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Along with the Stooges, MC5, and the Amboy Dukes, SRC was a group of local heroes of the Michigan rock scene in the late '60s and early '70s, although in terms of national success, they were relegated to the second division populated by such bands as the Frost and the Rationals. Led by the Quackenbush brothers, Gary and Glenn, the Ann Arbor group evolved out of the Fugitives, adding lead singer Scott Richardson from fellow garage band the Chosen Few.

SRC recorded three erratic albums for Capitol that blended Motor City crunch with sustain-laden psychedelic guitar, pompous bursts of organ, spacey lyrics, and unexpectedly wispy, vulnerable vocals, throwing in some pretty ballads and harmonies to temper the hard rock excess.

SRC's debut album contained one stand-out track, Black Sheep, on which Glen Quackenbush's organ playing gave the band a similar sound to The Doors' Light My Fire. The track received considerable airplay from John Peel in England. However, the band failed to capture the interest of the American public at large and disbanded after two further good LP's.

The SRC (short for The Scott Richardson Case) was a Detroit-based rock band from the late 1960s. From 1966 to 1972, they were a staple at many Detroit rock venues, such as the Grande Ballroom.

The early years
The SRC was formed by Scott Richardson, the Chosen Few lead singer, with local band The Fugitives, which featured Glenn Quackenbush, Gary Quackenbush & E.G. Clawson, all based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Jeep Holland, manager of The Rationals, became their manager and suggested Richardson as lead singer. Bass player Robin Dale was added later.

Holland, also a record store manager, later served as Russ Gibb's booking agent and was associated with many of the top Detroit based artists of his time such as MC5, The Thyme, and others. The Quackenbush brothers went to see Richardson at one of the final Chosen Few gigs at the Ann Arbor Armory, run by Pete Andrews (later SRC's manager). They formed the Scott Richard Case, later known as SRC.

The Scott Richardson years
Upon the addition of Richardson, the original lineup included: Scott Richardson (vocals), Steve Lyman (rhythm guitar and vocals), Gary Quackenbush (lead guitar), Glenn Quackenbush (organ), Robin Dale (bass and vocals) and E.G. Clawson (drums). Richardson was influenced by the Pretty Things and based the SRC stage show on this. The band recorded its first single "Who's that Girl"/"I'm So Glad", the latter a cover of a Skip James song, and released it to moderate reviews. However, fan reaction was good enough for the band's members to choose to drop out of Eastern Michigan University to work on their music, a risk at the time as draft-eligible men were potentially subject to mandatory military duty in Vietnam.

Soon the band's sound became more psychedelic, influenced by the likes of Procol Harum, for whom the band would later open. Their self-titled debut album was released by Capitol Records, and the single "Black Sheep"/"Morning Mood" from this album drew fan and media praise. "Black Sheep", considered a psychedelic masterpiece, was released only in mono for the single, as an abridged version with different guitar sound and notation. The album version, recorded in well-blended as opposed to ping-pong stereo, then still in use by some of the more limited recording studios in 1968, featured a longer mid-section with additional verses.

Later verses continue in the mode of unusual lyrics in the vein of psychedelic quest, again followed by a second deliberate, stretched dual lead guitar break that fades ever so slowly into infinity. "Marionette", "Onesimpletask", and "Refugeve" offer additional examples of the expanded guitar and keyboard style developed by the Quackenbush brothers Gary (guitar) and Glenn (Hammond organ), along with their musically adventurous bandmates. Plodding, articulate and heavy drums often complement the essence of the psychedelic realm depicted by the entire debut album.

With growing popularity, the band split from Holland and began to open in and around Detroit for several national and international artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Traffic, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin and The Mamas & the Papas among others. Soon after the success of their first record the band began to work on a second album. Milestones was released in March 1969. From this album they released the single "Up All Night" / "Turn Into Love" (Capitol) in 1969.

Robin Dale was replaced by Al Wilmot and Lyman would exit the band before Milestones was completed or released. Milestones was perhaps the band's best attempt at commercial and mainstream success and was even charted in the Billboard top 250, but never reached any significant position to help SRC "break out" of the Detroit or Ann Arbor area on to more national success. Still, as history can only be judged by the passage of time, SRC has, by many accounts, appeared to have been perhaps ahead of its time or not privy to the forces that make for huge hits when they were active, but seem to be increasingly recognized for their unique contributions to psychedelic and pop rock at the end of the 1960s. A sealed original copy of their debut album from 1968 was recently sold on eBay for nearly $225 U.S. In its day, on sale, it was probably $3.98. The old question kicks in about how to measure the value of art...and additionally, SRC's first album is well known for its cover. It is aglow with color and literally dripping with references to the content of the music within. Due in small part to their effort, many older music fans lament the loss of classic "album art" from the heyday of the 12" LP vinyl record.

Before the start of "Traveler's Tale" Gary Quackenbush was in his own words in a "severe" motorcycle accident that had him eventually hospitalized. Whether or not this had any additional effect on kicking him out of the group is unknown.

The Final Years
With a new lineup featuring a single guitarist, Ray Goodman, in place of both Gary Quackenbush and Steve Lyman, SRC recorded and released Traveler's Tale, its third and final LP. Showcasing a stylistic shift away from psychedelic rock and toward prog rock.

In the time leading up to the break-up, there were attempts to record without several key members of the band; the results of these sessions remained unreleased for several years. With the group's popularity dwindling, Goodman was released. Soon, the band added Richard Haddad (also known as "Shemp") on bass; he was soon replaced by Byron Coons.

In desperation the band changed its name to Blue Sceptre and released a cover version of the Pretty Things' "Out in the Night". After it failed to generate any interest, the band broke up.

After the Break Up
In the years following the break up of the SRC each member went onto his own personal success. Richardson relocated to Los Angeles and became involved in films. He served as writer on Hearts of Fire, which starred Bob Dylan and worked on sets for two of The Lord of the Rings films. Gary Quackenbush went on to start SRC records and continued to session around the country. While all the members had a wonderful experience while involved in SRC and marginal success elsewhere, in other bands (such as Richardson who later worked with Ray Manzarek of the Doors), none of them were ever involved in a group more noted than this. Sadly, "Shemp" Haddad was killed in a road accident in California and E.G. Clawson died of cancer in the late 1990s. His death lead to SRC releasing Lost Masters, half of which includes the demos featuring Haddad's work.

While the original line up has never reunited, the band has seen a sudden rebirth in popularity since the mid-1980s. Their three albums have been re-released due to popular demand in the United Kingdom and sessions from their final years have been turned into two albums of material that were released in the late 80's and early 90's. SRC's influence spreads wide: In fact in recent years it has surfaced in Detroit News Papers that Peter Gabriel was a very big fan of SRC. In fact, he was once quoted as saying he played their first album so much he wore down the groove. It has also been noted that the popularity SRC saw in the UK was much greater than in the United States.

1st Album "SRC" - S/T 1968

01."Black Sheep" – 4:42
02."Daystar" – 4:27
03."Exile" – 4:21
04."Marionette" – 4:00
05."Onesimpletask" – 5:34
06."Paragon Council" – 3:58
07."One Day" – 3:37
08."Refugeve" – 5:12

2nd Album "SRC - Milestones" 1969

09. No Secret Destination
10. Show Me
11. Eyes Of The Storm
12. I Remember Your Face
13. In The Hall Of The Mounta
14. Checkmate
15. Our Little Secret
16. Turn Into Love
17. Up All Night
18. Angel Song