Vance or Towers

A few years ago very few people knew the name of the band who performed at the prom but it's now common knowledge that they were named "Vance or Towers" after the frontmen (the gimmick was that teenage girls could choose their favorite, Glen Vance OR Michael Towers).

The duo released one self-titled LP in 1975 which includes "Education Blues," the song that opens the prom -- though the version in the film drastically differs from the LP cut. It's also presumed that Vance or Towers provided a second song in the movie, "Lady Lay," an aptly-titled mellow do-wop tune that scores the scene where Chris performs fellatio on Billy. Towers and a quartet of writers were responsible for this song and two short instrumental cues heard during the prom: "Pre-Prom Disco" and "Ernest's Announcement." Unfortunately, a recording of "Lady Lay" has never surfaced anywhere, though "Ernest's Announcement" is heard in its entirety as the opening titles music for Tom DiSimone's gay porn flick "Catching Up."

In addition to their album, at least two singles were released featuring non-album cuts: "Can't Smile Without You" (a song that was later covered by The Carpenters and Barry Manilow) and "Whenever God Shines His Light." There's also proof of two more songs by the pair titled "I Wanna Be Loved" and "Without Love," though it's unclear whether or not these were issued on disc.

Their album is a mixture of radio-friendly '70s power pop extravaganzas and mellow ballads. It's a mystery why A&M Records didn't put more effort into promoting the band, as they certainly had the potential to be a huge success. The album was released in late '75 and there were a few singles, but nothing further. Seems the record was only put out on vinyl (there may have been an 8-track release but the format is becoming increasingly scarce) and it has never been reissued.

Towers went on to write some music for television and movies (including the theme for "Simon and Simon" and the title tune for the cult sci-fi flick "Looker," which was later covered by Kim Carnes) and the pair contributed some music cues and the song "Let Me Make It Up to You" to the long-running TV soap opera "Another World" (it's possible that they guest-starred on an episode) but both have since fallen into total obscurity. As of 2012 their whereabouts are unknown. (Geez, that sounded a little grim, didn't it?)

Below is a list of known songs by the duo. The pair also handed out a demo tape featuring a bunch of unreleased songs to friends, but no surviving copies have surfaced.... again, as of 2012. Here's hoping.

ALBUM CUTS:

The Presence of Her Absence

It's Up to You

Over the Hill and Back

Don't It Getcha

Drivin' to Drinkin'

Scream Bloody Robbery