Milk 'N' Cookies

Milk 'N' Cookies
Origin Long Island, NY
Genres Power pop[1]
Years active 1973–1977, 2005-2008
Labels Island, RPM, Radio Heartbeat
Associated acts Ian North, Radio, Neo, Roxy Music, Sparks, Paul Collins Beat
Past members
  • Ian North
  • Mike Ruiz
  • Justin Strauss
  • Jay Weis
  • Sal Maida

Milk 'N' Cookies was a power pop band from Long Island, New York. Active during the 1970s, a particularly fertile and creative period in the suburban New York music scene, the band had a loyal following of fans attracted to their unique sound. Although they didn't receive the radio airplay and attention from mainstream labels given to other New York based bands of the time, they were influential, and have now achieved considerable cult status for contributions in the area where pop, glam, and proto-punk overlap.[2]

History

Milk 'N' Cookies was formed in early 1973, when Ian North, an aspiring artist and musician from Woodmere, NY, his best friend, bass player Jay Weis, and a drummer named Mike Ruiz recruited reluctant vocalist Justin Strauss to join them in a band. While many other metro New York based bands of the time like the Ramones and Blue Öyster Cult had edgier personas and harder sounds, Milk 'N' Cookies crafted a more wholesome, pop sensibility.[3] Strauss' twelve-year-old sister came up with the band's name, which supported their image and sound.

Milk 'N' Cookies quickly found an audience, playing at Long Island and New York bars, clubs,[4] and high school dances. They started to promote a demo tape, which eventually made its way to John Hewlett, the manager of the band Sparks. During this time, Weis left the band and was replaced by Sal Maida, a bass player who'd previously played with Roxy Music.[5]

Hewlett was instrumental in getting Milk 'N' Cookies into the studio, and in 1974 they went to England to begin recording with producer Muff Winwood, who'd recently worked with Sparks.[6] The self named album, recorded for Island Records had upbeat, catchy songs with titles like,"Little, Lost And Innocent", "We Go On Dancing" and "Rabbits Make Love".[7]

Island released a single, "Little, Lost And Innocent" backed with "Good Friends",[8] but when it failed to chart, the release of the album was shelved.[9]

Milk 'N' Cookies was finding that although their robust live sound came closer to the punk music played by other bands with which they shared bills at clubs like CBGB and Max's Kansas City,[10] their wholesome image appealed to a different audience. As Sal Maida's put it in NME "Our visuals appeal to the younger kids and the raw act and strength of our material should pull in the progressives."[11] (The sound of Milk 'N' Cookies' live set is preserved in a 14 song live album recorded at CBGB in 1976)[12][13]

When Island offered Ian North a solo deal, he left Milk 'N' Cookies and moved to London. He formed Ian North's Radio, which eventually became the band Neo. North remained in England until 1979, and upon returning to New York pursued a solo career, releasing a few solo disks.[14]

Milk 'N' Cookies recorded a few more demos, but no further albums were released. They reunited in 2005 to play the Radio Heartbeat Power Pop Fest in Brooklyn, NY[15] and had their album reissued in 2005 by the RPM label and by Radio Heartbeat in 2008.[16]

Influence

Milk 'N' Cookies has been cited as an influence by bands like Cheap Time out of Nashville, Tennessee.[17]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "Milk 'N' Cookies – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Ian North: Tinkertoy Tomorrow Today". Scram Magazine. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  3. ↑ "MILK 'N' COOKIES Review". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  4. ↑ Ian Robbins. "IAN NORTH - MILK 'N' COOKIES". Trouser Press LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  5. ↑ "MILK 'N' COOKIES HISTORY". Powerpop. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  6. ↑ "MILK 'N' COOKIES HISTORY". Powerpop. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Milk 'N' Cookies". Discogs. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  8. ↑ "MILK 'N' COOKIES HISTORY". Powerpop. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Milk'n'Cookies Live At CBGB". WFMU. January 24, 2006.
  10. ↑ "Milk'n'Cookies Live At CBGB". WFMU. January 24, 2006.
  11. ↑ "MILK 'N' COOKIES HISTORY". Powerpop. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  12. ↑ "MILK 'N' COOKIES HISTORY". Powerpop. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Milk'n'Cookies Live At CBGB". WFMU. January 24, 2006.
  14. ↑ Ira Robbins. "IAN NORTH - MILK 'N' COOKIES". Trouser Press LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  15. ↑ Todd Killings (Mar 29, 2007). "Radio Heartbeat Pop Fest Starts Today". Victomoftime.com.
  16. ↑ "Milk 'N' Cookies". Discogs. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Cheap Time Biography". iTunes. Retrieved August 4, 2012.

External links

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