SPUNKY ONIONS

I Have Returned

2011-08-08T10:46:00.004Z

Yes, I have returned elsewhere in a new format. Please check out
http://spunkyonions.tumblr.com/

So if you find this page on your web travels and wonder what you have been missing then check me out

Adios and remember Spunky Onions Boy !!!!!!!!

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait

2009-02-07T12:12:00.010Z

Yeah, Yeah it's being some time since I've blogged and finding the time is a continuous problem but in the meantime my ears are open and a pandora's box of sounds are continually absorbed.

So too conclude I decided to put out the most tracks I have ever posted before in one go. The genre's are all over the place, the tracks are little gems and they all remind me of why I love this type of music in the first place.

Enjoy...........................................................................

Clyde Owens - The Last Bouquet (From Rock-A-Billy From Tennessee Vol 2)

Bobby December & The Famous Renegades - Invasion (From Stompin' Vol 26)

Webb Foley - Little Bitty Mama (From Bison Bop Vol 3)

The Downliners Sect - Now She's Dead (From The Definitive Downliners Sect : Singles A's to B's)

Boots Randolph - Percolator (From That's What I Like Vol 10)

R.D.Hendon & His Western Jamboree Cowboys - Music Makin' Mama From Memphis (From CD Box Set Hot Guitar - From Boppin' Hillbilly To Red Hot Rockabilly)

The Miller Bros - Loco Choo Choo (From That'll Flat Git It Vol 26)

Birthday Cake Boogie

2009-01-19T11:01:00.019Z

Well it was my birthday last week and so filled with joy for all my fellow men and women I thought I'd get back in the saddle so to speak and post some tracks. Two are requests, these are Deke Dickerson and the 'Mighty' Barrence Whitfield who I have witnessed live a few times over the years and he is always a fantastic stage act. As the Barrence track had some 'Dust' in the title this then led me to decide on finding some more Dusty's for your listening pleasure.
Dusty Brown came to Chicago in 1946 and played harp on the West Side and recorded his track for Bandera Records in 1946. Dusty Owens came from Flint, Michigan and recorded for Admiral Records in 1957. Finally Dusty Rose was a DJ on KRNR and recorded his track for Fabor in 1956.

Enjoy....................................................

Deke Dickerson - Do You Think Of Me

Barrence Whitfield and The Savages - Dust On My Needle

Dusty Brown - Well,You Know

Dusty Rose - Rockin' Maraccas

Dusty Owens - Hey Honey

There's A Story In Your Voice

2008-12-29T17:33:00.007Z

Well it's been a very long time and I've missed wishing everyone a Happy Christmas but I am in time to say Happy New Year and even though this is the time of year to make resolutions and plans to change your life, I can't promise I will still be keeping 'Spunky Onions' going in 2009 I shall endeavour to do my best and probably post on a monthly basis.

Of course as every year ends many people have left us and so these songs are dedicated to these individuals who maybe in a very subconscious way may have had an indirect influence on this blog and are those who I can remember !!

Bo Diddley, Paul Newman, Reg Varney, Oliver Postgate, Isaac Hayes, Jack Douglas, Ronnie Drew and dear Jean Baldry R.I.P

Nat Robertson & Guitar - Country Boy (From Stompin' 26)

Cecil McCullough - Pick 'Em Up & Shake 'Em Down (From 10 Years In Texas)

Don Eee - Stop At The Hop (From Ten Long Fingers)

Duke Dickson & The Jivin' Five - Walking Shoes (From Rebel Rock a Billy Rock)

The Dirtbombs - The Thing (From Ultraglide In Black)

Walkin' Down The Line

2008-11-20T11:48:00.012Z

I think I will welcome myself back to my own blog as once again I have been away for a lengthy absence. I can't go into detail but life in the real world certainly interferes with my quest to post on a regular basis.

Today's offerings are dedicated to 'Ramblers' everyone they might be in a string-band or just be a bunch of people enjoying the fresh smog-free air but whoever or whatever they are I'm sure they will find something here to...

Enjoy.....................................................................

Tarbox Ramblers - Jack of Diamonds

Hackberry Ramblers - Old Pipeliner (From Cajun Boogie)

The Hi-Strung Ramblers - Fleet Bleep Boogie (From Run Boy Run)

Kay & Shirley 'The Dixie Ramblers' - Hee Ho (From Rock Me: Mississippi Hillbilly etc)

Money's Gettin' Cheaper

2008-10-20T10:13:00.010Z

Let's all forget about the Credit Crunch, Sub-Prime, the Presidential Race, Global Warming and those little white dot's that sometimes appear on your fingernails and let's enjoy life !

So to cheer everybody up, today you get 'Five Jimmy's' to listen and upload if you want to.

It's really surprising the number of artists you can find called Jimmy and I'm positive I may have featured some 'Extra Jimmies' before but I can't be bothered to check.

Enjoy.....................................................................................

Jimmy Robins - I Can't Please You - Jerhart 45' 1966

Jimmy Short - Everybody's Tryin To Be My Baby - From Boppin' Hillbilly Vol 7

Jimmy C & the Chelsea 5 - Play With Fire - Zero Records (Dallas Texas) 1965

Jimmy Evans - Memphis 1955 - From Memphis Rockabillies, Hillbillies & Honky Tonkers Vol 5

Jimmy Hughes - Neighbour Neighbour - Fame Records 1966

One Monkey Can't Stop The Show

2008-10-04T13:38:00.023Z

Looking at some of my favourite music blogs I can see quite a lot of my fellow 'Bloggers' are finding it harder and harder to find the time to be constantly on time and regular with their posts. I have so much new music to find the time to listen, digest and file, then I need to decide what tracks I want to upload and then post. It is time consuming but ultimately rewarding when you see the finished article on the web and when you receive good feedback through the comments section.
So once again I have trawled the obscure 'Spunky Onion' world of the good, bad and the often quite ugly and below is what I found.
Enjoy..........................................

Lou Millet - Shorty The Barber (Find it on 'Date Bait' - On Buffalo Bop Label)

Shorty Barnhill - I'm A Sad Sack (Find it on 'Rockin' Hillbilly Vol 10 on the Cactus Label)

Benny Martin - Hobo (Find it on 'Choo Choo Bop' on Buffalo Bop Label)

Charles K. Shields - Go Alabama Girl (Find it on 'Rebel Rockabilly Rock Vol 9 on the Jim Jam Label)

Otis Parker - They Don't Have to Operate (They Just Pull the Zipper) (Find it on 'Hixsville - we'll Have A Time,Yes Siree!' on the Jasmine Label)

I'm Glad We Didn't Say Goodbye

2008-09-22T12:05:00.010Z

I'm still busy. busy, busy and finding it hard to be more regular posting tracks but today's are some top notch Rockabilly stand-outs. I wish I was sent back in time to be there in the studio the day they were recorded.

Enjoy...............................................................................

Weyman Parham - Hang Loose

Don Woody - Make Like A Rock And Roll

Link Davis - Don't Big Shot Me

Gonna Get a Cadillac

2008-09-08T13:31:00.009Z

I've been very busy again lately so I had to put Spunky Onions on the back-burner so to speak but I know you are all so eager for me to delight you on a regular basis with my selections.

So here today are another four to tickle your musical taste buds with a couple of links for some supplementary information on the artists and the songs.

http://www.cowboyjackclement.com/

http://www.songpoemmusic.com/drake/afterlife.htm

Enjoy.......................................................................

Gene Henslee - Diggin' And Datin' (Imperial Records 1954)

Artie Wayne - Where Does A Rock & Roll Singer Go (Liberty 1963)

Buddy and The Hearts - Let It Rock (From Greasy Rock & Roll series Vol 3)

Jack Clement - Edge Of Town (From Bopcat Records - Goin' Back To Memphis)

Lookin' Like A Nut Nut

2008-08-16T13:48:00.020Z

The great thing about music is that you often come across weird and wacky song titles, odd pseudonym's and stupid names for artists. So today I have picked a few that fall in these categories. Three come from the amazingly silly 'The Big Itch' series on Mr. Manicotti records and the others are classic mad Hillbilly from Cactus Records Rockin' Hillbilly volumes and the Grand Daddy's Rockin' series, which you can find if you look long and hard enough.

I have added a link for Gerry G 'Instant' Ralston whose 'Rock & Mole' was the flipside from his 'Mariposa' single from 1971.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYAt-Qyh6ZE

Louis Innis - Whammy Bammy Buzzard Goozer (From Rockin' Hillbilly Vol 1)

Don Boots - Big Foot Annie (From Grand Daddy's Rockin' Vol 4)

Brother Zee And The Decades - Sha Boom Bang (From The Big Itch Vol 2)

Instant Ralston - Rock and Mole (From The Big Itch Vol 5)

Unknown Mental Case - Radioactive Flip Flop (From The Big Itch Vol 8)

Everyone A Treat

2008-08-09T11:18:00.017Z

GOLDBAND RECORDS - 313 CHURCH STREET LAKE CHARLES LOUISIANA

Today is my small tribute to Eddie Shuler's Goldband Records. Eddie was nicknamed 'The King Of The Underground', he was a musician, songwriter,producer and record distributor, basically a 'One-Man Record Company'. Born in Texas in 1913 he recorded Zydeco, Blues, Hillbilly, Rockabilly,Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll. Here are four obscure examples of his art taken from Charly Records releases on the Folk Star Label in the mid 1980's. They are titled :- Zydeco Birth, Bayou Rhythm & Blues Shuffle Vol 3, Whole Lotta Drinkin' On The Block and Rockin' Jumpin' Shoutin' !

For more info check out these links

http://www.purecajun.com/goldband/shuler.htm

http://www.bluesworld.com/BooZoo.html

Enjoy...................................

Tal Miller - What You Did Last Night

Boozoo Chavis - Forty One Days

Clarence 'Bon Ton' Garlow - Sound The Bell

Left Hand Charlie & King Charles - But You Thrill Me

I Like The Way You Talk

2008-07-30T19:03:00.006Z

Let's begin with some good news for all my fans (sic) !!

Currently over at the Novelty Rock Emporium you are now able to listen and download the track that was this blogs inspiration so go and have a look..............

Meanwhile as a quick taster track before the next big Spunky Onions post I give you Elmer Parker's 1963 Music Clef label flip side recording that can also be found on the excellent collection pictured below.

Enjoy............................................................

