Remember Divine's cheesy dance floor songs recorded in the 80s? When I used to work at Wax Trax records back in Denver, I would spend hours by myself manning the counter in the all vinyl store (ah, bygone days) and invariably I would find myself listening to one of our huge collection of Divine singles. They were irresistible, not just because they were mostly picture discs, but because I used to love dancing around the store shelving records to Divine's impressively hostile delivery. Never has the dance floor felt so fun and so frightening at the same time.
Speaking of Baltimore legends, here's a vintage local news clip about the Go-Go's drummer Gina Schock. Not only is she a Charm City native, but she got her start in music thanks another John Waters' favorite, Edith Massey. I never knew that Gina had such a beautiful Baltimore accent, nor that her parents were so lovably dorky. (via YouTube, where it was posted by the segment's original producer)
More musical video finds including Boney M, Rachel Sweet, Jean Claude Van Damme, and the International House of Pancakes after the jump.
Die Doraus und Die Marinas was the brainchild of 16 year old Andreas Dorau, who cranked out the truly lovable and loopy single "Fred Vom Jupiter", one of Mute records founder Daniel Miller's favorite records.
Speaking of New Wave, here's a big hit from the era whose official video wasn't that great, so this YouTube user made his own.
Talented teen singing star Rachel Sweet went on to host her own TV series "The Sweet Life" on the Comedy Channel in 1989. Here's a couple of samples from the show, and watch for a cameo from a now Comedy Central superstar whose humble beginnings included being a writer on Rachel's show. I leave it up to you if Rachel is actually funny, or just really cute and amicable.
Two nights in Bangkok: one by the original vocalist and Chess star Murray Head (brother of Anthony Stewart Head, aka Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), the other by Canadian pop singer Robey (who gained more cult fame as co-star of the TV series Friday the 13th).
In the middle of 70s bikersploitation flick The Black Angels comes a lovely moment of folky wisdom, "Cigarettes", as sung by character actor Smokey Roberds (also a member of sunshine pop pioneers, The Parade).
Jean-Claude Van DANCE! Only a Kickboxer has these kind of smooth moves.
Musicians beware - you are about to be replaced by robots. Meet The Trons.
Euro-Disco legends Boney M's string of nonsense hits pettered out around the mid 80s, but not before they cranked out one classic music video, "Happy Song", featuring Bobby Farrel and The School Rebels.
WEWS TV had perhaps the swingingest promos of all, even in the news anchors didn't quite have same hip vibe. Via the incredible TV Ark on-line television museum, which will send you down a day-long black hole of vintage TV awesomeness.
Lawrence Welk reefers to "One Toke Over the Line" as a modern spiritual. "Reefers"! Get it?
If you haven't seen comic genius Reggie Watts in action, get thee to his next show because his freestyle comedy beatbox skillz are a sight to behold. For instance, here he is performing "Fuck Shit Stack". Yeah, this dirty language is NSWF:
And finally, there's nothing like having a friend get naked and play with your organ.
Jesus, I am in obscure awesomeness overload. I thought I'd uncovered the Grail when I discovered Divine's Vaselines cover a couple of months ago; what a joy it was to land the 12" in time for my last DJ gig. Now I need to do the same for Plastic Bertrand!
Posted by: Mic Hell | July 03, 2008 at 04:31 PM
You must be one of the few ex-Denver Wax Trax-ers not at the two Fluid shows, sorry....
Posted by: fred | July 03, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Rachel Sweet doesn't seem to be that funny, aside from in a really tinder-dry way; she is alarmingly cute though.
Posted by: drinks-after-worker | July 04, 2008 at 01:18 AM
"Let's go ta Fells Point!"
Gina, will you marry me?
Posted by: Goyim in the AM | July 04, 2008 at 09:26 AM
"Let's go ta Fells Point!"
Gina, will you marry me?
Posted by: Goyim in the AM | July 04, 2008 at 09:29 AM
Frank Zappa was from Baltimore too.
Posted by: Fatherflot | July 07, 2008 at 11:36 AM
"One Toke Over the Line" is KEELING me right now.
Posted by: Becky | July 09, 2008 at 11:16 AM