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)

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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)

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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)

 

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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)

 

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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)

 

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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)

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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)

 

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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?)

 

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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)

 

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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)

 

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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)

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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)

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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)

 

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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)

 

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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)

 

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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)

 

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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)

 

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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)

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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)

 

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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)

 

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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)

 

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

 

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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)

 

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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?)

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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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Joe E. - Love Got In My Way (1976)

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Love Got In My Way
Joe E.
Love Got In My Way
(1976)

Joe E. was a construction worker and part time stock car driver who was inspired by blue collar workers making it on the charts and decided to try his hand at singing. He looked into finding a studio that would produce an album for him from start to finish. Him and his father invested $20,000 out of pocket for the album. The studio treated the production with extreme care, but when it came time for them to manage his career, the studio packed up over night, moved out of town and dumped his master tapes in the trash.

Most people know this album (of the people who do) from the cut "Come On Sign," which really is tops! But I think the title track is a great place to show the kind of sound that makes this album special...

The album as a whole is like Elvis meets Scott Walker meets Pet Sounds... I SWEAR!

Listen here!!!

Squeegie - Sunny (c. 1960's?)

 

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Sunny

Squeegie

For Once In My Life I've Got To Be Me!

(c. 1960's?)

Liner notes:

"Squeegie is the lady's real name! Equally as unusual is the amazing vocal versatility she demonstrates in this, her first LP album. Ranging in style from the dynamic "rock" of "Sunny" to the tenderness in the torch rendition of "Go Away" she displays the artistic flexibility and grace which has won her the adulation and respect of live audiences wherever she has performed..."

Well, she never made another record, but one wonders what that would have sounded like... there is an ethereal element at play here which gives the album a layer of unintentional atmosphere. 

The microphone sounds like it was on the other side of  an auditorium, giving the whole record a cavernous echo laden sound. Throw in the percussive bass and cordovox, and this makes for a weird lounge feel that leaves you in some valium induced cross road between reality and sleep deprivation!

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The Goofers - Intro-Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree (1977)

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Intro - Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree

The Goofers

Live in the Landmark's Nifty Nook Lounge Las Vegas

(1977)

The Goofers were comprised of five Italians, all ex-members of Louis Prima's band. Through years of going through the motions of the usual lounge shtick, they would separate themselves from other Vegas acts by playing their instruments on pogo sticks, or on trampolines, or upside down (as pictured here.)

A lot of the repertoire are lively swinging big band material, I'm sure the kind of stuff they did for Prima... as I'm sure the Italian accent put-on for this Tony Orlando cover is something they probably would have done in their Prima act as well.

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Piero Umiliani - Mah Na Cowboy (1971)

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Mah Na Cowboy

Piero Umiliani

Questo Sporco Mondo Meraviglioso

(1971)

I'm sure it's common knowledge at this point that Jim Henson took the famous "Mah Na Mah Na" song from an Italian softcore porno called "Sweeden: Heaven and Hell," right?

The original, composed by Piero Umiliani, is featured during a sauna scene featuring a dozen or so Swedish girls. I'm sure it was Umiliani's signature, comical, nasal-vocalese delivery that caught Henson's ear.

Anywho, what isn't so well known, is this follow-up track from an equally salacious Mondo film from 1971. The track is absolutely bugged out and bonkers. The original LP goes for like a thousand bucks on a good day, but you can find this single, even 30 years after its pressing for about what I paid for it.

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Crane Calder & Suzanne Bloch - The Jabberwocky

 

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The Jabberwocky

Crane Calder and Suzanne Bloch

Allegro AK56

(1952)

Crane Calder, Broadway choral director and choral director for children's label Allegro. Suzanne Block, lute player who specializes in Renaissance era folk music. 

Wasn't sure how this would sound, is this the first musical rendition of Lewis Carroll's poems? Not sure. Also not sure if this is any good, I was excited and instantaneously underwhelmed. 

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Charlie, Bill and Steve (Kaman) - Armenian Mama (1977)

 

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Armenian Mama

Charlie, Bill and Steve (Kaman)

Going To The Dogs!

(1977)

Charles Kaman: aeronautical engineer and businessman. He also was a musical enthusiast and inventor who founded the Ovation guitar company in 1964.

His love of music brought this album to fruition... a Connecticut vanity press of instrumentals he wrote, backed by his two sons.

The music is creative and the production is stellar... 

I personally bought this record for the cover and cheesy title, only to find that it was work of charity.  All proceeds from the record went to the Fidelco foundation; and organization, founded by Charles to train guide dogs for the blind.

