The Devil-Ettes are a fabulously frugging dance troupe of foxy female fun! Watch them shake and shimmy with synchronized moves to boss sixties grooves: sort of like a high school drill team gone Go-Go! Naturally, the girls hail from San Francisco—America’s home of high-art-meets-high-camp! The Boogaloo Bag writers have witnessed the glory of The Devil-Ettes several times as the group appears regularly at Tiki Oasis.

Boss Jock Rex Doane, of radio station WFMU.

The gals invaded New York City for four days in September, starting with their Dance Party Au Go-Go—a meet and greet and watusi event at the Beauty Bar in Manhattan on Thursday the 25^th. A couple of boss DJs were required, so The Devil-Ettes enlisted the bossest: Rex Doane, whose Saturday afternoon radio show—Fool’s Paradise on WFMU—is the greatest two hours of sonic mayhem imaginable. Rex played a number of hot frantic tracks—the kind that made him famous. Also on hand was Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, who supplied a solid Sixties Go-Go beat. At various appropriate times, The Devil-Ettes performed some of their spectacular routines. Can you spell S-W-I-M?

On the Friday, The Devil-Ettes put on an impromptu show at a Brooklyn bar, and then danced the night away at The Magic of Juju—a funk fest hosted by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Commodore (more on that in our next post!). On the Saturday the gals took part in the New York Burlesque Festival. Then on Sunday, they swung at the Church of Titillation. These gals don’t stop! If they come to your town, make sure you make the scene.

Here’s a list of the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at The Devil-Ettes Dance Party Au Go-Go:

• The Mohawks–Mony Mony (Sir J.J.; UK)
• Wynder K. Frog–I’m a Man (United Artists)
• The Liberty Belles–Shing-A-Ling Time (Shout)
• Dorothy Berry–Shindig City (Planetary)
• The Aces–Reggae Motion (The Loco-Motion) (Sire)
• [unknown singer]–I’m Gonna Destroy That Boy (Munster; Spain)
• Jacky Mouliére–Danse le Birdland (Disques Salvador; France)
• Sandy Nelson–Treat Her Right (Imperial)
• The Sheep–I Feel Good (Boom)
• Powers of Blue–Cool Jerk (MTA)
• Ray Anthony–C’mon and Swim (Capitol)
• Mel Taylor–Bang Bang Rhythm (Warner Bros.)
• Tony Mottoloa–Tequila (Project 3)
• The Golden Toadstools–Silly Savage (Minaret)
• Billie Davis–I Want You to Be My Baby (London)
• Herbie Mann–Scratch (Atlantic)
• The Cincinnati Music Co.–Let’s Do the Thing (Kapp)
• Sandy Nelson–Drums A Go-Go (Liberty; Germany)
• Jacky Mouliére–Lam’di Lam’ (Mickey’s Monkey) (Disques Salvador; France)
• Tony & Tyrone–Turn It On (Columbia)
• Loose Ends–Tax Man (Decca; UK)
• Ricardo Ray–Nitty Gritty (Alegre)
• Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers–Sock It to ‘Em J.B. – Part I (Like)
• Wild Bill Davis–Breaking Out – Part 2 (RCA Victor)
• Mongo Santamaria–The Now Generation (Columbia)
• Jack Costanzo Mr. Bongo–Chicken and Rice (Discomoda; Colombia)
• La Lupe–Touch Me (Roulette)
• The Moon People–Hippy Skippy Moon Strut (Opus #1) (Roulette)
• [no artist listed]–Dance the Slurp (7-Eleven)
• The Happy Cats–These Boots Are Made for Walking (Omack)
• The Countdown Five–Shaka Shaka Na Na (Cobblestone)
• Shadows of Knight–Shake (Team)
• Marty Manning & the Cheetahs–Tarzan (Tarzan’s March) (CBS; UK)
• The Combinations–Bump Ball! (RCA Victor)
• The Cooperettes–Shing-A-Ling (Brunswick)
• The Delltones–Gimme Some Lovin’ (Capitol)
• Rocki Lane and the Gross Group–Santa Soul (Epic)

None of these records are for sale.

Below are more photos of The Devil-Ettes. Click on them and they will Big-O-Fi!

The Fleshtones!

The Fleshtones have been called “America’s Garage Band.” The Boogaloo Bag hereby postulates that The Fleshtones are THE WORLD’S GARAGE BAND! The group’s appeal is universal. The band even records songs in French and Spanish. Indeed, the group will be touring in Europe around the time this is posted. Correct us if we are wrong, but this group is the only one, born from the mid-seventies NYC punk scene (though never really embraced by it) that has continued to perform and make records since the band’s inception. There has been a book written about them (Sweat) and a documentary made about them (Pardon Us for Living but the Graveyard Is Full). It is one of the great mysteries of the universe that this group is not playing sold-out shows three weeks in a row at Madison Square Garden.

Instead, The Fleshtones played Coco 66, one of our favorite Brooklyn rock clubs, on Friday September 19, 2014—with opening acts The Garden State Social Club and Sean Coleman & the Quasars, with DJ Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, who played records before, between and after the bands.

The Garden State Social Club

The show kicked off in and insanely righteous manner with The Garden State Social Club—a wacked out bunch of kids who performed mostly (if not all) cover songs, but in a revved up, modified manner. The group featured our pals Crystal Durant and Lynne Von Pang on vocals and guitarist Mike Edison, who supplied a boss Theremin solo in the middle of “River Deep Mountain High.” The group’s sound includes a baritone saxophonist (Steve Greenfield, who also plays with The Fleshtones).

Sean Coleman & the Quasars

Sean Coleman & the Quasars were also cool, and also included a baritone saxophonist. The Quasars have a cool rockabilly-influenced sound, but the addition of the reed instrument adds a hot R&B spice. Sean Coleman’s gritty vocal is sufficiently snot-nosed-sounding enough to be considered in garage/punk territory. In other words, this band rocks!

The whole evening was delightfully wild, with The Fleshtones playing an especially enthusiastic set of classic, as well as new, Super Rock originals and a few covers. Perhaps the night was so electrically charged because three of the band members—Peter Zaremba, Keith Streng and Bill Milhizer—all have birthdays within a few days of the gig. (Can you believe it? Peter Zaremba has turned 60!!!!)

After about an hour and a half of pure, unadulterated Fleshtones mania, the band came off the stage. When it returned for its well-deserved encore, a cake was produced to celebrate the birthdays (yummy carrot cake). The band then played for another 45 minutes in order to continue the celebration, which only ended when the band marched out of the club. The Fleshtones may be getting old, but they have not slowed down one bit, and this was among one of the finest shows The Boogaloo Bag writers ever witnessed!

(Don’t be shut out; The Fleshtones will be playing with Los Straight Jackets at the Bell House on Halloween. Get your tickets NOW!)

The following is a list of the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at this magnificent event:

