For February, the WHAM-O WATUSI was pushed back two full weeks and took place on the 18th at the Bootleg Bar—Bushwick’s most exciting watering hole! But that’s ok, as it turned out that night was the best time for guest DJ Andy Maltz to make his first appearance at the WHAM.

The Boogaloo Bag writers have been aware of Mr. Maltz for some time, mostly via a vast array of mutual friends; his bands The Little Killers and The Piggies; and through the activities of Norton Records in which he often partakes. Plus, he DJs twice a week at Union Pool in Williamsburg–Thursday and Sundays starting at 8pm. Thus, everybody already knows he has hip taste in reet sounds. However, The Boogaloo Bag writers were very impressed with his DJ skills as he applied them on January 1 at Friends and Lovers during the birthday tribute to the late great Billy Miller of said Norton Records. The way he put his set together—punk rock mixed in with garage rockers and R&B shouters—was totally boss. WHAM host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus heard that and was knocked out completely—deciding right then that Mr. Maltz had to be asked to swing at the soonest WHAM-O WATUSI possible.

Andy Maltz did not disappoint. First off, due to subway train schedules being mixed up over the weekend, the Phast Man was nearly 20 minutes late to the dance. Luckily, when he walked into the dark, friendly confines of the Bootleg Bar, Mr. Maltz was already swingin’, having set up the DJ booth and commenced playing cool 45s at the appropriate volume for the lucky folks in attendance. Each of his thirty-minute sets seemed to contain mini-sets that kept the beat flowing in a sensible manner, even when he was playing insensible records! For the last hour, he and Phast Phreddie traded plays, as they went from some rockabilly platters, to garage rock, to surf records before it got a little nuts.

Unfortunately, the Boogaloo Bag writers left the camera at home, therefore no photos exist of Andy Maltz swingin’ at the Boot on this night. For that, we apologize and promise to have him back soon in order to make up for this unthinkable oversight in planning!

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the WHAM-O WATUSI on February 18:

