Sophie Thunder and Josh Styles swing at the Birthday Bash!

When the nice people at the Jupiter Disco contacted Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus for possible Happy Hour DJ action on a Friday or Saturday night in December or January, he quickly looked at a calendar to check the dates. Hmmm, he thought… The Boog’s birthday is December 28–a Friday. Our friend Miss Sophie Thunder shares the birthday. Maybe we can have a joint birthday party at the Jupe and really swing the happy hour scene on that night. He pitched to the Jupes. The Jupes said, “Go for it!” So–

On Friday December 28, Sophie Thunder and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus celebrated their respective birthdays together at the Jupiter Disco, a groovy bar on Flushing Avenue on the outskirts of East Williamsburg. The affair started at six o’clock when The Boog set up and started playing records. Soon after, Sophie Thunder showed up with a box of records and her husband, Josh Styles–a most excellent DJ in his own right. He also appeared with a box of old 45s.

Miss Sophie Thunder enjoys her Birthday Bash!!

We were very happy to see so many of our lovely friends come to celebrate the birthdays of these two fine people. It helps that Miss Thunder and Mr. Styles live fairly nearby, as do many of their friends. The Jupiter Disco was packed out with folks jumping around to the groovy records, mostly played by Josh Styles, who took over the turntables at a couple of points, allowing Miss Sophie–who never seemed to have played a record!–and Phast Phreddie a chance to swing with their pals. Miss Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner arrived around 8:30 with cupcakes and little vegan cupcakes. Party hats were donned and merriment was had.

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The party ended promptly at ten o’clock, when the scheduled evening DJ showed up and played disco records that pretty much chased all the party-goers out to Flushing Avenue. The disco DJ seemed to have his own following, though, so the Jupe was never empty. Special shout out goes to our friends Yana Lil’Jerk and Quitty Tottenham who showed up after 10:00 PM and insisted to the DJ that he was not supposed to be there!!!

The Boog will be back at the Jupiter Disco for another happy hour event on Saturday January 12. Make the scene! Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Sophie Thunder/Phast Phreddie Birthday Bash. He swung with a bunch of old favorites, some that he doesn’t get a chance to play much (ie, Seventies records) a couple of recent acquisitions, and five by folks who also had birthdays on this date:

• Dave Davani Four–The Jupe (Parlophone; UK)
• Elmore James and the Broom Dusters–Dust My Blues (I Believe) (Kent)
• Andrea Carroll–The Doolang (Bigtop)
• The Lollipops–Busy Signal (RCA Victor)
• Nina Simone–Ain’t Got No, I Got Life (RCA)
• Wizzard–See My Baby Jive (United Artists)
• Slade–Look Wot You Dun (Cotillion)
• The Troggs–Strange Movies (Pye; UK)
• The Remo Four–Peter Gun (Star-Club; Germany)
• Count Five–Psychotic Reaction (Double Shot)
• The-Xtreems–Substitute (Star Trek)
• The Raves–Don’t Chop Down My Tree (Smash)
• The Yardbirds–Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor (Epic)
• Bobby Patterson–How Do You Spell Love (Paula)
• Willie Parker–I Live the Life I Love (M-Pac!)
• Owen Gray–Help Me (Island; UK)
• Marsha Hunt–Hot Rod Poppa (Track; UK)
• The Jam–David Watts (Polydor; UK)
• Criminals–The Kids Are Back (Sing Sing)
• The Plimsouls–Now (Planet)
• The Running Jumping Standing Still–Diddy Wah Diddy (Sunshine; Australia)
• Buckinghams–Don’t Want to Cry (U.S.A.)
• The Allman Joys–Spoonful (Dial)
• The Velvet Underground–What Goes On (M-G-M)
• Ronny and the Daytonas–Bucket ‘T’ (Mala)
• Tom & Jerry–Baby Talk (Bell)
• The Pin-Ups–Looking For Boys (Stork)
• The Goodies–Sophisticated Boom Boom (Blue Cat)
• The Orchids–That Boy Is Messin’ Up My Mind (Columbia)
• Charlie Rich–Dance of Love (Smash)
• The Johnny Otis Show–The Watts Breakaway (OKeh)
• Young Jessie–Young Jessie Bossa Nova Part II (Bit)
• The Staple Singers–I’ll Fly Away (Bishop)
• Shangri-Las–Right Now and Not Later (Red Bird)
• Big Star–O My Soul (Ardent)
• T-Rex–The Groover (EMI; UK)
• Flamin’ Groovies–Teenage Head (Kama Sutra; Europe)
• The Fleshtones–I Surrender (Yeproc)
• The Cramps–Let’s Get F*cked Up (Medicine)
• David Bowie–Queen Bitch (RCA Victor)
• Dave Bartholomew–Shrimp & Gumbo (Imperial)
• James “Red” Holloway–Ala Carte (Mad)
• The Ideals–Go Get a Wig (St. Lawrence)
• Little Bob–I Got Loaded (La Louisianne)
• The Tammys–Egyptian Shumba (United Artists)
• The Primitives–The Ostrich (Pickwick City)

None of these records are for sale.

The next day, Phast Phreddie pitched a softball game in the Parade Grounds at Prospect Park. What a way to celebrate a birthday–DJing with all your friends one night, playing a ball game the next afternoon. It’s good to know that at 65 that cat still does just what he wants to do!!

Boss flyer by Josh Styles!