I was 14 years old in 1981. Although I lived in Seattle, I found myself often listening to KISM, a station out of Bellingham, about 2 hours north. KISM played a broad mix of music, from melodic hard rock to new wave. They also frequently played local Bellingham bands, and one of the bands I took notice of at the time was Foot Lucy. I frequently heard their song "Nice Guys Finish Last", a melodic rock song with a prominent guitar hook and vocals reminiscent of Heart's Ann Wilson. The song was locked in my musical memory, and would playback in my head periodically for years to come. A few years back, I started doing internet searches every so often to see if I could track down the song. For years, I found nothing. But a few months back, I saved an auto-notify search on eBay for "Foot Lucy". About a month back, my search paid off. The single "Airplane b/w Nice Guys" was being offered for $7. A week later, the single arrived in the mail. I was thrilled to be able to hear "Nice Guys" again, as much for nostalgia's sake, as anything else. That opening guitar riff really brought me back.
I don't know much about "Foot Lucy", other than what the single tells me. The lead vocalist was Christy Wilkins, and the songs were co-written by her and bassist Doug Ash. Other members were Rich Samore, Brian Brown, and Alex Sheldon (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, and drums, respectively). The single was recorded at Mushroom Studios, Vancouver BC and released in 1981.
Listen to Airplane b/w Nice Guys
51 comments:
I am that drummer. We recorded in Mushroom studios before they re-faced thier mixing board. The board was a tube board from the 50's with knobs instead of faders. Thanks for listening.
I was working on a project this morning and was distracting my self by checking the latest election polls and other esoteric factoids, when those foot Lucy years seeped into my consciousness. That is a rarity, as I don't often think about my rock n roll girl singer years, nor do I dwell on lost opportunities and "what if's" because we really were in the "ball park" of moving out of our "indy" status by scoring a record deal with a major lable. Rather, I think of those years as a gift...to be able to actually make a living writing songs and playing music with such talented, creative and smart musicians was a joy. I have had the privilege to perform our songs for appreciative, loyal fans many of whom became friends. Thank you for remembering Foot Lucy because we really did make music out of passion and love for the work and for those who listened.
ps.: Alex...good to hear you are still out there..Blessings to you & yours
Hi Christy and Alex,
Glad you found my post! Hope you don't mind me making the single available on the net. It was just too good to keep buried all these years. I, too, would love to hear the Heartbeep EP one of these days.
Cheers! Brent in Seattle
Holy Sh*t Christy!!!
I just had my 30 year HS reunion comming up, felt a bit nostalgic, and googled The Foot. Still in Bellingham, quit playing years ago. Now my passion is riding Harley's. e-mail me @ drummer3278@yahoo.com, and let's catch up. I've been thinking about those years a lot lately. Thanks Brent for Posting. BTW, I do have the Heartbeep EP, scratches, pops and all.
Alex
Christy,
I may be another voice from a different part of your Bellingham past. I am not only a redheaded fan of Foot Lucy but was the wife of your old friend John Hall. How I found this blog is a really good story - check it out! Hope you and yours are well.
Kennedy said
That's my dad's old band. His name is Doug. My favorite song is "come a little bit closer", it's on my ipod.
Hi Christy.
Wow, this is great! Dad just called me to wish me a happy birthday(36)and told me about this blog. I think this is fantastic! I am the daughter of Doug Ash and ex-step daughter of Christy Wilkins- Ash (long explanation!) I don't have any memorabillia of Footlucy so I think it's great it might become available! Hi Rich, if you are out there. I don't remember too many other band members. Growing up they used to rehearse in the garage, I remember Rich, he bought JK and I the Betty Davis album, back when "BD Eyes" was a big hit. Thanks Christy and Dad for teaching me how to harmonize! I told dad tonight, when I turn 40, I am having my own Rockstar moment and singing in a hired band for my party! I think i'll have to add "Airplane" to my song selection! : ) Love you Dad, family, and friends!
So happy to hear from beloved family & friends!
alex...did you get my email?
sherri..great to hear from you - would love to hear your stories. I didn't see info on your profile...?
kenndy, Bless your heart for liking "come a little bit closer" I always thought it was a great song, tho never released. Your dad (Doug) is so talented. Encourage him to get his songs out there! I'm guessing you are entering 6th grd? Would love for you to connect with Caydee.
