Cinderella’s rise never followed an obvious formula. The band auditioned guitarists who could play circles around Jeff LaBar, Eric Brittingham met Tom Keifer by chance in a bathroom, and Fred Coury appeared on the cover of an album he didn’t actually play on.

Using a revealing 1987 issue of Circus Magazine, Robert John Hadfield explores how Cinderella found the musicians who fit the band—even when they weren’t necessarily the most technically impressive players available. Jeff LaBar understood the songs and willingly supported Tom Keifer’s leadership. Eric Brittingham became Keifer’s musical partner after an extraordinarily unlikely meeting. Fred Coury survived a turbulent audition with Vinnie Vincent before joining Cinderella after Night Songs had already been recorded.

The article also captures Cinderella at a fascinating moment: Night Songs had become a major success, but the band had no idea whether it could happen again. Behind the scenes, however, they were already developing the strategy that would shape Long Cold Winter: strong songs, commercial potential, musical variety, and a blues-based sound that held everything together.

Sometimes the most talented musician in the room isn’t the right person for the band. Cinderella succeeded by finding four people who understood the songs, complemented one another, and fit together like the proverbial glass slipper.

Special thanks to Greg Milikin for providing the magazine featured in this episode.

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Most Talented Musician May Be the Wrong Choice
00:43 Audio Mover Rock Trivia Challenge
02:15 Cinderella’s Misleading Night Songs Image
03:04 Fred Coury and the Partridge Family Lunchbox
04:04 The “Fred Is Dead” Rumor
05:50 Remembering Original Drummer Tony Destra
06:48 Fred Coury’s Turbulent Vinnie Vincent Audition
08:50 Six Weeks Rehearsing With Vinnie Vincent
10:01 Who Actually Played Drums on Night Songs?
10:49 Jeff LaBar on Living in Tom Keifer’s Shadow
13:06 Why Cinderella Chose Jeff LaBar
14:43 Eric Brittingham Meets Tom Keifer in a Bathroom
16:35 The Chance Encounter That Created Cinderella
17:46 Life in the Priscilla Harriett Band
18:13 Early Clues About Long Cold Winter
19:04 How Cinderella Reinvented Its Image
20:00 The Band’s Strategy for Choosing Songs
21:43 Cinderella’s Unusual Cherry Coke Partnership
24:05 Rik Emmett on Art and Commercialism
25:23 Cinderella Confronts the “One-Album Band” Question
25:47 Finding the Musicians Who Fit
26:42 Rock Trivia Answers
27:35 What Do You Remember About Cinderella?
29:00 Final Trivia Question
29:32 The Audio Mover Thailand Adventure