The Cannibals - "Christmas Rock 'N 'Roll" (HIT, 1986) / "Good Guys" (Big Cock Records, 1977) / "Nadine EP" (HIT, 1978)

Hi again. I really struggle to keep things going on in here too. You really have no idea what it's happening in this small place of the world called Greece, onetime cradle of civilization... But i don't want and i won't let those bastards grind us down as my beloved Motorhead used to say! You know, with two little fellas 'round the house it's kinda easier to get in the mood for Christmas and that's what I'm going to do!  I tried with my faithful partner in crime/buddy from a long distance, Jean Philippe to catch up the holidays with a brand new WAX CD but too much work for both of us... Maybe it's better this way, cause with a new year rising on our heads and some new hopes together, hopefully we will be ready to introduce our new essay along with the celebration of this blog's existence for two years now and stalking/heading for a third, in the same vein, with the same guts and the same rock & roll energy! I had prepared something else for the occasion but I'll save it for a little later cause some hours before, came to my mail this Christmas present for all you White Trash Soul-sters out there! Of course the reliable mind behind these rips is Jean Philippe and i like to thank him one more time in public for being a patient fellow traveler and a very good friend behind a computer screen. Yeah, they do exist such friendships! I'd like to thank you one more all you guys and gals for keeping our flame alive with your (daily?) presence, leaving comments, sharing thoughts and sometimes links but most of all your love. Jean Philippe and me want to express our gratitude for making this page a cool meeting place and we're giving a new rendez-vous for the next year. Have fun with your families, your friends and all the persons that making your lives worthy, throw parties, make sex, drink loads of booze and enjoy every minute of the holidays are coming. For the history these are three mighty ass rock & roll singles from the gang of Mike Spenser, the one's on the days spirit. Run Run Rudolph!
See ya next year!

Ear-checkin'...

I'm already late on this (a huge sorry to the guys and gals of the bands)and it also ended up boring as hell by saying constantly the 'I had no time at all this period' cliche, but unfortunately it's the truth and nothing but the truth...
And you know something, when along with my best friends we were printing our fanzine, the usual 'pain in the ass' situation was the reviews section. I mean, if you respect what you are doing (and you have to remember always that you're not a critic or a proficient on this, but just a fan) you own first to yourself and then all the others, to tell your opinion exactly as it is. And that thing alone was making many bands sad or angry, cause they thought  they had by you a 'bad review'. Bollocks! Due to this, MANY times refused in the near past to get and introduce stuff by current bands, having the aforementioned fear in my mind. I did a small exception with the following groups cause 1. they gave me their personal OK to write freely what i feel and 2. from the first hearing i was OK too, cause at least i liked what I've heard!
The One and Nines are a cool soul/pop combo from the New Jersey. And when i say cool, i mean it. Don't be afraid of the 'pop' word just mentioned. Their popular sensibilities had more in common with the 60s gal groups we all know here, than in what most people refers to by using the term. There's a Ronettes touch trough-out their melodies but where in the Ronnie's gals were the Wrecking Crew as a back-up, imagine here the Hi! records house band. Yep, a great southern soul powder comes to sweeten your bad day at work from the first sec the needle or the laser would touch the preferable disc. BTW, their new single (yes we're talking about a 45 rpm single, not a CD...) recorded analogically and mastered deep down in Memphis by no other than Scott Bomar (The Bo-Keys, Impala)! Give a first listen here and then order directly from the band's site.
Different sounds for the next band and if you like the Dwarves, then you're in! The Depravos De La Mour had all the 'sickness' of the dudes mentioned in the first line plus! Garage-y, lo-fi, filthy and funny. They reminded me from the first push on the play button, something in the likes of a thirty & dirty Hasil Adkins, having as a back up band, the Pagans with tons of 'strange' things consumed in large amounts. I really dig the hand made cut and paste sticker that tried to hide the previous or maybe the wrong typed name (Retardos De La Mour). Punk rock in the real sense. I'm not sure how often I'm gonna put his fucker on the machine for a repeat but if i had the chance to catch 'em live, i would have done it regularly and without second thoughts. Try find the guys here.

Charlie & The Wide Boys - "EP" (Anchor, 1974)

A hugely underrated good ol' time rock & roll band, by the pioneers of the British pub rock movement and deeply rooted in the dipole of the Stones and the Faces tradition, formed in 1973 and quite quickly sacked from the face of the earth. "Never known to stray beyond three or four chords, like Dr. Feelgood, were hip to the beat group look when it mattered". Skinny ties, tight trousers and a bunch of good songs were a lot though for this little space on the net to point out to you the importance of Charlie & the Wide Boys. That's the only release those boys had during their lifetime (an album appeared in the shops two years after group's demise) and it's a damn fine piece of vinyl. An undiscovered by many gem that absolutely defining the term 'guitar based rock  & roll'!

The Cannibals - "The Rest of The Cannibals" (GMG, 1985)

Oi! What's up? I'm writing you these lines outta home for business, from a low limit access wi-fi connection of a semi-good hotel, here in Thessaloniki. Not much time for babble and not in a good cheer either. So, what we got here's maybe thee best 'album' of Mike Spenser's Cannibals. Or for better, the logical next step for someone looking for an expedient for the first Count Bishops line up. I wish Mike had done more with the Bishops but hey, that's a mighty fine kick ass rock & roll record too! The punkish R&B we all like here, with a more 60s garage approach on this. And that means sloppy fun playing by the band and its countless members, tons of beer cans (of course empty!) and disposal for savageness! Something like the Inmates in a possessed Motorhead state! 'The Rest of the Cannibals' is a compilation, probably never re-released on digital format with all the groups singles circa 1977 - 1979, "Good Guys" included (yep - the Standells classic), which is their first and John Peel's favorite. Cheers!
*A Jean-Philippe rip and offering

The Sorrows - "Take A Heart" (Piccadilly, 1965)

Hi there! I'm pushing myself too hard the last weeks on many things and i feel kinda tired. We are working along with Jean Philippe for many days now on a new WAX CD also and as you can easily imagine there's hardly no time for anything else. Likewise, i don't want to lose touch with you guys and gals and even if I'm not in a good mental shape, i thought to devote some lines on a very underestimated band of the British sixties boom that more or less the previous post taught me about through their cover versions. Of course we 're talking about the Sorrows. The archetypical 'freakbeat' group and in a way proto-punk was as many said not that R&B oriented as the Pretties or the Downliners, but for sure that hard! That's their first on Piccadilly, a subsidiary of PYE and it's the aggressiveness in personage! Raucous vocals, thundering drums, lightning guitars for a band that obviously was too much ahead of its time! Call me paranoid, call me sulfurous, call me what you will anyway, but the Sorrows 'Take A Heart' was (and still is!) way better than say Who's 'My Generation'! A little later they turned out as psychedelic kinda Dylan-esque outgrowths or Italian speaking pre-progsters, but we forgive them. There are not much long plays from that period of time with an edge like theirs!

