Big City / Mark Gallagher
Featuring Mark Gallagher (1988-1990)
History
Fall, 1988: Band members from local band Dick Tracy decide to embark on a recording project with singer Mark Gallagher. The project is called Big City featuring Mark Gallagher. The band members are: John Richardson on lead guitar and vocals; Jim Potter on keyboards; Jim Amundson on bass guitar and vocals; and Brad Grapp on drums. John Richardson had been writing songs, a few of them were performed live by Dick Tracy, and he wants to record his songs. John contacts Mark who had recently returned to Minnesota from Chicago and asks him to sing lead on the songs and Mark signs on to the project. John had first met Mark in 1969 at the New City Opera House when Mark was the lead singer for The Litter. John and Mark also write some songs together. The group practices the songs to be recorded in Jim Potter’s basement. Dick Tracy continues to play live with Tom Baden on lead vocals and rhythm guitar.
November 25, 1988: Big City plays their one (and only) live performance, at the Back 40 in the lower level of the Medina Ballroom.
April, 1989: The group begins recording in Sunrise Sound Recording Studios in Brooklyn Center. John Richardson is the producer and Denny Johnson is the engineer.
September, 1989: The group finishes recording thirteen original songs.
October, 1989: The final mix is completed. A tape with the finished songs is given to a local promoter who had expressed interest in the project, however, the promoter has a change of plans and no record deal is pursued. The songs are never released.
December, 1989: Tom Baden leaves Dick Tracy and is replaced by Mark Gallagher on lead vocals. Mark stays with the band until they break up in 1991.
Update:
Of the thirteen songs recorded in 1989 by Big City featuring Mark Gallagher, twelve are made available on a CD for the first time in 2011.
Photos
Recordings
Big City feat. Mark Gallagher 
Heat of My Heart
Piece of My Heart
Bad Blood
Bandtree
Big City 1988 to 1989
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Mark Gallagher Lead Vocals 1988 to 1989
The Saints
The Troys
The Litter
Hot Set Up
Archangel
Straight Up
Clone
BIG CITY
Dick Tracy
The Litter Reunions
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John Richardson Lead Guitar / Vocals 1988 to 1989
Knights of Day
Cold Steel
Wild Kingdom
Jerome Nalla
Apricot Brandy
Reflections
Clouds
Butterfoot
Straight Up
Jeffery BC
Energy
Pulse
Blackjack
Sunrise
Monteray
Crow featuring Dave Wagner
The Ryder Band
Silver Rose
Dick Tracy
BIG CITY
Flyers
Common Ground
Legacy
Monarc
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Jim Potter Keyboards 1988 to 1989
Race’n
Ryder Band
Crow feat. Dave Wagner
Dick Tracy
BIG CITY
Kyx
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Jim Amundson Bass Guitar / Vocals 1988 to 1989
Strange Brew
Ryder Band
Dick Tracy
BIG CITY
Randy Casey Band
Kyx
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Brad Grapp Drummer 1988 to 1989
Fat Lip
Rue Delight
Energy
Foxfire
Wildwood
Lonnie Knight & Gorgeous
Dick Tracy Band
BIG CITY
Legacy
Grant Bros. Moving Company
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Where are they now?
Big City 1988 – 1989
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Mark Gallagher Active in Music
Lead Vocals No
Doing What ?………………………………………… Passed away in 2009
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John Richardson Active in Music
Lead Guitar / Vocals YES
Doing What ?…………………………….. Active Band and Studio Work
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Jim Potter Active in Music
Keyboards YES
Doing What ?………………………………………………… Playing in Kyx
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Jim Amundson Active in Music
Bass Guitar / Vocals YES
Doing What ?……………………………………….. Jobbing in Minnesota
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Brad Grapp Active in Music
Drums YES
Doing What ?…………………………….. Active Band and Studio Work
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Interview
Interview – Time = 19:33