Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Please Stand By
Chief Adler informs me that the Ichiban webstream will be down for routine maintenance today at Noon.
Homework
Monday, July 2, 2012
Sir Doug Serves Up The Bacon Fat
Sir Douglas Quintet - Bacon Fat
Welcome back to Doug Sahm Month. Yesterday we served up the SDQ's version of The Rains Came, so tonight we'll check out the other side of this astonishingly superb 45. Despite what the label here says, Bacon Fat was written by the larger than life R&B kingpin Andre Williams. I have no idea how the name Syd Nathan (president of King records in Cincinnati) was listed as the author. In any event, the Sir Douglas Quintet really nails this one. It's one of my all time favorite 45s.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Crack The Whip (Don't Follow This Advice!)
The following post comes to us from reader Bruce Lagerquist, a tenacious researcher who emails me with some regularity regarding odd facts about some of the obscure records and singers whose music I've posted here. Don't try to give him the slip, he'll find you. / Greg
Allan Copeland and his Hot Rodders - Crack The Whip
Whatever you do, don't follow the advice found on this 45. I did and I now wish I hadn't. I bought a whip, and just like Allan told me to I used it. I had problems with the girlfriend - CRACK....SLAM, she's gone. The dog wouldn't stop barking - CRACK...CHOMP, part of my leg is gone. When my Mom wouldn't stop talking, CRACK...WHAM, I have a purse imprint on my face and I'm no longer in the will. Luckily, I have no children or who knows what might've happened. So much for the whip, it's bad advice so don't follow it. Who the hell came up with the advice anyway? With my life in ruins and vengeance in my heart, I turned to the net and started to search. Here's what I found.
Arwin Records - The name comes from combining the names of two publishing firms, Artist Records and Daywin Music. The outfit was owned by Doris Day and her husband and (mis)manager Marty Melcher. If Arwin rings a bell, it's probably because it was the original home of those squeaky clean surf kids Jan and Dean, still known as Jan and Arnie at that point.
The Frank Comstock Orchestra - Frank was not only the composer of the Rocky & Bullwinkle theme, making him a god amongst men, but was also responsible for composing and arranging music for Adam-12, Dragnet, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Ensign O'Toole, McHale's Navy, F-Troop, Pete Kelly's Blues, The D.A.'s Man, Temple Houston, and The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. I'm currently working on deciding the best place in my house to build a Frank Comstock shrine. On top of everything else, Comstock worked as an arranger for the Les Brown Orchestra, arranged, orchestrated or conducted music for many Warner Brothers' films, including The Jazz Singer, Some Like It Hot and Hello Dolly. He even scored four Mr. Magoo theatrical animated shorts, and when Disney came calling he signed on to arrange music for their theme parks. My theory? He never slept; no one can do that much in a regular lifetime.
Allan Copeland - Copeland, who generally used only one "L" in his first name, got his start as a choir boy in the Robert Mitchell Boys Choir before moving on to acting. He appeared in such classics as Angels With Dirty Faces, Going My Way, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, and Yankee Doodle Dandy. In the early 50s, he joing the singing group the Modernairs and eventually formed his own group, the Allan Copeland Singers. Like Frank Comstock he must have never slept because he also wrote charts for Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme and was the choral director for Bing Crosby's Christmas TV shows. Here's a clip of Allan on the Bob Crosby Show. He sort of makes Pat Boone look light a tough guy, doesn't he?
The Hot Rodders - they must have been fake hot rodders. Or more likely some crack group of studio pros just as photogenic and perky as Allan himself. And I bet their hot rods were Cadillacs.
Frank Lloyd - was a veryfrequent co-writer of Allan's; they have over 600 songs registered with ASCAP. And like like all the others on this record he was a talented arranger. Lloyd wrote much of the music for Doris Day's 1967 feature film The Ballad Of Josie.
I'm betting this record was a joke, a poke at Rock and Roll, the newest craze of the moment, by a bunch of guys who didn't really care too much for it or about it. It's something they probably worked up at the end of a session for a laugh and to give Frank's group a chance to cut loose (and that's exactly what they do in one glorious instrumental break).
