Casablanca Records is now owned by the greedy, hiney pinchers over at Universal Music Group, and mainly focuses the bulk of its attention on electro-dance releases instead of the classic 70s goofy-glam rock (Kiss) and spaced-out funk (Parliament) it was once renowned for. From what I can gather, a Neil Bogart founded the label under the Warner Bros. umbrella, and in doing so paid homage to his favorite film, whose main actor old Neil shares a surname with. That’s about it. Mondays are a bore.
Tag Archives: Los Angeles
B-Boy Bouillabaisse
This 1982 live bootleg from the inaugural Beastie Boys years is the most recent addition to the family’s B-Boy Bouillabaisse (Paul’s Boutique… check it out). It was acquired at an LA punk shop off Melrose, and although the quality is less than perfect, it captures a pivotal point in the band’s lucrative history. For what it’s worth, sacred memories need to be celebrated, regardless of how unsocial and mundane they may seem.
RIP MCA.
Breakfast
In just a few hours it’ll be time to eat… breakfast, Supertramp style. Breakfast in America marks the band’s sixth studio album, and with it, four amazing singles, including Goodbye Stranger, likely what you’ll be saying tomorrow morning when its time for that breakfast, catch my drift?
Please, Mr. Postman
Please, Mr. Postman, don’t drop, throw, toss, pitch, hurl, thrust, flip, heave, fire, or fling any of my precious records upon delivery. My copy of Lawndale’s 1986 debut LP, Beyond Barbecue, was a birthday gift (my loving SO), and now it’s little more than unplayable garbage and a sour subject. Government-infused laziness should not, nor ever, equal subpar workmanship.
Delicious Pizza
By far the best pizza in all of Los Angeles, the newly opened Delicious Pizza not only takes its logo, hip-hop motif, and aesthetic flare from the LA-based label, it was in-part founded by non other than Delicious Vinyl co-founder Michael Ross. With wall-to-wall memorabilia from hip-hop’s golden age, Delicious Pizza is 2nd-to-none for great eats, great tunes, and dirt-cheap cocktails. Part museum, part hip-hop heaven, Delicious Pizza, in every conceivable way, lives up to its name.
Circa: May 30, 2015
Radio
Back in 1985, and well before Mama Said Knock You Out, Ladies Love Cool James, aka LL Cool J released his full-length debut on Def Jam Records titled simply, Radio. The man was still in high school at the time, kids! Which when you listen to this raw, early hip-hop classic, is kind of overwhelming to fathom, to say the least. Produced by Mr. Def Jam, Rick Rubin, Radio helped launch the lucrative career of James Todd Smith (also LL Cool J) which, among many other things, helped to secure a recurring (title) role on NCIS: Los Angeles. Why the hell didn’t I rap in High School?! I could have had a cop show by now! (Thinks to himself) Oh yeah, J had talent! Nurture the young, kids!
Prime Cuts
Prime Cuts Vol. 1, the 2000 Delicious Vinyl comp features 2 LPs worth of electro and hip-hop gems from LA’s finest, Delicious Vinyl Records. Label mainstays like The Brand New Heavies, The Pharcyde, Buckwhead, and Fat Lip are all presented, as is the on-again, off-again actress on the cover, Shannyn Sossamon, pre-A Knight’s Tale (remember A Knight’s Tale… remember Shannyn Sossamon?!). Anyway, this comp can be nabbed off Discogs.com for damn cheap ($2 bucks!), and is a great addition to any dub, downtempo fan who likes their beats PG-13, and their lyrics NC-17.
5” of Freedom
Introducing, into the fold, the format family of hi-fidelity folly, Rocket from the Crypt’s 1995 release, a covers release if you will, and, for now, you will, Plays the Music Machine. Music-wise, these are covers by the world’s most prolific rock’n’roll band (RFTC) paying homage to the 1966 release by The Music Machine, (Turn on) The Music Machine. So (Monty Python’s “get ON with it” rings fairly true, here), RFTC’s 2-track offering is, in fact, because I now own it, pressed on 5” vinyl. So, depending on which photo your eyes navigate towards, here is the spectrum of sizes this, to my knowledge, format covers. 5” – 7” – 10” – 12”. Enjoy your weekend, you savage bastards (he said lovingly)!
(Clean your keyboard, fool!)
