SHEESH, NOT ANOTHER SINGLES GOING STROONAD SO SOON???
Here's more of them singles/EPs/what-have-yous randomly dragged outta the
boxes and piles, listened to and approached as if they were fresh produce to
encapture (made that word up right onna spot and I hope it sticks like Warren
G. Harding's "normalcy" did!) the garden of my mind. Some surprises here too,
or at least they are to me given my typically sieve-like brain!
The Mystery Trend-"Mambo For Marion", "Words You Whisper"/"Empty Shoes"
(Sundazed Records)
Early San Francisco beat pre-San Francisco bleat.
The Trend kept up the trend towards the SF infatuation with British Invasion
pop and general goodtime auras in the same vein as the Vejtables, the Mojo
Men, the original Flamin' Groovies and Moby Grape, a group I never did cozy up
to until somehow it all hit me like a slab of concrete. Maybe even v. early
Jefferson Airplane when they had that gal who got knocked up in it.
A boff selection featuring Ron Nagle and the rest romping through an authentic
mambo, not to forget some straight-ahead pop rockers that I could just imagine
woulda made its way to the gal with the chubby thighs that rub together and
make pimples's portable record player. Heck, "Empty Shoes" has the same rhythm
and romp as "Last Train to Clarksville" which says just as much good about the
Trend as it does the Monkees!
***
The Rocks-"The Gardens Outside"/"I'll Never Be The Same Again" (Love
Records)
Yeah, another one of those eighties-era homemade singles done up by someone
who almost immediately vanished into thick air. Some of these outta
nowhere spins were good, others bad and if I'd have to rank this 'un I'd say
it definitely was of the former variety. These Rocks guys got the garage
production thing down snat enough making this record sound about as authentic
a sixties/seventies local rock release as you can get. Of course the singer's
crazed nasal whine helps out, echoing the unrequited longings of suburban slob
teenbos who ain't gonna get no gash no matter how hard they tried!
A-sides kinda/sorta reminds me of late-sixties Rolling Stones when they were
starting to get a somewhat country twang while the flip actually recalls those
House of Guitars Kack Klick/Churchmice singles which sounded so swell mixed in
with the likes of the Novas and Ralph Nielsen and the Chancellors. Whoever the
singer for this group was, he coulda been the eighties answer to all of my
favorite rock primitives from Bernie Joelson to Magic Michael.
***
The Prime Movers-"Change For The Better"/"1-2-5-" (Moulty Records)
I can sure remember when a whole load of these locally-produced records by
locally-produced rock 'n roll bands on locally-produced record labels were
actually worth purchasing! Later on it was like "hey you groups, go out and make a
ton of records before you get your act together enough to give us something
worth listening to", but at one time the more of these spinners that were
comin' out the merrier because they really had something
important to say as far as the continuation of a rock credo went!
These Bostonians ain't no exception even though they unfortunately fizzled out
just like all of those other neat eighties groups that gave doofs like me so
much hope. "Change" is a pretty good fast-paced pop-rocker that
not-so-surprisingly reminds me of something the Droogs might have been able to
(and might still be able
to) whip up for a nicer-than-nice a-side. The by now familiar Haunted
song on the other side is good but not anywhere as good as the original. But
then how many of these retro-covers have reached the same
pinnacles of fantabulousness of the originals anyway? An "A" for effort
anyway. Get it, only
TRY finding it
(which you just might!).
***
Patti Smith Group-"Hey Joe"/"Radio Ethiopia (Live Version)" 12-inch 45 rpm
single (Arista Records, France)
Here's one classic that I haven't spun in quite some time, the France-only
reish of "Hey Joe" with a live segment from a '77 live show containing a whole
number of tuneage drifting and intertwining in ways that the Grateful Dead
never woulda dreamed of!
What else can you say about the a-side which shows Smith at the beginning of
her prowess weaving the teenbo anthem of 1966 into her patented mythology
involving Patty Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army. Tom Verlaine lays
down some rather spidery guitar work that I'm sure made more'n a few folk in
on the game hungry for some actual Television wares at a time when them Eno
demos were making the rounds and getting more'n a few rock fans drooling
uncontrollably.
Flipster's the real surprise what with the tail end of some Velvet
Underground-riffed number (faded in) leading to a reading of "Radio Ethiopia"
leading into "Rock 'n Roll N-word" (y'see, it's OK for Patti to use "that
word" but me? ARE YA KIDDIN'?) and "Land" with lotsa Smith talk
in and between. Sounds so swell, especially the no-waveish guitar duel twixt
Smith and Lenny Kaye which I sure shoulda liked to have gone on for a whole
lot longer'n it did!
***
Love-"Feathered Fish"/"It's The Marlin, Baby"; "Gethsemene" (LSD Records
bootleg, Australia [yeah, right!])
In what purports to be a bootleg from a group who I thought would have been
bootlegged long ago, this under-the-counter effort does the group Love swell enough even when
you consider that it came out a good thirtysome years too late. Actually the
a-side's Arthur Lee with some relatively "new" psychedelic act called Baby
Lemonade doing the infamous Sons of Adam single side, but it captures
the essence of what the original Love version would have sounded like even if
it does show strains of post-sixties polish. Flip's got a side off the
once-rare pre-Love American Four single which reflects the 1964 dance craze
and cars attitude more than it does the 1966 expand your mind and eventually
end up like David Crosby one. "Gethsemene"'s nothing but a segment of "You Set
the Scene" played backwards which somehow makes sense but don't ask me how.
***
Syd Barrett-FINAL SESSIONS ABBY ROAD STUDIOS 1974 7-inch 33 rpm EP (Magic
Mushroom Records bootleg)
To be frightfully honest about it, I'm positive that most of you readers'll
think there's nothing special about these (I think) recently-unearthed backing
tracks laid down during Barrett's final session. As usual I disagree---on this
nicely packaged EP (a bootleg so you know that the quality's gone into the
production!) Barrett kneads out various blooze riffs (one entitled "John Lee
Hooker") and other quite promising instrumentals that I get the feeling even
Syd knew never were gonna see the light of day --- until now that is. It's
fractured like anything and pretty much of historical value only, but oh what
a history! (By the way, I reviewed this 'un exactly fifty years and three/four
days since its recording which is something that should make anyone who was
coming of age and discovering musical life in other forms via word of mouth
and the import bins feel rather ancient!)
***
Xanadu-"No Change"; "Time Bomb"/"Switch the Topic" EP (Black Hole Records)
A Destroy All Monsters-related effort that was released by the same bunch
(mainly Cary Loren) who put out that boffo Monsters EP with the Virgil Finlay
cover. Some turdburgers might have said that the Detroit Sound was dead and
buried by the time these tracks made their way out, but it's more'n obvious
that the spirit of the late-sixties was shinin' on what with records like this
and groups like Sonic's Rendezvous Band up and about.
Basically the core of the '77 Destroy All Monsters without Niagara and Michael
Davis but with minimal help from Ron Asheton, and if you liked the Monsters'
high energy romps there's no reason why this ultra-obscurity shouldn't be in
your collection. If you can only find a copy that is because even when I snatched this 'un up it was rare (check Youtube and burn
one if it's up and about)!
***
The Valentines-"Juliette"/"Hoochie Coochie Billy" (Philips Records,
Australia)
What was Bon Scott doing before lending his tonsils to the likes of AC/DC?
Singing in this group that has about as much to do with Scott's later act as
Vanessa Del Rio has to do with the Anti-Sodomy League. For a guy who was
pretty much down and dirty with the legacy of seventies hard rock these sides
sure come off soft and creme-filled center, nice enough pop that might be good
for a few spins now and later but nothing you'd want to be inundated with when
you could spend your time listening to something more soul-searing, like early
AC/DC f'rinstance. Proof that Australia was once a pretty nice and hopping
place for music and other things, although as we all know that has
unfortunately changed.
***
The Del Monas-VOLUME 2 --- HELLO WE LOVE YOU EP (Big Beat Records,
England)
Billy Childish's female auxiliary playing the sixties beat right around the
same time music in general became so dudsville that even listening to an
interpretation of Beethoven's fifth played through my gaseous colon would have
sounded better.
Flashy takes on the Doors and Henry Mancini (btw my uncle "knew" him when the
two were growing up in Aliquippa Pennsylvania and unc said that everyone
thought he was a fag walking around with his violin case'n all. And we all
know who had the last laugh on that!). While this is not exactly the sorta
music I'd wanna listen to while locked in a room for twennysome hours straight
it sure is a nice switch of modes for my own satisfaction.
I have the feeling that Paul McGarry has a poster of the Del Monas pinned up
somewhere in his shack and he has to take it down every time the wife walks
into the room!
***
Metal Mike-"Wig Wam Bam"/"Letter From Lou" (Sympathy For the Record Industry
Records)
On this early-nineties effort Saunders proceeds even further from the metallic
screech of the Angry Samoans. Done up during the height of his
seventies AM pop immersion, the Sweet classic is remade/remodeled in a
way that wouldn't suit any fan of the group but wha' th'
hey. Flipster eludes me with the reversed backing track and
dialogue I assume has something to do with the then not-so-late Mr. Lou Reed,
although back when this was unleashed some thirtysome years back I probably
knew what it was all about and coulda cared less. Here's a fact that'll make a
lump in your throat...Metal Mike is now a whopping
SEVENTY-TWO YEARS OLD which I think is about the same age Charley
Weaver died. Don't think that Mike's walking around in suspenders and a funny
hat yet.
***
The Screamin' Mee-Mees-HOME MOVIES EP (Bag of Hammers Records)
This be the second Mee-Mees EP that, as if you didn't know awlready, didn't
make it out '78 way due to lack of funds. Better late'n never I guess,
although I know all of you rock-starved maniacs who were up and about back
then woulda loved to have had this 'un spinnin' on your Hitachi or even
hibachi for that matter. Reviewing this is (just like I am)
useless considering how each and every one of you who tunes into this blog
knows the whys and wherefores of this group, so come to your own conclusions
and remember them days when records by groups like this 'n Half Japanese sure
did their darndest to re-introduce trash aesthetics into a world where "hip"
kids would hang mouths agape when hearing the sound travel from one speaker to
another.
***
Guess Who?-"Shakin' All Over"/"Till We Kissed" (Scepter Records)
A-side's such a bonafeed classic that even Rush Limbaugh used to use it as
bumper music. A definite "nugget if you duggit" that made that punk rock tape
compilation in FUSION (which might be the kinda "mixtape" you should
have in your very own collection, and cook one up for me while you're at it!).
The other side's a definite Merseysound ripoff but like you in the bathroom it
holds its own. A fine slab from a rock group who sure did the world swell
before making that anti-Amerigan rock record that got all of those hippie kids
buyin' it up while mom 'n pop fumed.
***
Donny Osmond of the Osmonds-"Sweet and Innocent"/"Flirtin'" (MGM Records)
One of those reminders of why I hated listening to the radio until I heard
"Get it On (Bang a Gong)" during my pre-pubesprout days of duh. The gurls used
to wax eloquent about Donny and Crew but I held my nose at least until that
one single about Skylab that I kinda liked, but anyway here's that hit which
is so treacly sweet that I'm finally gonna get that Ozempic Rx filled after
the insurance company said nada because I ain't a full-fledged diabetic. One
more record for kid brother to go stompin' on while prowling through big sis's room.
***
Chad and Jeremy-"Donna Donna"/"If I Loved You" (World Artists Records)
Gotta admit that I prefer Chad and Jeremy to their one tall guy and another
with glasses doppelganger Peter and Gordon, but this particular slice just
ain't as juicy as I would have hoped. The a-side sounds somewhat like a
commercialized Fairport Convention and the flip's too string gloss mooshy to
even be a good enough get yer gal into the mood tit squeezer. Eh, it's way more listenable than anything that is deemed
listenable these days so why should I quarrel? They sure were good on the Van
Dyke show though.
***
Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde-"Yesterday's Gone"/"Lemon Tree" (World Artists
Records)
Gee, can't seem to shake these two off! Anyway here's their first hit, the
only one to make it big in England while becoming a monstrous hit leading to
many others over here in the United States of Acne. I ain't got not complaints
about this 'un as far as being a middling British Invasion track --- sure the
Sonics or Kinks woulda blown 'em off the stage but you can enjoy it in its own
teenybop way. The other side has a laughably gloppy version of that Peter
Paul and Mary hit you older turds were forced to sing in music class,
something which I'm sure should get you more riled up than me having to sing
"Up With People!".
***
Johnny Tillotson-"Talk Back Trembling Lips"/"Another You" (MGM Records)
The "Earth Angel" guy creating more music with those gloppy strings bound to
get the bras off and the tits squeezed (unlike "Donna Donna"!). Since it
wasn't as big a hit as the Ernest Ashworth version I get the feeling that
there were more bras left on and a whole load of unsatisfied suckems out there
which is too bad for the gals. Well, at least the radio might played "Theme
From a Summer Place" later on...that was always one that got the libido
bubbling full blast for alla them susceptible teenbos!
***
The Wailers-"Mashi"/"On The Rocks" (Night Club Records, Germany)
I might've written this 'un up onna blog earlier but if I did so what, you get
ANOTHER review of
it goody goody you. A-side's that wild instrumental from the
WAILERS AND COMPANY/TALL COOL ONE album and it still rages hot
early-sixties drive that stood in the face of all the droopier music that was
supposedly ruinin' things for all those rock 'n rollers just waiting for the Beatles (believe-you-me, there was enough good rock
'n rollin' stuff comin' outta the early-sixties to counteract all of the horrid
mainstream moosh once you get down to it and study a few charts of the day!).
The flip's another version (I believe the '64 mini-hit remake) of "Tall Cool
One" under its original title. It is good enough even if this take lacks
the slow moody drive of the original but better this onna charts than "Roses Are Red". Overall this is some pretty hotcha early punk
rock that makes a good portion of the punk that came out post-eighties sound
mighty petunia-esque!
***
Lucky Wray with Link and Doug Wray-"Teenage Cutie"/"You're My Song" (Starday
Records)
One of them early sides by Vern Wray and what used to be known as the Palomino
Ranch Hands, here doing a rockabilly bopper driven by bro Link's humpin'
sound. Considering what I know about Vernon's career as a pop crooner type
(never did hear any of these sides so I'm going by mere hearsay) this does
come as somewhat of a surprise, almost as much as when the once-slick Vern went the Willie
Nelson route in the early seventies and grew his hair long with a beard to
match! The other side's a slow mover which I get the feeling sounds close to
the Ray Vernon style of classic teen croon that even got Dick Clark hypin' him
(well, Mr. Clark dug the Wraymen too which is at least one good feather in his
somewhat empty cap!). As far as Vern's and Link's subsequent output goes, this
might have been the danged start of it all.
***
The Three Stooges and Orchestra-HAPPY YULETIDE FAVORITES EP (Golden
Records)
Given the general beat-upness of this 'un I get the idea that the original
owner got quite a few Christmas spins outta the thing. I also get the idea
that the same guy now belongs to some crazy religious cult that doesn't
believe in celebrating Christmas which is why I'm now in possession of this
beaut! Too bad for the grandkids (who are probably locked in some closet) but
great for me given how starved for Stoogemania I was during my groaning up
days (folks too cheap to get an antenna high enough to draw in the Cleveland
and Pittsburgh indie stations that were showing the Stooges because they
thought the antenna would keep blowing over and they didn't wanna dish out the
money in case it did, and besides I watched enough tee-vee as it was and you
wonder why I grew up so frustrated!).
It's the revival-era Stooges, toned down a tad but still hitting the sparks
for the spoiled brat generation. It may not quite translate to record the way
it did to tee-vee and the theatres but its good 'nuff to at least ooze some
kidtime frolicking feeling outta you. If you were the type of ranch
house kiddie who was front and center for these guys whether they were popping
up on ED SULLIVAN or the afternoon kid show you'll get a kick
outta it. Give it a spin, and while yer doin' it pause for a moment and think
of all the suburban slobs (or at least me) who were denied growing up with
these guys because of budget conscious parents and local stations who would
rather show Merv Griffin or some rerun of a series that didn't need to be
aired the first time around for that matter!
***
The Voodoo Dolls-"I'm Coming Back To Haunt You"/"This Town Makes Me Feel So
Lonely" (Stanton Park Records)
By the time this single came out (1989) there were many self-produced small
label efforts by the usual "underground rock" suspects to choose from, that is if you
were a fan of the rockin' Big Beat. Unfortunately a good number of the records that
were getting unleashed weren't worthy of anyone's time and thankfully got
washed down the drain of "who cares" (see Prime Mover review above), but this
rarity is one that really was savable if you were might picky about what was
allowable in your collection. Not that the Voodoo Dolls were whatcha'd call
jaw-dropping inspiring, but they could sure punch out a song in ways that your
local REM wannabes never could fathom. Straight ahead rock 'n roll without the
frills (think the New York Dolls without Johansen's pout), the kind they used
to call "punk" before that term became one of eternal pariahdom. Not bad
really.