Piper -

Piper was an American hard-rock band that released the 1976–77 albums Piper and Can’t Wait on A&M. Piper contains “Who’s Your Boyfriend? (I Got a Feelin’),” which singer–guitarist Billy Squier re-recorded for his 1980 debut solo album; the prelude to his 1981–84 chart run.

Members: Billy Squier (vocals, guitar), Danny McGary (bass), Richie Fontana (drums), Alan Nolan (guitar), Tommy Gunn (guitar)

Background

Piper formed in 1975 in Woodstock, New York, where guitarist/songwriter Billy Squier envisioned a rock quintet with three guitarists.

Squier began performing publicly in 1968 at clubs in Boston. During the early 1970s, he briefly played in Kicks—an unsigned band with future New York Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan—and did a post-record stint in The Sidewinders, a NYC pop-rock act featuring Andy Paley.

By 1975, Squier assembled Piper as a vehicle for his songwriting, enlisting bassist Danny McGary and drummer Richie Fontana—musicians he had demoed with in New York—along with dual guitarists Tommy Gunn, a Broadway player, and Alan Nolan, a Kansas native then circulating through Bill Aucoin’s management office. Aucoin, who managed KISS, endorsed the lineup and secured Piper a deal with A&M Records. Squier wrote and sang all material and favored a three-guitar format inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s 1969 Green–Kirwan–Spencer configuration.

Piper

Piper released their self-titled debut album on February 2, 1977, on A&M.

The album contains eight Billy Squier originals, including “Whatcha Gonna Do,” “The Road,” “Can’t Live With Ya / Can’t Live Without Ya,” and the single “Who’s Your Boyfriend? (I Got a Feelin’).”

Side B contains a Rolling Stones cover (“The Last Time”) and “42nd Street,” a co-write with bassist Danny McGary. The track “Telephone Relation” was originally earmarked for an unrecorded second Sidewinders album.

Piper pairs vocal layers with multi-guitar interplay across tracks like the Stones-derived “Out of Control” and the clipped “Telephone Relation.”

“42nd Street” uses echo effects to stretch its phrasing, and the closer, “Can’t Live With Ya/Can’t Live Without Ya,” alternates between restrained and bursting sections. “Sail Away” builds from a sharp, syncopated riff later echoed in 1980s mainstream rock.

A1. “Out of Control” (4:29)
A2. “Whatcha Gonna Do” (4:06)
A3. “The Road” (4:17)
A4. “Sail Away” (6:14)

B1. “Who’s Your Boyfriend? (I Got a Feelin’)” (4:25)
B2. “Telephone Relation” (2:38)
B3. “The Last Time” (3:29)
B4. “42nd Street” (3:42)
B5. “Can’t Live With Ya / Can’t Live Without Ya” (4:24)

Sessions occurred in late 1976 at Eastern Sound in Toronto with Englishman John Anthony, a producer for the early Seventies Charisma roster (Genesis, Lindisfarne, Rare Bird, Van der Graaf Generator) and recent titles by Nutz, Headstone, and A Foot In Cold Water. Canadian soundman Ken Friesen (Bruce Cockburn, Gordon Lightfoot) co-engineered Piper assistant Dana Marks.

Piper appeared in a single sleeve with the band’s disembodied heads grouped over the bar of their neon logo. Squier appears along on the backside in a seated monochrome profile pose. The neon theme reflects a trend seen on 1976/77 albums by Rock Follies, Tarika Blue, and Ultravox.

A&M lifted “Who’s Your Boyfriend?” as a single (b/w “The Road”).

Can’t Wait

Piper released their second album, Can’t Wait, on August 26, 1977, on A&M.

The album contains nine Billy Squier originals, including “See Me Through” and “Bad Boy.” On the first two tracks, he collaborated with Boston DJs James Isaacs (“Can’t Wait”) and Maxanne Sartori (“Drop By and Stay”).

“Now Ain’t the Time” features horn and string arrangements by Ron Frangipane, a prior orchestrator for Alexander Rabbit, The Beckies, Chesapeake Juke Box Band, Mark & Clark, Mark Radice, and Orion.

A1. “Can’t Wait” (3:22)
A2. “Drop By and Stay” (3:10)
A3. “See Me Through” (4:44)
A4. “Little Miss Intent” (3:52)
A5. “Now Ain’t the Time” (4:23)

B1. “Bad Boy” (3:41)
B2. “Comin’ Down Off Your Love” (3:51)
B3. “Anyday” (5:55)
B4. “Blues for the Common Man” (4:44)

Sessions occurred in the spring of 1977 at Electric Lady Studios in New York, where KISS soundman Sean Delaney co-produced the album with Chris Kimsey, who engineered Can’t Wait in sequence with titles by Automatic Man, Bad Company, Peter Frampton, Strapps, and Widowmaker.

On the Can’t Wait cover, Piper posed for Ed Caraeff, whose photography graces 1976/77 covers for Ambrosia, Bee Gees, Lady Flash, Steely Dan, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

A&M lifted “Can’t Wait” as a single (b/w “Blues for the Common Man”).

Discography: