“I Love You” / “Somebody Tell Me My Name” (Capitol 207) January 1968
People | I Love You | Capitol | 1968 | With their version of “I Love You,” People were the third group from San Jose to hit the national Top 20 within a two year period – not a bad batting average for a city that wasn’t yet the capitol of Silicon Valley or indeed anywhere near the dense urban sprawl it constitutes today.
The group had started gigging locally as early as 1966, appearing at San Jose’s early happenings – billed as the “Ectodelic Trip” – at the Civic Auditorium. With two lead singers in Norman and Mason, they also made quite a splash at South Bay teen venues like the The Bold Knight and Loser’s South.
Signed to Capitol in early 1967, their excellent first single “Riding High,” did nothing. Six months later the band took an obscure Zombies flipside and smothered it in Vanilla Fudge. Produced by Captain Mikey of San Jose AM powerhouse KLIV – which understandably guaranteed airplay – “I Love You” hit No. 14 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in May 1968.
Line-up:
Larry Norman (lead vocals)
Jeff Levin (lead guitar / backing vocals)
Gene Mason (rhythm guitar / backing vocals)
Albert Ribisi (organ)
Rob Levin (bass)
Denny Fridkin (drums)
recorded: November 1967 in Berkeley, CA
Leave a Reply