• The Johnny Gibson Trio–Swanky (Laurie)
• Bill Justis and His Orchestra–Flea Circus (Philips)
• Ian Whitcomb & Bluesville–Fizz (Tower)
• Aesops Fables–I’ve Got Troubles (Atco)
• Hoyt Axton–Double Double Dare (Vee Jay)
• Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson–We Got Our Bag (SSS International)
• Mogen David & the Grapes of Wrath–Little Girl Gone (Norton)
• Flavor–Heart-Teaser (Columbia)
• Neal Ford and the Fanatics–(I’ve Got A) Brand New Girl (Hickory)
• The Midnight Rebels–Groovin’ Is Easy (Mr.)
• Chosen Few–Nobody But Me (Autumn)
• The Detours–Who Do You Love (Atco)
• Les Hou-Lops–Pas Besoin D’un Docteur (I Don’t Need No Doctor) (Apex)
• The Chambermen–Shotgun II (Amigo)
• Del Shannon–From Me to You (Big Top)
• Jimmy Gordon–Test Pattern (Challenge)
• Butterfield Blues Band–Come On In (Elektra)
• The Bubble Puppy–Hot Smoke & Sasafrass (international Artists)
• Walter Vandell–The Charge – Part 2 (Tempo)
• Nino Ferrer–Le Telefon (Riviera; Canada)
• Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas–I’ll Be Doggone (Imperial)
• The Buffalo Springfield–Mr. Soul (Atco)
• The Doors–Soul Kitchen (Elektra)
• Masking Sound–Une Fille Comme Ca (Trans-Canada; Canada)
• Count Five–Teeny Bopper Teeny Bopper (Double Shot)
• The Fortunes–Fire Brigade (United Artists)
• Billy Lee Riley–Valley of the Dolls (Mojo)
• Dion & the Wanderers–Two Ton Feather (Columbia)
• Harbinger Complex–I Think I’m Down (Brent)
• The Tow-Away Zone–Searchin’ (Epic)
• The Searchers–I Can Tell (Mercury)
• The Champs–Switzerland (Challenge)
• Sayre – The Vacant Lot–Don’t You Just Know It (Ltd.)
• Cliff Richard & the Shadows–Do You Want to Dance (Columbia; UK)
• Demetriss Tapp–Ring Dang Doo (Brunswick)
• Los Bravos–La Moto (Columbia; Spain)
• Los Canarios–Get on Your Knees (Calla)
• Levon and the Hawks–He Don’t Love You (And He’ll Break Your Heart) (Atco)
• ? & the Mysterians–Girl (You Captivate Me) (Cameo)
• The Pussycats–I Want Your Love (Columbia)
• Small Faces–Whatcha Gonna Do About It (Decca; UK)
• Thee Headcoats–Fatback (Munster; Spain)
• Bo Diddley–Gun Slinger (Checker)
• The Candy Johnson Show featuring Candy Johnson’s Exciters–Hound Dog (Canjo)
• Vince Taylor and His Playboys–Brand New Cadillac (Chiswick; UK)
• Rico and the Ravens–Don’t You Know (Rally)
• The Kingsmen–The Climb (Wand)
• Roy Head–You’re (Almost) Tuff (Back Beat)
• The Pacers featuring Bobby Crafford–Diddley Diddley Daddy (Razoback)
• The Clungels–Do the Dog (Artone; Netherlands)
• Just Brothers–Sliced Tomatoes (Music Merchant)
• Albert Collins–Thaw-Out (Hall)
• Combo Kings–Do the Slow Fizz (Jamie)
• The Wolf Men–Watusi Beat (Bobbette)
• The Premiers–Get Your Baby (Faro)
• The Wailers–Mau Mau (Golden Crest)
• The Roamers–I Want Candy (Hit)
• Alvin Cash & the Crawlers–Twine Time (Mar-V-Lus)
• The Remo Four–Mickey’s Monkey (Star-Club; Germany)
• Ricardo Ray–Mony Mony (Alegre)
• The Ikettes–Da Doo Ron Ron (Modern)
• Tina Britt–Sookie Sookie (Veep)
• The Del-Rays–Fortune Teller (Atco)
• The Blazers with Li’l Ray Armstrong–Boom Boom (Empire)
• The Animals–Don’t Bring Me Down (M-G-M)
• Randy & the Radiants–My Way of Thinking (Sun)
• The Pastel Six–The Milkshake (Zen)
• The Bonniwell Music Machine–Bottom of the Soul (Warner Bros.)
• The Mystery Trend–Johnny Was a Good Boy (Verve)
• The Pickwicks–Little by Little (Warner Bros.)
• Les Problèmes–Si c’est la nuit (Disques Vogue; France)
• The Blues Project–I Can’t Keep From Crying (Verve Folkways)
• Jackie & the Cedrics–Silent Night Rumble (Norton)

None of these records are for sale.

On the pictures of The Fleshtones below, click on them to make them Big-O-Fied!

Tiki Svengali Otto Von Stroheim and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at Tiki Oasis!

How many times must it be said: Tiki Oasis is the most fabulous event of its kind known to man. Four nights and three days of folks dressed in loud, wildly-colored flower shirts and skirts, sipping rum drinks, diggin’ groovy, mid-century tiki culture, boss music and each other. Hosted by our pals Otto and Baby Doe Von Stroheim, it is held every August at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Diego. Tiki Oasis is the biggest tiki show on earth. This year it was held on August 14, 15, 16 and 17 and it featured such great musical acts as Davie Allan & the Arrows; The Satin Chaps (from Portland, OR), who also backed the legendary bongo player Preston Epps; The El Vez Revue; The Martini Kings; The Standells and Love Revisted with Johnny Echols; among many others.

