According to the liner notes of this self-released album from 1975, Milwaukee keyboard prodigy and supper club circuit regular Archie Ulm “devastated the traditional concept of organ playing by inciting his audiences to stunning highs of musical awareness.” On this album, together with “two of the finest musicians in Milwaukee,” Ulm “creates the ultimate effect, challenging his instruments to go beyond their designed limits in contemporary pops and rhythm and blues.” Unfortunately, they didn’t challenge the limits of their budget, for the end result is markedly lo-fi. Some of the electronic sound effects sound exactly like compression artifacts. In other places, the “total sound synthesis” is almost indistinguishable from the surface noise on this substandard pressing.
None the less, the performances of Archie and his group are both spirited and nuanced on such “mind-expanding” crowd-pleasers as “The Hustle” and “Popcorn.” The group also offers not-entirely-unexceptional run-throughs of “The Cat” and “Harlem Nocturne.” My personal favorites on the album are the television tunes: “Rockford Files,” and the album’s stand-out track, “NBC Mystery Movie Theme.”
Of course, the real star of the album is the Yamaha EX-42. Released in 1970 and retailing for tens of thousands of dollars, this brute of a space-aged keyboard looks like something an Imperial Stormtrooper would play. Such earthlings as Keith Emerson, Benny Andersson and Stevie Wonder were fans of its close cousin, the legendary and even more expensive Yamaha GX1. Not only would you have to knock a hole in your wall to get these things in your house, but you’d have to use a screwdriver to program them.
One can only assume that Archie had to stay on the supper club circuit for quite long time in order to pay for his bad boy. But at least it was easier to take on tour than one of these!
Hi! I totally picked this up yesterday at a record shop in Madison, WI. I just googled it, and your blog entry came up.
All in all it’s a pretty great purchase. Mine was still in the shrink-wrap, unplayed. I found his version of Popcorn to be a pretty great entry into the pantheaon of Popcorn covers. The Hustle was pretty unexpected as well.
Also, thanks to your blog I just realized the significance of the EX-42. Insane.
Thanks.
—Tom
Thanks Tom!
I’m afraid my little post isn’t very long on details about Mr. Ulm, but it’s still a fun album!
Agreed. It seems he is “Unquestionably the impresario of the keyboard!” indeed.
—Tom
All I can say is WOW! I would have loved to catch his set live. Oh well… It’s great to hear another version of Mancini’s NBC Mystery Movie Theme. The song is one of my earliest TV memories. btw can you tell me who composed the tune “Homecoming”? Keep up the superlative work!
“Homecoming” is credited to a mysterious Mr. “H. Hardy,” and that’s all the info available.
I had the chance to work with Archie in Wisconsin. It so amazing to hear him play the organ or keyboard every day. I have never seen anyone up to his ability except for a student of his who was amazing also. It was like going to concert every day. It was a very unique experience with an very unique man
I stumbled upon Archie Ulm in the late 70′s while attending a wedding reception at the Steak Knife Supper Club in Wauwatosa WI. I was bored and went downstairs to the lounge bar and he was performing there. That Yamaha EX-42 and Leslie speakers just blew me away. I was hooked and returned every weekend to here him play. That system sounded so cool that it made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. He would sometimes animate the sound of a jet aircraft taking off or wolf whistle at a good looking babe that happened to pass by. He later acquired a keyboard of the same model used in the movie “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind”. It was matched with Twin Yamaha Leslie type speakers that had 3 independent rotating speakers each along with bass drivers. They were as big as refrigerators. Just awesome! He made it look so easy and I never heard him make a mistake. He released a second album that was even better than his first. I am still looking for a copy. A girl I was dating at the time bought one. Maybe she still has it. Maybe by chance she will read this and send it to me. Just a far off thought.
Thanks for listening
Rick
Awesome. I hope I find that LP some day myself!
I was looking up Archie’s stuff. He was in Milwaukee not too long ago and he still can play it like no other. He played a small show with some very close friends at a nightclub in Milwuakee. My parents still have contact with him and his wife in Colorado. The last album he did was a small CD called Time Traveler.
