This article was written by Curt Eddy (Baker, 1969). We encourage comments on our posts which you can do by entering them in the comments box at the end of each article.
There were a number of bands that drew large crowds and a dedicated following which began their musical life in Kansas. These bands drew a multi-state attraction to include Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Missouri to name a few. The Blue Things were among this group, however their story is different. The Blue Things began as the Blue Boys in Hays, Kansas (as did the Fabulous Flippers). The members included Mike Chapman (guitar/vocals), Richard Scott (bass/vocals), and Rick Larzalere (drums/vocals). The aforementioned three were students at Fort Hays State College and had been performing in a rhythm and blues band called the Barons. When the Beatles changed everything in 1964, the Barons became the Blue Boys and added Val Stoecklein (guitar/vocals) to the group. The group were all excellent musicians and primarily performed Top 40 hits of the day along with British Invasion covers. It didn’t hurt that Val Stocklein had a very strong physical resemblance to Paul McCartney. They signed with Mid-Continent booking agency in Lawrence (owned and operated by John Brown) and commenced touring. They wore matching blue suits and played blue guitars. They became very popular and reportedly earned fees as large as $1200 for playing towns around Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado.
Stoeklein, Chapman, and Scott began composing original material that would be integrated into the set-lists. In 1964 two singles were recorded: “Mary Lou” (a Ronnie Hawkins composition) and a Stoeklein’s original, “Your Turn To Cry”. “Mary Lou” charted in the Top 40 on the 50,000 watt radio station, KOMA in Oklahoma City. Shortly thereafter, two more original songs were recorded: “Pretty Things-Oh” and “Just Two Days Ago”. Manager John Brown heavily advertised Blue Boys touring on KOMA. In 1965, Brown arranged a record deal with RCA. This prompted a name-change from the Blue Boys to the Blue Things. The blue uniforms and blue guitars were discarded for more of an updated/casual style of dress. The album changed musically, as well, into Folk-Rock styling of original material. Also, Larzalere left the band to focus on school, and Bobby Day (Salina, Kansas) was added on drums. Stoeklein, Chapman, Scott, and Day were pictured on the front cover of the RCA album (titled “Listen and See”), standing on a bridge just outside of Lawrence, Kansas. The single “I Must Be Doing Something Wrong” (credited to Stocklein/Chapman/Scott) was released as a single and gained local Kansas and Oklahoma Top 40 airplay.
In 1967, the band made a hard turn from folk-rock into a psychedelic sound. A number of singles were subsequently released in 1967-1968 that were indicative of the psychedelic music of the day . . . “Orange Rooftop Of Your Mind” and “One Hour Cleaners” as examples. The group lived in Lawrence and toured heavily, incorporating a professional light show. However, in 1967, Stoeklein left the group for a solo career. The remaining Blue Things carried on for a short time, then moved to California until disbanding in 1969.
Val Stoeklein recorded one album on Dot Records in 1968 called “The Grey Life”. He died in 1993. Chapman and Scott continue to work in the audio industry, writing and performing. Bobby Day owns a cabinet company in Kansas.
A collection of their songs was released on CD in 1995 and a reissue of the 1966 album was also re-released on CD in 2001.
They were different than the soulful horn bands that came out of Kansas in the 60’s, but garnered a dedicated following with their own musical directions.
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