Spats
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1978) - Ric Arenz (RIP) -- vocals, keyboards - Michael Bradley -- lead vocals - Johnny Castle -- bass - David "Gabby" Gabaldon -- vocals, guitar - Mike Zack (aka Mike Zachinino) (RIP 2018) -- drums, percussion
supporting musicians (1978) - Neil Bonsanti -- sax - Kenny Falk-- trumpet - Bill Purse-- trumpet - Whit Sidener -- sax
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- Michael Bradley (solo efforts) - The British Walkers (Mike Zack) - Johnny Castle and Paul Bell - Charlie and the Pep Boys (Mike Zack) - The Cherry People (Mike Zack) - DC Dog (Mike Zack) - The Fabulous Hubcaps (David "Gabby" Gabaldon) - Lawrence and the Arabians (Mike Zack) - The Nighthawks (Johnny Castle) - Puzzle (Mike Zack) - The Reasons Why (Mike Zack) - Paul Revere and the Raiders (Michael Bradley) - Wild Honey (Mike Zack)
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Genre: pop Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Spats Company: Good Sounds Catalog: GS
104 Country/State: Hollywood, Florida Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: small cut out notch bottom edge Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $35.00
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You're not going to find many online references to Spats. Good luck finding a detailed review of their 1978 album. What you do stumble across is likely to tell you they were from Hollywood, Florida. Fact of the matter is their roots were in the Washington, DC area. Keyboardist Ric Arenz, singer Michael Bradley, bassist Johnny Castle, guitarist David "Gabby" Gabaldon and drummer Mike Zack all called the area home. Most had history on the Washington, DC music scene. Zack was probably the best known band member having placed in a number of area bands including The British Walkers, recording a late-'60s album with Puzzle and playing with the band Wild Honey and a late inning version of The Cherry People. (That might also explain why I found my copy of this rare album at a Northern Virginia flea market.)
As
Spats, 1978 found the quartet living and working in Hollywood, Florida where
they got their shot at the big time when
Criteria Studios founder Mack Emerman signed them to his short-lived
Good Sounds label. Produced by John Blanche and Stephen J. Nicholas,
"Spats" offered up a coll
In collaboration with Howard Stone's disco oriented TK label, few copies were pressed and virtually no promotional support was provided to the band. Needless to say the album attracted little attention when released and the band quickly broke up. That's unfortunate since the album grew on me over time. Admittedly I'm not sure I fully understand what it's charm was. Perhaps their link to the Washington, DC area, or the fact Castle played with The Nighthawks for a couple of years. There's nothing original to be found here and a couple of the songs, including the '50s influenced "Playin' Time" were just terrible. Nevertheless, these guys were never less than professional and it actually sounded like they enjoyed playing together. With the exception of the dreadful "Playin' Time" and the "wannabe funky" "Put Some Souf In Yo' Mouf" they kicked the crap out of a band like White Cherry.
Don't confuse this outfit with the mid-'60s California outfit band The Spats.
Compiled by British crate diggers Zaf Chowdhry and Mark Taylor, the band attracted minor posthumous attention when "Hot Summer Madness" was included on their 2013 "Americana 2 - Rock Your Soul - More Blue Eyed Soul & AOR Sounds From The Land Of The Free" compilation (Barely Breaking even catalog number BBE213CLP).
