Enter the Bob Corff Time Machine
Travel through time and experience these rare photographs, videos and audio tracks
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GAS-s-s-s – The Movie – Trailer
Gas-s-s-s (on-screen title: Gas! – Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It.) is a 1970 post-apocalyptic black comedy film produced and released by American International Pictures.
The lead characters, Coel and Cilla, are played by Robert Corff and Elaine Giftos, and the cast features Ben Vereen, Cindy Williams, Bud Cort and Talia Shire (credited as “Tally Coppola”) in early roles. Country Joe McDonald makes an appearance, as spokesman “AM Radio.”
Several songs from the Gas-s-s-s Soundtrack are featured here in the Bob Corff Time Machine.
Don’t Chase Me Around
I sang the lead vocal on “Don’t Chase Me Around.” Quentin Tarantino found this song on the soundtrack for the film “GAS-s-s-s,” a movie in which I also played the lead. Forty years later Tarantino put the song on the soundtrack of his great 2019 movie, “Once upon a Time in Hollywood.” The album was nominated for a Grammy in 2020; I had to wait 40 years for this song to be a success. What a beautiful gift from the Universe.
The Purple Gang – Bring Your Own Self Down
Here is a song by The Purple Gang. We mostly recorded for MGM records and it was a wonderful first band to be involved with. I was the Lead Singer, on Piano, the great Harry Asher, Lead Guitarist, Alan Wisdom, on Bass, Marty Tryon, Rhythm Guitar was Mark Landon, and our Drummer, Tom Atwater. When I look back now I realize how lucky I was that these guys got together with me. This is a song called “Bring Your Own Self Down” written by Tanden Almer, who had just written “Along Comes Mary” for the Association. This was our second single recorded at Western Studios on Sunset Boulevard where I met, before anyone had heard or seen them, “The Mamas and the Papas.” We had the same engineer: Bones Howe. I could not explain what I had seen or heard. I tried to tell my friends what the group looked like and how they sounded. Nobody got their greatness until they heard their first song, “California Dreamin'” come on the radio.
The Ark – Poverty Train (1967)
When the Purple Gang broke up, our co-manager, Tony Richland, was hanging out with the amazing singer/songwriter, Nilsson. After hearing him play a new song he had written, Tony said, “That’s my favorite song.” And Harry Nilsson called that song, “Mr. Richland‘s Favorite Song “ on his next album. Tony (and his wife and co-manager, Rosemary) wanted me to be the lead singer and create a new band called The Ark (also on MGM). We met with a songwriter that at that time no one had ever heard of. Her name was Laura Nyro, who became one of the great singer songwriters of her time. She played us two songs: “Stone Soul Picnic” and “Poverty Train.” We picked “Poverty Train.” Here it is…
The Purple Gang – Answer the Phone
This is the first song The Purple Gang ever recorded. It was written by my friend, pianist and songwriter, Harry Asher, for Jerden records. What fun it was to sing.
