I was contacted by Jim Nosakowski in March 2002 after he had read my raving review of the Rainy Days' version of 'I Can Only Give You Everything'. He asked me to contact him if there was anything else I'd like to know about the band or the unusual circumstances of the records release. Now that was great news! The Rainy days' 'I Can Only Give You Everything' is not only one of the very best versions ever, the history of the band was shrouded in mystery. A few days later I was able to interview Jim and lead singer Tom Brzezina exclusively for this site.

Koen Goossens: So glad you contacted me and that you're willing to do this interview with me. I reckon your version is one of my all time favorites. MC5's version is still unbeatable to my ears, but you guys are close on their heels. You're both from Detroit, Michigan of course, did you guys know each other back then?

Jim Nosakwoski: Not really. We knew of them and saw a couple of their shows, but they were in a little different 'theatre' than we were.

Tom Brzezina: I'm a huge MC5 fan-I must have seen them play 30 or 40 times in their hey day. I did like their version of ICOGYE. I also have some affection for 'One Of The Guys'. Other than the 'Looking At You' / 'Borderline' single on A-Square, though, I don't think their records ever did them justice. When the 5 were on their game, they were an unbeatable live band - incendiary rock 'n' roll, steeped in R&B, and augmented with Avant Garde jazz. I saw them rip many a 'national' band to shreds.
We didn't know the 5 during the Rainy Days period, I was barely aware of them. We played just before them at one of the teen fairs (I think it was the Carnaby Street Festival). They did 'Mellow Down Easy' and a great version of 'C.C. Rider' that was sort of a musical precursor to 'Borderline'.
I did become quite friendly with Wayne Kramer later on. We opened for the MC5 a few times with Target, the band I was in after the Rainy Days. And they used to frequent Massimino's, a music store we all hung out at. During the 70s, I was in a band managed by John Sinclair called Deliverance - me, Drew Abbot (of Third Power and Silver Bullet Band fame), and couple of Motown studio players. Wayne (fresh out of jail) would stop by rehearsals and we'd share a beer or two. I ran into Wayne off and on through the years, and - in the 80s - we were both involved with Was (Not Was).
Here's an ICOGYE factoid for you: When Rob Tyner passed away, there was a benefit for his family at the State Theater in Detroit. A lot of bands played, including the briefly reunited Rationals and a Tyner-less MC5. The highlight of the show for me, though, was a killer version of ICOGYE from the Romantics, with John Badanjek of the Detroit Wheels filling in on drums.

Koen Goossens: When did you become interested in music, what type of music were you listening to when you were a kid?

Tom Brzezina: Same as everybody else, I imagine. Early on, I was crazy about Dion and Del Shannon.
In '63, when I started taking guitar lessons, I got into surf music. When the Beatles hit, I knew I had to be in a band. By the time the Rainy Days got together, the holy trinity was the Rolling Stones, the Animals and Them. The Days must have done just about every song from the Stones' and Animals' first few albums along with quite a few by Them. From there, it was a baby step to becoming a dyed-in-the-wool blues and soul fan. It was the MC5, oddly enough, who later turned me on to jazz.

Jim Nosakwoski: My Mom really liked music and so I was exposed to a variety of music and liked it all, big band, Dixieland, and folk, like the Kingston Trio stuff. But I was really blown away when I first heard Elvis' 'Hound Dog', and I think the first record I bought was Jerry Lee Lewis' 'Great Balls Of Fire'.

Koen Goossens: Was the Rainy Days your first band?

Jim Nosakwoski: No. My first group was formed in 1962 in Jr. High. I played piano and we called ourselves Nero and the Firemen. In the next group I played drums and we called ourselves the 69'ers, after the year we were all going to graduate from College. This group was a little more serious about music and we began to actually get paid for playing, began developing that 'musician' attitude.

Tom Brzezina: I was in a few garage bands, but the Rainy Days were the first band that went out and played on a regular basis.

Koen Goossens: When and how were the Rainy Days formed, were you an original member of the band? Tell us a bit about the early days.

Jim Nosakwoski: The joining of two bands, 69'ers, and a group called the Brimstones formed the Rainy Days in 1966, but at first we were called Mogan David and The Grapes of Wrath. It was the lead singer, myself and the organist from the 69'ers that joined with the lead and rhythm guitar players from the Brimstones. We then added a bass player. Our first organist Jon Isaacson left after one gig and was replaced by his brother Paul. We had great fun. Playing dances, teen clubs and frat parties, anyplace that wanted a band. And, of course auditioning all over Detroit in hope that someone would sign us to a recording contract. We all became good friends, and spent a lot of time together, which I think made us one of the tightest bands around and a good bet to find a manager to help us get 'big'.

