Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic
Browsing Nina Simone‘s early single releases on Bethlehem Records — Gus Wildi‘s jazz label, whose control and eventual ownership would ultimately be given over to Syd Nathan of King Records — my eyes are immediately drawn to the instrumental B-side, “African Mailman,” a fairly radical and oblique song title for
[April 2023 update = streaming audio now included] From browsing back issues of the major music industry trade publications, I’ve discovered that Record World is refreshingly focused on just the music, and not, say, coin-operated amusements (i.e., Cash Box) or circuses, fairs, and the entertainment industry (Billboard). Beat Instrumental from
Billboard, in their January 8, 1972 edition, reported this quirky news item in the Cincinnati division of their “From the Music Capitals Around the World” column: Rusty York, who heads up the Jewel Recording Studio[s] here, learned last week that the new ‘Smash-Up Derby’ commercial [for Cincinnati-based Kenner Products], which he
“Sweet Touch of Love,” from the aforementioned acclaimed 1970 album, Toussaint (later named From a Whisper to a Scream), would be the A-side of a 45 that appeared not to have enjoyed any Billboard chart action from what I can see: “Sweet Touch of Love“ Allen Toussaint (1970) “Sweet Touch
I am reading the memoir of music industry legend, Bob Thiele — producer at Coral Records who “discovered” Buddy Holly and would later work with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Albert Ayler, Joe Turner, Otis Spann, Gil Scott-Heron, and Bernard “Pretty” Purdie & the Playboys,
Hey, just in time for summer: here’s a catchy bicycle-themed dance step “Bike Beat” from 1964 that was actually a work-for-hire product by Joe (“Telstar“) Meek for Raleigh Bicycles and was only released on flexi-disc! Providing the backing track are Joe Meek’s house band, The Outlaws, disguised as “The Rally
Animator, Ed Seeman — who would later film the Mothers of Invention’s legendarily infamous shows at New York City’s Garrick Theater (and quite a bit more over the course of thirteen months) — initially joined forces with Frank Zappa when he formally contracted the bandleader and composer to provide the
Long-time DC music fans are likely very familiar with this remarkably tuneful work-for-hire product (“Nobody Bothers Me“) created by none other than Nils Lofgren for Jhoon Rhee Self Defense. But for everyone else, this might be a revelation, especially those who seek out examples of advertising jingles that bring honor
Insidious 1980s McDonald’s campaign that used music for crass commercial purposes: This musical ad immediately brings to mind last August’s piece about the history behind Jimmy Radcliffe‘s gospel-flavored “R&B” take on “You Deserve a Break Today” for McDonald’s in the 1970s. Radcliffe, by the way, would release at least eight
Thanks to brother Bryan for tipping me to a book that, amazingly, has only been written in the last couple years: Rock ‘n’ Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip. Most of us music fanatics who live on this side of the Mississippi, sadly, have never had the opportunity to see
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