IRWIN, BOB -& THE PLUTO WALKERS- - COFFIN DRAGGER/ARABESQUE
Vinyl on Colored Wax! Think the true spirit and sound of the 60s exists only in the ring-worn covers and greyed out grooves of your discs from 1967?!? "Coffin Dragger," the second single by Bob Irwin and the Pluto Walkers, will change-and blow-your mind! Specially selected from the musicians new full-length album, The Throwaway Age, this disc is as perfect an encapsulation of a lost era as you will find-a stomping, fuzztone-infected tribute to the legendary biker film soundtracks of decades past, recorded with the same kinds of techniques and energy as the much-coveted originals... "Arabesque" is an audio voyage into a kind of other world where Henry Mancini and Chocolate Watch Band mightve made magic music together in a garage, combining a brilliant melody with a snarling, complex and distorted arrangement, prominently featuring layers of fuzz and a vintage Ace Tone Top-5 keyboard. This performance, a cover of a rare Ventures B-side, was conceived during sessions for a rarities-based tribute album to the group, and is available only on this 45. Both sides of this single were recorded with the nearly forgotten artistry of true 1960s micing and placement, and mixed to authentic monophonic sound. Slide it onto your changer somewhere between your Arrows and Zakary Thaks singles-you will not be disappointed... Fuzzboxes set to stun! TRACK LIST: 1. Coffin Dragger 2. Arabesque.
MONOTONIX - NOW (FLEXI)
FLEXI DISC. A far cry from their almost grunge-leaning studio albums, this is a mostly-instrumental, free-jazz-ish piece, showing that they are as opposed to musical convention as they are to dive bar security.
CHOCOLATE WATCH BAND - ONE STEP BEYOND (180GR)
US import. Reissue on 180-gram vinyl, with reproduced artwork and Tower Records labels. The third album by the legendary '60s garage-psych band from California.
SPRAY PAINT - SPRAY PAINT
S.S. Records is very pleased to announce the debut album of SPRAY PAINT, eleven songs of killer avant punk aggression that measures up with anything stomping around today.
VARIOUS - TEXAS TORNADOS (2LP)
Texas Tornados is a whirlwind of hot tamale talent; high-steppers, hep cats and hipsters all, whose wild waxings helped make the Lone Star state sparkle on RocknRolls map. Featuring Big Beat pioneers The Crickets and Jape Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) alongside the good time honky tonk of Bash Hofner, Texas Tornados samples the diverse delights of local labels Sarg, Starday and D, all of which helped define the regional sound. With contributions from Ronnie Dawson, Jett Powers and Trini Lopez, this 2LP set also includes gems from Doug Sahm, Thumper Jones and Bob Luman. Carefully compiled by Lucky Parker in conjunction with the Wild Wax Shows deejay "Jailhouse" John Alexander, Texas Tornados offers an authentic selection sure to appeal to both avid collectors and those just beginning their journey of discovery. Side 1 1. Im Lookin' For Someone To Love (The Crickets) 2. If I Had Me A Woman (Mac Curtis) 3. You're My Baby (Roy Orbison) 4. I Can't Find The Door Knob (Jimmie and Johnny) 5. Move Around (Joe Poovey) 6. Cockroach (Link Davis) 7. Cattin' Around (Charlie Adams) 8. Mama Don't Allow No Boppin' (Vern Pullens) Side 2 1. Sag, Drag And Fall (Sid King) 2. Lookin' (Royce Porter) 3. No Love In You (Harmon Boazeman) 4. Crazy Blues (Jape Richardson and The Japetts) 5. Whenever You're Ready (Bob Luman) 6. Centipede (Lew Williams) 7. Rockin' And A-Bopin' (Bash Hofner) 8. Rockin' Daddy (Sonny Fisher) Side 3 1. Wild Wild Women (Johnny Carroll and His Hot Rocks) 2. Rockin', Rollin' Stone (Andy Starr) 3. Yes You Do (Trini Lopez) 4. White Lightning (Big Bopper) 5. How Come It (Thumper Jones) 6. I'm Through (Sleepy LaBeff) 7. Catapillar (Ray Campi) 8. Sleep, Rock-A-Roll Rock-A-Baby (Alvis Wayne) Side 4 1. Rockin' Bones (Ronnie Dawson) 2. Straight Skirt (Gene Summers and His Rebels) 3. Yes I Do (Royce Porter) 4. Go, Girl, Go (Jett Powers) 5. Crazy Daisy (Doug Sahm) 6. Rock Me My Baby (The Crickets) 7. Rock-Tick-Tock (Jimmy Dee) 8. Teen Twist (Buddy Miller)
VENTURES - MASHED POTATOES AND GRAVY
If ever there was a "band that launched a thousand bands," it would be the Ventures. Founded in Tacoma, Washington in 1958, their guitar-based instrumental sound would prove hugely influential, inspiring countless followers to pick up a guitar, bass or set of drumsticks and try to emulate their heroes. As these musical neophytes would soon learn, it wasn't as easy as it initially appeared. The Ventures were masters of tone and technique, deftly arranging their instruments in a seamless approach that was instantly recognizable. Because they were an instrumental group, their songs needed no translation, which resulted in a huge worldwide following. While many rock bands have claimed to be "big in Japan" over the years, the Ventures were the country's first rock superstars and they maintain a devoted worldwide following to this day. With over 100 million records sold, they are the best selling instrumental group of all time. the magnificent Ventures' catalogue has been sourced from the original Dolton and Liberty Records' reels and painstakingly mastered to sound and feel like they were originally intended. Along with precise artwork restoration on each title, these new Sundazed editions stand as the definitive re-releases of these monumentally important albums. Long may they rock! LIMITED COLOURED EDITION TRACK LIST: 1. Lucille 2. Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) 3. Hernandos Hideaway 4. Mashed Potato Time 5. Summertime 6. Hot Summer (Asian Mashed) 7. Poison Ivy 8. The Wah-Watusi 9. Instant Mashed 10. Scratch 11. Hully Gully (Baby) 12. Spudnik
WOOLEN MEN - WOOLEN MEN
Punk influenced lo-fi DIY rock, with a clear admiration for Wipers and Dead Moon. Woolen Men conists of two Oregon-natives and a Washingtonian. They recorded this, their debut album, in their practice space, with an old fashioned 4-track cassette recorder. From hours and hours of recordings they picked ten tracks, all of which have that magic spark. Live, The Woolen Men are thunderous and energetic and the trio's magnetic chemistry shines through in this vinyl-only release. Includes digital download coupon.
BOLLYWOOD ARGYLES - ALI OOP/VINDA LU
This series continues with those Hindu ho-dads, the Bollywood Argyles delivering unique curry flavored takes on Hollywood Argyles and Ray Sharpe hits! Most tasty!
NEW SURFSIDERS - LITTLE SAINT NICK/ 'TIL I DIE
Run, run reindeer! In Round Three of their assault on the beach Boys songbook, we find the New Surfsiders in an upbeat festive mode, which carries over to the peppy stab at a SURFS UP gem! The perfect holiday gift for the Mike Love-fan on your shopping list!
NEW SURFSIDERS - SMILE MEDLEY/NEVER LEARN NOT TO LOVE
Don't have the time to plow through the Beach Boys multi-disc 'SMILE SESSIONS' box set? See what REAL genius is as the new Surfsiders blaze through the whole album in three minutes! And if that ain't enough to make you flip your lid, the boys also serve up a snappy dance version of the Manson-Wilson chestnut!
DEL-AIRES - ZOMBIE STOMP
Prepare for this long-awaited collection celebration of rare, unknown and unissued demos and live recordings from Norton/Kicks teen kings the DEL-AIRES! Dig the colossal 'ZOMBIE STOMP', the first ever collection of 1959-1963 East Coast twist/grease/instro/rockabilly/rock n' roll from the Vitalis vindicators of the stage, the screen and shellac! You know them as the sand-kickin' stompers in HORROR OF PARTY BEACH. Now revel in a full onslaught of Del-Aires fabulousness, including their earliest pre-Del-Aires recordings and the mythic Angel Lounge live sets -direct from master tapes- unreal sound! Massive gatefold packages with extensive bio notes! Giant gatefold vinyl foot long schlong! WAX 'EM DOWN! So Far-So Long / Someplace Else / Wigglin And Wobblin / Drag / Sing Sing Sing / Arlene / Treble Rock / The Crawl / Zombie Stomp / Back Beat No. 1 / Ive Got My Eyes On You / Stubborn Kind Of Fellow / Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah / Do You Love Me / Black And Blue / Wigglin And Wobblin / Berserk / Horror Of Party Beach Trailer *=previously unissued
MANNING, TERRY -& THE WILD ONES- - EL PASO ROCK, VOL. 7
Legendary producer Terry Manning grew up in El Paso, with his eyes and ears glued on his hero Bobby Fuller. Steeped and stewed in local rock n roll sounds, Terry, and his teenage garage combo The Wild Ones, recorded their version of the burgeoning early '60s Southwest ruckus. Terry came across this lost tape box recently and brought it home to Norton to hitch another piece onto the expanding El Paso rock n roll puzzle. Nortons 'EL PASO ROCK' series is available on LP and CD. Collect them all! Nervous Breakdown / Memphis / Just This Once / Youre In Love / Hey Baby / Sweet Little Sixteen / Boney Maronie / Mathilda /Across The Bay /Forever Christine / Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home) / Patty Baby / Way Down Yonder In New Orleans / The Dog All titles previously unissued
VALENTINE, T. -WITH DADDY LONG LEGS- - THE VAMPIRE
The 'Hello, Lucille Are You A Lesbian?' king is back from parts unknown with a frantic new album that defies all description! Featuring Norton's newest sensations DADDY LONG LEGS on rumblin R&B instrumentation, the legendary Chicago soul screamer delivers the insanest, rawest collection of evil ass twisted genre-manglin blues EVER! Crossover, MY FOOT! Young Girls, Young Girls / Bald Headed Benny / Shake Your Funky A-S-S / Cell Phone / Why You Leave Me / You So Fine / Please Dont Freeze / I Want You To Have My Baby / The Vampire / The Death Of Betty Sue / Gravediggers
VARIOUS - EL PASO ROCK, VOL. 4/THUNDER:BORDERTOWN R&R 5
El Paso sits on the state line between Texas and New Mexico, home of the hallowed Yucca Records, which is now a star in the Norton constellation of able labels. Yucca's output in the 1950s and 1960s was equaled by the number of recordings that sat in the can for fifty years. Available now for the first time ever, from the master tapes, comes the motherlode, selectively scattered throughout the Norton Southwest series called 'EL PASO ROCK'. AL SIMS AND THE ALPINE TWO - Party / MAX ALEXANDER AND THE HI-FI COMBO - Little Rome / DON GUESS - Finders Keepers / BOB TAYLOR AND THE COUNTS - Taylors Rock / BOB TAYLOR AND THE COUNTS - Dont Be Unfair / BOB TAYLOR AND THE COUNTS - Child Of Fortune / BOB TAYLOR AND THE COUNTS - Thunder / BOB TAYLOR AND THE COUNTS - Jill / JOHNNY GARMON AND THE SHADOWS - Youre Wrong / JOHNNY GARMON AND THE SHADOWS - The Shadows Dance / JOHNNY GARMON AND THE SHADOWS - Since I Found You / DON ORR AND THE ORIGINAL ROCKETS - Sarah Jane / AL SIMS - Green Gater Ater / ROCK KINGS - Runaway /JERRY BRIGHT AND THE EMBERS - Be Mine / JERRY BRIGHT AND THE EMBERS Jims Jive. *=previously unissued.
VARIOUS - EL PASO ROCK, VOL. 5/TROUBLED STREET: R&R 58-
Featured in this fifth volume of Southwest recordings are the moody, broody sounds of Frank Thayer, whose heart-searing sounds mimic the loneliness and danger of desert nights. Southwest sounds deliver a taste of the exotic, a dollop of attitude and a night train loaded with mayhem. Norton's 'EL PASO ROCK' series is available on LP and CD. Collect them all! DON ORR AND THE ORIGINAL ROCKETS - Sarah Jane / NIGHT PEOPLE - The Troubled Streets / FRANK THAYER AND THE LYONALS - Long Grey Highway / FRANK THAYER - The Glory Of Her Love / FORTUNES - Lonely Teardrops / FRANK THAYER AND THE LYONALS - Evening Shadows / FRANK THAYER - Yes Ill Be Blue * / JERRY BELL AND THE ORIGINAL ROCKETS - Bacardi / SONNY WALLACE - Black Cadillac / JOE RICHIE - Across The Bay / NIGHT PEOPLE - Lonely Before Dawn / RAVONS - I Love You Baby / RHYTHM HEIRS - Cradle Rock / DON ORR AND THE ORIGINAL ROCKETS - Sarah Jane / BILL TAYLOR AND THE SHERWOODS - You Hold My Letters (Not Me)* / JERRY BELL AND THE ORIGINAL ROCKETS - Jungle Bunny. *=previously unissued.
VARIOUS - EL PASO ROCK, VOL. 6/BLACK OUT: R&R '61-64
The teenagers of El Paso must have nursed on rocket fuel and chili peppers! This set serves up the earliest recordings of the legendary BOBBY FULLER, from the vaults of Yucca, plus his home studio recordings of local kings including the Chancellers, the Sherwoods, and the Pawns. Local cats round out this volumes with rompin and stompin that is impossible to beat. Available on CD and LP, like all of the 'EL PASO ROCK' series. Collect them all! BOBBY FULLER - Say Honey / BOBBY FULLER - You're In Love / BOBBY FULLER - Eastwood High Dance Radio Spot / BOBBY FULLER - Guess We'll Fall In Love / CHANCELLERS - Judy / BILL TAYLOR AND THE SHERWOODS - You Hold My Letters (Not Me) / SHERWOODS - Tickler / SHERWOODS - Black Out / D.Y. AND THE MOTIVATERS - Hold It / PAWNS - The Pawn / PAWNS - South Bay / DAVID HAYES AND THE PAWNS - Lonely / D.Y. AND MOTIVATERS - Hot Rod Ford / SHERWOODS - Podunk / SHERWOODS - Tickler / FRANK GONZALES AND THE PALISADES - Sweet Surfin Little Girl / FRANK GONZALES AND THE PALISADES - Dance To The Palisades. *=previously unissued.
VARIOUS - KING OF THE CREEPS: RARE TREASURES FROM THE VAULTS
..'59-63'. The third volume of brain spraining early unheralded, underworshipped unknown Kim Fowley productions and manipulations arrives as a soundtrack distraction to his upcoming hip pocket paperback 'LORD OF GARBAGE' from Kicks Books. Kim's always stirring the pot and this time he heaves the boiling stew right into the smug mugs of rock critics and musicologists with a third full-on frantic footlong fricassee guaranteed to cause the listener to rearrange the furniture... and other things! Collect the set and get a party started. KIM GARRI AND THE RHYTHM KINGS - Big Bad Wolf / KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE - Big Tears / UPTONES - No More / RENEGADE FIVE - Young And Wild / JOHN PAUL JONES - Kalani Honey / KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE - The Knight In Shining Armor / SKIP AND JOHNNY - More Marathon / FALLEN ANGELS - Up On The Mountain / KIM FOWLEY - Astrology / WOLF PACK - The Baddest Wolf / LARRY GREEN AND THE RHYTHMAIRES - Watch Your Step / KIM FOWLEY - The Trip / NAVARROS - Moses / ROGUES - Wanted: Dead Or Alive / GRAINS OF SAND - Goin Away Baby / GRAINS OF SAND - Golden Apples Of The Sun / E. ZANE WOOD AND THE DOMINION - Got Me Stupid / KIM FOWLEY - Outrageous Radio Spot
VENTURES - MASHED POTATOES AND GRAVY
If ever there was a "band that launched a thousand bands," it would be the Ventures. Founded in Tacoma, Washington in 1958, their guitar-based instrumental sound would prove hugely influential, inspiring countless followers to pick up a guitar, bass or set of drumsticks and try to emulate their heroes. As these musical neophytes would soon learn, it wasn't as easy as it initially appeared. The Ventures were masters of tone and technique, deftly arranging their instruments in a seamless approach that was instantly recognizable. Because they were an instrumental group, their songs needed no translation, which resulted in a huge worldwide following. While many rock bands have claimed to be "big in Japan" over the years, the Ventures were the country's first rock superstars and they maintain a devoted worldwide following to this day. With over 100 million records sold, they are the best selling instrumental group of all time. the magnificent Ventures' catalogue has been sourced from the original Dolton and Liberty Records' reels and painstakingly mastered to sound and feel like they were originally intended. Along with precise artwork restoration on each title, these new Sundazed editions stand as the definitive re-releases of these monumentally important albums. Long may they rock! LIMITED COLOURED EDITION TRACK LIST: 1. Lucille 2. Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) 3. Hernandos Hideaway 4. Mashed Potato Time 5. Summertime 6. Hot Summer (Asian Mashed) 7. Poison Ivy 8. The Wah-Watusi 9. Instant Mashed 10. Scratch 11. Hully Gully (Baby) 12. Spudnik
BLIND SHAKE - GARBAGE ON GLUE
Perhaps best known for their multiple collaborations with psych-punk legend Michael Yonkers, Minneapolis-based band The Blind Shake also have a string of albums and singles under their own name (on labels such as AmRep and Learning Curve) and we feel that these two songs come closest to matching the all out intensity of the band's live shows. 'Garbage On Glue' is a 2-minute anthemic punker that delivers a firm kick directly to the groin. The flip, 'Go Go 78', is no less direct, but includes some well placed guitar psych freakouts that bring to mind the band's work with Yonkers. Only 300 copies pressed.
