Fax Records - Side A (1962)

 

03-16 075

Side A

Fax Records

Erotica (The Language Of Love)

(1962)

Fax Records was an L.A. based record label, specializing in sex records. Some were stag party records... dirty songs and stories, that sort of thing. Others were "personality" records, where burlesque house comedians ran through their blue material... and others, like this one, had audio reenactment of serial acts. This is a bizarre one, as it has percussion and other noises in the background... as if it is overturned with a field recording of some primitive drum group... but also other odd noises, I'm assuming is supposed to simulate the bed springs and creaking while the vocalists moan. To me, it sounds like people fucking a washing machine, hence the photo.

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Upper St. Clair High School Choral Department - Tribute Medley (1979)

 

03-15 074

Tribute Medley (1969-1979)

Upper St. Clair High School Choral Department 

(1979)

Another wonderful high school choir record. Celebrating the tenth anniversary of their first Spring Chroal concert back in 1969, the class of 1979 sings songs of the past decade on this one... but the finale, a medley of hits, is certainly the showstopper.

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Jim Nabors - Shazam! (1965)

 

03-14 073

Shazam!

Jim Nabors

Shazam! Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.

(1965)

For the mountain of mediocre pop vocal albums that Jim Nabors released throughout the sixties, "Shazam!" Is sort of the unconventional diamond in the rough. Filled with novelty numbers and sung in his Gomer Pyle voice, I'm sure this is one of those records that would be instantaneously grating on the general public, but I just love it. A few songs enter Roger Miller territory, infact, he covers Miller's "You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd," but the real winner on this album is the title track presented here.

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Jim Backus - I Need A Vacation/Caveman/Dirty Old Man/La-Z Boy (1958-1974)

 

03-13 072

1) I Need A Vacation

Jubilee 5330

(1958)

2) Caveman

Jubilee 5351

(1959)

3) Dirty Old Man

Dore 899

(1974)

4) La-Z Boy 

Commeecial outtake

(1970)

Jim Backus

Ever since I was a wee lad, Jim Backus has always been a favorite of mine... from Thurston Howell III to Mr. Magoo (The Magoo Christmas Carol is my mandatory perennial) and ofcourse as the inebriated Mr. Fitzgerald in "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"

So, since I couldn't decide what to share, I thought I'd offer a little sampler platter of some of my favorite singles... the last track came from a bootlegs CD of the "Celebrities At their Worst" persuasion.

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Lesley Gore - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (2002)

 

03-12 071

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

Lesley Gore

When Pigs Fly 

(2002)

Lesley Gore, for me, will always be a standout as Catwoman's disciple Pussycat in the Batman 66 TV series, and ofcourse for her major pop hit, "It's My Party". Then, there's this.

The cut that closes the comp CD "When Pigs Fly," filled with Golden Throat oddities such as Ani DeFranco and Jackie Chan's duet of Nat king Cole's "Unforgettable." 

But this AC/DC cover is worth the price of admission!

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Patty Gallagher & The Showdowners- Crawdad (1975)

 

03-11 070

Crawdad

Patty Gallagher & The Showdowners

By Request

(1975)

This one was sent to me early this month by my buddy Nathan Abels. A mid-70's honky tonker out of Billings, Montana, distributed on a small label out of New Mexico. 

Most of the album is standard hillbilly lounge fair, but the Showdowners' take on the classic "Crawdad" veers into country-funk Elvis territory.

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Gian Rama Quartet - Pissi Pissi Bau Bau/Itsy Bitsy, Teenie Weenie, Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini (1964)

 03-10 069

Pissi Pissi Bau Bau/Itsy Bitsy, Teenie Weenie, Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini 

Gian Rama Quartet

Pissi Pissi Bau Bau

(1964)

"PISSI PISSI BAU BAU (EHHH?!)" No idea what it means, but this little slice of Italio rock n roll is infectious. I became hip to this record via their take on Mina's "Il Ciela In Una Stanza" featured on Robert Jacob Sanders' YouTube account... which I've grown to know, if a record is featured there, it's almost always worth picking up.

