The Devil's Music

Spontaneous Combustion - Brainstorm - Spaceship - Monlith (Parts 1, 2 & 3)

2010-01-08T06:26:00.000-05:00

Today we get some hard driving rock and roll with some psych and jazz tinges and some really kick ass guitar work. This band is way under rated IMHO. The songs are well written and performed to perfection. The band is tight as shit and the playing and production is crisp and clear. Why more people don't get on board with this group is beyond me...

Spontaneous Combustion were an English progressive rock power trio active in the 1970s. The band consisted of Gary Margetts on guitar and lead vocals, his brother Tristiam "Tris" Margetts on bass guitar, and drummer Tony Brock. Spontaneous Combustion released two albums, Spontaneous Combustion (1972) and Triad (1973), both produced by Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake, & Palmer. They disbanded after their second album and the Margetts brothers have gone almost unheard of since. However, Tony Brock has worked with Rod Stewart and been a member of the bands Strider and the Babys.

It's a shame Gary Margetts never resurfaced as his guitar playing and vocals are really excellent and as i said before way under rated. Anyone know if he has ever done anything else? Either way enjoy these 3 cuts from the 2nd album and 3 of my faves from Triad.

Spontaneous Combustion - Brainstorm
Spontaneous Combustion - Spaceship
Spontaneous Combustion - Monlith (Parts 1, 2 & 3)

The Wizard, The Prophet & The Little Space Girl

2010-01-04T08:20:00.002-05:00

Jimmie Rodgers - The Wizard

Chuck Jackson - The Prophet

Jesse Lee Turner - The Little Space Girl

Sticking with my previous post about posts not having anything to do with anything, Here are 3 songs that have really no common thread whatsoever, a 50's rocker, a soul cut & a space novelty song, but man, i really like the way "The Wizard, The Prophet & The Little Space Girl" rolls off the tongue...

Enjoy!

Bobby Charles - Why Can't You

2010-01-01T00:01:00.005-05:00

I don't have much to say these days, but i am hoping for a better twenty ten...

fuck 2009!!!

There is no connection whatsoever with this song & new years... I just really really dig this cut from 1956 and it is a 45 i've been waiting for the right moment to drop. I guess none better than wishing for a happier new year huh? I hope all of you have a great new year and if you 2009 was awesome i hope 2010 equals or surpasses for you...

As for Mr. Bobby Charles:

Bobby Charles (born Robert Charles Guidry, February 21, 1938, Abbeville, Louisiana) is an American singer and songwriter.

An ethnic Cajun, Charles grew up listening to Cajun music and the country and western music of Hank Williams. At the age of 15, he heard a performance by Fats Domino, an event that "changed my life forever," he recalled.

Charles helped to pioneer the south Louisiana musical genre known as swamp pop. His compositions include the hits "See You Later, Alligator," which he initially recorded himself as "Later Alligator", but which is best known from the cover version by Bill Haley & His Comets; and "Walking to New Orleans", written for Fats Domino.

"(I Don't Know Why I Love You) But I Do" was a 1950s classic that Charles composed which Clarence "Frogman" Henry had a major hit with and which was on the soundtrack to the 1994 blockbuster Forrest Gump. His composition "Why Are People Like That?" was on the soundtrack to the 1998 movie Home Fries.

Because of his south Louisiana-influenced rhythm and blues vocal style, Charles has often been referred to as black, when in fact he is white.

Bobby Charles - Why Can't You

Merry X-mas from the Devil...!

2009-12-25T06:06:00.007-05:00

The records:

The devil aka the clown caught in his natural enviroment x-mas morning...

our little tree...

The lady:

So the lady bought me some new (used) vinyl for x-mas, made me eggs and beans with an english muffin and let me have a few hours to play with some of my new gifts...
some of them i bougt for myself and one or 2 were already laying about... she even caught a shot of the elusive devil himself mid action w/ the new camera i bought her for x-mas... the old one got smashed on the jetty at Barnegat light... long story, don't ask... anywho, just something i threw togther x-mas morn while enjoying a good english breaky... Merry X-mas from the devil... special thnx to some ass from north Pennsy soon to be Cana-DUH... and the lovely JJB! Enjoy!

Can - Mary, Mary, So Contrary
Syd Barrett - Rats
Captain Beefheart - Big Eyed Beans From Venus
Butthole Surfers - I Saw An X-Ray Of A Girl Passing Gas
Luv Machine - Witches Wand
Batus! A-Go! Go!
Big Black - Kerosene
Johnny Rivers - Poor Side Of Town
The Hypnotics - Rock Me Baby
Warhorse - St. Louis
German Oak - The Third Reich

Merry X-mas from the Devil...! Mix

Bobby Blue - Ride With Me Baby

2009-12-21T08:17:00.001-05:00

“Ride With Me" was song by rock band Steppenwolf featured on their album For Ladies Only. It was originally performed by Mars Bonfire on his self-titled album with a length over six minutes and under the title "Ride With Me, Baby". The song peaked at 52 on The Billboard Hot 100. The tune was covered by The Alice Cooper Band in the film, Diary of a Mad Housewife and obviously covered here by Bobby Blue.

Who is Bobby Blue? Hell if I know… Do you…???

Bobby Blue - Ride With Me Baby

Procession - One Day In Every Week

2009-12-18T07:45:00.003-05:00

If you have to pick one day in every week it might as well be Friday...

I know nothing about this band, but i do know that this has a very David Bowie vibe, at least to my ears. And that is good enough for me.

Here is what i found out via the web:

Procession was a jazz-tinged rock band formed in Melbourne in October 1967. The group is most notable for including English guitarist Mick Rogers who later joined Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. Drummer Craig Collinge was a member of British proto-punk band Third World War.

Happy Friday & enjoy the weekend!

Procession - One Day In Every Week

Bobby Scott - Chain Gang

2009-12-14T07:33:00.002-05:00

Bobby Scott (1937, Mt. Pleasant, New York – 1990) was an American musician, record producer, and songwriter.

Scott was a pianist, vibraphonist, and singer, and could also play the accordion, cello, clarinet, and double bass. He studied under Edvard Moritz at the La Follette School of Music at the age of eight, and was working professionally at 11. In 1952 he began touring with Louis Prima, and also performed with Gene Krupa and Tony Scott in the 1950s. In 1956 he hit the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with the song "Chain Gang", peaking at #13. (This is not the same song as Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang".) As a bandleader, he did sessions for Verve, ABC-Paramount, Bethlehem, and Musicmasters. As a songwriter, he won a Grammy award for Best Instrumental Composition for the song "A Taste of Honey". In addition to "A Taste of Honey", Scott also co-wrote the song "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". In the 1960s he became a music teacher and studied again under Moritz, but occasionally recorded as well, including a Nat King Cole tribute album released in the 1980s. He also arranged for jazz and easy listening musicians such as Les and Larry Elgart.

Don't know what it is about this song but i realy dig it...

Bobby Scott - Chain Gang

The Monkees - Words

2009-12-11T07:44:00.001-05:00

I'm sending this one out to my man DK and he knows why...

No need to go into any great detail about the Monkees is there?

bet none of you all thought for a second the devil could back something like this huh...???

Goof or not, they had some cool tunes & ANY band that takes out The Hendrix Experience on tour with them as an opener to 12 year little girls MUST have been on some good drugs as they obviously didn't think that one out...

Anyway, this a great Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart penned cut!

Enjoy!

The Monkees - Words

Rockin R's - Nameless - Heat

2009-12-09T15:16:00.007-05:00

Just some mid week rock with the Rockin R's on Tempus (TR-1507) from 1959!

I already had their 1st 45 Crazy Baby/The Beat and just uncovered this white label promo of their 2nd 45. I i dig this one almost as much as the 1st one!

