MP3 Truffles: Hurt Me Hurt Me But the Pants Stay On

This week's favorite find is Teezar. Who are Teezar? Well, if you take Joe Stumble's word for it, they are the best hard rock band you never heard of, a pair of trailer-living nerds from Missouri whose album "Bakkstage Pass" not only invented the L.A. glam scene, but hip-hop as well. Or they could be a totally invented band formed with the good old punk ethos of "leave 'em laughing". I'm going with number two, but read the elaborate backstory and live the lie if you like. It's frankly more fun, and either way the music...well, it rocks. It rocks in that "sucks so bad it can't possibly rock" way. Yeah, it rocks.
MP3s:  Backstage Pass  |  Rokkin Queen  |  Rokk Partake  |  Giver of Rokk  |  Dirty Bandage
Download "The Complete Teezar" at Last Days of Man On Earth.

Don't worry, I wouldn't start you off only with some cheesy mock-rock. How about a real find:  Maureen Tucker's 1981 solo album Playin' Possum. Recorded in her living room and self-produced and distributed, it was her first musical work in years. She describes the album as being made "between changing diapers". In other words, that makes her the Coolest Mom Ever. And it's a great Sunday afternoon album to boot.
MP3s:  Heroin  |  Around & Around |  Concerto In D Major
Pick up the whole album at Dinosaur Gardens.

On the video front this week, since Brian already covered a slew of real quality finds, I'm going to focus on the delicious runny cheese. And what better way to start than Jermaine Jackson rocking out with Devo! Introduced by the one and only Fred Travalena. (found via Lost in the 80s)

More of this week's MP3 and video finds after the jump.

• German kiddie covers of Glam Rock hits.
• Negativland at the Knitting Factory 1989 - the Helter Stupid tour.
• Let the Air Force teach you the skills of tomorrow...if you live that long, I mean.
• Gangsta rap's most terrifying album cover.
• A fuzzed out funked up version of the Theme from the Godfather via the Belize Boil-Up compilation.
• A whole ton of free songs care of Crypt Records.
• Thirty Bollywood soundtracks later, Music From the Third Floor finally put together a best of collection.
• Ah, the 60s: "Dorothy's adventures in Iz, and her search for the Wozard. Along the way she meets the Scared Crow, the Lyin' Coward and the In-Man."
• Prince, live in 1986. Plus an update on where The Revolution are now.
• The Leave It To Beaver theme has lyrics!
• 30 songs that will clear any party (in addition to the Leave it to Beaver theme, that is).
• RIP to the great genre soundtrack composer Herman Stein. Here's a mini-mix of some of his greatest themes.
• And speaking of scores, here's the dibble dabble electronic soundtrack music of John Carpenter.
• I am ashamed to admit it, but when I was 16 my favorite music was Sophisti-Pop.
• But then one soundtrack that changed it all for me, turning what was an INXS obsession into a long love affair with Iggy Pop. That soundtrack would be Dogs In Space.
• Eddie Bond sings 10 songs about "Walking Tall" sheriff Buford Pusser. Ha! I said "Pusser".
• Meanwhile, the Mighty Sparrow sings "Jack Palance" (and not the other way around).
• Check out the crazed sounds from Montreal's wildest DJ, Matante Frak.
• Chill out to the minimal drone of NYC's own The Theater of Eternal Music (John Cale's mid-1960s group).
• While you're in the mood, how about some works from 60s electronic composer Ilhan Mimaroglu.

Video finds:

• Samantha Fox, "Hurt Me Hurt Me But the Pants Stay On". No comment.
• Barbi Benton sings, on a very special episode of McCloud.
• Billy Squire, "Rock Me Tonight". He tore his shirt, he rocks so hard!
• The worst version of "The Final Countdown" ever...and that's saying something. Thanks to Brian Turner for this one. And thanks to Martin Parodi, here's another horrible version: "The Final Chountdown".
• Tiny Tim really emotes in his version of "Earth Angel"

And we leave you with a public service announcement.

Comments

[Holland Oats]

not to mention having fred travelena as mc!

[WmMBerger]

"Gangsta rap's most terrifying album cover." - Before I clicked, I just KNEW that it was going to be that Geto Boys album!

"(John Cage's mid-1960s group)" - Um, you mean Cale, not Cage....

[Brian C.]

Nice Moe Tucker post! I saw it was posted on dinosaurgardens.com by a cat named "Sluggo" and that a Sluggo was also thanked on my copy of Moe's "I Spent a Week there the other night" CD. Is that Ms. Carlton's pal Sluggo? (I mean, how many Sluggo's can there be?)

[Martin Parodi]

I've got some competition for that worst Final Countdown version title:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfNm8tceL8M

[Kim Scarborough]

Brian C.: I'm Dinosaur Gardens Sluggo, and I'm afraid I'm not the Sluggo thanked by Mo on "I Spent a Week There...". I wish I were! I've always wanted to meet Ms. Tucker. The only album I've ever been thanked on is Seksu Roba's self-titled LP/CD.

Clinton: Thanks for the link!

[ResidentClinton]

Whoops. Fixed my Cale/Cage mistake, and I added that other version of Final Countdown. Though I think the first one still wins. And I added a bit about Fred Travelena because his official website is just amazing (click on his name in the post).

[Mark]

The horror music link made me suddenly crave the theme to Prom Night (starring Jamie Lee Curtis), but I can't find it anywhere. Help, Resident Clinton!

[Nicholas]

DEVO shouldn't have to play second potato to Jermaine Jackson.

[Richard]

Mark, with regards to the theme from "Prom Night", does this page what you are looking for?

http://www.canuxploitation.com/download/index.html

[ResidentClinton]

Oooh, nice find, Richard. My favorite on that page is actually the insanely catchy Skullduggery theme. I used to love that movie as a kid, it is completely wacked-out (and, I might add, freaking terrible).

[Mark]

Ooh, so close. I'm actually thinking of the other song in that film, with lyrics that go like "Prom night, everything is alright, 'cause it's (repeat)" Thanks!

[newkon]

I've got some competition for that worst Final Countdown version title:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfNm8tceL8M