Friday, March 16, 2012

Riot - Welcome To The World Of Riot (1974)


01 Welcome To The World
02 Just Beyond
03 Mother Nature
04 Put Your Gun Down Brother
05 I'm Happy Just To Be Livin'
06 A Song Of Long Ago
07 God Bless Conchita
08 It's Been Oh So Long

Monday, August 1, 2011

GENE MCDANIELS - Golden Greats


TRACKS:

01. TOWER OF STRENGTH
02. YOU CAN HAVE HER
03. A TEAR
04. THE PUZZLE
05. CHIP CHIP
06. POINT OF NO RETURN
07. A HUNDRED POUNDS OF CLAY
08. WHIPLASH
09. SPANISH LACE
10. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF
11. THE GOOD LIFE
12. THAT'S LIFE

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Various - When Girls Do It 1971 (Red Lightnin)



Great early 70s compilation on the UK's Red Lightnin label! When Girls Do It was originally released in 1971, and features loads of riveting tunes by Junior Wells, Magic Slim, Drifting Charles, Buddy Giy, Jimmy McCracklin, Tender Slim, Sugar Boy Williams and more! This is great L.P., One of the best blues comps I ever heard. An awesome comp of ripping super rare blues singles!

01 - when girls do it - bobby guitar bennett
02 - things i do for you - junior wells
03 - suicide blues - little oscar stricklin
04 - harmonica fats - how low is low
05 - magic slim & the teardrops - love me baby
06 - ike turner & the kings of rhythm - down and out
07 - sam baker - sweet little angel
08 - drifting charles - evil hearted woman
09 - drifting charles - drifting cloud
10 - memphis slim & his house rockers - blue and lonesome
11 - donnie jacobs - street walkin' woman
12 - tv slim - my heart's full of pain
13 - tv slim - don't knock the blues
14 - buddy guy - hard but it's fair
15 - magic sam - my love is your love
16 - danny boy - wild woman
17 - danny boy - kokomo me baby
18 - jimmy mccracklin - fare well
19 - jimmy mccracklin - take a chance
20 - mr. bo - i ain't gonna suffer
21 - mr. bo - if trouble was money
22 - junior wells - i'm a stranger
23 - clear waters - hillbilly blues
24 - clear waters - boogie woogie baby
25 - tender slim - don't cut out on me
26 - tender slim - i'm checkin' up
27 - sugar boy williams - little girl
28 - sugar boy williams - five long years

Monday, April 18, 2011

Hair (Original Broadway Cast Recording)


Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement. The musical's profanity, its depiction of the use of illegal drugs, its treatment of sexuality, its irreverence for the American flag, and its nude scene caused much comment and controversy. The musical broke new ground in musical theatre by defining the genre of "rock musical", using a racially integrated cast, and inviting the audience onstage for a "Be-In" finale.

01 - Aquarius
02 - Donna
03 - Hashish
04 - Sodomy
05 - Colored Spade
06 - Manchester England
07 - I'm Black
08 - Ain't Got No
09 - I Believe in Love
10 - Ain't Got No (reprise)
11 - Air
12 - Initials
13 - I Got Life
14 - Going Down
15 - Hair
16 - My Conviction
17 - Easy To Be Hard
18 - Don't Put It Down.
19 - Frank Mills
20 - Be-In
21 - Where Do I Go
22 - Electric Blues
23 - Manchester England (reprise)
24 - Black Boys
25 - White Boys
26 - Walking In Space
27 - Abie Baby
28 - Three-Five-Zero-Zero
29 - What a Piece of Work Is Man
30 - Good Morning Starshine
31 - The Bed
32 - The Flesh Failures (Let The Sunshine In)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Electric Flag - The Trip (OST) (1967)


One of the greatest exploitation movies of all time, The Trip was the "vision" of Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson (who wrote the original script). The finished film didn't turn out exactly the way Fonda and Nicholson wanted it to, but it certainly had it's moments...all in Psychedelic Color. This, the soundtrack, was pretty cool, too. It contains the first studio recordings of the Electric Flag, Michael Bloomfield's swaggering soul/jazz/rock ensemble. Writing and performing trippy music was a bit removed from this fine ensemble's area (they were, in fact, a serious and funky band), but they succeeded admirably. Considering that it came out on Mike Curb's Sidewalk Records (a Capitol subsidiary) and it was an American International film, one wonders if the Flag saw any dough from this? No matter, as some of the music is excellent. "Fine Jug Thing" and "Peter Gets Off" are wild, jazzy rockers, which perfectly score Fonda's Sunset Strip/trip adventures. The album's closer, "Gettin' Hard," is a variation on "Hoochie Coochie Man" and closes the album out in funky style. Also, there are a few early efforts from synthesizer pioneer Paul Beaver, such as "Synesthesia," which is quite similar to David Bowie's work on the Man Who Fell to Earth/Low projects -- eight years later. ~ AMG

01 Peter's Trip
02 Psyche Soap
03 M-23
04 Synesthesia
05 Hobbit
06 Fewghh
07 Green and Gold
08 Flash, Bam, Pow
09 Home Room
10 Practice Music
11 Fine Jung Thing
12 Senior Citizen
13 Home Room
14 Peter Gets Off
15 Practice Music
16 Fine Jung Thing
17 Senior Citizen
18 Gettin' Hard

Friday, March 11, 2011

Maureen Tucker - Playin' Possum (1981)

Trash Records TLP-1001 (1981)(US)

Trash Records(1981)(US)

Moe Tucker is the whole show on her 1981 debut, singing and playing drums, guitars, bass, and a variety of other instruments. Consisting mostly of raw and primitive covers of rock & roll oldies by Bo Diddley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry, she also throws in a version of "Heroin" and covers of Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" and Vivaldi's "Concerto In D Major," as well as the "original" "Ellas," which is a six-minute extrapolation of the basic Bo Diddley beat. This inspired lesson in rock & roll auteurism is probably her best effort.

1 Bo Diddley
2 Heroin
3 Slippin' and Slidin'
4 I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
5 Louie Louie
6 Slippin' and Slidin'
7 Concerto in D Major Vivaldi
8 Around and Around
9 Ellas

Monday, February 21, 2011

Class Of '55 (Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins)(1986)


A1 - Birth Of Rock And Roll
A2 - Sixteen Candles
A3 - Class Of '55
A4 - Waymore Blues
A5 - We Remember The King
B1 - Coming Home
B2 - Rock And Roll (Fais-Do-Do)
B3 - Keep My Motor Running
B4 - I Will Rock And Roll With You
B5 - Big Train From Memphis

Thursday, February 10, 2011

James Burton - The Guitar Sounds of James Burton



01. Polk Salad Annie (3.37)
02. Suzie-Q (2.26)
03. Fire And Rain (3.30)
04. Fools Rush In (2.39)
05. Johnny B Goode (2.21)
06. I Know (You Don't Want Me No More) (2.35)
07. Delta Lady (2.52)
08. Mystery Train (3.23)
09. Rock And Raunch (2.26)
10. Hound Dog (2.24)
11. Hi-Heel Sneakers (2.40)
12. Long Reach (2.03)

James Burton has played with some of the greatest names in music history from Elvis Presley to Merle Haggard to Gram Parsons to Emmy Lou Harris, incorporating his 'chicken pickin' country/rock style in to his repertoire with the help of his favorite guitar - the Fender Telecaster. Burton created and played the guitar solo on Dale Hawkins 1957 hit song "Susie Q", a record that would become one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. "The Guitar Sounds Of James Burton" is a truly marvelous solo album demonstrating the flair of this unsung hero...

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Buddy Holly - In Person (Cricket Label LP 002000)



A01 - Newscast About The Plane Crash
A02 - Tribute To Buddy Holly
A03 - That's My Desire
A04 - Good Rockin' Tonight
A05 - Stay Close To Me
A06 - Ed Sullivan Show - Part One
A07 - Baby It's Love
A08 - Learning The Game
A09 - Rip It Up
B01 - Love Me
B02 - Queen Of The Ballroom
B03 - Rock Around With Ollie Vee
B04 - Ed Sullivan Show - Part Two
B05 - That's What They Say
B06 - Down The Line
B07 - Crying, Waiting, Hoping
B08 - Newscast About The Plane Crash

On February 3, 1959, a small-plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, killed three American rock and roll musicians: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson. The day was later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean, in his song "American Pie".

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Very Best Of John Barry [Polydor - 1977]


Side One

01. Thunderball
02. 007
03. Curiouser & Curiouser
04. Strip Drive
05. We Have All The Time In The World
06. Diamonds Are Forever
07. A Doll’s House

Side Two

01. Goldfinger
02. Theme From « Love Among The Ruins »
03. The Adventurer
04. Exerpt From « Yesternight Suite »
05. Midnight Cowboy

John Barry Prendergast, OBE (3 November 1933 – 30 January 2011) was an Oscar winning English film score composer. He was best known for composing 11 James Bond soundtracks and was hugely influential on the 007 series' style.

In a career spanning almost 50 years, Barry received a number of awards for his work, including five Academy Awards; two for Born Free, and one each for The Lion in Winter (for which he also won a BAFTA Award), Out of Africa and Dances with Wolves (for which he also won a Grammy Award).

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

101 Strings - Astro Sounds From Beyond the Year 2000



01. Flameout
02. Re-Entry to Mog
03. Space Odyssey
04. Astral Freakout
05. Orbit Fantasy
06. Barrier X-69
07. A Disappointed Love with a Desensitized Robot
08. Where Were You in 1982
09. Trippin' on Lunar 07
10. A Bad Trip Back to '69
11. Karma Sitar
12. Whiplash
13. Instant Nirvana

Originally recorded in 1969, Astro Sounds was easy listening's response to psychedelic acid rock. Unlike all the previous 101 String albums, whose gentle, tuneful travelogues were suitable dinner music, when poor housewives ripped the shrink-wrap off this Pandora's Box of acid-laden rock, all hell broke loose! Fuzz-ed out guitars, heavy drums and strings, yes strings(!), all collided to create what has become one of the top cult classics of the psychedelic era. Even Goldmine recently listed Astro Sounds among the top wish-list "incredibly strange music" albums begging to be re-issued.
Here in all its B-movie, LSD party-sequence glory are songs like "Astral Freakout," "A Disappointed Love With A Desensitized Robot," "Trippin' On Lunar 07," and the futuristically titled "Where Were You In 1982?" Also featured as the rare bonus tracks "Karma Sitar", "Whiplash" (with real whip sound effects) and "Instant Nirvana."
And now this classic album has been expanded to include 3 additional tracks of exotic, digially remastered, psychedelia: "Karma Sitar," "Instant Nirvana" and the legendary "Whiplash," featuring the ecstatic sighs of Bebe Bartron amidst the sounds of whips being cracked!
Yes, here's an album whose zaniness has made it a must-have for both the lounge scenesters as well as lovers of psychedelic rock and incredibly strange music. Over 130 players turned on with the sights and sounds of tomorrow together with a swingin' rhythm section from Britain! The result is a program with a sound dimension that is out of sight - perhaps the most astounding trip ever to be taped.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Norad Tracks Santa Claus



