The 77s (alternatively spelled The Seventy Sevens or The 77's) are an American rock band consisting of Michael Roe on vocals/guitar, Mark Harmon on bass and Bruce Spencer on drums.
Originally called Scratch Band, this ministry-based quartet formed in the late 1970s in Sacramento, California, by Roe, keyboardist/guitarist Mark Tootle, bassist Jan Eric Volz, and drummer Mark Proctor. Guitarist Jimmy A and singer Sharon McCall also performed occasionally with the band, whose repertoire contained a number of songs penned by English poet and fellow Exit Records musician Steve Scott.
Scratch Band changed its name to "The 77s" just prior to the release of their first album, Ping Pong Over the Abyss, in 1982. Proctor left the band and was replaced by former Temptations/Romeo Void drummer Aaron Smith, who first appeared on All Fall Down and remained with the band until the mid-90s.
After considerable success on Exit/A&M, The 77s soon found themselves signed to Island Records (which, like A&M would be bought by PolyGram in 1989) and on the road to what Mike Roe would refer facetiously as "teenage stardom." Their 1987 self-titled release was reviewed favorably by Rolling Stone magazine and produced "The Lust, the Flesh, the Eyes & the Pride of Life," the band's biggest single to date. "The Lust..." ended up being much more influential than the band originally thought. A decade-and-a-half later, the rock band 311's hit single "I'll Be Here Awhile" "borrowed" several lines from "The Lust..." (i.e., "And if a person, place, or thing can deliver / I will quiver with delight"). Ironically, "The Lust..." itself borrowed musically from Barry McGuire's song "Eve of Destruction".
The 77s released their self-titled, third album in 1987 on the Exit and Island Records labels.
The album contains the band's biggest hit single to date, which was "The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes and the Pride of Life." Years later, the song would be covered by Roe's other band The Lost Dogs (on the album, MUTT), and the band 311 would even "borrow" a few lines from the song for one of their own singles.
The album was listed at No. 82 in the 2001 book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.
Alright
Tell me what I said
You better watch out
Your words are getting in your way
It's not right
Every little thing you say
C'mon baby
Get a grip
You better tighten up
Your flappy little lip
Don't go down
Where the liars live
Alright
Listen what I said
I been watching
Every little move you make
It don't jibe
'Cuz every other word is fake
It's all lies
The whole thing
It's all jive
And I'm tired of listening
You wanna fly
But you never paid for your wings
Oh, give me a little
Honesty
All I want is
Honesty
All I need is
Honesty
Gotta gimme
Honesty
Alright
Tell me what I say
Tell the truth now
Or put your
Bloody tongue away
'Cuz no lie
Ever really goes away
It's gonna grow
It's gonna spread
It's gonna follow you
Until you're dead, baby
They'll pull the sheet
Right over
Your lying little head
Better give it to me
Honesty
All I want is
Honesty
All I need is
Honesty
Gotta gotta gimme
Honesty
Gotta gotta gimme
Honesty
I want it
Honesty
I need it
Honesty
Ow, gotta have it
Honesty