Hog Heaven Band

31/07/2026

Happy Birthday to Chuck Demorat, born on July 31, who was a member of Hog Heaven and who shared the picture below! Chuck Demorat wrote: “Hog Heaven II”- "Buddy Cage, Ronnie Hand, Mike Vale, myself and Pete Lucia. I worked with Pete again when he rejoined Tommy James. I was a Shondell with Pete, Johnny A and Rod Hausen. Pete, Johnny and I were “fired” in Augusta GA.🤣🎸🤣🤣🤣...long, funny story."
(Here are some words about "Hog Heaven" by Mike Vale).. Mike Vale is the former original bass player of Tommy James & The Shondells- "I'm sure most of you are aware that when Tommy & the Shondells went off in different directions in 1970, the Shondells formed "Hog Heaven". The group recorded two albums for Roulette Records, one was released, one shelved. I remain extremely proud of the great musicians who over several years comprised Hog Heaven, and proud also of the body of work itself. I have often thought how sad it was that a number of very good creations by some equally talented musicians had never been heard. A selected group of 10 songs from each of Hog Heaven's albums have been digitally enhanced, and in some cases instrumentally embellished." Released in 2008, the album is entitled "Rebirth"."
(This next post is an article from AllMusic Review).. "In 1966, the Raconteurs were a bar band in Greensburg, PA who happened to be in the right place at the right time when Tommy James needed a new backing band after "Hanky Panky," a single he'd cut in 1963, suddenly became a major hit. Following several successful years with James as the Shondells, Eddie Gray (guitar), Peter Lucia (drums), Ron Rosman (keyboards), and Mike Vale (bass) decided to go back out on their own, adopting the name Hog Heaven and cutting their self-titled debut album in 1971. Given the brand of upbeat, radio-ready pop that had been Tommy James & the Shondells' stock in trade, it's a bit of a surprise that Hog Heaven is for the most part a solid country-rock set with some potent boogie rock thrown in, and that Gray shows off his skills on the pedal steel as often as he does on the six-string. "Wilma Mae" and "Pennsylvania" both cut a potent and funky groove and there's some lively chicken pickin' on "Bumpin' Slapcar Mama," while the band offers a subtle but clear Christian message on "Prayer" and "Theme from a Thought" and drifts amiably on the mildly psychedelic and mostly acoustic "Come Away." Their years as the Shondells had certainly molded Hog Heaven into a tight combo who knew how to play as a unit, and since they had helped James write several of his biggest hits, coming up with solid material wasn't a problem (though the melodies are often better than the lyrics here). Hog Heaven is flawed by the fact the band didn't have an especially compelling frontman or a lead singer as good as James, but this is more than just a curio for Tommy James fans, and it's a shame that this band never had the chance to release another LP."

(AllMusic Review by Mark Deming) See less

17/07/2026

Happy Birthday to Mike Vale who has a birthday today, July 17! After Tommy James and The Shondells parted ways in 1970, Mike Vale was a founding member of "Hog Heaven" for a few years. "Happy" by Hog Heaven peaked at #98 on 5-1-1971 on the Billboard Hot 100. Here are some words about "Hog Heaven" by Mike Vale. Mike Vale is the former original bass player of Tommy James & The Shondells- "I'm sure most of you are aware that when Tommy & the Shondells went off in different directions in 1970, the Shondells formed "Hog Heaven". The group recorded two albums for Roulette Records, one was released, one shelved.

HOG HEAVEN- "HAPPY" (LONG VERSION) ℗ 1971 Roulette Records -Writers...

22/06/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHstICbqUPM THE CRYSTAL BLUE BAND (LIVE VIDEO CLIP)- "HAPPY". This video is from 2018. Thanks to my friend Vicki Burke who recorded this video in Panama City, FL. on 2/24/2018. "HAPPY" peaked at #98 on May 1,1971 as sung by the group "Hog Heaven. The Crystal Blue Band: Mike Vale-lead vocals & bassist, Eddie Gray-lead guitarist, Ron Rosman-lead vocals & keyboards, and Mike Wilps-drums. THE CRYSTAL BLUE BAND(LIVE VIDEO CLIP)- "HAPPY"

Thanks to my friend Vicki Burke who recorded this video at Panama C...

01/06/2026

Here are some words about "Hog Heaven" by Mike Vale. Mike Vale is the former original bass player of Tommy James & The Shondells- "I'm sure most of you are aware that when Tommy & the Shondells went off in different directions in 1970, the Shondells formed "Hog Heaven". The group recorded two albums for Roulette Records, one was released, one shelved. Bassist, songwriter and singer Mike Vale writes: "Our sixth "Year Of The Hog" post is a never published song by Hog Heaven. This song never got past the demo stage that is represented here, though at times I wish we had given it more attention. This is "Never Been As Happy" by Hog Heaven!"