NORAD Tracks Santa
North American Air Defense Command
The NORAD 'Commanders'
Century Records
1964

(Note: Use Santa news reports, cuts 1-5, Dec. 24 only)

SIDE ONE
1. S. Claus files an Unusual Flight Plan
2. Early Warning Radars Acquire Track
3. NORAD Pilots confirm Santa Vehicle
4. U.S. and Canadian Aircraft Fly Escort
5. Summary: Santa Claus is on His Way!
6. Santa Promotional Spot (use prior to Dec. 24)
7. Santa Promotional Spot (use prior to Dec. 24)
8. "The Littlest Angel" narrative
Story by: Charles Tazewell
Narration: Derek Stannard, Major, Canadian Forces
Original Music by Franklin J. Lockwood, Major USAF

SIDE TWO - The NORAD 'Commanders'
Major Melvin A. Huyett, USAF, director

1. Here Comes Santa CLAUS
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Here Comes a Wassailing
4. Carol of the Bells
5. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
6. Sleigh Ride
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

About this album...

The "NORAD Tracks Santa" tradition goes back to the late 1950s when a
young boy accidentally dialed the unlisted number of the Director of Combat
Operations at NORAD Headquarters in Colorado Springs. The boy was
actually trying to phone a department store Santa Claus whose extension
was only one digit removed from the phone at the NORAD center.
The Combat Operations Center Director was quick to realize that a
mistake had been made, and carried on a long conversation with the boy,
assuring him that the forces of NORAD would indeed guarantee Santa a
safe trip from the North Pole.
A novel idea and tradition was thus born, and you have the results of it
inside this jacket...a series of spots citing the progress of Santa as he makes
his annual journey down through the space tracking and radar facilities of
the North American Air Defense Command.
To follow his unusual flight plan we must call upon all of the resources
at NORAD's disposal...the Canadian Forces Air Defence Command, the U.S.
Army Air Defense Command, and the U.S. Air Force's Aerospace Defense
Command. Two nations and three services working together for mutual
protection.
Five "Santa Tracks" are found on side one...followed by two promo spots
that you can use to advertise your station's unique Christmas Eve service.
One other bonus rounds out side one of this production. It is the Charles
Tazewell Christmas classic, "The Littlest Ange!" written and arranged by
Major Franklin Lockwood, former Director of the NORAD Band. The song
poem has received wide acclaim when performed in concert, and is included
here to add a special touch to your holiday programming.
Side two features the NORAD Commanders, one of the finest big bands
in the world playing their original variations of traditional Christmas themes.
The Canadian and American men and women of NORAD are pleased to
bring you this Christmas production and hope it will earn a permanent
place in your library...

Produced by:
THE DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
NORTH AMERICAN AIR DEFENSE COMMAND
Box 19, Ent Air Force Base, CO 80912
Phone: (303-635-8911, ext 2388)

COVER: Bob Haynes, Coloroado Springs
MUSIC COORDINATORS: Chief Musician Jim Miller, USN / TSgt Ed Kiefer, USAF
MUSIC ENGENEER: Soren Bredsdorff, Fred Arthur Studio, Denver
PRODUCER: Captain William P. Campbell Ill, Chief, NORAD Radio-TV Branch

PRESENTED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE BY: THE NORTH AMERICAN AIR DEFENSE COMMAND

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Jonathan Thomas and His Christmas on the Moon



The Man in the Moon (#1)
Six-year-old Jonathan Thomas is asleep in his bed when, suddenly, a moonbeam shines through his window. Sliding down the moonbeam come two odd little elves, which wake up Jonathan's teddy bear Guz and send the bear scampering after them –- all the way to the moon!
Friday, November 25, 1938

The Court of Old King Cole (#2)
Court is in session, presided over by Old King Cole -- and the case is one of kidnapping! It seems that the Squeebobblems have kidnapped Santa Claus and, unless he is rescued, there will be no Christmas this year!
Saturday, November 26, 1938

Gorgonzola the Horse (#3)
Sentenced by Old King Cole to rescue Santa Claus from the nasty Squeebobblems, Jonathan begins his journey, accompanied by the Man in the Moon and riding a dancing and talking "horse of another color" named Gorgonzola -- whose voice bears a not-unintentional resemblance to that of Schnozzola himself, Jimmy Durante. (Little Bo Peep makes a cameo appearance as well - with the voice of Katherine Hepburn!)
Monday, November 28, 1938

The Valley of the Three Dwarfs (#4)
Closely watched by the evil witch of Rumplestitch, with the aid of her magic mirror, our intrepid band comes upon the Valley of the Three Dwarfs, guarded by Sneezle, Wheezle, and Beelzebub. To cross, they must sing a song -- and sing they do, until the witch herself shows up to take Jonathan Thomas prisoner!
Tuesday, November 29, 1938

The Magic Word (#5)
The evil witch of Rumplestitch insists that Jonathan Thomas be turned over to her, but Jonathan hides with the aid of an invisible hat. After her departure, the Three Dwarfs express they appreciation by giving Jonathan and his friends a magic word to help them on their way -- a word that will come in very handy when they try to cross the deep and dangerous Merry-Go-Round River.
Wednesday, November 30, 1938

