The Wizards From Kansas | Interview | “High Flying Bird”

The Wizards from Kansas were a country influenced psych rock group from Kansas.

---

In 1970 the band released their self-titled album for Mercury with a beautiful version of ‘High Flying Bird’. Their sound can be compared to west coast psych groups of the 60s.

What were some of your first influences?

John Paul Coffin: My early childhood memories of music were of the radio playing when I was really young. It was late forties early fifties, and I heard Les Paul and Mary Ford around then. Early rock and roll came in, Elvis, Fats Domino, then the Ventures, who really brought in the guitar instrumental group concept. I also heard Corsican music from my grandfather, who was from there, and quite a bit of jazz from my French cousins. And being from Kansas City, I head Count Basie, and swing music.

Rob Crain: Little Walter…when I was 7. My aunt told me I shouldn’t listen to the devil’s music.

Hal Pierce: Rock music influences included Dion, Chuck Berry, Elvis, and phil spector.

Were you in any bands before forming The Wizards From Kansas.

John Paul Coffin: I was in several bands before the Wizards. There was one song of mine that was recorded and released by a KC group called the Fab Four, and the song was called ‘I’m Always Doing Something Wrong’ and it was a 45. It was re-released on a compilation of “Garage” bands from the sixties. I played in a band with Hal Pierce, for a couple of years called “In Black and White”, and that was the first Psychedelic band I was in. We listened to a lot of Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and also blues like Jimmy Reed, and Muddy Waters.

Rob Crain: Gothic Lamb at KU, Garage bands in San Jose California.

At the beginning you were called Pig Newton and later, Pig Newton & the Wizards from Kansas?

John Paul Coffin: Pig Newton was a tongue in cheek reference to two things, one was that “pig” was a reference to police, and Fig Newton was a kind of sweet cookie. Later the record company made us drop that part because they feared getting sued by Nabisco. Of course the Wizard part goes back to the Wizard of Oz which starts and ends in Kansas.

Rob Crain: We felt we could make more money and have a better shot if we were just “Somebody and the Somebodies” so we invented the name. That’s what I remember.

Hal Pierce: Yes, and then just The Wizards From Kansas because Mercury Records could do without the “Pig Newton” part.

Did you release any single under the original name?

Hal Pierce: ‘Country Dawn’ was released as a 45, but under The Wizards From Kansas name.

Why did you choose the name Pig Newton & the Wizards from Kansas?

Hal Pierce: I don’t recall… I think somebody just thought it was catchy.

Around late 1969 you started recording your debut album. How did you get signed to Mercury Records?

John Paul Coffin: Our deal with Mercury came about as a result of our producer, this young guy from New York, named Jake Fleder, going around to these different labels with our demo. We even had Lonnie Mack come and listen to us.

Hal Pierce: My recollection is that Lonnie Mack was an A & R man for Mercury.

How did the album sell?

John Paul Coffin: The original LP didn’t sell very much, partly because the record company didn’t push it, and partly because we weren’t able to tour without backing.

Hal Pierce: Originally, 5,000 – 10,000 I think. It’s been released several times since, but we don’t know how many.

What can you say about the cover artwork?

John Paul Coffin: The artwork is by John Michael Chippendale, a great London artist, and our friend Alan Calan got us hooked up with that.

Hal Pierce: Yes, by John (since deceased)… we all like his art. There were several to choose from. We contacted his estate in England about using his artwork for the reunion album but were not able to get it worked out.

Would you share your insight on the albums’ tracks?

John Paul Coffin: Most everything was written by Rob Crane, (aka Mance Roberts). Hal wrote at least one of the others. ‘Hey Mister’ was written by Hal.

Rob Crain: I used to go to the Fillmore in San Francisco and I heard the song (‘High Flying Bird’) there and liked it. I also heard from someone that Judy Henske had recorded it so I went out and bought her LP. Me and my buddies in high school would get together to jam and that was one of the songs we would jam on. I think I saw Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane, before the band was formed, play it at a folk club in San Jose, CA called The Off Stage.

I was into Buffy Sainte-Marie during that period and really liked the way she played ‘Cod’ine’. ‘She Rides With Witches’ was the result of a witches brew from my girlfriend Trish and the psychedelia of the time.

I liked 6/8 time and wanted to experiment with it. ‘912 ½ Mass’ was my address in Lawrence for 6 months at one time. We painted it lime green with purple trim and got high there…a lot.

What do you remember from producing and recording in the studio?

John Paul Coffin: The studio was in San Francisco. We would have intense rehearsals on alternate days, then go in and track the next day. It was hard at first, because it had to be done mostly live, no Pro Tools, but we did have 16 tracks to work with. I did get to overdub my solo on ‘High Flyin’ Bird’. I think I did two passes, and they took the best bits from that. I had my amp on 10 in the studio for that. Also it was great having Mark Naftalin in the studio for two tunes, ‘Misty Mountainside’ and ‘Hey Mister’ (He was the piano player for Paul Butterfield).

Hal Pierce: Awesome experience for us being in a big-time major studio with a real engineer…we were fortunate.

What happened after that?

Hal Pierce: Band members developed different musical interests and our base was Lawrence, Kansas not San Francisco.

John Paul Coffin: After we were done recording, we only had a couple of gigs in San Francisco, and eventually went our separate ways. First I went back to KC, then to France and Germany, and finally back to KC. I’ve always kept my hand in music, and write a lot of my own stuff.

[Marc Caplan]: He has played with a wide range of blues, jazz, rock and Americana artists including Jimmy Witherspoon, Hubert Sumlin, Lowell Fulson, Eric Burdon, Steve Young and many others. After leaving The Wizards from Kansas, Marc stayed in San Francisco Bay Area for several years playing in the bands of such diverse musicians as Bob Dylan’s favorite Bluegrass Music icon, Eddie Adcock of the Country Gentlemen, Vanguard Records recording artist, Lisa Kindred; and Northern California brown-eyed soul favorite, Frank Aguliar.

What did you do besides music?

Hal Pierce: Practicing law! I never would have thought it in 1970!

You are working on a new album.

John Paul Coffin: The new album for The Wizards From Kansas is finished, and out, it’s called ‘Reunion’. You can go to CD Baby to find it, or our website from Facebook, will get you there.

Hal Pierce: It’s quite a story…. the 5 of us had not been in the same room together for 40 years. We had two practice sessions and went into the studio. All original material. I think it’s great. 40th anniversary of our The Wizards From Kansas album… all of us were still speaking and still vertical so we did it. Please give it a listen and tell us what you think!

Thank you so much for your time and effort.

John Paul Coffin: Thanks very much, and best of luck to you.

Hal Pierce: Klemen, thank you very much for your interest!

---

The Wizards From Kansas Official Website