Little Bob Story - "Livin' In The Fast Lane + 6 Inédits" (Fnac Music,1991 - Originally by Crypto & Chiswick as "Off The Rails", 1977)

Well this rave up here got virtually everything i like on a rock & roll record! Tanked-up, leather dressed, sneakers carrying, dirty-ass R&B, the way played THAT GOOD in his half a century plus life, by (very) few and in the end was the true forefather of what is now known as 'punk movement' back in the 70s. And this record being made by a "five feet nothing of guts and energy" Frenchman along with some street harbor brats not unlike those you can see outside of bordelos. And it was produced (adding by side his filthy boogie guitar as well) by Sean Tyla of the Ducks Deluxe/Tyla Gang notoriety. Yes, the same Sean Tyla whom Keef tried to drag unsuccesfully for his Rolling Stones label. The same Sean Tyla who refused to produce the Sex Pistols and declined to join in Motorhead (!).
And if you're one of those maniacs (I am...) judging in many cases a record by the label's logo, this one wears proudly the one of Chiswick records, home at the time of same heights hellraisers such as Motorhead and the Count Bishops. BTW, on Chiswick released as "Off the Rails" but in France Crypto put it out as "Living in the Fast Lane" so if you ever come against it, it's the same blazing piece of vinyl. That's the digital reissue of it, using a part of "Off the Rails" front sleeve but the Crypto's title. I found it a few months ago (not many days after Ratb0y sent me the links of Spalax reissue) in a second hand store, so i guess by now this re-edition is an out of print situation too. Whatever, this is probably in my top 5 of the most played records ever and with a good reason. A fine blend (or mess!) of cover tunes and originals, in the punkish R&B vein of Dr. feelgood, only this time better! The Sorrows' "Baby" transformed actually in a Muddy Waters on speed shape, "Little Big Boss" the toon Wilko & Lee Brilleaux would have killed for, "Riot in Toulouse" a slow burner blues guitar mayhem with Little Bob's voice sounding just like late Bon Scott's plus A KILLER version of Them's "I'm Gonna Dress in Black" that puts original in the bucket's tap once and for good! There's really not a weak song in here, at least for the list that constitute the original pressing. Be sure to put this edgy fireball among "Down by the Jetty" and "Speedball +11".

Various Artists - "Songs DMZ Taught Us - 28 Beat & Proto-Punk Originals To Scare The Shit Out Of Your Local Mohawk Caricatures!" (WAX CD 003)

Welcome to our 3^rd installment on what this space regards as ‘heroes’, leavin’ out almost always what the large crowd might thought or not on what is ‘rock & roll’! WAX CDs are here at WTS HQ, a rejuvenescent breath and each time me and Jean Philippe exchange ideas, rip records and design the covers of a ‘new release’,  we’re in a “speed’ situation! And DMZ were/are for both of us a legendary outfit. Of the few in their era that wore proudly the then unknown roots of punk with the Sonics, the Wailers or the Troggs. A band that pre-dated Lyres and the whole 80s garage revival movement (or trend) by far! No paisley shit, no mop top pretentiousness, just raw undisputed energy deeply sourced to every Kennedy era US town daddy's garage and teen faces full of acme and raunchiness!

We knew that in 2011 most of these songs if not all, are well known but there’s always a new field to seed your weeds right? This time most of the tracks ripped by Jean Philippe and with a good reason. He transferred most of the songs here from vinyl records instead of CDs (I was about to do the opposite, i know... I'm a lazy bastard!) and gave our label the marking we declare! WAX from waxed godammit! Our pattern was every single DMZ release through the years plus a new Munster release of a Lyres line up represented by the 4/5 of DMZ. So, as our title proudly pronounce, what you get is "28 Proto-punk & Beat" rave-ups, by the original artists (in some cases not) "to scare the shit out of your local punk caricatures"! And believe me, these blasts they'll do it snugly! So long.
*No bootlegging on WTS - WAX CDs. This is ONLY for Soul Self Satisfaction and/or educational purposes. Share and dance freely!

Frankie Miller - "Once In A Blue Moon" (Chrysalis, 1972 - Reissued by Eagle, 2003)

My white trash soul fixation had started a loooong time ago, when i was in my teens when dudes like Rod Stewart and Steve Marriott both came first to picture as Sam Cooke's Caucasian ghosts/reincarnations. Through the pass of the ages and MANY records after (should i say thousands?), the large amount of respect on the two aforementioned lads is still there, but thank God I found some more on this hunt for trying find the'best' of them all. OK, I know it's a stupid thing (at least) all this madness - cause such thing quite simply doesn't exist, but as i said that's an adhesion of my mind and i can't do really much to stop it. An also fellow traveler on the blog-sphere, Mr. Ratb0y, posted some days ago some things by a great Swedish band who liked their wine cheap and their women nasty. But who doesn't right?!  Well, these Diamond Dogs guys are truly fantastic and i had the chance some years ago when along with my buddies we were printing a real magazine 'bout things we like (some might call it fanzine), to interview their singer Sulo. I can't remember if this chat finally made it, cause not long after we blew the whole thing but for sure this fine chap taught me a lesson. Actually wasn't just a lesson but a whole new chapter in the rock & roll history for me, the way i like rock & roll histories to be told or written. And he poked me to go find all the records by a Scottish long forgotten and whiskey soaked voiced pal, who's name is Frankie Miller. And i did it. And i found out that was more (as always) in this passion of mine to discover. And i tell you guys and gals, if you don't already come face to face with his records, well grab this chance I'm giving you now and let the rocks do the roll. This guy holds now (along with Scott Morgan) the scepter on what dazzled you in the first lines of this post.
That's his debut, and the band's backing him from stem to stern is no other that the pub-rockers fabuloso, Brinsley Schwartz! And that's reason enough to make this record yours. Imagine something like a next door Faces, and you're in. Hope this be to you as tasteful was for me, the first time was up against it!

The Mar-Keys/Booker T. & The MG's - "Back To Back" (Atlantic/Stax, 1967)

Hi there! I had an argument (all my life seems to be an argument but i really like it, haha!) the other day 'bout some same old stupid debate, on who's the best guitarist ever walked this earth, blah blah, blah. OK, i have a tremendous respect for Jimi but he was a bit too show-off for me. You know, my negative/reactional nature drove me all these years to go find some 'replacements' as answers to the 'public's opinion' on many things considered as 'classics' or 'untouchables'. So you can't hold all these Eric Claptons, Jeff Becks, Richie Blackmores, Stevie Ray Vaughans and let me preach in the names of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Link Wray and Steve Cropper!
And all this weekend was an enormous trip to what great Steve Cropper did. From Booker T & the MGs to Mar-Keys, and from Blues Brothers to every single southern soul star was choiced to back up as the master six stringer of the Stax/Volt factory. For some strange reason this record wasn't heard more than two times since the day bought it. For some strange reason i listened to it back to back, four times in a row. A live at Paris back in 1967 recording, when the Stax/Volt Revue, was setting up Europe's stages on fire. Really now, this is as hot as it gets, and for sure one of the best and most underestimated live documents ever! The two legendary Memphis outfits, with Steve Cropper of course doing his thing, delivering the most solid groove ever waxed! This is substantially what should be called 'party music'!

The Five Aces - "Shout & Shimmy" (Saagaloo Records, 2007)

Hey, it's Friday. Even if you're not in the mood, Fridays almost always work fine to your cheer, right? And if anyone of you people going to have a party this weekend, make sure not forget to put this thing on. Damn, i still haven't found it on CD (dissapperead from the face of this earth quite quick). All i got is this compressed version but it works just fine til the time this pep pill come finally on my hands. You know, i usually write my own opinion for what i like to present, but Mark Lamarr covered me entirley with the following piece. Wickedly sinister Hammond hard driven and at the same time, suave pre-Soul R&B, to do the boogaloo! File Under: Sharp dressed ass shakin'! Give yourself a spin.

"Imagine the Small Faces meeting the Poets and jamming with Chuck Berry and John Lee Hooker at a late night 60's blues session. THAT is the Five Aces." - Mark Lamarr, BBC Radio

DIG! feauturing Brian Jonestown Massacre & the Dandy Warhols (2004)

Hi there. Not in a good mode the last weeks. I’m sure almost every single one of you guys and gals heard about Greece’s financial troubles and believe me that thing already has a major impact on our lives and pockets making every day living harder. Anyway, I wish I had the strength to kill some of those bastards allegedly governed the country, but I don’t… My only shelter is my family and the music. And I found myself hooking deeply with records haven’t heard in a long time. And I mean in a LONG time. Jesus and Mary Chain, Brian Jonestown Massacre and Dandy Warhols are some notably examples. Druggy, feedback drenched and hypnotic pop vignettes perfectly designed for situations like this (…and more). So, I had on the shelf a DVD that for years was waiting patiently to grab my attention. I can’t remember exactly how this came to my hands, possibly as a present, but whoever was the one that brought it to me deserves my gratitude. Don’t bite of course the hysterical opinions/reviews for the ‘best rock & roll documentary’ ever. But it’s good. Actually it’s very good! The treat here is the love/hate relationship of the bands leaders Courtney Taylor-Taylor and Anton Newcombe with the rest of both crews sharing poison. I read many things for the movie after seeing it and I came to conclusion that this was for sure pretended, but it’s totally entertaining and I guess has many truths hidden in its whole hype. I dig both bands the same. I’m really enjoying their drug fueled creations with maybe a little more sympathy for the side of Brian Jonestown Massacre (what a name!). Many pass up Warhols possibly because of their mainstream acceptance, but a closer listen on their first two albums will change any opinion I believe and enlist ‘em as one of the coolest pop bands of the past years. The pop idol here’s Antony Newcombe and not as many may guess Courtney Taylor – Taylor. A full on (heavy) drugs genius, totally outrageous and wild with a dose of paranoia in fleshed, rules with no opponent around every minute of this documentary. Death threads, on stage fights and sharply born teasings (the bar of soap for the Warhols ‘to clean up their act’ make me smile even this moment), give a more spicy element on the story/rivalry but without falling the trap of having here a kitschy scandal/chit-chat motion picture. Really now, even if you don’t like any of the bands the plot will get you from the start and as long as it lasts you’ll found yourself definitely having a good time watching it! A tragically comical movie of what possibly happens in the rock & roll world. 

Watch DiG! online here: 

Stiv Bators - "L.A. L.A." (Bomp, BCD 4046 - 1994)

I’m a fan of Stiv Bators but as much as I dig Dead Boys and his solo efforts on Bomp, the same way I (almost) despise the Wanderers or the Lords of the New Church. Too much 'Blade-Runner' scenarios on one hand and too much goth on the other....Sorry, but i won't buy. I'm a pure 'dumb' fun kind of guy. I prefer to remember him the way he looked earlier on and not with candles and black painted nails... On Dead Boys was a true nihilistic force an’ answer to Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols and a lil’ later was a Knickerbockers/Choir/Beatles power popper, flourish in style with Vox guitars and tight mods suits!

Many punk fanatics at first disappointed with this turn of Stiv's career, but the only thing he wanted at the time was to get rid the persona of the Dead Boys front man. Personally speaking, i go nuts with this la-la-la songs with loud guitars. And Bomp! was the perfect place for someone who wanted to play that kind of music. This great compilation includes the excellent aforementioned Bomp singles, alternate & demo versions, jam sessions with Kim Fowley and the Runaways plus the stunning version of "I Stand Accused", a song originally by the Glories which because of this guy named Elvis Costello, had to stay in the can until the release of "L.A L.A".  Such fun!

Re-Up! Screamin' Joe Neal - "Rock And Roll Deacon" W/ "Tell Me Pretty Baby" (Originally on Shippings, 1959 - reissued by Norton, 1995)

Bo Diddley - "Bo Diddleyrama Grind Series Vol. I, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut! Thee Originator's Instros" (WAXCD 002)

The original idea belongs to Kogar's Jungle Juice (this blog's cool place to hang out - check my blog roll) and I've posted his version also in the very early days of the blog, but... was obviously something not right with me and this rar file. I decided then to expand the whole brilliant idea, include better sounding rips of the songs and make (along with my faithful partner in crime, Jean Philippe - without whom...) a proper CD jewel case artwork for you out there who want things be done in a more connoisseur way.
I've learned many Bo songs when I was younger by the cover performances of groups like the Tell Tale Hearts or the Crawdaddys at first and in continuance by monsters in the likes of The Pretty Things or the Downliners Sect and I knew till then that I must go find the originals. You can't go to "z" without knowing first all the previous letters of the alphabet, right ( I've learned it in reverse as you might guess...)? So, when I first downloaded Kogars version, I peeved by two things immediately...1st. the absence of many more brilliant tracks and 2nd. why the included songs were in a such a low bitrate? I mean, if the “rights owners” of these blasts are going to hunt you down, give 'em a good reason at least, ha-ha!
I started ripping the tracks, tag them with all the right info for the listeners, place them chronologically and add as many more songs a CD lets today. I still let out sadly some amazing tracks (the two instros from the Bo/Chuck Chess album are the first that come in my mind right this moment) but hey, there's nothing more you can do about it. I stole our series title (yes, hopefully there be more) from a dude I don't know his (nick) name, but I thank him anyway and I encourage him to contact me and get his credit if he ever land to the WTS planet of loon. This is PURE cut and shave chunka chunk Bo, speechless and mighty as ever! If you like what you're about to hear - you own to yourself to go get the records. Cheers! 
*No bootlegging on WTS - WAX CDs. This is ONLY for Soul Self Satisfaction and/or educational purposes. Share and dance freely!

Re-Up! The Stomachmouths singles ("This is... The Stomachmouths" , Sunlight - 1985 & "I'm Going Away", Got To Hurry - 1986)

The Nomads - "16 Forever/Salvation By Damnation" (7" - Amigo, 1987)

Hi there! Nothing's change, I'm still a bored misanthrope in a phase of self searching... This old records safari i was telling you on the previous post, drove me in places i forgot how great they were. But it's kinda strange to be shown in here... i guess... I mean, I'm in a HUGE Monster Magnet re-appreciation and maybe you can't really understand how much JOY I'm receiving listening to the "Spine of God" or "Dopes to Infinity" albums. I'm feeling like this covertly fag marine on 'American Beauty', full of guilt's being in a pleasure by listening to these new hippie freaks! And let's not forget about Tim Warren... I'm sure he's going to write me off of his books as a true punk n' roll fanatic if he ever read this, but hey -  hedonism is hedonism what can you do, right?
A garage punk band I've always loved and respected, Sweden's boast - the Nomads, never being afraid of fans' clamor. They always loved the Sonics and the Stooges as much as they loved the Blue Oyster Cult. My fave record by them (and they are MANY!) it's the Dictators' lost gem "16 Forever". They taught me the song and wasn't in my hands until recently when the good Norton fellas and their official release, gave the chance to stop my holy grail crusade on this. I still like the statement of the song! "You ain't gonna make a grown-up out of me!". Yeah, I've gotta make my wife listen just once to this song with the hope to stop bothering me for why i still like to wear my converse all stars or band t-shirts anywhere and everywhere. '16 forever' babe, sorry! B-side's "Salvation by Damnation" and it's a damn great song too, but had the bad fortune to be gathered along with the teeniest anthem ever!
PS: I'm cheating a lil bit here, cause I'm too lazy to rip the original vinyl single and what i included it's the (slightly different) album version of the song, but hey it's still great even without these 'annoying' scratches!