The Fairy Queen (#6)
In order to cross the Merry-Go-Round River, our travelers say the magic word and get a surprise: Teenya, the Fairy Queen, arrives to give them both encouragement and a magic talisman in the form of a golden acorn. They'll need it, too, as they soon must prepare to enter the Forest of Nightmares!
Thursday, December 1, 1938

The Dragon with the Thirteen Tails (#7)
While traveling through the Forest of Nightmares, Jonathan and his friends hear the ferocious roar of a dragon in the distance and, taking the Fairy Queen's advice, decide to seek out a pepper tree in order to turn the dragon's fire into sneezes.
Friday, December 2, 1938

Whiskery Bill (#8)
In the Forest of Nightmares, our travelers meet Whiskery Bill, a squirrel with attitude, who wants nothing more than to eat the golden acorn which the Fairy Queen gave them to guard against the witch of Rumplestitch.
Saturday, December 3, 1938

Asleep for a Million Trillion Years (#9)
Poor Jonathan Thomas! He's fallen off Gorgonzola the Horse and the Forest of Nightmares has put him soundly to sleep for maybe a million trillion years! Luckily, the Fairy Queen knows an antidote...but can Whiskery Bill find it in time to awaken Jonathan and save Christmas?
Monday, December 5, 1938

The Slumber Cave (#10)
While he's asleep, the evil witch of Rumplestitch comes to Jonathan in his dreams. Taking a view of her magical brew, he sees all of his friends seeking the antidote for his slumber: a red, red rose. But it's December; where is anyone to find such a bloom in the middle of winter?
Tuesday, December 6, 1938

Whiskery Bill Meets Sir Algy (#11)
Good news! Whiskery Bill has found a rose bush both willing and able to grow a rose to awaken Jonathan Thomas. But there's a problem: the bush has lost of all its color, so Bill must go to the Keeper of the Rainbow to ask for some red rubies from the Rainbow Bridge. Along the way, he meets a walrus with the unlikely name of Sir Algernon Q. Whipplesnapple -- Sir Algy, for short.
Wednesday, December 7, 1938

The Rainbow Bridge (#12)
Whiskery Bill and Sir Algy have made it to the Rainbow Bridge, but the miserly Keeper of the Rainbow refuses to give Bill the red rubies he needs. Luckily, Sir Algy has an idea.
Thursday, December 8, 1938

Growing a Red, Red Rose (#13)
Having secured the rubies from the Rainbow Bridge, Whiskery Bill and Sir Algy head back to the bramble bush so that she may grow a red, red rose. But the evil witch sees their success in her magic mirror and schemes to stop them before they can get back to awaken Jonathan Thomas.
Friday, December 9, 1938

Crossing the Ice-Covered River (#14)
The witch has thawed the ice-covered river which Whiskery Bill and Sir Algy must cross to get back to Jonathan...and Bill can't swim! Will the wicked witch prevent them from waking up poor Jonathan Thomas?
Saturday, December 10, 1938

The Lion King (#15)
Having awakened Jonathan with the scent of the red, red rose, our intrepid band can now resume their journey to rescue Santa Claus. But before they can travel very far, they encounter a silly pair known as Tiddle and LeWink, who warn them against waking the Lion King of the forest.
Monday, December 12, 1938

A Box of Roars (#16)
O'Gygraff, the newly-named Lion King, treats our travelers to dinner and gives them a valuable weapon is their fight against the witch: a box containing four of his most terrible roars, which frighten her no end. It's lucky they have them, too, for while on their journey, the roars help them save the life of His Majesty, the King of Any Old Thing.
Tuesday, December 13, 1938

The Wall of Doors (#17)
In gratitude, the elfin King of Any Old Thing gives Jonathan and the Man in the Moon a special golden key, which will open the correct door in the next hazard they will soon confront: the Wall of Doors.
Wednesday, December 14, 1938

Looking Glass Land (#18)
Entering the Wall of Doors, Jonathan, the Man in the Moon, and Gorgonzola encounter many strange things: echoing voices that mock their words, a giant toad with a cold in his nose, and three heralds (Me, Myself, and I) who tell them that Jonathan's teddy bear Guz has been taken prisoner!
Thursday, December 15, 1938

Good Queen Alice (#19)
Jonathan and his friends find themselves in Looking Glass Land, a bizarre and wacky place populated by the Mad Hatter, the Jabberwocky bird who flies backward, and ruled by Good Queen Alice -- who has a plan to help them rescue Santa Claus.
Friday, December 16, 1938

King Squeebeeble (#20)
In the Land of Squeebobble, mean King Squeebeeble is holding Santa Claus prisoner in order to stop Christmas from coming this year. Meantime, Queen Alice shares her rescue plan with Jonathan.
Saturday, December 17, 1938

Growing Large and Small (#21)
Queen Alice gives Jonathan a magic whistle which, when blown once, will allow him to grow...and grow...and grow -- the very thing to scare the Squeebobbles when he arrives to rescue Santa Claus. Meantime, the witch and her magic mirror have another scheme in mind.
Monday, December 19, 1938

Kermit the Hermit (#22)
The witch has disguised herself as a shade tree, under which she hopes Jonathan and his friends will rest and be cast under her spell. Luckily, a hermit named Kermit (or is it a Kermit named Hermit?) has observed the witch and arrives in time to warn our travelers before it's too late.
Tuesday, December 20, 1938

