Cool and Strange Thrift Store Compilation (MP3s)

[ Find 31 cool and strange MP3s after the jump. ]

I can't take much credit for today's offering, it is the amazing Cool and Strange Music Magazine's Thrift Store Compilation by Otis Fodder and Dana Countryman, who also supplied liner notes and eye candy. Thanks to both of them! Let's give it over to Dana, and please find all the music, cover scans, and further information after the jump.

From the years 1996-2003 I published a magazine called COOL AND STRANGE MUSIC MAGAZINE. We concentrated on featuring oddball musicians, from over the past 6 decades. A record label approached me with the idea of compiling a CD compilation that would feature obscure artists, doing mostly original songs that (hopefully) would have never been copyrighted.

Otis Fodder hosted a weekly internet radio show at that time, called FRIENDLY PERSUASION, also specializing in unusual and crazy music. We worked up a partnership, where the magazine sponsored the show, with regular advertising in the magazine and on our web page. Otis was the perfect guy to compile this "Thrift Shop Music Compilation" with, so we paired up, to co-produce it. The idea was that it would feature only obscure artists, whose work you might (only) find in your neighborhood thrift store.

We had readers submit their most beloved "strange" records, and Otis and I dutifully sifted through them for gems. Along the way, the original record label dropped the project, and we convinced another label to pick it up. Eventually, THEY dropped the ball, as well, and Otis and I were left holding the ball.

When I decided to sell the magazine in February, 2003, we decided to make the compilation a freebie "Farewell Gift" from me to the subscribers. Over 26,000 people downloaded it back then, and it was permanently taken offline in mid-2003.

Listening to it again brings back happy memories. Many of the records come directly from Otis' or my personal collections, with many others coming from hip subscriber pals (The Underground Culture Vulture, Bill Verkuilen, Jessica Ford Cameron, Dennis Flannigan, Lee Joseph, Rob Crow, Otis Records, Frits Jonker, Barry Saranchuk, and Pea Hix). We decided to leave in the odd "pop or click" from the original vinyl, and even added some needle drops, for authenticity.

After the compilation was taken offline, three selections have been featured on the 365 Days Project:
- I'm Sassy But Classy (Intro/Finale) - Dick Catan and the Losers Combo
- Bay-Hay-Bee-Doll - The Swingers
- I've Found a Hiding Place - The Humbards with the four year old twins, Drusilla and Susanna

I'm really proud of the compilation. A lot of heart and soul went into selecting these particular records.

Hope you enjoy it!

- Dana Countryman
www.danacountryman.com

The MP3s here are brand new rips in higher quality than the original ones, thanks to Otis. Enjoy the music and visuals after the jump.

The following are the original liner notes, with each song title linking to the corresponding MP3. Here is the artwork in high-resolution JPEG: Cover | Insert.

You can also download the whole package with MP3s, cover scans, artwork and liner notes as one big archive (118 MB ZIP file) or if you know how to do it, get it as a BitTorrent. (The torrent link saves WFMU
some bandwidth, and it might even be faster, so use it if you can.)

01 I'm Sassy But Classy (Intro) - Dick Catan and the Losers Combo
(Herman Wolfson)
From the LP "Sassy But Classy"
Ricardo, A-1391/B1392
Taped Live at Cherry's Top O' The Mall in Niles, Ohio
From the collection of The Underground Culture Vulture

"The Swingin' Sicilian" was a title given to Dick by (in his own words) "those great audiences in the Italian Catskill Resort Area and beautiful places like Pine Springs, Pleasant Acres, Jolly House and at Ciro's Top of the Mall, Monaca, PA!" Dick's arranger Herman Wolfson wrote the opener "Sassy but Classy" describing his act. With that star studded musical introduction Dick would break into his act filled with satire of the Jerry Lewis caliber covering everything from politics to ethnic slurs (Dick mentions "nothing malicious of course") and always requesting for adult listening only. Born on Buffalo's West Side (Little Sicily), Dick cut two albums (as far as I know) and even appeared in the Frank Sinatra movie "Lady In Cement". - Otis Fodder

02 The Samisen - Renée Hamaty
(Peggy Malone/Stewart McKean) Alphan Music - ASCAP
From the LP "Renée Sings & Plays Japanese and American Favorites"
Essar Records SRS-6753

I bought this LP after hearing it at a musician friend's home. I begged him to sell it to me, and my life has been much happier since! Ms. Hamaty was an American lounge singer, living and performing in Japan in the '60s. I suspect this record was made around 1969. - Dana Countryman

K. Cleary writes:
I recognized Renée Hamaty's face and name when I saw her on your site. She was the in-house piano player at Nordstrom/Santa Barbara when I worked there in the early 90's. I remember her playing Psych Furs/Cure songs on piano always interesting but I never once heard her sing. She was a very nice woman. As far as I know she's still living there.