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The Kids from King (ft. Kim Anderson) - I Got The Blues Over You (1984)

 

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I Got The Blues Over You

The Kids from King (Kim Anderson)

Dr. Martin Luther King High School's Tribute to  Muddy Waters

(1984)

Pretty fun record out of Martin Luther King High School in Chicago. The students sing a few Muddy Waters songs, and several original compositions while backed by a slew of local session players.

The originals were written by the school's songwriting class and the record was funded by the Chicago Council On Fine Arts.

Though it would have been fine to include a more than capable Muddy Waters cover, I thought it would be more apropos to share one of the student originals. 

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Dick Foran and The Sons of the Pioneers - Strawberry Roan (1943)

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Strawberry Roan
Sons of the Pioneers
Unlabeled 78rpm
(1943)

Strawberry Roan, aka, The Castration of the Strawberry Roan circulated just like the one you see here. These type of records were sold under counters at record stores and often gave vague titles, no credits and no label information. They were often dirty and blue material not suitable of polite company.

This is the way that Lucille Bogan's infamous take of "Shave 'em Dry" first appeared to the public.

Here we have Dick Foran singing with The Sons of the Pioneers, a VERY NSFW version of Strawberry Roan.

The story goes that during the Pioneers' stint recording radio shows for Dr. Pepper, they were asked to record a special version for the annual Dr. Pepper stockholders board meeting. During this time, they had found these alternate lyrics that one of them had written and decided to record it privately as a joke. Listen here!

General Foods - Kernel-Fresh Musical Promotion: Cashews (1952)

 

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Kernel-Fresh Musical Promotion: Cashews
General Foods
RCA Victor Custom (single)
(1952)

Radio jingles from General Foods to advertise the concept of buying fresh nuts, roasted right at the market! Listen here!

Matia Bazar - Elettrochoc (1983)

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Elettrochoc

Matia Bazar

Elettrochoc (single)

(1983)

Matia Bazar, Italio pop group from the 70s, representing Italy in Eurovision '79. Their career would span 6 decades, currently still active... but it's songs like this, featuring founding memberAntonella Ruggiero that make the band sound unique... I'd describe her vocals (4 octave range,) somewhere between Yma Sumac and Kate Bush territory. 

Listen here

Bill Plummer and the Cosmic Brotherhood - Journey To The East (1968)

 

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Journey To the East Bill Plummer and the Cosmic Brotherhood Bill Plummer and the Cosmic Brotherhood (1968) Pretty sure I first heard this on one of the "Electirc Psychedelic Sitar Headswirlers" compilation CDs. Bill Plummer's Cosmic Brotherhood LP sort of works as a companion album to Tom Scott's "The Honeysuckle Breeze"... same year and same session players. The lyrics come from a poem, written by fellow bassist turned Sitar player, Hersh Hamel who played for the Art Pepper Quartet and Don Randi Trio.

Listen here!

Jenness Parker - Vivo Sonhando (2010's?)

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Vivo Sonhando Jenness Parker At Last (2010's?)

Fairly good private vocal jazz CD from Delaware of all places. 2 very good tracks on this one, where she sings in Portuguese. Not on Discogs, includes her business card. (submitted by Diego A.) Listen here!

Jim Clark - Misirlou (1970)

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Misirlou Jim Clark After Dark (1970) According to the liner notes, Jim Clark is a triple threat: singer, musician AND comedian. A man of an unusual voice who can tackle any tune from Jazz to Country! The album highlights how wild his comedy routines are, such as his "Mr. Wong from Hong Kong" bit. His travels have allowed him to perform in such places of distinction such as Sierra Steak House in Miami, the Princess Hotel in Bermuda and McGuire's in Minneapolis. This album was recorded in The "Prom Town House" in Omaha Nebraska. Enjoy!!!

Listen here!

Jerry Jackson & The Inmates - Fool Me One More Time (c. 1974)

 

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Fool Me One More Time

Jerry Jackson & The Inmates

Meet Jerry Jackson & The Inmates

(c. 1974)

Small time country lounge band's sole release on the small-time country label out of Vancouver, Washington, Vanco. Not much is known about the Inmates, but they were apparently from Caldwell, Idaho and drove up north to record this album. Most of the cuts have Jerry Jackson singing, but this one, from the band's piano player Jan Adair spotlight's her rough and warbly vocals that has probably sung in many a smoke-filled honky tonk.

No real liner notes, which is shame, because with a backing band titled "The Inmates," I kinda feel there's a story there.

Listen here