Tom Brzezina: Jim and I were trying to pull a band together around the remnants of his former band, the 69'ers. Our keyboard player, Jon Isaacson, introduced us to the Brimstones, his brother Paul's band. The Brimstones were already playing regularly. I'm a little fuzzy on the next part. I think we had a trial rehearsal, things seemed to click, and we decided to make it a band. We played lots of high school dances, teen clubs, radio station record hops, fraternity parties, battles of the bands - we played all the time. Lots of fun. Lots of great memories.

Koen Goossens: How did you get signed to Panik Records? There's one other band on Panik that I can think of right now: the Only Ones who issued 'Find A Way' b/w 'You're The Reason' (Panik 5112)

Jim Nosakwoski: Our bass player was hitchhiking to practice one day and got a ride from a gentleman who noticed his bass case and asked if his band was any good. The guy (Bob Hankins) came to our practice, thought we had potential and asked us if he could manage the band. Eventually he and his partner offered us our recording contract. There were only two other bands from that era that I know of that were on our label, The Shy Guys and The Amboy Dukes. (Editor's note: this is not the case, the Amboy Dukes didn't release any singles on Panik - they were on Mainsteam Records, however they were also managed by Bob Hankins. He's right about the Shy Guys of course, how could I forget: they did the great 'We Gotta Go' b/w 'Lay It On The Line' (Panik 5111). 4 of the Panik sides ('We Gotta Go' - 'Lay It On The Line' - 'You're The Reason' & 'I Can Only Give You everything') can be heard on the 'Sixties Archives #7' CD)

Tom Brzezina: Our bass player, John Einowski, was hitchhiking to Massimino's and got picked up by the guys who ran Panik - Tony Printz, Bob Hankins, and Joe (can't remember his last name). John told them about our band and they came to a rehearsal. I guess they liked what they heard, because they signed us. It was Tony and Bob who suggested we record ICOGYE.
I'm aware of one band that was on Panik - the Shy Guys, who had a single called 'We Gotta Go'.

Koen Goossens: Are the two Panik singles ('Turn On Your Love Light' b/w 'Go On And Cry' - Panik 7542 & 'I Can Only Give You Everything' b/w 'Go On And Cry' - Panik 7566) the only singles you did?

Tom Brzezina: They were the only singles that were released.

Jim Nosakwoski: Yes, but we originally released ICOGYE backed with our version of 'Dirty Old Man' by the Fugs. I sang lead on it and our manager cleaned up the words a little. There still might be a few copies of that one around.

Koen Goossens: You guys must have been big Them fans - not only did you record 'I Can Only Give You Everything' - you also recorded a version of 'Turn On Your Love Light', originally done by Bobby Bland, but also covered by Them on the 'Them Again' album.

Tom Brzezina: I could be wrong, but don't think we did 'Lovelight' based on Them's version. It was just one of those songs that everybody did back then, like 'Shake a Tail Feather' and 'Little Latin Lupe Lu'.

Jim Nosakwoski: We really dug 'em, still do, but we really had a heavy R&B playlist.

Koen Goossens: Why did you choose to record a cover version of 'I Can Only Give You Everything'?

Jim Nosakwoski: It wasn't the usual three-cord progression stuff. It had character, a cool modulation, was a natural for our singer and that driving rhythm that could get people moving.

Tom Brzezina: We were big Them fans, though. When Tony and Bob brought up ICOGYE as a recording possibility, we were all over it.

Koen Goossens: Just when exactly was 'I Can Only Give You Everything' released? Before or after the MC5's version?

Tom Brzezina: I'm not sure.

Jim Nosakwoski: Before. An interesting fact is that they recorded their version one week after we did, at the same recording studio, United Sound in Detroit. Do you think that's why theirs was so good?

Koen Goossens: Whoa, I always thought it was the opposite way around and that you copied their version! I'll have to compare the Rainy Days' and MC5's ICOGYE and check it out! (Editor's note: I gave both versions a similarity check and I think it's fair to say that MC5's version takes off where the Rainy Days' ended. They must have heard the Rainy Days' version and gave it that extra kick. That means bonus points to the Rainy days from me!!!)

Koen Goossens: How many copies were pressed/sold?

Tom Brzezina: Don't know.

Jim Nosakwoski: I'm sure our manager knows, but I know that we had to press more once we appeared on the local dance show 'Swingin Time'.