Elmer Parker & The Light Lighters - You Know I Love You

Talking That Talk

2008-07-25T14:29:00.008Z

After the anniversary celebrations let's get back to the more 'normal' style offerings. Let's start with Eddie Noack's version of Leon Payne's weird cult country song 'Psycho' later to be covered by Elvis Costello amongst others. Released on the K-Ark label in 1968 Eddie then drank himself to death ten years later in 1978. I really like the Ray Coleman track which was originally released on the SkyRocket label in 1959.

The following two tracks have been lifted from WFMU's Dave The Spazz show from March 2007. I haven't been able to find out anymore information on the artists as I can't get enough of the Snuff Dipper track by Malcolm Miller.

Here is a link to the show - go look !

http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/22560

Also I have re-opened my old Novelty Rock Emporium blog for a unspecified period please click on the link in the sidebar for great Spunky Onions type music including another Eddie Noack classic on constant rotation.

Eddie Noack - Psycho

Ray Coleman - Toodle-Oo-Bamboo

Malcolm Miller - Snuff Dipper

Farris Garland And The Pleasant Valley Boys - Preparation X

Let's Celebrate Part Two

2008-07-17T16:16:00.007Z

As I previously promised here is part two to celebrate the beginning of Spunky Onions. I do hope you enjoyed the previous tracks and that these can match those for their originality, power and sheer musical power. So no more boring preamble let's dig the sounds !
Enjoy............................................

Donoman & The Skylarks - Do You Know Everything About Love

Charles Walker - You Know It Ain't Right

Don & The Goodtimes - Louie Louie

Sir Bald Diddley & His Wig-Outs - A Cad and a Bounder

The Wailers - San-Ho-Zay

Let's Celebrate Part One

2008-07-07T20:12:00.016Z

Well on the 1st July 2006 I decided to start another blog to satisfy my less cultured musical taste. I had previously started the Novelty Rock Emporium but I had begun to feel slightly disenchanted with the workload and deciding on the choice of music which led me to eventually ending the blog. I suppose all I really wanted to do was post great music and show the world of music blogging that Billy Davis and The Legends had recorded one of the greatest songs ever !

I hope some of you reading this agree with me and that you visit these web pages on a regular basis, and if you are one of my anonymous fans then today's tracks in Part One are dedicated to YOU.

Look out for Part Two coming to Spunky Onions very soon.

Enjoy................................................................

The Buff Medways - Medway Wheelers

John Dummer Band - Try Me One More Time

Mel Dorsey - Little Lil

The Choir - It's Cold Outside

The Trashmen - Ubangi Stomp

You Can't Ride My Train

2008-06-30T14:33:00.011Z

Once again I seem to feel like be apologising for the gaps between my posts but this time I'm not as I've been on holiday and as everyone knows even a Rock & Roll Doctor needs a break now and again. I recently had a request to post the 'Train Songs' from the Spunky Onions continuous rolling tape but I decided against that but I thought that I would add some songs with 'a train' in the title.

Not much information today other than you can find both Arlie Miller and Tommy Sena on Buffalo Bop's Rock-A-Billy Choo Choo compilation or Tommy's track can be found on the Collector Records College Hop release. Rollie' s track was a hit in 1955 and is found on a Mr Maestro Records compilation and finally Gene Norman is on Rock 'N' Roll Orgy Vol 2.

Plus I think my three year anniversary of publishing Spunky Onions is coming up in July so my next post will be some stormin', stompin' favourites with no 'theme' at all !

Enjoy............................................................

Arlie Miller - Big Black Train (From Rock-A-Billy Choo Choo)

Tommy Sena & The Valcounts - Choo Choo Train (From College Hop)

Rollie McGill - There Goes That Train (From Bring Back Those Doo-Wops)

Gene Norman - Night train (From Rock 'N' Roll Orgy Vol 2)

Oh, My Linda

2008-06-13T17:40:00.011Z

I suppose Linda is a relatively famous name. I have quickly come up with Linda Blair, Linda Lovelace, Lynda Carter, Linda McCartney and Linda Thompson. As a name it is reasonably well represented in song, so today I found four tracks representing a different Linda for your aural pleasure.
Lets start with a rather obscure B-Side from The Emperors on the Spectra Sound Records 'Grab This And Dance !' compilation. Following on is Fred Hughes 'Shout Mama Linda' a B-Side from 1965 on Chicago's Vee-Jay Records. Next are The Satellites who originally released this track in 1959 on ABC-Paramount. Last but not least is Jimmy Ty a 1962 release on Bella Records.
Enjoy...............................................

The Emperors - Laughin' Linda (From the comp. 'Grab This And Dance !')

Fred Hughes - Shout Mama Linda (From the comp. Too Much Goin' On)

The Satellites - Linda Jean (From the comp.Chicken Rock Vol 2)

Jimmy Ty - Twistin' Linda (From the comp. Savage Kick Vol 9)

Let's Get Acquainted

2008-06-04T16:25:00.009Z

Well let's begin with the sad part first, Bo Diddley has passed away and another music giant has left us but the legacy remains and no music collection would be considered a serious collection without a few albums from Bo and his influence is there for all to see in the great bands that have come and gone since his first recordings in 1955. Cheers Bo enjoy those jams in Blues Heaven !

Now for today's offering. Two artists, two songs but one title. Both recorded in 1957 we have Tulsa, Oklahoma's Sanford Clark and his version on Dot Records followed by Roy Stanley's version on Zephyr. Both have an association with other more illustrious music personalities as Eddie Cochran features on guitar on the Ray Stanley recording and Lee Hazelwood co-produced Sanford Clark.

Enjoy......................................................................

Sanford Clark - Love Charms (From 'The Fool' Compilation on Bear Family Records)

Ray Stanley - Love Charms (From Greasy Rock & Roll Vol 4)

If I Was A King

2008-05-31T12:00:00.018Z

Well I said I might be absent for awhile and this proved to be the case but for the time being I'm back and I'm sure you haven't missed my posts too much and plus I've even got the tape going again so sit back and listen.
Today's artists all have some 'Kings' in their title, I begin with Maurice Guillory aka Clint West a long-standing South Louisiana Cajun rocker. Next is Ike Turner and I cannot add anything to the mountain of words already written on the man but suffice to say this instrumental is one of many he recorded from 1954-1964 on various labels including Sue, Flair and Crown records. The next group were from Melbourne, Australia and they released two singles in the mid-sixties before falling apart this track was their first. Finally we feature Little Hooks & The Kings who took on the name in 1963 and they also recorded for various labels in the sixties including Chess, Claridge and Little Rick records.
It's good to be back.
Enjoy..................................................

~~Clint West with The Boogie Kings - Night Train (From Promised Land:The Later Jin Singles on Ace Records)~~

~~Ike Turner & His Kings of Rhythm - Trackdown Twist (From Ike's Instrumentals on Ace Records)~~

~~The Jackson Kings - Watch Your Step (From Before Birdmen Flew Vol One on Vinyl Vengeance)~~

~~Little Hooks & The Kings - Jerk Train (From Show Me What You Got on Candy Records)~~

Back From Somewhere

2008-05-06T19:58:00.013Z

I've been awfully busy lately so this blog has been forgotten for awhile and as this situation is likely to last until the end of May I have shutdown the S.O Tape and posted these three tracks to bridge the gap.

They follow no special theme or purpose other than they all represent what is good about Spunky Onions.

I'll be back in a few weeks or maybe less so as I always say,

Enjoy....................................................

Don Feger - Don't Be Mad (From Desperate Rock & Roll Vol 5)

Doug Poindexter & The Starlite Wranglers - My Kind Of Carrying On (From The Vaults: The Complete Sun Singles Vol 2)

Benny Ingram - Jello Sal (From Bandera Rockabillies)

It's Not Exactly Mariachi

2008-04-26T15:35:00.011Z

I must admit I know absolutely nothing about 1950 - 60's Mexican Rock & Roll but I really don't' need to find out very much because there are many great compilations to purchase and none are better than the El Loco Rocanrol Volumes 1 & 2 on Floridita Records. The first three tracks featured today are from that series and then the last track by Los Matematicos comes from their obscure third album on RCA Camden. I have also found out that in 1962 there was a Mexican Rock & Roll movie released titled 'A Ritmo Del Twist', (To The Beat Of The Twist !) so seek it out. I'm not going to give you the English title versions of the songs, you can work 'em out for yourselves.

Enjoy..................................

~~Los Locos Del Ritmo - La Mantequilla~~

~~Los Apson - Calor~~

~~Los Psicodelicos Xochimilas - Susie Q~~

~~Los Matematicos - Me Atrapaste,/s>~~

It's A 'Travisty' But It's Still Good

2008-04-19T17:27:00.018Z

Three artists called Travis and I think that's all you need to know.
Enjoy.......................

~~Travis Justice - I Need Love (From Blunderbuss:Scattershot Sleaze 58'-'67)~~

~~Travis Wammack - Night Train (From Twistin' Rumble Vol 1)~~

~~Wonder Boy Travis - She's Got Eyes Like A Cat (From Rockin' Fever on Flyright Rec)~~

Extra Jimmies From the 1950's

2008-04-11T11:35:00.014Z

Today's choices feature three Jimmies and one Johnny !. All these tracks were recorded in the late 1950's either 57' or 58' they are all brilliant in their own sweet way and can be classified as either Rockabilly or Hillbilly depending on your personal taste.
Jimmy Wages and the Jimmy & Johnny tracks can be found on Germany's wonderful Bear Family Records label and Jimmy Edwards is from the Rhino Records Box Set, so go find 'em. By the way for those viewers who don't know them the men featuring in today's main picture are British comedians the late Jimmy Edwards and the late Ronnie Barker.
Enjoy...........................

~~Jimmy Wages - (Take Me) Garden Of Evil - (From That'll Flat Git It Vol 14~~)

~~Jimmy & Johnny - I Can't Find The Doorknob (From If You Don't Somebody Else Will)~~

~~Jimmy Edwards - Love Bug Crawl (From Rockin' Bones 1950's Punk,,,)~~

You Made Me Look A Right Charlie

2008-04-02T17:18:00.028Z

A Right Charlie
Noun. An idiot. From the cockney rhyming slang Charlie Ronce meaning 'ponce'. E.g."You made me look a right Charlie when you told everyone about me getting so drunk last night."
Ok
Let's ask you all a question when you think of someone famous named Charles who would you think of....? Well let's see maybe Dickens, Darwin or De Gaulle, perhaps Bronson, Chaplin or even Prince Charles or Charles Rennie Mackintosh but Charles Ross or Charles Booker, I very much doubt it and I admit I wouldn't either but they are all here today at Spunky Onions giving us a fine eclectic musical taster and as an added bonus I have included a track by The Embers to neatly match with Charles Booker's song title too.
By the way today's main picture is from artist Charles Ray who was born in Chicago in 1953 and now lives in Los Angeles (USA). Ray's primary thematic concerns center around containment, integration, isolation, and self-sufficiency.........apparently (sorry Charles please excuse me) but what do I know.
Enjoy.....................................

~~Charles Walker - I've Got My Eyes On The World (From Desperate Rock & Roll Vol 12)~~

~~Charles Ross & His Boys From Paris - Little Bit Lonesome (From Country Hicks Vol 5)~~

~~Charles Smith & Jeff Cooper - My Great Loss (Ashes To Ashes)~~

~~Charles Booker - Walked All Night (From Sun Records : 25 More Blues Classics)~~

~~The Embers - I Walked All Night (From El Primitivo: American Rock N Roll & Rockabilly)~~

Gimme Dat Harp Boy

2008-03-22T15:20:00.023Z
Personally I have never managed to master any instrument ever to be considered a musician or even a reasonable player but I suppose the nearest I ever came without too much success was a Hohner Marine Band Harmonica which I played or to be more truthful 'bended a few reeds with' for much of my late teenage years into my early twenties. I also listened to a lot of electric blues and really loved the amplified harp players including both white and black exponents of the genre. So here today I have picked five 'white hot' harp players and a few classic tracks to match. These are some of my personal favourites and should not be considered classic examples of the art of amplified harmonica playing or the band or individuals career.
So let's start in 1963 with the Cyril Davies Allstars' superb harp instrumental ' Country Line Special', Cyril then died of leukemia a year after it's release and another great talent was lost. Following Cyril is Chicago's Paul Butterfield and this track is from his Blues Band's second album 'East-West' in 1966 and this was pretty much as good as 60's electrified blues ever got.
Next we go down, damp and dirty into The Marquee, London circa 1980 with South London's R&B quartet Nine Below Zero featuring the underrated Mark Feltham blasting the legendary 'L and N' down the railroad tracks.
Another musician to leave us too early was The Red Devils Lester Butler who lost his life to drugs in 1998 but on 1992's 'King King' you won't hear a better white blues band at their peak, they went on to record with Mick Jagger and the tracks are often found on good quality bootlegs . Finally I leave you with an example from 'Mister Consistency' himself namely Kim Wilson. Austin, Texas has brought the world of music many fine musicians but in the early 1980's it was hard to hear a better band on stage than The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Enjoy...................................................

~~Cyril Davies' Allstars - Country Line Special (From Preachin' The Blues Memorial Album)~~

~~Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Walkin' Blues (From East-West)~~

~~Nine Below Zero - Ridin' On The L&N - (From Live At The Marquee)~~

~~The Red Devils - Automatic (From King King)~~

~~The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Jumpin' Bad (From What's The Word)~~

The Kindness Of Strangers

2008-03-14T17:30:00.017Z

Many song titles have a little bit of 'kind' in them and for today's post I have picked four diverse tracks that feature this aspect. I begin with Charles Arthur Feathers who was originally from Holly Springs, Mississippi. A giant in early Rockabilly and Hillbilly recorded history and one artist I am ashamed to admit I have not featured previously in this blog. This version of 'Honky Tonk Kind' was an unissued demo that can be found on Revenant Records superb 1998 career spanning release 'Get With It'.

I follow Charlie with Little Monty Jones and his track from the compilation ' The Big Rumble (Killer Dillers)', Vol 5. Following on in third are 60's songwriting duo, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich for whose group The Raindrops, this track was a minor hit in 1963. Lastly the better known Chris Montez whose hit 'Let's Dance' is a pop classic, his featured track was his follow up single which made the UK top ten in 1962.
Enjoy.......................................

~~Charlie Feathers - Honky Tonk Kind (From Get With It)~~

~~Little Monty Jones - You're Just That Kind (From The Big Rumble/Killer Dillers Vol 5)~~

~~The Raindrops - The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget (From The Best Of The Girl Groups Vol 2~~

~~Chris Montez - Some Kinda Fun (From 'Some Kinda Fun !' Songs We Taught The Untamed Youth)~~

He Was An Uninhibited Arkansas Rock'n'Roller

2008-03-06T14:51:00.013Z

I was on a train yesterday and I was reading through a national newspaper's obituary pages and saw a piece about the recently deceased guitarist Jeff Healey when I happened to glance down underneath the article only to find another obituary on Bobby Lee Trammell who had died on 20th February 2008 aged 74.

Bobby Lee is the type of musician who will always have a special place here at 'Spunky Onions'. So in respect to his recent passing here are three songs from this flamboyant rock'n'roll singer and later respected member of the Arkansas State legislature. He was most famous for hits 'Shirley Lee' in 1957 on Fabor Records and later on the song 'New Dance In France'. He started in Rockabilly but moved in Country music in the 70's and then in Arkansas in 1997 he was elected to the state house of representatives. His original stage act was once described as 'downright vulgar' and he once broke his wrist leaping onto, but not off of a piano !
Enjoy................................................

~~Bobby Lee Trammell - You Mostest Girl (1961)~~

~~Bobby Lee Trammell - Arkansas Twist (1962)~~

~~Bobby Lee Trammell - Mayonnaise (1966)~~

Donny Was A Good Bowler

2008-03-01T12:27:00.012Z

Cinema and music have always been good for each other in the entertainment world but add a pinch of bowling to the mix and you have a heavenly mixture. As the Coen Brothers are in the news with their Oscars for 'Country For Old Men' I thought I would dig out my best 'bowling' tracks and honour my favourite Coen brothers film 'The Big Lebowski'. The soundtrack is out there somewhere and is a good solid mix of musical styles and artists but it doesn't feature any songs about 'bowling' which to me is the centre piece of the film.

So these four tracks are dedicated to Theodore Donald 'Donny' Kerabatsos whose ashes were scattered to the wind by The Dude and Walter Sobchak in a empty Folgers coffee can.
You can find The Cavemen on the 1996 LP from Mr Manicotti Records ' The Big Itch Vol 4, The Southwest Trio and Sam Thomas can be found on the Knight Records compilation ' Twistin' Time' Vol 2 and finally The Halibuts surf instrumental can be found on their 1994 CD 'Chumming'.

Enjoy..........................................

~~The Cavemen - Bowling Alley Oop~~

~~Sam Thomas & The Valaneers - Bowling Twist~~

~~,s>The Southwest Trio - Southwest Bowl Twist~~

~~The Halibuts - Bowling Ball Gardens~~

Three Easy Pieces

2008-02-23T12:55:00.019Z

No themes and no special reasons today just three strong tracks that I like. Let's begin in 1958 with a Doug Powell 45' on Tip Top Records which is found on a few compilation CD's but this version is from 'Teenage Repression' on EVA. Next is a track from the Norton Records CD of Stud Cole's 1968 Promo LP which apparently had only 100 copies pressed on it's original release. Finally I finish with early Sun Records recording artist Malcolm Yelvington from Tipton County, Tennessee who retired from music way back in 1961 !Enjoy..................................................

~~Doug Powell - Jeannie With The Dark Blue Eyes (From Teenage Repression)~~

~~Stud Cole - Don't Do That (From Burn Baby Burn)~~

~~Malcolm Yelvington - Trumpet (From A Tennessee Saturday Night)~~

I've Got A Great Big Feeling

2008-02-15T16:06:00.011Z

I'm a bit pushed for time this week so I'm in for a quickie post today. These three tracks cover the late fifties from 1957-1959. Two tracks are from Soul legend Don Covay who recorded these two tracks under the alias 'Pretty Boy'. 'Bip Bop Bop' was produced by Little Richard and released by Atlantic Records, you can find these two tracks on the Mr.Maestro Records compilation 'More Wild & Frantic'. Following Don is Mickey Hawks from North Carolina who issued some super Rockabilly tracks on Profile Records including the classic instrumental 'Cotton Pickin'.
For more information on Mickey see my previous post 'We're Gonna Dance Tonight' from 28 August 2006 !
Enjoy.......................................

~~Pretty Boy - Switchin' In The Kitchen (1959)~~

~~Pretty Boy - Bip Bop Bip (1957)~~

~~Mickey Hawks with Moon Mullins & The Night Raiders - Bip Bop Boom (1958)~~

Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers

2008-02-08T16:54:00.006Z

Beer can be found in almost any modern society and was certainly found to be drunk by some famous ancient civilisations as well. I know it has it's detractors but when beer tastes good it's pretty hard to beat. Plenty of songs have been written on the subject but in general the world of Hillbilly and old Country & Western always hits the mark on the subject of 'the brew'.

I begin by dipping once again into the 8 CD Box Set of early Nashville Country Music with Allen Flatt & The Night Owls. Following on is Ray Price's old frontman from Kentucky, Ray Sanders who had a hit with his track in 1969 but who had debuted on the Grand Old Opry in 1959. Coming on strong in third from Texas is William McCon 'Tooter' Boatman with his Rockabilly sound and who originally recorded with The Chapparals, the 'Rockin' CD is a collection of tracks from the previous LP releases of his material on the White Label . Last but not least we get to Roy 'Smiley' Maxedon who was originally from Illinois but recorded in Hollywood with The Okah Valley Boys between 1951-1954.

Enjoy................................................

~~Allen Flatt & The Night Owls - A Broken Heart And A Glass Of Beer (From 'A Shot In The Dark ' - Tennessee Jive, Country Music On Nashville Independent Labels 1945-55)~~

~~Ray Sanders - Beer Drinkin' Music (From Texas Dance Hall Music)~~

~~Tooter Boatman - Beer Rock Pt 2 (From Rockin')~~

~~Smiley Maxedon - Give Me A Red Hot Mama And An Ice Cold Beer (From A Hillbilly Voice Like Dynamite)~~

All Bop No Slop

2008-02-04T09:39:00.002Z

Well I've not been too well over the past few days but Hey ! I'm back now with a few more Hey's ! to dig. It's a word used to draw attention, commonly used as a salutation or greeting among familiars in English speaking countries and can be found in quite a few song titles.

Let's start with Monty & Fred (The Barker Brothers) who released their 'Hey Little Mama' on Kent Records in 1958. Followed by a 1964 British R&B version of the Dee Clark hit by way of Romford, East London on Decca. We then go back to 1958 again and Nashville, Tenn where Tom James released 'Hey Baby' on Klix. Finally we finish with The Gruesomes whose garage-punk from Canada lasted for a few years in the mid 1980's.
Enjoy..............................................