Oblivians - "Soul Food" (Crypt, 1995 - CR 055)

Hi there! Just got back from my summer vacations and I'm not in the mood for...basically anythin'. I hate come backs. Anyway, the best way to find some strain i guess is to put out of your record collection some long time forgotten gem and recapture its greatness. And that's what i have to offer. Oblivians. Yeah! Amazin' band, true hoodoo voodoo spirited, swamped and rock & roll to the last cell of its DNA. Memphis soaked and even if almost everyone today seem to tag 'em under the 'garage punk' etiquette, this trio has more in common with bands like Tav Falco's Panther Burns or the Cramps than say, the Chesterfield Kings. They used to change instruments in studio and on stage. They used to pay tribute to Ramones by naming themselves with the last name of 'Oblivian' (Jack, Eric and Greg) and they used to make kick ass records! That's their debut . "Soul Food" 's exactly what proudly pronounced. A raw, pre- Elvis swamp blues hip shake of a preacher dabbled in Jim Beam. A sinner's side of view for gospels. Joint a little and see ya back (hopefully) in a couple o' days.

Don Craine's New Downliners Sect - "I Can't Get Away From You / Roses" (PYE, 1967)

I recently put out of the shelf some early Ugly Things issues to check some things on (what else?) the Pretty Things. I was immediately hooked on an excellent three piece homage (maybe the best and the more detailed ever) on the R&B-protopunk savages, the Downliners Sect. I was totally forgot the reason why dusted off those vintage (now...) sheets. BTW, did you know that the Sect turned down both Rod 'the mod' Stewart and Steve Marriott in an audition for the place of the band's new harmonica player? Did you know that Van Morrison still rates them high? Knowing those trivia or not, many have tried all over the years to undermine Sect's importance and influence. Even Greg Shaw... Yes, the man whose alone responsible (in a big part) for all this garage revival movement, in the Bomp's British Invasion issue wrote them off and hounded them! Anyway, this time pick up on a rare, beautiful and kinda strange piece of plastic - at least for all of us who know well Downliners' history and fanaticism for R&B... The story goes like this...By the end of 1966, R&B wasn't the hottest thing around. Pop, Psychedelia and Soul took over the charts, and as a result of this the bands who still wanted to play the blues started to have day by day less gigs bookings. Soon the Sect had to confront this new order. Of the known members only Don Craine (guitar, vocals) and Keith Grant (bass, vocals) stayed in place and a new band created from scratch with the additions of Kevin Flanagan (drums),  Bob Taylor (lead guitar) and...Matthew Fisher (keyboards). Have i ever told you how I HATE Procol Harum? No? Well here's the moment! MUCH! As much as post-Syd Barrett Pink Floyd or any other prog shit. But here the man's just painting with his organ. The influences of soul and psychedelia are obvious on both sides of this single, even though the raw R&B holds up for good here too. The late reissue of the record inverted the original location of the songs ("Roses" metamorphose into A side tune), but the prototype one-off Pye release had the Remains (!) song as covered by the Sect first in line. And that's an oddity. I really wonder how this tune came to Sect's repertoire cause I'm quite sure at the time at least, the Remains was a no familiar name for the British crowd. And "Roses" quite simply one of the very best songs the Downliners Sect wrote and recorded throughout their long lasting career. I'm not going nuts usually for what the mod/garage crowds referred to as "Freakbeat", but this two-sider really stands out as one of the genre's best! If you wanna hear the Sect going heavier, darker and organ driven here's your chance.

Kicks Books Hip-pocket Paperbacks!

Hip-pocket paperbacks are (so!) COOL the same way are 45rpm records! It's the same (sub)culture. When i was younger, many eyebrows raised by fellow "rock & rollers" when i was confessing my praise for books and reading in general. For them, books were for nerds... I gladly found with the passing of time that many admirers of Gene Vincent liked the same way (for example) James Elroy. Through fanzines and especially via Miriam Linna's "Bad Seed", i entered the world of vintage sleazy paperbacks. There was no return till then. I'm sure you all know already that the hip couple of Billy & Miriam entered the world of publishing again, only this time picked up on books and not fanzines. First came Andre Williams "Sweets", then Sun Ra's "This Planet Is Doomed" and now's time for the GREAT Nick Tosches to receive the baton with its "Save the Last Dance for Satan". At the moment I only have (and read) Andre's essay, but those other two mentioned above are on the way to my possession. I'm sure i'm gonna dig 'em and i strongly believe that you'll have to do the same. For many years now rely blindly on Miriam's & Billy's choices, whether that is recorded material whether it is written and i tell you never felt disappointed, not once.
BREAKING NEWS on Kicks Books:  More cool things are in the slips such as Harlan Ellison's classic "Sex Gang" re-print, Kim Fowley's "Tall Cool One" and a book Billy prepares in a long time for his (our) obsession about Fortune label! I just can't wait.
Check & order!

Thee Mighty Caesars - "Caesar's Pleasure" (Big Beat, 1994)

I’m sure I told you this before but I’m never bored to repeat myself in some things. For White Trash Soul  there are only two people who can wore proudly the tag of the true mastermind behind the 80s whole "garage revival" movement/trend: Jeff Connolly and Billy Childish. And as much I complain for the first one for not having much recorded work out in the streets often, I do the same from the opposite for the second! It’s quite impossible to have all recorded output by Billy gathered in your record vault. And to tell you the truth you don’t have to. There are Childish works that’s (obviously) essential and there are those who simply are an unnecessary overproduction (not sonically speaking of course). I mean, I rate the man very high and he’s for sure one of the more influential figures the last 20 years but as a punk rock monolith he is should have probably know better the old punk moto of “Less Is More”, right?
But enough with complaining let’s start on what I’d like to do. I haven’t decide yet if I do it in a row or with spaces, but I want to bring you in touch with some of the best songs and groups Billy got  involved through the years, one way or another. And that means the Pop Rivets, the Milkshakes, the Mighty Caesars, the Headcoat Sect, the Delmonas etc. For sure my favorites are the Caesars and the ‘Shakes. Primitive, raw, cheap recorded rhythm & blues and rock & roll, the way 50s masters taught us. The Mighty Caesars were the punkier approach of these elements. Imagine the Damned of the first record trying play 60s R&B (where's "B" there's BEAT!) with Kinks riffs and you’re in! I’m not on the Mummies’ mind but I bet my Link Wray long plays that the Caesars were if not the basic blueprint of their sound, then one of the most important. The band was born from the ashes of the Milkshakes minus one guitar. This line up hold up for just the debut release and from their second, came to fill the drum stool no other than the ex-Prisoners hipster Graham Day! By the time the two cool chicks (Sarah of the Delmonas an' Fay Hallam of Makin' Time) came to picture, Thee Mighty Caesars were the best yet criminally ignored garage punk outfit around the globe! Make some noise and hail to Caesar!

