from the LP 'Lyrics by Ernest Noyes Brookings vol 2: Place of General Happiness'
Executive producer David Greenberg

This will tell you a bit about Brookings, whose poetry rapidly became popular among readers of the Duplex Planet. The DP evolved out of artist/musician David Greenberger's plan to provide an 'activity' for the seniors at the retirement home where he worked -- the Duplex Nursing Home. Turned out their disinterest in maintaining a 'house newspaper' was more than matched by their enthusiasm at answering interview questions, & Greenberger's subtle touch in encouraging the work of reviewer Ken Eglin, poet Brookings and others left a brilliant collection of literature verite as it's legacy.

Upon learning of a second release planned using Brookings lyrics from his Men and Volts bandmate Gree nberger, producer Sean Slade picked moved quickly, knowing many Brookings fans would be clamoring to record a track -- including bands like XTC and Half Japanese. Slade put dibs on the poem "Hair", wrote the music for it and arranged the song, singing and playing the Fort's Mellotron keyboard [a legacy of the NJ touring production of Beatlemania] on the recording. Each member of the Fort Apache staff at that time was then assigned to the recording, until Sean had what he was looking for and was ready to mix. Joe is playing the lead guitar with all the 'octave splitters' a la Leslie West.

The Fort's ample Duplex Planet collection was widely read at both the original Fort South location and North, and was, Joe says "uncategorically an important undercurrent influence in the indie music being made in the mid 80's through 90's at the Fort."