Robert John Gallo -

A New Place to Live was the recording moniker of Brooklyn-born/Canadian-based folk-psych songwriter/producer Robert John Gallo, who used the name for a 1972 album on Mandala Records. That same year, he released the album Painted Poetry under his own name on Jam Records. In 1977, an album titled Compositions, credited to “Robert John,” appeared on the Guinness tax-scam label with near-identical music to a 1971 release titled Free, credited to “Bob Gallo” on the Italian-specialty label Regalia.

Background

Robert John Gallo was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Gallo released the March 1962 Ford single “The Back Streets of Vienna” (b/w “Robin’s Theme”) under his own name. He wrote both instrumentals, then arranged and conducted the session. By October, Gallo had accumulated more than 300 record dates as a guitarist. Gallo opened Talentmasters Recording Studios at 1741 Broadway that fall. He also owned Assault and New Talent Records. By October 1964, Gallo moved Talentmasters to 126 West 42nd Street and based Casual Records at the Manhattan studio.

In early 1965, Gallo sought British acts for Casual and the related British Lion operation. He signed the Pete Best Combo and the Undertakers that spring, then produced a twelve-song Pete Best Combo session for a planned album.

Gallo joined Atlantic Records in July 1966 and spent roughly one year on production and arrangement assignments for the Drifters (“Baby What I Mean”), Ben E. King (“What Is Soul?,” “They Don’t Give Medals to Yesterday’s Heroes,” “Get in a Hurry”), Don Covay (“Shingaling ’67,” “I Was There,” “40 Days, 40 Nights”), Solomon Burke (“Presents for Christmas,” “Keep a Light in the Window Till I Come Home”), and Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles (“Take Me for a Little While”).

In 1967, Gallo joined Louis Lofredo Associates as vice president. Gallo and Lofredo produced Long Island groups including Sounds of Modification and Aesop’s Fables. In October 1969, Gallo and Lofredo opened Soundview Recording Studio at 132 Riviera Drive in Kings Park, Long Island. By 1971, Gallo and Lofredo owned Soundview, with Vinnie Traina as chief engineer. In June 1971, Gallo and Lofredo signed a three-album-per-year agreement with Jimmy Nebb of Regalia S.p.A. for releases outside the United States, Canada, and Japan. Gallo prepared Free for Regalia as guitarist, vocalist, and arranger with Traina as co-producer.

Discography: