Canadian Conspiracy [197x]

7 piece lounge act - material is ALL over the map from funky wah-wah horn rock "are you man enough" to pop covers "cherish" & "macarthur park" to highlight Slade cover "goodbye to jane" that rocks!! wicked primitive DIY cut & paste psych/strange cover art. [WL]

Bob Mitchell [197x] Really Live!

"really live"...insane vanity album from the sex-positive 70's produced by bob mitchell (sort of a junior mint larry flint) who i believe went on to run one of the most successful whore houses in reno. 100% pure, seedy lounge "performance" with dirty songs, skits, etc and reminds me of that rad Chinese Bookie movie. recorded live at the palomino club in las vegas. great nude pics f&b! [WL]

Marquee Revue [197x] Live

OK, you lounge rock band collectors know there are many greats, the ones where it is a hippie rock band doing the sleazy lounge circuit even though they are droppin' acid and this is ONE OF THE BEST...gotta give props to the unknown heroes of rock then who had to slog it out in a loser lounge band, here they SHINE...full length version of "Sympathy For The Devil" (Stones), killer "Funk 49" (James Gang), hot "Carry On" (Crosby, Stills & Nash)", strong "Evil Ways" (Santana), well, for the lounge garage private press LPs this is a standout and it even has a generic Sundial cover!! Blank on back! Ex/Ex circa maybe '71??. There is a label name Pacific Avenue # 447. TOP SHELF for lounge garage rock hippie style!! [PM]

Linda Lou and the Three For All [197x]

you can imagine my eyes lighting up last week in texas when i ran across this one. somehow i knew this little lady would rock the house and although this ain't no lounge killer, she came through in spades. in a countrified oklahoma rockabilly style no less on tunes like "unchain my heart", "bobby mcgee" and "kansas city". you'll hear the softer side of little linda on "what are you doing the rest of your life", "until it's time for you to go" (she sings 7 songs total). one of the funnest vanity LP cover art portaits i've laid eyes on and i've never, EVER seen or heard of this album. [WL]

Radiant Set [197x] Live

One of the best USA private press LP albums to my ears that is in the hybrid lounge/rock vibes...they do Free Design-Kites Are Fun along with way out version of Beatles "Come Together" and killer "Don't Snow Me In". "Nights In White Satin" etc...this LP is genius for the garage lounge rock vibe & very rare. One of the total top best USA LPs in this sound & very rare, I have only ever seen two copies!! And this is a sound I am very much into myself.... [PM]

Trilogy [197x] Two Sides of the Trilogy

This amazing LP is regarded as a 'holy grail' item for those collecting private press lounge LPs...a truly unique and great one, too! The best tracks "Slow Hot Wind" and "Agua De Beber" are utterly spooky female vocal bossa-nova style ethereal music that sound 'psych' naturally...mesmerizing & otherworldly. Also this trio does a flipped out "Lucretia Mac Evil", a fab softrock "Lazy Day", a version of Emerson Lake & Palmer "Trilogy" and others. Great cover design with them in bar on front & in ocean on back. I've only ever had 3 copies in 20 years, private issue on Strange Productions # T-101 from around 1971 or '72. Top level for this zone of lost lounge monsters! Hardly ever turns up, tiny pressing from FLA. Wow!! [PM]

The Muzzy Band [197x] How Was It?

As this LP is from New Jersey it is long known to me & a few local friends and the last loose copy I had blew a mind bigtime...here's copy I got at the last WFMU Record Fair & 3rd I've had in 20 years...absolutely top (maybe THE TOP) crazy lounge rock act ever. Opens with ultra cryptic verbage by Muzzy (DEEP) then rips into version of "I've Got The Music In Me" that is unbelievable, wild with fuzz, gutsy vocals by Rosemarie & to take the cake they do a jam where she trades off utterly drunken scat singing with the fuzz guitar player riffing in response (or vica versa, actually,,,she sounds too loaded to be in control). Rest of LP is also total entertainment in genius sleazy Jersey bar mode. One look at Muzzy's pic on the cover and you know you're hearing a maniac. ONLY those into real people twisted sleazy lost weekends should go for this... [PM]

Kords [197x] Our 20th Year

Local New Jersey quartet guitar/organ/drums/horns with highlights a fine cheesy version of that fab Hurricane Smith one-hit wonder song "Oh Babe What Would You Say" (titled here "O Babe"), a "Proud Mary" Creedence song, "Night Train", a few moody lounge deep style vocals on "Old Cape Cod", "Didn't We"...LP is titled "Our 20th Year" but they look too young to have been together that long. A few tracks seem to be originals, "Crissie's Song", "Shake A Hand"... [PM]

Kaye Golden [1971]

She has the cool way of emotionally oversinging that puts this into the 'golden throats' turf...her versions of The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "My Way", "Everything Is Beautiful", "You've Got A Friend", "Help Me Make It Through The Night" etc. are quite entertaining with some southern feels. LP is titled "The Golden Touch" and autographed by her on front. You'll love the picture of her, too. Oh, she does a wiggy version of "Muleskinner Blues" also. Good one for female lounge singer girl fans. [PM]

Bill Horn Trio [196x]

I've had a few LPs by him but I think this is the earliest. Trio with organ/guitar/percussion and lots of the classic swingin' lounge organ sound. LP was recorded live at a meeting of the Delaware Valley Organ Club in late '60s and issued on the custom private press RPC label # AZB-38551 with a cool 'sound wavelengths' generic cover design. Mixes instrumentals and vocal tracks including a fab "See You In September", a Gary Puckett & Union Gap song "Young Girl", "Going Out Of My Head", "Poincana", "One Note Samba" and others. [PM]

Unbelievably, there is some evidence this guy was one-half of the schizophrenic 'boiler room psych' juggernaut Madrigal. [ed]

Griffith, Smith, and Co. [197x]

Griffith is a guy and Smith is a girl fronting this local Florida lounge act from sometime in the '70s. Highlight is full 7:15 long version of "MacArthur Park" for those of you who collect obscure versions of the epic song. No they don't go for the last high note, they ineptly have trumpets try it. Other tracks include "Just The Way You Are", "Theme 'Rocky'", "Over The Rainbow" etc. Cool blue cover art of palm tree by buildings, autographed. Oh, the girl sings a 6:45 long version of "New York, New York" in an overdone wacko way that may appeal to 'golden throat' collectors of bad singers... [PM]

Don Reynolds [1977] Live at the Colony Club

Titled Sounds Of Don Reynolds-Live At The Colony Club, this is noteable for you collectors of "MacArthur Park" as he does the full 7:55 version with at times sleepy vocals, cheesy six man lounge band backup, he doesn't go for the last high note, lets the trumpet do that. Other titles include "Evergreen", "String Of Pearls", "Queen Bee", "On The Alamo" etc. B&w cover pic on front with him emoting into microphone, collage of pics of band on back. [PM]

Formation [197x] House of Zodiac Presents

Basic rock quartet backup band with inept vocals and versions of "Lodi" (Creedence Clearwater Revival), "Fire And Rain" (James Taylor), "One Bad Apple-Double Lovin'" (not sure who) but this is a rare case for a lounge rock private press where I think the long oldies medley is best, bonehead 11:10 long and had me cracking up when the disastrous harmonies first came in. Really low talent here. Cool red and black cover design with them in front of stars. [PM]

Livin' Ennd [1975]

Upstate NY band with live show recorded at Poor House North in 1975. Highlights are some garagy hardrock versions of "All Right Now" (Free), "Somebody To Love" (Jefferson Airplane with the only girl vocal on the LP), "Na Na Hey Hey" (cool version of Steam hit), "China Grove" (Doobie Bros. rocker)...also some earlier songs like "Matchbox" (Carl Perkins), "Johnny B. Goode" (Chuck Berry) etc. I recommend it for the Airplane & Free songs mainly. Cool collage cover design on private press Sunday Records # DSLP-2000. [PM]

Premiers [197x]

Local Louisville, KY band started as a garage band in the '60s and stayed together to be a top local lounge band with a residency at a swinging singles nightclub. Versions of "Proud Mary" (Creedence Clearwater Revival), "Imagine" (John Lennon), "Twentry-Five Miles" (Edwin Starr), "Behind Closed Doors" (Charlie Rich) etc. Cool cover pic of them in matching hip clothes by spiral staircase. [PM]

Band like this assuredly has umpteen LP's. [ed]

Fred Thompson and Guadalajara National Philharmonic [1977]

