From the memories of Vela's sister- “I can’t have yesterday” has an interesting story. Val always admired Paul McCartney's "Yesterday", saying it was the most beautiful and perfect song he had ever heard. He once said to me with a smile, "Well, I can't have yesterday!" which led to the title of his own creation...
Valerian Richard Stecklein best remembered for fronting the cult-favorite folk-rock combo the Blue Things, Val Stöecklein also cut a solo LP, Grey Life, now celebrated in the same pantheon of such masterpieces of melancholy and madness as Alexander "Skip" Spence's Oar and Scott Walker's Scott 4. Born Valerian Richard Stecklein in Hutchinson, Kansas in 1941, he played as a high schooler in the rock & roll band the Dukes but gravitated towards folk music upon entering Ft. Hays State College, where he made his recorded debut performing original songs "Desert Wind" and "Nancy Whiskey" on a demo credited to the Hi-Plains Singers. Stecklein next joined a 14-piece collegiate folk troupe known as the Impromptwos and was the featured vocalist on a self-titled LP the group cut in late 1963. The following year, he joined roommate Mike Chapman and fellow Dukes alum Richard Scott in the Blue Boys, a popular local group that, in mid-1964, cut a series of acetates at Damon Studios in Kansas City and resulted in a recording contract with producer Ray Ruff's Amarillo, Texas-based Ruff label. Their debut single, "Mary Lou," followed in early 1965. To avoid confusion with the late Jim Reeves' backing unit, the Blue Boys were credited as the Blue Things.
In 1968, Val Stoecklein recorded a moody and introspective solo folk-rock album, "Grey Life". Extremely shy, but open in songs, Val, in this album, is not at all like himself in his youth, when he was wildly rocking in the band The Bluethings. However, LSD, alcohol and manic-depressive syndrome brought him to the clinic, and he had to leave the band. After a long treatment, the album "Grey Life" was recorded. Although the songs on "Grey Life" are sad and evoke a feeling of loneliness, the music and lyrics come from his heart and soul. He often wrote about his experiences and difficulties of that time. He always expressed himself through music.
Released on the Dot label, the album was not well received by critics, one of whom described it as sounding "like a warmed-up cup of Glen Campbell's soup." Despite this, the album initially sold like hot cakes, and Dot Records bosses were already preparing to make a star out of Stoecklein. Dot released two singles from the album, but radio was unable or unwilling to promote it, and the singer himself refused to tour or contribute to the "promotion" of his work, and, as a result, "Grey Life" undeservedly sank into oblivion...The new round of his career ended at the very beginning.
And he disappeared...
Disappeared, but continued to compose and periodically made attempts to return, but at the last moment, as if someone's invisible hand pulled him away from the door to the world of music.
Apparently, the same hand, one May morning in 1993, pushed him to another door. A door that is always open and for everyone and which you don't even need to beat on, breaking your fists until they bleed.
He was 52 years old. And his songs remained with us, melodic, making you think about a lot..., the emotions behind the songs that he wrote and sang. It is a tragedy that such a brilliant musician left without receiving the recognition and respect he deserved.
Val Stöecklein - Grey Life (1968)
01. Val Stöecklein* - Say It's Not Over
02. Val Stöecklein* - Now's The Time
03. Val Stöecklein* - I Can't Have Yesterday
04. Val Stöecklein* - Color Her Blue
05. Val Stöecklein* - French Girl Affair
06. Val Stöecklein* - Morning Child
07. Val Stöecklein* - Possibility I Was Wrong
08. Val Stöecklein* - Seven Days Away From You
09. Val Stöecklein* - Sounds Of Yesterday
10. Val Stöecklein* - I'll Make Up To You
11. Val Stöecklein* - Second Ending
12. Val Stöecklein* - All The Way Home
13. Val Stöecklein* - I Wonder Who I'll Be Tomorrow
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Ecology - Environment-Evolution (1970)
Stoecklein continued to record, with uneven results. Environment (1970) was a melodic folk-rock concept album credited to a new group called Ecology (released on the Happy Tiger label). The project called "Ecology" was founded in Los Angeles, California, in the late 1960s. Former leader of "The Blue Things" Val Stoecklein teamed up with producer and arranger Ray Ruff to form this strange secret group and record a conceptual LP. The album was quite low in terms of commercial sales, but the musicians' playing and singing were very good. There is no information about who else played at the sessions when recording all this. However, several tracks here are clearly performed by other people, perhaps Ruff himself risked adding to his career. Nothing has survived in the records of the label "Happy Tiger Records" either, and it is surprising that it was released at all. The album has never been reissued on CD.
1. Ecology - Black Mark On The Sea
2. Ecology - Wake Up Old World
3. Ecology - What Have They Done To The Rain
4. Ecology - Existing In City Stone
5. Ecology - We're All In This Together
6. Ecology - Our Times
7. Ecology - We Can't Get There From Here
8. Ecology - The Whole World Has Gone Out Of Tune
9. Ecology - No One Hears
10. Ecology - A Time
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