Patton Singing Bacharach
I’d known Faith No More to be an enigmatic and critical band for more than 20 years, but it wasn’t until last night that I finally realized their crushing significance in modern day pop music. I’d witnessed many an amazing show in my tenure, but last night’s performance at The Wiltern was by far one of the best I’ve ever experienced. Patton singing Bacharach, and (obviously) NAILING it, is one of a handful of scenes that I’ll be mulling over for quite some time. I went in knowing it would be a good show, and I walked out shivering for more.
Wistful Negligence
This is what I get for leaving the house this morning and forgetting to snap a photo for today’s post… no photo for today’s post. With the Faith No More show tonight, I likely won’t be back home again until the wee-wee hours of tomorrow’s AM, so I’m left to scrounge through the limiting photo library to find something worthy of a few, hurried sentences. I present to you, with wistful negligence, a photo of our collection circa: Wednesday, April 22nd. (Please ignore the antique iMac, but don’t overlook the book, A Wailing of A Town “An Oral History of Early San Pedro Punk and More” 1977 – 1985… essential reading material.)
This Time Tomorrow
In 2007, master of quirk Wes Anderson released his “green” film, The Darjeeling Limited. On Saturday, its soundtrack was officially released on vinyl. I’m not entirely sure why the powers that be waited 8 years to release this wispy sound collage, but late is certainly preferred over never. Housing three Kinks tracks (all from 1970’s Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One), the purchase and 5+ hour line wait under the heavy Los Angeles sun were both no-brainers. This soundtrack is astonishing, but from Wes Anderson, you already knew that.
O Groove, Where Art Thou?
The offices of The Prudent Groove are taking a vinyl-less weekend trip to Newport Beach, but in our passing, we suggest a spin (or three) of the flawless country / bluegrass soundtrack to the grand and goofy motion picture, O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Have a great weekend, listening friends, and stay cool and fully hydrated (for those of you in Southern California’s current heat wave).
LA’s Finest aka Latin lingo
When 1991’s Cypress Hill dropped their muther fuggin self titled opus (1991… how long ago is / was that?! ) their single, Latin Lingo was perceived with prominence and prestige so much so that Mr. Prince Paul was a viable contributor. Brush up on your Latin Lingo, kids.
PUNK! ROCK! BBQ!
If you happen to find yourself in, and / or around west LA from now until 8pm tonight, check out Liquid Kitty’s Punk Rock BBQ for a slam-packed Sunday filled with cheap booze, six bands, free hot dogs, and Mike Watt. “BE THERE OR YOU SUCK”
(Photo / flier courtesy of liquidkitty.com)
St. Valentine’s Swami
Live in the greater Los Angeles area? Feel the need to fill your vacant void with the soothing sounds of modern surf-rock from the master of audible orgasms? Then you, my friend, should checkout Alex’s Bar this Valentine’s Day, with the bombastic barometer of Swami John Reis & the Blind Shake. As the flier says: “Wine and dine your special someone with a special chicken wing and craft beer pairing.” Really, this day of single awareness, what more could you possible ask for?
Wednesday 1/21
Although I’d love to hitch my wagon to tomorrow’s neighborhood festivities with the circus-punks of yesteryear’s pizza-driving soundtrack, (the Mad Caddies), mid-week shows are a bit of a luxury these, head-down days. If you’re in the LA area, and know the Troub, you should mos def check out the Mad Caddies tomorrow night.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
I’m off to see the Wagon tonight. I’ve listened to these guys for nearly 18 years… I was only 16 when I’d first heard them, and until tonight, I’d never seen them. Let’s say I’m a little excited… have a good weekend, kids!
Thanks
Thankful of my SO for dredging through my drunken-nonsensical-rants, manifesting themselves, beat-by-beat, through a personal, and obnoxious onslaught of amazing (as far as I’m concerned) tracklist.
Thanks, kiddo! Welcome!
Like a Lighthouse Overhead
With the incessant noise from the rotating blades of a nearby helicopter, passing, then again, dipping, diving, and vacationing overhead for the past hour and a half, one can’t help but dig through local news outlets in needed search for the informational cure. With no worthy news to be shared, the mystery still remains, but with decent, drowning-out, attempt-to-ignore-the-violent-disruption-overhead-music desperately needed, one turns to the Canadian psychedelic rock, jazz-infused outfit, Lighthouse, and their 1971 album, One Fine Morning. Here’s hoping the blades of mystery solve themselves sooner, rather than later (and that nobody nearby is seriously, or otherwise, in risk of danger).
The Prudent Groove 
