RANDOM ROCKERS NIGHT

Alright, what we got here is three songs that have been posted before. Go ahead. I'll wait until the whining dies down. That's good, that's a big boy. Let it all out. Okay, now I'll proceed.

These three songs are all excellent examples of the in-the-red recording method, where a little bit of distortion serves to amplify the wildness of the song.  Sometimes it's an accident, sometimes it's not. And when it isn't an accident, when it's intentional, it's either to honor the lo-fi of yore, a by-product of vocal chords shredded by abuse, or just simply to wake the dead (see Guitar Wolf). Two of these are older, late fifties or early sixties, the Nick Curran cut was released in '94. Regardless of the amount of distortion or the source, I'd place them smack dab in the red. They go together well and they hit the spot. What more of a reason do you need?

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Listen:

The Night Raiders - Bip Bop Boom mp3 at Rockabilly Hall
Bunker Hill - The Girls Can't Dance mp3 at Secret Comics
Nick Curran and the Lowlifes - Heebie Jeebies mp3 at Smokestack Lightnin'

NOT SURFING USA

It's hard to believe that Bunker Hill's "The Girl Can't Dance" was released the same year as the Beach Boys' "Surfing USA". Crazy.

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Listen:
Bunker Hill - The Girl Can Dance mp3 at Internet Archive

DIG THE CUSP DAD!

Try as I might to switch directions occasionally just to mix things up, when I run into something really killer, impulse presides. So, no excuses here, just a collection of old rhythm and blues that includes Arthur Crudup (writer of "That's Alright Mama"), Bunker Hill (a shouter that makes Little Richard sound like Pat Boone) and Laurel Aitken (a ska pioneer that did straight up R&B as well), among many, many others. Amos Milburn, Etta James, Rosco Gordon, Wynonie Harris and, shit, a load of people I ain't never heard of. This is some really good shit. Total dance, sweat, drink and get laid, pre-rockabilly, pre-rock-n-roll, get down and get dirty type stuff. Dig it!

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
Amos Milburn - House Party Tonight mp3 at Internet Archive Filthy sax
Laurel Aitken - Boogie In My Bones mp3 at Internet Archive
Bunker Hill - The Girl Can Dance mp3 at Internet Archive Crazy, fully.
Bumps Blackwell - Summin' Jumpin' mp3 at Internet Archive
The Big Bag:
46 more! at Internet Archive NOTE: In the right column, under "Download options" click on "VBR MP3 Files"

FOUR KINDS OF CRAZY

Every time it seems like things are kind of slowing down, in terms of hearing anything that knocks me on my ass, I seem to run into a blog or two that nail it. Good text, wild music, and just the right amount of flippancy. In the right proportions that combination can eat up several nights, and that's probably what's going to happen, so I'll hep you to a handful of cuts at my newest instant favorite, and send you on your way.

On the Record is an unassuming looking blog, until you start poking around. Most of the links, even on the earliest posts are still good, and like I said, there's good text. Historical info, pretty detailed at that, along with snarky asides. Fucking awesome: a record fiend with attitude, and great records. Turn your attention now to first song linked below. That's right, you know him, you love him, you can't live without him, the Great One, Mr. Link Wray. Much fuss has been made here and elsewhere about his sinister licks. This, of course, is what put him on the map. As you may know he's dabbled in singing with mixed results. I honestly never thought one of his vocal songs would become a favorite, but then, I hadn't heard the one I just heard. Feast your ears on "Hidden Charms" by Wray and his Wraymen, circa 1966. That's right, smack dab in the middle of the garage rock explosion, our main man shows those bowl cuts a thing or two. Put it away teenagers, he means business. (Note: The outro is some seriously twisted licks.)

Also at the same site, the gold standard of nuts,"The Girl Can't Dance", which, of course, features the legendary larynx shredding of Bunker Hill. Did you know that it's Wray and his homies backing Hill? Now you do. Speaking of larynx schedding, remember ol' Joyce Harris' version of "Got My Mojo Working"? Of course you do. I was hyperventilating all over it on a post just...shit, it was six years ago. On the Record posted another a cut of hers, "No Way Out", that's as crazy as that earlier one. The last selection below is Dean Carter's cover of "Jailhouse Rock, which answers the question, if you were going to cover that song in 1967, how do you make it relevant? You go batshit crazy, that's how. Dig the guitar solo.

About DivShare, where On the Record hosts their stuff: From the site, click on the "share" button on the embedded DivShare player. A download link will appear (it might say "Link to mp3"). Click on that, it'll take you to DivShare. Once there, click on the green "Download" button. A bit of a hassle, but it will pay dividends.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
Link Wray and the Raymen - Hidden Charms mp3 (via DivShare) at On the Record
Bunker Hill - The Girl Can't Dance mp3 (via DivShare) at On the Record
Joyce Harris - No Way Out mp3 (via DivShare) at On The Record
Dean Carter - Jailhouse Rock mp3 (via DivShare) at On the Record
Visit:
On the Record

LARYNX SHRED FEST

Selective memory seems to correlate with priorities. By that I mean, I forget a lot of things; a lot. But one thing I'm remarkably good at remembering is when I was exposed to a particular band or song. I can go down the list of just about every record (or CD) I have and remember when I first heard it, or who told me to check it out. (The first recommendation came from a teenage, pre-Rolling Stone Cameron Crowe. No shit.) I actually started a list once and had to stop, because the recollections came remarkably easy.

This morning I had my most recent recommendation, in a very brief online conversation with a very good friend, one whose taste is, in my book, beyond reproach. As it had been some time since we last spoke, I asked her about a band she'd likely be in tune to, the Jim Jones Revue. She said, and I quote (or paraphrase): "Love them. Check out Bunker Hill." I did just that, and immediately heard the similarity. They both belong to the elite group of good ol' fashioned larynx shredders. A certain brand of shouters that if you were to try to emulate, you'd have to reach for some cough drops. Really, try to to sing all of the songs below and see if you don't do some permanent damage. Here then is a brief (rather spotty) history of larynx shredders, including Bunker Hill:

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Bunker Hill - The Girls Can't Dance mp3 at Secret Comics
Bunker Hill - Hide and Go Seek (with Link Wray) mp3 at Garage Hangover
Bunker Hill - You Can't Make Me Doubt My Baby mp3 at The Soul Girl
Bunker Hill bio @ Wang Dang Dula
Little Richard - Keep A Knockin' mp3 at Drummer World
Don and Dewey - Justine mp3 at Beware of the Blog
Sonics - Psycho mp3 (download at Mediafire) at Metal Bastard Goes Soft
Jim Jones Revue - Princess and the Frog mp3 at Sous les Paves, la Plage
Nick Curran and the Low Lifes- Kill My Baby mp3 at KEXP.org