Double Indemnity House

Here's a screen capture from Billy Wilder's superb 1944 film noir, Double Indemnity. Thanks to Debbie, I'm now helplessly addicted to the What Was There site, which will let you superimpose old photos on top of newer views -and- dissolve them back and forth, using the plus and minus keys. I'll try not to go too nuts with this trick here on Ichiban, but we'll see.

This is Quebec Drive at La Punta Drive, up in the Hollywood Hills. Go see what it looks like now. I learned about this (and yesterday's Sunset Strip film clip) via a Facebook group called Vintage Los Angeles, which I very highly recommend you check out.

Booker T. & the M.G.s on East McLemore

Here's the Beatles-inspired cover photo of the McLemore Avenue LP, shot just a few yards away from Stax label headquarters at 926 East Mclemore Avenue in Memphis. See how it looks today over on What Was There.

FUN FAVORITE

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

Sunset Strip 1967

This silent clip shows the spectacular beauty of Los Angeles' Sunset Strip, as seen in 1967.

Take The Cowgirls Bowling

Conway Twitty - "Ain't It Sad To Stand and Watch Love Die"

Ain't It Sad To Stand and Watch Love Die - Conway Twitty

Drumble!

Dennis and the Menaces - Drumble

The Westwoods

The answer to New York's A Lonely Town.

I Miss My Surfer Boy Too (mp3)

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Let's Go To The Beach!

Ichiban Live Music Show on Network Awesome!


Get ready for summer with these Beach Blasts from the past!!
 
-The Beach Boys & Annette perform the title track from "The Monkey's Uncle" 1965
-Gary Lewis & The Playboys perform "Malibu Run from the 1966 movie "Out Of Sight"
-Arch Hall Jr. performs his hit "Twist Fever" in the 1962 movie "Wild Guitar" while Nancy Czar works it on out.
-Bob Denver aka Gilligan performs "Ho Daddy" from the 1964 film "For Those Who Think Young"
-Dick Dale performs the song "Swingin' and Surfin'" from Frankie and Annette's "Beach Party" 1963
-Former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley performs the title track to "Get Yourself A College Girl" 1964
-The song "Don't Stop Now" from Frankie and Annette's "Beach Party"
-The Pyramids perform "Bikini Drag" in the 1964 movie "Bikini Beach"
-The Rip Chords perform "Red Hot Roadster" in the 1965 movie "A Swingin' Summer" while Lance Rock works it on out.
-Gary Lewis & The Playboys sing "Little Miss Go Go" for this Scopitone that features a young Teri Garr
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BLUES HANGOVER: CHESTER

KENT MORRILL 1941-2011

The Wailers, 1959. Mr. Morrill is second from the right, on keyboards.

The mighty Kent Morrill, vocalist/keyboardist for the original Wailers departed this mortal coil on Friday, after a four-year struggle with cancer.  His wife reports that he was singing "Louie Louie" in his sleep the previous night, which is about equal portions of comforting and heartbreaking. The Louie Report has the story; the band's official website is here. Condolences to his family and fellow musicians.