How often do we have to say it: Rebel Night is BOSS and we dig it! Hosted by a host of crazy Japanese kids–Seiji, Hiromo and Junichi—Rebel Night features some of the rockin’est rock’n’roll music you will ever hear: loud, pure, simple, perfect for dancing and with a heavy emphasis on the rockabilly. On Friday June 23, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus was asked to guest DJ at its first event at a new location: Diviera Drive. At one time, the location was a gas station/auto repair shop, but it had been closed for a very long time and about a year ago some folks turned it into a swingin’ Italian restaurant where, on weekend evenings, they pull out the tables and chairs and let folks swing. Thus was the room when the Rebel Night took place.

Our good friend DJ Jumpy was also on the scene and along for the ride. Each DJ was allotted 30 minutes, as per an hourglass (or half-hourglass, as the case may be) that was employed to keep each disc-spinner honest.

Hiromo commenced the evening with fine set of rockin’ tunes. Then The Boog was up and he kept the house hoppin’. Seiji continued with the rockin’ sounds. I don’t know how he does it, but at every Rebel Night, Seiji proves himself to be one of the finest rock’n’roll DJs around. Next up was DJ Jumpy, who benefitted from the breakdown of the hourglass–he had been at the turntables for well over 45 minutes before anyone realized that the sand in the hourglass was stuck! That’s OK, though, because his set had to be one of Jumpy’s best the Boogaloo Bag writers had ever witnessed. Folks were dancing the entire time.

The official Rebel Night hourglass was fixed and Junichi–another guy with great records–took his turn at the DJ booth. Lead-off batter Hiromo followed with an even better set than his earlier one. During The Boog’s second set, he was praying that the hourglass would jam up again; he was having such a gas playing records for the dancers that he didn’t want to quit. Seiji, on the other hand, took full advantage of the generous amount of drink tickets dispensed by the club, and when it was his second turn, he declined, lest he ruin one of his rare records. Judging by his second set, Jumpy must have also taken advantage of his allotted drink tickets; nearly every one of his offerings was mis-cued!!! Yeowzah!! (Though it should be noted that the PFL system was less than optimal.)

Junichi finished off the night with another fine set of rockabilly madness. The night ended way too soon. Folks were still dancing when the club announced it was time to go home. WHAAAHHHH!!! But what a night was had and anyone who would like to re-live it can always refer to this here Boogaloo Bag.

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swung with Fifties and Sixties hits and hot ones. He got a request to play a couple soul records, so he played the rockin’est soul records he had in his box! It’s always a pleasure to play for the people when the people are twistin’ to the beat. Dig it all the records he played at Rebel Night here:

• Link Wray and the Raymen–Batman Theme (Norton)
• Dale Hawkins–Tornado (Checker)
• Hueylyn Duvall–Three Months to Kill (Challenge)
• Vince Taylor et ses Play-Boys–Lovin’ Up a Storm (Barclay; France)
• Pat the Cat and His Kittens featuring Vic Fontaine–Little Rock Special (BSD)
• Wanda Jackson–Rock Your Baby (Capitol; Canada)
• The Castle Kings–You Can Get Him – Frankenstein (Atlantic)
• The Girlfriends–My One and Only Jimmy Boy (Colpix)
• Butlers–She Tried to Kiss Me (All I Could Do Was Run) (Liberty Bell)
• The Fabulous Peps–With These Eyes (Wee 3)
• Chubby Checker–Karate Monkey (Parkway)
• Wild Child Gipson with Freddie Tieken and the Rockers–Uncle John (Hit)
• Sonny Day & the Rare Breed–Tarzan (Jubilee)
• The Trashmen–Bird Dance Beat (Garrett)
• Mac Rebennack–Storm Warning (Rex)
• Rufus Brown with Herbie Layne’s Orch.–Sweet Little Sixteen (Gateway Top tune)
• Billy Adams–Got My Mojo Workin’ (Sun)
• The Paul Butterfield Blues Band–Mellow Down Easy (Elektra)
• Billy Fury–Nothin’ Shakin’ (But the Leaves on the Trees) (Decca; UK)
• The Dave Clark Five–Reelin’ and Rockin’ (Epic)
• Wailers–Out of Our Tree (Etiquette)
• The Teemates–Moving Out (Audio Fidelity)
• The Poor Boys–Wash Board Take 1 (Apollo)
• King Coleman–The Boo Boo Song (Part 1) (King)
• Los Locos Del Ritmo–Chica Alborotada (Dimsa; Mexico)
• Don and Dewey–Justine (Specialty)
• The Rockin’ Chairs–Come on Baby (Recorte)
• Tom Tall and His Tom Kats–Stack-A-Records (Crest)

Every song has a link to the youtubes. Dig it!! None of these records are for sale.

Nitty Gritty Soul City is a get down Rock and Soul event hosted by our pal Drew Redmond–one of the City’s excellent disc-slingers of reet music. It takes place at a fairly new club in Williamsburg called Diviera Drive whenever Mr. Redmond can get it together. The night includes racket-making by punk bands; the playing of old soul, R&B and funk records by DJs; plus the artistic gyrations of Go-Go dancer Anna Copa Cobanna. On Friday June 16, the guest DJ was Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus.

Three fabulous bands were scheduled to play: The Wilful Boys, The Die Die Die’s and The Art Gray Noizz Quintet. The Boogaloo Bag writers got to the venue too late to see The Wilful Boys, so a photo and a report on them will not be available. Only the last song of The Die Die Die’s was witnessed–but it was a rockin’ one! The group includes Max Frechette of The Othermen (one of our fave acts) on guitar, so we must look out for the group in the future.