Lil' C. Love you lots...thx for being such a good sister to JK. Sounds like last trip to paradise was great fun.
Rich Samore...where are you?
Christy,
No, I didn't get your e-mail. Please re-send.
A
Some sad knews - Rich Samore passed away earlier this year. He was one of my best friends in junior high school in Sioux City, IA.
Oh No!
I was just talking about him with my Girlfriend yesterday. Charlie, please e-mail me.
Alex
Thank you Charlie for Rich's Parent's and Brother's phone #'s. I am extremely saddened by the news of Rich's death. To think he was so close geographically in his last year of life is hard to take. Rich and I hung out together all the time even when we were not working. He was like a Big Brother to me as I was only 19 yrs old when I joined the band. I will try calling his relatives soon.
If anyone has any photo's of the band, I would greatly appreciate them sent to me. I've moved so much these last few years I have lost a lot of memorabilia.
Rest in peace my friend and brother.
Alex
So sorry to hear about Rich Samore. He was an integral part of Foot Lucy and his contributions to our music and performance were immeasurable. I know that where ever he is, he's playing guitar and rockin the house.
I can't describe my sadness right now. I always thought the Foot would come together as we aged and became wiser. For all of our individual differences, we were five true friends who share a pure love and passion for music.
Alex: could you please send me family contact info:
cwilkins@cascade.k12.or.us
Richard Samore Obituary - Sioux City Journal-
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2008/06/04/obituaries/local/10b178d80b2b3e648625745e00078cb9.txt
Richard O'Brian Samore of Santa Monica, Calif., formerly of Sioux City, passed away May 15, 2008, among his family in Portland, Ore.
A celebration of his affirmative life and values will be conducted at the Pacific Ocean.
Mr. Samore was born to Edward and Molly Moon Samore in Sioux City on Nov. 17, 1952. He built a successful career in entertainment management that grew from playing in teenage rock and roll bands. After graduating from Sioux City Central High School in 1971, he took his passion and multi-instrument talent to Bellingham, Wash., where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in music from Western Washington University in 1975. There he became the featured guitarist in Foot Lucy, a rock 'n' roll band that was prominent in Washington and British Columbia for eight years.
In Los Angeles, he achieved recognition as production manager the past 19 years for the entertainment corporation Studio Instrument Rentals in North Hollywood. In the high-pressure position, he worked with many internationally known music stars. He exercised and recreated daily, including year round swims in the Pacific Ocean.
From taking an experimental drug in 2002 under an authorized Clinical Trial to treat lymphoma, he contracted a rare lung disease that eventually took his life. He continued to work until May 2007. His condition worsened, with other diseases and indignities, yet he opposed them with extraordinary bravery and fortitude. The energies that remained, he devoted unfailingly to his family. He lived his final year in Portland, with his mother and brother, Brian and his family.
He is survived by his mother, four brothers and their wives and 11 nieces and nephews, John and Marcia Samore of Albuquerque, N.M., Edward "Ted" and Susan Samore of Dallas, Texas, David and Sandy Samore of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Brian and Heidi Samore of Portland, Ore.
Memorials may be directed to Heal the Bay, 1444 Ninth Street, Santa Monica, CA. 90401, http://secure.healthebay.org/donate/select/type.asp.
"Goodnight sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to they rest." (William Shakespeare)
Was digging through bins of personal stuff yesterday and came across a couple of pictures of The Foot playing at a banquet hall at the former Holiday Inn Bellingham. Rich was doing his big air jump to end a tune. I talked to his Mom a few weeks ago. She was very happy that I called. I think about Rich all the time now. Christy, do you remember playing at Gibson's and duct taping a sign on Rich's back that I had scribbled out?
