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We Five???

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d...@worldnet.att.net

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Nov 23, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/23/97
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Does anyone have any info, or know whatever happened to the San
Francisco folk/pop group We Five. They were hot for a very short time
in the sixties, had a hit song and album (You were on my mind), and a
second album, and then vanished from sight. Lead singer was Beverly
Bivens.

Stewa1

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Nov 24, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/24/97
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Their albums are on a CD from, as I recall, Collector's Choice. I loved the
first album, but the second was a dud in my opinion; I believe the members were
almost completely different. The group appeared to be just a studio group.

KC

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Nov 25, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/25/97
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The personnel was the same on both albums - Bev Bivens, Mike Stewart, Pete
Fullerton, Jerry Burgan, and Bob Jones. (The two albums, from Collector's Choice
are You Were On My Mind and Make Someone Happy). According to the liner notes from
the second album the group went "their separate ways" (which is PR for "we don't
want to tell you the details"). The name/group We Five continued with a third
album for A&M records called, fittingly, the Return of We Five and consisted of
Pete and Jerry along with Jerry's wife Debbie. (With the exception of a very
creative arrangement of Bacharach's Walk On By and Carmichael's Lazy Bones, this
lack the true excitement of the previous two albums and definitely missed Bev's
singing). I have a copy of a fourth album the We Five did for Vault records called
Catch the Wind, featuring Pete, Jerry and his wife and Mike Stewart returning, a
very good album despite the tendancy to over-produce.

My understanding there is a fifth album ... anyone know?

As to the second album being a dud, I suppose that is a matter of opinion...the
eclectic approach to choosing songs along with their arranging was not geared to
top-40, folk, rock.....which may have lead to their quick disappearance, as well
as, the break-up of the group. Plus having seen them in person, years ago, the
audience did not have a clue as to what this group was about....(broadway
showtunes, standards...where's the rock?)

As to the REAL reasons for the break-up, I have only heard rumors, but I guess no
one will ever know except those in the group. I still believe they were one of the
most creative arrangers in the music business and a major contributor to what
became the San Francisco sound.

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