The entire set of The Art Gray Noizz Quintet was experienced and the Boogaloo Bag writers are pretty unanimous in their praise of said teen combo. The band made a solid, rockin’ noise–as per its moniker (but there are only four guys in the band). A special treat was that the band included the excellent fret-work of Andrea Sicco of The Twin Guns (another fave band) and the two-string bass playing of our pal Ryan Skeleton Boy. That’s right, folks, the cat played with only two strings on his bass. He couldn’t have added anymore strings if he wanted to since the instrument only has two tuning pegs; but man, the guy got the utmost from the two strings he used! The Art Gray Noizz Quintet further impressed the Boogaloo Bag writers by including a cover of “Life of Crime” by The Weirdos in its set. Man, that was a gas. A little nostalgia for us old folks, eh? So this could be our favorite new teen combo!

Due to the fact that the Boogaloo Bag writers were unfamiliar with the layout of the club–first timers–and that Miss Cobanna’s dancing area and her fan club was across the room, on the other side of a column holding up the building, photos of said Go Go dancer will not be gracing this entry of the Boogaloo Bag. The Boogaloo Bag writers humbly apologize to Anna Copa Cobanna, as well as to everyone expecting to see pictures of her in her cash-stuffed bikini!! This is truly a sad day for the Boogaloo Bag…

However, reet music trainspotters can take solace in viewing the list of every record played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at Nitty Gritty Soul City here:

• Little Bob–I Got Loaded (La Louisianne)
• Ace Cannon–Drunk (Hi)
• Georgia Soul Twisters–You Shot Me (Through the Grease) (Mainstream)
• Lil Murray & the Soul Exciters–Open the Door to Your Heart (Tammy)
• The Flamingos–Brooklyn Boogaloo (Philips)
• Ike & Tina Turner–Strange (Sonja)
• Lonnie Youngblood–Go Go Shoes (Fairmount)
• La Bert Ellis–Batman Theme (A&M)
• Ronnie Rae and the Dynamics–Funky Shuffle (R-J-R)
• Billy Clark with the Maskman–Soul Party (Part I) (Disc A-Z; France)
• Nathaniel Mayer–I Don’t Want No Bald Headed Woman Telling Me What to Do (Norton)
• Wilson Pickett–Mini-Skirt Minnie (Atlantic)
• Ricky & the Lexingtons–Walking the Dog Shotgun (Satellite)
• Ruby Johnson–Jerk Shout (Neb’s)
• The African Beavers–Jungle Fever (RCA-Victor)
• The Soul Believers–Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go (Smak)
• Timmy Willis–Mr. Soul Satisfaction (Veep)
• Duke Turner–Doggie Dog World (Omega Sound)
• Joe Swift’s Internationals–Boo-Ga-Loo Party (Onacrest)

None of these records are for sale. Click on them for youtubes links to dig in the privacy of your own head.

On June 3rd, the WHAM-O WATUSI swung into the Bootleg Bar the way it is supposed to: on the first Saturday of the month. Guest DJ was the lovely Leah Lugosi.

Miss Lugosi and host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus have been friends for a long time…dating back to when the Subway Soul Club was at Rififi and she was a guest there from time to time. Her last appearance in the BOOGALOO BAG was nearly two full years ago when she and the Boog swung together at one of the cool Out of Sight nights at the Beauty Bar, hosted by our pal DJ Xerox. Since then, the two have been scheming to work together again, but schedules have not always been cooperative. No wonder! She is a working musician in two bands–PMS & the Mood Swings and Habibi–plus her day job is applying gilding to beautiful objects that need restoring, which she does internationally. She gets around!

But on June 3rd, it all worked out. Leah Lugosi showed up with what was once an antique doll carrying case full of boss 45s and proceeded to play the shit out of them! She had some cool ones, too. She played many hot sixties records that the WHAM-O WATUSI is known for, and also a bunch of seventies glam and punk records that made Phast Phreddie feel a little nostalgic: The Only Ones, Dr. Feelgood, Eddie & the Hotrods… When she played “Don’t Push Me Around” by The Zeros, it was reported that a happy tear fell from his left eye.

The excellence of this particular WHAM-O WATUSI was further enhanced by the presence, and subsequent consumption of, some sweet maple fudge that was baked by the official BOOGALOO BAG photographer Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner. Yummy!!