A little confusing as the cover says Fred Thompson And Guadalajara National Philharmonic and he is pictured on the cover with the cute girls but the liner notes make a big deal about all-girl bands, so I guess he is also in the band...anyways a cool live act opens with a sunshine pop medley titled "The 60's" that weaves together "I Dig Rock'n'Roll Music", "Go Where You Wanna Go", "California Dreamin'" and "Sunshine Superman" and ends with a 7:14 long version of "Wipe Out" that is mostly drums and the girls hootin' it up but gets into the surf guitar riff as well. Also a cool "Look Of Love", "Delta Dawn", "I Can See Clearly Now", "Silver Threads And Golden Needles", "Gentle On My Mind". "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" and more...wide range of styles in appropriate yellow/brown cover design. Private press on Tortilla Flats Records # FT-71455 from 1977. [PM]

Floyd Dakil [1975] Live

This guy sings and plays guitar fronting a lounge band and does a nonstop romp through 42 songs on the LP. Among those along the way are "Lazy River", "Everyday People", "Yummy Yummy Yummy", "Peggy Sue", "Oh Boy", "Mister Bojangles", "Watermellon Wine", "C'mon Everybody", "For Once In My Life", "Theme From Bonanza", "Theme From Gunsmoke", "Bye Bye Blues", "Satisfied Mind"... think it's the guy who had the "Dance Franny Dance" garage single in the '60s but that's not on here, this is him in Texas 1975 live on Ashley # ST-101. "Floyd Dakil has created the toe tappin'est, finger snappin'est "live" album ever to set a turntable spinning!" say the liner notes... [PM]

Princetons [197x]

I guess circa '70, not much info here as the LP comes in a white cover with the name Princetons in gothic lettering and song titles on label but that's it except for number RHR 190274. The best tracks have that spooky latenight organ mood with trumpet like a lesser Willie Wall. Versions of "Behind Closed Doors", "Stormy", "Come Saturday Morning", "The First Time Ever" get that lost mood. The uptempo tracks are typical, most of LP is instrumental though there is a cool bad vocal on "Proud Mary". Recommended for the ultra obscure feel. Doubt this'll turn up again any time soon, no idea of location... [PM]

Officially curious about this one. [ed]

Lou Giovi Quintet [197x] An Evening at Giovi's Inn

These guys have the classic cheesy lounge act vibe and the highlight is what they do to the Carly Simon hit "You're So Vain", never heard it like this before. They also do Hurricane Smith's fab song "Oh Babe What Would You Say" (titled "Oh Babe" here), "Godfather", "Mack The Knife", "My Way" (of course), an excellent "Delilah", "For Once In My Life" etc. Recorded live and issued on Mark Records # DM 68447 early '70s I'd guess. He must be the owner of the nightclub as LP is titled "An Evening At Giovi's Inn". [PM]

V.O.S. Trio [197x] Yesterday & Today

Entire first side of this LP is top level garage lounge with organ/guitar/drums trio backup opening with a bit of "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" used as a track titled "Intro-Time", then an A plus organ garage groover titled "In Bed", then a flowing "Let My Woman Flow", a deep organ "Theme From The Godfather", then a superb garage rock track with fuzz guitar titled "Voyage" and to top it off a full version of the Paul McCartney hit "Uncle Albert". The whole side rules for this bag. Other side is one long garage rock and roll medley epic. Private press circa '70 on Valley Of Sound Records # KHP-303 titled "Yesterday & Today". Same band who had the "Super Lemon" LP which also is a top lounge garage item. [PM]

According to band leader Gare Rex [sic], the V.O.S. Trio cut five LP's, of which the first three are considered embarrassments (or, translated to the Third Eye Lounge, their only relevant work). [ed]

Three Cheers [196x] Meet the Three Cheers

A real winner in the lounge rock bag as they use lots of cool virtuouso organ-like accordian sounds and solos and they re-arrange vocals into complex wiggy zones. Highlights are a bizarre "All My Loving" Beatles song, a fab version of "Booket T. & M.G.'s "Green Onions" and an extended "Walk On The Wild Side" where the solo gets going out there...also "More", "So Fine", "Night Life" etc. Fab b&w cover design private press on Boss Records # 22934 from late '60s era Seattle. [PM]