Aside from the aforementioned, the record is chock full of fun covers... such as this English-muddled version of the Brian Hyland classic.

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Rodney Allen Rippy

 

03-09 068

Take Life A Little Easier/World Of Love

Rodney Allen Rippy

Bell 403

(1973)

Years before the old geezer shouted "Where's the beef?!" for Wendy's, or the baker rolled out of bed because it was "Time to make the donuts." for Dunkin, there was a precocious 5 year old who sang this ditty for Jack In The Box. Needless to say, he became an overnight star. The songs bubbled right under the hot 100, which I'm sure was well enough for the Bell label to rush an album release the following year... after that, Rippy spent the 70s doing bit roles on various TV shows. Most people probably have never heard of him, but for Gen-Xer's of a certain age, he was everywhere. 

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Jay Perdue and Company - YMCA/Hot Stuff (1980)

 

03-08 067

YMCA/Hot Stuff

Jay Perdue and Company

Most Requested 

(1980)

Jay and Vicki Perdue, along with synth and bass player Gary Mingus, form "Jay Perdue and Company." Their second (they only had two!) album, they would go under the name: Jay & Vicki plus Gary.

They were natives of Borger, Texas and seem to have made that their entertainment hub for the bulk of their career. The whole album is fun AOR throughout, so O figured I'd offer you one song featuring Jay on vocals and one featuring Vicki.

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Rick Chandler and his Orchestra - Brazilian Carnival (1985)

 

03-07 066

Brazilian Carnival

Rick Chandler and his Orchestra 

A Week To Remember 

(1985)

Less a record to highlight Rick Chandler's musicianship, and more a record to advertise Carnival Cruise Lines. The record mentions how Rick Chandler is following in his father's footsteps as an English Carnival Cruis Line entertainer.

The liner notes go on to explain the new additions to the Carnival Cruise fleet the company plans to add over the next two years...

The music? Standard background lite jazz faire... but this song, "Brazilian Carnival" stands out to me... almost sounding like background music to an 80s crime TV series.

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Kay Armstrong - It's You, It's You (1980)

 

03-06 065

It's You, It's You

Kay Armstrong 

Because I Love You

(1980)

At age 16, Kay Armstrong had her own orchestra. Not sure how long prior to this album being recorded, or if the photos on the front reflect that era of her life... but Kay Armstrong certainly sounds of a certain age.. to me, the whole record has a vibe that could fit perfectly with Eraserhead's "Lady In The Radiator"... but judge for yourself!!!

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Alice Armand - Peek Up At The Stars (1953)

 

03-05-64

Peek Up At The Stars

Alice Armand

Erica Sings

(1953)

Erica Hermann, aka Erica Newman, aka Hollywood actress Alice Armand, would act in a dozen-ish major motion pictures from the mid 30s into the early 1940s.

Around age 50 she would leave Hollywood and retire to a farm in the Adirondack region of New York where she would take up learning instruments, and writing songs.

This "talent" would result in the release of this private press vanity album... The songs are certainly of the folk persuasion, ranging from subjects like a Patriotic anthem, to a protest song against speedy drivers, to sappy children's songs such as "Mommy Do They Shine Shoes Up In Heaven?"

What is DEFINITELY clear, she is an amateur at both songwriting and instrumentation... giving every song a surreal, outsider, real people music feel... which based on the liner notes, certainly wasn't the intention, as you can see, she viewed herself as a professional. 

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Ernie Menehune - Aquarius-Let The Sunshine In (1970)

 

03-04 063

Aquarius-Let The Sunshine In

Ernie Menehune

My Way

(1970)

Ernie Menehune! Hawaii's Sun-tanned Irishman! Whatever that means. This album is dedicated to the proprietors of the Spanish Trail Motel & Supper Club in Tucson, Arizona... where Ol' Ern would frequent performance at until his death.

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Matthew's Exit - Get Ready-Higher (1973)

 

03-03 062

Get Ready - Higher

Matthew's Exit

1

(1973)

Liner notes:

"The entertainers who can make a room become very much alive. They stimulate participation and establish a charisma with the audience, young, old and indifferent. Together Matthew's Exit can come on as heavy as Chicago, 7-man Rock and Roll ground, or as easy listening as The Carpenters for dining audiences. Though they emphasize all the current songs and medleys of the 70s, they have audience participation and games of nostalgia of the 60s and 50s that immediately bring them acceptance from a new audience. This is the feature that brings up their first albu by big and popular demand - The nostalgia of the oldies. The songs featured are the songs most requested for them to do. They provide you with their own total sound system which add dimensions of musical variety and a quality of excellence that is unequaled. There is that feeling of excitement that something is being created. Now, for the very first time you have it, MATTHEW'S EXIT."

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Los Angeles Central High School For The Arts - Spanish Flower (1987)

 

03-02 061

Spanish Flower

Los Angeles Central High School For The Arts

Jazz

(1987)

The LACHSA is a visual and performing arts high school, founded in 1985, and housed in the Cal State LA campus.

Solely auditioned bases, the tuition-free studies, offer conservatory level curriculum. 

This album is filled with top tier jazz, but I absolutely love this exotica-tinged cut... 

The organ work is exceptional, which makes since, as their director, Craig Kupka, has released several electronic keys albums in his own right.

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The Links - Have You Ever Seen The Rain/Vehicle (1971/1974)

 03-01 060

Have You Ever Seen The Rain

The Links

Presenting The Links

(1971)

Vehicle

The Links 

And Again Once Again

(1974)

The Links were a Nevada-based show band consisting of brothers John and Jimmy Link and fellow singer Stan Galli. The Links, were the second generation, the first being The Bob-O-Links, consisting of the Links brothers father and uncle, who gained fame for singing the jingle for Hamm's Beer. 

Their sound? Well... vocally unique, but don't take my word, jjudge for yourself as they hamm it up!

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Wendell Austin and the Country Swings - LSD (1968)

02-28 059

LSD

Wendell Austin and the Country Swings 

Wreck Records W-2

(1968)

A hillbilly warning to dropping acid. You too may end up like our man here, dropped some acid and killed his wife and ex and is now on his way to prison.

Maine native Wendell Austin remained an under the radar Country singer/songwriter his whole life, but it was LSD that has left him a cult star forever.

This has been comped already couple times, once on the Wavy Gravy LP and on the Twisted Tales of The Vinyl Wastelands CD, "Hippie In A Blunder."

The flipside you can find via the Dollar Country mixtape and CD, which I highly recommend...

Also Dollar Country has a fantastic zine "Ten Country Songs About Drugs" which makes for an excellent read.

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Arcesia - Leaf (1972)

 

02-27 058

Leaf

Arcesia

Reachin' Arcesia

(1972)

The story of John Arcesi has been told a few times, but to those not in the know, I'll paraphrase here.

John Arcesi was a crooner during the tail end of the big band era, late 40s into the 50s. He would never reach major fame, but would consistently release singles throughout the 50s, sometimes under his own name, sometimes under aliases. 

By 1961 or thereabouts, he would pause his career and settle down with his wife, then a decade later, something happened.

Some sources say he had a breakdown with psychotropics, some say it was the death of his wife the year prior, but in 1972 at age 54, he would write and record "Reachin' Arcesia," aa tortured vanity project of the psychedelic era with the vocal strains of the aged balladeer he was. 

The wild album has been the conversation of many theories to what frame of mind John Arcesi had during the project... and it appears after it was recorded he lived the remaining decade or so of his life as an artist in Hawaii before settling back in Palm Springs... the place his wife and him spent the last years of her life.

Many tracks from this album have been comped already... "White Panther," "Butterfly Mind" and "Rainy Sunday." The album itself released in many bootlegs and one official reissue, which I suggest seeking out.

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Eva Quartette with W.J. Smith - You Can't Make A Monkey Out Of Me (1927)

 

02-26 057

You Can't Make A Monkey Out Of Me

Eva Quartette with W.J. Smith

Gennett 6239

(1927)

Who needs hairbrained theories like evolution, when you have facts like the bible?! This gospel group shouts it aloud in this topical hymnal, inspired by the 1925 Scopes trial.

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Dallas Frazier - Space Command (1954)

 

02-25 056

Space Command

Dallas Frazier

Capitol 2813

(1954)

Years before Dallas Frazier would write hits such as "Alley Oop" or "Elvira" or the countless songs for George Jones, at age 14 he would write and record the hillbilly bopper "Ain't You Had No Bringin' Up At All."

Unfortunately, it would languish to the B-side of this cornball kiddie record about being a space ranger. Gloriously dreck ridden. Enjoy!

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William Shatner - Taxi (1972)

 02-24 055

Taxi

William Shatner

Dinah! (TV episode)

(1972)

Yeh, yeh, yeh....

The Shatman gets mentioned in the annals of Golden Throat legends for his versions of classics such as "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," or his notorious version of Elton John's "Rocket Man." 

But ya know what hardly gets talked about? His cover of Harry Chapin's "Taxi" performed live on Dinah Shore's variety show.

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Little Plains Elementary School - Can't Smile Without You/We Are The Champions (1978)

 

02-23 054

Can't Smile Without You/We Are The Champions

Little Plains Elementary School 

Spring Concert

(1978)

For those who like their School choir/band recordings of the Langley persuasion. We have this charming record with 70s powerhouses like Barry Manillow and Queen. 

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Unknown Duo - Autumn Leaves/Flute Song(?) (1950s?)

 

02-22 053

Autumn Leaves - Flute Song?

Unknown Duo

Audiodisc (Acetate)

(1950s?)

Unlabled 10" LP I found amongst my 78s... not sure where or when I picked this one up, but was surprised to hear an albums worth of songs done by this amateur pianist and singer. Was it a rehearsal? Recital? Something for fun? Or did they really think they were hot stuff...

Jonathan and Darlene Edwards were a put-on by professional artists Paul Weston and Jo Stafford, but these guys are the real deal. No information on song titles or performers, but I picture her looking like this.

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The DeZurik Sisters - Guitar Blues (1937)

 

02-21 052

Guitar Blues

The DeZurik Sisters

Vocalion 04704

(1938)

When Cliff Carlisle first recorded "Guitar Blues" back in 1931, it was a standard Blue Yodel of the Jimmie Rodgers persuasion. Seven years later, the DeZurik Sisters would record it and turn it into a wild display of instrumental impressionism. 

The only real instrument featured is a sole acoustic guitar, but their vocal dexterity layers a foundation of vocal effects: yodels, tweedles, growls, scat, bird calls and a falsetto imitation of steel guitar licks.

No one else in hillbilly was doing anything close to this. 

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Arcadia Jazz Ensemble - Ironside (1973)

 

02-20-51

Ironside

Arcadia Jazz Ensemble 

Kaleidoscope IV

(1973)

Funky high schoolers out of Greece, NY doing their thing on the Quincy Jones TV theme. There's also a great version of McCartney's "Uncle Albert" on this LP.

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Bappi Lahiri - Everybody Dance With Me (1977)

 

02-19 050

Everybody Dance With Me

Bappi Lahiri

College Girl

(1977)

College Girl is a Bollywood musical/remake of Lamont Johnson's rape/revenge film Lipstick. The soundtrack varies from atmospheric Bollywood ballads, to uptempo funky dance numbers... but the crown jewel has to be "Everybody Dance With Me" which pastes together pieces of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" with "Wild Thing" and loose, lyrical, nonsensical English to make for pure Indian madness!

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The Fall Guys - Copacabana (1979)

 02-18 049

Copacabana

The Fall Guys

5

(1979)

Lounge act The Fall Guys. They would form in the 60s and open for acts like Sammy Davis Jr, Roy Orbison and Marie Osmond to name a few, or comedic acts like Phyllis Diller or Rich Little.

All their albums come out of Pennsylvania, so I assume that's where they were from.

Here they do their best on this Barry Manilow classic. Cheese and sleaze galore!

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Ed Morton - That's The Fellow I Want To Get (1911)

 02-17 048

That's The Fellow I Want To Get

Ed Morton

Columbia 956

(1911)

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection. It is characterized by severe, violent coughing fits, often ending in a high-pitched "whoop" sound. It spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, typically lasts 3 to 10 weeks, and can be fatal for infants. 

In this comic song, we have a kid who catches his mom kissing the ice man, when they see him, they scold him, thus causing the child to retaliate. It reminds me quite a bit of Tom Lehrer's I got it from Agnes.

A fun comic song by variety performer Eddie Morton. He was an officer for the Philadelphia Police Department until 1905 when his singing career began to take off, he was originally billed as "the Singing Cop."

Billy Murray also has a version of this, but I think I enjoy the Morton version a tad bit more.

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Rose Morse - Get Your Life Together (1999)

 

02-16 047

Get Your Life Together 

Rose Morse

Walking In A New World

(1999)

"Private jazz-folk-funk from Arizona. Somewhat amateur at times, but very solid and entertaining. I could definitely imagine this in a Paul Hillery comp!" -submitted by Diego A.

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Los Meesfits - Negocio Horror (2014)

 

02-15 046

Negocio Horror

Los Meesfits

Satanic Hispanics

(2014)

Los Meesfits out of Athens, GA recorded this cassette of Misfits covers in Spanish in a Cumbia style. How I wish they released a follow up, but glad I still have this tape a decade later. You can still find the album as a digital download on their bandcamp.

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Palmer Rockey - Love, Love Rock / Feelings of Love (1980)

 

02-14 045

Love, Rock Love/Feelings of Love

Palmer Rockey

Rockey's Style

(1980)

"(A) notorious D.I.Y. example is Dallas's own Palmer Rockey: Rockey's Style. Musically, some of his album resembles the stripped-down eerie folk-style of Nicodemus. But mostly he's the disco lounge lizard from hell. He looks "straight," particularly in the glamour portrait on the back, where he resembles a TV detective-star of the late 70s. But that weirded-out grin on the front cover is closer to the Palmer Rockey of legend. His main claim to fame is a film which he spent ten years making; you can see a dog enter the room as a puppy and in the next cut the dog is ancient, about to keel over - it took him THAT long to finish the film. Allegedly, the movie was shown once - then it vanished after Palmer Rockey skipped town. All the rich Dallas widows he'd hit up, claiming he was a "movie producer" as he drove around in a Cadillac wearing polyester suits, all began talking to each other  and realized he'd bilked them all for more than a million bucks!" - Jello Biafra, ReSearch Incredibly Strange Music Volume II

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O. B. McClinton - Black Speck (1976)

 

02-13 044

Black Speck (original unedited version)

O. B. McClinton

Mercury 73817

(1976)

O. B. McClinton grew up on a farm near Memphis owned by his Reverend father. Growing up, he became a big fan of Hank Williams around age 10. His first attempt at music was all R&B but he couldn't break through, so he returned to country.

"Black Speck," in its censored version, would just dip below the top 100 on the jukebox charts, and nothing more... this uncensored version... is certainly NSFW.😅

A wild song poking fun at the racism and bigotry of Country music, making the protagonist a hero that harkens back to other characters of African American mythos. 

It also pays nod to several Charley Pride hits....