With the beatnik theme this year—officially Beat Tiki—Phast Phreddie’s poetry-with-a-beat group of the late eighties Phast ‘n’ Bulbous was asked to reform and perform. Phast has been to Tiki Oasis several times and often DJ’s, too—and it is always a gas. However, since he was scheduled to perform with Phast ‘n’ Bulbous, thus having to schlep his semi-trusty, getting’ rusty C-melody saxophone all the way to San Diego, he really didn’t want to have to lug around a box of old 45s, too. So he initially balked when Otto asked him to DJ the party at the Bali Hai Restaurant—a swingin’ tiki-themed eatery on Shelter Island in San Diego—on the first night of Tiki Oasis. Otto was insistent, though and suggested that he bring some of his own records for the Phastman to DJ with. Well, who can refuse that—certainly not Phast Phreddie!

As it turned out, His Phastness was able to tote a box of about 55 45s with him on the plane. Good thing, too. Whereas the indoor party is often a chill-out zone (while hot surf music is played on the nearby outdoor stage), this time many tiki enthusiasts felt uppity and wanted to dance. The records that Otto packed contained mostly beatnik records, jazz, exotica—some great things and some of them got played early in the set. But once the freaky tiki folk signaled they wanted a hotter beat, The Boog was able to provide it.

The beatnik theme necessitated the inclusion of like-themed records, and records containing bongos; also, jazz records: bebop, modern and mod. It is largely the latter style that got the excitable tiki folk dancing and carrying on. Among Otto’s records that the Phastman played were those by Herbie Mann, Les Baxter, Dave Brubeck and a few others that have been lost in the brain freeze caused by a virgin peña colada. One of the highlights of the evening was a gang of folk in a rumba line, kickin’ it up to “La Burbuja” by Leticia Estrada, a cumbia-flavored version of the theme to “The Blob!”

Around 11:30, an event manager informed Phast Phreddie that the party would end in ten minutes. He was down to his last couple of records, and, indeed, pulled out the Benny Poole record to play again! Everything worked out!

Here is a list of the records (the ones that he brought) played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Lanai Bar in the Bali Hai on the opening night of Tiki Oasis 2014:

• Al ‘Jazzbo’ Collins with Lou Stein at the piano–Little Red Riding Hood (A Grimm Fairy Tale for Hip Kids) (Brunswick)
• Kenny Clarke & His 52nd Street Boys–Oop-Bop Sh-Bam [from EP I Remember Bud Powell] (Int’l Records; Italy)
• Richard Pine–Beatnik Bill (Crystalette)
• Quincy Jones Orchestra–Harlem Drive/Rack ‘Em Up (Mercury)
• Babs Gonzalez–Cool Whalin’ #2 (JAB)
• Chilo Moran y su Conjunto–Oh Oh La-La (RCA Victor)
• Jack Costanzo and his Afro-Cuban Band–Chopsticks Mambo (G.N.P.)
• Slim Gaillard–Yep Roc Heresay (Era)
• The string bass of Charles Mingus with accompaniment–Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting (Part I) (Atlantic)
• René Touzet and His Orchestra–El Loco Cha Cha (Amarren Al Loco) (G.N.P.)
• Bob McFadden and Dor–The Beat Generation (Brunswick)
• King Pleasure, vocal–Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Prestige)
• Cal Tjader–My Little Red Book (Skye)
• The Thelonious Monk Quartet–Bye-Ya (Columbia)
• Sal Mayo with Teo Macero and the Orch.–Cement Mixer (Put-Ti Put-Ti) (Columbia)
• The Coasters–Soul Pad (Date)
• Dizzy Gillespie–Good Bait (Philips)
• Les Elgart and His Orchestra–Voo Doo Drums (Columbia)
• Earl Grant–House of Bamboo (Decca)
• Xavier Cugat–Watermelon Man (Mercury)
• Huey ‘Piano’ Smith and His Clowns–Beatnik Blues (Ace)
• Jack Costanzo–I Got a Bongo (Liberty)
• Ninapinta and his Bongos and Congas–(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Decca)
• Tamiko Jones with Herbie Mann–Day Tripper (Atlantic)
• Cal Tjader–Soul Sauce (Gaucha Guaro) (Verve)
• Freddie McCoy–Summer in the City (Prestige)
• Jimmy Smith–Chain of Fools (Part I) (Verve)
• Woody Herman–I Can’t Get Next to You (Cadet)
• Mongo Santamaria–I Got You (I Feel Good) (Columbia)
• James Brown & the Famous Flames–Bring It Up (King)
• Hully Gully Boys–Yabba (Amy)
• Lou Christie–Guitars and Bongos (Colpix)
• Frankie Brent–Bangin’ on the Bongo (Cameo)
• The Chanters–Bongo Bongo (M-G-M)
• Preston Epps–Afro Mania (Jo-Jo)
• Grupo Santa Cecilia–Africa Bump (Orfeon)
• Dave Bartholomew–Shrimp & Gumbo (Imperial)
• Ramsey Lewis Trio–The ‘In’ Crowd (Argo)
• The Jazz Crusaders featuring Joe Sample on piano–Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (Pacific Jazz)
• Gatemouth Brown–Summertime (Cue)
• Bob Thiele and his New Happy Times Orch. with Gabor Szabo–Light My Fire (Impulse)
• Leticia Estrada–La Burbuja (Musart; Mexico)
• Mongo Santamaria–Cold Sweat (Columbia)
• Perez Prado y su Orquesta–Mambo de King Kong (Infopesa; Peru)
• Preston Epps–B’wana Bongos (Donna)
• Gabor Szabo–The Beat Goes On (Impulse)
• Dick Hyman and ‘The Group’–Respect (Command)
• Herbie Mann–Philly Dog (Atlantic)
• Ramsey Lewis–Ain’t That Peculiar (Cadet)
• Billy Larkin and the Delegates–Hold on, I’m Comin’ (World Pacific)
• Benny Poole–Pearl Baby Pearl (Solid Hit)
• Preston Epps–Bongo Boogie (Majesty)
• Neal Scott; The Fortunes; Sam Pruitt and His Orchestra–Go Bohemian (Clown)