-image taken from mindrocker.net and the Young Pennsylvanians Weblog-

Re-Up! The Wylde Mammoths EPs ( "Four Wolly Giants", 1986 - Mystery Scene / "Help That Girl", 1987 - Crypt / "Misty Lane EP", 1994 - Misty Lane )

The Crawdaddys - "Crawdaddy Express" (VOXX, 1979)

I know you know already, i have a bad thing going on with most moptops of the so-called 80s garage revival scene, right? OK, i know many of 'em were at least good in what they were doing BUT... I don't like fashion and to me first come the music an' not the outfits, the hair, the glasses and/or the Cuban heels. There was a band then, that started in the late 70s, right in the midst of the "trend" of punk in both sides of the Atlantic ocean, and had the GUTS and the BALLS to play rootsy, filthy bad ass R&B, the way Pretties, Them and Downliners (OK, Stones too) taught us. Hailed from America (San Diego), even though their sound was deeply soaked on those Brits mentioned above. John Peel dug them a LOT, Mike Stax in their favor dumped homeland, flew there, joined in and all the rest's by now to more of you, a well known history (Tell Tale Hearts, Ugly Things Mag etc). Their appropriate look on classic sides by John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Lazy Lester or Chuck Berry were SUPERB and their name of course picked up by the legendary London R&B club where the Stones and the Yardbirds started to make an impact. A punkier/punchier approach on what many pub rock bands played in England (is this punk or what?). Except for a fully influential & satisfying LP, this was VOXX's first number, the child label of Greg Shaw's Bomp!, almost entirely responsible for what good or bad came out from then til now under the term of 'Garage'! Recorded on a friend's of Greg Shaw (what else?) garage for the total production cost of 12$!!! Hear this platter and come tell me back if you still consider the Fuzztones or the Chesterfields as the best...

The Nomads (US) - " From Zero Down" (Crypt LP 006, 1985)

''Here 'tis at long last a full - length long player chock - fulla primitive, raunchy rockin', most of it in its first airing to the public cauz these songs were never released. Mount Airy, North Carolina is a quite southern town - at least it was until 1966, when four teenage outcasts began rockin' up a torrent of sounds to get the world off their backs, swing with chicks, make some dough and most of all, have fun. The Nomads played all summer at roller rinks, Elks lodges, and a whole slew of bars throughout the upper reaches of North Carolina and southern West Virginia. In March, 1966 they recorded a batch of demo songs at the basement Stark studios. These songs make up most of this album. In Summer '66 they re-recorded and released two songs on a 45; "Not For Me" and " How Many Times". No big chart action resulted from this 45, and they held off from recording again until April 1967, with the release of the awesome "Thoughts of a Madman" / "From Zero Down" 45 for Tornado records. The group started to split up in late '67 due to college, Vietnam and jobs. So, we present the full recorded history of one of America's great lost garage punk combos.''
That's a piece from the back of this GRRRRRR-eat record (and one of the first numbers for Crypt). I didn't bought it at the time came out cause i was too young and the only Nomads i knew was the 'modern' garage outfit from Sweden, but when i first got it on my hands i was totally blown away! All of the back sleeve looked like jumped out pages from an early Kicks mag! The photos, the fonts, the way liners being written - the whole set up! And what's inside, some really hot shot teenage punk of the Kennedy era US! No moptops, no paisleys, just underage filth! The funny thing's that Tim Warren always hated the same named Swedish now legends (and here's maybe the only disagreement i ever had with the master, i really like them!).
By coincidence i was trying to clean up mess on my warehouse the other day and came across to this.

 

Hahaha! Tim Warren always knew where the true and good punk rock is! Along with the Squires LP, anything by the Lyres, the two Wylde Mammoths, the Devil Dogs, the Raunch Hands and the Dirtys CD, the absolute peak of the Crypt records raw shit output!

The Excitements - Some Raves on the Hottest Rhythm & Soul act 'round the globe, hands down!!!

Barcelona has the good fortune to swagger proudly that this period have both the best football/soccer team and the best band around! And there are more to these Excitements guys (and gal!) in resemblance with the city's first football squad! Both subject-matters are tight, dance-stomping, funky, hard-edged at times and with tons of SOUL! Forget Sharon Jones and the Daptones, forget Raphael Saadiq (btw, I really can’t see the reason why people are raving about him, but anyway...) and forget in the end any other so-called “new funk-soul” act (yes, even the very sympathetic Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed). And you know, sometimes all these ‘filing’ sites like Facebook or Myspace do something worthy except for ‘connecting people’ (do you really believe this?…). The Excitements came to my attention on the same day and from two different directions. First was Eric Ratb0y asking me about them and secondly their Myspace page. And then WHOA!  Some google search and credit card disburse later, their brand new release (first long play on Penniman – btw great name for a label guys) was about to come in my hands some days later. I’m still trying to catch their two already sold out 7-inchers but I’m sure in a way or another I’m gonna make ‘em mine sooner or later. And they 're sounding like a band from my favorite music era/style. Somewhere when tough R&B started to involve into what later christened as ‘soul’! Imagine the Wheelsville/Premium/D-Town house bands (if they ever such bands existed ) crossing paths with Little Richard’s Upsetters having Tina in her prime and primitive (with a large amount of Sugar Pie DeSanto added powder), scream and shout on a mic! Yeeeeaaahhhh THAT GOOD, people! I mean, who else in year 2011 choose to cover a softer moment of Little Richard (“Never Gonna Let You Go”) or super cool floor burners in the likes of The Falcons, Barbara Stephens, Jimmy Dee or Nelson Sanders (kudos guys for pickin’ up on one of my VERY fave R&B stormers! – “This Love Is Here To Stay”). Don’t try finding something else; this combo’s the hottest shit around… And Koko’s a Goddess!
PS: This album produced by the mighty hands and dirty genius of Mr. Mike Mariconda (The Raunch Hands, The A-Bones), "Fuck the Mummies" indeed!

The Excitements Myspace

The Excitements on Facebook

Buy some Excitement Here!

I Want To Be Loved

Fat Back

Love Is Here To Stay

The Pretty Things - "The Pretty Things" (Fontana, 1965)

I've read already countless times that The Pretty Things debut long play was "a legendary exercise in anarchy". As much as a cliche this might sound, it's the least you can say about it. Fontana records chief Jack Baverstock when arrived to oversee his label's newest 'hitmakers', "walked out after half an hour with us" as the liners point out. Indeed, the Pretty Things were no less than five unruly, filthy and dirty to the max youths with a never-ending hunger for rhythm & blues! When you're going to read something about 'em the word 'mayhem' appears on the script immeasurable times. No wonder why Mick Jagger used all his connections to keep them down and even if those creeps sang the opposite, this indigestible prick finally succeed. But tapes and records are still here to remind us who were the filthiest of them all. The spiritual godfather of this album is the Man, Bo Diddley. Chuck's here too but his tunes Diddleyfied so much that sound to these ears like Bo's tracks or as i read somewhere else, like outtakes of the "Two Great Guitars" sessions. No less than four McDaniel toons appear in here. But the whole 'jungle beat' filtered and distorted through over-amped guitars, crushing drums and snarling vocals. Again, this is really one of the places where punk started. A roaring example of how garage was born. Sometimes i wonder how the rock & roll history would have be if the Pretties weren't THAT MUCH suicidal. The ironic front sleeve is perfect introduction of what are you going to witness. Five bumps who dare to provoke and even if you try to beautify them, the end result will be a total disgust! Is that punk or what? That's British R&B at its rawest and dirtiest and if the Rolling Stones are too pussy for you, well here's your chance. And Vivian Prince fuckin' rule!