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

• The Mighty Five–Castle Rock (Fleetwood)
• The Fireballs–Ahhh! Soul! (Dot)
• Dave Bartholomew–I’m Walkin’ (Imperial)
• The Jolly Jax–Tiphe Tina (Cookin’)
• The Cravers–Flavor Craver (Chock Full of Hits)
• Luther Brandon and His All American Boys Orchestra–Tuff-E-Nuff (Fraternity)
• Hobart and His Magic Band–Say Listen (Vault)
• Instrumentals–Chop Suey Rock (Red Fox)
• Rockin Sidney–Let’s Go to the Fais Do-Do (Goldband)
• Bobby Lewis–Fire of Love (Roulette)
• Lightnin’ Slim–Mind Your Own Business (Excello)
• The Jaye Bros.–Rag Mop (Wynne)
• Tony and Joe–The Freeze (Era)
• The 7 Sons–On the Run (VTI)
• Toni Jones–Dear (Here Comes My Baby) (Smash)
• Rockin Robin Roberts–Maryann (Etiquette)
• Dinah Washington–Soulville (Roulette)
• Freddie Scott–Come Up Singing (Columbia)
• The Avantis–One Man’s Poison (Pepper)
• The Uniques–My Babe (Paula)
• The Cats Meow–True True Lovin’ (Decca)
• John Mayall–Key to Love (London)
• Jimmy Mack and the Music Factory–Baby, I Love You (Atlantic)
• The Bananas–Alley-Oop Doing the Jerk (Pro)
• Jan Tanzy–That New Boy in Town (Columbia)
• The Chants–I Don’t Care (Cameo)
• The Barracuda’s–Boss Barracuda (Canjo)
• Cliffie Stone and His Orchestra; vocal duet by Billy Strange and Speedy West–Barracuda (Capitol)
• Bobby Charles–You Can Suit Yourself (Chess)
• The Sherrys–Slop Time (Guyden)
• Tommy Dawson–Hardboiled Sue (Chancellor)
• Don Gardner–Let’s Party (TNT)
• Rocky Turner and the Meloments–Slow Jerkin’ (Warner Bros.)
• The T-Birds–Come On Dance With Me (Chess)
• Joey Dee–Dance, Dance, Dance (Roulette)
• Bob Kuban and the In-Men–Theme From Virginia Wolfe (Musicland U.S.A.)
• The Trashmen–Same Line (Tribe)
• The Pretty Things–Me Needing You (Fontana; UK)
• The Mothers of Invention–Lonely Little Girl (Verve)
• The Starlets–You Won’t Even Know Her Name (Tower)
• Chick Carlton & the Majestics–So You Want to Rock (Faro)
• Roy Brown–Rinky Dinky Doo (King)
• Rocker Roberts–The T-Bird (Roulette)
• Sebastian and the House Rockers–Nobody Can Do the Dog Like I Do (Key)
• Ray Sharpe–Kewpie Doll (Jamie)
• Sugar & Spices–Duck Walk (20th Century-Fox)
• Billy Adams and the Pedal Pushers–Bicycle Hop (Koko)
• Jimmy Bing–Get Goin’ (Colpix)
• Tuff Jack–Sing Sing Sing (Capitol)
• Ro-D-Ys–Take Her Home (Philips; Netherlands)
• Bob Seger and the Last Heard–Persecution Smith (Hideout)
• The Dave Clark Five–Glad All Over (Epic)
• The Sonics–Like No Other Man (Jerden)
• The Jaguars–Beat Train (Philips; Japan)
• J. Geils Band–First I Look at the Purse (Atlantic)
• Frank Alamo–Maudit Brouillard (Riviera; Canada)
• The Bats–Un Ragazzo Di Strada (Fonola; Italy)
• Los Rockin Devil’s–Caperucita Roja (Little Red Riding Hood) (Orfeon)
• The Blackburds–Absolument Hyde Park [from EP The Blackburds Play the Bugaloo] (Philips; France)
• Ray Daniels with Rick & the Ravens–Geraldine (Aura)
• The Creators–Cross Fire (Epic)
• The Soul Lovers featuring James Young–Shake & Finger Pop’n (American Playboy)
• Curtis Lee–The Wobble (Dunes)
• Johnny Carlo–Fish Walk (Concord)
• The Utopians–Dutch Treat (Imperial)
• Elliott Shavers–Party Poppin’ Pt. 2 (Blaun)
• Hank Ballard and the Midnighters–Come on Wit’ It (King)
• Wilson Pickett–Nothing You Can Do (Atlantic)
• Roberto Carlos–Negro Gato (CBS; Portugal)
• The Darnells–Too Hurt to Cry, Too Much in Love to Say Goodbye (Gordy)
• The Chosen Few–Baby, Don’t Do It (B.F.D.)
• 49th Blue Streak–Fire (MBM Productions)
• Robert Parisien et Les Diamants Noirs–Jenny Si Tu M’Aimes (Disques Contact; Canada)
• Champion Jack Dupree–Shake Baby Shake (Vik)
• Goldie Coates and the Blenders–Fisherman (Cortland)
• Ray Charles and His Orchestra–Hide ’Nor Hair (ABC-Paramount)
• Garland Owens–Hula Wobble Shake (Legrand)
• The Lewis Sisters–Shooby-Dooby (Aura)
• Gino Washington–I’m Coming Home (Wand)

None of these records are for sale. Some of those listed have links to youtubes clips. Click on them to recreate the WHAM-O WATUSI in the privacy of your own head!

 

 

The BIG TEN INCH of May landed on the day before Memorial Day. Obviously, some folks were going to be away for that. Plus, with the L Train out of commission over the weekend, many who were planning to make the scene were unable to deal with the hassle of shuttle buses and such. Thus the attendance that night at the Hi-Fi Bar was a little less than we would have liked. However, there were enough folks in attendance to make it another fun BIG one. Plus, there was pizza. PLUS, Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner, the Boogaloo Bag’s official photographer, brought some most excellent oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies. This was a BIG TEN INCH to remember!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Along with host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, those who brought 78s to play included regulars Adam Lore, Alex De Laszlo, Michael McMahon and Andy the Upsetter. Joining them for the first time was Sara Bender, who swung with some cool hillbilly records. Special note should be made regarding Mr. Lore, who always seems to be bringing records to give away at the BIG TEN INCH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a list of all the 78s played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus:

• Cal Tjader Modern Mambo Orchestra–It Ain’t Necessarily So (Fantasy)
• Lira de San Cristobal–La Chiapaneca (Peerless; Mexico)
• Metronome All Star Band–Bugle Call Rag (Victor)
• Paul Williams and His Hucklebuckers–The Huckle-Buck (Savoy)
• Geechie Smith and His Orchestra–The Frog Song (Him Ain’t Got No Tail) (Capitol)
• Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra—Oh, Rock (M-G-M)
• Spade Cooley and His Orchestra–Oklahoma Stomp (Columbia)
• Bill Moore and His Band–Bubbles (Savoy)
• Bobby Capo con Roberto Ondina y su Orquesta Suaritos–Le Lo Lay (Seeco Serie Universal)
• Jimmie Rodgers–Never No Mo’ Blues (Victor)
• Hamako Watanabe–China Night (Columbia; Japan)
• Amos Milburn and his Aladdin Chickenshackers–One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer (Aladdin)
• Ramon Marquez and his Orchestra–Lessons in Cha Cha Cha (Clases de Cha Cha Cha) (Fiesta)
• Bill Haley and His Comets–Thirteen Women (And Only One Man in Town) (Decca)
• Elvis Presley–Don’t Be Cruel (RCA Victor)
• T-Bone Walker–Teen Age Baby (Imperial)
• LaVern Baker–Fee Fi Fo Fum (take 6) (Atlantic acetate)
• Little “Walkin” Willie and His Swinging Blues Men–Blow Little Willie (Jaguar)
• “The Fabulous” Joe Houston–Celebrity Club Stomp (RPM)
• Cecil Payne and His Orchestra–No Chops (Decca)
• Little Willie John–Fever (King)
• Tito Puente & Orchestra; vocal by Vicentico Valdes–Abaniquito (Little Fan) (Tico)
• Moose Jackson–Big Ten-Inch Record (King)

None of these 78s are for sale. Some of them have links to youtubes videos, so check them out in the privacy of your own earbuds!

Continue reading

Once again, the WHAM-O WATUSI, regularly scheduled for the first Saturday of the month, did not actually take place until deep into April… the 22nd. As noted in a previous Boogaloo Bag entry, this was done in order to accommodate host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus so he could play a few soul records at Soul Night; a spectacular event that you can read about HERE!

Well, it may have taken place on the 22nd, but according to our notes, this was the 21st WHAM-O WATUSI held at the Bootleg Bar! For this occasion, a special guest DJ was required, and one was obtained: Brian Hurd of the boss new teen combo Daddy Long Legs.

Mr. Hurd is a blues-wailin’ cat from St. Louis who knows about good records. Heck, not only does he buy boss records, spin them at cool DJ nights, but he makes them!!

Daddy Long Legs is a very blues-influenced group that has been shaking a lot of action of late. With two studio LPs, a live album and another where they back the great bluesman T. Valentine, this is a band on the go. Currently, Daddy Long Legs is taking some time off from the road in order to work on a new album and play select live gigs. We here at the Boogaloo Bag can not recommend this fine musical unit enough and suggest that all Bag readers purchase their waxings immediately at the Norton Records website. I mean, now! That’s ok. We’ll wait.

Yes! Now that you’ve ordered your Daddy Long Legs records, we may continue with this Boogaloo Bag entry…

The Boogaloo Bag writers are very happy to note that the entire Daddy Long Legs musical organization came to the Bootleg Bar that night to dig the WHAM-O scene.

Since the blues is featured so much in the Daddy Long Legs repertoire, it may come as no surprise that this WHAM-O WATUSI night featured so many blues records, or recordings of blues songs. What may come as a total surprise was the playing of three songs by the legendary Dion to express the Boogaloo Bag’s excitement regarding the release of a new Dion LP on the fabulous Norton label (do they get all the good acts?). The new album is a collection of Dion recordings from the early/mid-sixties that were slated for an album that was never released. The singles that were played are all from the era, including one on Norton of a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Too Much Monkey Business” that has never been released before. The new Dion LP of old stuff should be out soon. All the Boogaloo Bag writers are looking forward to it.

Gettin’ back to the WHAM, it seems that Mr. Hurd underestimated the amount of records he would need, so at toward the end of the night, he and Phast Phreddie took turns playing records from the box of the Boog! That action started with the Roy Head record that Brian picked out of the Boog Box; all noted below…

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the WHAM-O WATUSI held at the Bootleg Bar on April 22, 2017:

