This blog is (mostly?) defunct, but scroll down to dig some cool mixes w/ liner notes!
Summer Jams, Vol. 2: Palm Springs Tiki Lounge [4-Part Series]
I first introduced my Palm Springs Tiki Lounge mix on this blog as a single mixtape, but it has since bloated into a FOUR-part series. Volume 2 of Summer Jams is a 4-part series—that is a coherent organizational structure, right? Dig the excess!
For clarity purposes, the term Exotica typically refers to the genre of music we will explore here, and the term Tiki (in a non-indigenous context) usually refers to the overarching “total art style” of Tiki Culture—encompassing architecture, graphic design, clothing, food, cocktails, music, and even to some extent the ideology of the “beachcomber” lifestyle. The terms are often interchangeable.
Exotica is a weird, tricky genre. It is, in many ways, a mid-century pop/kitsch equivalent of Orientalism (the recent use of TIKI® torches in an overtly racist rally does no one any favors), but while the appropriative nature of the genre is problematic, it can also be appreciated as a fascinating, wholly unique American aesthetic. It is an invented universe unto itself. It’s campy, it’s cool, it oozes leisure. Tiki visual style is a mash-up of traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian art with Mid-Century Modern and Atomic Age/Googie design. Exotica is, arguably, a Postmodern fusion music—it’s part-jazz, part-pop, there are Latin and Afro-Carribean influences, and plenty of Polynesian and Asian influences… but it is always ALL AMERICAN.
It is also, certainly, fantasy. A getaway from the workaday world. A suburban backyard paradise for the WWII vet who got a taste for the “Exotic” while fighting in the Pacific. A fancy jungle-themed bar and lounge in Hollywood where you might find Frank Sinatra, well, lounging. A perfect soundtrack for sipping a cold cocktail in a swimming pool on a 100° afternoon and letting your mind float off to faraway places…
It is the kind of fantasy that a place like this series’ namesake, Palm Springs, California, was built on. It is the illusion of a tropical paradise in a harsh desert. It is no wonder Palm Springs (and Southern California in general) became the mecca for Tiki.
The following playlists contain some of the best weird, exotic lounge music from roughly the 1940’s–the early 1970’s (and there’s even a more recent gem here and there), but Peak-Exotica is definitely 1951–1963 (starting with Les Baxter’s groundbreaking Ritual of the Savage LP, climaxing with the mania surrounding Hawaii’s statehood in 1959, and declining with the cultural shifts of the 1960’s). The mixes are also roughly organized by themes, but there is tons of overlap and this stuff is by definition kind of silly, so don’t take it too seriously, man! Mix yourself a cold one and chiiiilllll—
Sea of Dreams
You’re gonna wanna listen to this when it’s in the triple-digits and you are lounging poolside on some astro-turf, sipping on a rum-based cocktail with an umbrella in it.
Martin Denny: “Quiet Village” [Exotica, 1957]
Ferrante & Teicher: “Tabú” [Hi-Fireworks, 1953]
Cal Tjader: “Leyte” [Breeze From The East, 1963]
Arthur Lyman: “Taboo” [Taboo: The Exotic Sounds Of…, 1958]
Les Baxter: “Sophisticated Savage” [Ritual Of The Savage, 1951]
The Beach Boys: “Let’s Go Away For Awhile” [Pet Sounds, 1966]
Martin Denny: “The Enchanted Sea” [The Enchanted Sea, 1959]
Arthur Lyman: “Off Shore” [Pearly Shells, 1964] for some reason no longer on Spotify, listen here
Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra: “Evening On Tokyo’s Sumida” [Jet Flight, 1959]
Robert Maxwell: “Old Devil Moon” [Shangri-La, 1963]
Marty Robbins: “Beyond The Reef” [Portrait Of Marty, 1962]
Jo Ann Castle: “Cocoanut Grove” [Hawaiian Ragtime, 1965] no longer on Spotify, listen here
Jo Ann Castle: “Song of the Islands” [Lawrence Welk’s Ragtime Gal!, 1967]
Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (feat. Frank Sinatra): “Trade Winds” [Victor 78, 1940]
Hugo Winterhalter: “Pagan Love Song” [Goes…Hawaiian, 1962]
David Carroll & His Orchestra: “Jungle Drums” [Percussion In Hi-Fi, 1957]
Arthur Lyman: “Yellow Bird” [Yellow Bird, 1961]
Martin Denny: “Love Dance” [Exotica, 1957]
Martin Denny: “Swamp Fire” [Afro-Desia, 1959]
Cal Tjader: “Fuji” [Breeze From The East, 1963]
Enoch Light & His Orchestra: “Bali Ha’i” [Far Away Places, 1961]
Lez Baxter: “Maracaibo” [Tamboo!, 1955]
Ralph Marterie & His Orchestra: “Shish Kebab” [Presenting…, 1957] no longer on Spotify, listen here
Richard Hayman & His Orchestra: “Brazil” [Come With Me To Faraway Places, 1956]
Andre Kostelanetz & His Orchestra: “Lotus Land” [Lure Of The Tropics, 1954]
Ferrante & Teicher: “African Echos” [Twin Pianos, 1960]
Nelson Riddle: “Tangi Tahiti” [Sea Of Dreams, 1958]
Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra: “Blue Hawaii” [Blue Hawaii, 1969]
The Polynesians: “Song Of The Islands” [Aloha Hawaii, 1957]
Jackie Gleason: “I Wished On The Moon” […Presents Lonesome Echo, 1955]
Enoch Light & His Orchestra: “Sunrise Over Sumatra” [Far Away Places, 1961]
The Three Suns: “Twilight Memories” [Twilight Memories, 1960]
Jungle Madness
Float away to some far off jungle as you crank this up in your suburban backyard, sip a Mai-Tai n’ throw some teriyaki shrimp on the Bar-B.
Martin Denny: “Jungle Madness” [Hypnotique, 1958]
Tak Shindo: “Bali Ha’i” [Brass and Bamboo, 1959]
Robert Drasnin: “Chant Of The Moon” [Voodoo!, 1959]
Les Baxter: “Simba” [Tamboo!, 1955]
Henry Mancini: “Lujon” [Mr. Lucky Goes Latin, 1961]
Cal Tjader: “Curacao” [Soul Burst, 1966]
80 Drums Around the World: “Caravan” [Mondo Exotica (Mysterious Melodies & Tropical Tiki Tunes), 1996]
The Tikiyaki Orchestra: “Polynesian Village Love Theme” [Aloha, Baby!, 2011]
Milt Raskin Orchestra: “Koko Head” [Kapu, 1959]
Chaino: “Jungle Mood” [Unknown, late 1950s]
Eden Ahbez: “Myna Bird” [Eden’s Island, 1960]
Ìxtahuele: “Black Sand” [Pagan Rites, 2013]
Webley Edwards: “Alika” [Hawaii Calls: Exotic Instrumentals—Favorites Of The Islands: Vol. IV, 1961]
The Beach Boys: “Diamond Head” [Friends, 1968]
Sven Libaek: “Sounds of the Deep” [Inner Space, 1973]
Martin Denny: “Exotica” [Forbidden Island, 1958]
Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra: “Sweet Leilani” [Songs of the Islands, 1960]
Korla Pandit: “Poor Butterfly” [Musical Gems, 1951]
Don Ralke Orchestra: “Head Hunter” [The Savage & The Sensuous Bongos, 1960]
Augie Colón: “Primitiva” [Chant Of The Jungle, 1960]
Les Baxter featuring Bas Sheva: “Lust” [The Passions, 1954]
Ethel Azama: “Ringo Oiwake” [Exotic Dreams: Martin Denny Presents..., 1959]
Martin Denny: “Isle of Love” [The Exotic Sounds Of Martin Denny, 1996]
The Nite Cats: “Jungle” [CMP 7548, 1962]
Les Baxter: “Atlantis” [Kaleidoscope, 1955]
Harry Breur: “Paloma Beguine” [Mallet Mischief, 1958]
Nelson Riddle: “Lisbon Antigua” [Lisbon Antigua, 1956]
Ted Auletta & His Orchestra: “The Hukilau Song” [Hawaii For The Young At Heart, 1964]
Les Baxter: “Tahiti: A Summer Night At Sea” [Ports Of Pleasure, 1957]
Elisabeth Waldo: “Within The Temple Of Macuilizochitl” [Rites Of The Pagan, 1960]
Enoch Light & His Orchestra: “The Pagoda Of Pillagi” [Around The World In 80 Days, 1957]
Eden Ahbez: “Full Moon” [Eden’s Island, 1960]
Pagan Festival
This one’s slightly more focused on campy, orientalist cultural appropriation, so brace yourself—pour a strong one in a mug fashioned after your favorite stone god and suspend your political correctness for an escape into a fantasy of faraway lands.
