The great Gaylord Fields and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at the 45th WHAM-O WATUSI!

Gaylord Fields is a DJ on radio station WFMU, which comes at the New York City area via its studio in Jersey City, New Jersey. He has been on the radio there for nearly 20 years. His show can be hectic, eclectic and seductive. He has been a guest DJ at Subway Soul Club, the Wang Dang Doodle, Twist All Night, The Dynagroove and various other reet music nights in town. Also, he is an avid collector of 45 RPM records. Thus he was the perfect choice to be the guest DJ for the 45th WHAM-O WATUSI, which was held on October 12 at the Bootleg Bar in beautiful downtown Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Gaylord Fields gets ready to spin another boss record at the WHAM-O WATUSI!

When WHAM-O’s host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus first moved to New York City, more than twenty five years ago, Mr. Fields was one of the first people he met. They often found themselves at the same music shows and had many friends in common. It was with this history behind them that the two record selectors gassed each other all night long, playing boss record after boss record.

The Bootleg Bar Ghoul is in the house all October!

Boss records is what the WHAM-O WATUSI is all about. Nearly every record aired at the WHAM is of the seven-inch size; 99% of them spin at 45 RPM (there is an odd 33 1/3 from time to time, usually made in Brazil or a jukebox EP). For the 45th WHAM-O, all were spun at 45 revolutions per minute.

Gaylord Fields holds court with his friends as he rests between sets at the WHAM-O WATUSI!

Adding to the festivities were the delicious no-cook, oatmeal-peanutbutter-chocolate cookies and spicy vegan brownies made by Miss Nancy Gardner–who, alas, was absent from the scene. But several of our friends were on hand to eat them, and at the end of the night, Mr. Vacation took a big container of the leftovers home!

Miss Nancy made some yummy treats for the WHAM-O WATUSI!

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

• Jimmie McDaniels–Cat Walk (Dot)
• Duane Eddy and the Rebels–Trash (Colpix)
• Quintet Plus–Shop Around (SVR)
• Tommy Panto and the Marveleers–Diamond Back (The Charles)
• Pat and the Satellites–Jupiter-C (Atco)
• The Cool Tones–Ginchy (Warwick)
• Moe Koffman Quartet–Koko-Mamey (Jubilee)
• Rune Overman with the Seven Walloff Orch.–Madison Piano (Parkway)
• Oliveira Trio–O Justiceiro (Knight Rider Theme) (Discos Dinamite!; Portugal)
• The Spotnicks–Space Creature (Polydor; Japan)
• Gene Summers–Green Eyed Monster (Mercury)
• The Pacestters–At A Go-Go (Galiko)
• Lee Bates–Simon Says (Instant)
• The Fabulous Emotions–Funky Chicken (Nico)
• Zoot Money–The Uncle Willie (Decca; UK)
• Little Freddie & the Gents–Push-Kick-Shout (Showcase)
• Tommy Boyce–Let’s Go Where the Action Is (Colpix)
• Chubby Checker–Hey You! Little Boo-Ga-Loo (Parkway)
• Tico & the Triumphs–Wild Flower (Amy)
• Hank Ballard and His Midnighters–Unwind Yourself (King)
• The Dovells–Dance the Froog (Parkway)
• Rocky Roberts e Os Airedales–Can I Get a Witness (Barclay; Portugal)
• The Magnificent (7)–Stubborn Kind of Fellow (Lemco)
• The Marvelettes–He’s A Good Guy (Yes He Is) (Tamla)
• Clea Bradford–My Love’s A Monster (Cadet)
• Cookie Jackson with the Flares–I Didn’t Lose a Doggone Thing (Press)
• The Delancey’s–The Scratch (ABC-Paramount)
• Delroy Wilson–So Long Baby (Clocktower)
• Willie Bobo–The Hip Monkey (Roulette)
• The Dynamites–Midsummer Night Zoo (Victor; Japan)
• Les Sunlights–Gadget Suspect (Disc a-Z; France)
• Los Bravos–Cutting Out (Barclay; France)
• The Loons–Blue Ether (Dirty Water; UK)
• The Remains–Why Do I Cry (Epic)
• Winston G–Cloud Nine (Warner Bros.)
• John Fred & His Playboy Band–Little Dum Dum (Paula)
• Bobby Summers–Back Beat (Capitol)
• Monique Thubert–Avec Les Oreilles (Barclay; Canada)
• Don Duggan & the Savoys–Let Her Dance (Pye; UK)
• Nanette–Peint En Noir (CanUSA; Canada)
• The Carnabeats–好きさ好きさ好きさ (Philips; Japan)
• Little Tony–I’m Coming Home (Warner Bros.)
• The Eyes of Blue–Supermarket Full of Cans (Deram)
• Gary Walker–Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag (Jin)
• Crash Craddock–I Want That (Columbia)
• The Fortune Tellers–Just a Little Bit of Your Love (Sheryl)
• Gene Burks–You Got It (Calla)
• Los Moustros–Mi Traje Nuevo (Chez Nobody; Mexico)
• Terry & the Bunnys–Test Driver (King; Japan)
• The Soul-Men–Road House (Lola)
• Howie Casey and the Seniors with Freddy Fowell and Derry Wilkie–Double Twist (Fontana; UK)
• Jerry Davis–The Big Toe – Part 1 (Imperial)
• The Flares–The Monkey Walk (Press)
• The Channels–Yo-Yo (Mas-Ter)
• George Jackson and the Unisons–Miss Frankenstein (Lescay)
• Barbara Lynn–Club A-Go-Go (Tribe)
• The Electras–The Stomp (Infinity)
• The Corsairs–At the Stroke of Midnight (Tuff/Chess)
• The Edsels–Let’s Go (Ember)
• Bed of Roses–Hate (Deltron)
• Alex & Los Findes–Tuvimos Que Dejar Este Lugar (Discophon; Spain)
• The Easybeats–She’s So Fine (Parlophone; Australia)
• The Golden Cups–Love Is My Life (Capitol; Japan)
• The Surfrajettes–Partly Line (Hi-Tide)
• Love–My Little Red Book (Elektra)
• Brook Benton–Crinoline Skirt (Vik)
• Emy Jackson and Blue Comets–You Don’t Know Baby (CBS; Japan)
• Wanda Jackson–You Bug Me Bad (Capitol)
• Rick Nelson–Thank You Darlin’ (Imperial)
• The Smiley Brothers–Do the ‘Brush’ (Doctor Shiny-Teeth)
• Barbara Lynn–Oh! Baby (We Got a Good Thing Goin’) (Jamie)
• Les Gottamou avec la participation de: Nino Ferrer–Le Monkiss de la Police [from the EP Dansez Le Monkiss] (Riviera; France)
• Googie René–The Slide (Rendezvous)

None of these records are for sale. Some of the titles above have links to the youtubes in order for the reader to become more acquainted with the WHAM-O WATUSI scene.

Anna Copa Cabanna danced in the window in order to bring back memories of the Motor City Bar.

Ritmo Fever is a DJ night that takes place every Wednesday at Los Feliz, a modern Mexican taco and tequila joint in the Lower East Side. Ritmo Fever features a rotating cast of DJ hosts, including Drew Redmond, Mr. Vacation, El Salvage and DJ Rata. Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus was asked to be guest DJ for Mr. Redmond’s event on September 18.

Drew Redmond selects another rockin’ record from his stash of boss sauce at Ritmo Fever!

Since Los Feliz is located on Ludlow Street, Mr. Redmond wanted to bring back the vibes and freel of the Motor City Bar–a bar that existed down the street that was a bastion of boss rock’n’roll music for a long time until it closed about six years ago. Motor City Bar was a place where folks could go and drink and dig loud rock’n’roll records played by such DJs as Josh Styles, The Thing With Two Heads, Alberto de Wowsville, Billy Miller, Señor Dos Platos, Drew Redmond, Lynne K, Jonathan Toubin, Jukebox Jodi (who was also a bartender), Mr. Vacation and many others. Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus also worked the scene several times. One of the most popular attractions at Motor City Bar–aside from the decorations made up of vintage auto parts and stolen Detroit street signs–was the fabulous Go-Go dancer Anna Copa Cabanna dancing in the window. So Mr. Redmond conscripted Miss Copa Cabanna into dancing in the Los Feliz window.

DJ Rata’s Batman 45 adaptor kept an eye on the proceedings at Ritmo Fever.

The night was great. Mr. Redmond played a bunch of the tuff, rock’n’roll and rhythm & blues records he is known for. Phast Phreddie did much of the same. They both spiced up the audio portion of the evening with hot mambo records in deference to the location, as Miss Anna did her thing in the window.

Although she was unable to attend, Miss Nancy Gardner made more of her fabulous vegan brownies and spicy fudge for all attendees.

Miss Nancy’s yummy things!!

Here is a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at Ritmo Fever:

• The Jimmy Ed Trio–Baby Baby Oh Baby (Yan-G)
• The Astro-Notes–Monkey Workout (Dot)
• The Vulcanes–Let’s Go Baby (Liberty)
• Royal Teens–Sham Rock (ABC-Paramount)
• Billy Watkins–The Rooster Smash (Jay Ree)
• John Torres and His Organ of Power–Caliente Baby ‘You Got It’ (Musart)
• Cayito; Sonora de Andy Esteban–Tepito Boogaloo (Peerless)
• Muvva (Guitar) Hubbard–Congo Mombo (ABC-Paramount)
• The Running Jumping Standing Still–Diddy Wah Diddy (Sunshine; Australia)
• The Golden Cups–Hiwa-Mata-Noboru (Capitol; Japan)
• The Elite–One Potato (Charay)
• The Grand Prees featuring Douglass Pettijohn–Jungle Fever (Golden Groove)
• The Remo Four–Peter Gun (Star-Club; Germany)
• Alfredo Guiterrez y su Conjunto–Candelaria (Discos Fuentes; Colombia)
• Conjunto Tipico Vallenato–Cumbia Sampuesana (Fuentes; Colombia)
• The Jaguars–Exit 6 (Epic)
• The Checkers–Red Ball Express (Mercury)
• The Ikettes–Make Em Wait (Pompeii)
• Chuck Berry–Back to Memphis (Mercury)
• Otis Williams and the Charms–Ain’t Gonna Walk Your Dog No More (OKeh)
• The Zephyrs–I Can Tell (Columbia; UK)
• The Spiders–Monkey Dance (Crown; Japan)
• Little Mr. Lee and the Cherokees–Party Time (Sure-Shot)
• Angelo’s Angels–Shimmy Jimmy (Ermie)
• (Little 12-Year-Old) Patrice Holloway–Do the Del Viking (Part 1) (Taste)
• Bar-Kays–Knucklehead (Volt)
• The Marketts–Lady in the Cage (Warner Bros.)
• The Romancers–Love’s the Thing (Linda)
• Gene Vincent–Bird-Doggin’ [from EP Bird Doggin’] (London; France)
• The Us Four–The Alligator (Rising Sons)
• Jimmy Stokley and the Exiles–It’s Alligator Time (LTD International)
• The Les Reed Orchestra–Big Drum (Deram)
• The Nite-Niks–Shawnee (Lawn)
• Gene Redd and the Globe Trotters–Zeen Beat (King)
• Paul Revere & the Raiders–Have Love Will Travel (Columbia)
• The Carnabeats–Go-Go-Stop (Philips; Japan)
• King Coleman–The Boo Boo Song (Part 1) (King)
• Lou Courtney–Skate Now (Riverside)
• Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs–Go-Go Girls (M-G-M; Greece)
• Mac Rebennack–Storm Warning (Rex)
• Van Trevor & the Saturday Knights–Louisiana Hot Sauce (Corsican)
• Tyrone and the Classitors–Soul Street Stomp (Black & Blue)
• Round Robin–Gonna Tear the House Down (Shot)
• Little Bob–I Got Loaded (La Louisianne)
• The Vibrations–Stranded in the Jungle (Checker)
• Jimmy Castor–Hey Leroy Your Mama’s Callin’ You (Smash)
• Pablo Beltran Ruiz y su Orquesta–Bang Bang (RCA Victor; Mexico)
• The Afrosound–La Danza de los Mirlos (Discos Fuentes; Colombia)
• Laverne Ray & the Raytones–I’ve Got That Feeling (OKeh)
• Big Jay McNeely and Band featuring Leon Haywood at the Organ–The Squat (Swingin’)
• The Dynamics–Clap Your Hands (Athon)
• The Night Owls–Let’s Go Again (Bethlehem)

None of these records are for sale. Many of them have links to the youtubes for your edification.