• Billy Clark & His Orchestra–Hot Gravy (Dynamo)
• Ziggy Gonzales and His Orchestra–Salt and Pepper (Glen)
• Jimmie McDaniels–Cat Walk (Dot)
• The Uptowners–Down the Pike (Minit)
• Bobby Sax and His House Rockers–Get Right (Ru-Jac)
• Chet Atkins–The Slop (RCA Victor)
• Little Joe and the Mustangs–Peach Seeds (Challenge)
• Fabulous Shalimars–Afro Soul (Cotillion)
• Little Walter–Shake Dancer (Checker)
• Premiers–Are You Alright (Well Yeah) Pt. I (Big Top)
• The Originals–Little Bit of Everything (Sara)
• Jack Scott–Wiggle on Out (Groove)
• Tommy Blake; the Rhythm Rebels–Flat Foot Sam (Sun)
• Charlie McCoy and the Escorts–Harpoon Man (Monument)
• The Soul Trippers–King Bee (Providence)
• Dion—Spoonful (Columbia)
• Felton Jarvis–Dimples (Thunder International)
• King James–Don’t You Know (Bonanza)
• T.L. Clemons and Combo–Let’s Jerk (Combo)
• Bobby Bland–Keep on Loving Me (You’ll See the Change) (Duke)
• Earl Knight & George Kelly–Let the Good Times Roll – Part I (Winley)
• Rex Garvin (and the Mighty Cravers)–Strange Happenings (Chieftain)
• Howlin’ Wolf–Don’t Laugh at Me (Chess)
• Bob Dylan–Obviously 5 Believers (Columbia)
• Dion & the Wanderers–Two Ton Feather (Columbia)
• Lonnie Mack–Baby What’s Wrong (Fraternity)
• The Moody Blues–Bye Bye Bird (London)
• Don Stacey–Say Man (Bell)
• Yardbirds–Rack My Mind (Edsel; UK)
• Smokey Smothers–Way Up in the Mountains of Kentucky (Federal)
• Mac Rebennack–Storm Warning (Rex)
• Hosea Leavy & His Combo–Oo-Wee Baby (Riceland)
• The Stars of Virginia–He Can Fix It (Vivid)
• Roy Lee Johnson–Busybody (OKeh)
• The Furys–Parchman Farm (Lavender)
• The Paul Butterfield Blues Band–I Got My Mojo Working (Elektra)
• Guitar Jr.–Go to the Mardi Gras (Capitol)
• John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers featuring Peter Green–Looking Back (Decca; UK)
• Flamin’ Groovies–Married Woman (United Artists; France)
• The Sherrys–Let’s Stomp Again (Guyden)
• Young Guitar Red–Red Hot Red (Formal)
• Dion–Too Much Monkey Business (Norton)
• Chuck Berry–I Want to Be Your Driver [from the EP Eddy Mitchell Présente les Rois du Rock ‘Chuck Berry A Londres’] (Barclay; France)
• The Blues Project–Back Door Man (Verve/Folkways)
• The Rising Sons–The Devil’s Got My Woman (Columbia)
• Rufus Thomas–Boom Boom [from EP Jump Back With Rufus Thomas] (Atlantic; UK)
• Sonya–Little Red Rooster (Dot)
• Laurel Aitken and the Blue Beats–Bar Tender (Blue Beat; UK)
• Owen Gray–I’m Going Back (Wirl; Jamaica)
• Smiley Lewis–Bumpity Bump (Imperial)
• The Swingin’ Medallions–Don’t Cry No More (Smash)
• Piano Slim–Swingin’ With Jane (Myrl)
• Robbie Robinson Orchestra–Goofin’ (Cenco)
• The Thirteenth Floor Elevators–Fire Engine (International Artists)
• The Rivals–Hollin’ for My Darlin’ (Wand)
• The Underbeats–Shake It for Me (Soma)
• Captain Beefheart–Hard Workin’ Man (MCA)
• The Ikettes–Prisoner in Love (Teena)
• Tony Joe White–Scratch My Back (Monument)
• Roy Head–Night Train [ from the EP Just a Little Bit of Roy Head] (Pye International; UK)
• The Royal Lancers–Good Good Lovin’ (Hi Mar)
• Wilson Pickett–Everybody Needs Somebody to Love (Atlantic)
• Sam & Kitty–Your Money – My Love (4 Brothers)
• The James Cotton Blues Band–Off the Wall (Verve)
• Lue Cazz–Wilma (Clock)
• John Lee Hooker–Let’s Go Out Tonight (Chess)
• Little Luther–Du Dee Squat (Criss-Cross)
• Louis Brooks and His Hi-Toppers–X-Cello Rock (Excello)
• Boogie Jake–Early in the Morning (Chess)

None of these records are for sale. Some of the tracks listed have links to sound recordings on the youtubes. Click on them to dig them.

Rip! Rig! Panic! is the brainchild of host Nogood Nick. Longtime Boogaloo Bag readers will remember that he was a popular guest DJ at the late lamented DYNAGROOVE nights and is also one of the favorite DJs of the Boogaloo Bag writers. Rip! Rig! Panic! features all sorts of music, especially mod jazz, funk, soul, pop and exotica rhythms. It is a groovy night whenever and wherever it takes place—and it has happened at several venues.

On Friday April 14, it took place during happy hour at Otto’s Shrunken Head with guest DJ Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus. It was a great night with plenty of cool records played; frothy, fruity drinks were imbibed; and good friends were in attendance. Who could ask for more.   After their regularly scheduled sets, the two DJs worked the final hour playing every-other record, before two people with laptops came to entertain the Friday night crowd with their keyboard and track-pad skills!

Here’s a list of all the 45s played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Rip! Rig! Panic!:

• The Lincoln Trio–Garden of Eden Part II (Big Top)
• Lectric Woods–Time of the Season (APT)
• Dave “Baby” Cortez–Tweetie Pie (Roulette)
• Bobby Bennett and the Dynamics–Soul Jerk (Part 2) (Loma)
• Binky Griptite–The Stroll Pt. 2 (Daptone)
• Grant Green–Windjammer (Blue Note)
• The Temptations–Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone (instrumental) (Gordy)
• Young-Holt Unlimited–Super Fly (Paula)
• Syd Jones & the Troubedours–Cardova (Doctor Bird; UK)
• Peter Nero–Soulful Strut (Columbia)
• The Drifters–Things Go Better With Coca-Cola [from EP Swing the Jingle] (Swingers for Coke)
• Johnny Bartel and the Soul Masters–If This Isn’t Love (Solid State)
• Frankie Vance–Do You Hear Me Baby? (Is Your Phone Line Clear?) (Revue)
• Dee Dee Warwick–Do It With All Your Heart (Blue Rock)
• Jane Morgan–Elusive Butterfly (Epic)
• Susan Rewis—Don’t Think Twice It’s All right (Columbia)
• Mel Torme–Games People Play (Capitol)
• Pure Food & Drug Act–Eleanor Rigby (Epic)
• Van Morrison–Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile) (Warner Bros.)
• Roland Shaw Orchestra–I Spy (London)
• Dick Hyman–The Man From U.N.C.L.E. [from EP The Man From O.R.G.A.N.] (Command)
• Duane Eddy–This Guitar Was Made for Twangin’ (Reprise)
• Oscar Brown Jr.–But I Was Cool (Columbia)
• Betty Lavette–Heart of Gold (Atco)
• Herbie Mann–Memphis Two-Step (Embryo)
• “Cannonball” Adderley–Shake a Lady (Capitol)
• Johnny Pate Combo–Cha Cha Blues (Drake)
• Mahotella Queens–Incwepelezi (Gumba Gumba; South Africa)
• Bob Marley and the Wailers–Rat Race (Tuff Gong; Jamaica)
• Honey Boy Martin with Hugh Hendriks and the Buccaneers—I’ll Take You There (Casper Wax)
• The Frightnrs—I’d Rather Go Blind (Daptone)
• Sly & the Family Stone—Runnin’ Away (Epic)
• Ike Turner and the Soul Seven—Everythings-Everything Part I (Pompeii)
• Bobby Bland–Shoes (Duke)
• The Parfays–You Got a Good Thing Goin’ Boy (Fontana)
• Debra Dion–Don’t Bug Me Baby (Sue)
• Bill Johnson–You Got Soul (Jocida)
• Nancy Butts–You’re Gonna Need Somebody (Flaming Arrow)
• The Honey Drippers–Impeach the President (Alaga)