Here are some words about "Hog Heaven" by Mike Vale. Mike Vale is the former original bass player of Tommy James & The Shondells- "I'm sure most of you are a...

03/05/2026

As you view the picture, Mike Vale is on the far right. Before Mike Vale was a Shondell in Tommy James and The Shondells, and before he was in Hog Heaven, Mike was in THE SONICS! They were the house band at "Harry's Danceland" in beautiful downtown Latrobe Pennsylvania!

26/04/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gji4RXw0YNA "HE IS THE KING" was written by Mike Vale. "David's Harp" consisted of Mike Vale and Bill Monach. Mike Vale is the former bass player of Tommy James & The Shondells who had many hits from 1966 to 1970. LYRICS: Every drop of rain that falls from Heaven Every blade of grass that wildly grows
Every life on earth twas ever given
Is controlled by One who all things knows
Every word twas ever penned or spoken
Every deed performed by you and me
Every heart that Satan's ever broken
Is observed by One who all things sees
chorus
He is the King of every nation
He is the Lord of all creation
And He's the hope of all salvation
Jesus was, is and shall ever be
Every hope too small for men to notice
Every dream too big for men to share
Every place too far for men to follow
Will my Savior's love be waiting there
(Repeat chorus)
And when this age of grace completely passes
And all sin returned again to Hell
And all the wealth of earth reduced to ashes
Still the power of Jesus shall prevail
(Repeat chorus) DAVID'S HARP- "HE IS THE KING"

15 likes, 9 comments. "DAVID'S HARP- "HE IS THE KING" (LYRICS)"

23/03/2026

Hog Heaven - Hog Heaven album cover

Label:
Collectors' Choice Music – CCM 962
Format:
CD, Reissue
Country:
US
Released:
2008
Genre:
Rock, Pop
Style:
1 Wilma Mae
2 Glass Room
3 Bumpin' Slapcar Mama
4 Prayer
5 Happy
6 Pennsylvania
7 Come Away
8 We All Go Down
9 Theme From A Thought
Bonus Tracks
10 Stoned Feelin'
11 Light Of The Lord
12 You And Me
13 If It Feels Good Do It
14 Free Spirit
Manufactured By – Rhino Entertainment Company
Published By – Big Seven Music Corp.
Arranged By – Hog Heaven
Design [Cover] – Suzy Langlots
Engineer – Bruce Staple, Harry Yarmark, Michael Consi*
Executive-Producer [Reissue] – Gordon Anderson
Liner Notes – Ed Osborne
Mastered By – Edward Grossman
Mastered By [Reissue] – Bob Fisher
Producer – Michael Vale*, Peter Lucia
Reissue of 1971 album with bonus tracks
The long-lost album from Tommy James' backing band The Shondells.

Comes with lyric sheet insert.

23/03/2026

(A side note to this song: Bruce Staple was the engineer on the album. Bruce's son Rob wrote this.... "I had the promotional album that my dad Bruce Staple brought home after he finished engineering that album. I rediscovered it when I was 14 and that whole summer I transferred that album to a cassette and that’s all I listened to on the boom box for an entire summer it was a great album." Rest in Peace Bruce and Rob Staple who are together again in Heaven). "In 1966, the Raconteurs were a bar band in Greensburg, PA who happened to be in the right place at the right time when Tommy James needed a new backing band after "Hanky Panky," a single he'd cut in 1963, suddenly became a major hit. Following several successful years with James as the Shondells, Eddie Gray (guitar), Peter Lucia (drums), Ron Rosman (keyboards), and Mike Vale (bass) decided to go back out on their own, adopting the name Hog Heaven and cutting their self-titled debut album in 1971. Given the brand of upbeat, radio-ready pop that had been Tommy James & the Shondells' stock in trade, it's a bit of a surprise that Hog Heaven is for the most part a solid country-rock set with some potent boogie rock thrown in, and that Gray shows off his skills on the pedal steel as often as he does on the six-string. "Wilma Mae" and "Pennsylvania" both cut a potent and funky groove and there's some lively chicken pickin' on "Bumpin' Slapcar Mama," while the band offers a subtle but clear Christian message on "Prayer" and "Theme from a Thought" and drifts amiably on the mildly psychedelic and mostly acoustic "Come Away." Their years as the Shondells had certainly molded Hog Heaven into a tight combo who knew how to play as a unit, and since they had helped James write several of his biggest hits, coming up with solid material wasn't a problem (though the melodies are often better than the lyrics here). Hog Heaven is flawed by the fact the band didn't have an especially compelling frontman or a lead singer as good as James, but this is more than just a curio for Tommy James fans, and it's a shame that this band never had the chance to release another LP."
(AllMusic Review by Mark Deming ) HOG HEAVEN- "IF IT FEELS GOOD DO IT"

"In 1966, the Raconteurs were a bar band in Greensburg, PA who happened to be in the right place at the right time when Tommy James needed a new backing band...