Young Ideas [197x] Through the Years

Titled "Through The Years" private press LP has as highlight a terrific crude 7:34 long "Tribute To The Stones" medley that has outrageously wacko vocals and gritty garageband guitar sound linking a bunch of Stones songs together, quite a gas. Also a cool "Jailhouse Rock", a lounge deep "Mr. Bojangles", "New York, New York" and others but it's the Rolling Stones flipout that rules. Generic sunset on ocean cover autographed with pics of band and info on back. On Century Records. [PM]

Fall Guys [197x]

Whole first side has the right sound and vocals for a groovin' lounge rock act with a spacy "Aquarius", Beatles "Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da", a flipped gritty funky track "I Turned You On" with crazed vocal, "Those Were The Days" Mary Hopkin hit, "Hurt So Bad" etc. Private press in cool cover autographed on back on Melody Recording # MS-500 from circa 1970. Recorded live at The Manor Restaurant in Minnesota. Made to sell at gigs. [PM]

Executives [197x] Goin' Places

Whole first side is a classic lounge rock sound with "Aquarius", "Something", "Everybody's Talkin'" and a long version of "MacArthur Park" with the right backup and breezy vocals. Cool cover pic of band by a jet titled "Goin' Places" on private press Executive Records # 301 from circa 1970. They have the goods for lounge rock band collectors and LP was probably made to sell at gigs. [PM]

They've got four or five LP's. [ed]

Glenn Weston [1972] *UK

This private press UK LP has way over the top singing that is the appeal, emotional overkill on "McArthur Park/Up Up & Away", "Aquaruis/Let The Sunshine In", "Spinning Wheel" in particular reach a weird intensity gone wrong. Also he gets deep on "Love Theme Romeo & Juliet", and does "If", "Didn't We", and others...not all tracks are great but the tracks where he gets hyper emotional are a gas, had me cracking up... [PM]

Destitutes [1970?] Steel Drums and Variations

Band from Idaho circa 1970 with private press LP titled "Steel Drums And Variations From Ketchum-Sun Valley, Idaho". They use steel drums on a few tracks to unusual effect, some garagy lounge rock like "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'", "Ooh-Poo-Pah Doo", a dreamy version of the bossa nova great "Slow Hot Wind", a version of Beatles "Yesterday", variety of moves here. Cool oddball LP. [PM]

Center Line [1970?] Gettin' It Together

This band with mixed male & female vocals and the classic cool organ sound has as the superb highlight a 10:55 long "Peace Medley" which uses a bunch of Beatles songs including a mystical lounge "Within You & Without You", "All You Need Is Love", "Carry That Weight", "The End", "We Can Work It Out" and others. Whole LP is good lounge rock with also "Suspicious Minds", "Goin' Out Of My Head", "Dock Of The Bay", a terrific "Misty" deep organ mood instrumental...they also use harpsichord, violin, guitar, electric piano etc. along with the organ. This is a winner in the lounge rock band department for sure. [PM]

Papa Joe and the Rest [1970?] Many Moods of Papa Joe

Super obscure looking private press circa 1970 opens with a fab version of the Ides Of March hit "Vehicle" with tuff wah-wah guitar and groovin' organ. They have the right lounge rock vocal sound, organ, and do also classic lounge versions of "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" and "Color My World" Chicago songs that so many lounge acts covered back then. One song I'm surprised more lounge private presses don't have is the Casinos hit "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" with that great organ sound, here they do it but title it "If It Don't Work Out" by mistake. Also a "Leroy Brown", "Most Beautiful Girl", "Natural Man" and others. Solid lounge rock act recorded at Echo Sound Studio from Florida. Cool cover pic of them on a locomotive. [PM]

Continental III [1978] Just For You

Opens with a classic moody organ deep feel and vocal blend on "Make It With You" Bread song, also get's a fab groove on "Brick House", long almost progjazz organ version of "2001 Space Odyssey" theme, way into the lounge vocals on "After The Lovin'", "Feelings", etc. In this case the guys really can play but don't lose the lounge appeal. Intense looking hairy trio on the cover pic. [PM]

Riviera Show Band [1969]