None of these records are for sale. Some of the tracks listed above have links to the youtubes. Click on them and re-create Rip! Rig! Panic! in the privacy of your own mind!

Soul Night is just that: a night of soul music. But that’s not all. Anyone can play soul records and call it “Soul Night.” This is Soul Night with Mr. Fine Wine, One Mint Julep and Fancy Cat! Three great soul music DJs. It takes place on the first Saturday of the month at a joint in Crown Heights, Brooklyn called Friends and Lovers. The place has a large back room with a stage where the DJ booth is, and plenty of room for dancers—and there are always a LOT of them. On Saturday April 1, the room was packed with gyrating bodies from about 10:30pm to about 3:30am—everybody doing the watusi to the fabulous records played by the DJs—which, on this particular evening, included guest DJ Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and a couple of special guest DJs from Europe: Liam Large of London and Thorsten Wegner of Hamburg.

Unfortunately, on this evening One Mint Julep could not make the scene; her presence, her smiling face and her cool records were sorely missed. The three guest DJs did all they could to try and make up for it.

Both Liam Large and Thorsten Wegner come to the United States from time to time to search for records. Liam had been here for several weeks and both he and Thorsten attended the Allentown Singles Only (45s & 78s) record show earlier that day. If the records they played were any indication of the records that they had recently purchased during their time in the states, one can only conclude that their time here was very well spent. Both DJs played amazing records that had the place dancing and prancing.

Mr. Fine Wine has been written about often in the Boogaloo Bag. Do we need to discuss him further? Well, we might remind the reader that he has a Friday night show on radio station WFMU and that every Wednesday night he swings at the Botanica Bar in Manhattan and it is an excellent hang; and of course he has the best soul records in the world. Dig some Boogaloo Bag entries that feature him here, here and here.

The Boogaloo Bag writers met Fancy Cat for the first time on this evening. He, too, played some great records, with a strong lean toward women singers and girl group sounds. It was a gas diggin’ and dancin’ to his spins.

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus is no stranger to soul records—as can be attested by the many feet that go tappin’ at Subway Soul Club events—so he fit right into the mix. Man, he loves playing those records and he spun a bunch of old favorites as well as a few recent acquisitions, including a couple that he purchased earlier that day when he, too, attended the aforementioned Allentown record show. Even though he had been up since about 4 o’clock that morning, the night seemed to end much too soon.

If you, dear Boogaloo Bag reader, are paying attention, you will know that the first Saturday of the month is usually the night that the WHAM-O WATUSI takes place at the Bootleg Bar. On April 1, The WHAM switched nights with Border Beat, a night hosted by our friend Reyes Rodriguez; he and Avi Spivak held forth at the Bootleg Bar. The WHAM will return to the Boot on April 22nd with guest DJ Brian Hurd of Daddy Long Legs. The WHAM is scheduled to take place on the first Saturday of the month for at least the next two months.

Here’s a list of all the 45s played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at Soul Night on April 1. Nearly all of them have links to the youtubes so you can listen to them in the privacy of your own home. Check it out:

• Keith Mansfield & His Orchestra–Boogaloo (Epic)
• Davy “Bang Bang” Jones and the Voodoo Funk Machine–Sookie Sookie (Philips; France)
• Johnny Johnson & His Bandwagon–Soul Sahara (Stateside; Netherlands)
• Sly & the Family Stone—M’lady (Epic)
• Aretha Franklin–Satisfaction (Atlantic; France)
• Johnny Nash—I’m Movin’ On (Warner Bros.)
• Larry Hale–Shout and Do the Duck (Columbia)
• The Knight Brothers–Love (Can’t You Hear Me) (Checker)
• Bill Doggett–Twenty Five Miles (King)
• Louis (Blues Boy) Jones–Come on Home (OKeh)
• Weston Prim–Get That Feelin’ (Brent)
• Steve Alaimo–Mashed Potatoes (Checker)
• The Five Royales–I Like It Like That (Smash)
• The Shirelles–Boys (Scepter)
• The Debelaires with Al Allen & the Skyscrapers–The Wa-Wabble (Lectra)
• Ricky Shay and the Bullets–Everybody Do the Phillie (Chattahoochee)
• The Contours–Can You Jerk Like Me (Gordy)
• The John Schroeder Orchestra–Agent 00-Soul (Cameo)
• The Camotions–Motown (La-Ro-Ke)
• The Miracles—Mickey’s Monkey (Tamla)
• Marie Claire–Nitty Gritty (Citation; Canada)
• Chuck Berry–Club Nitty Gritty (Mercury)
• Los Rockin’ Devils–Soy Feliz (I Got You) (Orfeon; Mexico)
• Maggie Thrett–Soupy (DynoVoice)
• The Minx–Something We Got (Mercury)
• The Mohawks–Mony Mony (Sir J.J.; UK)
• Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames–Last Night (Imperial)
• Calif. Soul Explosion–Chain of Fools (Pashlo)
• Dave Collins–Ride Your Pony (Capitol)
• Roosevelt Matthews with Billy Ball & the Upsetters–Tighten Up (King)
• The Banana Splits—Doin’ the Banana Split [from EP Kellogg’s Presents The Banana Splits] (Kellogg’s)
• Alan Shelly–Can You Do It (En’nagham; Tunisia)
• Gloria Scott & the Tonetts–I Taught Him  – Part II (Warner Bros.)
• Peace and Love–We Got the Power (Discos RAFF; Mexico)
• Bob and Earl–Everybody Jerk (Warner Bros.; UK)
• Earl Grant–Hide Nor Hair (Decca)
• Kenny Smith–Keep on Walkin’ Baby (Chess)
• Gene Burks–Monkey Man (Arock)

