I got a request on my show today for a strange little single I had completely forgotten about - Spin The Bottle by "Jimmy." Little is known about Jimmy, but he comes off like a cross between Daniel Johnston and Gary Wilson. On the record sleeve, Jimmy is sporting lipstick and a stocking on his head, an Izod shirt, and he's holding a tennis
racket. The single indicates 45 rpm, but at that speed, Jimmy's voice sounds like a chipmunk. At 33 rpm, the single is too slow, but the slowness seems to fit Jimmy's lugubrious, demented delivery, so that's the speed that the FMU staff settled on back when this record was in heavy rotation. Jimmy's real name appears to be James Dean, the record label is Fatima Records, and he seems to be from Los Angeles. The sleeve of the single says "Demand The Album!" in tiny type, but these are the only two songs from Jimmy we've ever come across.
Jimmy's Spin The Bottle (MP3) | Jimmy's White Christmas (MP3)
Amazing! He pronounces the word coffee just like Terre T!
Posted by: Fatherflot | March 29, 2006 at 06:50 PM
that's so weird...I was going to request Spin the Bottle TODAY too. Whoever that listener is, we're in sync...scaywee.
thanks Ken!
Posted by: Michael | March 29, 2006 at 06:55 PM
heya Ken:)
I remember selling this single at an fmu record show-perhaps to
you?
I remember this as a bad acid trip song-and never could figure out that speed issue,but with all this modern technology,maybe
we can get MORE enjoyment from this classic...ummm...uhhh....
btw-i moved to portland oregon-the cult life suits me:)
D
Posted by: Davo | March 29, 2006 at 10:08 PM
HEY IS THIS EVEN REAL?
I BET IT'S SOME 'FMU DJ OR SOMETHING....
SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE MUST KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THIS RECORD...
WHEN IS IT FROM?
Posted by: LUKEY from ozz | March 30, 2006 at 01:04 AM
sorry for shouting.
Posted by: LUKEY from ozz | March 30, 2006 at 01:07 AM
this is also in the wzrd record library, mixed in with all the weird unclassifiable early 80s shit. I wish there was more stuff like this these days.
the record robot blog did an entry on this record a few months ago:
http://recordrobot.blogspot.com/2006/01/heres-jimmy-hic.html
not much more info except that Fatima was started by the Plugz
Posted by: fatty jubbo | March 30, 2006 at 02:02 AM
Thanks Ken, I was hoping an mp3 posting would follow yesterday's show. Wow, Jimmy...
Posted by: DPW | March 30, 2006 at 09:02 AM
We did a little piece on this in January. I got all excited when I saw it here, thinking there'd be more info on who he was. Ah well.
http://recordrobot.blogspot.com/2006/01/heres-jimmy-hic.html
Posted by: Tony | March 30, 2006 at 11:45 AM
Pure magic! Thanks, Ken!
Posted by: Scooter | March 30, 2006 at 01:59 PM
When I head "Spin the Bottle" (on Ken's show before he forgot it) I always assumed that was very early Daniel Johnston!
Posted by: golden goat | April 01, 2006 at 09:44 PM
you're playing the tracks at the wrong speed! 45 rpm! please put up the corrected mp3s. it's a whole different treat!
Posted by: jimmy | April 26, 2006 at 10:06 AM
Yes, play it at 45rpm! It's much better! Is that the REAL Jimmy?
Posted by: transom newbold | April 27, 2006 at 10:54 PM
Nah,,,,, slow it down even more. It will match him look.....LOL....
Posted by: rpm | August 14, 2006 at 03:08 PM
http://www.allthejimmys.com/jimmy.html
he never says WHY...
Posted by: hoot koomi | April 27, 2010 at 08:34 PM
allthejimmys is down. The Wayback Machine has a snapshot but no files. Bummer. 27 trippy songs. Like Mark Sandman without the romance and coolness.
This appears to be the only reference to Jimmy, Big Jimmy, and all the Jimmys left on the internet. That is sad beyond belief. Well, glad I have 20 out of 27.
BTW spin the bottle is supposed to be slow.
Posted by: hoot koomi | February 16, 2012 at 12:44 AM
All the Jimmys will be back up shortly.
FYI, the fast versions of Spin the Bottle and White Xmas are correct. These are the mp3s on the All the Jimmys site. The mp3s available here are interesting, but not right.
Thanks for listening! And I do believe I have copies of the original 45.
Posted by: jimmy | March 06, 2012 at 07:52 PM
@ hoot koomi - he never says WHY about what?
Posted by: jimmy | March 06, 2012 at 08:14 PM
Spoiler alert:
Little Jimmy is James Frank Dean, a web designer, graphic artist and photographer living in Los Angeles. He's 60. Here's his web site: http://www.jamesfrankdean.com/
Posted by: Steve | December 26, 2012 at 12:27 PM