03 Bay-Hay-Bee-Doll - The Swingers
(Warren Parker)
From the 45 single: J.C. Penny Co. Records JCP 100 (1966)
From the collection of Bill Verkuilen

This freebee record came with a doll that J.C. Penny sold called the... you guessed it... Bay-Hay-Bee Doll. Notice the fake British accent of the lead singer, and the faintly Carnaby Street Mod horn section. Oddly charming. - Dana Countryman

04 Oops! There Comes a Smile - Jim & Tammy & Their Friends
(Author unknown)
From the LP "Oops! There Comes a Smile"
Singcord Recordings (a division of The Zondervan Corporation), ZLP 948, 1975
From the collection of Otis Fodder

In the mid-1970's to early 1980's Tammy Faye cut 4 albums (to my knowledge) on the Singcord label (including a Christmas LP). Oops is one of my favorites, if one can have a favorite! Susie Moppet the puppet singing (shrieking) songs for the lord. Susie was created by Tammy thinking one day, "why not have a puppet ministry?" So the Bakkers melted the ears off of a shampoo bottle shaped like a pig, glued a blonde wig on it, and Susie Moppet was born. It's also very cool to note that Singcord was quite the kids record label in the 1970's and you can find a slew of Little Marcy records on the label as well.- Otis Fodder

05 Kitten On The Keys - Eddie Osbourne
From the collection of Jessica Ford Cameron

An organ demonstration disc from Baldwin Orga-sonic, probably from around the mid-'60s. - Dana Countryman

06 I Can Fly - Frank Perry and the "Big Action Sound"
(Tom Letchworth)
From the LP "Super Songs by Tom Letchworth"
Chromastar Records CH 1082 ST (©1973)
From the collection of Dana Countryman

This is one of the first "strange" records that I remember collecting. I found it around 1976, and paid 99¢ for it. It is SO bad, that I couldn't bear to toss it out, when I got rid a lot of my records in the late '80s. It is without doubt a Song-Poem record - meaning some poor soul wrote the lyric and paid a "for-hire" agency to set it to music and they recorded it. Not only does it feature a lead singer who sounds straight out of the Lawrence Welk show - the two organs (in stereo!) are particularly cheesy, and the (real) drums have to be some of the worst-mic'ed drums I've ever heard on a record. Best line from the lyric: "Take LSD or alcohol, but love's the highest kite of all!" - Dana Countryman

07 Somewhere My Love - Leonard Simmons
(P. F. Webster/M. Jarre)
From the 45 single: L-Ray Enterprises 7-83928
From the collection of Bill Verkuilen

Apparently a vanity record, I've listened to this many times, and I'm 99% sure that this guy was on the level and wasn't purposely trying to sing strangely. Scary, huh? - Dana Countryman

08 The Slave - Buck Ritchie
(Buck Ritchie) R.J. Wooten Music Co., BMI
General Recording Company #111
From the collection of Dennis Flannigan

This is a Vietnam-era, anti pot-smoking, anti-hippie rant. Ol' Buck was probably a card-carrying member of the NRA - I just have a hunch. Do you think this was put out as a "tough-love" tactic to scare young kids from dropping out and doping up? I'm just imagining stoned teenagers laughing their asses off, listening to this 45. - Dana Countryman

09 Ping Pong - George Fishoff Complex
(Author unknown)
From the collection of Lee Joseph

One of the more polished records featured here (Hey! Real violins!) Lee Joseph's comment: "Man, I'd LOVE to see what that girl on the record LOOKED like!" Damn - she DOES sound hot... - Dana Countryman

10 Diary of an Unborn Child - Lil' Markie
(Rick & Rosemary Wilhelm) no publishing info
From the LP "Lil' Markie Volume 1"
Mark Fox Family Ministries
From the collection of Rob Crow
Mastered by Pea Hicks

Lil' Markie sounds like an even stranger male version of Little Marcy. His Christian records almost always deliver some very moralistic messages, such as this - his anti-abortion recording. There's something about the misguided song "Why Did You Kill Me, Mommy?" (this was meant for CHILDREN??) that makes me unusually happy in a weird way... I should be creeped out, but instead I just want to meet Lil' Markie and shake his hand. - Dana Countryman

11 Happy Happy Christians - The Click Kids
(Author unknown)
No label CLS001
From the LP "The Click Kids Are Comin'"
From the collection of Otis Records

The Click Kids were a traveling band of four teenage brothers from Oregon, who toured churches on a regular basis. This delightfully amateurish performance has sparks of real talent, but those moments are clouded under the sounds of poor drumming, badly-played harmonica and voice-cracking teen lead vocals. Utterly charming. - Dana Countryman

12 The Happy Plastics Family - Norman Paris Quintet & Orchestra with the David Carter Singers
(Michael Brown)
From THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CHEMISTRY (45 ep)
Sunbeam Music Corp. BMI
No Record Label R4LM 4826
From the collection of Dana Countryman

A rare 7" industrial recording for the Du Pont Company, featuring a sort of propaganda-style message about how great plastics are. Very short, but sweet. - Dana Countryman

13 How To Make a Tape Recorder - Peter L. Batsin
(Author unknown)
From the collection of Frits Jonker

Stefan Tellekamp writes:
This record in English translation is called "playing with sound" and it was released for the celebration of 25 years (1951-1976) of amateur sound-registration in the Netherlands. Peter Batsin was a 'known' Dutch radio amateur who recorded all kind of sounds in parks and on the street. It is very hard to find any further information on this man.

14 It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Syphilis - The Four Skins
(Author unknown)
Parody of "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas)
From the LP "The Four Skins"
(No Record Company) 70652B
From the collection of Dana Countryman
Sound restoration by Graham Newton

I found this sleeveless LP in a thrift shop, unpriced. After I had the owner play a cut or two, I knew I had to have it. He was hesitant in selling it, but I begged him and here you go. I'm pretty sure this recording is from around 1964, and was done by a group of medical students. I imagine they performed at college assemblies and felt compelled to make this recording to sell on campus. - Dana Countryman

15 Cheeseday In Monroe - Rudy Burkhalter
(Burkhalter)
From the 45 single: Sounds of Wisconsin J- 6774
From the collection of Bill Verkuilen

Cheese Days are still held in Monroe, Wisconsin every two years, as it has for the last 94 years. NOT to be confused with the Cheese Days in Monroe, New York! - Dana Countryman

16 It's a Lie, It's a Fake - Sam Sachs
(Engvick/Fogarty) Edwin B. Marks Music BMI
From the LP "Sing it Again, Sam!"
Arliss Record Corporation LP 3301
From the collection of Dana Countryman

The Sam Sachs album that this came from was obviously created to cash in on the Mrs. Miller craze. And Sam wasn't the only older guy shoved into a recording studio - (Atlantic Records put out an album in the same vein by older guy Sam Chalpin, overseen by R&B legend Ahmet Ertegun!!) Of course, Mrs. Miller wasn't tone-deaf like Sam Sachs, and that's what makes listening to very much of Sam a very painful experience. But Otis and I firmly believe that he's *real* and not faking his vocal performance. - Dana Countryman

17 Good News - The Singing MacMurrays with 2-Year Old Brenda and 4-Year Old Brian
(Author unknown)
From the LP "Jesus Is Coming Soon"
No label, Federal Way, WA #30025/26
From the collection of Otis Fodder

Found this record at a Goodwill thrift shop (in Seattle, WA) in the summer of 2000. One of those thrift store days where you find treasure... well if you consider singing children 'treasure'! You know certain records show incredible promise (of the cool and very strange nature) when the children are holding tambourines on a back cover image and the parents have given the youngsters one side of the album to freely express themselves. Play very loud. - Otis Fodder

18 Welcome To My Mind - Duggie Ward
(Douglas Ward)
From the LP "From An Elevated Platform" 1971
Forward Music Productions FS 1001
From the collection of Barry Saranchuk