Dominic Frontiere & His Orchestra: “Festival” [Pagan Festival: An Exotic Love Ritual For Orchestra, 1959]
Markko Polo Adventurers: “Rain In Rangoon” [Orienta, 1959]
Martin Denny: “Lotus Land” [Exotica, 1957]
Robert Drasnin: “Enchantment” [Voodoo!, 1959]
Martin Denny: “Tsetse Fly” [Afro-Desia, 1959]
Walter Wanderley: “Summer Samba (So Nice)” [Rain Forest, 1966]
Michel Magne: “Sahara” [Tropical Fantasy, 1962]
Cal Tjader: “Black Orchid” [Breeze From The East, 1964]
John McFarland: “The Chimp & The Bumble Bee” [Provocatif, 1959]
Arthur Lyman: “Miserlou” [Taboo: The Exotic Sounds Of…, 1958]
Elvis Presley: “Blue Hawaii” [Blue Hawaii, 1961]
Hawaii Calls: “Harbour Lights” [Unknown]
Dominic Frontiere: “House Of Dawn (Paccari-Tampu)” [Pagan Festival, 1959]
The Sheik’s Men: “Shish Kebab” [The Belly Dancer, 1961]
Ted Auletta: “Makaha” [Exotica, 1962]
Markko Polo Adventurers: “The Girlfriend Of The Whirling Dervish” [Orienta, 1959]
David Carroll: “Harem Dance” [Percussion Orientale: Musical Sounds Of The Middle East, 1960]
Martin Denny: “Scimitar” [Hypnotique, 1958]
Xavier Cugat: “Perfidia” [Viva Cugat!, 1961]
Buddy Merrill: “Beyond The Reef” [Beyond The Reef, 1970]
Nani Wolfgramm: “Polynesian Girl” [The Seductive Sounds Of Hawaii, 1986]
Ethel Azama: “Kawohikukapulani” [Exotic Dreams: Martin Denny Presents..., 1959]
Augie Colón: “Hernando’s Hideaway” [Chant Of The Jungle, 1960]
Roger King Mozian: “Asia Minor” [Spectacular Percussion, 1960]
The Big Band Of Harry Zimmerman: “On A Little Street Singapore” [Bongos / Reeds / Brass, Vol. 2, 1961]
Les Baxter: “Cairo Bazaar” [African Jazz, 1959]
Korla Pandit: “The Turkish Dance” [Selections From…The Grand Moghul Suite, 1951]
Roger King Mozian: “Harem Dance” [Decca 9-30330, 1959]
Nelson Riddle: “Java” [White On White Shangri-La Charade And Other Hits Of 1964, 1964]
Santo & Johnny: “The Enchanted Sea” [Off Shore, 1963]
Henry Mancini: “Bagdad On Thames” [Arabesque, 1966]
Billy May & His Orchestra: “Naked Isle” [Process 70, 1962]
Kyu Sakamoto: “Sukiyaki” [Sukiyaki And Other Japanese Hits, 1962]
René Paulo: “Moon Of Manakoora” [Presenting…, Early 1960s]
Blast Off!
Exotica was always about the escape to some remote locale. So once the space race was on, the idea of a paradise not only beyond the reef, but also beyond the stars began to inspire our lounge chair explorers. (Also this strain of Exotica rubs up against the era of rock n’ roll a bit more than our earlier playlists, particularly another big early 1960’s Southern California trend—Surf!)
The Tornados: “Telstar” [Decca 45-F 11494, 1962]
Ray Cathode: “Waltz In Orbit” [Parlophone 45-R 4901, 1962]
Joe Meek: “Orbit Around The Moon” [I Hear A New World: An Outer Space Music Fantasy, 1960]
Les Baxter: “Shooting Star” [Space Escapade, 1958]
Sid Bass: “Malagueña” [Moog España, 1969]
Perrey & Kingsley: “The Unidentified Flying Object” [The In Sound From Way Out!, 1966]
The Spotnicks: “The Spotnicks Theme” [Vol. 1, 1962]
Bobby Fuller & The Fanatics: “Our Favorite Martian” [Donna 1403]
Hoyt Curtin: “The Jetsons Main Title” [1962]
The Voices Of Walter Schumann: “Holiday For Strings” [Capitol 1536, 1952]
Ray Cathode: “Time Beat” [Parlophone 45-R 4901, 1962]
The Raymond Scott Quintet: “Dedicatory Piece To The Crew And Passengers Of The First Experimental Rocket Express To The Moon” [At Home With Dorothy And Raymond, 1948]
Les Baxter, Harry Revel, & Dr. Samuel Hoffman: “Lunar Rhapsody” [Music Out Of The Moon: Music Unusual Featuring The Theremin, 1947]
Jean-Jacques Perrey: “The Alien Planet” [Musique Electronique Du Cosmos, 1962]
The Moontrekkers: “Grandfather’s Clock” [Diamond Joe, 1961]
The Marketts: “Out Of Limits” [Out Of Limits, 1964]
Bruno Spoerri: “Les Electroniciens” [Glückskugel, 1971]
Sid Bass: “Ritual Fire Dance” [Moog España, 1969]
The Jimmy Haskell Orchestra: “Blast Off!” [Count Down!, 1959]
Stories In Sound: “Space Battle” [SS-1001, 1962]
Joe Meek: “Valley Of The Saroos” [I Hear A New World: An Outer Space Music Fantasy, 1960]
Clara Rockmore & Nadia Reisenberg: “Summertime” [Clara Rockmore’s Lost Theremin Album, 2006]
Billy Lee Riley: “Flyin’ Saucers Rockin’ Roll” [Sun 260, 1957]
Unknown Artist: “Space Ships” [Music From Planet Earth, Vol. 1, 2014]
Gershon Kingsley: “Pop Corn” [Music To Moog By, 1969]
Tom Dissevelt & Kid Baltan: “Song Of The Second Moon” [Song Of The Second Moon: The Sonic Vibrations Of…, 1968]
Les Baxter: “Moon Moods” [Music Out Of The Moon: Music Unusual Featuring The Theremin, 1947]
The Marketts: “Hyper-Space” [Out Of Limits, 1964]
Louis & Bebe Barron: “Forbidden Planet Main Titles (Overture)” [1956]
Aaron Neville: “Space Man” [Parlo 103, 1967]
Les Baxter: “Saturday Night On Saturn” [Space Escapade, 1958]
Esquivel: “Magic Is The Moonlight” [Other Worlds, Other Sounds, 1958]
Attilio Mineo: “Welcome To Tomorrow” [Man In Space With Sounds, 1962]
The Jimmy Haskell Orchestra: “Astrosonic” [Imperial X5480, 1957]
Joe Meek: “Telstar (Demo)” [Songs In The Key Of Z, 2013]
Louis & Bebe Barron: “Bells Of Atlantis” [1952]
Russ Garcia: “Into Space” / “Nova (Exploding Star)” / “Monsters Of Jupiter” / “Moon Rise” [Fantastica: Music From Outer Space, 1958]
Clara Rockmore & Nadia Reisenberg: “The Carnival of the Animals, XIII. Le Cygne (The Swan)” [The Art Of The Theremin, 1977]
Summer Jams, Vol. 1: Rockin’ y Rollin’ en Español
So begins this series of kickin’ back, coolin’ out Summer Jams.
Whether with your homies or your sweetie, heading to the hop or the swimmin’ hole, to get tacos or burgers—as beautiful spring evenings start to turn into hot summer nights, there ain’t really much else like some windows-down cruisin’. And nothing goes as smooth with cruisin’ as some classic (y obscure) Latin oldies. There’s just something magical about the fusion of the sounds of Latin America with 1950s/60s rock n’ roll and R&B norteamericano.
This mixtape of course features some classics popularized by the OG cruisin’ culture of the Los Angeles Xicano lowrider scene, but also has plenty of lesser heard Spanglish rock n’ soul gems from Peru to Texas (now that I am reevaluating, a lot from Texas).
So lean that seat back just a bit further, roll down that window, and crank up the jams!
Track listing and detailed notes after the jump.
