Ursa Major and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at WHAM-O WATUSI!

On July 26, the WHAM-O WATUSI was called to order at the Bootleg Bar in beautiful downtown Bushwick. This was a rare Friday evening WHAM-O and so it necessitated that a rare and exceptional guest DJ should be involved: Ursa Major (who host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus was able to sign on after some tough negotiating).

Ursa Major is a member of the Legio SPQR DJ collective–a group of sound selectors who specialize in skinhead reggae. As such, he has travelled the world spinning his boss records for his many admirers. However, Ursa Major is also a well-rounded DJ who spins in all of the styles favored by WHAM-O WATUSI enthusiasts.

Ursa Major swings at WHAM-O WATUSI!

In pre-Boogaloo Bag days, Ursa Major was an occasional guest at Subway Soul Club–he has amazing soul records–back when it was at Rififi in the East Village. Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus likes to recall a night: It was the first night that the WANG DANG DOODLE took place at the Ottoman Lounge in Williamsburg (thus the first night that the Phast Man wore a fez!) and Ursa Major was asked to be its guest DJ for a one-off ska music event. Phast Phreddie’s ska collection at the time was not so fine–a handful of 45s, some reissues and compilations. Ursa Major showed up with a box of about 200 boss ska records–most of them British pressings in immaculate shape–and a crew of about 20 of his skinhead friends. Thanks to him, the night was a roaring success.

Ursa Major is visited by Mr. Vacation at WHAM-O WATUSI!

Thus it is always a pleasure working with Ursa Major–which doesn’t happen often enough. The last time may be the time he guested with the Phast Man at the Commodore in 2015.

Ursa Major is also the drummer for a cool Oi! punk band called The Templars. The band has been active since about 1991. It’s made dozens of recordings and tours the world.

At the WHAM-O WATUSI, Ursa Major played an assortment of jams, mostly R&B, soul and freak beat records–records that he doesn’t get to spin often. The Boogaloo Bag writers dig it when Ursa Major is at the controls because he has such fabulous records and he knows how to play them. Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus played his usual trash, some new acquisitions, four monkey and four “thing” records in a row and perhaps a few more Jamaican records than usual in order for Ursa Major to feel at home. Also, knowing that the guest DJ is a drummer, The Boog played a series of “drum” records and the one by The Azaleas really caught his ear!

Ursa Major digs the scene at WHAM-O WATUSI!

Although she was unable to make the scene, Miss Nancy Gardner was able to provide some most delicious chocolate oatmeal peanut butter cookies, as well as vegan peanut butter balls.

