---

Posted by mypetsounds on 05-30-2009 at19:16:

  Who is Gene Mascoli, and what else has he done?

Does anyone know anything about Gene Mascoli, co-writer of several 77's songs? Has he done anything else, musically, beside co-write with Dr. Love (including, apparently, a Lost Dogs song)? Dr. Love, if you are out there, I'd love to know more.

---

Posted by Doctor Love on 05-31-2009 at00:58:

  RE: Who is Gene Mascoli, and what else has he done?

Gene was an old college chum and bandmate from the 70's who I kept writing with for awhile after the 77s got rolling. He was a prolific songwriter who got me over my stifling perfectionism and into just letting the muse flow so I could get songs done without agonizing and never finishing. I owe him a lot for that.

He's a good lawyer and family man nowadays but still plays and writes quite a bit. We always talk about firing up the collaboration again now that we're old and wretched. He was a very 'pop' writer and we provoked each other into some pretty good tunes, some of which you've heard but most of which have never seen the light of day. I am tempted to do a solo album in the future featuring a few of the better ones that got lost along the way -- some of them are classics and should've been hits for other artists going back three decades and more.

One of the funniest stories about Gene is when he submitted an early version of Ba Ba Ba Ba to a division of the old "Songwriter Magazine" that provided a pro songwriter's detailed critique of your songs for a fee. After a few weeks we got the tape back along with a very brief letter.

It read as follows:

"Dear Mr. Roe & Mr. Mascoli,

Sorry.

Your songs, and you, suck."

That told me more about the music business than all the forty+ years of time, practice, hard work and experience I've put in. I should have framed it.

---

Posted by Kit on 05-31-2009 at10:01:

  RE: Who is Gene Mascoli, and what else has he done?

quote:

Originally posted by Doctor Love It read as follows: "Dear Mr. Roe & Mr. Mascoli, Sorry. Your songs, and you, suck."

oh that's it. I'm writing them.

---

Posted by Cynthia on 05-31-2009 at13:02:

 

That's funny. So glad you didn't give up writing music.

---

Posted by mypetsounds on 05-31-2009 at18:04:

  RE: Who is Gene Mascoli, and what else has he done?

>>>>>
He's a good lawyer and family man nowadays but still plays and writes quite a bit. We always talk about firing up the collaboration again now that we're old and wretched. He was a very 'pop' writer and we provoked each other into some pretty good tunes, some of which you've heard but most of which have never seen the light of day. I am tempted to do a solo album in the future featuring a few of the better ones that got lost along the way -- some of them are classics and should've been hits for other artists going back three decades and more.
>>>>>

Wow, how I'd love to hear this stuff. I really like some of the songs Gene co-wrote.

As for the guy who stated you and your songs suck, it must have been one of two things, either some j@ck@ss who thought it would be funny to screw with you, or someone who was hit too close to home with the lyrics (which are some of my all-time favorites, by The 77's or otherwise). BTW, who did write the lyrics, Dr. Love or Gene, or both?

Well, my vote has been cast - finish off the songs with Gene and then release The Magnates.

One can dream...