• Carlo & the Secrets–A Hundred Pounds of Potatoes (Throne)
• The Ozarks–Who Stole My Dog? (California)
• The Tronics–The Big Scroungy (Landa)
• Coatesville Harris and the All Stars–Coates-Ville (Rhythm)
• Daddy ‘G’ and the Church St. Five–Look Alive (LeGrand)
• Jackie Shane; Frank Motley & Motley Crew Orch.–Sticks and Stones (Cookin’)
• Paul Peek–Rockin’ Pneumonia and Boogie Woogie Flu (Columbia)
• Arthur Alexander–Pretty Girls Everywhere (Dot)
• David Clayton-Thomas–Walk That Walk (Atco)
• Boo Boo & Bunky–This Old Town (Brent)
• The Headliners–You’re Bad News (V.I.P.)
• Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs–Juimonos (Let’s Went) (M-G-M; Germany)
• The Five Satins–Kangaroo (Warner Bros.)
• The Dazzlers–Oo-Clazy (Knick)
• The Beatniks–Beatnik’s Blues (Roulette)
• Bo Diddley–Put the Shoes on Willie (Pye International; UK)
• Menard Rogers–Good Food, I Am for You (Margaret)
• The Debelaires with Al Allen & the Skyscrapers–The Wa-Wabblers (Lectra)
• Betty Harris–Show It (Sansu)
• Sylvie Vartan–Twiste et Chante (Twist and Shout) (RCA Victor; France)
• Little Eva–Taking Back What I Said (Dimension)
• The Mojo Men–She’s My Baby (Reprise)
• The Fenways–I’m a Mover (Co & CE)
• The Kingsmen–Little Sally Tease (Wand)
• Elvis Presley–Little Sister (RCA Victor)
• Lee Allen–Cat Walk (Ember)
• Clifton Chenier–Keep on Knockin’ (The Crazy Cajun)
• Lee Dorsey & His Ya Ya Band–Rock (Ace)
• Rockin’ Uncle Potts–He La-Ba’s (Goldband)
• Mike Sanchez; Conjunto de Ricky Rays; Ernesto Marroquin: sax–Papa Molida (Mashed Potato Time) (Falcon)
• Bobby Freeman–Let’s Surf Again (Autumn)
• Eddie & the De-Havelons–Xmas Party (Peacock)
• The Standells–Try It (Tower)
• Bob Kuban and the In-Men–Harlem Shuffle (Musicland U.S.A.)
• The Casuals–Money (That’s What I Want) (Minaret)
• The Videos–Shoo Bee Doo Bee Cha Cha Cha (Bim Bam Boom)
• The Fabulous Playboys–Nervous (Daco)
• Chris Montez–Rockin’ blues (Monogram)
• Cliff ‘Honky Tonk’ Scott–Fros-Tee Nite (King)
• Maureen Gray–Come on and Dance (Chancellor)
• Goldie Coates and the Blenders–Fisherman (Cortland)
• Lattimore Brown–Chick Chick, Chicky Chick (Zil)
• Hank Blackman & the Killers–Itchy Koo (Brent)
• The Thunderbirds–Thunderbird Twist (Delta)
• The Rolling Stones–Route 66 (Decca; France)
• [no artist listed]–All Day and All of the Night (Hit Parader)
• Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band–Frying Pan (A&M)
• Prince Carter–Shake Me Up (Go)
• Gino Washington–I’m Coming Home (Wand)
• The Jolly Jax–Pony Shuffle (Airmaster)
• Bobby Fuller Four–Never to Be Forgotten (Mustang)
• Mouse and the Traps–Cryin’ Inside (Fraternity)
• The Misfits–Naughty Rooster (Warren International)
• Larry Birdsong with Al Smith’s Orchestra–Fannie’s Place (Vee Jay)
• Lenny Coleman–Shake It Easy (Laurie)
• Little Henry and the Shamrocks–The Ta Ta Song (Kent)
• The Chants–Choo Choo (Verve)
• The Four Jokers–She’s a Flirt (Amy)
• Rufus Thomas–Ya Ya [from EP Jump Back With Rufus Thomas] (Atlantic; UK)
• Stan Robinson–Can She Give You Fever (Amy)
• Lord Luther with the Dave R. Band–A Thinkin’ Man’s Girl (Imperial)
• LaVern Baker–Ain’t Gonna Cry No More (Atlantic)
• The Buddies–Only My Friend (Swing)
• The Ron-Dels–Lose Your Money (Smash)
• Eddie Cochran–Cut Across Shorty (Liberty)
• Tom Tall and His Tom Kats–Stack-A-Records (Crest)
• Buddy Sharpe & the Shakers–Jump Into the River (Bishop)
• Johnny Rivers–Baby Come Back (Roulette)
• Elvis Presley–Shake Rattle and Roll (RCA Victor)
• Ronnie Hawkins–Who Do You Love (Roulette)
• Fantastic Emanons–Hitch-Hike (Agogo)
• Link Wray and His Ray Men–Bo Diddley (Norton)
• The Arrows featuring Davie Allan–Space Hop (Tower)
• Jimmy McHugh–Do the Kangaroo (Sucess)
• The Bobbi-Pins–Why Did You Go (Mercury)
• Will Sanders and the Duprees–Summertime (Regatta)
• Buddy Morrow and His Orchestra–Rib Joint (Mercury)

Some of the songs have links to the youtube so the reader can attempt to recreate the night in the privacy of his or her own home. None of these records are for sale.

On Friday January 27 at the Commodore in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, an evening took place that could only have been billed as Solid Hit Boogaloo. Host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus asked his pal Greg Tormo to guest DJ with him and to spin more syncopated soul records than he usually does. Mr. Tormo has great records—mostly the kind known as Northern Soul. In fact, he is known far and wide as an excellent Northern Soul DJ and record collector. His Solid Hit Soul Club of the late Nineties was a fabulous, though ultimately short-lived, stop-gap between the Empire State Soul Club and the Subway Soul Club, the latter of which came alive in the early part of the 21^st Century.

Greg Tormo makes another genius selection at Solid Hit Boogaloo!