The Pea Soup Fog (#23)
No sooner have our friends escaped the witch than they find themselves confronted by another danger: the Pea Soup Fog, which is hiding an old foe known as the Dragon with the Thirteen Tails! But wait: there's a building up ahead that promises safety. If only Jonathan, the Man in the Moon, and Gorgonzola can outrun the dragon and get there in time...
Wednesday, December 21, 1938

A Reward for the Capture of Jonathan (#24)
Having given the dragon a tummy ache thanks to a large serving of rich plum pudding, Jonathan and his friends resume their journey to Squeebobble Land. Meanwhile, the evil witch of Rumplestitch informs King Squeebeeble of Jonathan's impending arrival and the King responds by sounding the alarm, calling out the guards, and declaring a reward for the capture of our brave band of rescuers...dead or alive!
Thursday, December 22, 1938

Prisoners of King Squeebeeble (#25)
Locked away and held prisoner by King Squeebeeble, Jonathan Thomas and the Man in the Moon despair of ever escaping in time to rescue Santa Claus. But wait: that magic whistle which Queen Alice gave to Jonathan isn't just good for making him grow taller...it's also good for making him grow smaller, too!
Friday, December 23, 1938

Santa is Rescued (#26)
Jonathan Thomas has kept his promise and rescued Santa Claus! But before Santa takes off in his sleigh to bring Christmas cheer to all the children of the world, he holds a party for Jonathan to celebrate his heroism -- and invites all of the new friends who have helped him along the way. It looks like this will be a merry Christmas after all!
Saturday, December 24, 1938

***

It's bedtime, and six-year-old Jonathan Thomas and his teddy bear Guz are ready for a story before going to sleep. But before the story can begin, a moonbeam shines through Jonathan's window and, much to his surprise, two little elves slide down it into his bedroom. Before Jonathan can stop him, Guz takes off after the elves and scampers up the moonbeam chasing them. Jonathan follows and soon finds himself involved in an exciting adventure to save Santa Claus, who has been kidnapped and held prisoner in the Land of Squeebobble. Accompanied by the Man in the Moon and a horse named Gorgonzola, and traveling to strange and exotic places like the Merry-Go-Round River, the Rainbow Bridge, the Wall Of Doors, and Looking Glass Land, Jonathan meets and befriends a wildly imaginative group of characters in an adventure straight out of Lewis Carroll by way of many of the best-loved fairy and folk tales of all time. Can Jonathan rescue Santa Claus in time to save Christmas...or will he be defeated by the evil witch of Rumplestitch?

* * *
In the late summer of 1937, radio stations were surprised to receive a 12" audition recording in a sleeve bearing the words "Merry Christmas!" in red festive lettering across the top. It was common enough for a station manager to receive promotional records in the mail, but seldom did a Christmas recording arrive when the thermometer was still hovering in the seventies. For most, this unexpected recording was their introduction to a broadcasting phenomenon that would become a part of their holiday programming for years to come -- and give a profitable boost to the holiday sales of their retail advertisers, too.

"The Cinnamon Bear," a 26-part children's serial produced by the Transcription Company of America, provided the perfect link between radio station and retailer: a daily, self-contained special feature that could be broadcast at the same time every weekday - usually just after children had arrived home from school - and be sponsored by a single merchant who would use the series and its colorful characters in their advertising layouts and displays. The shows were designed to be played on the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, gradually building in dramatic intensity until they culminated on Christmas Eve in, of course, a happy ending.

Creatively produced and featuring a small army of experienced radio performers, "The Cinnamon Bear" proved to be an instant favorite of both children tuning in for their daily musical adventure and the department stores that linked the Cinnamon Bear to their Christmas promotions. Timing played a big part in the success of the series - 1937 was the first year when it seemed as though America would finally overcome its decade-long economic depression - but clever promotional materials including coloring books, sheet music, and pre-designed graphics made it easy for department stores to leap on the economic bandwagon created by Paddy O'Cinnamon and his friends. It wasn't long before the yearly rebroadcasts of "The Cinnamon Bear" became, in many cities, as much a local holiday tradition as the Santa Claus parade and the church nativity pageant; in fact, over time, some stores would even choose to send their stand-in Santa packing -- replacing him with a person in an overstuffed Cinnamon Bear costume.

Inevitably, the ultra-successful "Cinnamon Bear" would spawn imitations -- and it was less than a year later that a rival syndication company would come out with another series designed for the financial benefit both radio stations and retailers alike. Autumn 1938 found station managers receiving word of another 26-part children's serial titled "Jonathan Thomas and his Christmas on the Moon." Though not quite as elaborately produced as the Bear, this new holiday series had much to recommend it: a unique premise mixing elements of fairy tales, folk tales, and well-known literary classics, a collection of characters and situations that rivaled those that accompanied Paddy O'Cinnamon's adventures, merchandising and promotional opportunities that were the equal of the Bear...and, most important of all, a competitive program that could air on a rival station at or near the same time as the Bear was being heard. Since "The Cinnamon Bear" had been so successful the previous year, most of the larger retailers had snapped up exclusive rights to sponsor it year after year in their respective broadcast markets, leaving smaller stores or those which had simply not foreseen the selling power of the Bear in need of something with which to complete.

Economically, 1938 was an even bigger year for Christmas retail sales than 1937 had been -- and "Jonathan Thomas and his Christmas on the Moon" played a significant part in boosting those sales. Because it was new and unknown (and also because quite a few kid listeners already knew from the previous year how "The Cinnamon Bear" series turned out), "Jonathan Thomas" often beat "The Cinnamon Bear" in numbers of listeners and, as expected, these young listeners influenced their gift-buying parents to shop at the stores that sponsored it. Whereas Paddy and his friends set out to find a silver star and encounter strange and unique lands and people along the way, six-year-old Jonathan Thomas goes him one better: his quest is to rescue a kidnapped Santa Claus and save Christmas itself. Now that's competition!

