
Elisse Locomotion, Carlos Rene and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at the WHAM-O WATUSI! (photo by Reyes Rodriguez)
The WHAM-O WATUSI takes great pride in featuring DJs and/or records from all over the world. So far, this year alone, The WHAM has had DJs from Mexico, El Salvador, Canada, Venezuela, the Netherlands and even Cleveland; host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus often spins records from such far away places as France and Japan; plus there was a guy who played some rockin’ jams from Thailand! Truly, it is an international affair.
On Saturday September 2, two more DJs were flown in from Mexico City to DJ at the Bootleg Bar in Bushwick for the WHAM-O WATUSI: Carlos René and Elisse Locomotion. They host a fabulous DJ night called Hipshakers and they own a cool record store called Dedos Susios. They were recommended by our pal DJ Rata and they did not disappoint. All night long, these two master disc selectors played some of the bossest records the Boogaloo Bag writers have ever heard; many of them from way south of the border that nobody in this city will ever hear again! They had just come from Montreal, where Señora Locomotion picked up some very cool French Canadian records and proceeded to spin them. Señor René has spent time in Peru and Colombia and he played some incredible records from there.
Unfortunately, the Boogaloo Bag writers finked-out by leaving the official Boogaloo Bag camera at home, thus there are so few good photos of the night available. The one shown above was taken by our pal Reyes Rodriguez (whose own Border Beat night happens on the fourth Saturday of the month at the Bootleg Bar) who showed up to swing for a while. Also in attendance was the lovely Lilly Martini, who is moving back to Spain in a couple of days. Sorry to see her go, as it was always a delight to see her dancing at the Boot. Although the rain fell pretty hard all night, there were still plenty of people in the Bootleg Bar to make it fun. Plus, Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner baked some cinnamon-infused fudge. Man, that was good. With the rain keeping attendance down somewhat, there were plenty for everybody who was there! Yummy!!
Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the WHAM-O WATUSI:
- The Mar-Keys–Pop-Eye Stroll (Stax)
- Los Aragon–Merida Surf (Musart; Mexico)
- The Rockin’ Rebels–Donkey Twine (Swan)
- Earl Forest–The Duck (Duke)
- Larry Dale–Keep Getting Up (Atlantic)
- Los Belking’s–Setima Patrulla (Virrey; Peru)
- Los Beats–Eres Tu (Orfeon; Costa Rico)
- Toño Quirazco y su Show Cartier–Como Baila Boogaloo [from EP A Ritmo de Boogaloo] (Orfeon; Mexico)
- Sonny Til and the Orioles–The Wobble (Charlie Parker)
- The Fantastics–Blabbermouth (Donna)
- Sonny Jones y los Blackbirds–Do the Bird (Barclay; Colombia)
- Jimmy Jones–Snap My Fingers (Bell)
- Los Javaloyas–Yeh, Yeh (La Voz de Su Amo; Spain)
- Juanucho Lopez and His Orchestra; vocalist: Mon Rivera–El Twist (Spanoramic)
- Chaino–Ubangi Rock (Orb)
- Sonora Santanera; cantan: Juanito, Slivestre y Andres–El Orangutan (Discos Columbia)
- Johnny Scotton–I’m Not Tired Yet (Twain)
- Don Alfio–Smack (UniFunk; Italy)
- Orquesta Joe Cain–Mambo Au Go Go (Mainstream)
- Big Jay McNeely and Band; vocal by Little Sonny Warner–Psycho Serenade (Swingin’)
- The Spiders–Balla Balla (Philips; Japan)
- Gary Walker–You Don’t Love Me (CBS; UK)
- Sir Douglas Quintet–The Rains Came (Tribe)
- Jimmie Haskell and Orchestra–Rockin’ in the Orbit (Space Satellite) (Imperial)
- The Creation–Making Time (instrumental) (Numero)
- Los Salvajes–Soy Asi (Regal; Spain)
- Los Sirex–El Tren de la Costa (Vergara; Spain)
- Ela Laboriel–El Gato Negro (Musart; Mexico)
- Hermanas Benitez–El Monkey (Discophon; Spain)
- Los Stop–Pata Pata (Belter; Spain)
- Los Albas–Bugulu (Vergara; Spain)
- Madness–Un Paso Adelante… (Stiff; Spain)
- Joel Denis–Mirza (Fantastic; Canada)
- The Belfast Gipsies–People Let’s Freak Out (Loma)
- The Chocolate Watch Band–Misty Lane (Uptown)
- The Poor Boys–Wash Board Take 1 (Apollo)
- Jimmie Heap & His Orchestra–Gismo (Dart)
- René Touzet and His Orchestra–Ticklish Mambo (Caquillita) (GNP)
- Willie Rosario and His Orchestra–Watusi Boogaloo (Atco)
- Joe Cuba Sextet–Psychedelic Baby (Tico)
- Los Rebeldes del Rock–Me Quieres Dejar (Orfeon; Mexico)
- Los Johnny Jets–Dracula A Go Go (Discos Columbia)
- Soul & Pepper – The (St. Thomas) Pepper Smelter–Puedes Verme? (Can You See Me?) (Virrey; Peru)
- Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band–Sure ’Nuff ’n Yes I Do (Buddah; UK)
- El Bandido–El Lobo Feroz (The Hair on My Chinny Chin Chin) (Decca)
- Thirteenth Floor Elevators–Slip Inside This House (International Artists)
None of these records are for sale. Some of them have links to youtube clips. Dig it!!