Music Notes
Sunny & The Sunliners: “Short Short Shorty” [Tear Drop 3094, 1966]
San Antonio’s Sunny & The Sunliners (formerly known as Sunny & The Sunglows, and sometimes appearing as Sunny Ozuna & The Sunliners) are heroes of the 60s Tejano Soul scene. They are considered pioneers (along with The Royal Jesters) of San Antonio’s soul music-inspired, English language “Westside Sound.” There are a few great examples of that sound later in the mix, but we kick it off here with the Sunliners sounding extra rambunctious, funny, and a bit more Tejano than they are typically known for—compare this Tejano/R&B beat with a more famous San Antonio tune, Sir Douglas Qunitet’s “She’s About A Mover”!
Carlos Guzman y Los Fabulosos Cuatro: “96 Lagrimas” [Tiempo de Llorar, 1967]
Can we talk about the brilliance of replacing the organ from “96 Tears” with an accordion? Seems so obvious now, no? Another Tex-Mex hero, Carlos Guzman, and his “Fab Four” further show us that Xicanos interpreting garage rock, that is interpreting the British Invasion, that is interpreting American blues and early rock n’ roll... rules.
The Premiers: “Farmer John” [Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1972, Original 45 released 1964]
This is thee famous Eastside L.A. Chicano Garage Rock toon. Co-producer Eddie Davis, in The West Coast East Side Sound, Vol.3 compilation album, recollected “We had a party at the studio and had all the kids come down. Everybody was having a good time and we put the record on—in those days they had three-track recording—and while everybody was having a party we recorded the crowd on top of it.”
Freddy Fender & The Comancheros: “Boogaloo En Monterrey” [Discos Dominante 590, year?]
I am kind of surprised at how little I can find about this tune despite the legendary status of Freddy Fender. I first encountered it on the super cool Breakaway Records compilation CD, Tejasoul: A Mix of Rare Tejano Soul 45’s, and all I can gather from a few scattered music blogs is that the disc was released on a Mexican label and features Freddy Fender a couple decades-ish before being a Texas Tornado.
Los Hijos del Sol: “Cariñito” [The Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru, 2007]
Ok, here’s where we get a little off the beaten path. The music contained on The Roots of Chicha compilations wasn’t really known outside of Peru during its 70s heyday. It certainly would not have been familiar to car clubs in East L.A. or West San Antonio, but in a way it would have been. The mix of Cuban and Colombian rhythms, Tex-Mex/garage Farfisa organ, twangy surf guitar and psychedelic rock—this is Pan-American music!
Los Yaki: “Las Estatuas de Marfil” [Los Yaki, 1966]
Mexican rockers Los Yaki give us this crazed, groovy garage cover of Alvin Cash & The Registers: “The Philly Freeze” (yes, Alvin Cash of “Twine Time” fame). I love that “The Philly Freeze” becomes “The Ivory Statues.” Far out! Me gusta, me gusta, me gusta tambieeeeennnn.
The Eptones: “A Love That’s Real” [JOX 070, 1967]
Remember when I mentioned the San Antonio Westside Sound? Well, here it is! Take a smooth, sweet soul tune like this one by the Intruders and inject some raw, Tex-Mex energy, and BOOM! Westside Sound.
Rene & Rene: “I’m Not the Only One (No Soy El Unico)” [Cobra 212, 1965]
Laredo, Texas duo Rene & Rene (René Ornelas and René Herrera) had a modest hit in 1964 with “Angelito” using a pop + Spanish/English lyrics-formula—they even appeared on American Bandstand! They try the formula again on this tune, with less commercial success but with more cool factor success. It is apparent by this point they’ve been digging The Beatles—check that “And I Love Her” guitar line!
The Royal Jesters: “We Go Together” [English Oldies, 2015]
The other kings of the San Antonio scene. The Royal Jesters evolved from a doo-wop group to a Motown-esque Westside Sound group to a fiery Latin Rock group over the course of the the 60s and early 70s. Dig Numero Group’s fantastic English Oldies compilation for a more thorough introduction.
Malo: “Suavecito” [Malo, 1972]
Hailing from the the Mission District of San Francisco, Malo was, of course, Carlos Santana’s brother Jorge’s group, and “Suavecito,” their signature song, has been called the “Chicano National Anthem.”
Los Tres Ases: “Sabor a Mí” [Exitos Originales, year?]
“Sabor a Mí” is a Mexican classic, written by Álvaro Carrillo in 1959. It’s been covered many, many times. Los Tres Ases beautiful version here is hard to beat, though of course it was El Chicano’s version that made the tune a lowrider staple.
Los Shain’s: “Shain’s A Go-Go” [El Ritmo de Los Shain’s, 1966]
Los Shain’s: “El Tren Pasa Esta Noche” [Docena 3, 1968]
Raw, groovin’ garage rock from Peru!
Chris Montez: “Let’s Dance” [Let’s Dance and Have Some Kinda Fun!!, 1962]
“Let’s Dance” is arguably the best known tune on this mix. It was a huge hit in the U.S. and in the U.K. Montez (born in L.A.) even toured the U.K. and had a then-little-known band called The Beatles open for him. Montez reportedly commented, “Who are these guys The Beatles? I try to keep up with the British scene, but I don’t know their work.”
Sonny Ace & The Twisters: “Wolleh Booleh” [Atlantic 2364, 1965]
Dig this Tex-Mex take on the Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs classic!
Papi Brando y sus Ejecutivos: “Viva Panama” [Panama! Latin, Calypso and Funk on the Isthmus, 1965–1975, 2006]
Los Dinamicos Exciters y Ralph Weeks: “Let Me Do My Thing” [Panama! Latin, Calypso and Funk on the Isthmus, 1965–1975, 2006]
Speaking of Pan-American music, this Panamanian music is just that—simultaneously Latin and African, soul and cumbia. Panama! Latin, Calypso and Funk on the Isthmus, 1965–1975 is the passion project of Costa Rican/Panamanian DJ Roberto Ernesto Gyemant and ethnomusicologist Miles Cleret, and you’ve gotta thank the good Lord that there are folks like them out there digging up obscure gems like these!
Las 4 Monedas: “Windy” [Four Coins A-Go-Go, 1968]
I have a soft spot for sunny 60s California psych pop with great harmonies a la The Beach Boys and The Association (my parents are both Southern Californians); so if you take a classic like “Windy” and add a Latin dance groove, I’m gonna be hooked! My research has found conflicting information about the origin of this band, but I’m fairly certain that they were four black Venezuelans that pioneered a psych/soul/cumbia/pop fusion sound in the late 60s and then moved to a more ska-reggae oriented sound in the 1970s.
Los Bravos: “Black is Black” [Black is Black, 1966]
The mega-hit by the Madrid-based beat group Los Bravos! No. 2 in the U.K., No. 4 in the U.S.! Also dig Eddie Santiago’s salsa version!
Los Monjes: “Mi Mami Dijo” [Mexico Discos CBS 5785, 1965]
Mexico’s Los Monjes, or The Monks, are not to be confused with the legendary American/German band The Monks, but they are cut from a similarly punk cloth.
Los York’s: “El Sicodelico” [Los Yorks 69, 1969]
Despite their raw, wild garage style, Los Yorks were actually quite a successful band in their native Peru. They even had their own Monkees-esque TV and radio program! Unfortunately, in 1971, at the peak of their popularity, the oppressive military government of Juan Velasco Alvarado began to call the band “immoral” and pressured them to stop performing.
Juaneco y su Combo: “Ya Se Ha Muerto Mi Abuelo” [The Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru, 2007]
Another track from the great Roots of Chicha compilation. From the Barbès Records website: “Formed in Pucallpa in 1966 Juaneco is the most mythical of all Amazonian bands. They claimed the regional Shipibo Indian identity by dressing in traditional costumes. Their songs, which can be both funny and poetic, often deal with the clash between tradition and urbanization. Their sound doesn’t seem to owe anything to anyone and hasn’t aged a bit. They released their first single in 1970 and toured in neighboring Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia. In 1977 most of the band died in a plane crash, including Noe Fachin, the band’s first guitar and main composer. Band leader Juaneco and singer Wilindro, who were not on the flight, reformed the band with new musicians and kept the sound alive.”
No. 1 de No. 1: “Guajira Van” [World Psychedelic Classics, Vol. 3: Love is a Real Thing, 2005]
This just goes to show how far the influence of Latin American music goes—this song is from Africa! (Of course Africa has had an enormous influence on Latin American music, so definitely a full-circle situation here) Off of David Byrne’s Luaka Bop Records’ incredible compilation of The Funky, Fuzzy Sounds of West Africa.
The Personalities: “Sospecha” [Falcon 1359, 1964]
Super cool Elvis cover from Mission, Texas!
Lucila Campos: “Toro Mata” [Los Clásicos Afro-Peruano: El Alma Del Peru Negro, 1995]
This one is from another classic Luaka Bop compilation: The Soul of Black Peru. Like the title suggests, the album focuses on the music of the black Peruvian community. Killer stuff!
