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Belleville

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Before I Go (2023)

Before I Go (2023)

Beyond The Pale Blue (2020)

Beyond The Pale Blue (2020)

Turn The Medicine Down 2016

Turn The Medicine Down 2016

Yep 2011

Yep 2011

Collection Box (2004)

Collection Box (2004)

My Friends Are My Estate (2002)

My Friends Are My Estate (2002)

Belleville (1999)

Belleville (1999)

Portashrine 1996

Portashrine 1996

Color Red 7" (1995)

Color Red 7" (1995)

Once in a Lifetime 7" (1994)

Once in a Lifetime 7" (1994)

(Memory Lane 12" 1987)

(Memory Lane 12" 1987)

OST Freedom (1986)

OST Freedom (1986)

The story of Belleville begins with 19 year old guitarist/vocalist; Mark Caputo. In 1980 he joins Robert Seidler & Mr. Clean playing a variety of renowned local venues including the once ubiquitous Keystone circuit of Berkeley, Palo Alto and The Stone (SF). Other notable shows were The Old Waldorf, San Jose Civic and a one-time appearance on The Jerry Lewis Telethon in 1981. The band opened for such notables as Billy Idol, A Flock of Seagulls, The Undertones, The English Beat, The Plimsouls, Oingo Boingo & John Hiatt.

After departing Mr. Clean in October, 1982, Mark along with Steve Raschke (keyboards) & a little later; Nick Gardner  (bass, vocals) form the group; A Private View (1983-1987). In late 1983 Roger Thompson (vibraphone/electronic drums) joined the group. Within a couple months, Andy Scott (KUSF PD) begins managing the group and after another short period, hands the reins off to Queenie Taylor of Bill Graham Presents. Since the band’s inception only seven months earlier, the group receives their big break in May of 1983 opening arena shows for Roxy Music in support of their seminal 1982 record; Avalon. 

During the late summer/autumn of 1983, the group starts selling out local venues and supporting other notables such as Brian Setzer, Bill Nelson, Nona Hendrix, Wire Train, Translator & Lena Lovich. The band was also given an opportunity to perform a set of original instrumental pieces (light show included) at a sold-out Morrison Planetarium in Golden Gate Park; Summer of 1984. During this time the band receives a significant amount of radio airplay, including station ID's on the modern rock station (KQAK/The Quake) later becoming KITS/Live 105. In April, 1986 they write & record with engineer extraordinaire, George Massenberg & producer Tony Berg and yield the track "Freedom" for the Terry Carr directed, "Welcome to Eighteen". They continue to record with Tony Berg and release a two-song single, Memory Lane/Our Town in late 1987,  but by January, 1988 the group decided to call it a day. (In 2011 Del-Tona Records released the retrospective The Golden Age 1983-1987)

In 1993 Mark joins the Anthony Bonet (Sex-for-teens on KALX radio) led group; Portashrine. The band released two singles and in 1996 recorded & released their only proper LP; Portashrine. They also performed at the CMJ Festival in NYC with the song In The Worst Way  being a finalist for college radio song of the year.

In 1998, Mark along with George Railton (Portashrine), Robert Zapata (RIP) & Bruce Drake form Belleville and by mid-1999 begin recording the eponymous debut, and the follow-up; My Friends Are My Estate in 2002. During this period they receive a lot of favorable press as well as performing at Great American Music Hall, Cafe DuNord & Bottom of The Hill.

In 2011, Grammy award winning producer/engineer; John Cuniberti, teams up with Mark & Al Chan of The Rubinoos and a great cast of players and under the name Yep, records the excellent; Once. Well-known music writer; John Borack who’s written books on The Beatles and the acclaimed 'Shake Some Action', gave the record an enthusiastic review (A-) in late 2011. 

In late 2016, and nearly 20 years after they first formed in Oakland, CA, Belleville's well-honed musical craftsmanship yields their fourth and most fully-realized record, yet; Turn The Medicine Down.

October, 2020 see Bay Area stalwarts, Belleville quietly release a 6-song Single EP, Beyond The Pale Blue. Produced by Mark Caputo, the band has frankly; hit one out of the park. Cowbell included!

Produced by Mark Caputo & recorded and mixed by recording wizard; Marc Burnstein; the sixth LP from Belleville Before I Go is released on Del-tona Records in May, 2023.

Del-tona Records announce early recordings from A Private View. Modus Operandi 1982-1984 will be released on November 1st, 2024.

 

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