"CB" and his rival "JT" went head to head in radio markets both large and small for the next few years. "The Cinnamon Bear," being first and usually being sponsored by larger stores, tended to dominate the radio market and has become a much-beloved part of the Christmas memories of many a radio enthusiast -- but "Jonathan Thomas" does have his fans, what with its scripts written in rhyme (mostly) and its characters and situations echoing elements of "Snow White and Rose Red," "The Wizard of Oz," and Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass." Heard today, both of the series have much to recommend them: fascinating characters, excellent voice work from a large cast of performers, dramatic cliff-hanging adventures, and the imaginative use of radio's ability to create detailed pictures in your mind. In terms of sheer production values, "The Cinnamon Bear" still comes out on top -- but I bet that, after playing the creative and cartoon-like "Jonathan Thomas" for your children or grandchildren this year, it too may well become an anticipated part of your yearly holiday traditions.

Holiday serials like "The Cinnamon Bear," "Jonathan Thomas and his Christmas on the Moon," and "Jump Jump and the Ice Queen" were all designed to be played once each weekday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, culminating with that happy ending on Christmas Eve. Thus, the opening section of each episode offers a synopsis of what has come before, designed to keep young listeners up to date on where the characters are in their adventure. Radio Archives recommends sticking to this schedule for home listening as well. Pick a time each day to play the first episode in the series, then play the next episode at the same time the next day, and so on; this will give children the best listening experience possible and keep them excited about what's going to happen next. (By the way, none of these holiday serials contain advertising, so parents and grandparents need not worry about younger family members begging for toys that are no longer available for sale!)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Exciting Christmas Stories with Scooby-Doo & Friends



01 The Mystery Of The Missing Santa
02 Trouble At Santas Workshop

some super cool christmas fun with scooby doo and the gang, featuring the original voices, including casey kasem and don messick!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Andre Kostelanetz - Wonderland Of Christmas



SIDE ONE:

01-1 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer/Jingle Bells 2:28
02-1 Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 1:56
03-1 The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) 2:58
04-1 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 1:50
05-1 It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas 1:57
06-1 The First Noel/It Came Upon The Midnight Clear/Oh Come. All Ye Faithful 2:29

SIDE TWO:

07-2 Winter Wonderland/I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 2:09
08-2 White Christmas 3:02
09-2 Silver Bells/Shake Me I Rattle (Squeeze Me I Cry) 2:22
10-2 Christmas Chopsticks 2:28
11-2 Sleigh Ride 2:27
12-2 Joy To The World/Silent Night Holy Night/Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly 2:52

LINER NOTES:

The most joyous sounds of the year are those that we hear at Christmas. Here is Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra with a lustrous garland of favorite songs and carols, old and new, to help you celebrate in festive fashion this Holiday of holidays. Under the inspired leadership of Maestro Kostelanetz, the orchestra makes these twenty selections glow as radiantly as the spirit of the season itself.

A stirring Yuletide tribute, STEREO WONDERLAND OF CHRISTMAS mingles mirth and reverance–in the stunning Andre Kostelanetz manner.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Spooky Sound Effects





Side One (15:37)

(Storm, Dog Howling, Footsteps With Chains, Goblins Laughing, Chinese Gong, Moaning Cats, Cats, Laughing Witches, Screaming, Storm, Wind, Cats, Dogs, Squeaking Door)

Side Two (18:36)

(Ghouls Glide, Skeleton Dance, Banshee Love Call, The Dracula Drag, Dinner Music For A Monster, Outer Space Sounds, Diesel Slow Frieght, Diesel Fast Passenger, Fog Horn, Siren)

Talk about a budget label classic! I was first introduced to this LP by Jack Diamond. Side 1 is pretty standard horror sounds, but Side 2 is where the magic is found! I love these remarks by a friend which pretty much sums it up:

"Side 2 of this album is unlike other Halloween sound effect records floating around in that it is all theremin! And get a load of those track titles?! It sounds as if someone let a 5 year old kid noodle around for a while. It's super scary!"

- 365 Days #304

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Dracula's Greatest Hits - Gene Moss and "The Monsters"



Dracula's Greatest Hits - Monster Parody Songs From The 60's

Side 1
1. I Want to Bite Your Hand
2. Drac the Knife
3. King Kong Stomp
4. Monster Hootenanny
5. Ghoul Days
6. Frankenstein

Side 2
1. The New Frankenstein and Johnny Song
2. Monster Goose Rhymes
3. Surf Monster
4. Monster Bosa Nova
5. Carry Me Back To Transylvania
6. Little Black Bag

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Voodoo Drums In Hi-Fi (Atlantic, 1958)



this 1958 entry into the Hi-Fi genre has some cool on-location recordings of genuine Haitian Voodoo ceremonies, primarily as performed by "country group amateurs".

