Native Memphian Van Duren began his recording career in 1975, one of the pioneers in a musical genre later dubbed Power Pop. He and then-partner Jody Stephens (drummer with the band Big Star) wrote some songs together and recorded them at Ardent Studios in Memphis (some with legendary Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham). Soon after, Van and Jody hooked up with another Big Star alumnus, singer/songwriter/guitarist Christopher Bell, and formed the Baker Street Regulars, playing around Memphis for the first half of 1976. In the summer of 1977, Van moved to Greenwich Village and recorded his first solo album for Big Sound Records, Are You Serious?. The album received excellent reviews and was added to over 110 FM radio playlists around the country. A followup, Idiot Optimism, was recorded in 1978 and 79, but was not released in the U.S. until 25 years later (Lucky Seven Records, 2003).
After touring the Northeast for 4 years, Van returned to Memphis in 1981 and played around town with the next incarnation of the Van Duren Band, which featured drummer Richard Rosebrough and 19 year-old keyboardist Rick Steff. In 1982, that band having split up, Duren formed Good Question with Ray Sanders, Greg Reding and Joel Williams. Good Question quickly became one of Memphis's favorite bands, and played throughout the region for 17 years with various lineups that included Memphis players John Hampton, James Lott, Rick Steff, Rob Crockett, Brady Howle, Steve McCraw, and Terry Ferguson. The band released its first album, Thin Disguise, in 1986, and the single from that album, Jane, received heavy airplay on several Memphis radio stations (still remarkable today and a testament to Good Questions popularity). Later, recording at Sun Studio over several years, the band released Chronicles: The Authorized Bootleg in 1992.
In 1998, Van Duren collaborated with Memphis singer/songwriter Tommy Hoehn and formed the Hoehn Duren Band. They recorded and released 2 albums, Hailstone Holiday (Frankenstein Records, 1999) and Blue Orange (Frankenstein Records, 2002), and did a few shows in Memphis to promote the albums.
Meanwhile, in 2003 Terry Manning's Lucky Seven Records released Idiot Optimism in the U.S. (it had been released, along with Are You Serious? and Chemical Fire: Van Duren Live 1978, in 2000 by Airmail Recordings in Japan only). Through a licensing deal with Lucky Seven and featuring a new mastering job by Manning and extensive liner notes by Kent Benjamin, Water Records released Are You Serious? on cd in the U. S. on 22 April 2008. It is currently available at all internet cd vendors.
Van had wanted to do another solo album for years, and he finally took the plunge at the end of 2002. Working with producer/engineer/drummer Rob Crockett at Crocketts Puddin' Truck Studio in Millington, Tennessee, Van began the long-awaited solo project. For over 2 years, Duren and Crockett recorded new songs that Van wrote as the sessions progressed. Most of the tracks were created by overdubbing, by actually playing and singing the parts, creating the arrangements on the spot. A few friends helped as well: Terry Ferguson on electric guitars and mandolin; James Lott on electric guitars; Tim Horrigan on piano; Probyn Gregory (of Brian Wilsons band) on guitars, French horn, trumpet, and backing vocals; Graham Perry ..o and trumpet; and Reba Russell and Brady Howle on backing vocals. The album, Open Secret, was mastered by Terry Manning at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, and was released in August, 2005, on Pure Pop Planet Recordings.
The followup to "Open Secret" is closing in on the finish line. Almost 30 songs have been recorded since September, 2005. A truly remarkable story, with a soundtrack to match. This work is quite possibly the best Van has ever done, with all the passion and originality one has come to expect from this artist. Working again with Rob Crockett along with a few surprise guest stars, so many new songs have been recorded that Van has decided to split them into two albums, both hopefully for release in 2009, titles TBA.
As 2008's summer fades into autumn, the Van Duren Band, a/k/a Good Question, has been burning up some live shows in Memphis, turning out some terrific performances of a lot of great songs. See the blogs on the live shows. The band features longtime partner Rob Crockett on drums and vocals, and stalwart Van Duren veterans Terry Ferguson on guitars and vocals, and Brady Howle on vocals, bass, and guitars. A new beginning for some old friends, and a song list spanning more than 30 years of Van's career, plus a ton of favorite covers--wow!
Van Duren Discography
Solo: Are You Serious? Big Sound Records 1978 (US)...also released inAustralia (EMI/Australia), and under the title Staring at the Ceiling on London/Big Sound in the United Kingdom, Germany, Holland,
Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland...remastered and re-released
in 1999 by Airmail Recordings (Japan), cd release in U.S. set for 22 April 2008
Solo: Idiot Optimism recorded 1978-79...released 2000 by Airmail Recordings (Japan); released 2003 by Lucky Seven Records (US & Europe)...co-producer Van Duren
Chemical Fire: Van Duren Live in Concert 1978 released 2001 by Airmail Recordings (Japan)
As Good Question: Thin Disguise Sur Records 1986...remastered and re-released in 2001 by Airmail Recordings (Japan)
As Van Duren & Good Question: Chronicles Music South 1992
Billy Swan Bop to Be 1994 duet/co-writer on Undying Love
With Tommy Hoehn: Hailstone Holiday, Frankenstein Records 1999
...co-producer Van Duren
Blue Orange, Frankenstein Records 2002
...co-producer Van Duren
Solo: Open Secret Pure Pop Planet Recordings 2005
...producer Van Duren
Guitars: Grace Askew, "In 1-2-3", Wasted Lipstick EP, 2008