ANSWER THE PHONE
The Purple Gang – I Know What I Am
Here’s The Purple Gang again. This was the A side of our first single, “I Know What I Am.” We had some good times…
Bob Corff & Bindra – I’m Free
To practice singing and for writing songs, I played the guitar. Here’s a song I wrote words and music on and sang at a friends house (Bindra Danks). We recorded it on his reel-to-reel tape recorder; very high tech in 1967! Listen to a young hippie’s wishes and dreams: “I’m Free”…
I'M FREE
Got to Get Movin’
Now back to a real studio in San Francisco with the producer of the soundtrack for the film “GAS-s-s-s.” So here’s how this all came about…
Barry Melton was a kid I went to high school with. I remember one time he brought his guitar to school, and I think I sang with him once. After graduation we went our separate ways. Now it’s 1969 and I’m doing the lead in Roger Corman‘s movie “GAS-s-s-s.” We’re on location in New Mexico at a drive-in movie theater. There are hundreds of hippies as extras and we’re walking through this “love-in,” seeing all the wild and weird kids, dancing and drugging, and doing really far out things. Country Joe and the Fish had been hired to do the soundtrack. They are at the front of the drive-in and they’re gonna do a song in the scene. So when I wasn’t needed, I went up through the crowd to Country Joe and the Fish. They were very hot right then because they had just played at Woodstock. So I get close up to the band to watch them play and I’m looking at the band, and look at each player, and I see the lead guitarist; I can’t believe my eyes. When the song ends I move closer and I say to the guitarist, “Barry?” And he looks at me and says “Bob?” It was my friend from high school! He had written all the songs for the movie! The producer of the movie (who had first seen me doing the lead in Hair at the Aquarius theater, so he knew I could sing), later asked me to sing on the “GAS-s-s-s” soundtrack. The reason being Country Joe and the Fish’s label wouldn’t let them record for another record company. I, of course, said, “Yes,” and flew up to San Francisco where Barry Melton was living. Barry produced the album with the music performed by Country Joe and the Fish and me doing all the vocals. Sounds crazy but it’s true. Here’s “Got to Get Movin’,” written by my high school friend, Barry Melton.
Robert Corff – Find It for Yourself
This song was written by my best friend in high school, Dennis Olivieri. He was a genius! He opened my mind about Show Business. Dennis taught me about acting, singing, movement and how to be with women. He expanded my mind. And, of course, he got me into some trouble! One time, Dennis asked me if I wanted to go to a bar and sing, and I said, “Yes!!” So we went, and before we could get up and sing, the police came in and we got arrested for being in a bar at 15 years of age. We spent four or five hours in a holding cell, and while there, Dennis told me, “This is a lot nicer than the last cell I was in.” I said, “THE LAST CELL YOU WERE IN?” “What were you in for?” He said, “GTH.” I asked, “What’s GTH?” He said, “Grand Theft Horse.” “Grand Theft Horse?!” I asked? Dennis told me he had stolen Rifleman star Johnny Crawford’s horse! As you can guess my mother and father really didn’t like me being in jail. My father saw Dennis at a high school event and later said to me, “I hate that kid, but he sure has got charisma.” He could do anything. And he did. Here’s a song he wrote and I just had to sing, “Find it for Yourself.”
FIND IT FOR YOURSELF
Robert Corff – Fly in the Sky
Here is another song that I wrote the words and music. Thanks to my friend (in heaven) Ralph (aka Raul, Rabindra and Bindra) Danks for singing back up harmonies.
FLY IN THE SKY
Robert Corff – Jesus Christ Superstar – Gethsemane (Live)
In 1971 I was the first performer to play Jesus in the United States. It was in Robert Stigwood’s production of Jesus Christ superstar. Now come back to more modern times. About eight or nine years ago I got something in the mail. It was a cassette recording of a 1971 performance of Jesus Christ superstar where I was playing Jesus. I couldn’t believe my ears. It must’ve been recorded on a small cassette player sitting on the persons lap that sent me the cassette. When you’re in the theater you rarely, or more truthfully never, get to hear a recording of your live performance, especially not in 1971. It was a rock band and a full orchestra in a big theater. And to my surprise it was a better quality than it should’ve been. Here it is, take a listen. I did over 1000 performances as Jesus between 1971 and 1978. This is from the the first few weeks or months of my nine month contract. I feel so grateful to have been given the privilege to do Jesus Christ Superstar. Thank you, Robert Stigwood, thank you Andrew Lloyd Webber and thank you Tim Rice.
Tim Rice, Bob Corff & Andrew Lloyd Webber talking to the press after the show.
Jesus Christ Superstar - Gethsemane (Live)
Bboy Iron Monkey – Please Don’t Bury My Soul
This is a song from GAS-s-s-s by Barry Melton. It’s sad and moving. Little did any of us know that years later a rap song was made using this track. And there are Break Dancers doing wonderful things on this video. Warning!: At 1 minute and 15 seconds the rap uses profanity. If you can’t take profanity, stop the song. if you can take profanity, please listen and watch. You’ll hear and see some amazingly magical moments!
