After taking a brief sabbatical (for the Subway Soul Club event in October), WHAM-O WATUSI returned to the Bootleg Bar in downtown Bushwick, Brooklyn with the super guest DJ action of Sir Charles Gaskins on Saturday November 7. Mr. Gaskins has been involved in all sorts of reet projects, including playing in several bands, publishing a cool fanzine (Bananas), running a a hep record label (Killer Diller), swingin’ at several DJ nights (most recently Finger Lickin’ Friday) and, correct us if we are incorrect, he is studying to be a full-time comedian! Mr. Gaskins is truly a whacked cat and he can play some pretty whacked records, as was seen at the WHAM-O WATUSI! Or should we say, WHACK-O WATUSI!!

The Bootleg Bar clientele certainly enjoyed the records played by Mr. Gaskins and WHAM host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, as several bravely approached the DJ booth and voiced their approval of the selections these two DJs were presenting that evening. Others showed solidarity by dropping their drink glasses! All night, folks held their drinks and moved their heads in rhythm with the beat, as if we all were in a store of life-sized bobble-head figures. You should have been there…

Hey, you’ll get your chance, as WHAM-O WATUSI returns to the Bootleg Bar on the first Saturday of each month—so set your calendars for December 6, and watch this space for who will be the guest DJ.

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at WHAM-O WATUSI:

• Jay Bentley and the Jet Set–Watusi ’64 (G.N.P. Crescendo)
• Lonnie Mack–Wham! (Fraternity)
• The Spacewalkers–Gemini, Go Baby Go! (Moonglow)
• The Showboats–Too Much (Goldband)
• Jimmy Elledge–Pink Dally Rue (Hickory)
• Freddie Cannon–O.K. Wheeler, the Used Car Dealer (Warner Bros.)
• The Will-O-Bees–If You’re Ready (Date)
• The Peels–Scrooey Mooey (Karate)
• The Empires–(Boop-Boop-Dit-Tem-Dat-Tem-What-Tem-Chu) Three Little Fishes (Itty-Bitty-Poo) (Colpix)
• Clyde McPhatter–Happy Good Times (Mercury)
• The Kingsmen–Dig This (Jalynne)
• Mary Wells–Bye Bye Baby (Motown)
• Jimmy Tyrell and the Joy Vendors—-Popeye Line (Pawn)
• Rocky Roberts and the Airdales–Got a Thing Going (Brunswick)
• Clifford Curry–Miss Shake-A-Plenty (In the Micro-Mini) (Elf)
• James Duncan and the Duncan Trio–I’ll Be Gone (King)
• Hatti & the Heavywights–Chicken Shack (Hirl)
• Ted Cassidy as Lurch with the music of Gary Paxton–The Lurch (Capitol)
• The Nomads–I’m Popeye the Sailor Man (ABC-Paramount)
• The Hueys–You Ain’t No Hippie (Instant)
• Bo Diddley–Doin’ the Jaguar (Pye International; UK)
• The Lovers–Security (Checker)
• The Hawks–Grasshopper (ABC-Paramount)
• The Challengers–Goofus (Triodex)
• The Elite–One Potato (Charay)
• Piano Red–Rock Baby (RCA Victor)
• The Searchers–Alright (Pye; Greece)
• Fleshtones–The Girl From Baltimore (I.R.S.; UK)
• The Astronauts–Hot-Doggin’ (RCA-Victor)
• The Bluebeards–Come On-a My House (Date)
• Les Stratones–Petite Soeur (TC Loir; Canada)
• The Zombies–Road Runner (Parrot; Canada)
• Bobby Comstock–I’ll Make You Glad (Ascot)
• The Beatles–Boys (Capitol Star Line)
• Sadina–I Want That Boy (Smash)
• [unknown singer]–I’m Gonna Destroy That Boy (Munster; Spain)
• The Del Satins–The Throwaway Song (B.T. Puppy)
• Joe Tex–Looking for My Pig (Parrot)
• Jerry Palmer–Walking the Dog (Gaiety)
• The Boots–In the Midnight Hour (Telefunken; Germany)
• Jim Doval and the Gauchos–Baracuda (Dot)
• Beverly Ann Gibson–Do the Monkey (Jubilee)
• The Vice-Roys–Not Too Much Twist – Not Too Much Shout (Bethlehem)
• Big Maybelle–That’s a Pretty Good Love (Savoy)
• The Suberbs–The Fish (Heritage)
• Little Richard–Money (OKeh)
• Jamie Mahar–Slippin’ and Slidin’ (Warner Bros.)
• The Isley Brothers–Twist and Shout (Wand)
• The Fourmost–Respectable (Atco)
• Clyde McPhatter–Lover Please (Mercury)
• The Four Lovers–Honey Love (RCA Victor)
• Mary Weiss–A Certain Guy (Norton)
• Tony Harris–Chicken Baby Chicken (Ebb)
• Link Wray and the Wraymen–Slinky (Epic)
• Luke & the Apostles–Been Burnt (Elektra; Canada)
• The Guess Who?–It’s My Pride (Amy)
• The Revels–Foo Man Choo (Norgolde)
• Nolan Strong–(What Did That Genie Mean When He Said) Ali Coochie Ca La Moochie Cu Cu Monga Cha La Chunga (Fortune)
• Huey ‘ Piano’ Smith & the Clowns–Pop-Eye (Ace)
• Hasil Adkins the One Man Band–Chicken Shake (Norton)
• César et ses Romains–Splish – Splash (Choc!; Canada)
• Barbara Lynn–Oh! Baby (We Got a Good Thing Goin’) (Jamie)
• The Deejays–I Can Tell (Poydor; Sweden)
• Tommy James and the Shondells–I’ll Go Crazy (Hit; Spain)
• James Brown and the Famous Flames–This Old Heart (Federal)
• Sunny and the Sunliners–Trick Bag (Tear Drop)
• J.L. Smith–Do the Mosquito (Friendly Five)
• Chris Allen–Saxophone Pete (Hollywood)
• John Lee Hooker–Onions (Charly; UK)
• Lonnie Brooks–The Popeye (Midas)
• Henry Mancini and his Orchestra–Tooty Twist (RCA Victor)
• James Brown & the Famous Flames–(A Short Personal Message by James Brown) Don’t Be a Drop-Out (King)
• Henry Lumpkin–Mo Jo Hanna (Motown)
• Chris Kenner–Sick and Tired (Imperial)
• Jimmy Moore–Crawlin’ (Legrand)
• Nat Wright–For You My Love (ABC-Paramount)
• Eddie Bo–Now Let’s Pop-Eye (Swan)
• Otis Redding and the Shooters–She’s All Right (Finer Arts)
• The Rosaletts and the Kinfolks Orchestra–Do You Wanna Dance (Revis)
• Sally and the Roses–Chicken Back (Columbia)
• Eddy Bell & the Bel-Aires–The Masked Man (Hi Yo Silver) (Mercury)
• Danny & the Juniors–At the Hop (Singular)
• Chuck Berry–Promised Land (Chess)
• The Sherry’s–No No Baby (Mercury)
• Willy and His Giants–Huckleberry Beat (Union; Japan)

None of these records are for sale.

Sir Charles Gaskins swings at WHAM-O WATUSI!