Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream), Allison Young (2020) A multi-instrumentalist from Nashville, Allison Young has a timeless style, as evidence by her cover of The Chords‘ 1954 classic. (More about her at My OBT.)
La Cumbia de Spiderman (El Hombre Araña), Patada y COZ (2022)
Twin brothers Gabo and Frank have a following in Mexico, South America and the US, with a number of records available for downloading. In 2016 their recording of El Pasito Perrón (the Big Dog Step) went viral.
In My Gremlin, The Rave-Ups (1985) The Rave-Ups formed in 1979 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After some lineup changes and a relocation to Los Angeles, they hit the indie rock scene of the 1980s with some success. Their appearance in the 1986 movie Pretty In Pink gave them nationwide exposure, but problems with record company promotion and distribution stifled their career.
Fans watch Elvis Presley perform at the Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston. Texas, October 13, 1956.
Radioactive Flesh, Los Sinners (1964) From the nightclub scene inLuis Buñuel’s film Simón del Desierto(1965). St. Simon Stylites is sitting at a table with the Devil and asks “her” for the name of the dance. The Devil replies, “Radioactive Flesh.”
[Scene begins at 41:18.]
Job Opening (For an Experienced Heart Mender) Pts. 1 & 2, Del-Larks (1967) This 45 rpm record is one of the most sought after Northern Soul records in the U.K. The Del-Larks almost made The Ed Sullivan Show, but according to group leader Sammy Campbell, “We were ghetto guys. We were talking that street language among ourselves and using a lot of profanity. The [Sullivan] director walked in the room and heard that profanity. He said ‘Ms Gregory, take them back and teach them some manners.’ I knew when they did that, we were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Come On Let’s Go, Girl In A Coma (2010) Joan Jett sings Richie Valens backed by The Ramones. From their album Adventures In Coverland, this is a fun mashup from the trio from San Antonio.
[Top image: “One ofDavid Hammons’ most famous works is his 1983 performance Bliz-aard Ball Sale, in which he stood on the sidewalk in Cooper Square, selling snowballs. Each snowball cost $1 and they were arranged neatly according to size.” Found here.]
K-Jee, The Nite-Liters (1971)
The Nite-Liters were formed in 1963 in Louisville, Kentucky by Tony Churchill and Harvey Fuqua. After recording two albums in the early 1970s, the group morphed into the 17-piece ensemble New Birth.
Man Of My Word, Salt & Pepper (1969) Heatwave Records, Alexandria, LA. In 1969, Eddie Mobley (Pepper) and Tony Nardi (Salt) were stationed in Thailand while serving in the USAF, and recorded the song in Bangkok. There few existing copies of an original issue of this 45rpm, and each is likely worth thousands.
New Chataqua, Pat Metheny (1979)
Recorded in Oslo Norway. I used to play this song at sunrise on solo road trips after listening to farm reports and Paul Harvey.