My wife & I for years went to the Steak Knife every Saturday night to here Archie play. We did miss afew but not many. His Dad came from same area we grew up & got to be good friends. Around 1978 we were asked to deliver His new Yamaha EX-1 to Fort Collins, CO. where he was preforming at the Ramada Inn. This is the organ His second album was recorded called “EXPERIENCE!” Side 1 features percussionist Paul Hergert & steel quitarist Larry Carrico Side 2 is Archie and His Big Organ. AH, that’s one of His nite club jokes. Side 1 songs are Time Is tight, After the Lovin’, Caravan, Help Me Make It Thru The Night Side 2 Archie only Songs are Clair De Lune, MacArthur Park, Almost Like A Song, & Bye-Bye Blues. I have couple copies of second album & one signed. That one I’m keeping. Anyway we really had a GREAT time knowing Archie and those after preformance breakfasts at JO-JO’s with about 10 of His loyal FANS. Getting Home when the birds are chirping. I’m beat just remembering. Those were greatimes I’d never trade. His third recording CD TIME TRAVELER I believe was produced in Colorado with contact info as follows. Call or write to Archie Ulm P.O. Box 243, Livermore, CO. 80536 With phone # 970-980-8341 Good luck on contacting him. Otherwise post me on this BLOG Just an addition to cover story Archie in 1974 was in the top SIX During national Yamaha Electone Music Festival held in Chicago, Ill. Hosted By Steve Allen. I heard a recording of that, awesome!!
CHUCK
PS: There could be More To Come
HI~~
thanks for sharing~~I love it.
I’m a vintage yamaha electone lover.
I love these old analog electone’s sounds~
sincerely
Hello. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure.
A friend from Iowa who’s just learning keyboards sent me this link. We were both originally from Milwaukee and happend to be discussing organists we’d heard. Though we didn’t know each other at the time, we were both big fans of Archie Ulm. Back in the ’70′s I was fortunate enough, not only to be a fan but also one of his students for a short time. I wanted to add after 30 some years I still play the arrangements he wrote as lessons way back then and they are still some of my favorite pieces of music. I switched from a Yamaha spinet to a Hammond A100 and his music didn’t suffer a bit. Now I’m playing it on a Keyboard and it still impresses people. I have his albums and intend to order the CD. I also remember many of the songs mentioned and also recall his renditions of Irish Washer Woman when he ramped up the tempo every chorus. I live in Florida now but I’m convinced that Milwaukee had a collection of the best musicians in the world and Archie was certainly at the top of that list. I also saw him compete at the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva on one occasion but listning to him perform at the Steak Knife on Bluemound was one of my favorite pass times for a long time. I think its great that he’s still performing, at least I hope he is. I can’t imagine how his music has changed over the past 30 years but I think it’d be worth a trip to hear him again.
Bob K
Obscure recording. Poor in many parts, but funny and rare.
Update from May 2008 on Archie I talked with him for some time & He is involved in many projects including scoring music for an upcoming movie “Secrets And Death”. His latest CD after Time Traveler is “Time To Play Pretend” which possesses a number of songs He composed for the Secrets In Death movie. Additional songs like Bumble Boogie, Star Wars, & 2001: A Space Odyssey. During the conversation it came up about doing a music video & am pleased to say I was not the only one who requested that. Just 3 days ago he posted on YOU TUBE 5 songs with some narration before a couple of the songs. They are Man With The Golden Arm, Sabredance, Starwars-Startrek Melody, & Smile Tribute. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=archie+ulm&search_type=&aq=f
Archie can be contacted through email ulmarchie@aol.com for requests & CD’s Additional contact……………
P.O. Box 243 Livermore, CO. 80536 Sure great hear & see him play again!! More Later.
I want to thank everyone for their wonderful comments. I’m Leticia, Archie’s wife. Archie is back in the concert circuit entertaining his audiences with some new compositions receiving rave reviews. Archie is always happy to hear from his dedicated fanbase. His website is due to be up shortly – and we will let everyone know when he will be performing in an area near you. Archie recently posted some melodies on YouTube, so enjoy, and we look forward to seeing you soon! I’ll post the website as soon as it’s complete.
Leticia Ulm eMail: leticiaulm@aol.com eMail: ulmarchie@aol.com Address: PO Box 243, Livermore CO 80536 Cell: 970-980-8341
Before Archie was at the Ramada in Fort Collins, he played at a restaurant located on the west side of hiway 287 between Fort Collins and Loveland. We and another several couples loved his music (and the dancing) and visited the place quite often.
However we cannot think of the name of the restaurant. Does Archie remember??
Thanks..
Don Weber Fort Collins, CO
Great memories from the Milwaukee era of 20 years ago. Ramada Inn on Bluemound road. Great to hear your music again, we have both albums.