I’m excited to start my collection of reissue debut classics from the seminal four from Sun Records. First acquired is Roy Orbison’s At the Rock House (originally released in 1961). Somewhere in transit is Jerry Lee Lewis’ 1958 debut of the same name, and down the pike will be Dance Album of Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash’s With His Hot and Blue Guitar. As you can plainly see, Roy’s reissue is on rockin’ red vinyl, where Mr. Lewis’ is on sleek silver. Carl’s is on blue suede, and Cash’s on fire orange. A great (and cheap) way to acquire these rock n’ roll classics.
Tag Archives: music
The BBQ Lives!
Found out about this one a bit late, but we were still able to catch the majority of Mike Watt and Secondmen at Liquid Kitty Punk Rock BBQ’s new location in Cypress, Cafe Nela. A random appearance by Keith Morris (and what looked to be his family) was a treat. Bummed we missed Lawndale. RIP Liquid Kitty.
Drunk in Public
So, this hoppened (see what I did there?). Fat Mike of famed NOFX teamed up with (and apparently caused disruption for) the Stone Brewing company. Labeled as a “hoppy lager,” Punk in Drublic was (very) recently released in the Southern California area to promote a punk all-start / craft brew tour of the same name (Punk in Drublic… NOFX’s fifth studio album released back in 1994). If you can find it, GET IT! Not so much for the taste, but for the pure awesomeness that is this reality. Cheers.
Fantastic Savings
When your savings are fantastic, Pat Boone is present. He may be on the radio, hiding behind an old oak tree, or he may be haunting your dreams… again. For a cool $0.87, you don’t care about sleepless nights and shivering cold sweats, because with fantastic savings, comes Pat Boone.
(Friendly inflation calculator info: $0.87 in 1962 is $7.05 today. Cue the jingle.)
Virus
I want to devise a virus
To bring dire straits to your environment
Crush your corporations with a mild touch
Trash your whole computer system and revert you to papyrus
So begins Virus, the 2000 doomsday “single” off Deltron 3030’s debut album, Deltron 3030. Positive Contact, the 2001 single off the same debut, would have been my first choice for single-hood, but the Deltron team had a different plan. Back with Things You Can Do, this 6-track single contains the album versions, the stupid radio edits, and the chill instrumentals. Remember kids, Deltron 3030 released both of their studio albums as instrumentals, so consider that the next time you and your lover lock lustful eyes.
Maxell Audio Cassette x5
I recently discovered that Amazon keeps blank cassettes in stock, and for pretty cheap! Not sure what analog project I’m going to dirty my hands with (on my Pioneer CT-W600R), but with a 5-pack, it should be fun!
The Surplus
Though I’m not blown away by the first spin of Surplus 1980’s 2013 mini album Arterial End Here, I will say that I’m willing to put in the overtime to properly ingest its contents. Maybe I was having a bad day, or maybe this collection of 7 songs seem half-baked, but there’s something unsettling about how unsettling this (mini) album is. Give it time… my new mantra.
The Cha
Pleasantly surprised by this random $1 purchase of Pupi Lopez and his Orchestra’s 1957 Cha Cha Cha Merengues and Mambos release. Acquired for the cover (despite the water damage), she’ll stay for the outrageous Latin flare.
E for Exotica
Completing a set is always something of a “cheers” moment. So when I finished off my Martin Denny Exotica collection (Volumes I – III) just the other day for only $0.92, well, that’s certainly cause for some sort of celebratory “cheers.” Yes, it’s Space Age Pop, yes there are birds, and yes, you’re gonna’ love it.
Yellow Bird
Originally titled Percussion Spectacular!, Arthur Lyman’s 1961 “haunting melody” track, Yellow Bird, became a major hit, and Percussion Spectacular! would bow to its rereleased name, Yellow Bird. Whatever the hell you call it, L-1004 (catalog tag release name from HiFi Records) is another classic space age pop release by the master of ethereal delight, Mr. Arthur Lyman, and should be strongly considered for your next social gathering.
In Fields of Bagels (and Bongos)
Look. I know I just posted about this record, but I’m ACTUALLY spinning it and, let me say, it greatly surpasses the hype! Pianos, bongos, and, wait… where is my damn bagel?! Irving Fields Trio, you’ve outdone yourselves! (1959, kids.)
RIP 78rpm
This 1956 reissue of Duke Ellington’s 1951 classic, Masterpieces, was one of the first records to take full advantage of the (then) new long play (LP) format. Previously restricted to about three and a half minutes on 78rpm records, Mr. Ellington and his partners in crime liberated listeners with Mood Indigo, the 15-minute opener of jaw-dropping proportions. Though I much prefer the cover art to this reissue, the 1951 original is something of recorded music history, and therefore one I shall hunt down. But seriously, this album is amazing in any format, and as with any Ellington release, comes highly recommended by the feeble minds here at The Prudent Groove.