Los Hitters: “Delicuente” [Orfeón 45, 1967]
A nice rockin’ ripper from Tijuana, Mexico!
Henry & His Kasuals: “I’ll Come Running” [Cobra 1140, year?]
Sunny & The Sunliners: “Sitting in the Park” [Chicano Soul: San Antonio’s Westside Sound, Vol.3]
The Royal Jesters: “I Want You ’Round” [Jester 104, 1965]
Little Jesse Jr. & His Tear Drops: “Little Playgirl” [Metro-Dome 1002]
San Antonio Westside Sound block! The OG Billy Stewart version of “Sitting in the Park” will be familiar to LA Heads because of its inclusion on East Side Story, Vol. 3, but for my money, Sunny’s version is cooler.
Los Rollings: “No Tienes Mi Querer” [World Beaters, Vol. 6, 2006]
Los OVNIs: “El OVNI” [Los OVNIs, 1966]
Los Matematicos: “Me Atrapaste” [Go-Go en Rojo, 1967]
Bitchin’ garage rock block! Los Rollings are from Nicaragua and the other two groups are Mexican. I especially love how Los OVNIs took the classic garage/blues tune “Baby Please Don’t Go” and made it about aliens!!!
Richie Valens: “Donna” [Del-Fi 4110, 1958]
If “Let’s Dance” is the most famous song on this mix, East LA’s Richie Valens is certainly the most famous performer. “Donna” was the A-side to the more famous flipside, “La Bamba.”
Johnny & Gene: “It’s You I Love” [JOX 023, 1964]
Sunny & The Sunliners: “Should I Take You Home” [RPR 6404, 1969]
I don’t see a better way to end this mix than with a couple of romantic Westside cruisers. Should I take you home?
This mixtape is dedicated to Madrid-based artist Lauren Moya Ford, who turned me on to a lot of these jams; Breakaway Records in Austin, Texas for sharing a killer rare Tejano Soul 45 compilation that was the source for a handful of these tunes; Noah Mass for introducing me to los garage rockers; and the mysterious geniuses behind the Eastside Story compilations.
The Savage Young Deejays’ Mardi Gras Boogaloo & Gumbo Cook-Off!
Get Ready, Ready! The Savage Young Deejays gonna get down New Orleans style!
Celebrate Mardi Gras with us on the dance floor and/or over a hot bowl of gumbo while we spin classic New Orleans funk, r&b, second line, bounce, jazz, zydeco, swamp pop, n’ cajun dance records!
Facebook message The Savage Young Deejays if you want to enter the GUMBO COOK-OFF!!!
We’re gonna play the Oscars outside too, so you ain’t gonna miss a thang. One-stop party shop!
Also dig this Louisiana playlist I made a few years back—
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The Savage Young Deejays Live In Person
TONIGHT at The Volstead in Austin! Come boogie with me n’ Deejays “Arty” Silva Dolla (of Rose Sélavy & The Mole People fame), William “Veggie Dog” Glosup (Shivery Shakes, Mean Jolene), Benjamin “Bummer Jams”, and introducing our new charter member, Deejay J-Mo Monsees (of Antone's Record Shop, Big Bill, & other cool stuff)!!!
Gonna be spinnin’ raw soul, garage rock n’ roll, power pop, weird oldies, and other fun, swingin’ groovers!!! All vinyl, all night.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & Spirituals for the Healing of America
It is worth listening to the whole “I Have Been to the Mountaintop” speech on this MLK day. Takes a while to get rolling, but man, it gets good. This is the last speech he would make. 03 April 1968.
“It’s all right to talk about ‘long white robes over yonder,’ in all of its symbolism. But ultimately people want some suits and dresses and shoes to wear down here! It’s all right to talk about ‘streets flowing with milk and honey,’ but God has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who can’t eat three square meals a day. It’s all right to talk about the new Jerusalem, but one day, God’s preacher must talk about the new New York, the new Atlanta, the new Philadelphia, the new Los Angeles, the new Memphis, Tennessee. This is what we have to do.
Now the other thing we’ll have to do is this: Always anchor our external direct action with the power of economic withdrawal… We just need to go around to these stores, and to these massive industries in our country, and say,
‘God sent us by here, to say to you that you’re not treating his children right. And we’ve come by here to ask you to make the first item on your agenda fair treatment, where God’s children are concerned. Now, if you are not prepared to do that, we do have an agenda that we must follow. And our agenda calls for withdrawing economic support from you.’”
I also made the following playlist shortly after Trump was elected. It feels appropriate to revisit it today. We are certainly a nation that needs healing at this moment. Contains mostly spiritual jazz and African American songs of faith, hope, and healing. Lord have mercy.
Spirituals—For the Healing of America
Pharaoh Sanders: “Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord” [Summun, Bukmun, Umyun, 1970]
Marvin Gaye: “God is Love” / “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” [What’s Going On, 1971]
Timmy Thomas: “Why Can’t We Live Together” [Why Can’t We Live Together, 1972]
Pastor T.L. Barrett & the Youth for Christ Choir: “Like A Ship” [Like A Ship (Without a Sail), 1971]
Famous L. Renfroe: “Children” [Children, 1968]
The Chambers Brothers: “People Get Ready” [The Time Has Come, 1967]
The Impressions: “Keep On Pushing” [ABC-Paramount 45, 1964]
Otis Redding: “Change Gonna Come” [Otis Blue, 1965]
Grant Green: “Deep River” [Feelin’ the Spirit, 1963]
Mahalia Jackson: “Down by the Riverside” [Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting, 1955]
Blind Willie Johnson: “Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave it There” [Columbia 10" 78, 1929]
Voices of Conquest: “O Yes My Lord” [Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal, 2006]
Triumphs: “We Don’t Love Enough” [Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal, 2006]
Lonnie Liston Smith & the Cosmic Echoes: “Astral Traveling” [Astral Traveling, 1973]
Stevie Wonder: “Jesus Children of America” [Innervisions, 1973]
Al Green: “Chariots of Fire” [The Belle Album, 1977]
Billy Preston: “That’s the Way God Planned It” [That’s the Way God Planned It, 1969]
Nina Simone: “Why? (The King of Love is Dead)” [The Essential Nina Simone, 2003]
D’Angelo: “1000 Deaths” [Black Messiah, 2014]
John Coltrane: “Welcome” [Kule Sé Mama, 1967]
Marvin Gaye: “Wholy Holy” [What’s Going On, 1971]
The Velvet Underground: “Jesus” / “Beginning to See the Light” [The Velvet Underground, 1969]
McCoy Tyner: “His Blessings” [Extensions, 1970]
Charlie Haden: “We Shall Overcome” [Liberation Music Orchestra, 1970]
Allen Toussaint: “Solitude” [The Bright Mississippi, 2009]
KOOP The Clear Spot Setlist, 07 JAN 2017
Setlist for my guest deejay appearance on The Clear Spot on KOOP Austin 91.7 FM.
Check it out streaming on Radio Free America until 21 FEB 2017
Austin Texas Oddities, 2006–2016, Pt. 1
Strange Boys: “Drugs Iggy Drugs” [Son of Sambol CD-R—self-released, 2007]
Yellow Fever: “Cats & Rats” [KVRX Local Live, Vol. 12: The Technicolor Yawn—KVRX, 2008]
Horse + Donkey: “Dot Dot”[KVRX Local Live, Vol. 12: The Technicolor Yawn—KVRX, 2008]
Bike Problems: “Dear Canadian” [Capitol City EP—self-released, 2013]
SLUGBUG: “Nervous Man Music” [Truck Month—Plastic Waffle, 2013]
Belaire: “Filling the Cracks of Time” [Exploding Impacting—Indierect, 2007]
A Faulty Chromosome: “Paris” [KVRX Local Live, Vol. 13: Stimulus Package—KVRX, 2009
Roger Sellers: “Sincere” [8 Songs—self-released, 2012]
Soft Healer: “Grand Isle” [Monofonus One-Sider 10"—Monofonus Press, 2011]
Lomelda: “Late Dawn, Parts 1 & 2” [Forever—Punctum, 2015]
RF Shannon: “How the Moon Knew the Night” [7"—Punctum, 2014]
Big Bill: “Sweet Boy” [The Second Bill—self-released, 2015]
~~~
All Austin music 2006–2016! Way too much to play, so there will surely be a Part 2!