Alex
Hello Band Members ,I was so Happy to find this Blog ,anyhow my Brother Rob Petrie was in the Band and played Keyboards ,i am the his little Brother Tom ,anyway living in Colorado now i remonis about the good times i had helping out as a rody occasionally and catching all the shows when you were in town ,good to here everyone is doing o.k ,i am so sorry to here about Rich .Just wanted to say Hi
I would like to wish everyone associated with Foot Lucy a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Hi everyone,
I'm Ted, one of Rich's brothers. I apologize for not posting sooner inasmuch as I accidentally discovered this blog a few months after Rich died. I was stunned and immediately shared it with my family. We all appreciate your generous and sweet thoughts on Rich's behalf. I remember fondly my visit to Bellingham during Foot Lucy's heyday.
I'd like to invite Foot Lucy band members to contact me. My email: tsam@sbcuc.net
Thanks again for sharing and presenting this forum.
Charlie - is this the Charlie that lived with Bill and Stephen? If so, hey, this is Shannon, tiny canadian gal that lived in New West but originally from Vancouver Island (the loft days)...... How can anyone forget Foot Lucy :)
No - I was a friend of Rich in Sioux City when we were in junior high and high school.
Wow! This is so cool. I am Claudia good friend of Christy's and avid fan of Foot Lucy during its heyday. We somehow lost touch over the years. Weird - I had a dream about you guys a few weeks ago. Anyway, I was fooling around on the internet, looking up old friends and found this blog. Christy, are you really a principal? Wow! I am going to e-mail you at your address. Hi to Doug. So sorry to hear about Rich. Man, too many of our contemporaries are being nabbed by the big C.
Just posted: Foot Lucy's followup EP, Heartbeep. Give it a spin!
Hey its Kennedy.... My dad (Doug) and I are going to record an album together so hopefully you guys can hear it. I want to pursue my singing carrer!!!
-Kennedy
It's great to hear these tunes again! I still have a copy of the "Airplane" 45, but it has been years since I got rid of my last record player! Anyway, I see for the first time that "Steve Adamek" was involved in the production of one or two of the Heartbeep tunes. It's funny, because something about the quality of the production (and recording in general) reminded me of The Allies (particularly their song "Animal Attraction") BEFORE I noticed Steve's name in the credits. All in all, top notch songs and recording!
Hi Foot Lucy:
I am Chanelle Davy. I was going through some of my Dad's old boxes and found some recordings and records. One of the records was "Airplane" which he produced in the 80's for you. It was recorded at Mushroom Studios in Vancouver. I played it and like the song very much. It seems the sound was ok for the times. There was a note attached that read "one of the best bands and friends I worked with and mentions a falling out he regretted". My Dad is still alive but does not know I found this box.
I came across this blog this morning over coffee, and I had to smile. What a long time ago. Some really good times and really good people.
And then I read about Rich,
and cried.
Candel
candelsheldon@hotmail.com
Hi Chanelle,
Happy to hear you came across some old recordings of Foot Lucy. I'm Ted, one of Rich's brothers, and I'd love to talk with you and/or your Dad about what you have found and remember.
You can reply directly to me at tsam@um.att.com Thanks.
Best, Ted
Was in Sioux City for Thanksgiving and my mom told me that Rich Samore had passed away several years ago. I have been devastated ever since. We dated in high school and my first year in college - love of my life! So many wonderful memories - IBM (Instant Blues Machine) with John Bolin as drummer, went along on gigs in that blue school bus, spent a lot of time at his parent's house on 32nd street, swam at the dunes in SD, watched him and Jim jump off the combination bridge and swim in the dangerous Missouri - could go on and on. My heart is always with you, Rich. - Love, Marsha
Happy Xmas to all.
I'm responding to Marsha's post. First, thanks for writing such a fond remembrance. I remember IBM, the bridge and pieces of your time with Rich back in Sioux City. If you'd like to contact me regarding more info about him, feel free to.
Best, Ted Samore
tsam@sbcuc.net
Hi found this blog today. I was looking for Rich on Facebook. So sorry to hear of his death. I have some old pictures of him in a band we were in right before he went into Foot Lucy on my Facebook page. Email me if you are interested in seeing them or getting copies at Marilynjl@hotmail.com Another band I was in did a lead in for Foot Lucy at the Crystal Ballroom at the Leopold in Bellingham....Wow so long ago. hi out there to Cristy and Doug and Alex too. Alex...I think you replaced Pete Ford???
