Tokens Unscrewed CD

Call this one the Tokens' comedy album, as it brings out the humorous side of the band on a variety of tunes, both new and old. "Ba Ba Booey" was a hit on the Howard Stern radio show, and while tunes like "Oldies Are Now" and "After the Beep" have shown up on previous Tokens albums, they fit in just nicely here. Good solid originals from Mitch Margo and typically devastating singing from the group make this another fun chapter in the Tokens' recorded history. ~ Cub Koda

In 1961 THE TOKENS, four boys from Brooklyn, recorded "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" on the RCA label. The song (originally a Zulu folk song called "Mbube" Anglicized to "Wimoweh") soared up the charts to become the number one hit in the nation. To date it has sold 15 million copies throughout the world. In a survey conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Record Industry Association of America The Tokens' classic recording of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" placed 159th in the top 365 records of ALL TIME.THE TOKENS' other hits include "Tonight I fell In Love," "I Hear Trumpets Blow," and "Portrait Of My Love." They have also produced many number one recordings for groups such as THE CHIFFONS (He's So Fine & One Fine Day), THE HAPPENINGS (See You In September & I Got Rhythm) and TONY ORLANDO AND DAWN (Knock Three Times & Tie A Yellow Ribbon). True rock pioneers, they were among the first to successfully use the falsetto lead voice, a sound that would later influence groups from the Four Seasons and the Beach Boys to Led Zeppelin and Rush. They were also the first group to play their own instrument tracks for recording sessions.In 1998 The Tokens came to the conclusion that although the national anthem opens every game in US professional sports, they believed it was being over-looked and disregarded both in exposure and in meaning. Prior to the tragic events of 9/11, baseball coverage rarely televised the anthem in favor of going to a commercial, thus denying it to millions of people. This motivated the classic vocal group to embark on their now historic "ANTHEM "98" TOUR." It began at Chicago's venerable Wrigley Field on April 6, 1998 where the Chicago Cubs hosted the Montreal Expos. Leading off thirty major league games through the summer with their harmonic, a-capella renditions of "The Star Spangled Banner" and "O' Canada," The Tokens concluded their record-setting stadium tour on September 19th at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore when the Orioles played the New York Yankees. That date was also the 2,632nd and final day of Cal Ripkin's remarkable consecutive game streak. A memorable shared experience. Baltimore was chosen for the last stop of the tour because it was in that city where Francis Scott Key composed "The Star Spangled Banner" while witnessing the British attack on Fort McHenry. The Tokens received recognition from the Guinness Book of World Records. They became the FIRST POP GROUP to sing the national anthem in all 30 Major League baseball parks in ONE SEASON as required for Guinness Book entry. The group also paid homage to our national pastime by performing at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY, on June 20, 1999. In November of 1999, the popular music channel VH-1 named The Tokens "The Most Patriotic Group" and honored them on the special series "Rock and Roll Record Breakers" on February 25, 2000. The Tokens' are working on a new CD, The Tokens Unfurled which features their versions of "God Bless America" and "The Star Spangled Banner." Included in The Tokens' version of our National Anthem is the last part of the original fourth stanza which begins with the words, "Then conquer we must when our cause it is just," and speaks of victory as opposed to survival as does the traditional first stanza.Individually, the members of The Tokens are busy with their own projects in addition to their touring schedule. Mitch Margo continues to create independent music and television projects. Phi