Terrific song selection and gutsy live performances with male and female lead vocals, soulful energy opens with tuff version of Otis Redding's "Tramp", has Young Rascals "People Got To Be Free", BS&T medley of "You've Made Me So Very Happy"/"Spinning Wheel", a version by the girl of Stevie Wonder song "I Was Made To Love Her" (here titled "Him") that is worth it alone. Also a cool garagy bossa-nova girl vocal version of Doors "Light My Fire", "What Does It Take", "Ain't No Way", "It's Not Unusual" etc. Recorded live at Pal Joey's in 1969 and issued on Circo Record Co. # SLP-2113. Top shelf show band with cool pics of them in action on the cover. [PM]

Villagers [1970?] Such A Night

Unusual mix of stuff here mostly backed by minimal guitar/bass/drums band. Highlights are spooky garagy girl vocal version of "White Rabbit" Jefferson Airplane song, freaky girl vocal version of the Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", a couple of possibly original odd songs "Good Guys" with girl singing folk style while guy makes mouth noises and "Petals Of Life". LP ends with a weird preacher rant type track titled "Heavy" where the guy says things like "The devil is a slice of baloney, Beelzebub is a chocolate drop..." and goes on to mix religion and food to freaky effect. Also an accapella '40s medley, "The Wedding Song", "Coal Tattoo", "The River's Too Wide". Cool monochrome blue cover design with pic of them soaking feet in tub on back. [PM]

Request [1970?] Act II Scene 1

Highlights here include the girl's dreamy vocal style on many tracks and the organ sounds, but the guy who sings "Proud Mary" overdoes it in a flipped out style. "Hair Medley" has a fab "Aquarius" and ethereal "Easy To Be Hard", "I've Got Plenty Of Nothin'" has classic gushy organ, girl sings "My Way" to terrific moody effect...also "Mack The Knife", "Make Me Smile", "Windmills Of Your Mind" etc. Cool cover design uses lots of little note papers they handed out to the audience for them to write their request on. LP is titled "Act II Scene 1" private press on LoG Records #842A-4531 from circa 1970 I'd guess. [PM]

Pat & Ray [197x]

Sparse electric guitar and organ backups give this a garage flavour, intimate with appealing vocal blends, her voice is delicious. Low budget adds a quirky cool vibe on "Let Me Be There", "City Of New Orleans", "Top Of The World", "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Evergreen" and others. Nice cover pic of them sitting on rocks in woods. I like the vibe here, minimal action. Made to sell at gigs, I imagine... [PM]

Hal & Andy [1969]

This is one of the most inept lounge duos I've had, piano/cheesy percussion with echoey vocal sound and versions of Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" (worth it alone for this track), "Feelin' Groovy" (Simon & Garfunkel gone wrong and also the title of the LP), "It's Not Unusual", "My Way", "Cracklin' Rosie", "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and others. The primitive sound and performances here make it fun. Find another copy of this mega-obscurity if you're not trying to run away from such inept music! [PM]

I've never been allowed to play more than one track for anyone at one time. [MJ]

Dart [1970]

Garagy lounge rock with guitar/organ/bass/drums and original songs. Interestingly it is on the same private label as the rare New Dawn psych LP and was produced by the same guy. Opens with a tuff soulrocker "Don't Cry No More", then a straight up garagy track with organ and fuzz titled "Always Leaving, Always Gone", then a gushy organ groover titled "Love Is A Chain", and much of the LP has that gushy groovy organ vibe. Two tracks have horns on them. Recording sound is very similar to New Dawn (like the non-psych songs on side two of that LP...this is lounge garage, not psych here) but it's good at the bag. I'd say 2/3 of the LP is cool tracks, a few snoozers. Nifty cover pic of them in ruffled shirts and purple jackets. I think I once had another LP by them where they have paisley shirts, if I recall...this is different to that one. Anyways, it's a gem for garagy loungeband rock. [PM]

The paisley LP is 'Presenting' on the Garland label. [ed]

Tony Chance [197x] Live

Singer/pianist backed by trio titled "Live" from '70s sometime has 5:42 version of "MacArthur Park" interestingly one player uses mellotron and moog in spots with guitar/bass/drums to round it out. Other tracks include "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", "Mr. Businessman", and a 13:49 long "Neil Diamond Medley". Private press on Twelvetrees label # TC-103. Good one for the obscure lounge band scene. [PM]

Tony took at least three other Chances on the Twelvetrees label. [ed]

Darrell [1970?]