CHOOSERS - HANGING UP ON YOU/IN MY DREAM
They are from Japan, they love Powerpop and the know how to sing/write melodies!!! These three guys are living on the northernmost main island Hokkaido, right in Sapporo City, and they did one firecracker of a single back in 2010 on the Japanese label POP'N'ROLL with two songs, "Christine" and "I Can't Stop", those 500 copies sold out in a jiffy. Bachelor immediately sent out their A&R guys to Japan to persuade them to do a single! And here it is! A classic single with two songs, an uptempo kinda love song called "Hanging Up On You" and a tearjerker of a flipside called "In My Dream"! Think of classic power pop bands like RASPBERRIES, 20/20 and NERVES mixed with the latest Japanese hitmakers like RAYDIOS, TREEBERRYS and GIMMIES! Yes I know, that territory is being explored much these days, but the THE CHOOSERS really take it to a next level. Stats: 500 copies housed in a thick glued cardboard sleeve.
IMPOSIBLES, LOS - SNAKE EYES/LITTLE JOE
In 2011 Los Imposibles gave us the wonderful "En Espiral", a masterpiece with great pop compositions, garage shouts, psychedelic flavours, Spanish beat, a touch of soul music and hammond-ladden instro dancers. A colourful palette to show all that's in the bands heart & soul. From those recording sessions we have rescued two unissued cuts. An alternative version of "Little Joe" (previously included in "En Espiral") re-recorded with Spanish "doo rag" kings, Los Caballos de Düsseldorf", plus a wild instro killer full of sitar, bongoes and organ to burn the dancefloor! Ltd. edition of 300 copies.
LAS ARDILLAS - LINDA NINA
Features members of DAVILA 666. There's a powerful undertow of nostalgia to their late '70s punk, proto-punk, and powerpop inspired songs. The lyrics soaked in classically unquiet desperation combined with full-throated vocal harmonies and darkly hooky choruses tap into everything that's been making teenagers around the world fall in love with punk for a long time.
MOUTHBREATHERS - NOWHERE
'Nowehere Else To Go' is a cool stomper, shouter and work-it-on-outer built around a wailing, rever-soaked surf riff, and on the flip we got 'Mindbreakers', an overdriven belter with a keen break, knickin' this flying black saucer into Hawkwind space-punk territory.
PAINT FUMES - SALLY SMOKE DOPE
Three previously unreleased tracks pulled from the same sessions that brought the 'Uck Life' LP. Raw rock'n'roll for fans of the '90s Crypt roster and In The Red-ilk.
SEGALL, TY/CHAD & THE MEATBODIES - LAMC, VOL. 7
Split between San Francisco's garage-psych wunderkind TY SEGALL and the heavy, groovy, psychedelic CHAD & THE MEATBODIES.
RIGHT NOWS - THE RIGHT NOWS (10")
Debut mini-LP by this trio from the north of Spain. A perfect mix of the dirtiest garage sounds of the 80's and classy pop melodies that will satisfy any Cynics and Miracle Workers fan. They proved it at last Primitive Festival. No doubt the best new band in 2010.
DUMPSTER BABIES - DUMPSTER BABIES
A record that mixes influences from the Ramones, Personal & The PIzzas, '60s Frat Rock, and 'Hootenanny'-era Replacements into a hot garage mess that Chicago couldn't be more pround of. Limited to 300 copies on mixed colour vinyl. Hand-numbered silk-screen cover. Includes download.
EL KHATIB, HANNI - HEAD IN THE DIRT
HANNI EL KHATIB has got cut-to-the-bone rhythm 'n' blues and overcranked Stooges-style stompers. He's got bottomless Black Sabbath riff-outs and dub-a-delic garageland rockers that call up the spirits of the Clash and the Equals both. Vinyl version!
GORE, AMY -& HER VALENTINES- - IN LOVE
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Amy Gore has been the heart and soul of bands like GORE GORE GIRLS and GOREVETTE. Having stylistically evolved from Gore's roots in the punk/garage world, the Valentine's sound is pure rock n' roll with power pop touches. Split colour vinyl with download!
IGGY & THE STOOGES - READY TO DIE
Better 40 years later than never: the follow-up to the first record ever to bear the IGGY & THE STOOGES logo -- the immortal proto-punk masterpiece Raw Power.
IMMEDIATOS, LOS - 4 TICKETS TO WONDERLAND
Last copies! "4 Tickets to Wonderland" is the name of the 4th LP by the most hard-working band in the Spanish 60's scene and, no doubt, absolute confirmation (if there was still any non-believer), that we face one of the most-talented bands in the Spanish 60's scene in the last three decades. After their brilliant first LP for Sunny Day, they're back a with a record where psychedelia and garage sounds gain ground, mix with beat, folk-rock and perfect pop to create a new wonder. And, as usual, with the Immediatos trademark delicacy in details, in those delicious arrangements with sitar, piano, violin, and xylophone... an endless exercise of pop craftsmanship that proves these guys GOT IT!
IMPOSIBLES, LOS - EN ESPIRAL
Raised in the world-famous Madrid rock and roll neighbourhood of Malasana in the late 80s, these guys swam against the tide from the beginning. While everybody was into the garage revival, what they really liked was The Beatles, Los Brincos, The Byrds or The Animals... they were in love with beat, r&b and folk-rock, what could they do? Later they experimented with psychedelia, created a delightful "poperetta" (one of the truly masterpieces of Spanish pop) and went back to roots dancing to black sounds until they decided to take a rest of 10 years! They came back in good shape in 2007 bringing a perfect powerpop record under their arms and found their natural home in Sunny Day Records. Now they are back to give a true classic 100% Imposibles: the purest pop, wild garage shots, psychedelic flavours, Spanish beat, soul rhythms and organ-driven instrumentals. Hey guys, they have been one the best neo-sixties bands in Europe in the last four decades and they got their best LP so far, so respect Los Imposibles and get your copy!
SHAKE, THE - TRY TO GET READY (+CD)
Long-awaited second LP by these beat stars from Almeria. With their debut "Tripping The Whole Colourful World" (Rainbow Quartz 2006), fans and critics on both sides of the Atlantic agreed on praising their virtues and now they are back with new exciting recordings where British-flavoured pop, psyche & garage are seasoned with black music influences. A cocktail for select tastes.
THEE OH SEES - FLOATING COFFIN
Thee Oh Sees, this time influenced by a planetful of warfare, deliver a remarkably darker and much heavier album than one might expect.