~~The Barker Brothers - Hey Little Mama (From Vintage Rock & Roll Collectors Items Vol 3)~~

~~The Chasers - Hey Little Girl (From Maximum R&B)~~

~~Tom James - Hey Baby (From LP Aaaahhhh Rock-A-Billy)~~

~~The Gruesomes - Hey ! (From Gruesomology 1985-189 compilation)~~

More Guitars, Guitars, Guitars

2008-01-28T18:32:00.006Z

I'm sticking with the 'Guitars' theme again for this post and I begin with The Percells 1963 novelty B-Side to their ABC Records release ' Look At That Guy'. I follow that with a Bluegrass inspired duo, Charlie Moore & Bill Napier who took 'Truckin' Songs' to a higher level ! This track is from their 1969 LP on King Records.
Lastly from the wonderful 'Greasy Rock & Roll Series' recorded in 1959 in San Gabriel, California and backed by an anonymous local club band is Rockabilly artist Bill Garland.
Enjoy..........................................

~~The Percells - Hully Gully Guitar (from Girls With Guitars on Ace Records)~~

~~Moore & Napier - Guitar Pickin' Truck Driver (from Radar Blues LP on King Records)~~

~~Bill Garland - Lonesome Guitar (from Greasy Rock & Roll Vol 6)~~

Guitars, Guitars, Guitars

2008-01-18T16:50:00.004Z

The guitar maketh the music and also maketh today's post.
The first track by Hal Smith was originally released in 1959 on Yucca Records, in Alamagordo, New Mexico. It's a great Johnny Cash imitation/celebration and all the better for it.
Following Hal is the 'Guitar Man' himself Mister Duane Eddy who co-wrote this record in 1962 with the maverick Lee Hazelwood. The Rebelettes were actually Darlene Love & The Blossoms.
Country star Freddie Hart comes next with his 1965 hit about Hank Williams, Freddie was born Fred Segrest in Lochapoka, Alabama and was a major star in Nashville winning two Grammy awards during a long musical career.
Finally obscure Rockabilly artist Jimmy Crain ends the sequence he was best known for a minor hit in 1958 with the track 'Shig A Shag' on Spangle Records.
Enjoy.............................

Hal Smith - Making A Living With My Guitar from the compilation CD Yucca Records Rock & Roll Story

Duane Eddy & The Rebelettes - (Dance With) The Guitar Man from the CD Twang Thang

Freddie Hart - Hank Williams' Guitar from his Greatest Hits

Jimmy Crain - Guitar Playin' Son Of A Gun from the compilation Rockin' With Jimmy Crain

Over At The Big Ranch

2008-01-11T15:07:00.001Z

Well here are two different versions of the same song. Let's start in Oklahoma with Gene Autry 'The Singing Cowboy' who began performing in 1928 and was the man who created the 'Cowboy Code' which has no similarities at all to the 'Green Cross Code' which I learnt as my own personal mantra as a child.
I follow Gene with New York's R&B blasters 'The Raunch Hands' who released the 6 song EP 'El Rauncho Grande' on Relativity Records in 1985. Their last LP was 'Have A Swig' in 1990 but they have re-formed recently to produce a new album titled 'Big Topp' on Licorice Tree records.
Enjoy..........................

~~Gene Autry - El Rancho Grande~~

~~The Raunch Hands - El Rauncho Grande~~

Shakin' With A Flavour

2008-01-04T12:27:00.001Z

Well it's 2008 and I do hope you had a good new year, mine has already begun by being overlooked (again) at work for a pay rise ! - and yes I do work for a living !.

So today I give you four smashing tracks of Rock & Roll madness. The Florian Monday track was originally issued in 1964 and Walter Vaughn's came out on the Duchess label in 1961.Eddie Seacrist was a Rockabilly artist from the Charleston area whose band were called 'The Rolling Rockets'.

Also I have a new motto for 2008 ' It's not about me it's about the music' Enjoy.................

~~Florian Monday & His Mondos - Rip It, Rip It Up (From The Buffalo Bop comp. 'Rip It Up')~~

~~Eddie Seacrist - Rock & Roll Bells (An unissued track on the White Label comp. 'Rock & Rhythm')~~

~~Rex Johnson - Discombobulated (On the comp. The Big Itch Vol 3 )~~

~~Walter Vaughn - Down On My Knees (from the comp. 'Stompin Vol 1')~~

Spunky Onions Music Idol 2008 Auditions Part One

2007-12-27T15:09:00.001Z

Apparently there is an 'Idol' franchise consisting of two major shows 'Pop Idol' & 'American Idol'.

Apparently a music executive called Simon Cowell is on the judges panel on both of these shows.

Apparently the shows are watched by millions every week and in fact over 36 million watched the 2006 American Idol finale.

Well Mister Simon Cowell imagine you are a guest judge on our brand new Internet show 'Spunky Onions Music Idol 2008' - what's your opinion on these wonderfully talented but completely 'barking mad' Rock & Roll artistes - come on what is your opinion Simon ??

~~Dorse Lewis - Mexican Twist (From the comp. Rock & Roll Orgy Vol 2)~~

~~Jackie Powers - New River Train (From the comp. Desperate Rock & Roll Vol 5)~~

~~The Hi-Fi Guys - Rock & Roll Killed My Mother (From the comp. God Less America)~~

Just For Once Forget The Turkey

2007-12-15T14:28:00.001Z

I know that a lot of music blogs may be concentrating on Christmas and also celebrating the life and death of Ike Turner but as usual I thought I would be slightly more obtuse and concentrate on posting four songs that reflect the classic dish only found in London, England known as pie, mash, liquor and eels. For many years it was the favoured cheap meal of working class Londoners but like many other things in life the pie & mash shops have now disappeared until only a few shops still remain open across the capital, so get out there and find 'em. Obviously I have used some artistic licence for these tracks as the pies are meat not chicken. Liquor in this case is a parsley sauce not a drink and I have used cockney rhyming slang to substitute Banana Peels for Eels. I could have used a track by the artist Mark Everett aka 'Eels' but that was not the point.

Ken Jones - Chicken Pie (From the comp. Twistin' Rumble ! No 2)

King Khan & His Shrines - The Mashed Potato Itch (From 'Three Hairs And You're Mine')

Reverend Horton Heat - Liquor, Beer & Wine (From 'Liqour In The Front')

Johnny Otis - Banana Peels (From the comp. Return Of Mod Jazz)

Female Of The Species

2007-11-30T12:32:00.002Z

Too be honest I don't feature too many female artists in this blog so as some recompense for this I offer you two females and two tracks named after women. I'm going to be quite busy at work for the next week, so if the blog is not up to date for awhile please stick with me because I shall post again.

Janice Nicholls - The Wednesbury Madison (From Instro-Hipsters A Go-Go Vol 3)

Mabel Franklin - Let's Do The Wiggle (From Stompin' Vol 13)

G.L Crockett - Look Out Mabel (From The Chess Story 1947-1975)

The Bonzo Dog Band - Hello Mabel (From Vol 1 The Intro - Cornology CD Box Set)

Saturday Night Is Still Party Night

2007-11-24T16:03:00.002Z

Well I'm sure Saturday night is still party night for most people but not for your dear old Rock & Roll Doctor who now prefers to stay in with a beer or three, a loud stereo and a large plate of something tasty. Anyway this is dedicated to hedonistic party lovers who never get to bed before 3.00am !

Dwain Bell & The Turner Brothers - Rock And Roll On Saturday Night (From the compilation Kentucky Rockabilly on the White Label Records LP)

~~Herbie Stutes - I Love My Saturday Night (From Louisiana Saturday Night - Ace Records CD~~)

Reggie Perkins - Saturday Night Party (From the compilation LP Rockabilly Bop Vol2 a 1986 French Label release)

The Cougars - Saturday Night At The Duck Pond (An instrumental classic from the CD British Rock N Beat Vol 3)

The Bobby's Are Back with Added Bracey

2007-11-17T13:02:00.002Z

When it comes to finding tracks by anyone named Bobby it has proved to be quite easy. I think this might develop into a series based on artist names but I'm allowed to change my mind at any given moment so let's see.
Listen to Bobby Wall first and then listen to Bracey Everett I think they me be the same artist, does anyone know for sure ?

~~Bobby 'Blue' Bland - Don't Cry No More (From The Definitive Collection)~~

Bobby Charles - Take It Easy Greasy (From The Chess Story 1947-1975)

~~Bobby Christian - Enough Man ! (From Las Vegas Grind Vol 2)~~

Bobby Wall - Baby It's Too Much (From Desperate Rock & Roll LP Vol 11)

~~Bracey Everett - Lover's Curse (From Desperate Rock & Roll LP Vol 5)~~

So Many Bobby's, So Much Choice

2007-11-10T13:37:00.004Z

I'm going on holiday and I know you're all going to miss me so I thought I would leave you with some classic 'Bobby' sounds - enjoy !
If you want more info. leave a comment - adios amigos !

~~Bobby Hendricks - Itchy Twitchy Feeling~~

~~Bobby Lee Trammell - Toolie Frollie~~

~~Bobby Long - Jersey City~~

~~Bobby Mitchell - Try Rock & Roll~~

The Cold Hard Facts Of Life

2007-11-01T18:34:00.002Z

Well Rest In Peace Porter Wagoner 12 Aug 1927- 28 Oct 2007.

These two tracks are dedicated to you.
I think there is no one better to play as a tribute to Porter than the great 'Human Juke Box' from St.Louis, the wondeful Sleepy LaBeef. These two tracks come from his LP on London's Charly Records released in 1979 titled 'Downhome Rockabilly' and to quote Max Needham (Waxie Maxie) on the liner notes
No One, repeat : no one, sings downhome rockabilly with more balls than Sleepy LaBeef.

~~Sleepy LaBeef - Boogie Woogie Country Girl~~

~~Sleepy LaBeef - Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor~~

Dance Of The Golden Road

2007-10-16T17:33:00.002Z

Everyone has worries at some time and I would imagine 'Parking Worries' are often amongst them. I first heard this track on the 'Fool's Paradise' show on WFMU Radio at http://wfmu.org/playlists/FP and finally tracked it down on the 8CD Box Set ' A Shot In the Dark - Tennessee Jive: Country Music On Nashville Independent Labels 1945-1955. It can also be found on the LP Tennessee Jive #4.

