Visual Sound: Issue 36

Written By Mike Greenblatt

The Joe Grisanzio Band
“You Will Always Have Me”

This Red Bank band features Joe Grisanzio, a singer-songwriter-producer, who  only first shared his creations with an audience last year with the release of his “Sails” single. Then came the Beach Boy EP. Now he tours with his the band doing originals and well-chosen covers. He’s amassed over 20 million Instagram, TikTok, X, Bluesky and YouTube views.

 

Chemistry Set
“King’s Gambit”

Chemistry Set—from Park Ridge, Parsippany and Long Branch—was one of the very few original synth-pop bands in 1980s New Jersey. MTV played this vid and WDHA (“The Rock Of North Jersey”) played the 45. Two of the guys, Steve and Terry, also played in a New Age worldbeat band, Malaysian Pale, whose Nature’s Fantasies was released internationally in 1987. Their Experiments From The Lab (2023) is their ‘80s compilation album. Expect another later this  year as well as new music next year.

 
 

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Bettye LaVette

YouTube channel “Classic Chronicles” recently did a great profile of an American Treasure, our very own Essex County Legend, Bettye LaVette.

 

Uncle Floyd
“Deep In The Heart Of  Jersey”

Uncle Floyd is the older brother of Jimmy and Jerry Vivino of Paterson. His television talk-show was a hip favorite for decades. (We go “Up Close” with Jimmy this month.) Here, Jimmy’s the side man. (Both Jerry and Floyd are in The Jersey Sound documentary.)

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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Visual Sound: Issue 35