The following is taken from the Rockabilly hall Of Fame

Those two cats with the thousand dollar Jimmy Carter smiles strummin' their way to infamy on their platter's front cover are Ron Volz and Ron Wernsman, kingpins supreme of the legendary Rockin' R's rock 'n' roll group. Now it's important when sizin' up these hombres' whole wazoo to flip back over to the other side of this cardboard and dig their surroundings, 'cause it was in those environs - the Wernsman family basement way out in Peoria, Illinois suburb of Metamora - that the R's first lit their fuse in late 1957 with their special brand of subterranean swing.

"Mr. Wernsman was just the greatest guy," sez Volz. "Five nights a week he let every kid in town down to his basement for a party. Packed every night. We had a lotta tuff gangs in town and they'd come by, too. All Mr. Wernsman asked was that they check their weapons at the door - "GUNS AND KNIVES UNDER THE FLOWERPOTS, FELLAS!' There was virtually nobody playin' rock & roll in town, so Ron & I got things goin' with our guitars." With sprite fingered Volz pickin' leads over Wernsman's rhythm, they became the Rockin' R's when they grabbed Ted Minar offa Mr. W's basement couch to pound the skins. The trio blasted the hits of the day (leanin' heavy on Berry, Vincent, Little Richard & the Everlys) to the lucky legions in that finely wallpapered basement.

Outta these cellar bashes come the earliest recordings on their LP - a roarin' version (well, half a version) of "Whole Lotta Shakin'" taped at an R's party and a handfulla rehearsal swingers like the Sparkletones-styled shuffler "Gonna Snatch Me A Satellite" (actually a wise retitling of the Couplings' hokey pop toon "Young Doves Calling") and a boffo step onna gas kicker of "You Send Me."

As word of these beat wild teens spread through town, the combo picked up a lotta work at hops & parties. Local wheeler dealer Steve Clark interested the trio in waxin' for the newly hatched Tempus label and promptly trotted the threesome into yet another Peoria storm cellar (do you detect a pattern developing here?) to cut their coolest original "Crazy Baby."

But it was while the Rockin' R's were warmin' up with some non-vocal racket that Tempus hit paydirt. "The weird thing," sez Volz, "is we just started horsin' around while he was settin' up. He taped a little bit, called it 'The Beat' and it became the biggest hit we had!"

To whoop up the act a bit, the Rockin' R's took on a forth member, local sax boy Rick Bressick. Now Bressick was no threat to Lee Allen but he helped plant an important seed in the combo's collective noggin, namely that a sax would help 'em compete with a lotta the tuff fuller combos that were THE deal in '58. This short lived ineup made several appearances on the Paul Beard Show, a local TV variety program hosted by car dealer Beard, whose hackneyed approach to rock & roll makes Steve Allen seem like the Mad Daddy. In addition to their own TV spots, some of which are paraded on the platter, the band reluctantly backed a horrid hometown chickadee Judy Noll, the Linda McCartney of Peoria.

Meanwhile, back in the charts, "The Beat" spread like crazy locally, goin' on to top many midwest hit parades and ultimately made a national holler with strong placing in both Billboard & Cashbox, earnin' the boys the surefire girl-getter, namely a spot on American Bandstand. Six months after "The Beat" charted, the Rockin' R's pumped out "Heat"/"Nameless", another strong two-sider for Tempus, sportin' a marked upswing in the sound thanks in no small part to Bressick's replacement on sax, Art Bill. The R's literally yanked Bill right offa the stage of a strip joint called the Clover Club and this, the group's most durable lineup, toured purdy much non-stop, landin' dream gigs with their idols Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent amongst others. Sez Volz, "After the first record hit, everything started happening real fast. We were so young and willin' to do anything on stage - climb on equipment, climb on each other, hang from the celling, anything! Our whole outlook got outta hand but man, we loved it!"

Instead of lettin' the guys follow the cool path they were rockin' out, Tempus tried to market Volz as a teen idol. After a couple poppy sides it was agreed this brainstorm wasn't doin' anyone a whole lotta good and the Rockin' R's duly bounced back with the scorchin' "Mustang," jumblin' the looseness of "The Beat" with the ballsy drive of "Nameless." It was a fantastic disc but Tempus steadily became untracked with a string of non-R's money dran flops and the label went kaput. It seemed the guys wre starin' some long green inna face by steppin' up to the big time Vee Jay label but the effortless cellar swing that was the Rockin' R's trademark suffered in the process, what with rigid studio confines, reshuffled personnel (Wernsman even conceded and switched to the taboo bass) and just plain weariness. The Rockin' R's ultimately crapped out in "62, plumb outta gas accordig to Volz.