Check out 'Uncle Gil's Rockin' Archives Blog' http://unclegil.blogspot.com/ for more of the same.

~~Ted West - Parking Worries~~

Instrumental Eager Beavers

2007-10-12T16:50:00.001Z

I've missed my instrumental posts as I have lately moved more into the world of old country and Hillbilly so to redress the balance I hear by celebrate the 'Beaver' instrumental.
The first two tracks come from Vol 4 of the Romulan CD series 'Frolic Diner' . A collection dedicated to sleazy instrumentals from the period of the 50's and early 60's. I follow this with a track from another CD series on Sundazed Records ' Lost Legends of Surf Guitar' and this is off Vol 2 'Point Panic'

~~Clarence Armstrong - Beaver~~

~~The Hollywood Hurricanes - Beavershot~~

~~The Tornadoes (aka The Hollywood Tornadoes) - Shootin' Beavers~~

Buddy Won't You Roll Down The Line In Reverse

2007-10-07T14:21:00.001Z

PC and consistent IPS problems have curtailed my normal enthusiasm to bring you a constant varied selection here at 'Spunky Onions'. So I have cheated with today's post as it contains the same artists from my previous post. However fear not the quality is the same, Rocket Morgan's 'Tag Along' was released on Zynn Records in 1959 whilst Tom's 'Hillbilly Parade' was the flip-side to 'Can You Bop' in 1955.

~~Rocket Morgan - Tag Along~~

~~Tom Wilson - Hillbilly Parade~~

Buddy Won't You Roll Down The Line

2007-09-29T12:15:00.001Z

I'm back and ready to roll down the line once again. Today I'm featuring two artists from the late 1950's. I start with Rocket Morgan who recorded this track for Zynn Records of Crowley, Louisiana in 1958. I first heard this song covered by the original line-up of Austin's Fabulous Thunderbirds but you can't beat this older version. You can find it on the Flyright LP 'Rockin Fever'.

~~Rocket Morgan - You're Humbuggin' Me~~

Following Rocket Morgan we have Tom 'Red' Wilson who recorded this for the Hollywood, California label Crest in October 1955. It is easily found on the Rockstar CD ' The Crest Records Story:Talk About A Party !'.

~~Tom Wilson - Can You Bop !~~

Love's Got Me All Fancied In

2007-09-14T17:14:00.001Z

Today's offering and the last for a week or so when I shall finally go on my overdue summer holidays can be found on the Flyright LP 'Louisiana Swamp Pop'.
King Karl was born on 31 December 1931 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. He began his career as a vocalist as a teenager later he performed with Black Creole, Howard Brouss and the Musical Kings which also featured Guitar Gable. They recorded for Excello records at J.D. Miller's studio in Crowley, LA.. This group is considered the founders of a genre of music known as' Swamp Pop'. His other classic song: 'This Should Go On Forever' was a big hit for Rod Bernard in the 1960's. He released albums on many labels and he eventually moved to Arizona in 1992 sadly he passed away on 7 December 2005.

~~King Karl - Walkin' In The Park~~

I'll Have The Last Laugh Yet

2007-09-07T14:08:00.001Z

I never knew that I had something in common with Morrissey until I realised that he was a fan of Jaybee !
As far as I know Jaybee released only one single on Trepur Records in January 1960 and these two tracks appeared on a White Label LP titled ' Great Labels Of The South'.
'De Castrow' can be found on Morrissey's compilation CD ' Under The Influence' where you can also check out tracks by Nat Couty (featured previously in Spunky Onions) and the late great Charlie Feathers.

~~Jaybee Wasden - Elvis In The Army~~

~~Jaybee Wasden - De Castrow~~

Good Times Gonna Roll Again

2007-08-31T14:10:00.001Z

I'm sure this is the second time that I have featured Merle Kilgore but the fact is that this track is a brilliant 'Trucker' song and I demand that I post it. I don't know if it's on any of those 'Truckin' CD best of's' but I know it from the 1963 compilation LP on Starday Records 'Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves and other Truck Driver Favorites'. It also appears on Merle's Starday album ' There's Gold In Them Thar Hills'. Starday Records issued hundreds of great C&W albums in the 1960's, go find 'em.

~~Merle Kilgore - Pinball Machine~~

Forever Young

2007-08-27T13:16:00.001Z

Two tracks today that are totally different but yet remain the same song. I shall start with Rod Bernard's 1959 single issued on Jin Records from Ville Platte, Louisiana. This came out around 1959 and it's a great example of 'Swamp Pop'. You can find it in various Louisiana CD comps out there but if you want more of the 'Original Rod' then check out the Ace Records compilation 'Swamp Rock & Roller'.

~~Rod Bernard - This Should Go On Forever~~

So after Rod Bernard let's go straight into Ernie Uszniewicz's version, he is a tenor saxophonist from Detroit and this track is from the 1989 Norton Records release 'Direct From The Orbit Room'. Ernie is certainly a required taste because to many music fans his band probably make awful sounding records but to others he somehow makes us feel better whenever an Uszniewicztones track blasts outer the stratosphere. If you are totally moved to hear even more tracks by Ernie & his band then checkout 'The Twilight Zone' where you can find the whole album to enjoy.

~~King Uszniewicz And His Uszniewicztones - This Should Go On Forever~~

If I Were A Grinder

2007-08-17T11:30:00.001Z

This track is definitely a departure from 'The Norm' here at Spunky Onions but I must admit I have always liked this song. I originally had it on a homemade compilation cassette and could not remember how or where I managed to tape it from. So I have researched the song and have been lucky enough to find out the it appears on a Musical Traditions CD titled ' Here's Luck To A Man - Gypsy Songs and Music from South-East England'.
This album is a digital version of a unique and classic set of field-recordings made by Mike Yates in the late sixties and early seventies. It features various Gypsy singers from the south-east of England, led by Mary Ann Haynes and Jasper Smith, with other items by Minty, Levi and Derby Smith (Jasper's son), Chris Willett, Joe and Lena Jones, Bill Ellson and Alice Penfold.
Derby wrote the words to this song after experiencing a lifetime of prejudice. The tune comes from a 1932 Jimmy Rodger's song Hobo's Meditation . Derby Smith came with his father to one of the recording sessions at Cecil Taylor's house and it was then that he recorded this superb gypsy protest song.

~~Derby Smith - Will There Be Any Travellers In Heaven~~

Everybody's Goin' Wild

2007-08-10T13:36:00.001Z

It's a busy time of year for me so I might not be posting too regularly for awhile. I will probably drop a quick one track in 'The Onions' and then disappear for a week or so. Today's track is a soul-stomper from the LP ' All Night Soul Stomp! Dancefloor Boogaloo Romp! ' a collection of rare, hard to find 1960s soul 45s from Belgium's Stomp Records

~~Bobby James - Goin' Back To Philly~~

I've Sold My Saddle For An Old Guitar

2007-08-02T16:58:00.001Z

I have always tried to keep an open mind when it comes to country music and I much prefer the old-timey, honky tonk sounds of the 1940's & 1950's to the 'New' country sounds now constantly flooding out of Nashville. Remember at one time Rock & Roll, Hillbilly, Blues and Country all melted together and were played by all the great artists and bands who knew their own area's musical heritage and heard these sounds blasting from their local radio stations . So today I have given you some extra's and here are four superb old-timey country tracks from the easy to find 10cd sampler, simply called 'Country & Western'.

~~The Bar X Cowboys - When Mama Goes Out~~

~~Floyd Tillman - Drivin' Nails In My Coffin~~

~~T Texas Tyler - My Bucket's Got A Hole In It~~

~~Sons Of The Pioneers - Cigareetes & Whusky~~

It Takes A Smart Guy To Play Dumb

2007-07-27T10:10:00.001Z

I have championed the 'Las Vegas Grind' series previously plus at the moment over at 'The Twilight Zone' I noticed that the first three volumes have appeared one again for your perusal.
This track comes from Volume One and is a surefire rarity. It was released in December 1956 on Vik Records which had came into being after RCA Victor changed the name of their 'X' label in September 1956. Tic & Toc were actually Big Nick Nicholas (Toc) and Austin Powell (Tic) the flip-side of the single was 'I'm A Big Boy Now'.

~~Tic & Toc - Jibba Jab~~

Hard Drivin' Men

2007-07-21T17:48:00.001Z

Two tracks that get your toes-tapping but they were released around 13 years apart. Al Davis is the first in the queue with his 1963 release on Manco Records. The track re-appeared on the LP 'Vintage Rock N Roll Collector's Items Vol 3 then Germany's Buffalo Bop put it on their 1993 'Cool & The Crazy' compilation CD.

~~Al Davis & The Gunshots - Ricky Tic~~

Now here's a confession, when I was growing up in a pre-Spunky Onion era, Southend-On Sea's Eddie & The Hot Rods were never off of my turntable. I loved their EP's especially 'Live At The Marquee' which was when I heard my first version of the classic 96 Tears, I then purchased their debut album 'Teenage Depression'. Recently I came across the single version of Horseplay which was the flip-side to their 1976 Island Records release 'Wooly Bully' and I think it's terrific.

~~Eddie & The Hot Rods - Horseplay (Weary Of The Schmaltz~~)

Neither Fish Nor Fowl

2007-07-17T19:43:00.001Z

Everyone should have heard of Billy Childish by now and if you haven't come across him before then shame on you. I admit he might not be everyone's cup of tea but when he gets it right then there is no better in the world of garage rock, punk, British R&B (call it what you will). This track is from his latest effort on Damaged Goods Records 'Punk Rock At The British Legion Hall'. After the demise of The Buff Medways Billy has put together yet another band these are called The Musicians Of The British Empire and their first LP/CD is pretty strong with one or two Childish classics including this track which has become a firm favourite here at Spunky Onions.

This one's for you Dick if your watching !

~~Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians Of The British Empire - Bugger The Buffs~~

I'm Hip To You

2007-07-12T16:36:00.001Z

Well it's been awhile but once again here at Spunky Onions we are still posting. I have been keeping a close eye on the 'Music Blog World' and I can see that it will become harder and harder to continue to post tracks or as some blogs manage, whole albums in the future as we are all being watched. I shall just hang in there and see what happens.
Now, let's welcome The Little Boy Blues who formed in 1964 at the University of Illinois, Chicago and who released in their brief history one LP and five singles of classy garage-driven R&B stompers. They appear on many compilations but they are probably best represented on ' Chicago 60's Punk vs. New Mexico 60's Pop' on Eva Records (EV 12065). You can find out more by hitting the link
www.modernist.com/lbb/discography.html

~~Little Boy Blues - I'm Ready~~

~~Little Boy Blues - You Don't Love Me~~

I've Found Two Desperate Glen's

2007-06-30T16:10:00.001Z

Where would the wonderful world of vinyl be without the legendary 'Desperate Rock & Roll Volumes' they should be cherished like the Crown Jewels or the Elgin Marbles. Both of these tracks can be found inside the volumes pictured below. Glen Cooper & The Jets released this track on RCA/Mecca in 1956, that's a long time ago now but it's still a standout.