Olé ELO
I’m a sucker for album covers that feature, well, album covers, so ELO’s 1976 compilation Olé ELO was a no-brainer. Strange Magic, Evil Woman, Roll Over Beethoven, Ma-Ma-Ma Belle… this single disc release has just about everything a novice ELO fan could want (save maybe for Rockaria! or Livin’ Thing, which would come out this same year on the band’s sixth studio album, A New World Record). Anyway, you can find this record for dirt cheap. Do yourself a favor and move it to the top of your list.
Gold-ish
Neil Diamond struck it rich with his 1970 live album, Gold. This is a 1973 reissue, but the material is the same as that on the original 1970 album (for those caring to know such things). The material was recorded on July 15, 1970 at The Troubadour in Los Angeles (a great, and relatively small venue). It’s a great listen, but don’t take my word for it. Extinct trade magazine Cashbox had this to say in October of 1969: “On stage Diamond radiates the same excitement that has made pop stars from Sinatra to Presley, and it’s a sensation that can’t be described, only felt.”
Volume III
Agustín Castellón Campos, better known as world-renowned Romani Flamenco guitarist Sabicas, released a back-to-back-to-back onslaught of wicked Spanish-folk with his Sabicas Volume 1 – Volume 3 (1957 – 1958) for Elektra Records. While currently on the hunt for Volume 1 and 2, I can say without hesitation that Sabicas, in any volume, is a terrific way to start out the week. Be on the lookout the next time you wander into your local brick & mortar. You’re welcome.
Special Beat Service.
A band by any other Beat, is still The Beat. Known in Australia as The British Beat, in North America as The English Beat, and in their own territory as simply, The Beat, this late 70s – early 80s ska revival group released some unforgettable earworms throughout their tenure, a few of which would be focal points to classic cult films. I mentioned earlier (four or so years ago) about their inclusion in the 1997 film Gross Pointe Blank, but it was 1982’s Rotating Head (instrumental version titled March of the Swivelheads) by means of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that introduced me with this prolific and continent-jumping band. The music? Well, it still holds up, and shows no signs of fading away into irrelevant obscurity. The (insert location here) Beat’s discography is relatively small, and definitely work seeking out.
Swingin’
Skip Martin conducts the Hollywood Symphony and All-Star Jazz Band in this amazing amalgam of string and horn-laced space age pop eruption titled, Swingin’ with Prince Igor. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the sound of 1959. With cocktails raised, in a room dank with the stale smell of burrowed tobacco smoke, Swingin’ is sure to please. But don’t take my word for it. Here is an excerpt from my wife’s glowing review: “Oh, I like THIS!”
Relapse
As far as new music goes, Surplus 1980 is very likely my newest, latest discovery. And by discovery, I mean I heard it on the radio (my 19-year-old self is cringing and balling his fists right now). Of course, I heard it on KXLU, well, The International Voice of Reason to be exact (my new muse). What got me was 2011’s Let’s Put Another One There. It’s a circus nightmare of overpopulated self-awareness, and it’s quite possibly one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. To pigeonhole Surplus 1980 (oh, why do we feel the need?), one would have to mix Devo, Blue Meanies, Polysics, some elements of Primus, Captain Beefheart, and Damaged Bug into an adult beverage sippy cup. To consume, plug your nose, remove the lid, and pour contents over your head. Rinse, repeat, enjoy.
Picture the Sun
In 1984, Rhino Records, with exclusive license from Sun International Corporation, released this beautiful Greatest Hits album as a radiant picture disc. Long gone were the rights to Elvis, but each of the other legendary Sun Records icons are present. Roy Orbison doing Ooby Dooby, Carl Perkins doing Honey Don’t and Blue Suede Shoes, Billy Lee Riley doing Red Hot, Junior Parker with Feelin’ Good and Mystery Train, Jerry Lee Lewis with Great Balls of Fire and Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, and of course, Johnny Cash with Folsom Prison Blues. It’s worth owning even if picture discs are prone to skip (and they are).
Bagels and Bongos, Baby
Gah! For some reason, these posts aren’t showing up on time. I blame WordPress (user error).
I’ll most certainly revisit this album for a much more in-depth analysis (and will likely use the same photo), but for now, I’m excited for my newest Space Age Pop acquisition: Irving Fields Trio’s 1959 classic, Bagels and Bongos. Haven’t spun it yet, but this cover is something dreams and offspring are made of. Bagels sold separately.
The Prudent Groove 