That's purdy much the musical end in the proverbial nutshell, but there's a whole lot more to the Rockin' R's tale (like the time Wernsman put his ass thru a jukebox and they hada tape his bloody cheeks together to finish a show!) which Bob Paton & Steve Rager spilled out in fine detail in KICKS#6. So now after alla those moons their LP is the very first collection of toons by (as goofball MC Paul Beard intoned) "the rock & rollers from Metamora," a little ruff but plenty wingding worthy (guns & knives under the flowerpots, of course). So get with the Rockin' R's, muchachos, and go CRAZY BABY!!

BILLY MILLER

Rockin R's - Nameless
Rockin R's - Heat

The Devotions - Rip Van Winkle & Johnny Cymbal - Mr. Bass Man

2009-12-07T08:00:00.005-05:00

Formed in 1960 in Astoria, New York, USA, the Devotions were a doo-wop group best known for their 1964 novelty recording ‘Rip Van Winkle’. The group included Ray Sanchez, who sang bass-lead, Bob Weisbrod, Bob Hovorka and brothers Frank and Joe Pardo. With their manager, the group auditioned in 1960 for a small record label, Delta, whose owner, Bernie Zimming, was not impressed with their sound. The group wrote ‘Rip Van Winkle’ that day and Zimming liked it. However, it did not sell, but two years later, when the larger Roulette Records acquired Delta, it was released again. It still did not reach the charts, and the group disbanded. In 1964, however, Roulette included the song as part of a Golden Goodies album series and it attracted more attention. Roulette issued the single for a third time and this time it made the US Top 40. A new Devotions group was assembled including three original members, but when further singles flopped, they disbanded in 1965.

The Devotions - Rip Van Winkle

Johnny Cymbal (February 3, 1945 - March 16, 1993) was a Scottish born American songwriter, singer, and record producer who had numerous hit records, including his signature song, "Mr. Bass Man".

During a career that spanned four decades, from the time he was 15 until he died in 1993, Johnny Cymbal made a meaningful impact on popular music worldwide as a songwriter, singer, performer and record producer. During those years, in addition to his rock and roll anthem, "Mr. Bass Man", he was responsible for hit records including: "Teenage Heaven", "Cinnamon", "Mary In The Morning", "Rock Me Baby" and "I'm Drinking Canada Dry".

In 1963, with his smash hit "Mr. Bass Man" all over the top of the charts from the United States to Asia, Johnny Cymbal was recognized as a teen star. While continuing to record, he toured the U.S., Europe and Japan performing as both a solo headlining act and in rock and roll package shows. Later, as a songwriter and record producer, he found success in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville.

Read more Here:

Johnny Cymbal - Mr. Bass Man

I'm sending these two out to my internet blog pal Jon over at Poetry Is For Assholes for trying to help me out w/ The Holy Modal Rounders.

It's a long story that started w/ Sheriff and the Ravels, went to the Holy Modal Rounders and ended here... (or did it?)

... Enjoy the tunes!

Ronnie Dio and the Prophets - Love Potion No. 9

2009-11-30T08:00:00.003-05:00

I thought i was going to take some time off but in light of some information i was recently told i though this was pretty appropriate. Taken from the official Ronnie James Dio website:

Ronnie has been diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer. We are starting treatment immediately at the Mayo Clinic. After he kills this dragon, Ronnie will be back on stage, where he belongs, doing what he loves best, performing for his fans.

Thanks to all the friends and fans around the world that have sent well wishes. This has really helped to keep his spirit up.