~~Glen Cooper - Sugar Mama (Daddy)~~

Glen Reeves was a DJ originally from Shamrock,Texas who died in 1999. He released this track in November 1958 on the New York based Decca Label.

~~Glen Reeves - Tarzan~~

Beggar's Banquet

2007-06-23T10:40:00.001Z

It 'beggars belief' here at Spunky Onions that Houston Turner is not better known but as an artist whose recorded output was very minimal I think I can understand why. These two tracks were released on a 45'' from Do-Ra-Me records of Nashville, Tennessee in March 1962 and it is often credited to Houston Turner & The Dixielanders. Houston was from Chattanooga, Tenn. You can find 'Uncle John's Bongos' on the Stomper Time Records compilation' The Last Great Saturday Night' and 'The Best Dressed Beggar In Town' track is best picked up on the Ace Records compilation 'El Primitivo:American Rock & Roll & Rockabilly'.

~~Houston Turner - Uncle John's Bongos~~

~~Houston Turner - Best Dressed Beggar In Town~~

Crime Don't Pay

2007-06-15T11:19:00.001Z

Today we are in bandit country, beginning with the man from Chickasha, Oklahoma who co-wrote 'Ring Of Fire' with June Carter-Cash and had a sustained career in C&W music until his death in February 2005. Merle released this single on Imperial Records of Hollywood, Calif. in 1959.

~~Merle Kilgore - Ride Jesse Ride~~

Jesse Lee Denson aka Jesse James was from Rienzi, Mississippi. This single was released on Kent Records in Sept, 1959. The track can be found on about 10 different compilations but I recommend Ace Records 'Rockin' From Coast To Coast Vol 2'.

~~Jesse James - Red Hot Rockin' Blues~~

We Sure Got Hard Times

2007-06-04T17:23:00.001Z

Many years ago, I guess probably sometime in the mid-seventies, I used to catch some music documentaries on TV in the afternoons they were often hidden among the schedules so most viewers wouldn't know they were actually on. Most of the films shown were made by Les Blank. They were amazing documentaries based around the Cajun and Southern music scenes in the late 60's and early 70's but one other film really caught my attention and it was about the Reverend Pearly Brown a blind street singer from Americus, Georgia. Pearly had recorded an album on Rounder Records in 1973 and I picked up a copy in 1975 and I still have it today. It is a compelling LP with strong simple vocals and effective guitar playing.

~~Reverend Pearly Brown - It's A Mean Old World To Try To Live In~~

~~Blind Alfred Reed - How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live~~
This track is much better known and has been covered by such artists as The Del-Lords and probably the definitive modern recording is by Ry Cooder. Alfred Reed was a fiddler who lived most of his life in West Virginia although he recorded this classic tune on 4th December 1929 in NYC with his son Arville Reed on guitar. You can find most of Blind Alfred's recordings on Document Records but I have taken this track from the CD 'Hard Times Come Again No More, Vol. 1Rural Songs of Hard Times and Hardships Classic Recordings from the 1920s and 30s' on Yazoo Records (no 2036), a collection of classic recordings of early American rural songs about hard times - crop failures, joblessness, the Depression.

Losing My Religion

2007-05-31T10:39:00.001Z

Today I am dipping into the wonderful 4CD Box Set 'Rockin' Bones (101 Rockabilly rave-up's)' from Rhino Records and as their website blurb states it's a celebration of sex, rebels, and rock 'n' roll from both big and small labels from 1954 to 1969 by long gone daddies and wild, wild women. My first pick was originally released on Diane Records, a subsidiary of Hi Records managed by Bill Black I think it was the only release on that label.

~~John Kerby - Get Hot Or Go Home~~

Next up comes the C&W performer Jim Flaherty who owned the Belmont Record Shop in Hartford and who recorded some singles for Connecticut's Frankie Records. This track has vocals by Howie Stange and was released on Jenn Records with 'This Old Bomb Of Mine' as the flip-side.

~~Jim Flaherty's Caravan - Real Gone Daddy~~

The First Time Next Time

2007-05-28T16:36:00.001Z

It's raining today in the real world but should that stop me from feeling good, well...no not really. So how better to celebrate my personal feel good factor then to 're-up' this post from 23/10/2006.
Dale Wright (real name Dale Riffe from Middleton, Ohio) was a teenage disc jockey who recorded for the same label as Lonnie Mack namely Cincinnati's Fraternity Records. This track appears on yet another superb re-issue compilation CD from the great UK based Ace Records label, let's all enjoy that good feeling.

~~Dale Wright - That's Show Biz~~

Roadhouses and Dance Halls

2007-05-25T17:29:00.001Z

As you have probably seen with some of my previous posts I do like an instrumental and I think they come no better than today's two track offering. I shall begin with Lonnie Mack, the man with the 'flying v' guitar, the man from Indiana who gave us 'The Whammy'. This 1963 recording on Fraternity Records appears on the 1999 Ace Records compilation 'Memphis Wham !' that features some vintage Lonnie singles and unreleased nuggets .

~~Lonnie Mack - The Bounce~~

Next up is Lord Dent & His Invaders, this group recorded out on the East Coast of America for Golden Crest Records and again I think this was recorded around 1963. The track can already be found on various instrumental CD/LP releases but I have showcased it from the Norton Records compilation 'Wolf Call' that features rarities from the Golden Crest label.

~~Lord Dent & His Invaders - The Greaser~~

Cheerleader, Prom Queen, Greaser Or Square

2007-05-21T09:57:00.001Z

Richard Vaughn founded Arvee Records in Los Angeles in 1959, and thanks in part to some great productions by H.B. Barnum and Marty Cooper he had hits right out of the box with frat party R&B acts like the Olympics and the Marathons. Party R&B tracks (often with deliberate novelty appeal) remained the label's bread and butter but Arvee also dabbled in rock & roll, doo wop, and surf music. These two tracks come from the 2006 Empire Records compilation CD 'West Coast Sock Hop' and I must admit it comes highly recommended by your Rock & Roll Doctor as every track is a cracker.

~~Wally Cox - The Heebie Jeebies~~

~~The Olympics - The Stomp~~

Diddley Is The Daddy

2007-05-13T16:53:00.000Z

"I opened the door for a lot of people, and they just ran through and left me holding the knob".
Welcome to the world of Bo Diddley.
The world of Bo, Bo the Orginator, Bo the Legend, Bo the Primal Rocker !
'Rare & Well Done' was issued in 1991 as a kind of unofficial supplement to his massive Chess Box Set and the LP featured tracks from 1955-1968 and it was a treat to find some obscure, odd and alternative releases hidden within his exhaustive recorded history.

Following Bo we have The Rovin' Flames who I have featured before in August 2006 with their classic garage punker single 'I Can't' but this Tampa, Florida band also released their version of 'Bo Diddley' in June 1966. The track can be found on the Crypt Records compilation 'Teenage Shutdown Vol 15.

Finally you can find the Temptations take on the Bo Diddley beat on 'Garage Punk Unknowns Part One'.

~~Bo Diddley - Rock 'N' Roll~~

~~The Rovin' Flames - Bo Diddley~~

~~Temptations - Hey Bo Diddley~~

Neither Fish Nor Fowl

2007-05-10T15:10:00.001Z

Ok, Ok I am possibly being slightly lazy at the moment 're-upping' some previously deleted tracks but basically it's easy to do and I am enjoying it. Jimmy Donley was orginally posted on 21/7/2006 and the Nat Couty track was posted on 15/7/2006.
So go back to the Onion Archive - on the right-hand side of the screen for more detailed information (you see I'm being lazy again).

~~Jimmy Donley - Radio, Jukebox & TV~~

~~Nat Couty The Braves - Woodpecker Rock~~

My Home Is Not A Home At All

2007-05-08T19:46:00.001Z

A recent request and a definite favourite here in Spunky Onions.
So here as promised is the great Onie Wheeler he was born November 10, 1921 in Senath, Missouri. He played radio shows throughout Missouri and Arkansas and during the 1940s, forming the Ozark Cowboys in 1950. Later he joined Roy Acuff's band as harmonica player in 1965 and then led his own bands on tours of Vietnam. Recorded for multitude of labels including Sun Records in 1959.

~~Onie Wheeler - Jump Right Out Of This Jukebox~~

Back To The Beginning

2007-05-06T09:33:00.001Z

Spunky Onions has been on-line now since July 2006 and looking at the number of hits to this blog it appears to be reasonably popular and so I must assume a lot of new visitors have now become regulars. I know I go back and delete old files so I thought today I would bring back (or is it 're-up') some of these tracks and I thought I would begin with the track that started it all for me and also the first couple of tracks that I offered at the very beginning.
Let me know if you want anything else from the archives and take it away Billy !!!

~~Billy Davis & The Legends - Spunky Onions~~

~~Billy & The King Bees - Bango~~

~~The Capers - Iced Tea~~

Looking Back I Should Have Been Home More

2007-04-29T18:48:00.001Z

It's often hard to cover all the different types of music I really like and to showcase them through this blog and I suppose lately I have been a bit forgetful about one of my old favourites, ' Chicago Blues' and it was never played better than on Junior Wells debut album in 1965 on Delmark Records. The album has always been considered a classic and the first track 'Snatch It Back And Hold It' is a standout. The four piece band was Junior Wells (Harmonica/vocals), Buddy Guy (Guitar), Jack Myers (Bass) and Billy Warren (Drums) and did they rock...........you betcha'.

~~Junior Well's Chicago Blues Band - Snatch It Back And Hold It~~

A Hillbilly's Deck Of Cards

2007-04-26T15:39:00.001Z

People have opinions, that's a fact. When it comes to music many people have views on what's good and what's crap. Music magazines often publish lists of the top 100 albums ever recorded or maybe even the top 100 live shows sometimes they try to tell us the top 100 vocalists etc etc. In the end it's all subjective and the point I'm really trying to reach here is that I believe the no vinyl, cd or mp3 collection can be fully complete without a Hank Williams track or collection of tracks. This belter comes from the 4 CD Proper Records compilation 'Hillbilly Hero' from 2002. It usually retails in the good mid-price range for box-sets so go out and purchase it after the end of the song, I know you will.

