Neil (Batman Theme) Hefti - Hefti in Gotham City

This record by Neil "Batman/Odd Couple Theme" Hefti is really kind of great. The production is loud, the musicians are excellent and heavy, the grooves are here if you stay with it.

DOWNLOAD - Neil "Batman Theme" Hefti - Hefti in Gotham City - NOW!!!



Found at S&J Stereo in Highland, Ind.

Hank Ballard & the Midnighters - SPOTLIGHT! on Hank Ballard (King)

Can't think of any singer-songwriter I have more respect for. I once saw him at the Lone Star Cafe in NYC and after playing a few of his great hits, he told a story that his "wife was hit by a Taxi Cab last night and died early this morning." Then I realized he was wearing dark sunglasses. He went on with the show, playing one legendary R&B tune he wrote after another (including his song "The Twist" that Chubby Checker ruined). One of the most memorable nights of music I've ever seen/heard.

This record is a little POPOUS -- what do you want from thick LP from 1961? What do you want for nothing!!?!? I have multiple FAKE-KING LPs by Hank. This is my first original and I'm really happy to have it. No, you cannot have it for $100.

DOWNLOAD - Hank Ballard & the Midnighters - SPOTLIGHT on Hank Ballard - NOW!!



Found at S&J Stereo in Highland, Ind.

Dr. John - "Featuring the Night Trippers"

This is a really strange compilation on "Springboard International Records," a Central New Jersey label with reputed Mafia ties...and one which was shut down by the feds in the 1980s. Wasn't that Uncle Junior and his friend Hesh's racket on the Sopranos? Maybe the Springboard story informed the plot.

Anyway, some AMAZING stuff on here. Obviously this is a collection of 45s, given all the "Part 1, Part 2" and "Vocal" and "Instrumental" versions of the same songs. Hell, it even has a Christmas song.

The most interesting tracks are the 2 by "The Night Trippers" -- not sure when they were recorded, and I don't feel like Googling it. These are "Did She Mention My Name" and "The Grass is Greener."

"Della" is also phenominal, as is the classic "Zu Zu Man"

Enjoy. Think about old Hesh.

DOWNLOAD - Dr. John - Featuring the Night Trippers NOW!!!



Found at S&J Stereo in Highland, Ind.

Gun - Gun Sight

The first album by Brit-Jew acid rock soldiers GUN is as legendary as can be. This is not that record. In fact, I've never heard that one so I can't really guage the acclaim -- but this second album of theirs is heavy as fuck. This is that guy Adrian Gurwitz who played with Ginger Baker ("Baker-Gurwitz Army"). Only on this album he goes by the name "Adrian Curtis" to cover up his Jewiness. Same with his Gurwitz'n brother Paul.

Dig the Jewfros on the cover...and the heavy, drugged out sounds of 1969, done just about right. Definitely a Cream influence way out in front -- but thank God this is sloppier and more raw. Great Kinks cover (Situation Vacant). Too bad Cream didn't think of that.

Out of print on CD, blah blah blah.

DOWNLOAD Gun - Gun Sight NOW!!!



Found at S&J Stereo in Highland, Ind.

Hawkwind - Quark Strangeness & Charm

You wouldn't think that Hawkwind would be making good records in 1977 -- but somehow they made a few: this and PXR5. Eno seems to play a strong influence here (Rob Calvert and he worked together on Captain Lockheed record a few years earlier, not recommended). The title track is killer Roxy-ism. Hassaan I Sahba is train wreck but hilarious.

Yeah, get over the corniness -- and groove to the heavy-yet-sometimes light dynamic space rock. It appears the CD of this is out of print -- so this might be your only chance, hooray!

DOWNLOAD Hawkwind - Quark Strangeness & Charm NOW!!



Found at S&J Stereo in Highland, Ind.

Fucked Up - Misc 7-Inches

Got these at the AV-aerie in Chicago at the Fucked Up show on 2/14/09 -- Valentine's Day.

Litany 7" EP (Havoc Records)
01 - Litany
02 - What Could Have Been
03 - Colour Removal
04 - Reset the Ride

Dance of Death 7" (Deranged Records)
01 - Dance of Death
02 - Zezozose

Crooked Head 7" (Matador Records)
01 - Crooked Head (alt version)
02 - I Hate Summer

Download some FUCKED UP 7-Inches now!


Pink Eyes from Fucked Up's Armpit at Av-Aerie, smell the magic.

