December, 2007
Takin’ care of business
Here’s one from the book “Incredibly Strange Music” which brought to light a suprisingly large sub-culture of offbeat record collectors and created a pantheon of unique and overlooked musical artists such as Esquivel, Les Baxter, Ken Nordine, and many others. I read the whole thing in one sitting and realized I was not the only one collecting unusual records. If you like this site, do yourself a favor and get both volumes of “Incredibly Strange Music” (Re-Search Books)
Scared straight
“Jack Tells It Like It Is About Drugs” (Somehow I don’t think he’s reading Hunter S. Thompson here. And the guys in the background aren’t having a prayer meeting.)
#4 in a cool series of jazz compilations put out by the Dawn label. All with great covers, this is the best though. What style! The classic Lambretta, the babe, the tight pants and low cut top! The music is equally good and deserving of the hip sleeve. The roster includes Paul Quinichette, Nat Pierce, Gene Roland, Ed Thigpen and Earl May.
Soft shoulders and dangerous curves
“Hits for a Truck Driving Man” Trucker anthems by Big Dave and the Tennessee Tailgaters.
The tale of the tapes

Exchange on Folkways Records. “Friendship Around the World Thru Tape Exchange” Tony Schwartz, the father of the mixed tape! Tony was homebound but traveled the world through the audio recordings he traded for with friends around the globe. Long before the web brought people together with instantaneous communication and digital recordings and downloadable files, Tony built a network of like-minded anthropologists, sociologists and collectors.
Hipster, flipster and finger-poppin’ daddy
I don’t remember where I picked this record up, but it’s signed by the man himself. It’s scribbled: “To Princess Marge the beauty. May you swing with love. Love Lord Buckley.”
“Way Out Humor” on World Pacific Records. Royal Concert Performance Ivar Theater Hollywood (1959)
Lord Buckley died in 1960. I recommend you dig him a bit deeper! There are some cool clips of LB on youtube including his appearance on “You Bet Your Life” with Groucho from 1956. Remarkable.
Hot little mama
“She’s a Bad Motorcycle” by The Risers. Imperial Records.
On a personal note, my buddy Scott provided me with the unique opportunity to DJ the opening party of The Motorcycle Show at the Guggenheim Museum a few years ago. Of course I played only “biker” music, but I also set myself up behind a display of covers like this one for maximum effect. Dennis Hopper was there, the place was packed and the music was loud.



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