None of these records are for sale.

On Sunday March 26, the BIG TEN INCH held it’s regularly scheduled meeting of shellac enthusiasts at the Hi-Fi Bar in Manhattan. Counting host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, 13 men came with boxes of 78s to play:  Adam Lore, Alex De Laszlo, Andy Upsetter, Bob Pomeroy, John Clemente, Justin CollectorScum, Michael McMahon, DJ Rata, Rich Sibello, Ted Baron and Tony Salvaje. Let’s not forget Juke Joint Jonny, who celebrated his birthday!

Soon after The BIG TEN INCH got started, we were joined by a team of roller-hockey players fresh from a game. They stayed on their side of the barroom, we stayed on ours and the only beef we had with them is that when the pizza arrived (there is pizza at every BIG TEN INCH) they quickly snatched a couple slices! In other news, Adam Lore brought about a dozen 78s to give away (The Boog got a cool Ruth Brown 78!) and Michael McMahon brought a bunch of empty 10” sleeves for anyone who wanted them. Everything went to appreciative new owners.

Oh, and did I mention that Juke Joint Jonny celebrated his birthday? There was cake, baked by Karen McBurnie (Grade A Fancy) and it was heavenly—everybody said so.

Also, Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner baked very delicious oatmeal raisin cookies with chocolate chips and they went very quickly. Folks, the BIG TEN INCH is so much more than just another DJ night—it is a multi-platform, ultra-dynamic experience in magnificent monaural sound where everyone participates!

Here’s a list of all the 78s played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus:

• Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra–Estrellita (RCA Victor)
• Prince’s Dance Orchestra–Daredenella (Columbia)
• Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra—Don’t Let the Landlord Gyp You (Decca)
• Sir Lancelot; Gerald Clark’s Caribbean Serenaders–The Young Girls Today (Keynote)
• La Playa Sextet–Care to Cha-Cha (Mardi-Gras)
• Teddy Wilson and His Orch.; vocal chorus by Billie Holiday–I Cried for You (Columbia)
• Bill Crosby and his Band–Hip Chick Blues (Columbia)
• Alberto Rey con el Mariachi Acapulco–Cuando el Destino (Borinquen)
• Ruth Brown–Daddy Daddy (Atlantic)
• Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra; vocal by Sonny Parker–Well Oh Well (Decca)
• Joe Houston–Guided Missile (Imperial)
• Billy Brooks and His Orchestra—I’m Gone (Duke)
• Chuck Berry and His Combo–Thirty Days (To Come Back Home) (Chess)
• Moose Jackson–Big Ten-Inch Record (King)

None of these 78s are for sale. Some of them have links to youtubes clips. Click on them and dig what the BIG TEN INCH is all about!

Our pal DJ Rata hosts a groovy night at Otto’s Shrunken Head called Mambo Jambo. It usually takes place on the third Saturday of the month (and sometimes it takes place at the Robert Bar!). At the Mambo Jambo, one may expect to hear plenty of mambo records, that’s for sure… but also Jambo! What does that mean? It means basically that Rata and his guest DJs play all sorts of reet music on these nights—especially jumpin’ blues, Fifties R&B, ska, rocksteady, surf, boogaloo, calypso and rock’n’roll. Otto’s Shrunken Head is the perfect place for such an affair—this kind of music sits well with the punk rock tiki motif of the venue and the clientele bop along with it all night.

For Saturday March 18, Rata invited Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus to come swing with him. This is a gig The Boog looks forward to. He has a box marked, “mambo,” where he places records that he feels may be appropriate for the Mambo Jambo. Some of them are new acquisitions; others are those that he comes across in his collection that he thinks will be appropriate for the night. Most of these records are cha-chas, latin soul, boogaloos, skas, or somehow mambo-influenced—records that have that certain Spanish tinge. So, when it comes time for an appearance at the Mambo Jambo, The Boog grabs a handful or two of the records in the Mambo Box, then adds some assorted favorite records and/or recent finds into his play box.

During the afternoon of March 18, it came to the attention of The Phast Man that one of the architects of rock’n’roll had died: Chuck Berry. A truly sad turn of events, sure, but it meant that Chuck Berry’s records must be played at the Mambo Jambo that evening! And so they were. The Boog played seven and Rata played at least five, if not six or seven. (At the end of the night, Rata put on a side of The Great Twenty-Eight and let it rip!)

Don’t let us forget that another musical giant passed away during the week—James Cotton, the great blues harmonica player. So a track by him was played in tribute.

