On February 10, the 31st WHAM-O WATUSI was held at the Bootleg Bar. It took place on the second Saturday of the month instead of the first in order to accommodate the host, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, whose presence was required at the fabulous Subway Soul Club event on February 3rd. However, the WHAM-O went on without a hitch, spruced up immensely by the presence and the records of guest DJ Kurtis Powers.

The Wham-O Watusi was visited by DJ Captain Heartlock, seen here discussing the situation with Kurtis Powers.

Mr. Powers is a cool cat who we have known on the scene for many years, but only recently had the pleasure to work with. He has recently acquired an online streaming radio station that he calls The Face Radio. It blasts all sorts of cool, Modernist sounds: soul, funk, rare groove, jazz. He is also an internationally renown DJ–in fact, less then a week after he spins at the WHAM he will be on a DJ tour of Great Britain for two weeks. At the WHAM, he played a ton of great old soul and R&B records that had the place hoppin’.

Phast Phreddie played a few soul records, too. Also, since Fat Tuesday was later in the week, he played a set of seven records from New Orleans. Plus, he played four “monkey” records in a row!

Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner is seen here displaying her fabulous brownies at the Wham-O Watusi!

Also on hand to spiff up the evening was the Boogaloo Bag photographer Miss Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner who baked some delicious brownies–including some vegan ones–and passed them out to those in attendance. At the WHAM-O WATUSI one can literally dine and dance! What other DJ night brings you yummy treats along with boss sounds for your feets?

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

• King Curtis–Boss (Atco)
• The Hollywood Persuaders–Hollywood A-G-Go (Original Sound)
• J.C. Davis–Feznecky (Chess)
• The Wailers–Road-Runner (Golden Crest)
• Bo Diddley–Detour (Pye International; UK)
• The Mar-Villes–The Drag (Infinity)
• The Cliffs of Rhythms Band–Jumping (Dit Dot)
• The Soul-Men–Sister Sue (Lola)
• Dave “Baby” Cortez–The Shift (Clock)
• Chuck Edwards–I Don’t Want No Company (Rene)
• Syl Johnson–Let Them Hang High (Twinight)
• Travis Wammack–It’s Karate Time (Atlantic)
• Al “TNT” Braggs–Take a Look at Me (Peacock)
• Ernie Shelby–Ducky (So Can I) (Melic)
• Ollie & the Nightingales–Girl You Have My Heart Singing (Stax)
• The Harvey Averne Dozen–Make Out (Atlantic)
• 100 Proof Aged in Soul–90 Day Freeze (On Her Love) (Hot Wax)
• The Vacels–Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? (Kama Sutra)
• The Who–Call Me Lightning (Decca)
• The Untamed–It’s Not True (Planet)
• The Cats Meow–House of Kicks (Decca)
• The Zephyrs–There’s Something About You (Rotate)
• The Zombies–What More Can I Do (Decca; UK)
• Jr. Walker All Stars–Brain Washer (Harvey)
• Bobby & the Dukes–Come on Along With Me (Philips)
• Bunny Sigler (Mr. Emotion)–Family Dance (V-Tone)
• Eddie Kirk–Monkey Tonight (King)
• The Chi-Lites–The Monkey (Blue Rock)
• The Lashons–Monkey Age (Vended)
• Bobby Parker–Do the Monkey (Southern Sound)
• Chuck Jackson–Candy (Wand)
• Howard Peters–Tighten Up the Slack (Coral)
• “Plookie” McCline–Uncle Willie (Jerry-O)
• The Capitols–Dog and Cat (Karen)
• Nairobi Afro Band–Soul Makossa (No. 1) (Town Hall One Stop)
• Eddie Lovette–Too Experienced (Federal; Jamaica)
• Prince Buster and the All Stars–Humpty Dumpty (Prince Buster; Jamaica)
• The Chosen Few; music by The Now Generation–Shaft (Crystal)
• Earl King–Street Parade (Kansu)
• Berna-Dean–Little Willie (Imperial)
• Lenny Capello and the Dots–Cotton Candy (Ric)
• Chris Kenner–I Have News for You (Imperial)
• Larry Williams–Hey Now, Hey Now (Specialty)
• Frankie Ford–Cheatin Woman (Ace)
• Smiley Lewis–Go On Fool (Imperial)
• James Brown and His Orchestra–Maybe the Last Time (Smash)
• Ambertones–Cruise (Newman)
• The Vibrants–Something About You Baby (Columbia; Australia)
• The Outsiders–Time Won’t Let Me (Capitol)
• Michele Richard–Je Serai La (Trans-Canada; Canada)
• Los Salvajes–Vuelve Baby (Baby Come Back) (La Voz de Su Amo; Spain)
• The Peddlers–Comin’ Home Baby (CBS; UK)
• Tony and the Mule Station–Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um (Elver; Belgium)
• Georgie Fame–Seventh Son (CBS; France)
• Billy Stewart–Summertime (Barclay; France)
• Joe Simon–Long Hot Summer (Sound Stage 7)
• Jay Lewis–Love Her (Capitol)
• The Yardbirds–Happenings Ten Years Time Ago (Epic)
• Charlie McCoy & the Escorts–Screamin’ Shoutin’ Beggin’ Pleadin’ (Monument)
• David Walker–Ring the Changes (RCA Victor; UK)
• [unknown singer]–I’m Gonna Destroy That Boy (Munster; Spain)
• Felice Taylor–It May Be Winter Outside (But In My Heart It’s Spring) (Mustang)
• Troy Dodds–Earthquake (Baytown)
• Ray Agee–I’m Coming Home (Krafton)
• Embraceables–Watermelon Man (Deblyn)
• Ralph Marterie–Caravan Twist (United Artists)
• Sam the Sham–Down Home Strut (M-G-M)

None of these records are for sale. Many of them have links to the youtubes. Click on them and recreate the WHAM in the privacy of your own home!

Special thanks to our pal Robbie Busch for letting us use this groovy image he created for our poster.