Do I Worry, Ernie Andrews (1981) Jazz/soul singer virtuoso Ernie Andrews (1927-2022) worked with Harry James, Cannonball Adderley, Gene Harris, Lionel Hampton, the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra and Kenny Burrell.
[Top image found here. From the comments: “It is a wheel balancer, used to place wheels or other objects on to ensure they are balanced to run correctly. For example, you can place lawnmower blades on it to ensure they run true.”
Cool Shake, The Del-Vikings (1957)
The Del-Vikings formed in 1955 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All members were in the US Air Force, and the group constantly ran the risk of being disrupted by military transfer orders.
Le Chanky-Chank Français, BeauSoleil (1991) “By capitalizing the “S” in the middle of BeauSoleil, the Cajun band’s name becomes beautiful sun, but the truth is the band is named for an Acadian resistance fighter. Joseph Broussard Beausoleil fought the English in the mid-1700s.”
We’re Gonna Make It, Little Milton (1965) “Born James Milton Campbell on the 7th September 1934 in Inverness, Mississippi. According to some accounts the ‘Little’ handle was used to differentiate him from his father, Big Milton, a farmer and local performer around Greenville, Mississippi.”
IF I OH I, Nolan Strong & The Diablos (1959)
The Diablos, featuring Nolan Strong as lead singer, were a pre-Motown group from Detroit. Best known for their classic song The Wind (1954), they recorded many hits over the years before they dissolved in the early 60s to join other vocal groups. IF I was later covered by Ko & The Knockouts (2002)
Duluth, Minnesota parade 1926. “An off center wheel in the rear moved the tail in a grotesque fashion while an operator within open and shut the huge teethed jaws”. Original press photo 1926 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb
Flash Chordin’, Roy Buchanan (1987) Roy Buchanan, aka “The World’s Greatest Unknown Guitarist,” was most famously associated with a 1953 Fender Telecaster nicknamed ‘Nancy’. In 1988 he was arrested for public intoxication and was found hanged from his own shirt in the Fairfax County Virginia Jail. He was 48.
Last Night (live version), The Mar-Keys (1967) Recorded in Europe during “Hit the Road Stax,” a Stax-Volt Records showcase revue. The Mar-Keys were the first house / session band for Stax Records, and Last Night was the first recording for the label. The instrumental made No. 3 in the US charts in 1961. For some reason the producer didn’t want guitars, so Steve Cropper played second keyboard.
[Top image found here with the caption: A conductor on the Pskov-Moscow train feeds a cat named Felix sausage during a short stop in Staraya, Russa. Felix shows up every day at 22:40 & has for several years. All conductors are aware of Felix & prepare sausage in advance. ALL CONDUCTORS ARE AWARE OF FELIX.
Don’t Drag No More, Susan Lynne (1964) Born in New York, Susan Lynne Koskowitz recorded a handful of singles while still in high school. Record producer and promoter Artie Kornfeld composed Don’t Drag No More in 1964 as an answer song to Jan and Dean’s Dead Man’s Curve. By 1966, Kornfeld had written over 75 Billboard charted songs and participated in over 150 albums. He was also co-creator of the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair.
Tacky Raccoons 