The A-Bones drum head with Viv Prince

MUST BUYS!!! JERK BOOM! BAM! Greasy Rhythm & Soul Party Volumes 1,2,3 & 4 - The Last Chance To Dance!

I really can't wait to come in my hands these four volumes of vinyl slices, full of late 50s to mid 60s gritty american R&B and greasy soul stompers! I made an order last week but Vol. 3 seems to be out of stock in many mailorder sites and i'll have to wait to got 'em all at once. No wonder these wicked swings, sells like hot cakes! I'm sure if you're reading this blog constantly, know already MANY of the floor burners in here! The packaging looks amazin', the concept seriously builted (Vols 1&2 are all male and in correspodence Vols 3&4 are all gals) and the sound as i read in many pieces quite simpy, kills! Take a look at the tracklist following or play some of the embedded videos to get an idea of what these imprisoned in plastic savages can do at your next party! When i (finally) get them, i'll comment more on these but some things look cool just by staring at 'em, right?

VARIOUS - JERK! BOOM! BAM!, VOL. 1 - (Jerk! Boom! Bam! Records – Jerk RSAB-111)

TRACKLISTING: 01. Charles Gray & Les Watson & The Panthers - Baby Don't Do It 02. Otis Williams - You Know How Much I Care 03. James Crawford - I Don't Care, I Don't Care, I Don't Care 04. Jimmy Mccracklin - Lets Do It All 05. The Rivals - She's Mine 06. Benny Turner - I Don't Know 07. Chico Leverett - Work Work 08. Willie C. Echols - Shimmy Shelly Shake 09. Willie C. Echols - Satellite Stroll 10. Alex Spearman - Mama-ka-toko-laka-poo-poo-yay 11. Young Jessie - Mary Lou 12. Rudi Stewart - Baby You Goofed 13. Lorenzo Holden - The Wig 14. Dave Bartholomew - Hey Hey 15. Madman Jones - Jes' One Mo' Time 16. J. L. Smith - Did You Do The Mosquito 17. The Huntsmen - Send Me Some Lovin'

VARIOUS - JERK! BOOM! BAM!, VOL. 2 - (Jerk! Boom! Bam! Records – Jerk RSAB-112)

TRACKLISTING: 01. Billy Lamont - So-called Friends 02. Bobby & Expressions - Sloopytime 03. Albert Collins - I Don't Know 04. The Rivals - Make Yer Mind Up 05. Jimmy Raye - Hey Lets Dance 06. Sam Baker - The Bump 07. Gene Burke - Monkey Man 08. Mckinley Mitchell - You're Not Gonna Break My Heart 09. Danny White - The Twitch 10. The Pyramids - What Is Love 11. Marv Johnson - Come On & Stop 12. Tony & Tyrone - Turn It On 13. The Isley Brothers - I Say Love 14. Allen Wayne - Chills & Fever 15. The Ideals - Go-go Gorilla 16. Wilbur Reynolds - Tenderiser

VARIOUS - JERK! BOOM! BAM!, VOL. 3 - (Jerk! Boom! Bam! Records – Jerk RSAB-113)

TRACKLISTING: 01. The Autographs - Do The Duck 02. Joan Proctor - Matchmaker 03. The Azaleas - Hands Off 04. Baby Jean - Oh Johnny 05. The Gems - That's What They Put Erasers On Pencils For 06. Lisa Bett - I'm Movin On 07. The Raeletts - One Room Paradise 08. Little Brenda Starr - Mix It Up 09. Mary Johnson - These Tears 10. Tawny Reed - Needle In A Haystack 11. The Orlons - Don't You Want My Lovin 12. Dorothy Williams - Watchdog 13. Marie Knight - Come On Baby 14. Virgie Till - Loose Me Love 15. Lottie Joe Jones - I Believe To My Soul 16. Ruth Brown - Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean 17. Big Mama Thornton - Tom Cat

VARIOUS - JERK! BOOM! BAM!, VOL. 4 - (Jerk! Boom! Bam! Records – Jerk RSAB-114)

TRACKLISTING: 01. Toni Wine - River Deep, Mountain High 02. Ketty Lester - West Coast 03. Tawny Reed - I've Got A Feeling 04. Irene & The Scotts - Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do 05. The Geminis - Big Brother 06. Verna Rae Clay - I've Got It Bad 07. Phil & Marie - Love Doctor 08. Judi Clay - Let It Be Me 09. Lydia Marcelle - Everybody Dance 10. The Gypsies - It's A Woman's World 11. The Geminis - You Put A Hurting On Me 12. Vicky Gomez - Boys Are A Dime A Dozen 13. Robin Rice - I've Had It 14. The Dynettes - New Guy 15. Paula Lamont - A Beatle Meets A Ladybug 16. The Vonns - So Many Days

White Trash Soul Presents: "Romp, Stomp & Grind!" - 25 Wicked 'N Obscure R&B and Soul Stomps! (WAXCD001)

Hi there! It’s been a while since the last time we talked in depth, right? In these days of absence, our second son came to rule (along with our first) our lives and if you’re already a proud parent, you might know probably what this thing means! A full 24/7 attempt to re-direct and re-organize the new parameters of your life. I’m not complaining but really there’s no time to hear a record or to read some lines of a book and due to this I was thinking that I was right ‘bout the frequency of posting up stuff here.  Just as Jerry Lee Lewis said,”I’m right! I’m always right! Once I thought I was wrong but I checked it out…I was right!” Ha-ha!

Well, this is a “project” that started ‘bout 3 months ago and ended a few weeks back. Many of you guys and ladies asked for a new White Trash Soul compilation, and this time I thought to do it better. Which means, a cool crack to produce a decent collection of mostly 45 rpm originated songs from my fave kind of music. Rockin’ & Rollin’ R&B or Soul stompin' shakes, some obscure some not , well chosen (I hope…) and placed, in order to create a cool soundtrack for one (or maybe more) of your next parties. I know, that’s some REALLY hard work for someone to do but what the hell, it worth the shot! I always loved compilations in the vein of “All Night Soul Stomp!”, “Downtown Soulville”, “Jump & Shout!”, “Shakin’ Fit” or “Pow City!”. Amazin’ gatherings of obscurities, perfectly suitable for (what else?) dance! But I wanted also these shakin’ and tremblin’ screamers to be in a package well designed plus some liners (well, kind of…) that was lacking of the aforementioned boots. The ‘liner notes’ unfortunately, didn’t make it to the ‘CD artwork’, but you can copy 'em if you still want, from the piece that follows (I’m no Billy Miller anyway and if you don’t have 'em, you’re not missing something actually). I had many ideas but I didn’t know how to generate an end result like the one you are now able to see. And there came to picture my French connection! My beloved and faithful partner in crime, Jean Philippe. We exchanged about 40 emails (at least) to come to an end for this artwork thing, but I’m totally happy with the final results! Completely true to our ideology, we have borrowed/stole things - but as once a teacher of mine told me back in the high school days, “there’s no parthenogenesis in art at least…”. There are also some semiotics for the more hooked that I dig the most! Don’t know when I’ll found the time to do again something like this – but til then hope to like, dance, scream and vibrate to this comps’ songs! All the best,

Mihaleez

                                    

Sugar Pie DeSanto - "Go Go Power" (Checker 1160, 1966) – Sugar Pie DeSanto 's a cousin of Etta James. This family for sure had tons of talent in its circles! Don’t know why Sugar Pie never hit big, but she was a hell of a writer and performer! She was one of the first black women in the industry that created and at the same time introduced so STRONG material! Chess/Checker should have use this weapon better… “Go Go Power” is one of her best songs but wait a minute… Mrs. DeSanto never wrote or performed a weak tune! If you buy the recent Ace comp of her Chess material you’re gonna know the reason why!