Long Live Rock and Roll, Long Live Ronnie James Dio"

Most folks know the metal elf God as singer in the the hard rock and metals bands of Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio, but I'm sure there are a good many that never knew he was cutting records as far back as the 50's & 60's. This here one is from 1964. here is the whole story if you need it: Ronnie Dio Wiki

I was lucky enough to have actually toured w/ Mr. Dio back in the 90's when my little shit band Godspeed opened up for the tiny man with the big vox. And although we didn't "hang out" much when we did have some interactions he was always super cool. He bought us a few drinks from time to time, let us drink his leftover Guinness from his dressing room and even gave us some advice of the music biz... Which obviously we didn't heed. We broke up soon after this tour.

Anyway, i just found this record a few weeks back. I was out and about one Saturday morning with my son digging for stuff at the flea market around town. We were just about to leave when we rolled up on a small stack of 45's. I started thumbing through and got about 1/2 way through of a very uneventful stack, best stuff in it was maybe some Tommy James 45's or Beach Boys; Pretty standard stuff, when the lady goes, Do you want the whole stack? I just want to get rid of them. At which point i say, there is not much i can use in here. Her reply was they are cheap. Oh yeah, how cheap? 2 bucks cheap. So i shell out the 2 beans without even looking at the last 1/2 of the stack. Not thinking much of it i put the records in the "I'll get to these later" section of the room. Well i finally did get around to checking them out this little gem reared its rare little head. So anyway, it's not the greatest 45 on the planet but hearing "little Ronnie" talking about being the loneliest boy in town and knowing what a metal God he turned into is a real hoot. And i guess these thing are kind of rare as well.

So Long Live Rock and Roll and Long Live Ronnie James Dio!!!

Ronnie Dio and the Prophets - Love Potion No. 9

Bob Riley - Wanda Jean - The Midnight Line

2009-11-26T08:01:00.004-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving people!

And in the spirit of giving i give to you a pretty rare one here from 1958. Bob Riley gives a soft little lovey number with Wanda Jean but the money here is The Midnight Line, a real rocker! Looks like the Midnight Line has been comped a few times and Mr. Riley had a few other 45's but other than that not much i know about Mr. Riley. I think i might take some time off in the coming weeks, so I'll see you when i see you...

Bob Riley - Wanda Jean
Bob Riley - The Midnight Line

Nappy Brown - Little By Little - I'm Getting Lonesome

2009-11-23T07:14:00.002-05:00

Napoleon Brown Culp (October 12, 1929 – September 20, 2008), better known by his stage name Nappy Brown, was an American R & B singer.

Nappy Brown was among the biggest stars in R&B, frequently touring with the legendary revues of Alan Freed. His songs, along with those of his peers and contemporaries (such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Fats Domino), were among the first wave of African-American pop music to become noticed and popular with white audiences.

In addition to Brown's influence on blues music, and 1950s R&B and pop, Brown's powerful and protean voice, combined with his distinctive emotive style, is widely viewed as a key link in the development of Soul music.

This jam was released in 1956.

Every time i listen to some Nappy i feel the need to go out and find more of his records that i don't own. Hope you feel the same way...?

Nappy Brown - Little By Little

Nappy Brown - I'm Getting Lonesome

2 Growler Supercase Mix

2009-11-20T20:10:00.002-05:00

breaking away from the 50's & 60's doo wop and R&B I've been posting over the last few weeks, i got myself 2 full growlers of Iron Hill beer, 1 a porter, the other a dark Belgian beer, plus boredom & a super friends record case full of 70's rock = the 2 Growler Supercase Mix.

Enjoy!

PS. I'd also like to dedicate this to my lovely lady friend JJB, who so graciously supplied the beer and some of the records!!!

Status Quo - Paper Plane
Steppenwolf - Faster Than The Speed Of Life
Crabby Appleton - Go Back
Bloodrock - Kool Aid Kids
Rare Bird - Hammerhead
Soup - Many Lovers Dance Insider Your Head
Mahogany Rush - Look Outside
Trapeze - Touch My Life
Jo Jo Gune - Turn The Boy Loose
Bang - Lions, Christians
May Blitz - Fire Queen
White Witch - Illusion - It's So Nice To Be Stoned

2 Growler Supercase Mix

Wilbert Harrison - Little School Girl - Since I Fell For You

2009-11-18T07:56:00.001-05:00

Going to keep in the 50's & 60's doo-wop, rock and R&B style o' things with 2 from Wilbert Harrison from 1960 on the Fury label.