Duggie Ward was a lounge performer, who wrote his own original songs. The liner notes to this state that "Welcome to My Mind" was largely improvised in the studio. We're not sure if Duggie was on drugs when he recorded this, but it would sure probably help to take some while you listen to this! - Dana Countryman

19 Her Vagina - The Four Skins
(Author unknown) Parody of "Carolina in the Morning"
From the LP "The Four Skins"
(No Record Company) 70652B
From the collection of Dana Countryman
Sound restoration by Graham Newton

Here come The Four Skins again! This parody is just way too funny, not to be on this collection. Only a quartet of medical students could get away with this - especially back in 1964. - Dana Countryman

20 A Cowboy For Jesus - Aunt Bertha Presents Singtime with Tiny Tot Calvin
(Author unknown)
From the LP "Aunt Bertha Presents Singtime"
Diadem Inc., DLP 268
From the collection of Otis Fodder

This record seems to pop up everywhere. For some reason it was national throughout the USA for I first saw a copy in San Francisco at KPFA radio and then a copy popped up at the WFMU record fair. Dana and I both have copies, so if you look for Aunt Bertha you may find her. This album has numerous cuts (at least a dozen) that have children singing just like Tiny Tot Calvin. An album such as this could be used as a torture weapon in future societies and cultures as records of singing children of this caliber can cause obvious madness. Can sanity be with you listening to Tiny Tot Calvin on repeat... in headphones no less? If you come across this album pick it up for you'll also find Rachel and Little Lady Linda (among other screaming... I mean singing children) praising the lord through song. - Otis Fodder

21 Bottlecap Millionaire - Frank Perry and the "Big Action Sound"
(Stormy Gael-G. Vanderberg)
from the 45 single: Action Records AC 1051A
From the collection of Bill Verkuilen

Another song-poem spectacular, courtesy of Frank Perry. Dig that funky wah-wah organ! A really catchy melody - way better than your average song-poem tune. Best line in the lyric: "Others say Dean Martin's a man without a care, I'm real rich in troubles - a Bottlecap Millionaire." - Dana Countryman

22 Let's All Sing Like The Birdies Sing - Mossilene Miles
(Robert Hargreaves, Stanley J. Damerell & Tolchard Evans)
From the LP "Let's All Sing Like The Birdies Sing"
Birdie LP 1001
From the collection of Jessica Ford Cameron

There's something special about hearing a granny like Mossilene sing "Let's All Sing Like The Birdies Sing", and then break into whistling! And she hired top-notch musicians and a good studio. This track even has a real violin string section. Granny had some bucks! - Dana Countryman

23 Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter - Mr. Miller and The Blue Notes
(Peacock)
From the 45 single: Swan Records S4256M
From the collection of Dana Countryman

Now, how about a GRANDPA, singing one of the "songs the kids these days like so much." This 45 is undoubtedly another rip-off of the Mrs. Miller craze, but on this Swan Record release they apparently just found some old doddering fellow and put him in front of a microphone. Not too long ago, a record dealer played this over the phone for me while I was at work, and I just about fell on the floor laughing. Then I bought it, of course... - Dana Countryman

24 Grumblers - The Musical Betts
(Author unknown)
From the LP "The Golden Bells"
Corner Stone Records MB 1005
From the collection of Dana Countryman

I bought this religious album for 10¢ at a used record store. One half of the album was scratched up with "X's" by some evil previous owner, but the side that "Grumblers" was on lives on! Another Grandma and Grandpa record! Other cuts have the Musical Betts playing Christian hymns on water glasses, tuned cowbells, sleigh bells and even a musical saw! One of my most prized possessions. If anyone has the entire (undamaged) album, I'd die for a CD-R copy! - Dana Countryman

25 Intro + Brasil - The Mora Arriaga Family
From the LP "In New York with their Musical Trip Around The World"
KHP Records (King Henry Productions) KHP-876
From the collection of Jessica Ford Cameron

Mexico's Arriaga Family of "a father and 13 of his children" are still around today, playing modern hits and their own brand of pop hits, mostly in their native Mexico. This recording is taken from one of the many conventions they performed at, probably from the 1980's. - Dana Countryman

