Just some more of those seven-inchers from the ol' collection that I thought
I'd blab on about as if I were some obnoxious relative visitin' ya giving
heavily descriptive recollections of the past ninety years of my life.
Various Artists-UNRELEASED INSTRUMENTALS FROM THE NORTHWEST! 7-inch 33
rpm EP (Hillsdale Records)
Here's a nice obscuro that slipped into my singles stack
sometime in the 90s, a collection of ne'er-before-released acetates recorded
in the wild 'n woolly Northwest portion of them thar United States during
the early days of rock 'n roll.
Frankly I gotta admit that there is very little of what we consider the NW
sound in these grooves as these late-fifties/early-sixties rockers coulda
been recorded in just about any part of the United States and all points
north. But for those of you who think that it was the instrumental genre of
the day which helped save rock 'n roll from some of the sappier aspects of
teenage music these go down smoother'n Linda Lovelace on a German
Shepard.
After you hear all the other Washington State 'n Oregon recordings of the
day give
UNRELEASED INSTRUMENTALS FROM THE NORTHWEST a go, although I
sure woulda loved to have given the Casuals' instro version of "Louie Louie"
a try even if the liner notes say the thing stunk to high heaven!
***
The Slickee Boys-10TH ANNIVERSARY EP (D.S.T. Records)
Sometimes I forget that this boffo Washington DC-area group even
existed, but when I pull one of their platters out for a spin boy, is
it an occasion worthy of Thanksgiving!
Oft tagged in with the six-oh revival of the eighties, the Slickee Boys were
more often than not the product of the mid-seventies local rock group
upheaval that sprung from the minds of not only a number of serious music
collectors and fanzine mongers but serious enough rock 'n rollers who
just didn't care for the kinda sounds that were bein' made at the time and
THEY KNEW THEY COULD DO BETTER! And of course they did.
Includes a live version of Sam Cooke's "Shake" as well as that Afrika Korps
classic "Sea of Love" that does kinda suffer a bit without Solomon
Gruberger's thud-like singing but wha' th'
hey...
***
The Castaways-SIX GREAT SONGS! EP (Soma Records)
Yeah, like in any wayshapeform this is a
legitimate Soma release! Naw, some crafty sixties rock fan just
gathered up the three legit Castaways (they of "Liar Liar" fame) singles and
slapped them on this EP for handy keeping. It works too even if the sound
fails somewhat (
TURN IT UP!) because the grooves are so squooshed
together. You not only get the hit but the five other songs that luckily
made it out, and I gotta say that they're all doozies that capture that
mid-sixties magic more than any Jann Wenner wet dream of a baby boomer laid
back progressive political frisbee-tossin' world could. Of course this ain't
like hearin' 'em on some tinny cheap radio inna summer while romping around
inna wading pool while sippin' on a glass of Chinese Cherry, but it'll
do.
***
Liz Gizzad-CRIME TRILOGY 33 rpm single (Behemoth Records)
A supergroup featuring a couple members of Cosmonauts Hail Satan and some
guy who was in one of those later on versions of Hawkwind long after them
seventies heydayze. As you might have expected this is but one great ball of
fuzzed out spacerock with a heavy Ladbroke Grove attitude and a repeato-riff
that will stay stuck in your system more than a constipated bowel movement.
I woulda thought that anything of true interest as far as that music called
rock 'n roll would have vanished from them English shores long ago, but
judging from this thing the Big Beat, or in this case Big
Drone has
lasted a little longer than anyone would have expected. As the snoots say, highly recommended.
***
The Subteranneans-"My Flamingo"/"Veiled Woman" (Demon Records, England)
When you compare this Nick Kent-helmed single to the tracks that appeared on that Skydog Cee-Dee reviewed quite awhile back this sure does have an air of downright commercialism about it. Thankfully Kent manages to keep his rockism oars in the ocean of gnu wave capitulation on this '80 single which kinda reminds me of former galpal Chrissie Hynde's Pretenders, only with somewhat more of a gritty seventies underground rock focus 'stead of a custom made for people who can't take the real thing approach. Even if you ain't a fan of Kent's rockscapade-riddled writing you should enjoy this effort from a guy who, after many failed attempts and even an offer from the Flamin' Groovies, finally lived out his dream to be a rock 'n roll artist. Of course that didn't go over well but wha' th' hey...