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Old Adobe District-Wide Chorus - The Rose (1981)

 

02-12 043

The Rose

Old Adobe District-Wide Chorus

Old Adobe Union School District 

(1981)

Old Adobe Union School District is a cluster of Elementary Charter schools around Petaluma, CA. 

This record is filled with wonderful off key instrumentals and sincere heartfelt choruses... my favorite being this Bette Middler cover of Amanda McBroom's "The Rose"

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Bud Cort - She Dances Alone (1981)

 02-11 042

She Dances Alone

Bud Cort

45 rpm single 

(1981)

Had a different record planned for today, but with the loss of Bud Cort today, I shuffled through my singles to find this treasure. 

"She Dances Alone" is a documentary about Kyra Nijinsky, recalling the life of her father, ballet dancer Vaslav Naijinsky. As documentary as the film is, it does parlay into fantasy, as Bud Cort plays the part of the director of the film, pulling memories from Kyra.

He also sings the theme song of the movie in this private released single.

R.I.P. Mr. Cort, you were loved. 

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Bob Oates - O Solo Mio-Cuando Caliente El Sol (1972)

 

02-10 041

O Solo Mio - Cuando Caliente El Sol

Bob Oates

Presents

(1972) 

Singer - Whistler - Yodeler extraordinaire. 

His whistling can be heard on the Bridge of the River Kwai soundtrack. This album totters between real people and lounge singer, but I feel he leans more on the former, but you decide!

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Bill Lee - If Jesus Came To Your House/Working Man's Prayer (1965)

 

02-09 040
If Jesus Came To Your House/Working Man's Prayer
Bill Lee
Sta-Set 404
(1965)

We all know what would Jesus do, but what would YOU DO?! 

Soul singer (I can only assume, it appears this is the only record released by this Bill Lee) out of Chicago, does his take on the country classic recitation. It's been recorded several times... Tex Ritter, Red Sovine, Porter Wagoner all have versions. What makes this bizarre is the pre-recorded, licensed film music that plays in the background... Alfred Newman's score to the 20th Century Fox Film "The Robe" (1953.) Aside from this original single, it's been comped on the 1991 oddity-packed LP, "It's Finkin' Time". What has never been comped, the flip, "Working Man's Prayer."

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Amanda Whitt - What A Bummer! (c. Mid to Late 1980s)

 

02-08 039

What A Bummer!

Amanda

Let's Get Plastered And Raid Circus World

(c. Mid to late 80s)

Amanda Whitt (between the ages of 8 to 11) with her older brother, recorded a slew of lo-fi gems such as this, between 1986-89.

Outsider real people post punk! Amanda comes out growling her songs while banging pots and pans or to pre recorded beats or pop songs as her backdrop.

The Amanda tapes have been championed by Outsider  Music expert Irwin Chusid and have circulated on various comps for years.

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The Bubble Busters - Bee-Boop/You're So Fine (1964)

 

02-07 038

Bee-Boop/You're So Fine

The Bubble Busters

Dot 16607

(1964)

Who were the Bubble Busters?! No idea.  No info on the webs either, but the presence of Neil LeVang (surfy guitarist for The Lawrence Welk Show) and Frank Scott (harpsachordist on the Lawrence Welk Show) leads me to assume this garagey surf single is a Welk side project session band. Pretty sure the title is a play on popping Lawrence Welk's infamous "bubbles".

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Los Boppers - Ali Baba (1961)

 02-06 037

Ali Baba

Celina Azul

Los Boppers

(1961)

Los Boppers were a Mexican rock n roll group that, in their original carnation, would rise to fame and disband within a couple years. They recorded three albums, mostly of American covers in Spanish, and a handful of singles; they would do several TV and live performances to acclaim, but would inevitably disband due to the frustration from lack of marketing for their records. 

Pretty sure this is an original of theirs, but could be wrong.... either way, it's a killer. The original 7" goes for bananas, but the LP can still be found modestly priced.

