Choir (Cleveland, Ohio)

The Choir, (Originally called the Mods) from Cleveland, Ohio formed some time between 1964 or 1965. They we're clearly influenced by British Invasion groups such as the Beatles and the Zombies. The group's jangly, haunting, and borderline psychedelic, teen-pop symphonies also closely resemble the work of American bands the Left Banke and the Byrds. The band released their first single "Its Cold Outside" with the Stones-y B side "I'm Goin' Home" in 1966. "Its Cold Outside" reached #68, and would be their closest brush with success. It would later be covered by Cleveland punk rocker Stiv Bators during his 1979 power pop phase, and featured on many-a-60s garage comps such as Nuggets and Pebbles.

The band released 2 more unsuccessful singles between the years 1966 and 1967, before disbanding, then reforming and rebranding in 1968 with drummer Jim Bonfanti being the only original member. Original band members Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley, and Jim Bonfanti would later team up in 1970(?) with Eric Carmen of rival group Cyrus Erie to form the influential power pop group The Raspberries.

A compilation album of mostly unreleased material called Choir Practise was released by Sundazed Records. The record features a handful of top notch jangly 12-string guitar-pop masterpieces such as "I'd Rather You Leave Me" and "Don't Change Your Mind". Most of the songs from their 3 singles were left off the album. The excluded single tracks can be found on a various artists compilation called Psychedelic Microdots Vol. 3 also on Sundazed Records, which I've yet to check out.


Line up from the "It's Cold Outside" single:

Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals: Dave Smalley
Lead Guitar/Bass: Wally Bryson
Rhythm Guitar: Dann Klawon
Lead Guitar/Bass: Dave Burke
Tambourine/Vocals/Drums: Jim Bonfanti


Check out It's Cold Outside, one of my favorite songs of all time! Also very fitting for this time of the year. Am i right?? Yes.