Our pal Bobby Rich, who owns the Bootleg Bar–where the WHAM-O WATUSI takes place–has a new club located on the northern-most edge of Bed-Stuy. It is one of the most beautiful new nightclubs there is. One walks under the neat neon sign into an elegantly appointed room with a full bar on the left. Beyond the bar is a big room, suitable for a couple hundred dancing souls, with barstools along the walls. Straight through and you’ll see a double staircase going up to an open mezzanine/balcony situation where the DJ booth sets. hanging from the ceiling is one of the biggest disco balls you’ll ever see. Across from the bar is a stairway that leads down to a basement with another full bar, several pinball machines and pool tables. The Boogaloo Bag writers, who have complained about poorly named venues for the last thirty years or so, approve of the name: Venus In Furs. We forgot to ask Mr. Rich if it was named for the 1870 novel by the Austrian writer Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, one of the several film adaptations of said novel, the fictional band of the same name in the movie Velvet Goldmine, or the song on the first Velvet Underground album. Or maybe all of them! At any rate, the Boogaloo Bag writers are happy to have another club with an outer space reference in its name.

A giant disco ball hovers over the Venus In Furs dance floor!

There was a soft opening for the club on Friday the 13th of September. The Boogaloo Bag writers were in attendance, as were several of Mr. Rich’s friends, various and sundry folks from the neighborhood and the rock’n’roll community. We found ourselves ooh-ing and awe-ing along with everyone else at this most excellent new nightclub. Ya gotta love the new nightclub smell and dig the bathrooms before they are decorated with stupid stickers and unclever graffiti. The moment we walked in to the club we thought that this would be the best place in the world for some future Subway Soul Club event…

Venus In Furs awaits dancers!!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus was invited to spin records there on the following Monday–September 16. A whole new scene was in order, so The Boogaloo Omnibus decided to work a new groove: AFRO-Q-POP. A sly play on Afro-cubop, Afro-Q-Pop consists of soul, funk, mod jazz, reggae (the Afro part) and boss rock’n’roll records (ie, pop), mixed in with mambo sounds. For this venture there could be only one DJ who could work like that: DJ Rata! He was duly enlisted to be guest DJ.

DJ Rata swings at AFRO-Q-POP!

The Boog and El Rata swung the night with the bossest of rhythmic tunes. Several folks complimented the DJs on their fine selections. Monday night is not the swingin’est night of the week, but the folks who were in attendance had a boppin’ good time, that’s for sure. Our pal DJ Xerox was also on hand to check out the new club.

DJ Rata is visited by DJ Xerox at AFRO-Q-POP!

Although she was unable to be on hand–Monday is a school night, after all–Miss Nancy was able to cook up a batch of her vegan brownies and flourless chocolate cake cut into bite-sized cubes. Very tasty!

Yummy treats and boss records were featured at AFRO-Q-Pop!

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the world’s first ever AFRO-Q-POP (since the Venus is located on Broadway in Brooklyn, a few “Broadway” records were called for and duly played):

