Norton Record Cleaning

Here's a picture of the flooded warehouse.

Boxes of records are being transferred to Norton HQ in Prospect Heights.

Bloodshot Bill does the heavy lifting.

Ted and Angie bring the records upstairs.

The gang washes every record and wipes them dry to await new sleeves to a Mad Mike soundtrack.

If you would like to help, call 917-671-7185 or email nortonrec@aol.com.  This will be going on all week.

Norton November On Ichiban

We dedicate the month of November to our heroes over at Norton Records.  Their Brooklyn warehouse was flooded with 4 feet of water during the Frankenstorm.  If you live in Brooklyn and have some free time, please lend a hand in salvaging what's left of the debris.  Volunteers are needed to sort/clean records at Norton HQ in Prospect Heights.  For the address call 917-671-7185 or 718-789-4438 or email nortonrecs@aol.com.  I will see you there!!

James Brown Month: Godfather in the Garage - The Sonics

While what they really do is make me pine for a full-on Etiquette-fi version of a James Brown number, Norton's meltdown of early Sonics tapes, The Savage Young Sonics, features takes on JB's versions of "Night Train", "Hold It" and "Think".

Kicksville Confidential

Torrid Tales From The Wild World Of Norton Records!  Avi Spivak has illustrated an amazing comic filled with ALL TRUE stories from the label with the able stable!!  "Norton's got a six and a half foot cyclops drag queen, a pair of singing siamese twins, an indian with one lung, at least 3 murderers, an elephant thief, about a dozen guys who wear turbans....and we haven't even gotten to Kim Fowley" - Billy Miller/Ugly Things Magazine.  Get it Here!!  Launch party at Desert Island Books Wednesday, November 9th, 7 PM.  Followed by all night rock 'n' roll dance party at Union Pool.  DJ Howie Pyro presiding.  More infos here.

Happy 25th Anniversary Norton Records!!!

Norton Records 25th Anniversary Celebration On Music To Spazz By!!

Tomorrow night on Music To Spazz By, the Norton Records gang will drop by to celebrate 25 rockin' years in show biz.  Expect torrid tales, insane 45s and scores of celebrities from the label with the able stable to check in.  PLUS--the worldwide announcement of the Norton Records Customer of the Year (five years ago, a stunned Robert Plant received this top honor!)

Roy Loney & Cyril Jordan

Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan of the Flamin' Groovies are playing at the Bell House in Brooklyn tonight, backed by the A-Bones. For some reason, the Loney-era Groovies didn't become the biggest band on earth, but they were the best, as good as, and often better than, the Rolling Stones. Don't get me wrong, I love the Stones (almost as much as I hate them, but that's a topic for another post, and if you know me personally it's probably a topic that you have tried to steer me away from after a few drinks), but Flamingo and Teenage Head stand up to their very best material, and the Groovies did it with a lot less money and - probably - lower-quality drugs.
I saw the Roy/Cyril/A-Bones configuration several times, the most recent being last September at One Eyed Jacks in New Orleans where they just flat-out levitated the joint. Since time is of the essence here and we're trying to get the word out about this show, I will spare you any more of my clumsy superlatives and instead leave you with some songs the Groovies taught us. In the meantime, stop reading this and go out and buy Flamingo, Teenage Head, and California Born and Bred and Slow Death. Do it now. Tickets for tonight's show can be purchased here. This is the only show in the USA this time around. You can also catch them this Easter Sunday in London. Check your local listings.

Freddie Cannon - Talahassee Lassie
Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Rock & Roller
Bill Woman Orchestra - Jumpin' Jack Flash
Dr. Ross - Boogie Disease
Rufus Thomas - Tiger Man
Joe Hill Louis - Tiger Man

Hasil Adkins

Hasil Adkins April 29th, 193? - April 26th 2005

Hasil_Adkins_-_My_Home_Town

Celebrate Hasil Adkins Month by listening to some of the records pictured above! Most available from the fine folks at NORTON RECORDS! Also hit your local chicken shack and eat some chicken in Hasil's honor...

(painting by Joe Coleman)


Bonus mp3's

Hasil_on_NPR_1986


Fool's_Paradise_Hasil_Tribute_Part_One

Fool's_Paradise_Hasil_Tribute_Part_Two