Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Tag: Tequila

"Muskeeta"
Zeroto180

King’s “Tequila” Knock-Off

King Records, who no doubt envied the massive success of “Tequila” by The Champs, did their level best to cash in, as Johnnie Pate‘s 1958 Federal 45 “Muskeeta” clearly demonstrates, with the flute (substituting for sax) as the lead instrument: “Muskeeta” by Johnny Pate (1958) Recorded in Chicago on March

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"Chili Beans"
Zeroto180

Felix & His (Cash-in) Guitar

“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

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B-side breakout hits
Zeroto180

B-Side Breakout Hits & CKLW

Besides “Tequila” by The Champs, I know of one other instance where an A-side was roundly disregarded in favor of its B-side.  As Robert Pruter, R&B editor for Goldmine, writes in the accompanying notes to the Atlantic soul music anthology, The Golden Age of Black Music (1970-1975): King Floyd‘s “Groove

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"Cerveza"
Zeroto180

Pop & Rock’s Latin Roots: “Cerveza”

The Drifters’ original 1961 version of “Sweet for My Sweets” has a distinct Latin feel — which brings to mind a piece of writing by Dave Marsh that I found to be illuminating some years ago, still do. In his 1984 article for The Boston Phoenix – “Rock and Roll’s

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