01 Contradanse- Avant Simple With Flute
02 Ti-Roro Drum Solo I
03 Ti-Joe Carabien
04 Meringue With Flute
05 Nan Point La Vie Encore Oh!
06 Laissez Yo Di
07 Rara Riffs
08 Contradanse- Avant Simple With Accordion
09 Annonce on Zange Nan Dlo
10 Contradanse- Avant Simple And Meringue With Flute
11 La Misere Pa Douce!
12 Ti-Roro Drum Solo II

"Haiti may be a dark enigma to most of its visitors, but if one learns the language of the drums, the life and mind of its people open to you like a flower. The drums are never silent; day and night they sound from some vague distant place, muffled but distinctly articulated like a heart-beat. [...] The drum rhythms -- as well as the art of making drums -- came from Africa. [...] From Africa also came voudoun, which is a religious ceremonial and also a deeply ingrained attitude to life and the nature of things[...] Through the boungan (the voudoun priest), man converses with nature. Through him, man supplicates for protection against impending dangers, and through him, sometimes, man strikes at an enemy."

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Jimi Hendrix - The Summer Of Love Sessions (1967)



01 Love(instr.)
02 Hush Now (instr.)
03 Gloomy Monday
04 Happy Birthday
05 Ballad of Jimi
06 Level (intsr.)
07 Love Love
08 Get That Feeling
09 Future Trip
10 No Business
11 Odd Ball (instr.)
12 Flashing (instr.)
13 Day Tripper
14 U.F.O

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Robert Drasnin - Voodoo (1960)



01 - Chant of the Moon
02 - Desiree
03 - Hindara
04 - Orinoco
05 - Warm Night Wind
06 - Mirage
07 - Voodoo
08 - Jardin De La Noche
09 - Tambuku
10 - You
11 - Paradise
12 - Enchantment

D.P. Express - Pale Pale ou




Face A
1. Verite
2. Pale Pale Ou
3. Coute conseil

Face B
1. Liberte
2. L'Amiral
3. Croix Pa'm

...LP rip...re-up per request...
Genre - International
Styles - Caribbean Traditions
HAITIAN CARNIVAL!

Steve Allen Plays Bossa Nova Jazz (1963)



Side 1:
1. Dream
2. St. Louis Blues
3. This Could Be the Start of Something
4. Manhattan
5. The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else
6. Sweet Georgia Brown

Side 2:
1. Mah Mah Limbo
2. Time After Time
3. Impossible
4. Lovely to Look At
5. Imagination
6. Let's Fall in Love

Donn Trenner, Leader
Bob Enevoldsen, Tenor Sax
Laurindo Almeida, Guitar
John Setar, Flute and Alto Sax
Herb Ellis, Guitar
Jules Bertaux, Bass
Bob Neel, Drums
Frank Rosolino and Jimmy Zito, Brazilian Rhythm

Popeye Twist & Stomp - Steve Douglas And The Rebel Rousers



01 They Did The Popeye
02 If You're Ever In Doubt About Me
03 I Never Felt Like This
04 Surfer's Twist
05 I Can't Believe It's True
06 Twistin' Round The Mountain
07 Popeye The Twistin' Man
08 Mashed Potatoes
09 Clap Your Hands
10 Baby You Just Wait And See

Friday, August 20, 2010

We Are Digging The Beatles - Peter Roar-Luky Guri (Diabolo 1972)



01 Let it be
02 Strawberry fields forever
03 The fool on the hill
04 Ticket to ride
05 The long and winding road
06 When I'm 64
07 Here, there and everywhere
08 A hard day's night
09 Norwegian wood
10 All my loving
11 And I love her

Friday, March 12, 2010

Mad Platter



the Mad Platter, was opened in the early 80's and after moving around the greater Riverside area, we have settled in University Village located a stones throw from UCR. The Mad Platter has been a haven for soul, oldies, new vibes, old vibes, college underground rock & noise as well as a place to pick up underground Hip Hop 12" singles, punk rock records & a wealth of out of print records & CD's. Their knowledgeable staff is capable of answering most of your musical questions. Drop on by sometime to check it out... they got a buncha really COOL STUFF!!...you might even find the record yer LOOKIN' FOR there...or maybe not, but yer always sure to find something COOL! there!...so, if yer around, go CHECK IT OUT!...you'll be glad ya did!

my brother, KEN, is a manager there...he knows his stuff...he'll help ya out...they all will...they're good peeple...they all know their stuff...

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Universal Congress Of - Ralph'sTape 091589



we got this tape sometime in the 90's in claremont from a girl who worked with my brother at figg who knew the bass player (he said his name was ralph). we went to a party once and they were there and asked him some questions about then other current bass players on the scene. i don't know, but this cat definitely had a negative opinion about bill laswell! this is a dub from a tape he gave her that we got a copy of. it's live from somewhere, and it sounds really cool, but beyond that, i don't know anything else about this tape.


this is thier bio from AMG:

Led by ex-Saccharine Trust axewielder Joe Baiza, Universal Congress Of began as the title for Baiza's 1987 solo record later becoming the name of his fine, funky backing band. Although on his debut solo LP he was still playing semi-improvised, avant-garde jazz-rock similar to what he was exploring in Saccharine Trust, Baiza/UCO's later (and for my money better) work was more structured and song-oriented. Although he continued to show a talent for all-out free playing and gnarled, aural jazz damage, when Baiza added funk to the mix and kept the songs under ten minutes, he became a much more interesting musician and UCO became a much more interesting band.