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Ken Nordine - All Colors (1964)

02-05 036

All Colors
Ken Nordine
Fuller Paint Color "Spots"
(1964?)

In 1966 Ken Nordine released an incredible album entitled "Colors" filled with word jazz, stream of conscious poetry odes to the various colors in the spectrum. 

His albums of Word Jazz have gained huge cult followings among record collectors, and his "Colors" LP is probably the most sought after.

The backstory of the recording of the album, is surmised in a footnote amongst the back of LP liner notes and some interview recollections by Nordine himself:

" I wrote the ten commercials and was very pleased. They were only on the air for thirteen weeks, and then they went off. People would call up and say, “Hey–play that again,” and they couldn’t, because they were commercials. And so, they caused quite a stir. They won an International Broadcast Award, which was wonderful, you know–something to dust. Very strange to win this big award, and that was the end of it. I thought, “God, how ephemeral. That was so much fun, doing that, and now it isn’t going to be heard anymore.” So I added about thirteen more colors–we did forty-four, all told–and I went back to Universal Recording in Chicago, and did the whole series of the colors, taking out the name of the Fuller Paint Company and just doing the colors as you hear them on the record. Yellow is different, but the rest are pretty much the same as they were."

The story has become myth, and reiterated in liner notes and several articles. Well, several years ago I found an original EP of the original Nordine commercials.

If Nordine is correct on his recollection, then two colors are missing, or were never actually distributed for airplay. He also states that aside from the drastic difference between the "Yellow" that appears on the LP, and in the original commercial, the remaining colors are more or less the same. But upon hearing these, that is most definitely NOT the case. Aside from alternate poems, you'll hear backup singers, sound effects and very different musical backings. Not to mention the recording "All Colors" which offers a tribute to the entire spectrum.

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Joni Laine and Buddy Campbell - Evil Ways (1972)

 02-04 035

Evil Ways

Joni Laine and Buddy Campbell 

Alias

(1972)

Joni Laine worked her way through the entertainment circuit as a sister trio in Idaho. She would go solo and end up in Hollywood. While entertaining in Houston, she would hook up with local entertainer Wayne "Buddy" Campbell and the rest (this album) is history.  The whole album is pretty entertaining, but their take on Santana is such a treat.

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Arden Choir and Jazz Choir - Eleanor Rigby/Soon Ah Will Be Done (1972)

 

02-03 034

Eleanor Rigby/Soon Ah Will Be Done

Ardent Choir and Jazz Choir

1972

(1972)

Ive grown really fond of this record over the years. Absolutely beautiful renditions of popular songs done by the Arden High School Choir. It appears there were three more LPs after this one with Barbara Kreun as the choir director... and if they are half as good as this one, they are certainly worth exploring. 

I could have aimed a dart at any track on this record to share, but picked two cuts that show the tone of what makes this record special. Lively, energetic cuts like their rendition of "Eleanor Rigby", and beautiful, tender solo harmonies like Bret Long's solo on "Soon Ah Will Be Done."

This was a blind buy from DJ Shadow's Annual Storage Sale a few years back, and one of my favorite finds from it.

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David Holley - Stop! In The Name Of Love (1968)

 

02-02 033

Stop! In The Name of Love

Danny Holley

Hello Holley!

(1968)

Cherub-faced Danny Holley feels better suited on a Keebler cookie or a Rice Krispies box. Some funky moments among the schmaltz (as if the title Hello Holley! wasn't a give away for the schmaltz,) there is a drum break on his rendition of "L. David Sloan" but I thought this Supremes cover was a fun one to share.

Found in an antique store in Bisbee, AZ.

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Geese - Honky Tonk Women (2000's?)

 02-01 032

Honky Tonk Women

Geese

Unknown release

(2000s?)

Not THAT band Geese, but the sound of geese honking their way through the Stones classic, Honky Tonk Women.

No information on this one, as it was a relic from the pre-DSL (56k modem) days of internet downloads. Hence, also the low quality.

