Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and DJ Ratta swing at Blues Dance.

As part of a cultural exchange program that was in effect for the month of March, DJ Ratta was guest DJ last week (March 14) at the Dynagroove, hosted by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus. On March 22, Ratta hosted Blues Dance with Phast Phreddie as guest DJ.

Blues Dance is Ratta’s night—usually held the third Saturday of the month—at Otto’s Shrunken Head. Although called, “Blues Dance,” it is not an evening that restricts itself to that fine 12-bar form of music. NO WAY! Blues Dance features all sorts of hot music, especially stuff that Ratta excels in playing, such as surf music, mambo, rocksteady and R&B. The night is great fun and could just have easily been called “Dance Your Blues Away” because that’s exactly what goes on at this swingin’ affair.

There were bands playing in the back room, and at least one of them had a blues theme: The Cannibal Ramblers, a duo consisting of an old guy playing loud, wild, slide guitar on a homemade instrument, backed by a youngster keeping beat on drums. Songs covered such topics as drinking, South Miami, Satan and drinking. It was good!  The Boog strongly suggests attending the duo’s next gig when it shows up in your town.

The Cannibal Ramblers

Meanwhile, here’s a list of all the songs played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Blues Dance:

• The Ventures–Walk Don’t Run ’64 (Dolton)
• Billy Boy–I Wish You Would (Vivid)
• Lone Star–Rio Sin Fin [River Deep Mountain High] (La Voz de u Amo; Spain)
• Sorensen Brothers–Do the Ska (With Me) (Tip)
• The Wailers–Jerk in Time (Coxsone; Japan)
• Sonny Ace & the Twisters–Chili Pepper (Atlantic)
• Hank Ballard–Do It Zulu Style (King)
• Tony Sheridan & the Beat Brothers–Veedeboom Slop Slop (Polydor; Germany)
• Los Faros–Se Llama Eufrasia (NoVoLa; Spain)
• Johnny Zamot–Mambo Village (Decca)
• Billy Wade and the 3rd Degrees–Tear It Up Part I (ABC)
• Ted Taylor–You Give Me Nothing to Go On (OKeh)
• Vince and the Victors–Some Kind of Drums (Jerdon)
• Lionel Hampton/The Inner Circle–Them Changes (Brunswick)
• Laurel Aitken–Reggae 69 (Nu Beat; UK)
• Chris Powell and His Five Blue Flames–I Come From Jamaica (Spanish Town; UK)
• Los Rebeldes del Rock–Me Quieres Dejar (Orfeon)
• Tommy Raye–You Don’t Love Me (Pen)
• The Slickers–Papa Was a Rolling Stone (Ice; Jamaica)
• Los Socios Del Ritmo–La Gallina (Capitol; Mexico)
• Preston Epps–Rockin’ in the Congo (Flodavieur)
• The Hawketts–Mardi Gras Mambo (Sapphire)
• The Charmer with Johnny McCleverty Calypso Boys–Back to Back Belly to Belly (Monogram)
• Laurel Aitken–Do the Boogaloo (Big Shot; UK)
• Jimmy Castor–New Boo-Ga-Loo 67 (Winley)
• Howlin’ Wolf–Killing Floor (Chess)
• Honey-Duo-Twins–Come on Baby (Yam-Bo)
• Earl Grant–House of Bamboo (Decca)
• Xavier Cugat–Watermelon Man (Mercury)
• Los Gritos–Tuset Street (Belter; Spain)
• Los Yaki–Murmullo [Hush] (Capitol)
• Dale Kahr & Christy Boughn–Black Is Black (Foggy Love)
• Bruno Lomas–Corre Corre [Keep on Running] (Regal; Spain)
• Freddy King–The Stumble (Federal)
• Otis Spann–Walkin’ (Blue Horizon)
• Maytals–Fever (Dragon)
• Los Brincos–Flamenco (NoVoLa; Spain)
• Elmore James–Stranger Blues (Fire)
• Bo Diddley–Down Home Train (Checker)
• Bruno Lomas–Jungle Hop (Discophon; Spain)
• Emilina and Her Brazilians–The Carnival Yeh Yeh Song (Mulata ie ie ie) (Columbia)
• Grupo 15–El Olé (Regal; Spain)
• Pierre Perpall–Je Ne Peux Te Laisser Partir (Citation; Canada)
• The Shakers–Hippy Hippy Shake (Polydor; Germany)
• Los Beats–Eres Tu (Orfeon; Mexico)
• The Eagles–Stalactite (Smash)
• Noble ‘Thin Man’ Watts–Hot Tamales (Baton)
• Errol Scorcher–Frog in a Water (Tippa; Jamaica)
• Perez Prado y Su Orquesta–Mambo de King Kong (Infopesa; Peru)
• Little Willie John–Uh Uh Baby (No No Baby) (King)
• Cuco Valtierra–Hay Que Bailar Rock and Roll (Musart; Colombia)
• Royal Rockers–Swinging Mambo (Bee)
• Santo & Johnny–Bullseye (Canadian American)
• The Afrosound–La Sampuesana (Fuentes; Ecuador)
• Tito Puente and His Orchestra–A La Salud (God Bless You) (RCA Victor)
• Juanucho Lopez and His Orchestra; vocalist: Mon Rivera–El Twist (Spanoramic)
• The Chanters–Bongo Bongo (M-G-M)
• Nino Ferrer–Alexandre (Rivera; France)
• [no artist listed]–Dance the Slurp (7-Eleven)
• ‘Baby’ Earl & the Trini-Dads–Back Slop (S.P.Q.R.)
• Toots & the Maytals–Pressure Drop (Beverley’s; UK)
• Bob Marley & the Wailers–Trench Town Rock (G & C)
• Chico and Buddy–Can You Dig It (Tay-Ster)
• Freddie McCoy–Summer in the City (Prestige)
• Earl King–Let the Good Times Roll (Ace)
• Ko Ko Taylor–All Money Spent (On Feeling Good) (Checker)
• The Venturas–The Corrido Twist (Donna)
• Cookie and His Cupcakes–I’m Twisted (Paula)
• Anna King–Mama’s Got a Bag of Her Own (End)
• Johnny Preston–Willie and the Hand Jive (Hall-Way)
• Johnny Little John–Can’t Be Still (Terrell)

None of these records are for sale.

DJ Ratta and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus display spectacular headgear at the DYNAGROOVE!

After a month long hiatus, the DYNAGROOVE returned to Teddy’s Bar & Grill with a vengeance on Friday March 14. In order to make this happen, host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus asked DJ Ratta to swing an hour in the special guest DJ spot—from 11:00 PM to Midnight.

DJ Ratta is eclectic, exotic and exciting. He began his DJ career in Venezuela at the turn of the century. He moved to New York about five years ago and became part of the Move Your Mule reggae and rocksteady night with our pal Selector Bunny Punch. He has also worked Rodentia Royale and Soul Shakedown Party. He now hosts Blues Dance at Otto’s Shrunken Head. Ratta is known to play a mambo record and a surf instrumental in the same set! This is The Boog’s kind of DJ. Ratta brought this kind of mish mash to his portion of the DYNAGROOVE with excellent results.

As part of a cultural exchange program this month, on Saturday March 22, The Boog will be guest DJ at Ratta’s afore-mentioned Blues Dance. Expect the program to be similar to the DYNAGROOVE, but louder, faster and harder!

In order to help DJ Ratta feel at home at the DYNAGROOVE, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus spun a substantial number of records that one may say contain elements of the Spanish tinge. Dig all the titles here:

• Kenny Clarke & His 52nd Street Boys–52nd Street Theme (International Records News; Italy)
• Al De Lory–Spooky (Capitol)
• The Trends–The Beard (RCA Victor)
• Alvin Robinson–Something You Got (Blue Cat)
• Cookin’ on 3 Burners–Pie Warmer (Bamboo Shack)
• Champion Jack Dupree–Evil Woman (Atlantic)
• Mighty Hannibal—Shame, Shame, Shame (Josie)
• Ike & Tina Turner–Doin’ It (United Artists)
• Quartette Tres Bien–Exodus (Atlantic)
• The New Breed–You’d Better Leave Me Be (Mercury)
• Charlie Mingus–East Coasting (Bethlehem)
• Dutton Percussion Trio–Take Five (Dutton Percussion Trio)
• Wes Montgomery–Goin’ Out of My Head (Verve)
• Los Javaloyas–Sally Busca en las Rosas (La Voz de Su Amo; Spain)
• Les McCann–Route 66 (World-Pacific)
• Esquivel His Piano and Group–Cielito Lindo (RCA Victor)
• Lord Kitchener–Woman Like Saxophone (Monogram)
• Johnny Hammond Smith–Stand By Me (Prestige)
• Shelly Manne & His Men–Peter Gunn (Contemporary)
• Los Talayotts–La Voz Del Silencio (Polydor; Spain)
• The Golden Cups—Baby, Please Don’t Run Away (Capitol; Japan)
• Perez Prado and His Orch.–Caravan (RCA Victor)
• Marlena Shaw—Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Cadet)
• Rex und Ricky – Die Erwin Lehn All Stars–Gänsehaut (Goosebumps) (Electrola; Germany)
• Johnny Lytle–The Man (Constellation)
• Al Caiola with Rhythm–Mambo Jambo (RCA Victor)
• Kwame Nkrumah–Wawale (Columbia)
• Ahmad Jamal’s Three Strings–Rica Pulpa (OKeh)
• Maxine Brown–One Step at a Time (Wand)
• Gerry Mulligan–King of the Road (Limelight)
• Carlos Monteiro de Souza e Sua Orquestra–Last Tango in Paris (Odeon; Brazil)
• René Touzet and His Orchestra–El Loco Cha Cha (GNP)
• Norman Maine & His Orch.–BAbylon 3-9970 (Columbia)
• Lalo Schifrin–The Man From THRUSH (Verve)
• Thai Record #6–Thai Record Number Six (Thailand)
• Gene Ammons–Son of a Preacher Man (Prestige)
• Rafael Cortijo y su Bonche–Chinito Boogaloo (Tico)
• Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri–Modesty (Verve)
• King Pleasure–Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Prestige)
• The Tides with the Merry Melody Singers–The Banana Boat Song (Mercury)
• Ben E. King–Gloria Gloria (Atco)
• The Afrosound–La Danza de los Mirlos (Discos Fuentes; Colombia)
• Roy Meriwether Trio–Respect (Columbia)
• Eddy Mitchell–Monsieur Bon Dieu (Barclay; France)
• Martin Denny–Quiet Village Bossa Nova (Liberty)
• Los Destellos–La Cumbia del Sol (Odeon; Peru)
• David T. Walker–Baby I Need Your Loving (Revue)
• Horace Silver–Psychedelic Sally (Blue Note)
• Burning Spear–Resting Place (Wolf; Jamaica)
• Alfredito and His Orchestra–Egg Foo Young Mambo (Rainbow)
• Gene Casey (piano)–The Pachanga Twist (Tru-Sound)
• Traffic–Hole in My Shoe (Island; UK)
• The Kane Triplets–How Are Things in California (United Artists)
• Barbara Mason–He’s Got to Love Me (Arctic)
• Wade & Jamie–Don’t Put Off ‘Till Tomorrow (Palomar)
• Paul Kelly–Sweet Sweet Lovin’ (Philips)
• The Soul Providers–Let the Music Take Your Mind (Desco)
• Georgie Woods – The Guy with the Goods–Potato Salad Part I (Fat Back)
• Charley (Zapi) Jordan–Cumbia Chibcha (Columbia Spirits)
• Los Javaloyas–Rag Doll (La Voz de Su Amo; Spain)
• Lulu–Morning Dew (Epic Memory Lane)
• The Quartette Tres Bien–Pamelam-A-Lam (Decca)
• The Ramsey Lewis Trio–Hang on Sloopy (Cadet)
• Chuito Velez and His Orchestra–Carnabalero (Decca)
• Camarata featuring Tutti’s Trombones–(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Coliseum)
• Dick Hyman at the Organ and Sam (The Man) Taylor on Tenor Sax–Congo Mombo (M-G-M)
• Beacham Coakley’s Emerald Beach Hotel Orchestra featuring Vincent Martin vocalist–Brown Skin Gal [from the EP Goombay! The Authentic Calypso Beat of the Bahams] (Decca)
• Los Blue Angels–Donde Esta Mendocino (Del Gordo)
• The Kinks–Sittin’ on My Sofa (Reprise)
• The Turtles–Buzz Saw (White Whale)
• Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra–The Hucklebuck (Decca)
• Tony Valla and the Alamos–Donkey Walk (Hi-Q)
• Jesse James and the James Boys–Do It Like You Feel It (Match)
• Erick Saint Laurent–Eleonor Rigby (Barclay; France)
• The Maze–Harlem Shuffle (Disques Vogue; France)
• Boogaloo Assassins–Evil Ways (Sicario)
• Winston Wright–Flight 404 (Hit/G.G’s; Jamaica)
• Jackie Edwards & Soulmakers–Che Che (Daran)
• Billy Harner–Everything’s Hunky-Dory (V-Tone)
• Dora Hall–1-2-3 (Reinbeau)
• The Wild Voices of the Marty Cooper Clan–Raunchy (RCA  Victor)
• Arturito Santiago con Sor Angel Torres–Tuyo Hasta Que Muera (Broadway)
• Bobby Cruz con Bobby Richie Ray–El Sencerro (Fonseca)
• Love Childs Afro Cuban Blues Band–Bang Bang (Roulette)
• Ray Bryant–Pata Pata (Cadet)

None of these records are for sale.

Mr. Fine Wine and buddies in the window at Botanica. Photo by Dan Donahue.

Mr. Fine Wine is a world-class soul music record collector, the host of a super cool radio show, one of the best soul music DJs on the planet, and a terribly nice guy. For the last several years he has been the house DJ at a little club called Botanica, located on Houston Street in New York City. In fact, on March 5, he celebrated 18 years of Wednesday nights at the club. You know he doesn’t play the same 45s over and over, so that’s a LOT of records.

Mr. Fine Wine’s radio show, called Downtown Soulville (after the hip Chuck Edwards song), airs every Friday night from 8 to 9 PM (Jersey City Time) on WFMU—the best radio station in the world. One solid hour of some of the finest soul and R&B 45s you will ever hear in your life, all from his own collection, fabulous records, including many so rare that few people have heard them!

When Mr. Fine Wine spins records in a club, as he does at Botanica and once a month at The Commodore, and even as an occasional guest DJ set at the Dynagroove or other nights around town, he always plays records that display a certain soulful beauty as well as a salacious beat! When Mr. Fine Wine is at the controls, you want to be on the dance floor!

Jennie Wasserman and Lupe Loop celebrate with Mr. Fine Wine! Photo by Kimberly Fondu .

18 years is a long time in DJ Night Life, and Mr. Fine Wine should be given a hearty congratulations for accomplishing this feat. This is truly a deed that may not be matched any time soon.  It helps, of course, that the club has been able to stay in business longer than most bars in town–many which seem to come and go like spring flowers. Working behind the bar during most of these Wednesdays at Botanica is ace bartender Dan Donahue–whose ginger yum yum is something to behold! (For those keeping score, the Boogaloo Bag writers drink the virgin ginger yum yum.)

In order to celebrate his 18 years at Botanica, Mr. Fine Wine invited a bunch of his friends—most of them excellent DJs in their own right—to come down to Botanica and play a few records. Let’s see if we can remember all the DJs who showed up: Billy Miller (Norton Records), Peanut Butter Brown (Uptown Getdown), One Mint Julep (Lavender Lake), Brian Proust (Atlanta, GA), Big Sir (Flip City), Jennie Wasserman (The Dansettes), Greg Tormo (Solid Hit Soul Club), Lupe Loop (Discovery), Connie T Empress (Empire State Soul Club), Sheila B (Cha Cha Charming), Alex De Laszlo, Mr. Robinson (Dig Deeper) and probably some others who the Boogaloo Bag writers can’t remember or who showed up after we left.
With so many DJs swingin’ all on the same night, most of them were asked to play only five records. So here are the five records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus:

• Little Mae & the Flames–Baby Workout (Wildwood)
• Les Pingouins–Voo-Doo-Twist (Decca; France)
• Owen Gray–Dolly Baby (Aladdin; UK)
• Los Socios Del Ritmo–La Gallina (Capitol; Mexico)
• Laurel Aitken–Do the Boogaloo (Big Shot; UK)

Click on the song titles to hear them!! None of these records are for sale.