I’m Looking for a World
This song is from the GAS-s-s-s soundtrack. It is so of it’s time; it’s upbeat. I can tell you personally, I really thought people would come to their senses and see how beautiful it would be to live in peace and love. It seemed to me to be so clear what to do. Be kind to each other. Help people and give from your heart. I’m still sad today that it did not happen. I remember in the 80s Peter Fonda saying, “Money is the long hair of today.” I guess I’m just an old hippie.
The Ark – Daily Reminder
This is the B Side of “Poverty Train,” performed by the group The Ark for which I was the lead singer. “Daily Reminder,” on MGM Records, is kinda psychedelic. Enjoy your trip.
Maybe It Wasn’t Really Love
This is another track from “GAS-s-s-s,” a young man’s musings about love and relationships and life. Remember, this is a period piece. Listen to an older point of view, it’s not good or bad, it’s just whatever it was. Life will keep changing. If you can, enjoy. Watch the dance of life.
The Purple Gang – No Matter What You Do
This is The Purple Gang’s own version of “No Matter What You Do” by the group Love. The Purple Gang used to go to a club in Hollywood called (I believe) Bido Lido’s, to watch the group Love. They were such good musicians, and they seemed a bit dangerous…
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO
World That We All Dreamed of
My friend Barry wrote this rocker. It’s saying, “Now is our chance!” Our generation did what we could, but the grown-ups and bankers did slow us down and most people finally joined them. I stayed in Show Business, so I luckily, got more time to dream and play. Our generation expanded the world’s consciousness, a bit. Keep leaning into the expansion.
Everyday – Theme Song
“Everyday” was a talk/variety show on TV in 1978 and 79. I think it was my favorite job in Show Business. And I had some great jobs: Claude in “Hair,” 11 months, 8 shows a week; Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” 9 Months in 1971. I took a year off and then for the rest of the 1970s, whenever I wasn’t working, I would go off and do a production or tour. I ended up doing over a 1000 performances of “Superstar.” Then I played Danny Zuko in “Grease.” I was one of the last performers under contract with Universal Studios, who owned the rights to “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
We shot the “Everyday” show at CBS on Beverly and Fairfax. We would rehearse for two days and tape the show for three days, five shows a week. We had a great band with Tony Berg, a young genius, as our Musical Director. And if the song needed it, they brought in a string section. I got to sing with Smokey Robinson and Judy Collins and many more. I sang at least three or four solo songs a week and the talented cast would do great backups for each other. We did lots of comedy sketches and some serious sketches. We would go to stars’ houses, like Phyllis Diller, and goof off, ad lib and play around. It was a delight! Back at the CBS studio on the other stages were “Three’s Company” with John Ritter and Suzanne Summers. We would fool around with them in the hallways. And Mary Tyler Moore was doing a new show; some of the people in that cast were David Letterman and Michael Keaton. “The Young and the Restless” was next door. CBS was a great place to work. And I had my first real experience of being recognized. At first, only when a bunch of the cast would go out to lunch together, people would stare and point. And then, even when I was on my own, people would smile and wave at me or come up and sing the theme song or ask for an autograph. I enjoyed it. I also experienced the slight downside at a movie intermission when a person was asking me a lot of questions about the show, standing at the next urinal. I saw my “celebrity” grow. And then, when the show was cancelled, I experienced, slowly but surely, the attention dissolving away. I loved the cast: Stephanie Edwards, John Bennett Perry, Murray Langston, Tom Chapin, Anne Bloom and Judy Gibson. A wonderful group of people. The real reason it was my favorite show was besides loving the singing, comedy and stuff, I got to share a dressing room with Murray Langston, the “Unknown Comic,” and he’d make me laugh all day. And then they would call me to do a song and I’d I go down and do it with great musicians, and a fabulous audience cheering. Then I’d go back to my dressing room and we would continue laughing. I got to do sketches with the cast and it was just fun. I’m still friends with Murray. He is a wonderful man and he still makes my beautiful wife, Claire, and I, laugh. A few years ago. I asked Murray what he remembers most about the “Everyday” show. He said I just know we laughed a lot.