Koen Goossens: Did you record any other stuff that remained unreleased? Any chance of them being released?

Jim Nosakwoski: We recorded a third single 'Without A Soul', an original that got to the master stage, but money was tight and it never did get released. I'm trying to get the guys to record it again and maybe put it out if there's some interest.

Tom Brzezina: We recorded a version of the Fugs' 'Dirty Old Man', that was supposed to B-side one of the singles. 'Without A Soul' was written by Dennis Wezalis of Robert Walker and the Nightriders (another local band). I saw Tony Printz a few years back - he told me he's searched high and low for the 'Without A Soul' master, but can't find it. I don't know about 'Dirty Old Man'.

Koen Goossens: Did you know that 'I Can Only Give You Everything' was covered so many times?

Jim Nosakwoski: I knew about a couple of versions, but certainly not that many.

Tom Brzezina: I knew a few bands had recorded it over the years, but nothing like 93!

Koen Goossens: Is 'Go On And Cry' an original tune? How come it was released twice as a B-side?

Jim Nosakwoski: Yes it was, our manager wrote it, we arranged it. Why twice? Economics and we needed something to replace 'Dirty Old Man'. Actually there were a few disc jockeys who thought that it should be the A-side. But we wanted to be known for being a hard-driving group.

Tom Brzezina: Yes, Tony Printz wrote 'Go On and Cry', and putting it on both singles was his decision. He probably did it for the mechanical rights in case one of them took off.

Koen Goossens: What other songs did you play live?

Jim Nosakwoski: 'I Feel Good', 'Louie, Louie', 'Come On Up', 'Good Lovin', 'Paint It Black', and a lot of album cuts that no one else was playing.

Tom Brzezina: Oh, God. We probably knew a couple of hundred songs. Lots of British Invasion. Chuck Berry. R&B. I remember one of our later sets included 'Come On Up' by the Rascals, the Butterfield version of 'Mary, Mary' (written by Mike Nesmith) and 'Hey Gyp', the Donovan tune. I used to love doing 'Send You Back To Walker', 'We've Got A Good Thing Going', 'The Last Time', 'Bring It On Home To Me', 'Out Of Sight' and 'I Go Crazy'. Gary was a really good singer back then, and I tended to dig the tunes we sang harmony on.

Koen Goossens: What artists/bands influenced you the most?

Jim Nosakwoski: The Rolling Stones and The Animals and consequently all the blues players Muddy Waters etc. that influenced those bands.

Tom Brzezina: We were really big on the Animals. At least, I was. And I know Paul was, too. The Stones were probably the archetype, though. Jim and I were pretty big on the blues. We spent many a late night at the Chessmate digging John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Howling Wolf, etc. The Chessmate was a coffee house that was open all night, so we could go after gigs. I remember seeing Elvin Bishop sit in with the Siegal-Schwall band (they did 'Hey, Leroy' by Jimmy Castor and Herbie Hancock's 'Watermelon Man') at the Chessmate. And James Cotton doing a roof-burning version of 'Lovelight'. I also saw the Blues Magoos there.
Like everyone else, I used to read and re-read the liner notes on the early Animals, Stones and Them albums. I'd track down original versions of songs they did. I'd buy albums by artists they mentioned - James Brown, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Marvin Gaye, Don Covay, Nina Simone, and on and on. I became a soul music obsessive - if it wasn't soul or blues, I didn't want to hear it.
I completely missed the whole San Francisco scene, and I still can't relate to it. I remember a friend of mine coming over with the new Animals single. Eric Burdon was my boy, so a new single was a major event. A few seconds after putting it on, though, I couldn't believe what I was hearing - 'San Franciscan Nights'. Furious at what I perceived to be Burdon's abandonment of the soul ethic, I ripped it off the turntable and threw it out of my second story bedroom window like a frisbee.

Koen Goossens: What regional/national/international bands did you perform with?

Jim Nosakwoski: We were on the same bill as Stevie Wonder, Tommy James and the Shondells, James Brown, Bob Seger and the Last Heard (who we used to kill in the battle of the bands) and the Yardbirds were a few.

Tom Brzezina: Quite a few. Local: Bob Seger, Rationals, Unrelated Segments, Tidal Waves, Only Ones, Woolies, Terry Knight and the Pack, among others. National: Beau Brummels, Tommy James and the Shondells, and I know there were tons of others but memory fails. We did appear on TV (Swingin' Time) with James Brown. That was a kick.

Koen Goossens: Did you hang out with any of the other Detroit bands?

