The Hi Hopes - Fly, Robin, Fly (1975)

 

03-24 083

Fly, Robin, Fly

The Hi Hopes

Journey

(1975)

Before there was the Kids of Widney High, there was the Hi Hopes. The band comes from the Hope School located in Anaheim, California. Hope School opened in September 1969 to "serve the trainable mentally retarded of the Anaheim Union High School District" according to the liner notes. The music department at Hope High School was headed by Doris Walker, who acted as the band's accompanying pianist. She also wrote a couple of the songs on here. 

According to my research, the band released a total of 5 albums, a comp and a cassette... their first album being comprised primarily of Creedence songs.

There's a lot of fun stuff on this record, but their cover of Silver Convention's "Fly, Robin, Fly" is just outta sight!!!

Listen here!!!

Big Shorty - The Guy Who Looks Like Me (1959)

 

03-23 082

The Guy Who Looks Like Me

Big Shorty 

Ginchee 101

(1959)

A stupid little private press rock n' roller about mistaken identity that leads to Parent Trap or maybe... Dave proportions?!!

Listen here!!!

Andy Williams - Love Story (Japanese Version)/My Sweet Lord (1971)

 

03-22 081

Love Story (Japanese Version)/My Sweet Lord

Andy Williams

CBS 80200

(1971)

Andy Williams had a pretty solid following in Japan, which is why he probably released a steady stream of Japanese exclusive singles throughout the 70s. Here we have him re-recording his version of "Love Story" in Japanese, the flip is his version of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord."

Listen here!

Sacramento High School Music Department - Turkish Bath (1970)

 03-21 080

Turkish Bath

Sacramento High School Music Department 

An Evening Of Music

(1970)

Not your average high school band fodder, and a unique piece even for a stage band. A full on funky freakout featuring a sitar opening. This one certainly simmers a bit more than most.

Listen here!!!

The New Renaissance Society - Play With Fire (1966)

 

03-20 079

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.

Listen here!

The Injunaires - La La Means I Love You (1972)

 03-19 078

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.

Listen here!!!

Pastor John Rydgren - Hippie Version of Creation (1968)

 

03-18 077

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."

Listen here!!

Charles (the Bartender) Time Is On My Side/It's Alright Now (1966)

 

03-17 076

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.

Listen here!

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.

Listen here

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.

Listen here!

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.

Listen here!

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.

Listen here!

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!

Listen here!

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.

Listen here

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.

Listen here!

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. 

Listen here!

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.

Listen here!

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.

Listen here

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!!!

Listen here

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. 

Listen here!