Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and DJ Rata swing at WHAM-O WATUSI!

WHAM-O WATUSI is a whole new scene, concocted in the Wang Dang Doodle laboratory by crazy people. It is the playing of old 45 RPM records containing all sorts of reet sounds: in other words—folks bangin’ on shit and screamin’!!! Wham-O Watusi will take place at the Bootleg Bar in downtown Bushwick, Brooklyn, whenever host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus gets a night there (hint: next Wham-O Watusi will take place on Friday August 14).

The first Wham-O Watusi happened on July 10, with guest DJ Rata.

DJ Rata hosts several fine dance events around town. The most spectacular, of course, are his late afternoon Shake It Up Sundays at Rockaway Beach during the summer. He also hosts Mambo Jambo, a swingin’ affair held at Otto’s Shrunken Head. Mr. Rata has a strong collection of reet music: jump blues, surf, R&B, garage, rock’n’roll. He is from Venezuela, so he comes fully equipped with mambo records, too, which he played in abundance. The Boog, likewise, spiced his sets up with a few mambos and records with bongos and even some sung in Spanish, just to make DJ Rata feel at home. There was no need. When Rata was working the turntables, he was on fire, playing some absolutely fabulous records. Dig a few here:

Here is a list of records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the very first ever Wham-O Watusi:

• The Dave Pell Singers–Mah-Ná-Mah-Ná (Liberty)
• The Atlantics–Bombora (CBS; Netherlands)
• The Routers–Crack Up (Warner Bros.)
• Ziggy Gonzales and His Orchestra–Salt and Pepper (Glen)
• The Fortunes–St. Johns’ Cha Cha (Lake)
• Pete Terrace et son Orchestre-It’s Boogaloo Time [from EP Le Boogaloo] (Disques Vogue; France)
• Rude Girl–Cocky a Boss (Chappy)
• Miriam Makeba–Pata Pata (Reprise)
• Jimmy Soul–Ella Is Yella (S.P.Q.R.)
• Roy Lee Johnson–Black Pepper Will Make You Sneeze (OKeh)
• The Nashville Teens–T.N.T. (London)
• The Deejays–Dimples (International Polydor Production; Germany)
• The Dootones–Ay Si Si (Dooto)
• Toni Stante–Donde Esta Santa Claus? (Parkway)
• Los Faros–Se Llama Eufrasia (Novola; Spain)
• Los Yakis–Agnete Secreto (Capito; Mexico)
• The Dave Clark Five–At the Scene (Epic)
• The Blue Things–Twist and Shout (RCA Victor)
• Dick Dale and His Del-Tones–Surfin’ and A-Swingin’ (Capitol)
• The Astronauts–Hot-Doggin’ (RCA Victor)
• Freddie Cannon–Summertime U.S.A. (Warner Bros.)
• The Orchids–From Bad to Worse (Columbia)
• The Ramrocks–Pasha (Press)
• Dick and Libby Halleman and Their Society Orchestra vs. Tom and Ray–Pizza Sure Is Good (Summit)
• Lloyd Price and His Band–Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance (Specialty)
• Paul Revere & the Raiders–Swim (Columbia)
• Grupo Sta. Cecilia; canta: Sergio Ruíz–1 – 2 – 3 Hustle (Orfeon; Mexico)
• Love Childs Afro Cuban Blues Band–Life and Death in G&A (Roulette)
• The Maytals–54-46 (Shelter)
• The Clarendonians–Rudie Bam Bam (Coxsone)
• The Ska Kings with Monty Morris & Chorus–Oil in My Lamp (Atlantic)
• Nat Kendrick and the Swans; vocal by King Coleman–(Do The) Mashed Potatoes (Part 1) (Dade)
• Howling Wolf–Riding in the Moonlight (Modern Oldies)
• Donovan–Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness) (Hickory)
• Los Rockin’ Devil’s–La Pequeña Lupe Lu (Little Latin Lupe Lu) (Orfeon; Mexico)
• Palito Ortega–Poco Puedo Darte (RCA Victor)
• Andy and the Classics–Wilma (Hurd)
• The Arrows featuring Davie Allan–Apache ’65 (Tower)
• The Ventures–The McCoy (Dolton)
• The McCoys–Say Those Magic Words (Bang)
• The Reflections–(Just Like) Romeo & Juliet (Golden World)
• Roy Orbison–Twinkle Toes (M-G-M)
• Terry Klein with Dee-Jay & the Runaways–Keep on Running (Stone)
• Kela Gates–Te Alcanzare [ Reach Out ] (Virrey; Peru)
• Billy Harner–Watch Your Step (OR)
• The Doors–Break on Through (To the Other Side) (Elektra; UK)
• The (St. Thomas) Pepper Smelter–In. A. Gadda. Da. Vida (Virrey; Peru)
• Donna Loren–So Do the Zonk (Capitol)
• The Driftwoods–The Antillean Mango (Laurie)
• The Defenders–Wooly Bully (Sonet; Europe)
• Hank Diamond–Soul Sauce (Wachi Wara) (World Pacific)
• Jules Blattner–No Money Down (Coral)
• Ronny and the Daytonas–Bucket ‘T’ (Mala)
• Randy & the Rainbows–Little Hot Rod Suzie (Rust)
• The Del-Vetts–I Call My Baby STP (Dunwich)
• The Music Machine–Double Yellow Line (Original Sound)
• Bob Brady & the Con Chords–It’s Love (Chariot)
• Marcie Blane–Bobby’s Girl (Seville)
• Elvis Presley with the Jordanaires–Let Yourself Go (RCA Victor; UK)
• Mad Dog & the Pups–Hip Squeeze Part I (Magic City)
• The incredible Bongo Band–Bongolia (Pride)
• Earl Grant–House of Bamboo (Decca)
• Los Hispanos–Macondo (Discos Fuentes; Columbia)
• Orquesta Joe Cain–Chunga Au Go Go Chunga (Mainstream)
• Ricardo Ray–Ya Ya (Alegre)
• Joe Bataan–Johnny’s No Good (Fania)

None of these records are for sale.

Note: Although this post is out of chronological sequence, Wham-O Watusi should not be overlooked. It is a happening event and you should be part of the next one…happening on Friday August 14 at the Bootleg Bar. Be there and get Wham-O-fied!!

Wham-O-Fication of Bushwick begins!!!