Yana Lil’ Jerk, Mr. Vacation, Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner, Lauren Krohn and DJ Rata swing at the WHAM-O WATUSI.

The September WHAM-O WATUSI was one of our favorites. Now into its third year, the Boogaloo Bag writers and host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus are always happy to see our friends show up and groove at the Bootleg Bar on the first Saturday of the month for the WHAM-O. On September 1, there were plenty of pals on hand: Mr. Vacation, Reyes Rodriguez, Lauren Krohn, Yana Lil’ Jerk, Oweinama and Ryan Skeleton Boy are among the fine folks who dropped by to swing. Plus, they were well fed, as Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner–official baker of Boogaloo Omnibus Productions–made chocolate chip cookies, maple fudge and vegan brownies for the occasion.

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Helping out behind the wheels of steel was DJ Rata, who played his usual fare of hot Mambo and R&B records. It is always a gas working with him, since his rhythmic sense is so acute. Dig his Mambo Jambo nights at Otto’s Shrunken Head on the third Saturday of the month. Lately, he’s been bringing the same spice to Friday night happy hour at Diviera Drive for Ran Kan Kan.

DJ Rata swings the pinball machine at the Bootleg Bar during WHAM-O WATUSI.

At the end of the night–for the final hour or so–The Boog and Rata played DJ ping-pong with each taking turns spinning a record. At times it was sublime, such as when Rata played a banana record, The Boog answered with a banana calypso record, Rata spun another food record, then The Boog played “Fat Man!” Such is the way of the WHAM!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swings with DJ Rata at the WHAM-O WATUSI

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the 38th WHAM-O WATUSI:

• Rusty Bryant with the Carolyn Club Band–Hot Fudge (Dot
• Hal Singer and His Orch.–Mr. Movin’s Groovin’ (Savoy)
• The Rebs–Renegade (Capitol)
• Sil Austin and the All Stars–Big Boss Man (Sew City)
• Lorenzo Smith–The Indian’s Monkey (Glenn)
• The Modern’s – Royal–Royal Express (Murecord)
• Gary Lee Fausz and the Savoys–Barracuda (TES)
• Duke Mitchell and Family; featuring the guitar of Sal Tino–Strike (Crystalette)
• Richie & the Saxons–Easy Now (Tip)
• Brown Brothers of Soul–Cholo (Specialty)
• The Meters–(The World Is a Bit Under the Weather) Doodle-Oop (Josie)
• Lee Harris–Skate Boogaloo and Karate Too (Forte)
• Angie Hester–Bump Step (ABC)
• Joe Quijano and His Orchestra–Saboo (Wabble-Cha) (Columbia)
• Percy Mayfield–Diggin’ the Moonglow (Specialty)
• Walter Pegeas with Johnny and the Charmers–Si-Si-Si (Swan)
• The Spartans–Can You Waddle (Web)
• Hannibal–Sputnik 69 (Pan World)
• The Dolphins–Dance (Tip Top)
• The Accents–100 Wailin’ Cats (Jive!!)
• The Trade Winds–Club Seventeen (Red Bird)
• The Revels–Comanche (Downey)
• The Rumblers–Bugged (Dot)
• Edwin Bruce–Rock Boppin’ Baby (Sun)
• Junior Gordon with Huey Smith Orch.–Blow Wind Blow (Ace)
• The Electras–Mary Mary (Lola)
• Bobby Darin–Keep A Walkin’ (Atco)
• Les Ledo–You’ll Be Back (Epic)
• Michael Clark–Work Out (Imperial)
• The Jades–I Ain’t Got You (Renay)
• The Berrys–Midnight Hour (Apex; Canada)
• The Vibrations–Stranded in the Jungle (Checker)
• Ziggy Gonzales and His Orchestra–Pick Your-Self Up (Glen)
• Jerry Green & the Passengers–Puerto Rico (Atlantic)
• Ralph Roig–Montuno Para Ti (M-G-M)
• The Lettermen–Guiro (Liberty)
• Hector Rivera–Do it To Me (Barry)
• Pablo Beltran Ruiz y Su Orquesta–Bang Bang (RCA Victor; Mexico)
• Tom and Jerroo–(Papa Chew) Do the Boo-Ga-Loo (Jerry-O)
• Round Robin–Roundest of Them All (Domain)
• Dinah Washington–Soulville (Roulette)
• The Meditation Singers–Don’t You Want to Go (Part 1) (Checker)
• Frankie Seay–All I Want Is Loving You (Tropical)
• Kim Tolliver–(Your Trying Too) Cop My Stuff (Rojac)
• Rudy Lewis–Baby I Dig Love (Atlantic)
• Georges Raudi et son orchestre–Stercok (Disques Vogue; Canada)
• The Moons–Gammera – instrumental (Date)
• Billie Davis–Make the Feeling Go Away (Decca; UK)
• The Squires–Going All the Way (Atco)
• Neal Ford and the Fanatics–Shame on You (Hickory)
• Love–Stephanie Knows Who (Elektra)
• The Searchers–Alright (Pye; Greece)
• Larry Paul–All Right (Mala)
• Jim Doval and the Gaucho’s–Right Now (Diplomacy)
• The Marketts–Cobra (Warner Bros.)
• Bobby Lewis–You Better Stop (Roulette)
• Sterling Magee–Oh She Was Pretty (Tangerine)
• Bobby Dixon–You Don’t Wanna Love Me (Probe)
• Don Alfio–Smack (UniFunk; Italy)
• Rosco Gordon–Surely I Love You (Vee-Jay)
• Cecil Knott and His Joybell Orchestra; vocal: Arthur Knibbs–Banana (MRS; Jamaica)
• Montego Joe–Fat Man (Prestige)
• Damaso Perez Prado–Sexomania (Orfeon)
• Les Brown and His Band of Renown–La Bomba (Columbia)
• Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band–Pachuco Cadaver (Straight; France)

None of these records are for sale. Some of them may have links to the youtubes to be used for the reader’s edumification.