***
Little Milton-"If You Love Me"/"Alone and Blue" (Sun Records)
Repro item from the infamous Little Milton, here doin' the "Milk Cow Blues"
thang on the top side and gettin' all down and out woe is me but hold the
pity on the flipster. I must admit that I am not, unlike more aware and
with-it types such as Bill Shute, as well versed in the whole whys and
wherefores of the blues idiom (even though I've read countless articles on
the subject and its various adherents o'er the past XXXXXXXXXXXXX or so years) but as
the old guy lookin' at the painting of the nude lady said, I may not know
about art but I know what I like! You may think this review is yet another
attempt to reveal my overall ignorance and contemptibility to a generally
hostile public, and if you do you'd be RIGHT!
RICHARD HALLIDAY PRESENTS EDWIN LESTER'S PRODUCTION OF MARY MARTIN AS
PETER PAN EP (RCA Victor Records)
I ain't gone light in the loafers listenin' to B-way soundtracks, but this
one just popped up in the pile and well --- I gotta say that I spun the
thing if only for purely sentimental reasons. The folk at Lipton were pretty
cagey creatures pawning this 'un off as an album, but these highlights from
the famed Tee-Vee special sure do bring back the kind of memories I like. 'n
not the one when, right inna middle of the original broadcast the tee-vee
blew a tube...more of less the ones of my many friendly relatives who I
won't be seein' again at least on this sphere, as well as the fun times I
had as a turdler before school and extremely cruel teachers did their
darndest to break my spirit 'n for the most part
SUCCEEDED AT IT!!! And of course my mother spinning this for me after the entire fambly
watched (at least PART of!) and
really enjoyed that NBC special that introduced to me that fine character
whose mere existence was an inspiration in the face of bigger in size people
who unfortunately always had to have the upper hand. No "Ugg-A-Wugg" here
(was it too controversial even then???),
but "I Won't Grow Up" does seem all the more meaningful as time goes on
especially after you see what kinda anti-life things grown ups tend to be.
***
The Flat Duo Jets-JET SET EP (Norton Records)
There was so much music happening during the nineties, both good, bad and
atrocious. Sometimes in the haze of it all I forget what the good stuff was
and thus it gets banished to the furthest corners of my collection until I
just happen to come across the thing usually while looking for other
platters I usually tend to deem more "important".
This 'un being just one amongst 'em, an EP from the overlooked Flat Duo Jets
who recorded this li'l gem of a spinner under the auspices of the infamous
and much-missed Billy Miller over at Norton Records.
Four real good smackers here, one original ("Blackbeard") and three covers
that sure bring back a slew of tingling memories regarding just how exciting
this kinda music was back when I was young and it sure sounded swell in
light of whatever the Eagles were up to at the time. Trashy punk rock (in
the truest, 1972 CREEM magazine sense even!) that sounds like it
coulda come outta any knotty pine rec room back in 1962, or 1977 or 1984 for
that matter it's
that timeless in
its suburban slob appeal.
Gotta admit that I prefer the vocal tracks that close each side out. "Surfer
Joe" is true to the Surfaris' original which stood as a great precursor to
the rampage that mid-sixties rock would be, while I must admit that I find
their version of "Mr. Moonlight" way better'n the Beatles' and on par with
the Dr. Feelgood and the Interns' take from a few years earlier! 'n in light
of alla the updates 'n redos on the old sixties sound we've hadda endure
o'er these past few decades (as if slick studios and eighties/nineties
"consciousnesses" were a POSITIVE part of the creative endeavor) it's
sure great to know that some people out there still knew their
TRASH...
A search through years of refuse will undoubtedly turn their longplayer up.
Tune in for more one of these eons...
***
Ante-Up-"Live on the Wire"/"The Memphis Blues" (CBGB Records)
Got this 'un after reading how guitarist/singer Jaried Minnies learned to
play a right-handed guitar even though he's a leftie, and that didn't even
involve changing the strings to make things easier! Take that Jimi Hendrix!