Holly Maxwell - "Philly Barracuda" (Star 100, 1966) – One of the best examples of the Chicago Soul/Boogaloo dance craze! Never mind the “Philly” on the title, this is a pure and well executed Chi- town stomper! I always thought of the drums as the basic instrument on R&B/Soul records. This is a good case to vote positively on my above statement!

Baby Jean - "If You Wanna" (Stacy 505, 1962) – OK, that’s MY ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE DANCE/R&B/SOUL record EVER! I still need information ‘bout who was/is Baby Jean and her recording career if this existed anyway ( I hope so)… On the flip there’s the equally frantic “Oh Johnny”. Driving beat, manic force and LOUD female vocals compose the best (for White Trash Soul…) 45 ever! I really can’t think of any party with one of the two tracks of this monster not playing twice at least!

Big Maybelle - "Quittin' Time" (Rojack 118, 1968) – Randy Cozen’s and Norhern Soul fans in general fave female, is mostly known for her Okeh sides even though she tried many ‘different’ things on her brilliant career. She even covered the ? & the Mysterians garage classic “96 Tears” and with outstanding results! That’s one of her most memorable 45s in the sixties, on the Rojack label and it’s a monster for all the fans of the upbeat R&B/Soul dancers! “Quittin’ Time” 's on the pantheon of White Trash Soul’s toons for both known (by me…) versions. I dig both the same and just because I had previously shared the “All Night Soul Stomp!” compilation with the Kansas City Playboys take inside, this time took on Big Maybelle’s dynamite interpetation!

Lewise Bethune - "Chitown Boogaloo" (Sack, 196?) – That was a mysterious track for me. After many tries I came to conclusion that this Lewise is actually the same Louise that with her sister Kendra Spotswood were for a moon part of the great Shirelles’ history! This Sack 45, is the well known now anthem “My Baby Likes To Boogaloo” of Don Gardner, but with female vocals plus those “Ooh-Ah!” backings, obviously inspired/taken by the king of the all black R&B boogaloo-ers, Jerry-O! A very COOL take and for sure a good reason to shake your ass a little!

The Antennas - "Be Yourself" (Clay 201, 1962) – I’m owing MANY thanks to the Detroit Cobras for letting me know (and) this song! The Antennas were probably from Chicago and if not, they sound like a Chi-Town’s group. At first an all male doo wop group who found in the face of Shirley Shelton an Etta James female vocalist and created in their sole release a hell of dance track but unfortunately made also two serious mistakes…1^st they put it on the flip…2^nd They were too much a head of their time. Mind you this song got out in 1962, try found a song by this year sounding like “Be Yourself” and I’m gonna give you my Excello Records t-shirt!

Marsha Gee - "Peanut Duck" (Joker! 0001, 1965) – That’s another mystery… Recorded in Philadelphia back in the sixties and there are many theories on who’s the singer behind these animal (duck) noises… Found ‘accidentally’ by some dj in the 70s and released til then many times, mostly as a boot 45 or as a member of compilations like this, but remains though one of thee best laid back and at the same time killer dance tracks ever committed on tape! There was around a ‘true’ Marsha Gee vocalist but it’s almost identified that had absolutely no relation to this tune’s singer. I really wonder how and why remained for so many years on a back corner of a dusted studio…

The Bar-Kays - "Bar Kays Boogaloo" (Volt S417, 1967) – As important as Booker T & the MGs for the Stax/Volt labels, the Bar-Kays are to this day known to the most of the world as ‘the Otis Redding’ band. Of course that’s a medal they fairly (and proudly) wore but are more to this combo if you’re interested…Their original line up (and best) had James Alexander (bass), Jimmy King (guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (organ), Phalon Jones (sax), Carl Cunningham (drums) and Ben Cauley (trumpet) and sadly recorded only one LP before Alexander and Cauley follow Otis in death on this tragic plane crash back in 1967… “Soul Finger” remains a stone cold classic at least for the Funky Soul genre and no record collection is broad without it. “Bar-Kays Boogaloo”‘s my fave track from it and the only tune here make it from a long play and not from a 45. Unmistakably swingin’!

Rex Garvin & The Mighty Cravers - "Emulsified"(Okeh 7174, 1963) – A NYC/Bronx original, started out in music business in the early 50s not only as a singer, but also as a bandleader, pianist/organist, songwriter and arranger for other artists. By 1959 Rex Garvin launched his own recording career and in 1961 formed the famous Mighty Cravers. With the Cravers on his side changed many labels and released about a dozen singles, with “Sock It To ‘Em J.B.” as the most famous. Many mistakes “JB” for James Brown but in truth were it for James Bond! Anyway, “Emulsified” is maybe the second most known and came out through  Okeh's etiquette. In my head Rex Garvin & the Mighty Cravers are a HUGELY underated group and I still wonder why someone (even a bootlegger) not gathered all of their sides on a sole release. I still also need to hear their one and only (?) LP on Tower (1968). As I read many times it was Funky as Hell! Anyone can share it? Dig throughout the song the organ riffage!

Billy 'The Kid' Emerson - "The Whip" (M-PAC!/MAR-V-LUS 7207, 1963) –   A true R&B pioneer but unfortunately, overlooked. This tune has both legs nailed to a soul ground, but The Kid walk through blues, R&B and rock & roll with the same high quality standards. On his first steps had by side Ike Turner. Actually Ike was the one that brought him to Sam Phillips attention and at Sun cut many classic sides. He never got high on charts but his songs covered by many big names with most notable example the one of Elvis Presley (“When it Rains it Pours”). "The Whip"’s for sure one of the best laid back and cool as f*ck soul songs ever waxed.

Stacy Lane - "African twist" (Excello 2293, 1967) – If you try to google a little for this Wilson Pickett-esque lunatic, be sure to add by side keywords like ‘soul’ or ‘r&b’, otherwise you’re gonna get a thousand results of porn material due to the same named busty ‘star’! Don’t know much about him and there’s hardy nothing on him in the net. I only got this Excello single ( I know also he got at least one more), and it’s a part of a late 60s dance craze about  motherland Africa.  Imagine a boogaloo Wilson Pickett, in a rawer (!) situation and you’ll be close to the crazy sounding world of Mr. Lane. Ungawa indeed!

Wilson Pickett - "She's Lookin' Good" (Atlantic 584183, 1968) – What more can I say or add that never been said ‘bout HIM before? I did a couple months a tribute to his excellence and I really got no words to put on. OK, let’s go then to why pick on this. Stacy Lane had another record on Excello under title “No Brags Just Facts” that’s actually “She’s Lookin’ Good” with different lyrics. And it’s another winner by the Man and a half! In a manner kinda like “1000 Dances” and with tons of attitude, it’s certainly a toon with guts about facts on gals!