Little did anybody know that Mr. Tormo also has a fine collection of funk records, and it was mostly those that he spun at the Commodore on this evening. Greg was obviously having a good time. It seemed as if after just about every record he played, he would announce that he had never played that one out at a club before. People, if you have an event that requires funk music, the Boogaloo Bag writers heartily recommend that Mr. Tormo be hired; he has fantastic funk records! You better catch him quickly, as he is due to move to Palm Springs, California in the fall. If the good people running the Desert Soul Club have their dirt together, they would ask Mr. Tormo to swing as often as possible.

Greg Tormo cues another hot funk 45 at the Solid Hit Boogaloo!

Here’s a list of the soul and funk records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Solid Hit Boogaloo–many with links to youtubes clips:

• The Music City Two in One–Snag Nasty (Music City)
• The Continentals–Funky Fox (Blue Fox)
• The Harvey Averne Band–Run Away Child Running Wild (Uptite)
• Ohio Players–Funky Worm (Westbound)
• Chuck-A-Luck & the Lovemen LTD–Whip You (Taster)
• Betty Barney–Mamma, Momma (GWP)
• The Fabulous Peps–I Can’t Get Right (Premium Stuff)
• George Jackson–Love Highjacker (Verve)
• Lou Pride–Phony People (Gemco)
• Maxine Brown–Love in Them There Hills (Epic)
• J.J. Jackson–Sho Nuff (Got a Good Thing Going) (Loma)
• Sonny Richards and the Panics–Can You Dig It (Roulette)
• Jones and Blumenberg–Right Track (Volt)
• Kool and the Gang–Raw Hamburgers (De-Lite)
• Tina Britt–Sookie Sookie (Veep)
• The Presidents–Gold Walk (DeLuxe)
• Bobby Wayne–You’re Blowing My Mind (La Val)
• Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band–Must Be Your Thing (Warner Bros.-Seven Arts)
• Andre Williams–Humpin’, Bumpin’ and Thumping (Checker)
• Les Tres Femmes–Listen to Your Mama (Phil-L.A. of Soul)
• Marva Whitney–He’s the One (King)
• Katie Love–How Can You Mistreat the One You Love (Stax)
• Parliament–Breakdown (Invictus)
• The People’s Choice–Let Me Do My Thing (Phil-L.A. of Soul)
• The Pop-Ups–Lurking (HBR)
• Jamo Thomas and the Party Brothers–Bahama Mama Part I (Decca)
• The James Boys–The Mule (Phil-L.A. of Soul)
• The Mandells–Don’t Turn Your Back on Me (Hour Glass)
• The Artistics–Price of Love (Brunswick)
• Edwin Starr–Adios Senorita (Tamla/Motown; France)
• Willis Wooten–Your Love Is Indescribably Delicious (Virtue)
• Howard Tate–Plenty of Love (Turn Table)
• Mighty Joe Drake–Get Out of My Life Woman (Kapp)
• Billy Mack–Son of a Lover (Miss Betty)
• Frankie Newsome–Coming on Strong Staying Long (Sagport)
• James Barnes & the Agents–Good & Funky (Golden Hit Prod.)
• Ruben Wright–Hey Girl (Capitol)
• The Blues Groove–Makin’ It (Verve)
• Chuck Bernard–Funny Changes (Satellite)
• Dyke and the Blazers–Funky Walk Part I (East) (Original Sound)
• Willard Burton & the Pacifiers–Warm the Pot (Till It Gets Good and Hot) (Money)
• The Meters–(The World Is a Bit Under the Weather) Doodle-Oop (Josie)
• Carl Carlton–Wild Child (Back Beat)
• Funkadelic–Cosmic Slop (Westbound)
• The Isley Brothers–Spill the Wine (T-Neck)
• Curtis Mayfield–Get Down (Curtom)
• Joe Bataan–Shaft (Fania)
• The Temptations–Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today) (Gordy)
• The Honey Drippers–Impeach the President (Alaga)
• King Hannibal–Wake Up (Aware)
• The Maskman and the Agents–Stand Up (B.B.C.)
• Johnny Tolbert and De Thangs–Take It Off – Part I (Atlantic)
• Pat Peterman–Like the Way You Do Your Thing (1-2-3)
• Gladys Knight & the Pips–Friendship Train (Soul)
• Syl Johnson–Take Me to the River (Hi)

None of these records are for sale.