The Return Of The Psychedelic Boogaloo!!! 03 JAN 2017
Here’s the setlist for my one-night-only return to KVRX Austin 91.7 FM. 8–10 PM (Texas Time) 03 JAN 2017—
Playboys of Edinburgh: “Wish You Had A Heart” [Texas Flashbacks]
Public Nuisance: “America” [Love is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets, 1965–1970]
The Warlocks: “If You Really Want Me To Stay” [7": ARA-1917]
Roky Erickson: “Starry Eyes” [You’re Gonna Miss Me OST]
Chevelle V: “I’m Sorry Girl” [7": UMI-100]
PJ & The Galaxies: “Tally Ho!” [Guitar Player Magazine Presents: Legends Of Guitar—Surf, Vol. 1]
The Twilighters: “Nothing Can Bring Me Down” [Texas Flashbacks]
DUMB: “I Don’t Wanna Die On I-35” [Slack Capital]
Pere Ubu: “Non-alignment Pact” [The Modern Dance]
The Savage Resurrection: “Thing In ‘E’” [7": Mercury-72778]
Basketball Shorts: “Kevin McCallister” [Hot And Ready]
Kenny & The Kasuals: “Journey To Thyme” [Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968]
Pancho Villa & The Bandits: “Ain’t That Bad” [7": Symbol-202]
Lee Dorsey: “Get Out Of My Life Woman” [7": Amy-945]
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: “How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?” [Naturally]
Arthur Lyman: “Taboo” [Taboo: The Exotic Sounds Of…]
Camper Van Beethoven: “Good Guys & Bad Guys” [Camper Van Beethoven]
Iguanas: “I Can Only Give You Everything” [7": IGR-101]
The Tony Williams Lifetime: “Spectrum” [Emergency!]
Lost & Found: “Don’t Fall Down” [Forever Lasting Plastic Words/Everybody’s Here]
Lemon Fog: “Summer” [The Psychedelic Sound Of Summer With…]
Big Bill: “Sweet Boy” [The Second Bill]
Miles Davis: “Black Satin” [On The Corner]
The Mole People: “Get Me Down” [Young Bummers EP]
Flamin’ Groovies: “Teenage Head” [Teenage Head]
Teddy & His Patches: “Suzy Creamcheese” [Pebbles, Vol. 3: The Acid Gallery]
The Clean: “Tally Ho” [Anthology]
Meat Puppets: “Hot Pink” [Up On The Sun]
The Golden Dawn: “This Way Please” [Power Plant]
Rotary Connection: “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp” [Songs]
Boonesboro: “Sneak-A-Peak” [Boone’s Best]
The What Four: “I’m Gonna Destroy That Boy” [Girls In The Garage, Vol. 5]
Ornette Coleman/Pat Metheny: “Police People” [Song X]
A Savage Young Deejays’ Christmas Mixer
My new record club, The Savage Young Deejays invite you to mix-it-up to the swingin’ sounds of the season on the 20th of December!
Deejays Gamma (The Mole People), “Artie” Silva Dolla (Rose Sélavy, The Mole People), Veggiedog (Shivery Shakes, Mean Jolene), and Bummer Jams will be mixin’ ’em strong and servin’ up hot holiday platters of the best raw soul, garage rock n’ roll, space-age dance-crazes, and weird Christmas oldies for Happy Hour at The Volstead (1500 E 6th St, Austin, Texas)!
All vinyl, all night!
KOOP The Clear Spot Setlist, 05 NOV 2016
Setlist for my guest deejay appearance on The Clear Spot on KOOP Austin 91.7 FM.
ALL TEXAS GARAGE N’ PSYCH
The Zakary Thax: “Bad Girl” [45—Mercury, 1966]
The Merlynn Tree: “Look In Your Mirror” [Back From the Grave Vol. 8—Crypt, 1996]
Nomads: “Be Nice” [Back From the Grave ,Vol. 4—Crypt, 1984]
Randy Alvey & The Green Fuz: “Green Fuzz” [45—Big Tex, 1969; r. Norton, 2004]
Mouse & the Traps: “Maid of Sugar, Maid of Spice” [Nuggets: Original Artyfacts of the First Psychedelic Era—Rhino, 1998]
Murphy & the Mob: “Born Loser” [Texas Flashbacks, Vol. 3—Flashback, 1984]
The Bad Seeds: “A Taste of the Same” [45—J-Beck, 1965]
The Crystal Chandelier: “Suicidal Flower” [Pebbles, Vol. 3: The Acid Gallery—BFD, 1979]
Bubble Puppy: “Days of Our Time” [45—International Artists, 1969]
Cold Sun: “South Texas” [Dark Shadows—Rockadelic, 1970; r. World in Sound, 2014]
The Red Krayola: “Dariymaid's Lament” [God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It—International Artists, 1968]
Moving Sidewalks: “Crimson Witch” [Flash—Tantara, 1969]
The Barons: “Come to Me” [Texas Flashbacks, Vol. 1—Flashback, 1980]
Pataphysics: “Hurricane Fighter Plane” [Take A Look Out Your Window—Business Deal, 2008]
The Mole People: “Memo From Lightnin’” [Lost Age—Punctum, 2013]
Christopher & the Souls: “Diamonds, Rats, & Gum” [45—Pharaoh, 1966]
Welcome Home Art Show
Hey y’all I am participating in this show! C’mon out for a good cause.
Welcome Home Art Show aims to populate the homes of refugee families with the work of Austin artists to communicate the openness and kindness that is indicative of our city so that the families feel comfortable and safe in their new surroundings.
Human Sciences is partnering with Refugee Services of Texas to (1) provide a gesture of welcome and measure of homeyness, (2) create a bridge between newly resettled families and local arts communities, (3) generate sources of revenue and direct support for Refugee Services of Texas.
Welcome Home Art Show starts with an opening exhibition at Studium on Friday, June 24th.
Participating Artists Include:
Kristen Koenig
Bobby Dixon
Joshua Gamma
Sophie Roach
Jonah Welch
Kevin Munoz
Betelhem Makonnen
Eva Claycomb
Jillian Tito
Casey Polacheck
Jasmine Johnson
Hallie Rose Taylor
Jess Rose Clark
Caroline Ruffault
Panda Landa
Lauren Dickens
Tamara Becerra Valdez
Kevin McNamee-Tweed
Manik Raj Nakra
Mason McFee
Katie Clement
Welcome Home Art Show is proudly sponsored by:
Miller Imaging and Digital Solutions | Dynamic Reprographics | Worley Printing | Koch Printing
Come as You Are: Dirt/Static
A mixtape curated as part of the exhibition Come as You Are: Art of the 1990s at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, running from 21 February–15 May, 2016.
PARENTAL ADVISORY: EXPLICIT CONTENT
Beyond just being a collection of some of my favorite songs from the 1990s, this mixtape is an attempt to capture some of the overarching feelings of music from the era. The title Dirt/Static references two major trends. Dirt—the distortion, fuzz, and noise in the music of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Yo La Tengo, and of course Nirvana. Static (often caused by literal dirt) is on the old records that were ever present in 1990s sample culture: represented here by Beck (produced by the Dust Brothers); Dr. Dre; Ice Cube (produced by the Bomb Squad); and the kooky Jefferson Airplane, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and barking dog-samples present on Black Sheep’s “Similak Child.” Popular music in the 1990s (especially towards the beginning of the decade) was much more comfortable with noise, imperfection, sloppiness, and earthiness than popular music in the 1980s. We can, of course, thank the “breaking” of punk for that, but we can also thank the Bomb Squad and Dr. Dre. The 1990s were all about “keeping it real” or at least embracing the imperfection of the tools, or sometimes pouring the imperfection on thick, until it was something sculptable in and of itself.
Side A (Dirt)
Side B (Static)
Freaky Tiki Christmas
On December 19th, let’s have a Freaky Tiki Christmas! Rum n’ Records! Get down n’ get your drink on (or not, whatever!) with DJ Dave (Tiki n Chill) & DJ Gamma (The Mole People) @ Lei Low Tiki Bar in the Heights (6412 N Main St Suite C, Houston, Texas)!
Exotica! Garage Rock! Soul! Hip Jazz! Weird n’ Hip Christmas Oldies!
Sea of Dreams: Palm Springs Tiki Lounge
Because it’s August and you are going to want to listen to this when it’s in the triple-digits and you are lounging poolside on some astro-turf, sipping on a rum-based cocktail with an umbrella in it.
The best of mid-century, weird, tropical lounge music. It’s campy, it’s cultural appropriation: but it’s pure fun, thoroughly cool Americana.