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

• The Twiners–Twine Baby (Wheel City)
• Tommy McCook & the Supersonics–Jerk Time (Jontom; UK)
• The Skatalites–Adissa-Baba (Coxson; Jamaica)
• Jack Hansen & His Orch.–Calypso Ska (Dance Along)
• Tim Whitsett–Mash-Ville (Rim)
• Eddie Ford and His Orchestra–The Drag (Sabrina)
• Hal Blaine (The Drummer Man) and The Young Cougars–Gear Stripper (RCA Victor)
• Johnny and the Debonaires–The Bonecracker (Fenway)
• Hibari Misora–Murasakai No Yoake (Columbia; Japan)
• The Ventures–Wack Wack (Liberty; Japan)
• Cayito; Sonora de Andy Esteban–El Burro de la Roqueta (Peerless)
• Sugarpie Desanto; Nat Hendrix Band–A Little Taste of Soul (Gedinson’s)
• Joe Tex–Don’t Play (Checker)
• Noe Pro–Sabes (Falcon)
• Millie Small–Killer Joe (Fontana; UK)
• The Gonzos–Church Key (Donna)
• Sally and the Roses–Chicken Back (Columbia)
• The Vibrations–Over the Rainbow (Checker)
• Owen Gray–Dolly Baby (Aladdin; UK)
• Muddy Waters–You Need Love (Chess)
• King Coleman–Let’s Shimmy (Symbol)
• Sterling Harrison–Let’s Wobble (VVVV)
• Timmy Thomas–Have Some Boogaloo (Goldwax)
• Elvis Presley–Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On) (RCA Victor)
• The Kinks–Come On Now (Reprise)
• The Squires–Going All the Way (Atco)
• The Tears–Weatherman (Scorpio)
• Velvet Underground–Who Loves the Sun (Cotillion)
• Bobby Sax and the Housekeepers–Sock It (DePlace)
• The Combo Kings–I’m At My Best When I’m Down (Arctic)
• Jay J. Jones–I Don’t Know About You (V-Tone)
• Tony Clarke–Landslide (Chess)
• Los Rockin’ Devil’s–La Peque–a Marilu (I’m Blue) (Orfeon; Mexico)
• Los Brillos–Sookie Sookie (Falcon)
• The Tempters–Secret Password (Philips; Japan)
• The Who–Daddy Rolling Stone (Brunswick; UK)
• Jimmy Soul–Everybody’s Gone Ape (S.P.Q.R.)
• The Madisons–Bad Baboon (Limelight)
• Gary (U.S.) Bonds–King Kong’s Monkey (Legrand)
• Guitar Crusher–The Monkey (Bethlehem)
• Laurel Aitken–Pachanga (Part I) (New Beat; UK)
• Sandy Nelson–Casbah (Imperial)
• Roberto Carlos–Negro Gato (CBS; Mexico)
• Robert Walker and the Soul Strings–The Blizzard (RCA Victor)
• Eddie Lovette–Boomerang (Steady)
• Tony Washington and the D.C.’s–Show Me How (To Milk a Cow) (Sue; UK)
• Owen Gray–Please Let Me Go (Starlite; UK)
• Bobby Hollaway–Funky Little Drummer Boy (Smash)
• Richard Caiton–Listen to the Drums (G.N.P. Crescendo)
• The Azaleas–Our Drummer Can’t Keep Time (Romulus)
• Toño Quirazco y Su Conjunto–Mama Gorda (Orfeon)
• Afro National–Mr. Who You Be (Afro National)
• The Debonairs–Ah-La-La (B and F)
• Ray Vernon & the Raymen–Hold It (Mala)
• Larry Bright–Do the Thing (Del-Fi)
• Floyd Dixon & His Orch.–Dance the Thing (Kent)
• Curtis & the Creepers–The Thing (Part I) (Dauntless)
• Don Gardner with the Alteers–Let’s Get a Thing Goin’ (G-Clef)
• The Ray-O-Vacs–Party Time (Kaiser)
• Bobby Williams and his Mar Kings–It’s a Dilly (Duplex)
• Betty Everett–I’ve Got a Claim on You (One-Derful!)
• Cesar et ses Romains–Money (Citation; Canada)
• The Carnabeats–Go-Go-Stop (Philips; Japan)
• The Third Bardo–I’m Five Years Ahead of My Time (Roulette)
• The Thirteenth Floor Elevators–Levitation (International Artists)
• Tages–Leaving Here (Platina; Sweden)
• The Ikettes–Da Doo Ron Ron (Modern)
• Los Solitarios–Busco Mi Amor (Peerless; Mexico)
• Emy Jackson with Jackey Yoshikawa and His Blue Comets–Angel Fish (CBS; Japan)
• Ted Taylor–You Give Me Nothing to Go On (OKeh)
• The Carnabeats–Give Me Lovin’ (Philips; Japan)
• Cashman Pistilli & West–GTO Rock (1970 Pontiac)
• The Ventures–Eight Miles High (Liberty; Japan)
• Alton Ellis–Dance Crasher (Duke Reid; Jamaica)
• Techniques–Little Did You Know (Duke Reid; Jamaica)
• Bonny & Skitter–Rock With My Baby (Studio One; Jamaica)

None of these records are for sale. Some of them may have links to the youtubes for the reader to dig.