This was one of many, MANY songs I downloaded from April Winchell's blog before it went down... but she had some phenomenal playlists... "Celebrities Who Insist on Singing," "Terrifying Christian Songs," "Kid records" to name a few... it was also the first place I heard classic curio albums like the production musical "The Bathrooms Are Coming!" and (her father,) Paul Winchell's album, "Chips of Wisdom."

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The Green County Boys - Intro/Hemorrhoids (1960s?

 

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Intro - Hemorrhoids 

The Green County Boys

Borborygmi

(1960s?)

A collection of jaunty piano-and-vocals medical parodies, apparently sung by real doctors. Only real doctors could have gotten away with singing such explicit material in the '50s/early '60s period these songs were probably recorded. It definitely wasn't for the general public - only other medical industry professionals would understand all the references.

I assume if Tom Lehrer became a doctor, instead of a math teacher, his music would have leaned more in this school of parody as opposed to satire.

Hear them massacre the old Foy Willing hit "Detour" that'll leave a pain in your ears as well as your ass!

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Buck Anderson - Encounters/I Like Girls (1978?)

 

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Encounters/I Like Girls

Buck Anderson

Benson Sound Inc. 5021

(1978?)

The web gives no information on Buck Anderson, the label and recording studio was out of Oklahoma City. 

Here we have a real people country singer who probably wrote these songs between Star Trek reruns and D&D sessions. Given the catalog number,  references to Star Wars and Close Encounters... I am assuming this vanity press was recorded around 1978.

For as much thought as he put in the A side, the B side is his ode the ladies complete with an inept drum solo an a chorus of ladies he probably picked up from a bar.

How this ended up in a dollar bin in Pasadena is beyond me, but I'm glad I found it. 

May the force be with you, my Skywalker!

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John Trubee & Ugly Janitors of America - Aldo Ray (2015)

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Aldo Ray

John Trubee & Ugly Janitors of America

Nude Woman Exdocrius

(2015)

John Trubee... probably most famous for being the author behind the infamous song-poem "Blind Man's Penis." 

He has continued to be musically active since the 70s, with his albums being a veritable grab bag of outsider art, noise, poetry and prank phone calls. 

Here he is with his backing band, Ugly Janitors of America doing his tribute to classic macho leading man, Aldo Ray.

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Bill Haley Y Sus Cometas - Florida Twist/Negra Consentida (1961)

 

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Florida Twist/Negra Consentida
Bill Haley Y Sus Cometas
Orfeon 1047
(1961)

In 1960, Bill Haley moved to Mexico. The hits had stopped, the well had run dry and a series of bad luck events had occurred post-"Rock Around The Clock."

He had left the U.S. to evade the IRS. He also found that if he signed to a Mexican label, AND kept the money in Mexico, the IRS couldn't touch it.

And so it goes, the first king of Rock n Roll became the king of the Twist. He would record a whole album of Twist songs, and would have the biggest record out of Mexico (up to that time.)

Is that him singing in Spanish on the flip? It sounds like him, but I never researched it.

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Robert Mitchum - You Deserve Each Other-I'm Confessin' (1967/1956)

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a) You Deserve Each Other

Robert Mitchum 

That Man... Robert Mitchum Sings

(1967)

b) I'm Confessin'

Robert Mitchum 

Capitol Demo (Tall Dark Stranger CD)

(1956, released 1997)

A couple odds and ends from Robert Mitchum. First up, him doing the country pop thing. A bizarro world Dean Martin, if you will.

Then, a demo he cut for a nixed album from Capitol, before he pivoted directions from standards to Calypso.

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Barbara Rylska - Sex Appeal (1965)

 

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Sex Appeal

Barbara Rylska

Sex Appeal

(1965)

Found in a thrift store a couple decades ago. Couldn't resist the cover. Musically, visually... I can assume she's the Liza Minelli of the Eastern bloc.

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