Tag: Retro & Vintage

The Ultimate Spoiler

That’s Edsel’s a 1958 Aero Cabana. Really.

[Found here. More info here.]
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UPDATE: Just found some pictures of the Aero Cabana in all it’s open glory. Apparently its use wasn’t limited to the Edsel Citation, but it is still a rarity. Despite its aerodynamic form, the Aero Cabana  never quite *ahem* took off.

THE AERO CABANA

Very little is known about this pop-up design, but not because it lacks merit. In the twenties and thirties, many of the tent and trailer manufacturers began building prototypes after hours in small backyard shops in hopes of developing a sound manufacturable product. The Aero Cabana relied on a small number of parts, which, once assembled, created an aerodynamic form that easily mounted to an automobile’s roof gutters. This early–fifties design preceded the well-known Volkswagen pop-up roof tent.
Images courtesy of Phil Noyes.

Saturday Matinee – Red Foley & Grady Martin, Johnny Burnette, The Yardbirds, Aerosmith & Tiny Bradshaw

Grady Martin was probably the greatest session guitar player in country music (that’s him on an electric double neck). He was the creator of what’s now called Rockabilly, but it was early Rock and Roll. Give him credit also for fuzztone.

That brings us to The Johnny Burnette Trio and “Lonesome Train.” Great early rock. Burnette was the guy who had a hit with a cover of Tiny Bradshaw‘s “Train Kept A-Rollin.” (Grady Martin played for Johnny Burnette in the mid 50s.)

So here’s The Yardbirds‘ 1966 version of “Train Kept A-Rollin”, with Jimmy Page.

Why stop there? Let’s jump to 1977 with Aerosmith’s version of the 1951 R&B song.

What? You haven’t heard Tiny Bradshaw’s original version? Well here you go.

And with that we’re out of here. Have a great weekend, folks, and be back here for more fun tomorrow.

Saturday Matinee – The Beatnix, Zappa, Carl Douglas, The Black Keys & the Streamline Rockers

One of my favorites of The PreFab Four (posted previously).

What the heck. Here’s Zappa’s version.

Here’s to the Royal Disco Wedding for our friends across the pond: “There was funky Chinamen from funky Chinatown.”  Great lyrics from Carl Douglas.  Reminds me of National Lampoon’s classic “Have a Kung-Fu Christmas.”

Heh. The Black Keys are my current favorites in the land of  retrorock, and they fit right in with the Soul Train motif. [Tip o’ the tarboosh to Bunkessa]

And as long as we’re going retro, here’s some rockabilly from the UK: The Streamline Rockers.

That makes five for this episode of the  Saturday Matinee, and with that I’m out. Have a great weekend folks, and see you back here tomorrow for more fun.

Copycat

Okay, before you think you’re clever and rename it as a you-know-what, there’s more to this picture than you think. We’re talking Zen convergence.

The modern copy machine owes it’s existence to cat fur and Chester Carlson. Never heard of him? I’ll make it easy for you.  Click here.

[Image found here.]

Saturday Matinee – Zappa, The Ink Spots, Iron Butterfly, Rare Earth & Satchmo

Earth Day has come and gone, and dang, I missed it. To make up for it, let’s run with the theme.

It would be different if I didn’t care, but I don’t want to set the world on fire.

Yep. In the Garden of Eden. On drugs.

That’s a rare Rare Earth vid. Now, to find one more video to round out the set… okay. I got it.

One of the prettiest songs ever written. Happy Easter and have a great weekend, folks. Be back here tomorrow for more fun.

We Heard You Were Coming

Obvious inspiration for someone whose initials are Walt Disney.

[Found here.]

Donut Queen

She’s got so much hair it’s blocked out all the sunlight. Good thing she got a tetanus shot, too.

[Found here.]

45 RPM Hot Links

[Click the image to see the awesome coolness of Capitol Records.]

Inflatable cow heads.

Cooking for A**holes. (Is a language warning really needed?)

A Google search for “Church of the Toad of Light” brings up this article: Milking the Toad.

NatGeo Infinite Photo is infinite.

Frog in Space.

Big ‘ol honkin’ animals in the city.

Very cool .gif artistry here.

Cold case cryptology: The FBI is asking for public help with decoding a message found in the pocket of a murder victim. It doesn’t appear to be gibberish as at least one series of characters are repeated. I suspect  it’s some kind of mnemonic. More here.

Possum Yawn

Haven’t seen our ‘possums around here lately, and the slugs and snails are missing, too.  Coincidence? Nah.

[Image found here.]

Saturday Matinee – The Cowans, Fats Waller, Art Tatum, George Clinton & Leon Redbone

Before you get all humpy like this is just a last minute hodge-podge throw-it-together post for the Saturday Matinee, chill. It’s all good, and it’s all connected in an odd sort of way…

September 2008: Fran & Marlow Cowan played an impromptu recital together in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic. The song is Arthur Clough’s “Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet” from 1910.

Fats Waller‘s “Aint Misbehavin'” (1929) was my introduction to early jazz before I knew who Fats Waller was. 1930s Jazz = Best Jazz in my book.

And then Art Tatum ripped it all apart and completely rebuilt the engine.

Gonna jump a few decades to Miles Davis‘ “Tutu.”

George Clinton‘s Mothership! [via Coldwarrior] One more? Heh. You got it.

Yep, Leon Redbone on Carson, playing “Diddy-Wah-Diddy,” which is somehow apropos for Mardi Gras gris gris gumbo yaya.

Have a great weekend folks, and be back here tomorrow for more fun.