Wilbert Harrison (January 5, 1929 – October 26, 1994) was an American singer/pianist/guitarist/harmonica player.

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Harrison had a Billboard No.1 record in 1959 with the song "Kansas City". The song was written in 1951 and was one of the first credited collaborations by the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Harrison recorded "Kansas City" for Harlem music entrepreneur Bobby Robinson, which caused a furor with Herman Lubinsky and Savoy Records.

Harrison recorded for the Fire and Fury record labels, which were owned and operated by Bobby Robinson at his Harlem record shop, Bobby's Happy House of Hits on 125th Street, west of the Apollo Theatre. Harrison's records are especially notable for the presence of the guitarist Wild Jimmy Spruill, whose solo on "Kansas City" is one of the most memorable in the history of rock and roll.

Man, I love this Fury record label...

And dig that organ action on "Since I Fell For You"...

Great stuff, I hope you dig 1/2 as much as me...

Wilbert Harrison - Little School Girl
Wilbert Harrison - Since I Fell For You

Sheriff & The Ravels - Shombalor

2009-11-16T07:23:00.001-05:00

Nobody's quite sure what Sheriff and the Ravels are singing on "Shombalor," although there are references to chicken knees and Nazis along the way... Also, i think Frankenstein stole his wine?

Stone cold classic doo-wop rocker right here.

Sheriff & The Ravels - Shombalor

The Classics - Enie Minie Mo

2009-11-13T07:50:00.002-05:00

Formed as the Perennials in 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. The Classics were a one-hit vocal group who made the Top 20 in 1963 with a doo-wop version of the Mills Brothers’ hit ‘Till Then’. The group, all from Brooklyn, comprised Emil Stucchio (9 April 1944; lead vocals), Tony Victor (b. 11 April 1943; first tenor), Johnny Gambale (b. 4 February 1942; second tenor) and Jamie Troy (b. 22 November 1942; bass singer). The quartet all lived in the same street, attended the same high school and by 1958 had developed an act to perform at local events. They changed their name to the Classics at the suggestion of a local club performer. They were introduced to the owner of the small Dart label and recorded three singles for that company, none of which saw significant sales. Switching to the Musicnote label in 1963 they covered the 1944 Mills Brothers ballad and it became a local favourite, eventually peaking at number 20 in the USA. Further singles for Musicnote and other small companies failed and the group disbanded in the mid-60s, without releasing any albums.

This is the flip to the '63 hit and a much cooler tune imho...

The Classics - Enie Minie Mo

Billy Emerson - When It Rains It Pours

2009-11-09T08:34:00.002-05:00

You know the devil does the best he can round these musical parts but i am bottom feeder of musical sorts. i don't wheel and deal or sell on ebay, i am true music fan and i really do love music and collecting records. but i am a man of smalls means, which means there a millions records on the devils want list, but i do what i can... and while this 1964 version of Billy "The Kid" Emerson's "When it rains it pours" aint the original 1955 version on Sun records, it is a great version and a version the devil could actually afford to buy... So please enjoy and maybe one day i will sneak into the Red Boys apartment and swipe his OG copy...

As for Mr. Emerson:

William Robert Emerson, known as Billy "The Kid" Emerson (born 21 December 1929), is an African-American R&B and rock and roll singer and songwriter best known for his 1955 song, "Red Hot".

He was born in Tarpon Springs, Florida, and learned the piano, playing in various local bands. Following a spell in one group, dressed as outlaws, he picked up the nickname "Billy The Kid". He joined the Air Force in 1952, and on his discharge met up in Memphis with bandleader Ike Turner, who recruited him into his Kings of Rhythm.