Happy St. Patrick's Day
First and 'fore most Rich was my "Best Friend". I am truly without words right now after stumbbling upon this site. And for those of you that knew me might think that is an impossiblity but I'll leave it at that......
I will enter more at a later date but for right now a big Hello to Christy, Doug, Alex and Ted from Bill McCallum former/Bellingham resident now living in Clovis Ca..... It sure was nice to hear from you all.....
This is Caydee Wilkins, Christy Wilkins daughter. I'm doing my senior project on singing and would really like to play one of Foot Lucy's songs at my schools May Day performance. Please email me so I can get a hold of an album or better yet get it on iTunes. Thank You.
- Caydee
Might be a good idea to actually give you my email
vivalacaydee@hotmail.com
Thanks again!
Happy to help. Check your e-mail :)
I am Pete Fords daughter... and would be interested in any pics or tunes you guys may have with him in them....thanks!
aprilmode@yahoo.com
I am Pete Ford's daughter and would love to see pics or hear my father if anyone has any!!
aprilmode@yahoo.com
I haven't been on here in a long time...I keep finding Foot Lucy things all over my house... A year ago I had a garage sale with my dad (Doug Ash) and we were selling Foot Lucy recods and one guy bought a whole bunch of them and asked for his autograph. My dad was shocked but "It felt kinda like old times.." said my dad. Anyways I just thought I would post something here since it has been quite a while.
-Kennedy Ash
For easy of listening, I uploaded Airplane and Nice Guys to YouTube.
Hi Alex, Christi, Doug... It's Marilyn, it was nice to see you all chatting here. I heard about Rich quite awhile ago and sent condolences to his brother. Alex, I still have several band shots of Rich when we worked together with Pete Ford. I even still have the reel to reels recorded by my husband at the time, when I was singing (just sitting in )with Foot Lucy at the Coconut Grove. Some are even posted on my Facebook Albums...email me if you want them. KUDOS to all
I would like to see them! aprilmode@yahoo.com
facebook.com/aprilmode
Thanks for posting the music on YouTube, I listen to the songs a lot! My dad has uploaded all of Foot Lucy's songs to his computer, I think they should all go on YouTube. It's so cool to see everyone on hear posting things! -Kennedy Ash (Doug's daughter)
Holy smokes. I just realized I posted these tracks here over 5 years ago. Time goes by so fast these days. It's been great to read all the comments over the years. Cheers, Brent (still in Seattle)
Hi, it's Gary Smyth. i played guitar for Foot Lucy for a short time. I was not the right guy for the band, but it was a great experience. So sad to hear about Rich's passing. I have thought of our brief adventure many times and it's good to see you all reconnecting. I especially recall playing in Bellingham and being moved by the great local support you had.
Wow! Time sure does pass quickly. An old friend's birthday is tomorrow and he worked for Foot Lucy. I was his "assistant/girlfriend" and spent many a day/night with them. So I was thinking about those days when I found this blog. Christy if you read this by some chance. I work in Seattle, have a sister near Mt. Vernon. Would love to connect again.
Kim
Ivan here; I ran sound for Foot Lucy for a while, and then Kelly took over for me when I moved. Good to see some old names here, although very sorry to hear about Rich. Hope everyone in the band is doing well. I'm back in Bellingham and still in the pro audio industry.
So, it is now December 13th of 2015. I have uploaded the Foot Lucy Heartbeep EP in it's entirety as a playlist on You Tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUZ71_DFvJw&list=PLnOn7jCZD5DV-Ss42Jum2zaKbKEzdZSvB
Hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season!
Peace,
Alex
Hi Alex,
Thanks very much for posting Heartbeep!
Cheers, Brent in Seattle
Hi Doug!
This is Glenn Maloy. I used to loan Foot Lucy and Chris Bray my power amps from time to time. Do you have any Foot Lucy items you would consider selling to me? Albums,singles etc with your autograph too? My email is: Setsailwithme@gmail.com and my phone number is 360-395-8808
Where is Christy now? What is she doing? I had to retire early due to diabetes. I was a Postmaster. I hope to hear back from you soon. Thank you my friend! Glenn Maloy
Re-upload, please!
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