UPDATE - last weekend I had the chance to talk with Crack The Whip writer and singer Allan Copeland during his appearance on a radio show. Well, sort of. Let's just say it didn't go exactly as planned. Copeland appeared, along with Peter Marshall of Hollywood Squares' fame, on DJ Peggy King's big band radio show on WYYR. I was instructed to call in at a specific time to request the song. It would be quite a surprise for Allan and I'd get a chance to ask his some questions about the record, or so Peggy predicted. Unfortunately, my questions went unasked and unanswered. At the first utterance of "Crack The Whip" Allan reacted as though a bastard child from a one-night stand had shown up at the door and proclaimed "I'm here Dad!" He immediately slammed the door shut in his song's face and proclaimed "I'm not going to talk about it!" Even with the cajoling of the host (and also fellow guest Peter Marshall), he refused to speak of it and clearly wanted to move on as quickly as possible. He claimed he'd spent all of his life and most of his money trying to bury Crack The Whip. Looks like his efforts were in vain as it's now resurfaced. Evidently the grave he dug wasn't deep enough or maybe it's just too good of a song to be buried. Have a listen, you decide.
The Rains Came (Doug Sahm Month)
The Rains Came, written by the fabled Texas music man Huey P. Meaux, was originally recorded in 1962 as a tender ballad by Big Sambo And The House Wreckers and released as the flipside of their storming R&B stomper At The Party. Hear them both (in the same clip) over on YouTube.
The Sir Douglas Quintet got hold of it three years later and turned it into a unbelievably catchy organ-led rocker. As with the Big Sambo version, Meaux was handling the production duties.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Get Down!
Figured it was time to share my flood damged copy of Get Down by Harvey Scales and the Seven Sounds. Awwwright!
Drug Mania @ Fool's Paradise Twin
THIS WEEKEND !!
GET DOWN !
with
THE PLEASURE LOVERS !!with
ENTER THEIR WANTON WORLD
of
PSYCHEDELIC ECSTASY !!!
PSYCHEDELIC ECSTASY !!!
FIRST...
Taste a moment of madness...listen to the sound of purple !
Taste a moment of madness...listen to the sound of purple !
PSYCH-OUT
(1968, dir. Richard Rush)
THEN...
Bizarre...Weird...Wild...They're the
HALLUCINATION GENERATION
PROGRAM BEGINS AT DUSK
ONLY THOSE OVER 17 ADMITTED • LEGIBLE PROOF OF AGE REQUIRED
(1966, dir. Edward Mann)
FULL SERVICE SNACK BAR
featuring:
featuring:
Tasty corndogs! Refreshing beverages! Savory BBQ!
...and - for this engagement only - SMITH BROS. COUGH DROPS !!
...and - for this engagement only - SMITH BROS. COUGH DROPS !!
*No Outside Food Or Drink*
PROGRAM BEGINS AT DUSK
ONLY THOSE OVER 17 ADMITTED • LEGIBLE PROOF OF AGE REQUIRED
THE FOOL'S PARADISE TWIN ACCEPTS
JAMES BROWN BLACK & BROWN STAMPSWednesday, June 27, 2012
The Rules Of The Game - According to AIP
As stated above, the American International Pictures credo. Of course, the same goes double for the Fool's Paradise Twin Drive-In.
(Excerpted from The I Was A Teenage Juvenile Delinquent Rock'n'Roll Horror Beach Party Movie Book – A Complete Guide To The Teen Exploitation Film: 1954-1969, Alan Betrock, St. Martin's Press, 1986)
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Honky Tonk Mondays
Join us tonight at the Rock Shop in Brooklyn for a live taping of the Gowanus All-Stars! Free. 8 PM.
WFMU T-shirt to the best rebel yell in attendance!! Stay tuned for air date.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
A-Bones Alert!
The mighty A-Bones return to the Bowery this Tuesday night to play a benefit for Fly's Eye 3D, presented by filmmaker Henry Jones! Fresh from rocking the Brooklyn Aquarium last night, the heroes of Ichiban Rock 'n' Soul will be appearing with the Fleshtones and Nervous Rex at the Bowery Electric. Djs include Todd-o-phonic Todd and Dany Johnson!! Doors at 7. $10.00.
More info on Henry Jones provided by Bruce Bennett.
