Swamp Guinea Fever Part 3

Back in November, Ichiban hostess Debbie D posted both sides of an oddball local Georgia 45 by the daughters of the owner of a local fish camp type restaurant. The songs detailed the menu and locale of a long-gone eatery outside of Athens called the Swamp Guinea, which opened its doors in 1961 and went out of business in the early 80s. Then Devlin posted a 1973 Daily News article about a tornado that pummeled the vicinity of the restaurant and a reader followed up with an extensive comment about actually being at the Swamp Guinea when the tornado struck.

So to keep the mania in motion, I dug through the archives of the University of Georgia student newspaper (The Red & Black) to unearth a 1966 Swamp Guinea restaurant review and a few old ads that do a good job conveying what kind of joint it was. The Swamp Guinea's ads can't always be trusted, though. For example, a 1967 ad (above right) that mentions the location as being 10 miles west of Athens, though it was really east of town. Hey, they were too busy fryin' fish to mess with proofreading!

The restaurant featured down home favorites like fried fish (catfish, perch AND flounder!) as well as fried chicken, barbecued pork, ham and steaks, among other crowd-pleasers. But the food was not the only attraction. As we learn from the ads, the Swamp Guinea also offered patrons the opportunity to browse antiques, as well as enjoy miniature golf and a full-blown driving range!

1972


1981


Lonzo & Oscar - Catfish Dinner (MP3, other than the topic this record has no connection to the restaurant)

TURKEY TUESDAY TV TIME

Johnny "Guitar" Watson

Cooleys Lounge, Detroit Michigan
Johnny "Guitar" Watson - The Eagle Is Back (45)

Chuck Berry Interview 1956

Chuck Berry interview with Red Robinson 1956

WARD KIMBALL IS SWELL

Built circa 1887, the Palms Depot became part of the Pacific Electric railway in 1911 and continued to provide service until 1953. The Palms Depot was saved from oblivion in 1975 and Ward Kimball contributed $7000 to help locate it where it currently serves as the visitors center.

D for Delinquent

Ray Smith - Makes Me Feel Good

Happy New Year

Tony Rodelle Larson - Bear Rug (45)

NEW YEAR'S EVE SOCIABLE SUPPLIES

Sin On Wheels

The Loved Ones - La Da Do Da Da (45)

Rex's Top Ten For 2009

Succumbing to vast listener demand, Rex has authored a Top Ten List for 2009. Here are this year's nominees:

1)Hank Ballard "Nothing But Good" Boxed Set (Bear Family)

Our RnB Godhead finally gets the lavish reissue treatment he so richly deserves.

2)Trashmen at the WFMU Record Fair.
Ringo may hate 'em, but the first ever appearance by the T-Men in NYC will never be forgotten. Re-live the magic thanks to Martin Waters Here!

3)Bo Diddley "Ride On" 2-CD (Hip-O-Select)

Several unissued cuts here reaffirm Bo's stature as the greatest American ever. "Bring Them Back Alive" is required listening.

4)The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics.

You can keep the Koran...this is our sacred text.

5)Sun Ra "Rocket Ship Rock" LP/CD (Norton)

Previously unissued takes from Yochanan (The Space Age Vocalist) just when the world needed them the most.


6)Tito's Tacos Culver City, California

Cheap in the best sense of the word. Greasy in the best sense of the word.

7)Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan of the Flamin' Groovies at Southpaw, Brooklyn, NY.
What a thrill to see the legendary San Francisco band that gave a stiff middle-finger to all the dull, dopey 60s hippy-dippies that ruined that region.

8)Warren Oates: A Wild Life (Screen Classics) by Susan A. Compo.
An unsung hero of the silver screen who brought an unhinged intensity to every role he ever played.

9)R&B Humdingers CD series
A great six volume (and counting?) set of 50s/60s vocal group and R&B rarities filled with Fool's Paradise favorites...highly recommended for your home stereo collection.

10)The Bobbettes and the Ponderosa Stomp at Lincoln Center (and on WFMU).
Hear them sing the censored, original version of "Mr. Lee" on the special Music to Spazz By broadcast!

And, of course, the launch of the Rock and Soul Ichiban blog and webstream (where the Hell else would you see a Fool's Paradise Top Ten?)

TURKEY TUESDAY

Fill a glass with the wildest of 101 and wiggle your way in front of the Admiral, tonight's episode of The Rockford Files is sure to be boss ! It's Turkey Tuesday !

THE CRAMPS-LIVE 1981

Happy New Year

The Orioles - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Music To Spazz By will be blastin' into 2010 with SIX FREAKIN' HOURS of rock & roll noise from 8PM til 2AM!