EVERYDAY - THEME (VOCAL)
This Is the Beginning
Here is the last song in this collection of Bob Corff Classics. I like it because each day is a new beginning.
I want to thank you for taking a musical journey with me from 1965 to 1979. And there’s three songs from 2014 the second time with a few of us from the Purple Gang. We gave it a try one more time. I feel totally grateful. In 1980, during the Actors Strike, I became a voice and dialect coach. I have had the good fortune of working with some of the most brilliant artists in the world today. What a great privilege and joy it has been. And it continues to be for Claire and me.
With love, Bob
The Purple Gang 2014 – Baby Please Don’t Go
Today it is almost 2025. in 2014, I got a surprise call from an old friend and bandmate of mine, Harry Asher. He was the pianist and songwriter from my days with the group, The Purple Gang. He said, “I was thinking, it might be interesting to get the band together again. We’re all still connected to music. I’m in touch with everyone.” He continued, “You and I are the only ones still living in Los Angeles, but we can send files through the Internet and we can all participate. Do you wanna do it?” It had never entered my mind but I was intrigued. Harry asked, “Why don’t you come to my place? I have a studio in my house and we can pick a song, a cover, just to see what we sound like and see if it’s worth it or not.” The band had broken up 47 years ago. So that Saturday I went to Harry’s house. We talked and threw some songs around. I think Harry said, “How about ‘Baby please don’t go’?” I said, “Yes” and we called the rest of the Gang and got the okay. That week, Harry sent out his track of the song and over the next several days, the other band members sent back their tracks. The following Saturday I went and put my vocal down. What fun! Here is “Baby Please Don’t Go.” Take a listen…
Baby Please Don't Go
The Purple Gang 2014 – She’s Like a Melody
The next month we recorded a Harry Asher song, ”She’s Like a Melody.” Much more complex. The other players, Mark Bensi on guitar, Harry Asher, keyboard and drums and me. It was a blast to sing. Check it out.
After a few months the holidays showed up . And we all drifted back to our live’s and wive’s. It had been an unexpected, interesting and joyful experience. I’m glad it happened.
My life included my beautiful and wonderful wife Claire and our love for each other and the love of our business. Teaching voice and all aspects of it. We were blessed twice. Wow, to love our successful and so satisfying life as teachers. You know I have been teaching for over 40 years and I still love it. Claire and I both had our first careers as actors and singers. And when the time was right, we both moved on to our second careers. How lucky we are.
She's Like a Melody
The Purple Gang 2014 – Sweet Soul Eyes
This last sort of Purple Gang song came about when the tracks were being sent back and forth from state to state. This track, I think written by Harry Asher landed at my house. It had no words or melody, but I liked it. I quickly wrote some words. My wife Claire may have given me a few lines, and I made up a melody. I recall I recorded this in my own little studio, “Sweet Soul Eyes.” This is the last time I wrote and sang a song and recorded it. I’m glad I did it. But this is something I’ve learned after all these years: You never know what tomorrow may bring; I’m always looking for something amazing!
Sweet Soul Eyes
HAIR podcast episode 3 – Bob Corff
Here is a podcast I did about my time in the show “Hair.”
The Purple Gang
The Purple Gang
Bob Corff signing autographs during the matinee of Jesus Christ Superstar
Tim Rice, Bob Corff and Andrew Lloyd Webber talking to the press after the show
Just for Kicks Compilation Album Cover
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Movie Poster
The Everyday Show cast
GAS-s-s-s Movie Poster
2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards Bob Corff Access Pass
The Purple Gang