J.J. Barnes - "Chains Of Love" (Groovesville 1006, 1967) - If there's one thing I like the most for/from the punk n' roll bands originated from the Detroit area, is their full appreciation on the city's soul tradition. From the Five to the Gories this element make an appearance almost in all bands recordings or concerts. So, in my post-teens and through Mick Collins band, I've learned this classic! “Chains of Love” is one of J.J.'s “toughest” sides. The song's written by the great Melvin Davis and released via the Groovesville label. And I said toughest cause J.J. Barnes is mostly known to the UK Northern Soul fans for his “mellower” sides (“Our Love Is in the Pocket” etc). A heavy soul dance floor filler with raw & fat production.

Eskew Reeder - "You Better Believe Me" (Crosstone 1007, 1969) - The impact of a figure like Esquerita (Eskew Reeder, SQ Reeder Jr., Fabulash, Magnificent Malochi etc…) was instant when I first look at him on the Norton website some ages back! So much that I made him too (I know, I'm not that original right?) White Trash Soul’s key face. That's probably my fave Esquerita tune of his “second phase”, cause as we said many times in here; the Capitol material is simply untouchable! A Benzedrine-like soul stomper of the few of the era in those heights of energy that makes you wonder why SQ didn't cut more of the same clothe.  No wonder Northern Soulsters made this song one of the scene's trademarks!

Nat Kendrick & The Swans - "(Do The) Mashed Potatoes" (Dade 1804, 1959) - “Ladies & gentlemen STAR TIME, are you ready for STAR TIME?” Those famous words in the beginning of “Live at the Apollo” LP fit perfectly in this case! In fact, this is James Brown and his Famous Flames plus King Coleman! For more on this you can look back on a previous post about our sadly missed King.

Nathaniel Mayer with The Fortune Braves - "I Want Love And Affection (Not The House Of Correction)" (Fortune 567, 1966) - The master / originator of the unproved term 'garage soul'? Definitely! Nathaniel Mayer helped by three facts. His voice which at a very young age had somehow a gritty croon, his label (Fortune) that still today no one succeed to re-create the sounds captured in the small Detroit record store of D. Brown, and last but not least, his band (the Fabulous Twilights) who had an exploited sound and to these ears only the Emperors had the ability to catch. This masterpiece (along with “Village of Love”) remains to this day excellent examples of how black Detroit sounded outside Motown's embraces! A whole great and wide chapter you NEED to discover if you consider yourself a soul/R&B fanatic!

The Emperors - "Searchin'" (Mala 561, 1967) - Philadelphia's heaviest, rockinest and most danceable group, hands down! I fuckin' love the Emperors! I dig them the most cause they really were a 'garage soul' group! Actually was the total definition of the term! Imagine the Coasters playing boogaloo instead of R&B add by side a groovy as fuck, garage punk like organ with heavy percussion beats and boom, you'll have the Emperors! This is probably their most rare 45 in their catalog. And it's indeed the Coasters' masterpiece, adopted, blended and twisted via their unique sounding angle!  I must say more on them on a future piece…

Combo Kings - "Mish Mash Soul" (Flo-Jo 4095, 1962) - A brilliant example of boogaloo, they way cooked then in cities like Philadelphia or Chicago. From the little I know for these Combo Kings, were a very energetic group of youths (age of the members varied from 11yo to 17yo!) who rule the clubs of their city. They were wide known in their area and used to back up 'bigger' names of the era such as the Isley Brothers, Sam Cooke and Gary US Bond when these came to show up on the American Bandstand shows.  The kind of band I always wish to witness in a dance, if I had a time machine!

Earl Palmer's Party Rockers with The Jay Hawks - "Johnny's House Party" (Aladdin 3379, 1957)– Oh, that’s quite a gathering! Earl Palmer was the BEAT behind countless sides of rock & roll, and when I’m saying countless I mean it! From Little Richard and Don & Dewey, to Eddie Cochran, Jan & Dean, Beach Boys, Larry Williams among others ( to these “others” put on names such as Frank Sinatra, Tom Waits or Neil Young but that’s no rock & roll at all). The JayHawks of-course were the doo wop/r&b group that’s mostly known for the “Stranded in the Jungle”, a song  the New York Dolls took and transform into a sleaze-fest! In the “session” was also present  the GREAT Rene Hall putting up some FILTH on guitar. What we have here is thee ABSOLUTE TITTYSHAKER of all time! And good party song like this must be drunk sinked, sloppy and with a loose atmosphere all around it! And that’s the definition of the above!

Mary Hankins With The Tiki-Turbans - "Ants In My Pants" (Continental 12451, 1964) – Ants in your pants indeed! A floorfiller soul/ r&b track like no other! Forget James Brown, this is a hot smokin’ piece o’ wax! Not much info for these maniacs too, but who cares really? The first time I’ve heard this, I knew I had found the slogan I needed for my WTS logo!

The Valiants - "Frieda Frieda" (Keen 4008, 1958) –  An amazin' rockin' R&B track that even Little Richard would have killed for! Actually the Valiants version of “Good Golly Miss Molly” released earlier than the Master's even though Mr. Penimann's take was earlier recorded. I learned the song via the Barry Whitfield & the Savages album “Dig Yourself”, searched for it a while, found it, grab it and till then remains at the height of my Little Richard soundalikes ever! You'll gonna know why in a little! 

Paul Peek & His Peek-A-Boos feat. Esquerita - "Rock-A-Round" (NRC 001, 1958) - That's the only song in here that's from a white dude. BUT… 1. This white dude was a Gene Vincent's Blue Cap! 2. Co-written by Peek and Esquerita featuring the key slayer himself pounding those 88s! And it's a hell of a tune! The drums and the keys are trying to beat each-other in song's favor and ours flavor! Cycling rhythms, exploding in your face without further warning! I wish sometimes Gene was involved too… 

Wailin' Bill Dell & His Bachelors - "You Gotta Be Loose" (OJ 1003, 1958) - Don't know shit 'bout Wailin' Bill Dell except for the fact that he's WAILIN'! Τhis thing totally rips! Two notes, less than two minutes, a monster & a storm! Wicked & breathless example of what today is called "black rock & roll"! 
Don Covay - "Ooh, My Soul" (Firefly 313, 1958) -  A legend in its own right, Don Covay may be more known as a Soul maestro but in his earliest was no less than a Little Richard type, electrifying rock & roller!  He cut some CLASSIC two-siders sometimes under the nickname of Pretty Boy and he was one of the few that got Richard's personal OK for what he was doing. Tracks like "Bip Bop Bip" (with Richard's "band" the Upsetters accompanying), "Switchin' In The Kitchen", "Rockin' the Mule" or this hard edged Penniman's cover, prove there was more to him than just another one of King's imitators or throne claimers.
Elder Charles Beck - "Rock & Roll Sermon Pts 1 & 2" (?, 195?) -  Totally raw, primitive, electrifying and testifying guitar amp driven gospel! Forget the MC5, this is the real shit! A anti-rock n' roll tune, completely possessed by the devilish rock n' roll spirit! A Luciferian attempt to eulogize God's goods...Ha-ha! As diverse as this sound, believe me, it is! If this preacher was God's soldier he sure did it the wrong way! Thanks Devil for putting his nasty tail on this hot smokin' piece of soul disarray! Let's face it, NO ONE can beat the evil powers of Rock & Roll!