UNIVERSE PEOPLE - GO TO THE SUN
Universe People are a Seattle, WA group of music veterans that features two ladies and one gent. They deliver a strangely wonderful combination of primal '60s girl group garage rock with a post-punk pop sound that brings to mind The Fall channeled through THE BREEDERS. Right along the lines of....GRASS WIDOW, DOLLY MIXTURE, KLEENEX, COUNTRY TEASERS. What a debut! On black vinyl with full colour horror movie inspired poster. Comes with digital download codes, limited to 250 copies. TRACKLISTING: 01. HANG ON 02. VAMPIRE PRISON 03. BAD FRENCH 04. FOR TONIGHT ONLY 05. GO TO THE SUN 06. NOW I AM 07. BUS ROUTE 08. DRUIDS 09. I WILL NOT BOUNCE TO YOUR PARTY 10. BREAKAWAY EFFECT
VARIOUS - LATER ALLIGATOR: LOUISIANA ROCK'N'ROLL (2LP)
Fantastic Voyage continues its mission to unearth and collate Americas huge regional rock n roll heritages by heading down to Louisiana for Later Alligator, a rare gumbo blend of Big Easy R&B, Cajun country, rampant blues-boogie and Bayou swing, served up over two discs brimming with lesser-heard originals and mouth-watering obscurities on CD for the first time. Compiled with Wild Wax Show DJ Jailhouse John Alexander and knowledgably annotated by Lucky Parker, the set deftly demonstrates the fabulous range of styles running rampant in the Pelican State in the 1950s-60s, kicking off and winding up with Louisiana's most infamous son, Jerry Lee Lewis. The unmistakably rolling Lewis Boogie was originally the flip of post-scandal statement, The Return Of Jerry Lee Lewis, while his version of Hank Williams' Jambalaya is the ultimate crowning pinch of gumbo spice on a set whose fellow rockers include Suzie-Q titan Dale Hawkins, Bobby Charles [with the title track], Rod Bernard, Clarence Garlow, Roy Brown, Frankie Ford, Bobby Marchan, Fats Domino, Chris Kenner, Tibby Edwards, Johnny Ray Harris, Roy Montrell, Champion Jack Dupree, Mickey Gilley, Billy Blank, Ruckus Tyler, Lou Millet, Clarence Bon Ton Garlow and many more. Several tracks are drawn from the local independent labels including Goldband, Jin, Ace, Ram and Vin, introducing a fervently attractive streak for record collectors as many are on CD for the first time. As with all Fantastic Voyage expeditionary releases, the sets allure is further hot-wired by oddities and curios, here including a 13-year-old Dolly Parton wailing Puppy Love or the Cajun accordion swamp gas of Cleveland Crochet's Sugar Bee. Strangest of all is Jay Chevalier, crooning about the Cuban missile crisis over guitar and bongos before a major explosion at the end. Side 1: 1. Lewis Boogie (Jerry Lee Lewis) 2. Hey Mae (Rusty & Doug) 3. Kiss Me (Al Ferrier) 4. Sugar Bee (Cleveland Crochet) 5. Louisiana Boogie (Harry Choates) 6. Puppy Love (Dolly Parton) 7. Flip, Flop and Fly (Tibby Edwards) 8. Take It Easy Greasy (Bobby Charles). Side 2: 1. Pardon, Mr Gordon (Rod Bernard) 2. Lover Boy (Gene Wyatt) 3. Cajun Weekend (Johnny Ray Harris) 4. Eager Boy (Lonesome Drifter) 5. Drive in Movie (Mickey Gilley) 6. Havin' A Whole Lotta Fun (Johnny Jano) 7. Watch Dog (Al Terry) 8. Route 90 (Clarence Garlow). Side 3: 1. Saturday Night (Roy Brown) 2. Later Alligator (Bobby Charles) 3. Tag Along (Tommy Todd) 4. I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Some Day (Fats Domino) 5. Nervous Boogie (Paul Gayten) 6. Shim Sham Shimmy (Champion Jack Dupree) 7. Cheaters Can't Win (Margaret Lewis) 8. Suzie-Q (Dale Hawkins). Side 4: 1. Shirley (John Fred & The Playboys) 2. Fattie Hattie (Ray Gerdsen) 3. Take A Ride (Red Smiley) 4. Castro Rock (Jay Chevalier) 5. High Blood Pressure (Huey "Piano" Smith) 6. Alimony (Frankie Ford) 7. Sick And Tired (Chris Kenner) 8. Let's Get It On (Hershel Almond).
ZOMBIE VALENTINES - MEJOR AHORA
After their long sold out debut 7", here we have the brilliant first LP by these Spanish pop masters. A colourful palette of influences, sounds and sensations encapsulated in 3-minute-wonders that go from powerful psyche-pop ala Move to garage shots in the same vein as Dr. Explosion, from new-wave rock'n'roll dancers thinking about Elvis Costello to delicate beat ballads following into the steps of Buddy Holly. 12 self-penned songs both in Spanish and English plus a Tornadoes-style instrumental to form one of the albums of the year. Their first 7" sold out in just four months, the CD version of the LP is just about sold out too. Hurry up and find out what these guys hide.