• Keith Mansfield & His Orchestra–Boogaloo (Epic)
• Paul Revere and the Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay–Boogaloo Down Broadway (CBS; Japan)
• Bobby Womack–Broadway Walk (Minute)
• Dyke and the Blazers–Funky Broadway Part I (Original Sound)
• War–Nappy Head (Theme From ‘Ghetto Man’) (United Artists)
• Eric Barnett–Bumper to Bumper (Pama Supreme; UK)
• Lonnie Smith–Afrodesia (Groove Merchant)
• The Wild Tchoupitoulas–Hey Hey (Indians Comin’) (Antilles)
• The Undisputed Truth–Law of the Land (Gordy)
• Roy Smith–Soul Control (United Artists)
• The Exciters–You Don’t Know What You’re Missing (‘Til It’s Gone!) (RCA)
• Les Sound Track–Tous Ces Gens N’ont Pas Raison [Honky Tonk Women] (Bel-Air; Canada)
• The Hornets–Fruit Cake (Columbia)
• Box and Bleacher Society–Willi’s Waheeda (Guajira) (Mammoth)
• Frank Alamo–Hum Hum Hum [Um Um Um Um Um] (Barclay; France)
• Bill Withers–Use Me (Sussex)
• Mongo Santamaria–Sunshine of Your Love (Atlantic)
• Don Covay–The Overtime Man (Mercury)
• Alder Ray Mathis–Take Me Baby (Jetstar)
• Willie Hutch–Use What You Got (Part 1) (Maverick)
• Willie Bobo–Shing-A-Ling Baby (Verve)
• No‘lle Cordier–Cheese (Barclay; France)
• The Maytals; Prince Buster All Stars–Dog War (Prince Buster; Jamaica)
• Wilmer and the Dukes–Give Me One More Chance (Aphrodisiac)
• Brenton Wood–Whoop It on Me (Double Shot)
• Kahuna Kawentzmann–Gogo Sitar (Stark Reality; UK)
• The Howard Roberts Chorale & Orchestra–Funky But?? (Bryan)
• The U-Dwi Peoples Paraphernalia–Push and Pull (The Tom Jones) (BRC)
• Damaso Perez Prado–Sexomania (Orfeon)
• Mongo Santamaria–Lady Marmalade (Vaya)
• Spanish Fly–Let My People Bugalú (Electric Cowbell)
• Orchestra Kool–Boogaloo Baby (Fonseca)
• Los Mirlos–La Danza de Los Mirlos (Dinsa; Peru)
• The Afrosound–La Sampuesana (Fuentes; Ecuador)
• Dave & Ansel Collins–Doing Your Own Thing (Techniques; UK)
• The Jazz Tribe–Wa-Pa-Cha (Little Star)
• Sonora Santanera; cantan: Juanito Slivestre y Andres–El Orangutan (Discos Columbia)
• Hibari Misora–Yasashii Ainouta (Columbia; Japan)
• Obrey Wilson–Headman (Philips)
• The Dixie Cups–Two-Way-Poc-A-Way (ABC-Paramount)
• The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band–Do Your Thing (Warner Bros-Seven Arts)
• Sterling Magee–Tighten Up (Tangerine)
• Don Alfio–Smack (UniFunk; Italy)
• Stevie Wonder–You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (Tamla)
• Maurice Williams–Whirlpool (Atlantic)
• Johnny & the Hurricanes–James Bond Theme (Big Top)
• Odell Brown & the Organ-Izers–Quiet Village (Cadet)
• Carmen Rivero y Su Conjunto–Pata Pata (Discos Columbia)
• Willie Rosario and His Orchestra–Watusi Boogaloo (Atco)
• The Chakachas–Jungle Fever (Polydor)
• The Artistics–Ain’t It Strange (How People Change) (Brunswick)
• The Temptations–Hum Along and Dance (Gordy)
• Rose Williams / George Clinton and the Funkedelics–Whatever Makes My Baby Feel Good (Funkedelic)
• The Internationals–Give a Damn (D’ar Recording Co. Inc.)
• Gloria Walker & the Chevelles–You Hit the Spot Baby (Flaming Arrow)
• Peace and Love–We Got the Power (Discos RAFF; Mexico)
• Marvin Gaye–You’re the Man (Part 1) (Tamla)
• Zorro Five–Reggae Shhh! (Decca; Italy)
• Tommy McCook and the Supersonics–The Liquidator (Yew)
• Boogaloo Assassins–No No No (Sicario)
• Tito Puente and His Orchestra–A La Salud (God Bless You) (RCA Victor)
• Los Fulanos–Soul Drummer (Vampi Soul; Spain)
• The Coasters–Cool Jerk (King)
• Alan Copeland–Mission: Impossible Theme / Norwegian Wood (ABC)
• El Chicano–Eleanor Rigby (Kapp)
• The Skatalites–Guns of Navarone (Island; UK)

None of these records are for sale. There are clips from the youtubes for some of them for your digification.