Gary Usher Month - Ridin' Trails
The Kickstands - Ridin' Trails
In 1964, Gary Usher was a hired hand on The Kickstands' motorcycle-themed Capitol LP Black Boots And Bikes. The record ended up featuring four tunes written by Usher and frequent co-hort Roger Christian, as well as another by Usher only. The album featured the vocal talents of Gary Usher, as well as a couple of the guys in the photo above - Dennis McCarthy and Dick Burns, who handles lead vocals on this track.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Haulin' Honda
Here's a fiery Hondells instrumental, as done by the both the Hondells and the Untamed Youth.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Barbara Steele weekend @ Fool's Paradise Twin !
"She didn't need make-up, she just had those eyes... !"
- Poison Ivy of The Cramps, describing BARBARA STEELE
FIRST...
BLACK SUNDAY
(1960, dir. Mario Bava)
THEN...
CASTLE OF BLOOD
(1964, dir. Sergio Corbucci)
AND FINALLY...
TERROR-CREATURES
FROM THE GRAVE
(1965, dir. Ralph Zucker)
FULL SERVICE SNACK BAR
featuring:
featuring:
Tasty corndogs! Refreshing beverages! Savory BBQ!
...and - for this engagement only - PASTA FA-GHOUL !!
...and - for this engagement only - PASTA FA-GHOUL !!
*No Outside Food Or Drink*
THE FOOL'S PARADISE TWIN ACCEPTS
JAMES BROWN BLACK & BROWN STAMPS
Hot Rod High (Alternate Version)
Thanks to Rob Santos for sending us this alternate version of the Hondells doing "Hot Rod High" from one of his Gary Usher acetates!
Hondells Pic Sleeve Comes To Life!
Here's a 1965 Hondells clip that serves as a companion piece to Johnny Bartlett's eloquent Gary Usher post from a bit earlier today. Check out how the pic sleeve in Johnny's post comes to life in a frenzy of lip-synching insanity! Scroll down a post or two to check out the sleeve in question.
Johnny "Big Hand" Bartlett For Gary Usher Month
Gary Usher Month??? Seems a rather insignificant amount of time to dedicate to a man that I've based my whole life on. But maybe I'm a bit eccentric in this regard. However, we agree that the man should be honored, and that's boss.
You're reading this so you're probably smarter than the average ho-dad and know all about the teen tycoon of traction. But let me tell you my perspective.
When I started buyin' records at the tender age of ten--this was 1975--finding early Beach Boys records for a quarter at garage sales was a lead-pipe cinch. And what I noticed is that the name Gary Usher appeared on the writing credits of all my favorite tunes. Fast forward five years when I got into other surf and hot rod music and I kept noticing those magical words that appeared all over the place, thusly (G. Usher-R. Christian). Whether it was the Hondells, The Kickstands, The Super Stocks, The Revells, etc., there was that uncommon denominator that makes all those records so special. And when you throw the name Richie Podolor into the mix your motorcycle-jargoned brain starts doin' wheelies right outta your skull.
So clearly, Gary U. and Roger C. must have gotten together and said, hey, we can make some ginchy music for today's youth. And they did. And how.
But of all those aforementioned studio masterpieces, The Hondells are standouts. And they almost appear to be a real band. Matching sweaters? Check. Matching motorcycles? Check. Matching pompadours? Check. Sure, you could say that Gary Usher knew his audience and wrote accordingly. But I think it's a bit deeper than that. I think he was writing from experience (he met Brian Wilson at the drag strip cuz he was a bona fide motor head). His undeniable talent for songwriting, storytelling and musical production (after all, he was like Phil Spector, but better) made for one great platter after another. The Hondells were the perfect vehicle (pardon the pun) for him.
They released 2 perfect LPs and countless 45s (some of the later ones are well worth avoiding). One 45 worth noting is their cover of Jody Reynold's Endless Sleep. Wow, they took a depressing dirge about a teenage girl drowning and made it into an up-tempo toe tapper. BRILLIANT!
Another great Hondells 45 is My Buddy b/w You're Gonna Ride With Me. Sure, both those songs are on their eponymously titled second LP. You see it was Ichiban's very own Debbie D that gave me my copy of the picture sleeve, replete with hole in the center of the sleeve courtesy of some thrift store peg, no doubt (see figure 1). This gift ensured her a lifetime membership to the Hillsdale Records Free 45 Club (an elite subset of humanity in which, not coincidentally, Greg G is also a cardholder).
I could go on, but really the best thing for you to do is scour the record bins for anything that says (G. Usher-R. Christian). Because all the waxing poetic in the world can't compare with 10 seconds of Honda Holiday. (mp3)
 |
| Figure 1 |
Editor's Note: I also got Harvey Scales' Loveitis b/w Get Down in that same thrift score!