"Spats" track listing: 1.) Hot Summer Madness (Ric Arenz) - 3:29 rating: ** stars As demonstrated by "Hot Summer Madness" much of the disco craze was pretty mindless. As lead singer Michael Bradley blue-eyed soul delivery wasn't bad, but in this case the poor guy was stuck with a complete forgettable slice of dance music - mind numbing lyrics; patented "scratchy" guitar, cheesy synthesizers; mandatory police whistle ... At least it was brief. The tune seemingly borrowed more than a little from Ronnie Laws And Pressure's 1975's instrumental "Always There" (which was far superior to the Spats track). As mentioned above, the song also appeared on 2013's "Americana 2 Rock Your Soul" compilation. 2.) Soul Searchin' Lady (Ric Arenz) - 3:15 rating: *** stars To the band's credit "Soul Searchin' Lady" was more of a yacht rock ballad than a disco tune. The track sported a breezy, radio-friendly melody while showcasing the group's nice harmony vocals. Imagine something a band like Pablo Cruise was riding to success at the time. Hardly the most original song you've ever heard, but it certainly had radio potential and David Gabaldon even turned in a tasty lead guitar solo, 3.) (Your Lovin' Is) Everywhere (Ric Arenz) - 3:14 rating: **** stars Another breezy ballad, "(Your Lovin' Is) Everywhere" also managed to avoid the worst of disco excesses. The nice horn charts and sweet harmony vocals were worth a third star. In 2019 hip hop artist Englewood covered the song. His version remained fairly true to the original, though it sounded like it had been recorded at three times the normal speed (the vocals sounded like Donald Duck) and the added drum samples seem almost random in nature. Stick with The Spats original. 4.) Someday (Ric Arenz) - 2:48 rating: *** stars A major surprise, "Someday" found the band demonstrating they were capable of writing and performing a slice of Raspberries-styled power pop. Featuring Arenz on lead vocals (he reminded me of Carl Wilson) and a nice Gabaldon country-rock guitar solo it was surprising this one wasn't tapped as a single. 5.) Playin' Time (Ric Arenz) - 3:30 rating: ** stars Punctuated by a blaring horn arrangement, "Playin' Time" showcased a lame '50s doo-wop flavor. Other than nice solos from keyboardist Arenz and guitarist Gabaldon the song was forgettable
(side
2) Admittedly it was a disco-tinged tune, but I've always liked Bradley's smooth, soulful delivery. Gabaldon's funky guitar intro (his acoustic guitar solo was even better) and Castle's "burp" bass line provided the other highlights. 2.) Livin' Is What You Make It (A. Johnson - Ric Arenz) - 3:50 rating: *** stars "Livin' Is What You Make It" was another yacht rock flavored ballad. This one got an extra star for the lovely group harmony vocals. 3.) Yours Forever (David Gabaldon - Mike Zack - Ric Arenz) - 2:58 rating: **** stars A perfect slice of mid-'70s corporate rock - "Yours Forever" sounded like could have been written and recorded using and artificial intelligence program. Completely soulless and perfect for AM top40 airplay. You had to wonder how this one was missed. Love Castles' bubbly bass line. 4.) Street Love (G. Alexander) - 3:07 rating: *** stars "Street Love" was another track where the combination of Bradley's blue-eyed soul voice, punchy horns and a giddy melody were highly commercial. Another track that would have made a dandy single. 5.) Put Some Souf In Yo' Mouf (Johnny Castle - Stephen Nicholas) - 4:15 rating: ** stars Co-written with producer Nicholas, in case you couldn't tell from the title, "Put Some Souf In Yo' Mouf" was easily the album's funkiest tune. Basically the group chanting the title over and over, the highlights came in the form of Castle's "burp" bass line and Neil Bonsanti's sax solo . It really wasn't very good; actually reminding me of something the dreadful Wild Cherry might have recorded.
© Scott R. Blackerby September 2025
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of ten original tunes. Four of the members contributed to the writing
chores, though the majority of
material was credited to keyboardist Arenz. Released at
the height of disco madness, it shouldn't have come as a surprise tracks
like "Hot
Summer Madness" and "Up To The Country"
reflected a "dance" vibe. As far as that musical niche
went, powered by Bradley's surprisingly enjoyable blue-eyed soul voice the
performances weren't half bad; particularly the later tune. Luckily
the majority of material was more pop oriented. With Arnez handling
lead vocals, "Someday"
offered up a nice slice of Raspberry-styled pop rock. How the bubbly pop
gems "(Your Lovin' Is) Everywhere" and
"Yours Forever"
missed the top-40 is a mystery.
"Soul Searchin' Lady" and "Livin' Is What You Make It"
were radio-friendly, yacht-rock ballads.
Perhaps because the leadoff track "Hot
Summer Madness" featured a disco
arrangement, nobody seems to have bothered .listening to the rest of the
album. That might also explain why the LP's frequently tagged as a
disco effort. That musical designation certainly didn't help spread
the story of Spats. I suspect their sales weren't bolstered by the
Bill Murr Johnson designed album cover.