In 1954 he released his first record on the Sun label, "No Teasing Around", following which he left Turner's band and joined a group led by Phineas Newborn. He stayed with Sun as a songwriter, writing and recording "When It Rains It Really Pours", later recorded by Elvis Presley, and "Red Hot", which later became a hit for both Billy Lee Riley and Bob Luman.

In late 1955 he joined Vee-Jay Records in Chicago, making sophisticated records such as "Every Woman I Know (Crazy 'Bout Automobiles)", released a year later but with little commercial success, and soon afterwards moved to Chess Records. However, he continued to have more success as a songwriter, writing for Junior Wells, Willie Mabon, Wynonie Harris and Buddy Guy during the early 1960s, often in conjunction with Willie Dixon.

Billy Emerson - When It Rains It Pours

The Phil Bernardi Band - I Like Jersey Best

2009-11-06T08:50:00.004-05:00

it's true...

this stupid ass devil has been all over the world and i have seen a lot of places, and while lots of stuff was pretty amazing, i've always liked coming back to Jersey.
I guess that is because NJ is my home. And while i get get pretty damn sick of the traffic, the cops, the jerk offs, the Bennie's in the summer, the tolls, the jug handles, and well, a ton of other crap i mostly love this cesspool of filth and grime... And while this tune isn't exactly my cup per se, this has a real "Uncle Floyd" vibe going on, I'm sure it had to have been played on his show at some point? Anyone from Jersey will know what I'm talking about with that reference. And anyone who loves the garbage state enough to write and sing a song about her can't be all that bad...

The song was written by Joe Cosgriff and this is the 1st version done by Phil Bernardi. John Pizzarelli would later do it. The Song was actually introduced into legistration in 1981 to have the song named the New Jersey state song. The song passed the Assembly but failed in the Senate when some State Senators realized that much of the song was "Irreverent." To this day NJ is the only state without an official state song! (thank god this didn't make it!)

The Phil Bernardi Band - I Like Jersey Best

Chuck Osbourne - Frankenstein Pt. 1

2009-10-30T08:41:00.002-04:00

OK Folks, tomorrow is the big day! And i will end my brief but fulfilling (at least for me) excursion into the haunting land of Halloween/Monster music with my fave monster of them all...

The almighty FRANKENSTEIN!

When i was about 6 years old i begged my Mom to get me a 6 foot Franky with glowing eyes and bolts from the back of a comic book and man was i excited the day that baby came! I hung it up my wall in my room and proudly tried to scare my little sister with it! Man i though i was cool, that was until it was bed time and the monsters eyes would not stop glowing and staring at me!!! Ha! I think i ran for the hill (Mom's bed) but man i sure wish i still had that silly plastic monster...

Anyway, as with my previous couple of tunes this i heavier funky psych jam with some killer ripping guitar work, and some crude vocals, just like the devil digs 'em... 6 feet under! Get it? Digs 'em 6 feet under!?!? oh, never mind...

Chuck Osbourne? Hittsburg USA Records? Hell if i know... Just don't forget this was ANOTHER Super M Production....

Get crude, get funky and let it rip! This one is all killer thriller and no lame filler....

and if this doesn't satisfy all your Franky needs heads over to A Patchwork Of Flesh to fulfill your needs...

Chuck Osbourne - Frankenstein Pt. 1

Smokey Jam - Lady Vampire

2009-10-28T08:43:00.002-04:00

Alright, i could not find ANYTHING out about this band but Halloween without Vampires, even Lady Vampires is like catching the clap without getting laid...
The label states "Area Band" but what area that was i have no idea but i don't think it was Transylvania...
Being on Weird records doesn't hurt this bad boy, er, girl but the real jewel is the song itself, in 1 minuet and 52 seconds they manage to squeeze in some great spooky organ, great fuzzy guitar leads, smooth and somewhat spooky vocals and some more fuzzy guitar, fuzzy, man i do love the fuzzy... ya know more of a 70's bush man.... and i'm sure being from 1972 there was plenty of bush "round these boys...

wait, is this a family show?

matters... enjoy the fuzz.

Oh yeah, check the date on the record with the one on your calendar today...

