WAX CONTINUE TO HEAT THINGS UP
BY MOST people’s reckoning, Wax (not be confused with the Andrew Gold/Graham Gould-man group of the same name) could be considered a decidedly obscure ensemble, having little to show for their three years of activity, from 1969 to 1971. Yet given the talent they nurtured early on, that claim could be considered overstated.
Indeed, the members of that Philadelphia foursome went on to greater achievements, each on their own. Rob Hyman later helmed The Hooters and wrote the enduring hit “Time After Time” for Cyndi Lauper. Rick Chertoff loaned his producing skills to Lauper, as well as Joan Osborne and Sophie B. Hawkins. Rick Levy made a formidable impression in the music business and also played a role in revitalized versions of Herman’s Hermits, Tommy Roe and The Box Tops. David Kagan and the late Beau Jones filled out the lineup.
Despite a vibrant sound well in keeping with the diverse stylistic spectrum of their hometown, Wax mostly remained a secret until a master tape that was recorded live as an audition for Vanguard Records was put on CD in 2010. Originally released a decade ago under the less-than-ironic title Melted, it’s now getting a reboot courtesy of two recently discovered tracks and a new name, Elmira Lane. John Kalodner, a legendary A&R man for Atlantic Records whose production credits include such heavyweights as Aerosmith, Foreigner and Journey, oversaw the project while the group themselves assembled some old imagery and put together a music video for the heretofore unreleased recording “Nearer to God.”
Even though the band’s songs have gathered dust for the past 50 years, is a remarkably vibrant outing, a freewheeling blend of pop and rock prog (think Yes in particular), replete with some jazzier inclinations and rich, robust harmonies. It’s also catchy and compelling, offering the impression that it’s aged remarkably well. “Nearer to God”
