Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic
Zero to 180’s sprawling history trawl “Rare & Unreleased King” made passing reference to another surf-ploitation LP issued by King Records – 1963’s Surfin’ on Wave Nine – and even threatened to make that album the focus of a future history piece … whose time has come today. Compared to Look Who’s
How humorous to browse a chronological listing of Waylon Jennings albums starting in 1964 – eleven on RCA by my count, following his debut LP At JD’s – when out of nowhere, A&M suddenly decides to issue its first and only album by Jennings, long after his brief run of singles (1963-65)
Catchy King instrumental — and what is that instrument, exactly? Sounds like a blend of organ and harmonica, most likely: “New Annie Laurie” by Gene Redd (1960) [streaming audio unavailable on YouTube, sadly] “New Annie Laurie” seems an obvious attempt by King to “cash in” on the fresh organ retooling
ABC once broadcast a 4-part television special in 1960 called The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis. This was to be the hip-swiveler’s first television appearance in three years since being discharged from military service. Poster art by Al Hirschfeld, yes? At one point, Elvis threatens to get upstaged
“Cerveza” by Boots Brown (see previous post about rock/pop’s Latin roots) was only one of the more obvious attempts to cash in on the runaway success of “Tequila” by The Champs in 1958. “Chili Beans” by Felix & His Guitar also does a great job of appropriating that familiar riff
Of all the records released in the wake of Beatlemania (click here for a comprehensive illustrated list of Beatles covers & cash-in albums) the one-and-only album by The Beatle Buddies easily wins the award for best cover with its menacing take on Meet the Beatles!: ‘fabulous Beatle sound’ Fortunately, mixed
I remember as a kid learning the hard way about albums disguised as hits collections that were, in fact, faithful renderings by some shadow studio group. Soundalike LPs, if you will. Case in point: 18 Golden Hits of 1970. The singers and musicians who did their best to mimic the
The soundtrack album to 1969’s notorious biker film, Cycle Savages (starring Bruce Dern) remained out-of-print until reissued on CD in 2012. This album contains rare cuts by cult psych bands Orphan Egg and The Boston Tea Party – with the latter contributing standout track, “Chained to Your Heart,” a blue-eyed
In 1975 — the same year Gusto Records acquired Starday-King Records from Leiber and Stoller’s Tennessee Recording and Publishing — Gusto released an album entitled Freddy Fender – Recorded Inside Louisiana State Prison. I suspect Gusto might have been trying to capitalize on the popularity (as well as notoriety) of
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