None of these records are for sale.

 More photos of Beat Tiki fun…click on them and they will magically Big-O-Fi!

Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner swings at the Bali Hai–first night of Tiki Oasis!

Davie Allan and the Arrows rock at Tiki Oasis!

Preston Epps discusses his life as a bongo player with Duke Weiss at Tiki Oasis!

The Unclaimed supply garage rock gold at Tiki Oasis!

The Devil-Ettes supply sublimely choreographed routines at Tiki Oasis!

The Little Richards played a room party that was too packed to get a good photo of them!

Tony from The Martini Kings and Paul from Phast ‘n’ Bulbous supply bop for King Kukulele at Tiki Oasis!

El Vez exhibits exquisite form at Tiki Oasis!

The Boog visits DJ Howie Pyro as he swings poolside at Tiki Oasis!

Baby Doe Stroheim Go-Go dances for Preston Epps at Tiki Oasis!

Connie T Empress, The Empress of Soul and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at the DYNAGROOVE!

On Friday August 8, a very special DYNAGROOVE took place at Teddy’s Bar & Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Our pal Kiki Lenoue rounded up a bunch of our friends to celebrate the birthday of one of our inspirations: The Empress of Soul, Connie T Empress. It was really her birthday on the second, but who cares when it can be celebrated with such fabulousness at the DYNAGROOVE!

As you may know, The Empress was the den mother of the Empire State Soul Club—New York City’s first soul club, which held forth from the mid eighties to the mid nineties. When DYNAGROOVE (and BOOGALOO BAG) host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus first came to New York in 1992, he went to an Empire State Soul Club event that December and was greatly impressed. He then attended whenever he could. The Empress was always there, looking fabulous in her tiara and playing fabulous records. So it was a special pleasure for The Boog to be the host (of sorts) for her birthday party. After the traditional singing of “Happy Birthday to You,” The Boog played the most excellent Impressions record, “The Woman’s Got Soul.” The Empress also agreed to play a few records that night, kicking it off in an appropriate manner with “Soul Girl” by Jeanie and the Darlings on Volt. All hail The Empress!!!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and Sheila B swing at the DYNAGROOVE!