~~Hank Williams - I Watched My Dream World Crumble Like Clay~~

~~Simon Crum - Bop Cat Bop~~

Simon Crum was the alter ego of Ferlin Husky, who created him in the mid-'50s as an outlet for his novelty songs, which were always popular in country music. Husky was a skillful imitator, capable of doing anybody from Elvis to Ernest Tubb. Again this track comes from a 2002 release this time by Collectors Choice Music.

I'm Gonna Take You To A Place

2007-04-19T17:02:00.001Z

Frat Rock was garage rock before there was garage rock — big, dumb party music that was raw, ragged, and fun.

I'm stepping back into the sixties with these two classic singles. I have the various volumes of 'Frat Rock' originally issued on vinyl by Rhino Records but you can find the tracks on the 4CD compilation they re-issued in 1998.
The first track was orginally at hit for The Tams but Bill (from Virginia Beach, Virginia) recorded and released it in 1969.

~~Bill Deal & The Rhondels - What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am~~

New Orleans artist Chris Kenner was the writer of this 'soul' classic. Cannibal & The Headhunters were a Chicano East L.A band playing the circuit alongside The Premiers, The Blendells and Thee Midniters. This track reached No.30 in the Billboard charts in 1965 so it's not so obscure but it is mighty fine.
Remember you got to know how to pony like Bony Maronie

~~Cannibal & The Headhunters - Land Of A 1000 Dances~~

Now That You've Made Up Your Mind

2007-04-14T14:31:00.001Z

Ah ! the pleasures of the Mp3 player shuffle mode. Yesterday on the train this song hit my ears
and I immediately was taken aback by this great sixties version of a Lieber & Stoller song (also recorded by Elvis). The group were from Liverpool and were mostly known as The Undertakers, they recorded a few singles and this one hit the streets in Sept 1964. It appears on the compilation CD 'Doin The Mod Volume 3' on Castle Music (UK) from 2001. The tracks all come from the vaults of Pye Records.

~~The 'Takers - If You Don't Come Back~~

Food Glorious Food

2007-04-07T11:23:00.001Z

Are you all feeling hungry ?
Then get yourselves a big helping and dip your fingers into these two fabulous tracks. Once again I have entered the world of Louie's Limbo Lounge and the sinful world of Strip Records to find you this tasty offering from James Holloway.

~~James 'Red' Holloway - A La Carte~~

Now if that hasn't got your taste buds working try this second course. All the way from Toe-Rag Studios in London this track is brought to you on a platter by our caterers at Sympathy For The Record Industry Records known locally as the 'Sympathetic Sounds Of London'
Bon Appetit !

~~Gustav Temple And The Blades - Puddings And Pies~~

Let The Party Go On

2007-04-02T17:42:00.001Z

This track comes from 1960/1961 all the way from New Zealand. The Tubes were actually a Wellington based group called The Supersonics. They released 4 singles on the HMV label including this bug-tastic effort. You can find it on the 2 CD compilation 'Early Rock And Roll From NZ Volumes 5&6' on Collectors Records (CLCD 7755). I have published the poster below because it features the word HuHu and also becauseI love the idea of 'pure lard pies' !!

~~Bas Tubert & The Tubes - Huhu Bug~~

You Better Dig It

2007-03-25T15:16:00.001Z

I don't know anything about this track other than I found it on a 1987 LP from Cornball Records 'Sin Alley Vol 3 - Shake, Shake, Shake It Baby'. It's also apparently on 'Stompin' Vol 13' go find it !

~~Johnny Duke & The Volcanos - Oh Oh Mojo~~

Now today's second track is a bonus and it's definitely one of my favourite country honky-tonk tracks. The quality is not perfect as I recorded the mp.3 from a tape I had lying around. The couple were more famous for their version of 'Don't Let me Crossover' but to me it's a classic.

~~Carl & Pearl Butler - Sundown In Nashville~~

Lookout ...For That Clothesline !!

2007-03-20T14:18:00.001Z

This wonderful obscurity has turned up on at least 12 different Rockabilly compilations over the years on both vinyl and CD. The original was released on Southfield Records in March 1959 and the featured vocalists were Kimble & Wanda Janes. You can find it more easily on the Yeaah! CD 'Rockabilly Rarities Vol 1' or if you like to dig out some old vinyl try ' Rare Rockers From Small 1950's Labels Vol 5' released from the Netherlands by White Label Records. Also try not to confuse Gene with the man from The Byrds !

~~Gene Parson's Band - Night Club Rock & Roll~~

Live Music For Special Occasions

2007-03-15T18:17:00.001Z

It's time to salute the Twin Cities Dance King, Mister Kai-Ray aka Shane Kai Ray. He was born Richard A. Claire in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This track was the flip side to his 1961 single on Brite Star Records ' I Want Some Of That' you can find it on the Flame LP 'Desperate Rock & Roll Vol 15'.
Classic Minnesota garage band The Trashmen are meant to have taken their moniker from this song !

~~Kai-Ray - Trashman Blues~~

You Gotta Have A Ducktail

2007-03-10T21:02:00.001Z

Another song on the subject of hair and hairstyles.
This track was released in 1957 on Starday Records a label I have featured previously. It has appeared on a number of LP/CD compilations but if your looking for the ultimate in Barbershop Rockabilly then look no further than the compilation 'Kings Of The Ducktail Cats'. The vintage photo on the front cover of the CD album shows Joe Cirello who invented the D.A. back in the day when most barbershops looked like the one shown. Joe was a barber in Philadelphia, PA, USA in the 1940s. His DA was adopted by British and American youths during the 1950s.

~~Larry Nolan - King Of The Ducktail Cats~~

Loyal Order Of The Howlin' Banana

2007-03-07T16:38:00.001Z

This wonderful record was originally released in 1963 on AVA Records (no.134) which was owned I believe by Fred Astaire. I'm not sure if Ginger Rogers ever owned a record label but I be glad to hear if she did. You can now find this gem on the Mr. Manicotti Records 2006 LP, 'The Big Itch Vol 8'.

~~Johnny Alderson - Zoola Zooky~~

No Hoodlums In Our Neighbourhood

2007-03-04T11:53:00.001Z

Originally released on Vee-Jay Records in 1960 with a B-Side titled Miss Muffett, Barry's trashy song about crime finally appeared again on the Atomic Passion LP 'Teen-Age Riot - 50,000,00 Delinquents Can't Be Wrong'.

~~Barry Weaver - Street Fight~~

Don't Bow to Pier Pressure

2007-03-01T13:52:00.001Z

I'm back after a self-imposed Blog break !
So today I have returned with two tremendous instrumentals. First off the starting grid is a track from the 2003 Sundazed Records CD (SC1128) 'Lost Legends Of Surf Guitar - Cheater Stomp'. In my honest opinion the best version of 'Shortnin' Bread' is by The Readymen but this track comes a good close second.

~~The Fabulous Playboys - Shortnin' Bread~~

I am also dipping once again into Norton Records ' Shout ! Northwest Killers Vol 2 1964-1964' for the second instrumental which is another recording by Kearney Barton who has been featured previously . Hailing from the North West of the USA this band were aka The Incredible Kings Men. This also allows me to give a mention to the website of the Reverend Frost whose 'Spread The Good Word' is now back and pumping out great music once again . Incidentally The Rev has already featured 'The Limp' back in Sept 2005.

~~The Incredible Kings - The Limp~~

Lookout For The Soggy Doughnut

2007-02-17T17:37:00.001Z

I know it's a cliche when people say the phrase 'they don't make records like that anymore' but when you listen hard to this track the phrase makes complete sense. You just wouldn't hear any of today's musical superstars attempt to make a record in this style or find any badly produced celebrity karaoke/makeover shows that would touch a song like this and to me that makes me want to hear it even more. You can find Cousin Herbert on the LP 'Desperate Rock & Roll Vol 1' and it was originally released in 1958 on Tally Records from Bakersfield, California.

~~Cousin Herbert Henson - Lose My Mind~~

A Broken Heart And A Glass Of Beer

2007-02-16T16:00:00.001Z

I know very little about Hoyt Scoggins but what I have found out is that he was born in 1927 and he was a disc jockey on WCGA in Calhoun, Ga in 1956 which was the exact same year that Starday Records released his single with 'Why Did We Fall In Love' as the B-Side. Starday Records started in Beaumont, Texas in 1952. As a slight aside Beaumont by the way is the only place in the world where I have had a gun pointed directly at me but that's another story ! Owned by Harold W. 'Pappy' Daily and Jack Starnes Starday is best known as the place where George Jones recorded his first record under the epithet 'Thumper'. You can find Hoyt's track on the Ace Records CD 'Rockabilly Shakeout'.

~~Hoyt Scoggins - Tennessee Rock~~

Let The Heartaches Begin

2007-02-12T18:50:00.001Z

It is time for me to dip into the fabled world of 'Northern Soul' so join me in dancing the night away at the Wigan Casino with our baggy pants, sweat patches and amphetamines. The Wigan Casino was famous for a long period of time for it's soul all-nighters and inside it was also home to serious soul record collectors and I'm sure today's track would have been a stone cold favourite. In fact it does often appear in Top 500 lists of Northern Soul tracks. It was an A-Side on Tay Records and it is a piece of stompin' rare Detroit soul. Other than paying a fortune on eBay for the original you can find it on either of these two compilation CD's. Disc 1 on 'The Golden Age of Northern Soul' and on the Hallmark Box Set 'Northern Soul Originals'.

~~The Brooks Brothers - Lookin' For A Woman~~

Take A Ride With Me

2007-02-08T18:15:00.001Z

Not being much of a car freak the only mufflers I ever owned were for my ears. So here for your enjoyment is 'Loud Mufflers' the B-Side to 'Cranberry Blues' from Robert Williams issued in December 1958 on Tip Top Records. This track can also be found on the LP 'The Madness Invasion Volume 3' from the French record label GMG or on the CD 'Hot Rod Bop' from Buffalo Bop Records.

~~Robert Williams & The Groovers - Loud Mufflers~~

Who's That Big Man ?

