Weeki Wachee

Marlin and the Mermaids - At Weeki Wachee 

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Mack The Knife

Generally speaking, I'm a firm believer in staying far, far away from square dance records. There are, however, a few exceptions. Joe Maphis, for instance, released a few square dance instrumentals that are worth hearing for Maphis completists.

Another exception is this oddly captivating version of Mack The Knife, by The Squarenaders, which is almost certainly one of the greatest band names in all the world.

Squarenaders - Mack The Knife (3:47!)

It's A Gas!

Alfred E. Neuman - It's A Gas (2:03)

Roses Are Red And Violets Are Purple

Dang Me (mp3)

The Crazy And The Cool

Let's have Ichiban's boys of May 2011 set the stage for you.

Homer & Jethro - Ballad Of Roger Miller (mp3)

March Is Roger Miller Month On Ichiban

Roger Miller is one of my all time heros.  Second only to Rufus Thomas.  Let's get the biggest hit out of the way.

King Of The Road (mp3)

Fabulous Prizes!!

Tune in and make a pledge to Fool's Paradise this Saturday from 1-3 PM!  You could score this new CD!  Plus, I will personally thank you live on the air!!

$15 or more

Equadors - Sputnik Dance!

Goin' Out To Hollywood (MP3)

Bill Emerson - Goin' Out To Hollywood

So here's a mighty fine record by Bill Emerson, who lays out the inspired tale of a backwoods country boy with a plan to head west to Hollywood, stoked up on visions of movie stardom, limousines, and flashy Fender guitars.

Is it country, rock & roll, or maybe rockabilly? All of the above, I guess, but to tell you the truth I think it's mostly in the ear of the beholder.

Marijuana Grave (MP3)

Sam & Annie Taylor - Marijuana Grave

Here's some first-rate anti-drug propaganda warning of the perils of marijuana use.

Marvin Rainwater Month

Texas Bill Strength - Hillbilly Hades

Rainwater Goes Fuzztone!

Marvin Rainwater - Indian Momma (1:56)

Here's a breathtakingly cool Marvin Rainwater track with some extra snarl provided by a fuzztone guitar.

Don't Knock Elvis (MP3)

Felton Jarvis - Don't Knock Elvis

In celebration of what would've been Elvis Presley's 77th birthday, here's an odd artifact from a very early stage in the career of songwriter and producer Felton Jarvis (1934 - 1981).

Jarvis was Elvis Presley's producer between the years 1966 and 1977, when Presley died. While still struggling to make a name for himself, he recorded this Elvis Presley tribute 45, which was released on the tiny VIVA label in August, 1959. While in the Marines in 1955, Jarvis experienced a life-changing event when was lucky enough to catch a live Elvis Presley show in Norfolk, Virginia.

Upon getting out of the Marines, he returned to Atlanta and went to work as a sheet music printer at Bill Lowery's National Recording Company (NRC). At the time, the label was over-flowing with talented performers who, in less than a decade, would be national stars: Jerry Reed, Mac Davis, Joe South, Ray Stevens and Freddy Weller. Jarvis moved into songwriting and producing, making a name for himself in 1961 by producing Every Beat Of My Heart, the first R&B #1 hit (of eleven, in all) for a local band called the Pips, soon to be renamed Gladys Knight & The Pips. From NRC, Jarvis went to work for the ABC label, where he produced "Sheila" a huge national hit for Tommy Roe, another graduate of Lowery's NRC concern. After a few years at ABC, he moved over to RCA where he and Presley established a solid working relationship that worked out pretty well for both of them.

Marvin Rainwater - The Haircut (MP3)

Marvin Rainwater - The Haircut (2:37)

Marvin's problem? His kid refuses to get a haircut, so Marvin rounds up one of his pals and they hatch a plan give the kid a haircut that even Sgt. Carter would love. Let's just say things don't exactly go according to plan.

New Year's Resolution

Otis Redding & Carla Thomas (mp3)

All I Want For Christmas Is A C.B. (MP3)

Jim Hubler - All I Want For Christmas Is A CB

Arthur Alexander Month

Bobby Flores - Every Day I Have To Cry

Liza Jane

Cecil Surratt & Smitty Smith - Liza Jane (2:03)

Cecil and Smitty absolutely nail it here with their 1960 instrumental country take on an old standard.

Wife Of The Party

Liz Anderson - Wife Of The Party (2:28)

Honeymoon With The Blues (MP3)

Eddie Noack - Honeymoon With The Blues

House Of Guitars

Big thanks to Sid Kleiner over at the House Of Guitars for sending in lots of 45s and reel-to-reels.  Here's my current fave.

Chuck McCloud and The Ramblers - Green, Green Grass Of Home (45)