Hog Heaven - Biography

Hog Heaven began when Tommy James needed to take a break and rest in 1970. The Shondells began writing and rehearsing new material and adopted the name Hog Heaven. Seeing this as an opportunity to create music in their own names they secured a recording contract...with Roulette Records. After nearly signing with Buddah they were "convinced" by Morris Levy of Roulette to stay with him (this is the label that controlled Tommy James and The Shondells". Three of the five band members (Ron Rosman, Ed Gray and Phil Falcosscio) quit rather than sign again with Roulette. (See Tommy James interesting autobiography, Me, the Mob, and the Music to fully understand the implications of Morris Levy and Roulette).
This left Michael Vale and Peter Lucia from The Shondells as Hog Heaven. The recruited guitarist Chuck Demorat and drummer Ron Hand to join and steel guitar player Buddy Cage was later added. Their first album was recorded in about six weeks and Roulette released two singles from it. Happy reached #98 on the Billboard Hot 100 in a two week run. A further single was issued If It Feels Good, Do It but failed to dent the charts. The band was demoralized by their association with Levy and Roulette, and felt that they were not promoted appropriately as the FM/underground type band they were being.
They had begun recording Hog Heaven 2, but after an interaction with Levy, decided to disband the group and pursue other interests. Five of the Hog Heaven 2 tracks were released in 2008 on a Collectors' Choice Music reissue of the Hog Heaven album as bonus tracks (including the final single If It Feels Good, Do It. Michael Vale appears to be releasing a Hog Heaven II album with an additional 4 more tracks.
Hog Heaven band members
Michael Vale - Bass, Vocals
Peter Lucia - LeadVocals
Chuck Demorat - Guitar
Ron Hand - Drums
Buddy Cage - Steel Guitar

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