26 I've Found a Hiding Place - The Humbards with the four year old twins, Drusilla and Susanna
(Author unknown)
From the LP "Come Home, It'sÖ Suppertime"
Vanity Label, Youngstown, Ohio
Musical Credits: Leona Jones and Danny Koker
Recorded in Cleveland, Ohio, Schneider Studio, Spring 1964
From the collection of Otis Fodder

It's hard to express my feelings for this 3 minute thing by singing twins Drusilla and Susanna. I always want to run and find my own hiding place, far away from the grating voices of the twins, but I cannot. The seconds slowly tick by when listening, I rock back and forth unable to shut down all power. Silence why have you forsake me?!?! Only clocking in at 3 minutes, I refuse to accept this as time obviously doubles to 6 minutes when exposed to the twins. The rest of the album is a bore, but Good God could we stand any more?!? Of course the answer is yes, and I don't need to know why. - Otis Fodder

27 In The Kitchen - The Normal Majority
(Jimmy Clark Jenkins)
From the 45 single: Annex Records ANX-001B
Label says "From the forthcoming LP "Inspirational Music For Women" © 1981
From the collection of Bill Verkuilen

Welcome to a record SO politically incorrect that even the most conservative of people can enjoy it! The Normal Majority seem to long for simpler times, and for the more subservient wives of yesterday, but singing about it was probably as close as they ever got to it! Incredibly sexist and dated now, here's a song that today's woman can openly snicker at. (And thank God that THEIR husbands don't talk like this...) - Dana Countryman

28 I Left My Heart In San Francisco - Pancho the Parrot Sings!
(Douglas Cross/George Cory)
From the 45 single: Mainstreet Productions, Inc., (C) (P) 1981, MPI-5270-1
Published by For The Birds Music, ASCAP
From the collection of Pea Hicks

Pancho was a featured "artist" at the San Diego Zoo and had a repertoire of several songs that his owner had trained him to sing. Someone (thank you!) had the brilliant idea to record a full orchestra and vocal group behind Pancho's carefully edited singing, and they created this wonderfully odd record. You can't listen to this and NOT smile...! - Dana Countryman

29 Welcome From Holiday City - The Holiday City Hotcha Kitchen Band
(Author unknown)
From the LP "Hey Look Us Over"
Jotone Records JTS 6801
From the collection of Jessica Ford Cameron

Holiday City is a retirement community in Florida, and the musical director there worked with a large group of older women to put together an entire album of songs they liked to sing. Kazoo's are a featured instrument, along with homemade percussion instruments. - Dana Countryman

30 Stardust - Jackie Vernon
(Carmichael/Parrish)
From the LP: "A Night In New York with Vic Damone and Jackie Vernon"
Ethicon TB-190
Recorded live at a Nurse's convention,
New York Hilton Hotel, Feb. 9th, 1965
From the collection of Dana Countryman

Jackie Vernon was a staple of nightclubs in the New York area, and regularly appeared on variety shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Joey Bishop Show. This track features his trumpet playing, which is totally out of this world and quite wonderful. - Dana Countryman

31 I'm Sassy But Classy (finale) - Dick Catan and the Losers Combo
(Herman Wolfson)
From the LP "Sassy But Classy"
Ricardo, A-1391/B1392
Taped Live at Cherry's Top O' The Mall in Niles, Ohio
From the collection of The Underground Culture Vulture

Dick Catan takes us out with more of his polyester charm!

Comments

[Spyder]

I just picked up a copy of David and the Four Skins "Heatwave/Sweet Elaina" on Breakaway Records. Anyone interested? I live in Indiana and have never heard of "The Four Skins" from above. Where were they from in Indiana?

[Erica]

I had downloaded most of these songs from your website years ago and they are as familiar to me as Beatles songs at this point. There are no words to encompass the gratitude I have to you for introducing them to me. I have no idea where I would be without Cheese Day in Monroe.

Thanks from saving these treasures from the bowels of oblivion!

[John Baker]

Spyder, David and th Four Skins were from Davis, CA, my hometown.

[Thom Campion]

I'm no newbie to these sort of things, but the zip download of the whole thing will not properly unzip for me, and the torrent won't download at all. Can someone provide some sort of update that will allow me to download this collection? I'm very keen on hearing it. Thanks!

[Thom Campion]

Success! Please ignore my previous request & thanks for the upload!