Bangor Flying Circus -

Bangor Flying Circus was an American psych-rock trio from Chicago that released a self-titled album on Dunhill in 1969. The band morphed into the jazz-rock trio Madura for two further albums during the early 1970s.

Members: David “Hawk” Wolinski (bass, keyboards, vocals), Alan De Carlo (guitar, vocals), Tom Schiffour (drums, 1967-68), Michael Tegza (drums, percussion, 1968-?)

Background

Bangor Flying Circus formed in Chicago in late 1967 when bassist/keyboardist David “Hawk” Wolinski and drummer Tom Schiffour teamed with guitarist/singer Alan De Carlo.

Schiffour came off a three-years stint in the Shadows of Knight, which scored a 1966 national hit with “Gloria,” a garage-rock standard originated by Them. He played on their 1966/67 albums Gloria and Back Door Men, the second recorded with Wolinski, formerly of local rockers The Males.

Before they landed a deal, Schiffour cleared for drummer Michael Tegza, fresh off a two-album stint with Windy City psychsters HP Lovecraft.

Bangor Flying Circus

Bangor Flying Circus released their self-titled album in November 1969 on Dunhill.

The album contains nine tracks, mostly written by David “Hawk” Wolinski with one contribution by guitarist Alan De Carlo and a six-minute instrumental cover of The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood.” De Carlo and Wolinski split lead vocals across the album, backed by the Hammond-heavy textures and jazz-rock dynamics of drummer Michael Tegza. The record ranges from lounge-tinged soul and country-rock to progressive passages and blue-eyed balladry.

The opener, “Violent Man,” mixes Rascals-style vocals and Vanilla Fudge weight with moody organ passages and frenetic scat-vocal improvisations. “Come On People” stands out with its upbeat melody, dual vocals, and a melodic De Carlo guitar solo — it appeared as the lead single backed with “A Change In Our Lives,” a breezy, fuzz-toned soul-rock number written and sung by De Carlo. “Ode to Sadness” veers between sentimental crooning and supper-club jazz, undermined by overlong scat sections, while “Concerto For Clouds” moves through shifting themes with vocal drama, layered melodies, and standout lead guitar phrasing.

Side two contains “Someday I’ll Find,” a ballad that echoes early Chicago with organ atmosphere, subtle country leads, and rolling percussion. “Mama Don’t You Know (That Your Daughter’s Acting Mighty Strange)” blends bluesy organ grooves with strong vocal harmonies and a smooth, catchy refrain — it became their second single, backed with “Someday I’ll Find.” “In the Woods” rides a heavy organ groove and features one of De Carlo’s wildest guitar breaks. The album closes with a six-minute instrumental run through “Norwegian Wood,” layered with cascading keys, flurrying drums, and angular guitar runs that intermittently hint at the original melody.

A1. “Violent Man” (6:05)
A2. “Come On People” (4:02)
A3. “Ode to Sadness” (6:02)
A4. “Concerto For Clouds” (5:23)

B1. “A Change in Our Lives” (3:45)
B2. “Someday I’ll Find” (4:25)
B3. “Mama Don’t You Know (That Your Daughter’s Acting Mighty Strange)” (3:15)
B4. “In the Woods” (4:18)
B5. “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (6:00)

Sessions took place under producer George Badonsky, co-founder of Dunwich Records and producer of Chicago-area acts like The Mauds and H.P. Lovecraft. Bangor Flying Circus handled the arrangements and co-mixed the album with engineer C. Huston and Steve Kimbal. Apache-themed art by Bob Means graces the cover, with art direction by Bo Schnepf and photography by Tom Gundelfinger.

Bangor Flying Circus peaked at #190 on the Billboard 200.

Split, Reconfiguration

Shorty after the album, Bangor Flying Circus split due to internal rifts between Wolinski and De Carlo. Tegza rejoined his prior bandmates under their new configuration, Lovecraft.

Wolinski and De Carlo reconciled with a new drummer, Ross Salomone. This lineup named itself Madura and made the 1971–73 Columbia albums Madura and Madura II. Wolinski embarked on a subsequent stint with Rufus (with Chaka Khan) and formed a songwriting partnership with Chicago drummer Danny Seraphine.

Discography: