U.S. 1 East at Yale and Dartmouth 1970-1971

U.S.1 East formed at Yale in the fall of 1969. Over the ensuing two years, the band played many colleges at Yale — Branford, Saybrook, Trumbull, Pierson, Timothy Dwight and Davenport — as well as Dwight Hall. Other venues included various frat houses and Alumni Hall at Dartmouth, Albertus Magnus College, the University of Connecticut and local parties and halls. The band reunited from time to time over the ensuing decade to play various spots in New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Connecticut, finishing off with the Class of ’71’s tenth-year reunion. A later configuration of the band recorded an album of original material: https://snewsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/hot-off-the-press.

U.S. 1 East comprised Dean Pailler (Trumbull ’71) on guitar, Vic Machcinski (Branford ’71) on guitar and vocals, Bob Prechter (Branford ’71) on drums and vocals, and four consecutive bass players: Tom Evans (Davenport ’73), Billy Michael (local), Bill Schnaper (Branford ’71) and Gary Friend (local). The Afterlight light show run by Joe Barna (Branford ’71) enhanced many a show.

Bob sometimes recorded the band live with a Sony reel-to-reel tape recorder, placed wherever it would not get stepped on. The sound is decidedly lo-fi, but considering the ancient technology of 55-year-old tapes, second-generation reel-to-reel dubbing, a pair of cheap microphones and far from ideal mic placement, it is amazing that the results came out as well as they did.

Presented here are selections from 1970-71. Tracks marked with an asterisk* are original compositions. Crowd noise and the occasional off note confirm these are all live recordings. For the most part, the psychedelic leads are Dean’s, and the bluesy leads are Vic’s.

The two collections provide a good overview of the band’s personalities. The songs on the first collection are somewhat raucous, the second more structured.

The audio files here are low-quality MP3s. Just email darrylh@elliottwave.com if you would like high-quality CDs.

Anyone who would like to touch base is welcome to email
Bob at bobprechter@hotmail.com or bobp@elliottwave.com or
Vic at vicandme@optonline.net.

U.S. 1 East – Out on a Limb

U.S. 1 East at Yale and Dartmouth 1970-1971

U.S. 1 East – Tight as a Drum

U.S. 1 East at Branford College Courtyard
Saturday June 12, 1971