It was 27 years ago today, Sargent Pepper's told his.... Uh Oh, Wrong Record! Let me Out Of Here!

Smokey Jam - Lady Vampire

The Rattles - The Witch

2009-10-26T08:43:00.000-04:00

I dig this tune immensely... And what would Halloween be like without some Witch action? Throw is some fuzzy wah wah guitar and once again count this devil in!!!

The Rattles began their career in the same Hamburg scene where many Liverpool based UK rock groups got their start. They met The Beatles in 1962 and played alongside them on three occasions in Germany; at Munich, Essen and Hamburg. In 1968 they recorded "The Witch", written by Hildebrandt, which was a hit in Germany. The group was forced to split up owing to army service and other reasons and a new line-up formed, although Hildebrandt remained as songwriter and record producer. They enjoyed sustained success in their own country through the 1960s, and recorded a new version of "The Witch" in 1970 which became their only international hit.

"The Witch" went Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart, in addition to hitting the Top 20 in Austria and on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. By April 1971, it had sold over one million copies, with the Rattles becoming the first German group to ever appear in the U.S. charts.

* Achim Reichel - vocals, guitar
* Herbert Hildebrandt - bass
* Hans Joachim Kreuzfeld - guitar
* Reinhard "Dickie" Tarrach - drums

This was the mid 1960s line-up. By the time of "The Witch" they had all left and successively been replaced by other musicians, with Edna Béjarano now being the lead singer.

The Rattles - The Witch

The Studebaker Bro's - Lie'n In The Grave

2009-10-24T17:28:00.003-04:00

Going to switch gears here for the last few days before Halloween.

Most of, if not all of my previous Halloween posts from last year have been 50's or 60's campy novelty type tunes so i thought I'd change it up with a few late 60's early 70's garage and heavy psych type jams just to shake things up around these parts of Hell!

And while this isn't necessarily a real Halloween type tune anytime someone is singing about graves and dust and bones followed up by some ripping FUZZ guitar count this devil IN!!!

As for The Studebaker Bro's or Little Fort records your guess is as good as mine...

The Studebaker Bro's - Lie'n In The Grave

The Tarantulas - Tarantula - Black Widow

2009-10-23T09:05:00.003-04:00

What would Halloween be like without some spiders!?!?

Fortunately for us "The Tarantulas" give us these 2 creepy instrumentals from 1960 and now i give them to you... Just in time for the Hell-A-Day!

As for the band:

The Tarantulas first recorded as the Spyders and had some personnel changes before changing their name. Band members included Bobby Tucker, Fred Crook, Dan Rains, Sammy Creason, and Bill English. The Tarantulas' best known song is "Tarantula," and they recorded several other songs including "Like Spellbound" and "Kaw Liga." "Tarantula" was recorded at Fernwood studio in Memphis ca. 1960 and was released as a single (Atlantic-2102 b/w "Black Widow"). This song is included on the CD Fernwood Rock N Roll. After Bill Black passed away in 1965, Bobby Tucker became the lead for the Bill Black Combo and the group, which incorporated other Tarantulas members, recorded until the 1970s.

The Tarantulas - Tarantula
The Tarantulas - Black Widow

Sorry for the file problem... that was a weird one...

Here are the re-uped versions... let me know if these work for ya...???

The Tarantulas - Tarantula
The Tarantulas - Black Widow

The Surfmen - The Ghost Hop

2009-10-16T18:05:00.008-04:00

What is Halloween without some Ghosts???

Just a little kooky, (some-what) spooky and groovy surf instrumental here to get your weekend started!

The Surfmen consisted of Ray Hunt (lead), Nick Drury (rhythm), Armon Frank (sax), Randall Anglin (bs) & Tim Fitzpatrick (dms). After replacing Drury, Anglin, and Frank with Ed Chiaverini, Ron Griffith, and Joel Willenbring, they changed their name to the Lively Ones in 1962.

I know this is a quick one, but you don't need no slack jawin' from me on this one. Just dig in... Sand and Spooks, oh my!

The Surfmen - The Ghost Hop