Huey Meaux Dead At 82

The devil finally caught up with Huey Meaux last week and we here at the Ichiban Head Office could not let that go unnoticed. Before all the gory details of his wicked personal life became public, it was hard not to marvel at Huey Meaux's remarkable accomplishments as a producer. Huey was one of the primary architects of swamp pop music - Gulf Coast Rock and Roll - epitomized by Meaux-produced hits like "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" by Jivin' Gene and Joe Barry's "I'm A Fool To Care". Then there were all the hits Meaux scored with Barbara Lynn, Freddie Fender, and Doug Sahm. But best of all were all the oddball records the man released on both major labels and hopelessly obscure imprints. Like Kim Fowley, a Huey Meaux credit on a 45 meant something interesting, strange and possibly disturbing was in store. Huey was also the most passionate (and pill-fueled) deejay to ever man a microphone--surpassed only by Dewey Phillips for pure broadcast mayem.

Here is some random weirdness from the Crazy Cajun including a sheet from his personal "memeaux" pad purloined from his office, an extended aircheck from an early 80s Meaux show on KUT in Austin, TX and perhaps the most disturbing Christmas 45 ever! As the Crazy Cajun himself would say, "you better sure believe it!!!"

Huey Meaux on WFMU's Aircheck (mp3)

The Weird Beard & Crazy Cajun - T'was A Weird Nite Before Christmas (mp3)




Editor's note: Don't miss this youtube clip of the Crazy Cajun in action on KPFT!

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Billy Barty On His Wedding Day, 1962

MEAN MUSIC MACHINE

Radioactivity

By Takeshi Tadatsu

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Caravan With Thumbs

Thumbs Carllile - Caravan (2:03)

If you're going to listen to only one country jazz version of Caravan today, I nominate the Thumbs Carllile version, recorded for the LP Roger Miller Presents Thumbs Carlille. Yes, his name was misspelled on the LP, as it often was throughout his life. At the time of the album's release, he was playing guitar in Miller's band.

And I hope you didn't miss the Thumbs video clip posted here the other day.

Now Playing At The Fool's Paradise Twin

 

Colossus Of New York

b/w

Netflix it!

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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