2007-02-04T18:44:00.001Z

Everybody enjoys dancing the Hokey Pokey at parties and functions after a few alcoholic drinks, don't they ??.
Well if you do love to dance why not move your body parts along to this track originally released on Gem Records. It can be found on either of these CD compilations :- 'Date Bait' from Buffalo Bop Records and 'Hokey Pokey Rock' on Collectors Records issued in 2002 from the Netherlands.

~~B. Goode - Hokey Pokey Rock~~

The Four Wheels - Cold 45

2007-01-29T21:26:00.001Z

Let's go back to the Mid West of America in the early 1960's where every budding musician either wanted to be in the Beatles or perhaps in the Beach Boys. Well somewhere in Indiana the Four Wheels almost definitely wanted to be one of Brian Wilson's gang. They released about two singles on the Soma Records label and this track was the B side to 'Central High Playmate'. Soma Records were owned by one Amos Heilicher (hence Soma !). The Four Wheels can now be found on 'The Big Hits Of Mid-America - The Soma Records Story 1963-1967' CD on Plum Records 14132.

~~The Four Wheels - Cold 45~~

It's Only A Phonograph Record

2007-01-27T12:09:00.001Z

~~Bruce Culver - Square Record~~
Records about records will always be popular with me and this 45' from Bruce Culver was released on MMI Records in June 1958. I found it on the Beware Records LP 'Psycho Serenade' but it has also turned up on a CD issued by Germany's Bear Family Records that looks very interesting.
http://www.bear-family.de/mailorder/showoneproduct.html?lang=&p=BCD+16788

Happy Days Are Here Again

2007-01-24T17:37:00.001Z

Well at last I'm back (no thanks to Hipcast).
I somehow stumbled back into my Blogs today and I was so overcome with emotion that I thought I would post a trio of instrumental 'fireballs' as I'm sure you have all missed me so.....much !
First off please give a big, big welcome to Hardin 'Hop' Wilson, the steel guitar maestro from Texas who recorded for both Goldband Records in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Ivory Records in Houston, Texas in the late 1950's early 1960's. He died in Houston in 1975. This track comes from the superb Ace Records LP 'Steel Guitar Flash' from 1988.

~~Hop Wilson & His Buddies - Chicken Stuff~~

The second track today comes from a band from Enumclaw, Washington who never released a record in their heyday but did go in the studio to record seven tracks over in the Pacific North West in 1964. They have now been issued on the Norton Records 2001 CD ' Northwest Killers 1960-1964'.

~~The Artesians - Monkey Chain~~

Last but not least are New Mexico's 'The Knights' aka King Richard And The Knights from Albquerque who released this instrumental in the mid 60's and this has been re-released in 1999 on Crypt Records 'Strummin' Mental Volume One'. The band led by two original members reformed in 1998 and recorded the album 'Surfin' The Web'.

The Knights - Tale Of A 280 Pound Shoe Salesman

El Rey Del Rock & Roll

2007-01-07T14:12:00.000Z

Today we add a little latino Rock & Roll flavour to the 'Onion'. Eddie Con Los Shades was as you can see by the LP cover pictured below Freddy Fender (born Baldemar G. Huerta) the late great Tex/Mex Conjunto singer and musician who died last year. He recorded the album for Ideal Records in 1961. Arhoolie Records later re-released it on CD. It can also be found on the LP 'Desperate Rock 'N' Roll Vol 11'.

~~Eddie Con Los Shades - Dime Si Me Vas A Ver~~

Tony of 'Tony & Charley' fame was born in Holland as Sigfried Anthonius Den Boer Kramer but changed his name to Tony Ronald. He had a band called 'The Kroners' and he moved to Spain in the 1960's when he recorded this track. I think escucha means listening in Spanish but this has to be the oddest Latino cowboy yodelling record I have ever heard. I have also found reference to another Spanish band recording this song namely Los H.H from Seville. Tony's version can be found on the CD 'El Loco Rocanrol Vol 2' on Floridita Records.

~~Tony & Charley - Escucha Cowboy~~

2007 Means Security Through Obscurity

2007-01-04T10:52:00.000Z

A Happy New Year to everyone and I hope to provide another host of wonderful sounds for you all to enjoy over the coming 12 months. Today we dip into the fantastic 9 CD Box Set ' The Complete Stax / Volt Singles (1959-1968) released in 1991. Not to be confused with the much more famous soul singer Arthur Conley, Prince Conley was a popular Blues singer in the Memphis Area who recorded for the local Satellite Records label and they released his single in 1961. The track was a B-Side to 'All The Way'. Satellite Records became better known worldwide when the label changed it's name to Stax in 1962.

~~Prince Conley - I'm Going Home~~

The Men With The Twisted Lips

2006-12-29T21:02:00.000Z

This superb track can be found on the 'Ready Sect Go !' LP on Vinyl Japan Records from 2000. This was the second release from one of the great collaborations of our times, as Twickenham's legendary 60's garage pioneers The Downliners Sect met with Chatham's Thee Headcoats. The Downliners Sect were among England's foremost rhythm and blues groups, their most prolific period being the years from 1964 to 1966. As is often the case, they were denied the sort of success they deserved. Fans of raw, vital R&B now revere them and their original recordings can still fetch high sums between record collectors. In the late 90's they teamed up with a group of R'n'B mainstays (including one Mr. Billy Childish), wearing ludicrous headgear, with a Milkshakes and Mighty Caesars pedigree who as The Buff Medways still wow eccentric garage-heads at venues all over Europe, USA and in Japan. Thee Headcoats kicked at the same locked doors as the Downliners Sect had before them but they are and always will be 'Deerstalking Men'.

~~Thee Headcoats Sect - Knight Of The Baskervilles~~

ABOVE :-
Thee Headcoats Sect
Don Craine - guitar, vocals
Keith Grant - bass, vocals
Billy Childish - lead guitar
Johnny Johnson - harp
Bruce Brand - drums and percussion

BELOW:-
The Downliners Sect

No More Chills And Fever

2006-12-28T12:07:00.000Z

Well I suppose Christmas is almost over for most of us so to relieve some of the excess built up around the waist and the lack of exercise let's all do the 'Turkey Neck Stretch !', yes it's traditional here in the frozen wastelands. Gradie's single was released in 1958 on Bella Records you can find this track on either the LP 'Sin Alley Vol 1' or the CD 'Party Crasher' on Germany's Buffalo Bop label from 1999.
C'mon let's all stretch together now.................

~~Gradie O'Neal - Turkey Neck Stretch~~

Where Is My Robotic Boot ?

2006-12-17T16:54:00.000Z

Twinkle, twinkle little star well no actually just Twink !. The Fairies were a English R&B Band from Colchester who released a few sides for Decca in the mid 60's led by John Charles Alder who would later be better known as Twink of The Pink Fairies. This track was a B-Side from 1964 and can be found on the Hunter Record label's 2005 CD release ' Decca Originals Vol One'.

~~The Fairies - Anytime At All~~

The second track has a bit more history as Arvee Allens was actually Ritchie Valens who recorded this instrumental on Del-Fi records in 1958 but did not use his own name at that time. It is in some quarters regarded as the first 'Surf Guitar' instrumental and Ritchie released it on Guest Star Records under his own name just before his untimely death in January 1959.

~~Arvee Allens - Fast Freight~~

Rockin' In My Knees

2006-12-14T18:12:00.000Z

Hello, well I won't mention the word Christmas and have decided not to post any 'Xmasy' tracks. I shall leave this to many of the other super music blogs out there in cyberspace. As we all know it's a very busy time of the year and even the Rock & Roll Doctor is no exception so posts may be a bit limited over the coming week or so. Anyway it's Larry Storch time and today we have a track from his Roulette Records recording from 1957. Larry was mostly known for his role as Corporal Randolph Agarn in the US 60's comedy series 'F-Troop' but he also found time to make a few singles. This track can be found on either 'Desperate Rock & Roll Volume 13' or on the brilliant 84 track - 3 CD Box Set 'The Roulette Story'

~~Larry Storch - I'm Walkin'~~

Tragic Songs Of Life

2006-12-09T13:45:00.000Z

Today it's the inevitable turn of the wonderful Louvin Brothers. I have previously posted a solo track by Charlie Louvin but this is the both Ira and Charlie at their peak. In my opinion they were the best of all the close-harmony country brother acts, even better then the Blue Sky Boys, The Delmore Brothers, The Monroe Brothers etc etc.....This track comes from the Gusto Records 2003 re-release of their 1960 LP 'My Baby's Gone'.

~~The Louvin Bros - My Baby's Gone~~

Known Internationally As The Norfolk Sound

2006-12-08T15:43:00.000Z

Jimmy Soul was born James McCleese in Weldon, North Carolina. Handpicked as a teenager by Frank Guida who had set up a record shop called Frankie's Birdland on Church St in the city of Norfolk, Virginia and who was set upon making musical history. Jimmy was on the roster alongside the much more famous Gary U.S Bonds and he only ever had two chart hits, both which were Bond's cast-offs, 'Twistin' Matilda', in 1962 and the number one hit 'If You Wanna Be Happy' in 1963. He then gave up his career as a musician and joined the army.
He died in 1988 at the age of 45. This track can be found on the Ace Records 1996 CD 'The Very Best Of '.

~~Jimmy Soul - Take Me To Los Angeles~~

Frank Guida

Better Than The Beatles

2006-12-03T15:42:00.000Z

I must admit growing up in the frozen wastelands I was never a big fan of the Beatles. I remember staring at my dad's copy of Sgt. Pepper and looking at all the different faces on the cover and reading the lyrics but I was never that tempted to actually play it I was more fascinated by his copies of the first album by Creedence Clearwater Revival and Juicy Lucy's 'Lie Back And Enjoy It' on the Vertigo label. Of course over the years their music filtered in through many different mediums but I still never actually bought a Beatle's LP or single, I just heard them on the radio and sung along. So today I thought I would give my own special tribute to the Fab Four. These two tracks come from a fabulous 1994 collection 'Flabby Road' from Orange Records,USA. It contains 26 Beatle novelty songs and in my opinion these two tracks are the pick of the bunch. First up is Bluegrass singer Bill Clifton's 'Beatle Crazy', a Woody Guthrie style spoken word lyric that is clever, witty and enjoyable. I then follow this with The Bagels who include an awful imitation of their idea of an English/ Scouse/ Posh accent. The sound and idea is very reminiscent of the tomfoolery later performed by The Rutles. I know that Orange also released 'Flabby Road II' so there are most treasures to be discovered.

~~Bill Clifton - Beatle Crazy~~

~~The Bagels - I Wanna Hold Your Hair~~