About as minimal as they come with just an electric guitar, percussion and vocals from this guy doing 14 cover versions in a sparse and garage way. His ballads like "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay", "Everybody's Talking" are loner sounding and he does also songs like "It Never Rains In Southern California", "Games People Play", "Never Ending Love", "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", "etc all in his isolated homemade way. Guess the LP is circa '70 or a little later from the song selection and comes in cool b&w cover with oval pic of him on front on private press D&J # 100. Good listening for that late night lost feel, even on the uptempo tracks which are only marginally uptempo sounding. [PM]

The Weirz [1979]

This 8 member band is half male half female and they all have the same last name so they're married couples or brothers & sisters, I guess. The cool thing is it has several tuff AM radio style hardrock pop tracks with fuzz guitar/horns mix and terrific female vocals...totally worth it for fans of obscure female vocal stuff as "I Wanna Know", "You Mystify Me" are terrific and they also do a 10 minute epic titled "Journey". Comes with promo pic of them in front of their van, the girls are good lookin'. Private press on Prelude-West # JBX 272 from California 1979. File in the ambitious lounge rock act section as their arrangements are more complex than usual for the genre.

Hear and Now [1971?] For the First Time

From the Pacific Northwest quartet with lounge band rural inflected rock sound, good version of that song that so many private press lounge rock bands cover "Proud Mary" along with "Classical Gas", "It's Now Or Never", "Everybody's Talkin'", "Impossible Dream", "More" and even an "Okie From Muskogee". Fab op-art type cover art with b&w pic of band. [PM]

They have another, self-titled LP with a pulverizing cover shot. [ed]

Frankie Brent [197x]

One side live, one side studio, unusual lounge LP by boozer guy backed by organ/guitar/drums trio named the Aggregation. Live side he does a drunken sleazy Dean Martin type of alcoholic act and studio side has eight tracks including a gushy organ "Up, Up And Away", a crude version of the Surfari's "Wipeout", "Goin' Out Of My Head", "Rang Dang Do", "Wildwood Flower" where band gets a hick sorta sound...fantastic cover pic of him in purple suit with adoring swinger looking women looking up at him on one side and fab snapshots on the back with funny captions like "Frankie really Getting It On!", "Frankie always enjoys getting close to his audience" etc. Autographed on back and issued on Cutty label in "Distilled Stereo-86 Proof" no number. VG+/VG+ cover wear and scuffs but plays fine and no doubt is impossible to find winner in the drunken lounge singer genre. From New Orleans, so guess any loose copies down there have probably been drowned. [PM]

Frankie has at least one other LP, another gentleman wino last hurrah titled 'Are There Any More Request-es?' [ed]

Friendship [197x] Encore! Encore!

Recorded live in '70s and highlights are an ambitious full blown version of Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" and a wacko original song "Everybody Today Is Turning On" about drugs. Also a moody downer song "Deja Vu" (not the CSNY) that has a classic creepy lounge ballad vibe. Rest is mix of lounge versions and the obligatory long oldies medley to end the LP. [PM]

Danny Diaz Trio [1971] The DDT Formula

Band formed in 1968 and use guitar, organ, piano, flute, bass, drums with breezy vocal harmonies. They also claim to use beer cans and rice tins for percussion but that may be a joke? Versions of "Sweeter Than Sugar" (Ohio Express), "Both Sides Now" (Joni Mitchell), "Everybodys Talking" (Fred Neil/Nilsson), "Julie Do You Love Me" (Bobby Sherman) etc along with a few originals including a cool groover with go-go organ and snazzy wah wah guitar titled "A Little Bit Of Lovin'". [PM]

Templeton Twins [1969] Trill It Like It Was

OK...this is genius and when I describe it you will groan and think it has to be horrible, but it's great and a keeper for me and no other LP is like it, too. As you may know in the late '60s there was a trippy flashback to the roaring '20s/music hall scene by rock bands (Beatles-When I'm 64, H.P. Lovecraft-Time Machine, to name a couple) WELL this LP on the SF Vault label # 134 is digging in that time machine and what you get is '60s hits done in a wiggy way like they were old 78 RPM discs and the VOCALS are AWESOME...not only are they funny flashbacks, they are also deliciously listenable. This experiment is a resounding success. "Light My Fire" (Doors), "MacArthur Park" (Richard Harris), "Something" (Beatles), "Yesterday" (Beatles again), "Hey Jude" (Beatles again again), "Everybody's Talkin'" (Fred Neil), "Spinning Wheel" (BS&T) and others, even an original called "Ooh, Ooh, Guru". The overall effect is surreal and I bet this would really make the wallpaper patterns weave backwards in time on acid! Full title is The Templeton Twins-Trill It Like It Was with Teddy Turner's Bunsen Burners. For this esoteric angle this is the pinnacle! [PM]