Martin Denny: “Quiet Village” [Exotica]
Ferrante & Teicher: “Tabú” [Hi-Fireworks]
Cal Tjader: “Leyte” [Breeze From The East]
Arthur Lyman: “Taboo” [Taboo: The Exotic Sounds Of…]
Les Baxter: “Sophisticated Savage” [Ritual Of The Savage]
The Beach Boys: “Let’s Go Away For Awhile” [Pet Sounds]
Martin Denny: “The Enchanted Sea” [The Enchanted Sea]
Arthur Lyman: “Pearly Shells” [Pearly Shells]
Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra: “Evening On Tokyo’s Sumida” [Jet Flight]
Robert Maxwell: “Old Devil Moon” [Shangri-La]
Marty Robbins: “Beyond The Reef” [Portrait Of Marty]
Jo Ann Castle: “Coconut Grove” [Hawaiian Ragtime]
Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (feat. Frank Sinatra): “Trade Winds” [The Dorsey / Sinatra Sessions]
Hugo Winterhalter: “Pagan Love Song” [Goes…Hawaiian]
David Carroll & His Orchestra: “Jungle Drums” [Percussion In Hi-Fi]
Arthur Lyman: “Yellow Bird” [Yellow Bird]
Martin Denny: “Love Dance” [Exotica]
Martin Denny: “Swamp Fire” [Afro-Desia]
Cal Tjader: “Fuji” [Breeze From The East]
Enoch Light & His Orchestra: “Bali Ha’i” [Far Away Places]
Lez Baxter: “Maracaibo” [Tamboo!]
Ralph Marterie & His Orchestra: “Shish Kebab” [Presenting…]
Richard Hayman & His Orchestra: “Brazil” [Come With Me To Faraway Places]
Andre Kostelanetz & His Orchestra: “Lotus Land” [Lure Of The Tropics]
Ferrante & Teicher: “African Echos” [Twin Pianos]
Nelson Riddle: “Tangi Tahiti” [Sea Of Dreams]
Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra: “Blue Hawaii” [Blue Hawaii]
The Polynesians: “Song Of The Islands” [Aloha Hawaii]
Jackie Gleason: “I Wished On The Moon” […Presents Lonesome Echo]
Enoch Light & His Orchestra: “Sunrise Over Sumatra” [Far Away Places]
The Three Suns: “Twilight Memories” [Twilight Memories]
My Top Ten Albums of 2014
Here it is, folks—my favorite albums of 2014.
I think I should add this disclaimer before I go on any further; though I do listen to tons of music, I am in no way one of those listens-to-everything-that-comes-out types, so this is really a “best of what I’ve taken the time to listen to” list. I will be the first to admit that I am sure I missed something incredible.
I think it has been a very interesting year in music, so I made a point of listening to a lot of new stuff, but some years I get incredibly bored with new music and retreat for months at a time into only 60’s psych records or stoner metal or free jazz or whatever my obsession at the time may be... so take that into account here. One trend I have noticed (in my tastes at least) is that this was a very good year for hip-hop and hip-hop inspired music—from the return of OutKast and D’Angelo to really innovative new stuff by Kendrick Lamar, Shabazz Palaces, Run The Jewels, etc, etc... I have also noticed that my apathy and disinterest in new “psychedelic” and “garage” rock continues to grow, but I think that is mostly because I have listened to and played so damn much of it in years past (Re: The Mole People (my band), The Psychedelic Boogaloo!!! (my old radio show), the endless supply of bands that fit that mold).
Spotify playlist at end of post
10) RF Shannon: Hunting Songs
While many folks this year were digging on your Sturgill Simpsons, your War On Drugses, and even your Tom Pettys, I kept thinking that it is only a matter of time before we have a full-blown New Cosmic Americana Wave and that Austin’s RF Shannon will surely be one of the shining lights of that new era. My friend, Austin-based designer Lauren Dickens, describes them as, “Coming down from a long psychedelic trip at a honky tonk,” and that is about as perfect of a description as I’ve heard.
Stream Hunting Songs on their bandcamp or purchase the vinyl and/or their great split 7" with Jess Williamson (as well as many other outstanding releases from artists from Austin and beyond) on the Punctum Records website.
9) Eno • Hyde: High Life
The fact that Brian Eno can make an album this cool over forty years into his career is an achievement unto its self, but this isn’t just a good-for-an-old-dude record. This is on the level with his classic 70’s and 80’s work... and it feels forward-looking. Eno is not coasting into retirement, folks; the dude that could out-weird David Byrne, Devo, and David Bowie is still a formidable presence in pop. (Also there is a guy named Hyde involved and I should probably look him up.)
8) Roger Sellers: Primitives
Of the many Austin musicians that I have met and had the pleasure of performing with, Roger Sellers might take the honor of being the one “most likely to succeed.” His new album Primitives, released into our sphere from the rapidly expanding universe of Austin’s Punctum Records, is a vibrant soundscape and an engrossing vision-quest into netherworlds near and far. Rotate if you like Animal Collective, Yes, Caribou, Brian Eno.
7) Radioactivity: Radioactivity
Radioactivity came out in late 2013, but I was blissfully unaware of it until early this year. To me it will always be a 2014 album. Radioactivity is the brain-child of Jeff Burke from the 00’s Texas band The Marked Men, who my “punk” friends tell me is an important band that I should be aware of. This is besides the point; Radioactivity are one of those rare bands that makes me ask, “How do they do it?” These songs are so basic and there is really nothing innovative or revolutionary here... it is just power pop at its finest: perfectly constructed songs that get stuck in your head and performances that are so permeated with raw emotion that they demand your gut to wrench.
6) Parquet Courts: Sunbathing Animal
This is cool indie rock that manages to reference so much other cool, punky-artsy-indie rock from the past (Pavement, Television, The Velvet Underground, etc.) that it’s kind of hard to believe how fresh it sounds. It probably helps that they are incredibly intelligent guys who can skillfully navigate this legacy and that their deep Texas roots allow them to sprinkle a little Americana and blues in there when necessary.
5) St. Vincent: St. Vincent
St. Vincent is St. Vincent fully realized. I am often tempted to say she has gone “full Laurie Anderson” but that isn’t completely accurate. While she is fully embracing her inherent artsy weirdness (and God bless her for it), she is also still a pop hit writing machine and a killer guitarist. So maybe she is more of a David Byrne mixed with Peter Gabriel and Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp and... of course she isn’t any of those dudes. She is completely herself and has achieved the glorious heights of her heroes. Long live Annie Clark.
4) Shabazz Palaces: Lesse Majesty
Speaking truth to power in the midst of a fog of war, racism, and chaos that leaves the truth garbled as it filters through. Seeking the interstellar release of these earthly chains, but being constantly aware of snares all around. Shabazz Palaces is hip hop from the future. Let’s hope other artists answer Ishmael Butler’s call to escort the masses into it.
3) The War On Drugs: Lost In The Dream
At this point I would hope that you would all be aware of the immenseness that is The War On Drugs. Lost In The Dream is their magnum opus—a masterpiece of songwriting, studio technique, and record-nerd scholarship... except not your more common Velvet Underground/college rock-type nerdiness. What's going on here is a deep appreciation of Born In The U.S.A., Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jeff Lynne, and the often derided 80’s-era Bob Dylan records. Lost In The Dream manages to tap into a feeling many of these records had, this weird loneliness enhanced by the juxtaposition of massive, should-be-corny (and often was on those 80’s records) production and great, classic, American songwriting. The parts taken on their own seem like they would up add up to a cheesy whole, but they don’t—the work as a whole is an immersive, soulful experience that you will surely get lost in.
2) Flying Lotus: You’re Dead!
Maximum Maximalist jazz-fusion-electrofunk about everything, but especially the perhaps biggest question of them all, “What is death?” Equal parts heavy spirituality and goofy exuberance. Steven Ellison seems to embrace the mystery and laugh with the spirits. There’s plenty to think about, but there is also plenty to dance about (having Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg on board helps).
1) D’Angelo & The Vanguard: Black Messiah
It was worth the wait. Just when we needed it D’angelo gives us an album that only he could have made—something simultaneously earthy and spiritual, inclusive and generous while fiercely political, soothing yet rattling, personal and universal, retro and progressive, perfectly loose in its perfection. This is also the closest thing we got this year to a Universal album (except perhaps Lost In The Dream). At times Black Messiah is amazingly poppy and accessible, as in “Really Love,” and at other times it is noisy and aggressive, as in “1000 Deaths,” which is arguably the most avant sounding thing to come from a soul singer since, well, anything off of Voodoo. There are distinct echoes of There’s A Riot Goin’ On, Sign ‘O’ The Times, and What’s Going On but it also feels like a vital, contemporary experience. Maybe that’s because things still need to change.
