The WHAM-O WATUSI has officially become a truly national and international event. As the astute Boogaloo Bag reader may remember, the last WHAM featured a great DJ from Mexico. On February 6, The WHAM was scheduled to swing at the Bootleg Bar with host Phast Pheddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and guest DJ Mister Brandon Pierce Peck. Then, three weeks before the gig, he got an emergency call on the Bat-phone from our pal DJ Rata: a friend of Rata’s from Barcelona was going to be in town that weekend; can he DJ at the WHAM?

You bet he can! About twelve years ago, The Boog swung at a couple of groovy clubs in Barcelona: Barbara Ann and Badlands. Both experiences were fabulous. The least The Boog could do was to add this fine Spanish DJ to the bill at the WHAM. ¡No problemo!

The man from Spain was Turis Bang Bang. Not only is he a DJ who spins reet sounds, he is also an event promoter, and runs a club called A Wamba Baluba, where he books cool bands, such as our pals Daddy Long Legs. Plus, the guy could play a mean record, that’s for sure!

At WHAM-O WATUSI, Señor Bang Bang only played a couple songs in Spanish. However, he played a LOT of great, rockin’ instrumentals and top R&B jump numbers that kept the joint hoppin’ while he was at the turntables.

Let’s not forget the other guest DJ that night: Mister Brandon Pierce Peck (AKA Handsome Vanzandt) also played a few good records. He’s a hep cat whose sideburns are as long as he is. Mister Brandon, who hails from way down south–Jacksonville, Florida to be exact–has been seen spinning his black round guys at such events and venues as Hullabaloo, Out of Sight, The Lone Wolf, Don Pedro and Otto’s Shrunken Head. At The Wham, his time at the turntables playing boss sounds was appreciated by the many folks boppin’ on the dance floor. Not only that, he contributed to the night in an entirely unique and wonderful way by drawing the incredibly groovy poster that advertised the night (see below). No wonder there were so many beautiful people in attendance, making it the most successful WHAM-O WATUSI yet!

Host DJ Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus played his usual trash: R&B, ska, rock’n’roll, freak beat, garage rock and twisted instrumentals in a mix that he refers to as “excited bedlam.” Plus, unlike the man from Spain, The Boog spun at least a dozen records sung in the Spanish language. It seems that the “Wham-O Bird” record has become the WHAM-O WATUSI theme song, as it has initiated the action for the last three events! Here’s a list of all the records played by El Rapido:

 

• Frankie Questa at the Organ–The Wham-O Bird (Cub)
• The Snobs–Stand and Deliver (London)
• The Hollywood Persuaders–Persuasion (Original Sound)
• Johnny Angel–I Got My Mojo Working (Josie)
• Leslie Uggams–River Deep, Mountain High (Atlantic)
• Fabulous Flakes–No Excess Baggage (Columbia)
• The Dave Clark Five–Maze of Love (Epic)
• The Montereys–Push-Em Up (Ultima)
• The Fabulous Playboys–Nervous (Daco)
• The Midnighters–Daddy’s Little Baby (Federal)
• The Showboats–Too Much (Goldband)
• Los Brincos–El Pasaporte (Novola; Spain)
• Eddie and the Showmen–Squad Car (Liberty)
• Gene Redd and the Globe Trotters–Zeen Beat (King)
• Yuzo Kayama–Black Sand Beach (Toshiba; Japan)
• Los Rockin’ Devils–Sigue Asi (Go Head On) (Orfeon)
• Los Moustros–Mi Traje Nuevo (Chez Nobody; Mexico)
• The Tempters–Secret Password (Philips; Japan)
• Los Mustang–Conocerte Mejor (I Should Have Known Better) (Regal; Spain)
• The Marvelettes–He’s a Good Guy (Yes He Is) (Tamla)
• Curley Ashe–Clap, Clap (Dawanda)
• Nat Kendrick and the Swans–Dig Rag Part – I (Dade)
• Els Corbs–L’Ultima Vegada (Endigsa; Spain)
• Dondi–S&L (Challenge)
• Underdogs–Get Down on Your Knees (Hideout)
• Bobbie Graham–Zoom, Widge and Wag (Fontana; UK)
• The Maytals; Prince Buster All Stars–Dog War (Prince Buster; Jamaica)
• The Wailers–Simmer Down (CoxSone; Jamaica)
• Roberto Jordan–Hazme Una Señal (Gimme Little Sign) (RCA Victor; Mexico)
• Los Johnny Jets–Bajate de Mi Nube (Get Off of My Cloud) [from EP Los Johnny Jets A Go-Go] (CBS; Mexico)
• Los Mustang–Dandy (Le Voz De Su Amo; Spain)
• Los Faros–Se Llama Eufrasia (Novola; Spain)
• Los Angeles–No Pienses (Hispa Vox; Spain)
• Los Johnny Jets–Bule Bu [from EP Más Éxitos de Los Johnny Jets] (CBS; Mexico)
• Mad Man Taylor–Rock ‘n’ Roll Españole (East-West)
• The Ambertones–Chocolate Covered Ants (Dottie)
• Thee Midniters–Love Special Delivery (Whittier)
• Don Covay & the Goodtimers–Hand Jive Workout (Columbia)
• LIghtnin’ Slim–Rooster Blues (Excello)
• Muddy Waters–She’s Into Something (Chess)
• James Brown and the Famous Flames–Love Don’t Love Nobody (King)
• Screaming Jay Hawkins–Your Kind of Love (Providence)
• Roosevelt Grier–Since You’ve Been Gone (RIC)
• The Dells–Run for Cover (Cadet)
• Juicebox–My Baby Likes to Boogaloo (Cultures of Soul)
• The Vibrants–Something About You Baby (Columbia; Australia)
• Lee Kings–La-La-La Lies (RCA Victor; Sweden)
• Los Canarios–Get on Your Knees (Calla)
• The Hitmakers–Stop the Music (Polydor; Japan)

 

None of these records are for sale! In order to fully appreciate the Boogaloo Bag Experience, it helps if the reader clicks on the images (which will scientifically Big-O-Fi™) and the links, especially the song links, when provided.