Art: Jeffrey Schrier [detail]
Tony Coulter here, with a modest collection of oddballness for your eyeballs and earballs.
And now: tee up!
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Gordon Harkness: The Singer (Hyde Park Records, 197?) LP
Let's start with an LP from a Los Angeles lounge singer and Mormon, who has an unexpected fondness for noise -- and at least one truly extraordinary jacket.
The Mormon Luigi Russolo:
Gordon Harkness: Beautiful Noise
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Sharron & Gale: Sharron & Gale (Denver Sound Studios, 197?) LP
Consider next the Denver duo Sharron & Gale, who, like Mr. Harkness above, were denizens of the '70s lounge circuit. On most of the lounge LPs I've heard, the most interesting tracks are the self-penned ones hidden amongst the covers, and such is the case here. I've chosen for you Gale's tune "My Song," which, as she points out repeatedly, was not written for you.
Linda "Gale" Holloway: Sharron Brandrup:
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Wayne Meusey: An Evening at Beulah's (Seaview Records, 1972?) LP
Next up is an LP by a blind lounge singer and organist, recorded at the On the Rocks Room of Beulah's Sea View Inn in Yachats, Oregon. The number I've chosen is a charming and touching song written for Meusey's venerable German Shepherd guide dog, Matthew (1957-1972).
Wayne and Matthew:
Wayne Meusey: Matthew, My Guide Dog
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The Twosome: Best Wishes (Artist's Recording, 1976) LP
The Dayton, OH duo of Jacque Morgan & Fred Lawrence -- aka The Twosome -- sound as if their roots too lay in lounges, but on this 1976 LP they strike out as full-fledged songwriters and offer up nothing but originals. Most significantly, the album houses that rarest of flowers: a lounge-psych folk song, which can be heard below.
The Threesome:
The Twosome: Black Winged Horse
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Los Millonarios: Love Story (Discos Fuentes/Miami Records, 197?) LP
Shifting from the lounges of North America to sunny Colombia, we hear now a cover of the quiet Beatle's "Something." I should mention that I particularly enjoy the drumming.
Love, Love, Love:
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Joe Bravo: Please Call Me Baby (Certron International, 1970) LP
Continuing with the latin theme, we turn next to a Tex-Mex performer named Joe Bravo, some of whose recordings are apparently sought out by funkmeisters. Such is probably not the case with the song below.
The flower adults:
Joe Bravo: Please Call Me Baby
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Anam Munar: El Aplauso (Century Records, 196?) LP
Also Latin -- most likely a Puerto Rican from New York -- is the lovely Anam Munar, who has at least two recordings to her credit. The band leader and arranger for this album is one Alfredo Munar, who I'm guessing is her father. Would I sound like a pervert if I said I was fascinated by Ms. Munar's eyebrows?
Do the homework:
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Rays of Sunshine: The Brick (no label, 1977) LP
And now I present you with the oddest religious album I have ever come across: a musical about saving people's souls by hitting them with bricks. And dig that crazy synthesizer! By the way, the group was based in Fall River, MA, and has at least two other albums to their credit.
The back-masked brick:
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Sykes Memorial 6th Grade Band: Spring Concert, May 26, 1977 (Nutmeg Sound Studio, 1977) LP
What can I say but, I love wobbly out-of-tune instruments and spastic percussion. This may be the mark of a degenerate musical sensibility, but it's true. Also, by the way, that magic-markered cover says "Sykes," not "Dykes." And the tykes were from Connecticut.
Yikes:
Sykes Memorial 6th Grade Band: Nails
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Believers: Gospel Ship (Susquehanna Sound Productions, 197?) LP
Now here's an album which looks like it should be atrocious, but that is actually pretty good. The track I've given you is, in fact, quite wonderful, and, with its odd, dissonant, and stretched-out harmonies, would fit in nicely with any higher-key folk psych tune you'd care to name. These Believers, who would appear to be a family group, were from Chincoteague, VA.