Since this was ostensibly a mambo night of sorts, Phast also played four versions of “Caravan”—one to lead off each of his sets (the first set starting after a three song salute to Chuck Berry). Of course, “Caravan” isn’t really a mambo, however it is often played with a seriously syncopated rhythm that brings to mind Caribbean cultures. For the final hour, Rata and Phast traded spins, playing reggae, cumbia and other jams with exotic rhythms. The vibe of the evening was enhanced further by the presence of two spectacular DJs who showed up to groove: Tony Salvaje and DJ Xerox.

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

• Chuck Berry–Havana Moon (Chess)
• Chuck Berry–I Got to Find My Baby (Chess)
• Chuck Berry–Oh Baby Doll (Chess)
• Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra–Caravan (Decca)
• Unit Four Plus Two–Concrete and Clay (London)
• Carmen Rivero y Su Conjunto–Pata Pata (Discos Columbia)
• Chicken y sus Comandos–Guacamole con Chile (Discos Columbia)
• The Gladiolas–Run Run Little Joe (Excello)
• The James Cotton Blues Band—Don’t Start Me Talkin’ (Verve/Forecast)
• Ted Heath and His Music–Tequila (Decca; UK)
• Buddy Morrow and His Orchestra–One-Two-Three Kick – Part 1 (The Original Conga) (RCA Victor)
• Boston Pops Orchestra; Arthur Fiedler conductor–Batman Theme (RCA Victor)
• Ralph Marterie–Caravan Twist (United Artists)
• Sly Stewart–Scat Swim (Autumn)
• Earl Bostic and His Orchestra–Mambolino (King)
• Hermanos Armas Y su Conjunto – Canta: Fernando Armas–El Barquillero (Triunfo; Peru)
• Hugh Masekela & the Union of South Africa–Dyambo (Weary Day Is Over) (Chisa)
• Jodarettes—What’s in De Box (Jocida)
• Skatalites–Latin Goes Ska (Treasure Isle)
• Lloyd Price–The Truth (JAD)
• Dick Moorehead & the Paramounts–Spanish Batman (Cloud)
• Bobby Bland–Blue Moon (Duke)
• Eddie Cano & His Quintet–El Pito (I’ll Never Go Back to Georgia) (Dunhill)
• Los Rockin Devil’s–Mi Carcachita (Honky Tonk Women) (Orfeon; Mexico)
• Los Johnny Jets–Un Poquito de Alma (Little Bit o’ Soul) (CBS; Costa Rica)
• Kela Gates–Te Alcanzare (Reach Out) (Virrey; Peru)
• George Jenkins and His Orchestra; featuring ‘Plas’ Johnson on tenor sax–Caravan (Tampa)
• Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez–Summertime (Cha-Cha-Cha) (Roulette)
• John Lee Hooker–Mambo Chillun (Vee-Jay)
• Chuck Berry–Hey Pedro (Chess)
• Chuck Berry–Promised Land (Chess)
• Chuck Berry–Let It Rock (Chess)
• Jeff Gordon and the Summits–Freeway (Decca)
• Frankie Stein & His Ghouls–Goon River (Power)
• Los Salvajes–Es La Edad (Regal; Spain)
• The Buffalo Springfield–Un-Mundo (Atco)
• Flash and the Dynamics–Chango (Roulette; France)
• Grupo Santa Cecilia–Africa Bump (Orfeon)
• Henry Stephen–Nuesto Grupo (RCA Victor; Spain)
• Joe Bataan—Johnny’s No Good (Fania)
• Grupo Guerra-78–Soul Makossa (Discoland; Venezuela)
• Mike Laure y sus Cometas–Tabaco Mascao (Musart; Mexico)
• Los Hispanos–Macondo (Fuentes; Colombia)
• Professor Longhair–Big Chief – Part 2 (Watch)
• The Epics–Caravan (His Master’s Voice; Australia)
• Chuck Berry–Go Bobby Soxer (Chess)
• The Addrisi Brothers–Un Jarro (Del-Fi)
• Preston Epps–Bongo Rocket (Original Sound)
• The El Torros–Dance With Me (Duke)
• Cuco Valtierra–Hay Que Bailar Rock and Roll (Musart; Colombia)
• Ganim’s Asia Minors–Daddy Lolo (Oriental Rock and Roll) (East West)
• The Ikettes (Robbie – Vanetta & Jessie)–Sally Go Round the Roses (Modern)
• Dion Di Mucci–Unloved Unwanted Me (Columbia)
• Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five–Run Joe (Decca)
• Four Happy Fellas—It’s Illegal It’s Immoral (Or It Makes You Fat) (Tabb)
• The Alcons–Mambo Jambo (Coral)
• Red West Combo–Bossa Nova Momza (Santo)
• Harry James and His Orchestra–Blue Baiao (M-G-M)
• Mighty Sparrow–Calypso Boogaloo (RA; West Indies)
• The American Rock Revival–Stompin’ It (Bell)
• Young William and the Jamaicans–Limbo Drum Part I (Dimension)
• The Driftwoods–The Antillean Mango (Laurie)
• Music Specialists–Dynamic Pressure (Steady)
• Los Destellos–Bailando Con Mi Nena (Odeon; Peru)
• Los Dinamicos–La Dinamica (Impacto)
• Carlos Malcolm–The Royal Ska (Amy)
• Ernie Smith–Bend Down (FRM; Jamaica)
• The Meditations–Life Is Not Easy (Scandal)
• Milt Sealey–Jelly Bean (Philips)
• The Valrays–Yo Me Pregunto (Parkway)
• The Lifeguards–Everybody Out’ta the Pool (ABC-Paramount)

None of these records are for sale. Some of the songs listed above have links to the youtubes—click on them and one may recreate the Mambo Jambo experience in the privacy of your own home. All photos by Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner.