Album Notes

Creating the 60s Sound—40 Years Later

A three-person band, “NB3,” has completed a CD of 12 original songs—after a 40-year hiatus.

The two brothers and a friend in Salt Lake City, Utah, formed NB3 in the mid-60s. Like many “basement bands” at the time, they emulated the sounds of the “British Invasion:” Kinks, Animals, Rolling Stones, and, of course, the Beatles. Their original songs also drew from these influences. The band broke up when the brothers’ family moved to Virginia. None pursued a musical career, and the songs were forgotten.

Until 2003, that is. Drummer Jim Potter found the lyrics sheets and chords of eleven songs in an old box stored in his garage. A close look and good memory led him to conclude that the songs really did have merit, having effectively captured the sounds of the day. His brother Don agreed—so they recorded the songs at a local recording studio, Jim on drums, keyboards, and vocals, Don on guitars and vocals.

The third member, Nic Baker, was harder to find, as numerous web searches and e-mails to “Nicholas Bakers” throughout the country were unsuccessful. Although the brothers had concluded he was probably living under a new identity in a witness-protection program, they followed one last lead. Not only did they find Nic, but discovered he also lives in Virginia, less than four hours away.

NB3 has completed the CD, “Full Circle,” with 12 original songs including the title track looking back on those days. Other baby boomers have likened the sound to the Hollies and The Beatles. Younger listeners have commented on how much their parents would like the music.

In addition to the CD, Jim wrote a based-on-fact story of the three of them growing up. While the focus is on the band’s development and adventures, it also describes such growing-up experiences as middle-of-the-night escapades from home and the police, the stresses of a Catholic-school education, and the exciting innocence of an evening alone with one’s first girlfriend.

A contact from Harper Collins encouraged Jim to write a book expanding upon this story. The book is titled, “When I Met You,” after one of the CD’s songs.

The CD and book are now available as a set at www.NB3music.com and the lead off song “When I Met You” is offered as a free E download single.