Although I'm uncomfortable using the term (because I'm not quite sure what it means), UCO, especially their early-'90s records, falls into the category of "fake jazz." But UCO, paced by excellent bass/drum combinations like Bob Fitzer and Paul Lines, and Steve Gaeta and A. P. Gonzalez, played rockish jazz/jazzish rock not unlike that of Blood Ulmer and Ornette Coleman. But whereas those two wandered freely into the world of dissonance and (especially in Ornette's case) harmolodics, UCO deeply anchored their music in heavy funk. This, however, did not mean that Baiza's guitar playing became less intriguing, nor did it mean that UCO's fine sax player, Steve Moss, stopped blowing up a storm; what it meant was that they limited the screwing around and focused on substance rather than style. Not what you'd expect from a bunch of former SoCal punks, UCO was (is still?) a band that realized that less, especially when played with a feisty verve, is always more.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Streetdancer - Rising (1976)






Streetdancer - 'Rising' released 1976 on Dharma Records

1 Presence 2:57
2 Cosmocossic 4:35
3 Visualization 4:12
4 Yonnie's Tune 12:35
5 Maitreya 5:10
6 Reunion 6:34
7 Bridges 4:05
8 Moon in the Water 9:02

Streetdancer - 'Steps'(EP) released 1980

1. Joker and the Thief
2. On and On Part 1
3. Journey Into the Night

band:

Kestutis Stanciauskas - bass guitar
Robert Long - keyboards
Andy Potter - drums and percussion
Roger Glienke - guitars

Guest Artists:
R.E.(Ari) Brown - saxophone
Adam Rudolph - percussio
Berenice Brooks - percussion
Steve Eisen - saxophone

Kestutis Stanciauskas organized "Streetdancer" as a quartet in 1973. The fundamental purpose for the ensemble was and is to play original compositions using improvisation and original composition as the foundation for creativity. By 1974 Streetdancer released their first self-titled album on Future Records. This first release gained a four star review in Downbeat Magazine.


Performing extensively in and around the Chicago area, Streetdancer changed personnel. The addition of guitar expanded the ensemble to a sextet. Kestutis Stanciauskas - bass, Robert Long - keyboards, Andy Potter - percussion, Roger Glenke - guitar, Chris Miller - violin, and Chico Freeman (son of the great Chicago saxophonist Von Freeman) - saxophone, quickly gained the attention of Dharma Records which resulted in the release of Streetdancer's second album - "Rising".


Streetdancer's third release "Steps" resulted in being picked as one of Billboard Magazines top New Jazz albums. Streetdancer was included in a digital CD compilation that included such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Mannheim Steamroller and the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. This was released in Japan and Germany.

Monday, December 14, 2009

David Lindley - El Rayo Live (1983)













El Rayo Live

01. Wooly Bully
02. Turning Point
03. Talk To The Lawyer
04. Spodie
05. Rag Bag
06. Mercury Blues

Various - Behind Kungsträdgården





















Behind Kungsträdgården
--------------------------

A1 Melvyn Price - Behind Kungsträdgården
A2 Peter Herbolzheimer - The Catfish
A3 Sabu Martinez - My Christina
A4 Sundance (7) - Buster
B1 Pop Workshop - Point Of Junction
B2 Ed Thigpen's Action Re Action - Action Re Action
B3 Björbobandet Med Sabu Martinez - The Sacrifice
B4 Eero Koivistoinen - Hot C

CANNONBALL ADDERLEY SEXTET In New York


















01. Introduction by Cannonball
02. Gemini
03. Planet Earth
04. Dizzy's Business
05. Syn-Anthesia
06. Scotch and Water
07. Cannon's Theme

Julian "Cannonball" Adderley - Alto sax
Nat Adderley - Cornet
Yusef Lateef - Tenor sax, flute, oboe
Joe Zawinul - Piano
Sam Jones - Bass
Louis Hayes - Drums

LP RIP

Monday, August 24, 2009

Lightnin' Hopkins Sings The Blues (imperial lp)

Lightnin' HopkinsSam “Lightnin’” Hopkins was a solid country blues guitarist who had a reputation for being one of the most compelling blues performers of the 1960’s. Releasing up to two albums a year, Lightnin’ Hopkins toured at many of the folk festivals and folk clubs, building up a large audience who followed him around the United States. Living a relatively informal lifestyle, Lightnin’ Hopkins was well revered by others in his profession as well as the audience because of songs such as “Mojo Hand.” Listening to Lightnin’ Hopkins on vinyl is still wonderful even almost 50 years later.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Harold Land - A New Shade of Blue


Harold Land: New Shade of Blue

LP: Mainstream MRL 314

Tracks & Composers
1 A New Shade Of Blue (Land)
2 Mtume (Hutcherson)
3 Ode To Angela (Land)
4 De-Liberation (Land)
5 Short Subject (Land)

Personnel
Harold Land (ts); Bobby Hutcherson (vib); Buster Williams (b); Bill Henderson (p); Billy Hart (d); Mtume (per)

Recording Date & Location
Recording date unknown (released 1971), New York, NY

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Milt Raskin ~ Kapu (Forbidden)



Milt Raskin is best remembered among exotica fans for what he himself may have considered one of his less memorable efforts: Exotic Percussion, also released as Kapu, on the notorious Crown Records. Unlike many of Crown's releases, which packaged public domain performances or uncredited cuts from far-earlier sessions and packaged them to take advantage of whatever musical trend was getting sales at the moment, Exotic Percussion is a suite of Raskin originals, apparently recorded specifically for the release. It shares many of the elements of other classic jungle exotica classics such as Les Baxter's Ritual of the Savage, Robert Drasnin's Voodoo!, or Stanley Wilson's Pagan Love: titles evoking primitive languages and pagan rituals; a mixture of unusual percussion instruments tossed in in imitation of native chants and drum songs; and good old Hollywood film music.