Roly Stokers - Aftermaath and Betweeen the Butttons in Mono

The only way to listen to the early Stones is in mono. They rechanneled that shit in stereo so bad, it was a real shame. The stereo vinyl was bad enough -- but the CDs...holy shit bad. So anyway, this is a temporary post so you can grab before I remove (don't want ABKKKCO coming after me). Remember what happened to the Verve, right?

Yeah, these are my two favorite Stones albums and I believe there is no better way to listen to them than in mono.

Found them in NYC at street dealer across from Lincoln Center in late 1980s.

Download Aftermaath and in FUCKIN MONO
Betweeen the Butttons in FUCKIN MONO

The Shoes - Okay / Tomorrow Night

More great guitar pop from Zion, Illinois natives The Shoes on Bomp! Rekkids.

Download The Shoes - Okay / Tomorrow Night

The Oblivians - Popular Favorites

The Oblivians were one of the greatest live spectacles I've ever seen. Greg Oblivian is still keeping it real with Reigning Sound. Eric Oblivian runs Goner Records of Memphis, TN and Gonerfest and all that cool stuff. While their records never quite lived up to their live shows, it's always great to hear classics like "Guitar Shop Asshole" and "Bad Man"

Also love the photo of Sabbath fans at a concert holding up a t-shirt that says "Kill A Punk For Rock & Roll"

Download The Oblivians Popular Favorites

The Mummies - (You Must Fight To Live) On the Planet of the Apes

Title says it all

Sympathy for the Record Industry

Download "(You Must Fight to Live) On the Planet of the Apes

World of Distortion - Let's Go / Welcome Home

Classic Boston Rock 7-inch on Stanton Park Records

Download World of Distortion

Go To Blazes - Hating You / Casa Diablo

Ever thought you'd hear the 4 words "excellent Johnny Paycheck cover" together? NYC's Go To Blazes delivered. They also delivered an amazing photo of Paycheck being hauled away in cuffs on the cover.

Diesel Only Records

Download "(And it Won't Be Long and I'll Be) Hating You" by to Go To Blazes

Monoshock - Model Citizen (Nitroglycerine)

This is one of the creepier records in my collection. Creepy cover, creepy lo-fi apocalyptic sound. Not bad at all.

Download Monoshock - "Model Citizen (Nitroglycerine)" - "Hawkwind Show" and "Everything Near me"

Speed Bumps Way Way Way

You know that feeling when you go see friends bands (or they play you their demo) you really think they suck and you are always in that awkward situation where you have to lie to be nice to people you are usually very open with?

Well, that's not a problem with west coast pop maestro Steve Folta. Here is, uh, mid-90s 7-inch of way way way catchy way way way and hanging in the sky. way.

Download Way Way Way Now by Speed Bumps!

The Neats (Ace of Spades)

Got this at Amoeba in LA for 4 bux a few months ago while partying with my friend Chris Duffy of the Detroit, Michigan Duffy's. What a bargain! Great jangle-strangle from Boston. Hard not to flashback to seeing them open for R.E.M. at the MIT gym in 1985.

Download The Neats - The Neats on Ace of Spades Records Now!!

The Bags - I Know / Hide and Seek

"When one has dealings with scholars and artists it is easy to miscalculate in opposite directions: behind a remarkable scholar one not infrequently finds a mediocre man, and behind a mediocre artist often—a very remarkable man." - Frederich Nietzche

Following this theme, I think The Bags (from Boston, not LA) might very well be remarkable men.

Stanton Park Records

Download the Bags "Hide and Seek/I Know" 7inch

for President-Elect Obama

Lulu Reed (sic, her name was Lula) and blues legend Freddy King get together for a political variation on the Twist craze.

Download "Do the President Twist" now!!

Quincy Jones - Walking In Space

Spacey jazz meets the MSC (mainstream composer) with an excellent band featuring everyone from Grady Tate and Berard Purdie on drums to Chuck Rainey and Ray Brown on bass to Roland Kirk as team player. Great female chorus vocals in vein of Eddie Gale and Larry Young.

Download Quincy Jones' Walking in Space NOW!!!

First Assocation LP in Mono

A friend of mine was told me this was an essential LP -- but I could never find it. I finally can see what he was talking about! The Free Design could have never existed without these guys -- but their first album is more of a cross of Sunshine Pop and mid-60s fuzz (sounding almost like the Music Machine at times)

This copy is a little crackly, sorry.

Download "And then along comes...The Association" now!!!

Marty Robbins - BFD?

Oh, that's R.F.D. -- sealed copy of great sounding country LP. Excellent guitar and band. Marty gets a little schmaltzy and melodramatic -- but I've learned to appreciate this dude.

Download R.F.D. Marty Robbins Now!!