Vikki Britton [1976] Alive

Tuff backup band with guitar/keyboards/bass/drums recorded live at her club in Texas 1976 with hot vocals by her and issued as a memorial, the word I got was she was killed and the sticker on the shrinkwrap says "Songs She'll Do No More" with an awesome picture of her rising out of the grave on the front, truly a stunning cover. Versions of "Think", "Sweet Inspiration", "Dancing Machine", "Night Life", "Respect", "Me & Bobby McGee" etc. ending with a jammed out 9:25 long version of "I've Got The Music In Me". An especially cool LP for fans of tuff female vocal lounge club rock obscurities. [PM]

The Army Blues [1972]

Cool oddity for lounge rock collectors as this is members of the United States Army Band in a spin-off band named The Army Blues "constantly striving to stay abreast of the fast moving, ever evolving music of today...", in other words the 'hip' wing of the military band. They do a flipped out "Proud Mary" (Creedence song) with a wacko vocal that makes the LP worth it alone, but also versions of "Superstar", "Heaven On Their Minds", "I Don't Know How To Love Him" (from Jesus Christ Superstar)), "14th Street Bridge Song", "Summertime", "The Way Of Love" and get a lounge band with horns sound overall with some vocals and some instrumentals. Official non-commercial US Army issue. What they do to "Proud Mary" is the main recommendation here... [PM]

Billy Thunderkloud [197x] Where Do I Begin To Tell A Story

Early '70s private press by Billy Thunderkloud And The Chieftones is a native American lounge rock band. Best track is a trippy version of "Indian Nation" (The Paul Revere & Raiders hit) with spooky wah wah guitar, next best a cheesed out "Proud Mary" (Creedence) with cool inept fuzz guitar in the mix, they also do Coven's "One Tin Soldier", "My Way", "Help Me Make It Through The Night" and other loungeband faves. LP is titled "Where Do I Begin To Tell A Story" on Superior Records. Cool cover design of guitar player by Indians in war bonnets. [PM]

Billy has at least five LP's. [ed]

Ronnie Meade

This guy has such bad phrasing and tone in his singing that it is a fun LP. Music is lowball lounge rock, the vocals are utterly inept and since he doesn't change the gender on tracks like "My Guy", "Mad About The Boy", "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" I get the idea he is gay, too. Other tracks include Herb Alpert's "This Guys in Love With You", "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", a wacko "Something Stupid" (originally a Frank & Nancy Sinatra duet in the '60s), "Mr. Wonderful" etc. Private press on UK custom Governor label # WY 004 from early '70s era I guess. Cover has amazing picture of sexy blonde woman in high boots and hot pants on a country road. Definitely a gem for fans of incompetent vocalists and very obscure. Laminated UK style cover. [PM]

Lou Caddy and the Panics [1971] Almost Live

This guy was working the same turf as the Muzzy Band in NJ circa '71, in fact it was recorded at the Playpen Lounge also, and the mix here is similar (except no track is as nuts as the Muzzy 'I Got The Music In Me'...but what is?). Opens with a fab version of "T.S.O.P." that alternates sleazy trumpet and soaring fuzz guitar leads, he also does a twisted version of "Moondance" Van Morrison song, and others with a couple of sections where he tells jokes in the same bag as Muzzy, raunchy bonehead humour. Classic for lounge band act caught live, loads of seedy Jersey atmosphere. Cool wrap-around blue paste-on cover slick with nuts drawing of him and titled "Almost Live". Mix up a few drinks and party with this guy in a veritable time-machine. LP is private press on Jac-Lyn Records # 916PCC. A lounge fave dude with me... this is a top shelf item for lounge band collectors as the crazy guy Lou Caddy mixes sleazy humour in with the songs, opens with a fab track mixing fuzz guitar and trumpet and basically puts you right in the room with lowlife types all groovin' on their act. [PM]