Archive for November, 2007

“Ain’t That Cold,” by Something Real

aint.jpgI really don’t know much about this track other than that it has the world’s best title. I picked this up for a couple of bucks based on the Mankind 45 label, which I think is the best ever designed. All of the Nashboro Distro labels were good, but the simplicity of this one seems out of place among the rest. I’m sure I’ll post some tracks and images of other Nashboro Group imprints (like ABET and excello), but on to the music.

Not only does this track a tight drum intro, but it all seems a little out-of-time. But, of course, the whining waaah-waaah-waaah horns pull it all together. A nice little uptempo number with a cool undermixed guitar solo. There’s even a scratch on the disc that creates a well-timed skip that is almost unnoticeable.

“Ain’t That Cold,” by Something Real on Mankind 45 (197?).

I haven’t found much of anything online about this act or this record save for a few postings of copies for sale for way too much money. I’ll update the comments if I learn anything.

Published by p on November 30, 2007 in 70s, funk and single. 0 Comments

“Franklin’s Theme,” by Bill Loose

cherryFirst off, this song is way too short. It’s the standout track on the soundtrack to Russ Meyer’s Cherry & Harry, & Raquel, which I haven’t seen. Franklin must be some slick, meandering cat though, if this is his theme.

I put this on a few mixtapes in the late 90s, and everyone who heard it wanted to borrow it to sample. I felt like it deserved to live on its own (and I am usually all about remixing things) because it was so unique. I’ve played this track at all points on my turntable’s pitch sliders, and it always comes out sounding sludgey & fresh.

Bill’s got some pretty impressive composing and music direction credits (including being the uncredited stock music composer for Romero’s original Night of the Living Dead). I bought this record at Papa Jazz in Columbia, SC, about 10 years ago. You see a lot of Russ Meyer soundtracks repackaged and reissued, but I’ve yet to see this one among them. All of the music is worth a listen, though.

Bill Loose,”Franklin’s Theme,” From the Original Soundtrack recording of Cherry & Harry, & Raquel (1970)

Incidentally, I was first pointed to Russ Meyer’s movies by Redd Kross’s first album, Born Innocent, on which they cover “Look On Up From The Bottom,” as played below by Beyond The Valley of the Dolls’ The Carrie Nations. I’m still not sure which version is better.

Actually, while your at it, check out “In the Long Run” as well:

& “Find it,” which is a terrific rip off of Shocking Blue’s “Hot Sand”:


What a great movie.

Published by p on November 26, 2007 in 70s and funk. 0 Comments

“Baby Rice,” by Paul Humphreys & Cool Aid Chemists

Funky LA 45Paul Humphreys & Cool Aid Chemists put out a self-titled album in 1969 that contained this track, and the a-side to the Funky LA 45 (on Lizard). I picked this up in a lot of funky 45s a few years back, and found “Baby Rice” to be the standout. I spun this at a wedding once, and the mother of the bride asked me to stop playing circus music and bring back the James Brown. Wounded, I obliged.

Paul Humphreys & Cool Aid Chemists, “Baby Rice” from the Funky LA 45 on Lizard Records (1969)

Buy the reissued import disc at Dusty Groove or Amazon.

Image from FUFUSTEW, a blog you should watch.

Published by p on November 20, 2007 in 60s, funk, music and single. 3 Comments

“Get A Little,” by Patrick Cowley

This is from Buffalo Native, San Francisco electro pioneer Patrick Cowley’s 1981 album, Megatron Man. I first became a fan of Cowley when I picked up his second album, Mind Warp, based solely on the cover art. I eventually was able to track down this disc, which represents, in my opinion, his best work. Though it’s firmly rooted in the trappings of late 70s Hi-NRG/club music, there are traces of post-punk and kitsch that remind me of the Cramps and the Pop Group, as well as, (big surprise!) the Athens, GA bands from that time.

