Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Tag: Decca Records

"The Fuzz"
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“The Fuzz”: Strictly B-Side

I’m guessing that Grady Martin‘s 1961 B-side “The Fuzz” influenced Les Paul to soup up his 1963 album track “Ham ‘N Grits” with a little “fuzz bass”: “The Fuzz” Grady Martin (1961) The historical consensus is that Grady Martin himself accidentally invented “fuzz bass” during a 1960 recording session for

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"Four Wheel Drive"
Zeroto180

Zero to Infinity: Buddy Emmons

This week we said goodbye to Buddy Emmons, one of the world’s great musicians and subject of three prior Zero to 180 pieces.  Here is but a *45-second live demonstration (beginning to end) of Buddy Emmons’ singular genius with the pedal steel guitar: “Four Wheel Drive” (live) Buddy Emmons (1965)

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"Reggae Bagpipes"
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“Reggae Bagpipes”: Pop Reggae in the Extreme?

As I asserted in an earlier piece, string arrangements – when appropriate or called for – have the potential to enrich a song (reggae included)    Given Jackie Mittoo‘s fundamental role in the development of Jamaican music as both a founding member of The Skatalites and music director at Studio One

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"Never Play a B-Side"
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Sasha Caro’s B-Side of Irony

Yesterday’s piece about London’s Chalk Farm Studios omitted the fact that this recording facility had actually begun life as Rayrik Sound – established in 1964 by Bruce “Ray” Rae and Caro “Rick” Minas.  And although Clapton and Cream’s debut album had been recorded at Rayrik two years later, the studio

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"Google Eye"
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Nashville Teens: 60s Internet Advocates

Yesterday’s piece about The Nashville All-Stars inspired me to take a closer look at a 1960s beat group that has generated positive buzz among the musical cognoscenti — The Nashville Teens.  Taking a peek at their 45 releases quickly revealed a startling discovery:  The Nashville Teens were musical clairvoyants who

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"Baked Jam Roll in Your Eye"
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“Baked Jam Roll in Your Eye”: Unlikely Alien Invasion

Eyeballing the list of artists who released 45s on Decca‘s progressive imprint, Deram, I am amused by the “far-out” band names that remain largely unknown on this side of the pond: West Coast Delegation The Wards of Court Rubber Bootz Cuppa T Granny’s Intentions John Street & the Inmates of

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"Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind"
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Vashti Bunyan & the Mid-60s Stones

It’s heartening to see how Vashti Bunyan‘s belated recognition — some thirty years or so after the release of her 1970 debut album, Just Another Diamond Day — has inspired Bunyan to record again, resulting in 2005’s well-received, Lookaftering, and this year’s, Heartleap. The articles I’ve read about Vashti Bunyan’s

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"New York's My Home"
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“New York’s My Home”: Gordon Jenkins ♥ NYC

Gordon Jenkin’s paean to The Big Apple, Manhattan Tower — which combines narration, dialogue, sound effects and mood music, along with the songs themselves — was a bold step forward, artistically speaking, for the phonographic medium.  Could this be one of vinyl’s first “concept albums”?  [Woody Guthrie‘s Dust Bowl Ballads

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"Barnyard Boogie"
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“Barnyard Boogie”: Jump Blues + Lap Steel Guitar

I have to confess – I’ve been listening pretty closely for several decades now, and I still can’t tell what makes [insert name of “first rock & roll record” here] the first recording with the rock & roll beat, whether it be 1951’s “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston (backed by

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"Go Away from My World"
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“Go Away From My World”: Marianne Faithfull Needs A Little Me Time

Haunting and mesmerizing piece of pop from 1965 that too few people know about — “Go Away From My World” by Marianne Faithfull with its understated and sympathetic production: “Go Away From My World” Marianne Faithfull (1965) “Go Away From My World” was the A-side of a 45 that also

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