Johnny Bartlett and I have been pen pals since the early '90s, when I wrote to the Phantom Surfers Fan Club!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Ichiban Live!
Thursdays 1-3 PM - Matt Fiveash, 3-5 PM - Ted Barron
Fridays 3-5 PM - Debbie D
Saturdays 11 PM - 2 AM - Live From The Admiral W/ Dr. Filth & Greg Cartwright
Times Square - - - 48 years ago today
Sam Cooke - Shake (2:52)
On June 18, 1964, forty-eight years ago today, Times Square got a brand new billboard - one ordered specifically to promote Sam Cooke's upcoming appearance at New York's Copacabana club. Source: Dream Boogie: The Triumph Of Sam Cooke (2005) by Peter Guralnick.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Papa Ooh Mow Mow
 |
| Shoot the tube |
Years back there was a great fad among the younger set to punctuate their speech with "bop" or so-called hip expressions. The new fad is even more way out and that is surfin' talk. This glossary will give you a basic insight into the world of the surfer.
Baggies - Trunks that Surfers wear.
Boss - The greatest.
Gremmie - Pseudo surfer. He plays the role but doesn't really surf.
Hang Ten - Standing on front of the board with toes over the edge to increase speed.
Hanging Five - Hanging five toes over the nose of the board.
Hoedad - Anyone who puts down surfing or surfes: An enemy of surfers.
Hot Dog - Wide and heavy board.
Hot Dogger - Expert surfer. Does tricks and shows off.
Kaha Huna - Mythical Hawaiian goddess of surfing.
Pipeline - The hollow tubelike middle of a wave just prior to breaking.
Sand Flea - Person who avoids the water, just lies on the sand.
Shooting The Curl - Catching the wave at just the right moment and riding it out.
Shooting The Pier - Dodging in and out of pilings.
Stein - Worst kind of surfer.
Tube - Hollow part of the wave
Waikiki Kuks - Another name for pseudo surfer.
The Wedge - Another name for a wave.
Wipeout - Catching the wave at the wrong time and being thrown from the surfboard.
Woodie - Car that carries surfboard.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
3-WAY MONDO MADNESS @ Fool's Paradise Twin
STRANGE JUNGLE MANHOOD RITES !
SICK OR BIZARRE ? GRUESOME OR NATURAL ?
EXOTIC OR HIDEOUS !?!?
THIS WEEKEND !!
MONDO !
MONDO !!
MONDO !!!
FIRST...
THE ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL !
MONDO CANE
(1962, dir. Paolo Cavara, Gualtiero Jacopetti, Franco Prosperi)
THEN...
WITH NARRATION BY
VINCENT PRICE !
TABOOS OF THE WORLD
(1964, Romolo Marcellini)
AND FINALLY...
STRIP BARS ! TOPLESS GIRL ROCK BANDS ! DRUGS !
JAYNE KNOWS WHERE THE ACTION IS !!
IN
THE WILD, WILD WORLD OF JAYNE MANSFIELD
(1968, Dick Randall)
FULL SERVICE SNACK BAR
featuring:
featuring:
Tasty corndogs! Refreshing beverages! Savory BBQ!
...and - for this engagement only - Fool's Paradise Pu-Pu Platters !!
...and - for this engagement only - Fool's Paradise Pu-Pu Platters !!
*No Outside Food Or Drink*
THE FOOL'S PARADISE TWIN ACCEPTS
JAMES BROWN BLACK & BROWN STAMPSTuesday, June 12, 2012
Happy 80th birthday Charlie!!
Nice alternate take with false start from Feathers & Co. - "Ohhh let's GO!!!"
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Stan Kenton - Rock & Roller
Stan Kenton - Tequila
Saturday, June 9, 2012
BLAXPLOITATION 2nd Big Nite @ Fool's Paradise Twin
Just a reminder to all moto'cycle riders and bunny seat sitters about Part 2 of the Blaxploitation Festival screening this evening at the Fool's Paradise Twin.
Owing to a run on the Fried Bologna Po'boys last night, there will be a substitution this evening at the FP Twin's snack bar:
Wimp's Memorial Macaroni & Cheese
(list of ingredients available upon request)
also
Grape Jell-o
Friday, June 8, 2012
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