The Boss Groover Todd-O-Phonic Todd and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at WHAM-O WATUSI!

The third WHAM-O WATUSI may have been the bossest yet. On September 5, The WHAM returned to the Bootleg Bar with guest DJ Todd-O-Phonic Todd.

Todd-O-Phonic Todd, known far and wide as The Boss Groover, is now a regular DJ on radio station WFMU—The Fun 91. His show can be heard every Saturday afternoon from 3 to 6 PM and it is a great one! On it, Mr. Todd plays a wide assortment of music that can only be termed Rock’n’Roll. For more than ten years, Mr. Todd’s radio shenanigans could only be heard when he was filling in for other DJs. Then, in November of last year, the powers-that-be at the radio station gave him the Cherry Blossom Clinic slot on Saturdays soon after it was vacated by the great Terre T. Saturday radio has not been the same ever since!

At the WHAM-O WATUSI, Todd-O played some great records, much like the stuff he plays on his radio show—some of the records can be seen below (click on them and they will big-o-fi using a secret electronic process). He is a great fan of Philadelphia radio legend Jerry Blavat—The Geater With The Heater. So, as Mr. Todd was gearing up for his first set, WHAM-O host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus played “Jerry’s Theme.”

Todd-O-Phonic Todd digs the scene at WHAM-O WATUSI!

All night long, Todd-O-Phonic Todd played fabulous record after fabulous record—many of which are coveted by The Boog and others who were attending. In fact, it was very much as if his radio show had come to life, only louder. That Mr. Todd can really swing!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and Todd-O-Phonic Todd discuss the finer points of a Del Shannon record at WHAM-O WATUSI!

Toward the end of the evening, our pals Charles Gaskins, Brandon Pierce Peck and Javier Roa showed up and began to Watusi with The Boog!

Starting in November, the WHAM-O WATUSI will be held on the first Saturday of every month at the Bootleg Bar—a fine place to dig reet music and drink! There will be some surprise DJs and all sorts of wild records will be played each month. With any luck, there will be a DOO WOP HOP in February and we are hoping to bring back a full-scale WANG DANG DOODLE. Make your plans now to attend as many as possible.

Here is a list of all the records played at WHAM-O WATUSI by its host, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibnus:

• Sandy Nelson–Jive Talk (Imperial)
• The Gallants–The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (Capitol)
• The Jesters–Peter Gunn Twist (Foxie)
• Russell Byrd–Hitch Hike Part I (Symbol)
• Little Frankie–I’m Not Gonna Do It (Capitol)
• The Jagged Edge–Baby You Don’t Know (RCA-Victor)
• Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band–Yellow Brick Road (Buddah)
• The Astronauts–Tomorrow’s Gonna Be a Another Day (RCA Victor)
• Little Joe and the Mustangs–South Swell (Challenge)
• The American Breed–Short Skirts (Acta)
• The Everly Brothers–(You Got) The Power of Love (Warner Bros.)
• Len Barry–Don’t Come Back (Cameo)
• Micky Dolenz–Don’t Do It (Challenge)
• The Deejays–Long Tall Shorty (Polydor; Sweden)
• B.J. Thomas and the Triumphs–Candy Baby (Pacemaker)
• The Johnny Otis Show vocal by Johnny Otis–Three Girls Named Molly Doin’ the Hully Gully (Capitol)
• John Lee Hooker–Let’s Make It Baby (Polydor; France)
• George (Wild Child) Butler–Hold Me Baby (Jewel)
• Jerry Blavat – The Geater with the Heater–Jerry’s Theme (Epic)
• The Invictas–Do It (Sahara)
• Bobby Fuller–Saturday Night (Todd)
• Gloria Tracy–I’ve Never Known (HBR)
• Jim Jones and the Chaunteys–One Fine Mice (Sunglow)
• Bo Diddley–Let the Kids Dance (Checker)
• The Defenders–Jump Back Baby (Sonet; Europe)
• The Crawdaddys–Lolette [from EP 5×4] (Voxx)
• The Lyres–Don’t Give It Up Now (Sounds Interesting)
• The Seeds–Satisfy You (GNP Crescendo)
• Boy’s Wonder–All Tied Up (Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace) (Lowland; Europe)
• The Dave Clark Five–Good Time Woman (Epic)
• Roy Wood–Forever (United Artists)
• Chuck Berry–Go, Bobby Soxer (Chess)
• Hal Blaine (The Drummer Man) and The Young Cougars–Challenger II (RCA Victor)
• Olympic – Big Beat, Prag–Hully-Gully (Amiga; Germany)
• The Shadows–Rhythm & Greens (Columbia; UK)
• Chubby Checker–Popeye The Hitchhiker (Parkway)
• Sammy Reynolds–Olive Oyl (Dore)
• Freddie Cannon—Summerime, U.S.A. (Warner Bros.)
• The Surfaris–I’m a Hog for You Baby (Decca)
• Los Brillos–Sookie Sookie (Falcon)
• Los Rockin’ Devils–Caperucita Roja (Lil’ Red Riding Hood) (Orfeon)
• Steve Alaimo–Ooh Poo Pah Doo (Atco)
• The Arrows featuring Davie Allan–Granny Goose (Tower)
• Nero and the Gladiators–Boots (Decca; UK)
• Cliff Richard and the Shadows–Nine Times Out of Ten (Columbia; UK)
• The Nomads–Good Times (Parlophone; Australia)
• Opposite Six–Church Key (Pt. 68) (South Shore)
• Lindy Blaskey–You Ain’t Tuff (Challenge)
• The Rationals–Look What You’re Doin’ (To Me Baby) (A Squared)
• David Clayton Thomas–Brain Washed (Tower)
• The Guess Who?–It’s My Pride (Quality; Canada)
• The Fleshtones–I Surrender (Yeproc)
• Del Shannon–Stranger in Town (Amy)
• Bob Dylan–Mixed Up Confusion (CBS; France)
• Mighty Sparrow–Calypso Boogaloo (RA; West Indies)
• The Stereo’s–Stereo Freeze Part 1 (Cadet)
• Hank Ballard–Do It Zulu Style (King)
• The Summits–Hanky Panky (Harmon)
• Cliff Nobles–Judge Baby, I’m Back (Phil-L.A.)
• Zoot Money–The Uncle Willie (Decca; UK)
• Jimmy Stokley and the Exiles–It’s Alligator Time (LTD International)
• The Atlantics–Beaver Shot (Rampart)
• The Riviaires–The Bug (Aden)
• E. Rodney Jones–R&B Time (Part 1) (Tuff)
• Johnny Honeycut–Get to That (Willow)
• James Brown and the Famous Flames–Fine Old Foxy Self (King)
• Shorty Billups–Hoochie Koo (Blast)
• Little Junior Lewis–Can She Give Me Fever (Fury)
• Wayne Cochran–I’m in Trouble (Mercury)
• Sidney Barnes–Talkin’ ‘Bout a Shindig (Blues Tone)
• The Girls with the Harry Betts Orchestra–Way, Way Out (20th Century)
• The Berrys–Midnight Hour (Apex; Canada)
• Jim Doval and the Gouchos–Scrub (Dot)

None of these records are for sale. Most photos were taken by Nancy “Jeanie” Gardner. Below is a selection of the records played by Todd-O-Phonic Todd at the WHAM-O WATUSI…

After a hard night of DJing, Todd-O-Phonic Todd has packed up his fabulous 45s and leaves the Bootleg Bar.