LOCAL MUSIC: In the Pocket remake of ‘Frankford El’ expands scope of song

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Hooters drummer David Uosikkinen has added quite a curiosity to his living, growing “In the Pocket” playlist of quintessential Philadelphia songs.

Having previously re-recorded the song “I Ain’t Searchin’” by Philly band The American Dream, with his rotating In the Pocket band of all-stars, he returns to The American Dream’s Todd Rundgren-produced 1970 album with a re-imagined version of the raucous, “Louie Louie”-like sing-along “(Can’t Get to Heaven on the) Frankford El.”

Helping Uosikkinen bring it back from obscurity with the new version were The American Dream’s Don Van Winkle on lead vocals (Van Winkle did not sing the lead on the original), Cyndi Lauper’s bassist William Wittman, guitarist Greg Davis of Beru Revue, Wally Smith of Smash Palace on keyboards; and Charlie Ingui of The Soul Survivors, Steve Butler of Smash Palace and singer/songwriters Skip Denenberg and Cliff Hillis on background vocals.