Here’s a Spotify playlist featuring tracks off of all the above albums (other than RF Shannon because they are not on Spotify) plus some extra tracks by artists that almost made the list (Run The Jewels, Future Islands, Viet Cong, etc.)
Yule Log Jams
Back in 2012 I made this whiskey-nog concoction of classic Christmas tunes n’ some fun Holiday camp. Features Otis Redding, The Sonics, James Brown, Vince Guaraldi, and of course some of John Waters’ favorites. Enjoy by the fire in a ridiculous sweater.
TRACKLIST:
Elvis Presley: “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” [Elvis’ Christmas Album]
Darlene Love: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” [A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector]
Paul “Fat Daddy” Johnson: “Fat Daddy” [A John Waters Christmas]
Booker T. & The MG’s: “Silver Bells” [In The Christmas Spirit]
The Sonics: “The Village Idiot” [Here Are The Sonics!!!]
The Sonics: “Santa Claus” [Here Are The Sonics!!!]
Tiny Tim: “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” [Tiny Tim’s Christmas Album]
The Roundtable: “Scarborough Fair” [Folk Is Not A Four Letter Word]
The Trees Community: “Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem” [The Christ Tree]
Vince Guaraldi Trio: “Skating” [A Charlie Brown Christmas]
The Drifters: “White Christmas” [Home Alone: Original Soundtrack]
Jimmy Donley: “Santa! Don’t Pass Me By” [Tear Drop #3007]
Otis Redding: “Merry Christmas Baby” [Soul Christmas]
Pat Bone: “Clinkerated Chimes” [Wavy Gravy: Four Hairy Policemen]
B. Bumble & The Stingers: “Nut Rocker” [Rendezvous R 166-1]
Little Cindy: “Happy Birthday Jesus” [A John Waters Christmas]
Vince Guaraldi Trio: “My Little Drum” [A Charlie Brown Christmas]
The Ronettes: “Sleigh Ride” [A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector]
Elvis Presley: “Blue Christmas” [Elvis’ Christmas Album]
Booker T. & The MG’s: “Jingle Bells” [In The Christmas Spirit]
James Brown: “Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto” [James Brown’s Funky Christmas]
Akim & The Teddy Vann Production Company: “Santa Claus Is A Black Man” [Aimtone 45]
The Chipmunks: “The Chimpmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)” [Christmas With The Chipmunks]
Martin Mull: “Santa Doesn’t Cop Out On Dope” [Mulling It Over: Musical Oeuvre View]
Clarence Carter: “Back Door Santa” [Testifyin’]
Stormy Weather: “Christmas Time Is Coming” [MgcMo Single]
Rita Faye Wilson: “Sleigh Bells, Reindeer & Snow” [MGM 45]
Donny Hathaway: “This Christmas” [Soul Christmas]
The Coctails: “First Snowfall” [Winter Wonderland EP]
The Beatles: “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)” [Free as a Bird Single]
Halloween
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Dig this mix I originally made 2010. Spooky n’ weird garage rock, rockabilly, etc. I should make another one of these for next year.
TRACKLIST:
The Sonics: “The Witch” [Here Are The Sonics!!!]
The One Way Streets: “Jack the Ripper” [Radio Cramps: The Purple Knif Show]
Link Wray & His Ray Men: “The Shadow Knows” [Rumble!]
Eddie Noack: “Psycho” [K-Ark 45]
The Graveyard Five: “The Marble Orchard” [Stanco 45]
Trailer: “Cannibal Girls”
Roky Erickson & The Aliens: “Bloody Hammer” [The Evil One]
The Lollipop Shoppe: “You Must Be A Witch” [Just Colour]
Monocles: “Spider & The Fly” [Pebbles, Vol. 3: The Acid Gallery]
The Third Rail: “No Return” [ID Music]
Os Mutantes: “Ave Lucifer” [A Divina Comédia Ou Ando Meio Desligado]
Sebastian Peabody: “Grave In The Desert” [Wavy Gravy: Four Hairy Policemen]
Trailer: “Astro Zombies”
Misfits: “Astro Zombies” [Misfits]
Boomer & Travis: “Foul Owl” [In The Heat Of The Night: Original Soundtrack]
King Horror: “Loch Ness Monster” [Loch Ness Monster]
Trailer: “Naked Under Leather”
Johnny Lance (aka Moses Longpiece): “The Big Tragedy” [Brent 7043]
Trailer: “Graveyard Tramps”
Novas: “The Crusher” [Back From The Grave, Vol. 1]
Bobby Fuller & The Fanantics: “Our Favorite Martian” [Legends Of Guitar: Surf, Vol. 1]
Jackie Morningstar: “Rockin’ In The Graveyard” [Rockin’ Bones: 1950s Punk & Rockabilly]
Trailer: “The Vault Of Horror”
Porter Waggoner: “Rubber Room” [Rubber Room]
Trailer: “The Virgin Witch”
Igor & The Maniacs: “The Big Green” [Wavy Gravy For Adult Enthusiasts]
Trailer: “Frogs”
Larry & The Blue Notes: “Night Of The Phantom” [Back From The Grave, Vol. 1]
Gonn: “Blackout Of Gretely” [Emir Records #SS-9217]
The Bees: “Voices Green & Purple” [Pebbles, Vol. 3: The Acid Gallery]
Misfits: “Halloween II” [Collection II]
Psychedelic and/or Garage Albums You Need To Hear, Vol. 1
I originally emailed this list to a good friend, Tim Hodgin, back in 2012. Tim and I were both DJs at KVRX in Austin back in college and he asked me to send him a list of garage and/or psych albums I thought were kind of “essential” without putting anything too obvious on the list (ie. the Nuggets or Back From The Grave compilations, Sgt. Pepper, Are You Experienced?... anything like that).
I, of course, am using the terms “psychedelic” and “garage” fairly loosely and I definitely do not mean to say that the two genres are synonymous—Billy Childish is usually garage without ever being psychedelic and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is definitely psychedelic, but is very, very far from the garage. I use the terms together because there is much overlap and because it is often in this overlap that I find the most joy (regardless of era).
Vol. 2 to come!
~~~~~
Arthur Brown: The Crazy World Of... (1968) The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown is the James Brown of British, post-Sgt. Pepper psychedelic/impressionistic rock-operas about Hell. ’Nuff said right? But seriously folks, you’ve probably heard the hit single “Fire” (remember “I AM THE GOD OF HELL FIRE AND I BRING YOU... FIRE!”??); that’s a good taste of the album. Arthur Brown and his band wail pentecostal. It’s over-the-top theatrical, freaky shit. Imagine Their Satanic Majesty’s Request performed by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins backed by the Doors... yeah, that’s about right.
Dig this “live” version of “Nightmare”.
The Yardbirds: Roger The Engineer (1966) A lot has been said about how The Yardbirds are important for incubating Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck... but who gives a shit, right? The Yardbirds are bitchin’ on their own merits, regardless of their connection to rock ‘n’ roll royalty. This album is a 60’s milestone that shreds harder and bends your mind more than just about anything else from the era. Jeff Beck is a genius of feedback and psychedelic tones. Everything is infused with all that is good about blues, garage, raga and heavy psychedelia... and this is a year before Are You Experienced?
“Happenings Ten Years Time Ago”
Wavy Gravy for Adult Enthusiasts... Various Weird Recordings From The 50’s & 60’s, Vol. 1 (Unknown) Surprisingly little can be found on the internet about this record... but lemme tell you brother, it’s a must listen. It’s a boss mix of garage rock, novelty songs, dark country ballads, radio ads for B horror films and adult party records. “Go Go Gorilla” by The Shandells is one of the gnarliest garage-soul dance tunes you’ll ever hear and “Psycho” by Eddie Noack is probably the creepiest country song of all time. Fuckin’ WEIRD and fuckin’ AWESOME. I like to imagine that Danzig listens to this album while reading Tales From The Crypt. Supposedly there is at least another volume out there called Wavy Gravy: Four Hairy Policeman... but it’s even harder to track down...
The Juveniles: “Hey Bo Diddley”
The Tony Williams Lifetime: Turn It Over (1970) Most people label this album “jazz” or “jazz fusion,” but this album is absolutely one of the angriest slabs of psychedelic punk ever waxed. The fact that these guys are all also accomplished jazz players just helps them freak-out harder. Tony Williams was the drummer for Miles Davis’ classic 60’s quintet. Around the time Miles started digging on Sly Stone, Tony became obsessed with the harder psychedelic rock from bands like Cream and the Velvet Underground. Lifetime is his outfit for exploring that genre and features John McLaughlin (who would go on to play on Davis’ seminal electric sessions that would produce albums like Bitches Brew, etc.), Jack Bruce from Cream, and avant-organist Khalid Yasin (aka Larry Young). This album is their best and wildest work.
