Play With Fire (Movement's 1-4)
The New Renaissance Society
(1966)
Given his monumental involvement in the arrangements for "Muppet Movie" and "A Star Is Born," I'm assuming Ian Freebairn-Smith is the brainchild behind this LP, as he's the only musician credited on it.
Hanna-Barbera records really gave it a go at trying to get in the music industry between 1965 and 67. Alot of fun unique recordings cam out of this window... such as this rock n roll goes baroque Stones covers LP.
La La Means I Love You
The Injunaires
Somewhere In The Winter
(1972)
The Injunaires, aka the Dartmouth Injunaires aka The Dartmouth Aires; were a Choral group out of Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
A lot of choral records can be rather dull, but, like a lot of religious themed albums... there is always a track or two that's a diamond in the rough. This one does it for me.
Many thanks to Jacob Sanders for introducing me to this gem.
Hippie Version of Creation
Silhouette Segments
(1968)
from Hyp Records :
The legacy of John Rydgren (deceased) is one of the most enigmatic in radio-jock if not also record history. A Lutheran evangelist, Rydgren started a hit program called "Silhouettes," in which he rapped over such appealing tunes as "Music to Watch Girls By," "Groovin'," "Rinky Dink," the Electric Prunes' "Kyrie Eleison," and occasionally less obvious pieces such as "Dark Side of the Flower" (with sitar). As with Ken Nordine, his thoughts were highly original, ranging from quirky perceptions of the mundane to deep acid-head philosophy. Sexy and startling, "Silhouettes" were as weird as anything heard from a pulpit or transistor radio."
text from the album liner by John Rydgren:
"It's difficult to keep track of all the new modern translations of the Bible. But some of them are bringing the intent or the Bible into the moment where people can touch it. Bit by bit our kind of hippie D.J. is making his translation or interpretation of the Bible... first the 23rd Psalm, now his portrayal of those "first" six days and the seventh one which was designed by God from that moment on for man to... "swing sweetly with serenity."
Time Is On My Side/It's Alright Now
Charles (The Bartender)
Charles At Harlow's
(1966)
Simply known as Charles, the Bartender. The liner notes describe him of a celebrity at Harlow's for his creation of a signature dressing that supposedly brought him guest spots on various TV and radio shows.
His back story reads with ambiguity, he wound up in NY to study finance and became a stockbroker... but found fame working for Harlow's. New York by way of Michigan by way of Switzerland by way of Germany by way of Poland...
The liner notes read him as the world's next big thing, but his vocals and delivery make him feel like a Tommy Weiseau of the 60s go-go set.
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.
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.
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.