Getting bent:
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Tim Mills: Clown Music (Rite Record Productions, 1973?) LP
Let's finish up the musical portion of this week's proceedings with one of the most depressive albums I've ever heard. Though his music seems rooted in shown tune/piano bar stylings, this Indianapolis piano man favors really sour harmonies and rather desperate vocalizing. Despite its off-key awkwardness, the piece I've chosen seems weirdly imposing, and more than a little unsettling.
Mr. Enthusiasm:
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And now it's time for some pictures, gathered from hither and yon:
Art: John
******
Art: ??
*****
Art: ??
*****
Barclay Allen's Rhythm Four: Intimate Music (Electrone Record Co., 195?) LP
*****
Kenneth C. Kittinger, Ph.D.: News: A Discovery of The Mind Presented to the World (International University Trust, 196?) LP
*****
Erika Kempe-Wiegand: Der Trotzkopf (Europa, 1971) LP
*****
Robert Malaga: Ikaw Ang Buhay (Villar Records, 1977?) LP
*****
Frl. Menke: Frl. Menke (Polydor, 1982) LP
*****
Laura & Rollie: Goldman Hits 40 (no label, 198?) LP
Photo: Marilyn Goldman
*****
Bittersweet: A Feeling You Can't Hide (Serenity Records, 1977) LP
Art: ??
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That's it for this time -- see you in two weeks.
WOW. Please - somehow - post that whole Tim Mills album!
Posted by: Newdeli.wordpress.com | September 16, 2010 at 02:24 PM
Gospel Ship?
Posted by: Johnny Drongo | September 16, 2010 at 03:42 PM
Very entertaining, thanks Tony.
Posted by: boil | September 16, 2010 at 03:57 PM
@Drongo: Arguably better than "Gospel Surface to Air Missile".
Posted by: K. | September 16, 2010 at 04:47 PM
That Sykes Memorial Band track would make good bumper music, or perhaps a show theme on FMU-- somebody should record a cart with it (do they still use carts in radio anymore?)
Posted by: illlich | September 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Brilliantly hideous album covers!
Also, enjoyed your set on Dr. Zomb's show last night.
Posted by: DJ ManRich | September 17, 2010 at 12:17 PM
"Homework" = wow! Is the whole album that bonkers?
Posted by: MrFab | September 17, 2010 at 03:02 PM
MrFab: "Homework" is my favorite cut, but there are other gems on there. DJ ManRich: Glad you enjoyed the KBOO set!
Posted by: Tony Coulter | September 17, 2010 at 05:02 PM
Some comments:
Sharron and Gale: Shouldn't that be "Our Song"?
"The Brick": So that's what that whole stoning thing is about, showing God's love, not a form of punishment!
"The Gospel Ship": I guess a surface to air missile has that much more impact than a brick.
"Do the Homework": I thought maybe it was supposed to be a new dance craze: "Get out your pen and paper everybody, it's time to do the homework! You take 2+2, it gives you 4, take 3+3 and add some more . . . " It's probably on a Sesame Street LP.
fun stuff!
endwar
Posted by: endwar | September 17, 2010 at 06:35 PM
Ich verliebe mich die Mencke! Und die schoene Anar auch.
Posted by: Dddjjj666 | September 18, 2010 at 02:10 AM
Tony Coulter on KBOO? Tell me more - what show, when again, how do we learn about upcoming shows, is it archived?
Posted by: Kay | September 19, 2010 at 09:15 AM
Kay: I was on Dr. Zomb's Stereo Obscura for a hour, as a guest (thanks Dr. Zomb!) -- not sure when/if I'll be on again. There's no archive, unfortunately (KBOO doesn't archive music shows). Haven't yet worked out a way to announce upcoming shows, should there be any. Thanks for asking, though!
Posted by: Tony Coulter | September 19, 2010 at 12:06 PM
Update: Thanks to a super-kind KBOO listener, the show Tom Jones and I did at KBOO two weeks ago is now available here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9FAW3ZNA
Posted by: Tony Coulter | October 01, 2010 at 02:23 PM