“To Whom it May Be Concerned—Them” & “To Whom it May Be Concerned—Us”
Guitar Player Magazine Presents: Legends Of Guitar—Surf, Vol. 1 (1991) This is the holy grail of surf guitar, man... the best comp I’ve heard anyway. A lot of these tunes are incredibly obscure cannot be found anywhere else. Why Rhino Records didn’t keep this in print is beyond me. Start with “Tally Ho!” by P.J. & the Galaxies for a rare example of “jangle-surf.” Many of the tracks I used on this mix—http://8tracks.com/j_gamma/let-s-go-surfin—are from Legends... (though some are labeled as their original single numbers).
Eddie & The Showmen: “Squad Car”
The Sonics: Here Are The Sonics!!! (1965) & Sonics BOOM (1966) I don’t really think I have to explain to you why The Sonics are like totally one of the gnarliest bands ever, do I?
The 13th Floor Elevators: The Psychedelic Sounds of... (1966) & Easter Everywhere (1967) [or Music of the Spheres boxset (2011)] This is another one that I feel like kind of goes without saying... BUT it is really important to once again state the fact that these Texas boys are THE ULTIMATE PSYCHEDELIC BAND. Psychedelic Sounds is perfect punk rock, equal parts adolescent aggression and psychedelic philosophy, and Easter Everywhere is the quintessential sun-drenched cosmic revelation. Nothing surpasses this. (Their other recordings are all also excellent, if not quite on the level of the first two official releases. Music of the Spheres is the only place you can get everything.)
The Golden Dawn: Power Plant (1968) The Elevators’ sister-band’s only album. It in many ways equals Roky n’ Co. Similar psychedelic/spiritual Texas vibe.
Pebbles, Vol. 3: The Acid Gallery (1979, vinyl / 1992, extended CD reissue) The Pebbles comps are obvious, I know, but this one really stands out from the rest of ’em because it is so fuggin’ WEIRD. Instead of your typical teenage garage bands aping the ’Stones and the Who, a lot of these boys were dropping acid liberally and aping FRANK ZAPPA and CPT BEEFHEART. It makes for a really strange trip.
Teddy & His Patches: “Suzy Creamcheese”
Jefferson Handkerchief: “I’m Allergic To Flowers”
Billy Childish: 25 Years of Being Childish (2002) THEE father of modern garage rock. Without this guy, there’d be no White Stripes, no Thee Oh Sees, possibly no garage rock revival at all... but he’s been in so many damn bands and has put out so many damn albums it’s really hard to know where to start. This is a good place to start. It’s got goodies by all his important bands: The Pop Rivets, Thee Milkshakes, Thee Mighty Caesars, Thee Headcoats, Buff Medways...
Revisited: my favorite albums from the past decade
I originally wrote this on 03 NOV 2009, but it is an interesting revisit (for me anyway), and it seems appropriate to start this new blog with a few looks back.
If I were writing this now, some things would certainly be different; Arcade Fire would probably be a lot lower for one, and I certainly would add Ponytail’s fantastic 2008 album Ice Cream Spiritual and The Strange Boys’ Nothing 7", both of which I somehow left off despite the fact that I listened to both incessantly towards the end of the last decade. This is not about changing the past, however, it’s about revisiting it.
It is also interesting to note that I was still in my weird “no caps” phase at this point.
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ok. it seems like these are pretty popular right now, so i think i’ll throw in my two cents as any good amateur critic would.
my 20 favorite albums from 2000-2009:
1) Radiohead: Kid A (2000)
this will probably top a lot of these lists, and i can’t argue. this album is simply beautiful and it was eye-opening for me—electronic music doesn't have to suck, pop can be painterly and symphonic w/out sounding like “sgt. pepper’s lonely hearts club band”, weird crap can become intensely popular, etc.
2) Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
actually this was my introduction to wilco, and i got see them at the first acl fest—before it got so crowded that you couldn’t breathe—soon after. this album is great: noisy and quiet and gorgeous, spacey and earthy simultaneously too.
3) Arcade Fire: Funeral (2004)
i guess this is sorta when “indie broke”, right? this was so much the soundtrack for the mid-00’s that it can’t not be on this list. this album is a permanent chunk of my brain.
4) Panda Bear: Person Pitch (2007)
i was pretty late getting into the animal collective craze, as a matter of fact, it took panda bear’s amazing 2007 solo album for me to go back and listen to animal collective intently. needless to say, i get it now, but i still think this album is better than anything else a.c. related. it’s like floating in a warm bathtub the size of the ocean and listening to pet sounds while pleasantly high as a kite.
5) Fugazi: The Argument (2001)
this might be a culmination of the 90’s more than a beginning to the 00’s... or it might be the pinnacle of the multi-decade dischord records epic tale. regardless, it’s probably fugazi’s best record and that’s a huge-effin-deal. listen to this really loud. right now!
6) Outkast: Stankonia (2000)
around the time that “stankonia” came out, i had just about completely abandoned the notion of ever liking contemporary hip-hop, but then came the sly & the family stone of hotlanta to save the day (andre being sly and big boi being his family’s stones, if you get my drift). they reclaimed my faith by making popular hip-hop once again about more than (just) big booties, gang violence and machismo and by being so damn FUNKY.
7) Beck: Sea Change (2002)
i’d always liked beck, but this is when i decided that i loved beck. i think i read somewhere that at this point everyone was expecting beck to become our generation’s bowie-like musical chameleon or sumthin. that didn’t happen, but this album has so many good things going for it: country-folk sadness, day-glo-bubble-psych orchestrations, great songs, etc.
8) Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)
see number 4 first.
9) MIA: Arular (2005)
new version of “world music”, the rise of internet distribution and hype... you’ve read all those reviews, right? bottom line: this is a really good party album.
10) Sufjan Stevens: Come On Feel The Illinoise (2005)
there is something really universal and timeless about this record, like a neil young album.
11) Yo La Tengo: And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out (2000)
i was also a little late getting into yo la tengo (i think it was around 2006 that i really started digging on ’em), but when i went back to search through their catalog, it was this quiet, romantic album that really stood out.
12) My Morning Jacket: It Still Moves (2003)
this is my favorite mmj album. i can totally see the argument that “z” is their best (and i totally cannot see the argument that “evil urges” is), but i think “it still moves” has everything that made the band great; the cozy, fireside country-romance of “mahgeeta” and “golden”, the explosive, psychedelic-ballroom-thrash of “one big holiday” and “easy morning rebel”, etc. this is the album they had to make for “z” to exist and for fleet foxes to get a record deal.
13) Deerhunter: Microcastle / the Weird Era Cont. (2008)
gorgeous, hazy, guitar-driven, shoegazedelica is back and deerhunter is why. god bless ’em.
14) The White Stripes: White Blood Cells (2001)
anybody who knows me very well at all knows that 60’s garage rock ‘n’ roll has always been a cornerstone of my music taste. when i first heard the ’stripes i was a little perturbed, “who are these art school dweebs ripping off MY favorite bands.” oh wait, that's why they are SO GOOD.
15) Sonic Youth: Murray Street (2002)
believe it or not, my first run-in with sonic youth was at the tender age of 7 when i overheard the album “dirty” in a record store with my dad. i thought the stuffed animal on the cover was awesome/creepy-as-crap and also thought that the dissonant guitar noise sounded like the stuff i would “write” when i played my dad’s guitar. i assumed that they were one of those bands that had died with kurt cobain, until this album came out and reintroduced me (and i think a lot of people) to a band that has since become one of my all time favorites.
16) Dirty Projectors: Rise Above (2007)
i have a soft spot for this album. it plays to a lot of my guilty pleasures: conceptual art, 80’s hardcore, complicated afro/prog/jazz reinterpretations of things that are supposed to be simple. i am more than a little ashamed to say that i still have not listened to “bitte orca” all the way through...
17) Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: House Arrest (2003/2006)
i read somewhere that ariel pink wanted this to sound like how you remember songs in your head. i think that's a pretty good description.
18) The Wrens: Meadowlands (2003)
this is just one of those perfect indie albums that sounds like a perfect indie album.
19) Sigur Rós: Agaetis Byrjun (2001)
PRETTY.
20) Bob Dylan: Love & Theft (2001)
let me first state that 1997’s “time out of mind” is one my favorite albums of all time. “love & theft” was the final album in a string of brilliant albums (1989’s “oh mercy” being the first) that make up dylan’s most recent golden age.
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