And on this single he sure proves that he can play a better upside-down
right-handed guitar left-handed style than many right-handed types can play
the proper 'n normil way! A-side is a solid hard-rocker that didn't latch on
to any then-current (eighties) crap musical movements which is why it's such
a hard pouncer, while the flip is what alla those geeks who were under the
impression that they were getting the real deal from alla those white r/b
guys on AOR radio THOUGHT they were hearin'!
***
Mike Waggoner and the Bops-"Basher #5"/"Baby Baby" (Vee Records)
Really good early garage band boppings from this Wisconsin bunch who got
their start when leader Mike Waggoner saw Gene Vincent arrive in town in a
fancy car dressed so snattily and like, thought maybe that rock 'n roll made
more sense than selling GRIT door-to-door! "Basher #5"'s one of those
snatty 50s/60s cusp instrumentals that pointed the way towards some pretty
hotcha music that would come to fruition once the likes of the Trashmen
began recording, while "Baby Baby"'s a wild rockabilly rouser that not
surprisingly owes a lot to the whole Gene Vincent credo that seemed to be
falling outta favor around the time this was being laid down. A double-side
wowzer brought to you by none other than Bobby Vee!
***
Deniz Tek-"100 Fools"/"Radio Birdman-"Alien Skies" (Citadel Records,
Australia)
Another oldie that was so boff that the front sleeve actually appeared on
the cover of the second issue of my very own crudzine. Solo Deniz Tek pops
up on the a-side sounding like a whole lotta those driving Tek songs that
he's been recording with alarming (or maybe not-so) frequency ever since the
days of Radio Birdman. Those guys are on the flipside doin' an instrumental
that has good enough of a Detroit rock drive that would have guaranteed the
band a gig in some of the most worthless dives in the vicinity. Sure brings
back memories of the once-heralded Australian underground rock scene which
kinda fizzled out once the years progressed and a whole lot of energy was
dissipated.
***
Destroy All Monsters 7-inch 33 r.p.m. EP (track listing : "Introduction",
"Assassination Photograph", "Dream Song"/"Destroy All Monsters", "There is
No End") (Black Hole Records)
The above review had me digging deeper and deeper into my collection to pull
this noogie out, one of those Destroy All Monsters records (the other under
the Xanadu nom-de-fanabla) that former member Cary Loren released after his
departure from the act. Low-fi yet totally wired in that Detroit hard rock
style that had kids buying old MC5 albums with a passion for years on end.
Niagara credited on "presence". Captures the entire essence of what the
whole early Michigan/
CREEM/midwest high energy scene was about and
shall remain for all I know (or care). Features that inspiring Virgil
Finlay cover that's such a mindblower that I even published it in the 21st
ish of my own
crudzine which might be one reason why I decided to once again plaster this
'un up for all to see lo these many years down the line. Dunno about you,
but I still believe in beauty.
***
Muckrakers-"Fallin' Down"/"Muckrakers" (Rocket Reducer Records)
Believe I "dissed" as they say this 'un upon first arrival way back when,
but today it comes off as a pretty good straight-on local rocker without any
of that punque pretense that has ruined what mighta been otherwise coulda
been good effort. So head-on straight in its rock approach that if you
woulda told me this was some mid-seventies local single effort from the
wilds of the west I woulda believed ya. Features former Die Kreuzen frontman
Dan Kubinski which might have led to much confusion on my part, not sayin'
that I'm ALWAYS confused to begin with.
***
Paul Anka-"Goodnight My Love"/"This Crazy World" (RCA Victor Records)
Considering that this Anka hit (as well as a good hunkin' portion of 'em fer
that matter) was definitely ona-a-those get her inna mood records I'm
wonderin' who the tit-squeezin' relative I inherited this 'un from just
mighta been! Hmmmm, this would make for some very interesting dinner table
discussion fodder not to mention images of certain cousins slippin' this
onna turntable in order to have their way with a member of the other (at
least I hope!) s-x. Testosterone-filled goosh oozes outta the speakers and
right into that pleasure point in your skull which you thought got worn out
from way too much self-stimulation these past umpteen years.
***
HEAR THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL MUSIC ON THIS DEMONSTRATION RECORD
cardboard flexi-disc
When I was a kid it was like a holiday if we got some flexi-disc
advertisement in the mail...yes, it was another reason to trot down to the
rec room and spin somethin' thus givin' us a slight break from the same old.
Here's one advertising a "best of" set of classical themes designed to slip
a little culture into your very own suburban slob-dominated ranch house,
complete with the same sales pitch used by many a kid workin' his way
through college sellin' magazine subscriptions. Of course we don't get to
hear all of the "50 Great Moments of Music" on this platter, but within the
span of a few minutes you too will feel so culturally enriched that you
might even wanna turn to the lower portion of your FM dial to hear more of
these classy symphonies. Well, spinnin' this is a whole lot
cheaper'n buyin' either a beret or stale doritos for that matter.
***
The Saucers-"Cha Wailey Routa"/"Why Do I Dream" (Felco Records)
A-side's a good rhumba-sorta workout for this vocal group that'll sorta
remind you of when you were young rompin' about inna rec room on some cold
rainy day and stuff like this would come on in over the radio in between the usual sorta goop that sometimes would get stuck in. The flip is a
slow moosher that probably won't get your mind into any sorta proper gear
but I guess that's why they stuck it on the b-side. And if you think that I bought this 'un because I thought it would be some really wild and rambunctious late-fifties garage band screamer recorded in some old maid aunt's living room well, you just might be right.
King Bee-"Zip Gun"/"Hot Pistol" (Whizeagle Records)
Fred Cole in 1978 showed us that he was way more in gear with the
hard-crunch end of underground rock than many of the snob-end rock critics who were out and about could ever be. Heavy duty "blue wave"
sounds accentuated by the WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT sound quality and a
good 'un to snuggle into yer vinyl collection in between alla those old Raw Records entries that I'm sure still get plenty of double duty
play on your Victrola. Nice cover, and they didn't even get sued by EMI like Roogalator was for their WITH THE BEATLES-inspired sleeve for Stiff a good two or so years earlier!
***
Peter Laughner and the Finns-"Baby's On Fire"/"What Goes On" (SOL
Records)
Here's one I believe I had previously reviewed on this blog but sure
deserves another mention. Laughner's post Revenge/pre-Rocket From The Tombs
one-off live in the backyard band doin' early classic Eno proud on one side and
mid-period Velvets on the other, perhaps showing all of us that the
mid-seventies were the perfect period where youth, music, art and ambition
were perfectly aligned in a way they probably never will be for at least a
few hundred years. Makes one long for the days of high energy, talent,
decadence and of course that spirit in music that was always poo-poo'd by
the people with the power until it got too big, at which point they
DESTROYED it all.
***
The Waldos-"Crazy Little Baby"/"Cry Baby" (Baylor Records)
Here's Walter Lure's long-lived post-Heartbreakers band doin' it the way he
did it back when he was side-by-side with Johnny Thunders which is really
great considerin' just how outta time this music had become in an era of
flash 'n glitz. Sounds strangely akin to those "Heartbreaker" tracks that
appeared on a buncha Skydog platters which makes me think that perhaps those
actually were Waldos recordings. But hey, I'm sure we all coulda trusted
Marc Zermati for bein' a totally up-front and honest person, eh? A
single that I'm sure most of you reg'lar readers either don't know about or
shoved under the rug, in which case I suggest you do a li'l rug liftin' to
go out 'n find the thing!
***
The Rivieras-"California Sun"/"H B Goose Step" (Riviera Records)
And in closing, here's a single that I gotta say makes me feel rather sad.
Sad because not only was this hit a brief respite from the domination of the
Beatles on the charts but because it was perhaps the last, if not one
of the, big time singles which reflected a lotta the fun and teenbo energy
that the early-sixties hadda offer us. Face it, within a few years that
"California Sun" was gonna look rather austere while the idea of teenage youth took a drastic turn southwards. The organ-dominated flip makes for an
even more rheumy reminiscence of fun times long gone. Big mystery to this
'un is --- just who is the mysterious "DB" who dared to mark the
label of this single with his initials? "Dave Berg"? "David Brenner"???
"David Bowie"????? I guess the world will never know.
***
Don't hold your breath waitin' for another one of these, for I get the
feelin' that the next 'un's a
looooong way off.