John lost a bunch of his in a divorce. We never had any connections to record companies or anyone at the time, so we kinda forgot about it till this April, when my daughter stumbled on the articles on the internet.
03. "Fortune Teller" produced and released a LP titled "Inner-City Screams" in 1978, is that correct?
This is correct, but the title is singular!! Here are some details on that recording. First, we found a little dive studio behind a store in East Baltimore with a four track machine and a board. We also had I think just 8 hours to record the music. The board didn’t have that many inputs, so miking was spare to say the least. We played the songs live with no dubbing done, except on Thin Line where we used to same track and tried to override the original solo. Me and John shared a mike on background vocals on the songs we did them on.Because of the constant overloading of the mikes, we didn’t play very loudly, and there was bleed over from the drums onto the mike on my amp. To remedy this, we wrapped the amp in foam rubber that was laying around, and I believe this contributed to the dirty sound, never mind it was a 50 watt Marshall anyway that sounded like that anyway at that volume. During mixdown, a certain phasing type sound was done on the guitar for a few seconds at a time by moving the top slider on the equalizer. I think this was just done for fun in the moment.
04. It is to my understanding that the "Inner-City Screams" LP has a "1968" copyright year on the album cover and the music inside is 60's style garage rock, but the album was not recorded until 1978? If true, this brings questions to my mind, as I am sure likewise with many of the fans and collectors. Such as:
4A) Surely the "1968" copyright year on the album cover was not a mis-print. Therefore, please forgive me for being blunt, but I have to ask.. Was the "1968" copyright intentionally placed on the album cover, as a pre-planned masterminded attempt by a "Fortune Teller" in preditcing the future in way of projecting what this.. Rare only 500 copies, limited edition, private release with a "1968" copyright date and album consisting of 60's style garage music.. might be worth to a collector one day as it gained monumental statis? Can you please explain to us why this album has a "1968" copyright year on the cover?
Jan, great question on origin of date! Ok, there is no real mystery to it. Bob Wells was a little older than the rest of us, and he had copyrighted his songs in 1968, so we just used that date on the album. No misprint. We had no idea this record would ever do anything, even get out of the neighborhood. Until this April, when we found the internet articles that had been written on it. As for the style of music, we just wanted to be a rock and roll band, and had been playing around in clubs when we could since it was hard to get work if you didn’t play disco at the time. The 500 copies came about because that was all we could afford to print. The music itself represents the musical state of mind we had at the time, and I really haven’t moved far from that sound, which will be evidenced in new Fortune Teller tunes to be recorded and sent to the internet soon.
05) With only 500 copies of "Inner-City Screams" in circulation, what do you believe the value of a mint condition copy might be worth to a collector today?
We know that someone in NZ bought a ragged up copy on Ebay for 100 dollars back in April. So I guess that would be the value of one. However, like I said earier, all 500 did not make it into circulation, that’s what makes this so unbelievable!! I had a Japanese man find me thru email and ask for another copy, his was worn out, and he wanted more vinyl. We are also talking to a Greek vinyl company about a re release of possibly another 500 copies thru to Europe!! And we are interested in making an EP of new tunes, to be produced on vinyl again, for the people who like it, and I feel are partially responsible for starting this old flame back up.
06) Is "Inner-City Scream" the only album that has been produced by "Fortune Teller"?
Yes, just that album. I am not sure of the other guys, John has had a band on his own for years, called “Gem”, and I have a site with an EP(CD) called Songs from a desperate empire.
07) It is also to my understanding that the remaining members of "Fortune Teller" have recently reformed and are planning to release some re-issues of songs from "Inner-City Screams" is that correct?
OK, got lost on last question. There are plans for re issue of Inner City Scream, we are currently talking to a company to do that
08) In what year did "Fortune Teller" disband?
I had to ask ex wife, I think it was around 81
09) After "Fortune Teller" disbanded, did any of the members pursue musical careers elsewhere with other bands? And if so, at what success level?
I went into playing in weekend country bands, John has had his own group for years, doing top 40 rock covers. Joe plays with him every now and then I think. Bob and Mark are deceased, or dead as I like to put it. Those two were stories all into themselves!!
10) Does "Fortune Teller" have any new projects currently in the works?
Yes, we intend to produce a six song ep very soon, for the vinyl people out there, Also, we are being careful to maintain control over what we do and produce. In keeping with the mind set of an old rebel, we believe that the music should be free unless the listener wants a product they can hold in their hand. Soooooo, mp3s will be free for downloads!! But we intend to make vinyl records for sale. Sorry about that, but economics comes into play there!! However, we have a person working on cover art to go with EP limited release. If enough sell, they will be repressed with new cover art to make each release unique to the purchaser.
11) Is "Fortune Teller" currently performing any live shows or plan to?
Yes, we are still forming, but the first show will be in March, in Brooklyn, NY and once the drummer is in the lineup, we will be working as much as we can.
12) What 60's band(s) would you say "Fortune Teller" sounds most alike?
For me, I just wanted to sound like the Stones!!
Thank you for taking the time to do this interview! I apologize if any of my questions seem a bit forward, but to say the least "Fortune Teller" and it's "Inner-City Screams LP" is a bit of mystery!!
My pleasure answering these questions for you. We are indebted to the people who found, bought, or downloaded the music and liked it enough to keep a place for it in their minds, this was, and is, beyond the wildest dreams we had. Hope to see you where the stages are!!
Danny Amburn
Regards, Jan (editor) www. psychedeliccentral. com
Let me know if you need anything else! Klia
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer this interview! First off, I send my most sincere regards for the passing of Bob and Mark, it is purely ashame they are not still with us! Once again, I apologize if my questions or the one particular must have seemed a bit insinuating. But unmistakenly it surely brought some confusion and questions to my mind, as I am sure it has with many! I greatly appreciate you spreading a little light on the issue over the copyrights. I think it is perhaps the biggest concern of those who do collect music and in setting the records straight! Although, from my own observation of the songs, I must admit I can recognize a low budget production.. However, the songs themselves and the talent behind them are fantastic!!! I personally would enjoy hearing these songs remastered or re-issued today! Some great material!!!! So please do keep us posted!!! And once again, I thank you kindly and anyone who desires to sound like the Stones..is ok in my book!! -- Jan :)
** Fortune Teller will soon have a feature page for the band and upcoming events set up here at Psychedelic Central, so please be sure to stay tuned for more!!!
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