Jim Nosakwoski: I really didn't. Just the Rainy Days We did pretty much everything together.

Tom Brzezina: Not during the Rainy Days' tenure. Later in life, Jon Wearing of the Tidal Waves and I were very tight. I got to know Mitch Ryder when he recorded a song I wrote. I hung out a lot with Jim McCarty, John Badanjek and Joe Cubert of the Wheels during the late 70s - early 80s. I also saw Denny of the Wanted quite a bit during the same period. John Ruff of the Human Beings was one of my closest friends for a long time.

Koen Goossens: Tell us a bit about 'Swingin' Time', the local TV dance show that the Rainy Days appeared on. Did any footage of this survive?

Jim Nosakwoski: We appeared on the local dance show 'Swingin' Time' which was televised from Windsor Canada, after ICOGYE was the winner of the record contest for three days in a row we were asked to be on another 6 or 7 times. Boy was that a gas. That's when we met all of the Motown greats and became friends with the disk jockeys who had us play at all of their dances.
We've tried to find footage of the show, but it seems a lot was recorded over and the stuff that is still around is owned by Robin Seymore, who was the the host of the show.

Koen Goossens: What about that Rainy Daze band that had a big hit with 'That Acapulco Gold'? Was there a struggle about who owned the name?

Jim Nosakwoski: Not really, it wasn't really a big hit in Detroit, but they did get a couple of sales from people that thought they were us.

Tom Brzezina: I think Jim had the single. That was about the extent of my awareness of the Rainy Daze.

Koen Goossens: What do you think about the new interest in mid 60's garage music that's been going on for nearly 2 decades?

Jim Nosakwoski: I think it's great, and about time. There was a lot of good music being played back then by some really great musicians. It's real music, raw, not slicked up; an honest music by guys who enjoyed playing.

Tom Brzezina: I love it. There's a certain spirit in garage music that's undeniable - it's cathartic. It was all about having a blast back then, and you can hear it in the music. Al said it best in a Goldmine interview: 'We were loud, we were cheap and we could bang it out.'

Koen Goossens: What's your fondest memory about being in the Rainy Days?

Jim Nosakwoski: I think it would be the camaraderie and the musical bond that was formed with all the guys in the band. Doing something that not a lot of people get to do. Going out to eat after a job, the Canadian gigs, the border crossings, the fan club, of course the girls - and being able to be part of a very important time in music.

Tom Brzezina: A few of us were in my parents' basement when we heard ICOGYE on the radio for the first time. We went nuts. We were dancing around and screaming like maniacs.

Koen Goossens: What lead to the break up of the band? Were you in any other band after that?

Jim Nosakwoski: I think it was after the let down of not releasing our third single. Which we all thought was going to be the one that sent us into stardom. It took the wind out of our sails and we kind of tuned out for a while.
I was a studio drummer and travelled around sitting in and playing congas with other bands. Then I started up my first blues band, Georgia Sam, in 1972, and in 1995 Al Hafeli from the Rainy Days and I formed the Greg Ganz Band and we're back doin what we like the best - playing.

Tom Brzezina: It just sort of drifted apart. Paul and I were the youngest and we were on one track. Jim, Al and Gary were on another. John eventually left to play with Bob Hodge. I don't think there was any big break-up scene. In fact, we were still doing frat party gigs long after the band had officially broken up.
After the Rainy Days, I was in a band called Target with Dennis Wezalis, the guy who wrote the Days' third and unreleased single. Paul Isaacson, the Days' keyboard player was in a later version of that band. After that, I was in Howl with Jim McAllister (Detroit Wheels), Deliverance with Drew Abbot, and a long string of bar bands. My last full-time band was the Buzztones. We released a 12" EP ('Encyclopedia') produced by Don Was.

Koen Goossens: Were you aware that your version of 'I Can Only Give You Everything' is featured on these bootleg compilations? What are your comments on that?

Jim Nosakwoski: Not until Al told me one of his students' dad had a record with the Rainy Days on it. I think it was the Michigan Mayhem album. Then my daughters' boyfriend told me he heard both Rainy Days records being played on a late night radio show on National Public Radio. Talk about wild. Whew!

Tom Brzezina: Yes, I've seen a couple. I actually bought one (can't remember which), but the sound was horrible. I don't have it anymore, I don't know what happened to it.

End of story. In the meantime the guys have been searching high and low for the original masters of their recordings, including the never released third single and the withdrawn 'Dirty Old Man'. If they can be traced, Break-A-Way Records in Germany will probably issue a 10" album with will include all 6 songs. Cross your fingers...