Patrick Cowley, “Get A Little”, from Megatron Man (1981)

More Patrick Cowley tracks are available for download on his posthumous MySpace, discography here. Looks like there was a 2007 re-release of his Donna Summer Remix that you can buy here in you are rich. Or you can buy this collection from Amazon, which has some awesome “Customers also bought…” suggestions.

“Menergy” on Youtube, with a slide show of Cowley Imagery.

Published by p on November 20, 2007 in 80s, disco, electronic and music. 0 Comments

“Thank You Mum/Pam’s Moods,” by Kilburn & the High Roads

Kilburn & the High RoadsA proto-Blockheads twofer. My love for all things Dury is not a secret. Just about everything I have that Ian Dury recorded is perfectly funky and wry. There’s one hit-or-miss 12″ from the late 80s where he has a peace symbol shaved into his head, but mostly it’s all golden.

This pair of tracks from the Kilburn & The High Roads are about as early as it gets. This band opened for The Who! The songs on this 10″, in a less scratchy form, are available on Handsome. I bought this in the sad final days of Sound Exchange on Guadalupe in Austin. 30% off!

Kilburn & The High Roads, “Thank You Mum/Pam’s Moods” from the Upminster Kids 10″ (1975)

Incidentally, Ian’s son, Baxter Dury, has recorded two of the best albums since 2000, in my opinion. Buy them.

Published by p on November 19, 2007 in 70s, music and rocknroll. 0 Comments

“Heart of the City,” by Larry Chernicoff

gallery of air coverLarry Chernicoff’s 1984 album Gallery of Air has some really interesting sounds on it, but this one, “Heart of the City,” seems really modern and familiar to me. I acquired this record by chance in a big lot I bought several years ago. As it says on Chernicoff’s site, this one’s out of print, and unavailable on CD, but he’s selling the remaining vinyl copies for $12 a piece. A steal! I’ve even played this out at the bar from time to time.

Larry Chernicoff, “Heart of the City” from Gallery of Air (1984)

Again, I included this on the original Record Jumble disc I did a few years ago. Image is from his site. Glad to see he’s got quite a website out there.

Published by p on November 19, 2007 in 80s, electronic, jazz and music. 3 Comments

“Pantle Meet,” by Johnny P

Johnny P, Youth of Today 12″align=I’m always trying to track down cheap 80s reggae & dub 12″ singles, and I think finding this one for 99cents started it all. I got this in the old basement at Bleecker Street Records back when it was actually fun to shop there.

Anyway, this one, on Pickout Records, seems to be from the mid-80s. It’s produced by TT. I’ll be posting more from both TT and Johnny P soon, but I don’t want the island music to dominate this spot.

Johnny P, “Pantle Meet” from the Youth of Today 12″ (198?)

My apologies to those of you who heard this on the original Record Jumble disc I made a couple of years back… I’m using that disc for posts while I’m working out the process of getting this blog up and running. More newer old stuff soon.

Published by p on November 18, 2007 in 80s, music and reggae. 2 Comments

Hey! Kids!

I left all these out so Kelly can get excitedThis is my new mp3 Blog. I often sit on the subway enjoying all of the music I get turned on to by all the various music blogs I like. Digging in the record stacks a few weeks ago to help Kelly get excited about the Pylon reunion show got me to realize how long it’s been since I interacted with my LPs. Without a weekly dj gig, it’s easy to just let them sit there.

I bought the reissued “Gyrate Plus” that DFA put out (get it on disc or in bits from other music), and while listening to it realized that “Stop it” was a call for me to start pushing out some of the old scratchy tracks that are languishing in my record shelves. So here it is. I’m starting slow, but hopefully I’ll post some really great stuff. None of it will be of very high quality, and I’m only posting songs to share stuff that I think is obscure, abandoned, inaccessible,in need of fans. Some of it may not even be music. This site will serve to promote these artists– I’ll post links to buy other releases, so please let me know what you think, and tell me how many when and where you pick things up.

Here’s a preview of what’s to come:

& some Pylon for good measure

Published by p on November 18, 2007 in drnrn! and music. 2 Comments