MP3s: far too many (28) of the suckers in this post.
When I stumbled across this photo of the dashing DJ Rodney Bingenheimer with his adoring fans, I decided to assemble a group of groupie-related MP3s to accompany it. Like many blog posts that start off simple, this one has the potential to spiral out of control (see 101 Stairways to Heaven), so I hereby nip this thing in the bud and serve up all your groupie-based MP3 needs. Let's start off with the namesake tune on Rodney's T-shirt, Funkadelic's fantastic No Head, No Backstage Pass (MP3).
From there, let's move on to the 1969 all-star Groupies album that contains Rodney's very own song, The GTOs' Permanent Damage, featuring Rodney's vocal stylings (on the song "Rodney") backing up Miss Pamela, Miss Christine, Miss Mercy, Miss Sparky, Miss Sandra and Miss Cinderella, and joined by Frank Zappa and gobs of original Mothers, not to mention Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart and Ry Cooder?! See you beyond the jump for those MP3s and more...
The GTO's Permanent Damage:
The Eureka Springs Garbage Lady (MP3 links here on down)
Miss Pamela and Miss Sparky discuss STUFFED BRAS
and Some of Their Early Gym Class Experiences
Who's Jim Sox? | Kansas and the BTQ's | The Captain's Fat Theresa Shoes
Wouldn't It Be Sad If There Were No Cones?
Do Me In Once and I'll Be Sad, Do Me In Twice And I'll Know Better (Circular Circulation)
The Moche Monster Review | TV Lives | Rodney
I Have A Paintbrush In My Hand To Color a Triangle
Miss Christine's First Conversation With The Plaster Casters Of Chicago
The Original GTO's
The Ghost Chained To The Past, Present and Future (Shock Treatment)
Love On An Eleven Year Old Level
Miss Pamela's First Conversation With The Plaster Casters Of Chicago
I'm In Love With The Ooo-Ooo Man
The GTOs Miss Pamela is Pamela Des Barres, who recorded and audio version of her book I'm With The Band, presented here as two whopping (50meg) MP3s: Part One | Part Two
In 1969, an audio documentary LP came out called "The Groupies," which featured conversations with four real live groupies, whose sole mission in 2006 is to keep the slang term "making piggies" (sex) alive for the ages! This album sounds a lot better than it actually is, but there's some real gems of conversation in here if you can slog through it. It's been sampled by Pizzicatto Five, The Propellerheads and an excerpt was included in Otis Fodder's 365 Days Project. Here's the full thing in two parts: Side One | Side Two and here is the excerpt from 365 Days: Groupies Excerpt.
Finally, here's a small sample of groupie-inspired tracks. I know there are a zillion more out there, but the one I really wanted that I couldn't find was Ed Sander's The Plaster Song. And speaking of Cynthia Plastercaster...
Bobby Nunn - She's Just A Groupie | Kiss - Plaster Caster | New Dream - Groupie
The Pamela Des Barres "I'm With The Band" audio book!!!! ALL OF IT!!! It's going right in the books-on-tape file in my iPod, right next to William F. Nolan reading "Logan's Run" and Dolly Parton reading her "Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business." My next bus ride will turn into a bliss ride.
This comment has nothing to do with groupies.
Posted by: Mark Allen | October 09, 2006 at 07:41 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I've been wanting to hear those GTO's albums ever since I was scared almost to death by hearing an excerpt when I was about 14. And to have the rest is pure unadulterated lagniappe.
But let's not neglect Momus's infamous phallic frolic from his album, Folktronic, "The Penis Song," which includes these lyrics, based on his personal experience:
"Cynthia Plaster Caster once took my cast and showed me
In a penis exhibition in a gallery on Broadway
So many people saw my penis in its glass case
They recognise my penis now before my face... "
Posted by: scoot | October 09, 2006 at 07:52 PM
FRANK ZAPPA seemed to have a penchant and inborn talent for penning clever odes to groupies.
Three more of his "groupie songs" desperately need to be included...
1) Crew Slut - from Joe's Garage
2) Road Ladies - from Chunga's Revenge
3) Mud Shark - from Mothers LIVE Fillmore East '71
CLICK HERE FOR MORE REGARDING THE FAMOUS MUDSHARK INCIDENT!
Posted by: Alexa | October 09, 2006 at 08:54 PM
I believe Frank Zappa was one of the few people who didn't let Cynthia Plaster Caster cast his member.
Speaking of Frank Zappa- does "Jazz Discharge Party Hats" count as a groupie song?
Posted by: fatty jubbo | October 10, 2006 at 02:32 AM
Aww, you shouldda posted the Backstage Pass song, "Legend", located on Rhino's Saturday Night Pogo lp, and covered by Redd Kross in the Desperate Teenage Runaways film. Wait they changed that to Desperate Teenage Lovedolls.
Posted by: fred | October 10, 2006 at 09:15 AM
Awesome bunch of mp3s. Hopefully, Pamela (and friends) will get me through my upcoming slog of a commute. Thanks, WFMU!
Posted by: Craig | October 10, 2006 at 09:19 AM
Do not forget "Easy Meat" as another Groupie song.
Posted by: Wazoo_BuffaloVoice | October 10, 2006 at 09:20 AM
What, no "Plaster Caster Blues Band" (http://pages.ripco.net/~economy/images/plastercasterbluesband.jpg)? Actually that's just as well, even Cynthia doesn't like that record; the best thing is the song titles (which, sadly, are all just run-of-the-mill instrumentals). And yes, that's true about Frank Zappa never having been casted, even though he was Cynthia's benefactor -- the full story is in the documentary Plaster Caster...
Posted by: Hell's Donut House | October 10, 2006 at 10:39 PM
Sanders Truckstop is downloadable from honestengine.blogspot.com, including Plaster Song
Posted by: Travis | October 14, 2006 at 12:46 PM
Thanks so much for this. Everyone I've pointed toward this has loved the songs. The LP just went for $180 or something on ebay.
Posted by: OwlsOwlsOwls | October 31, 2006 at 10:48 AM
thank you!!i love gto's music!
thank you!thank you!thank you!
Posted by: Bianka | June 10, 2007 at 06:04 PM