However, none of this should eclipse the shine that belongs to the official guest DJ of the evening: Sheila B—who is a world-renown collector of girl group records. She had heavy involvement with one of the greatest CD reissue box-sets of all time: One Kiss Can Lead to Another – Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found, a four CD compilation of some of the finest and sublimest girl group records ever made, all packaged in hat box. Usually when she DJs out, she plays some of the fantastic records from this collection. So it was particularly special for the DYNAGROOVE when she actually played some records by men!! Miss Sheila B is a class act and we hope to get her back to the DYNAGROOVE again real soon.

For his part, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus admits to having been swayed to play more soul records and more records by female singers than usual (especially later in the evening), as the following list of the records he played can attest:

• Charlie Parker–Now’s the Time (Columbia; UK)
• Clyde Dickerson and the Tear Drops–Cool Weekend (Eastern)
• Stu Phllips presents The Golden Gate Strings–I’m a Believer (Epic)
• Ornette Coleman–Una Muy Bonita Part 1 (Atlantic)
• Donovan–Preachin’ Love (Epic)
• The Jim Conley Combo–Nite-Lite Slop (Dempsey)
• The Music of David Seville–Almost Good (Liberty)
• Byron Lee and the Dragonaires–Slow Run (JAD)
• The Stylistics–People Make the World Go Round (Avco)
• Road Runners–Every Man for Himself (Funk Prophecy)
• Slim Smith–Ain’t Too Proud to Beg (Jaguar; Jamaica)
• The Soulful Strings–Groovin’ [from EP Groovin’ With The Soulful Strings] (Cadet)
• The Zombies–Walking in the Sun [from EP The Zombies at Work (n’ Play)] (Big Beat; UK)
• Gerald Wilson Orchestra–California Soul (Pacific Jazz)
• Harvey Mandel–Wade in the Water Part I (Philips)
• Willie Hobbs–Do Your Own Thing (Seventy 7)
• Massie Patterson & Lord Zebedee–Shimmy Like a Lady [from EP The Calypso Carnival] (Columbia)
• Peter Duchin–Light My Fire (Decca)
• The Cha Cha Rhythm Boys–Son Dos Luceros (Fiesta)
• Lincoln Chase with Billy Mure’s Medicine Men–Deep in the Jungle (Part I) (Spalsh)
• Susan Barrett–It’s No Secret (RCA Victor)
• Frankie Love–First Star (Loma)
• The Jazz Tribe–Wa-Pa-Cha (Little Star)
• The Mighty Confuser with Claude ‘Fats’ Greene Orch.–Space Man Glenn (Cab)
• Letta Mbulu–Aredze (Capitol)
• James Darren–(Let’s Worry About) Tomorrow, Tomorrow (Warner Bros.)
• Les Sultans–Je T’aime Bien (Jeunesse Franco; Canada)
• Pete Jolly–A Sign of the Times (Columbia)
• Lee Dorsey–Why Wait Until Tomorrow (Amy)
• Jacob Miller–Shakey Girl (Joe Gibbs Record Globe; Jamaica)
• The Soul Providers–Soul Jasper (Desco)
• The Casper Trio–The Beat Goes On (Casper)
• Etta James–Two Sides (To Every Story) (Argo)
• B.J. Baker–Anywhere (Decca)
• Miss LaVelle–Run to You (Duke)
• The Hornets–Seven Days to Tahiti (Columbia)
• Ramsey Lewis–Soul Man (Cadet)
• Chris Clark–Don’t Be Too Long (V.I.P.)
• Barbara Feldon–99 (RCA Victor)
• The Ventures–Ginza Lights (Dolton)
• Bobby Emmons–Mack the Knife (Hi)
• Prince Buster and His All Stars–Get Ready (Part I) (Prince Buster; Jamaica)
• Frank Armstrong and the Stingers–Stuffed Peppers (Modern)
• Emy Jackson–Don’t Break My Heart (CBS; Japan)
• The Impressions–Woman’s Got Soul (ABC-Paramount)
• The Platters–Shing-A-Ling-A-Loo (Musicor)
• The Five Blobs–The Blob (Columbia)
• Russell Evans and the Nite Hawks–The Bold (Atco)
• The Isley Brothers–Don’t Give It Away (T-Neck)
• Mike Sharpe–Funky Serenade (Liberty)
• Kenny Hamber–Show Me Your Monkey (De Jac)
• Hermanas Benitez–El Monkey (Discophon; Spain)
• Sugar Boy–Jock-A-Mo (Checker)
• Sir Issac and the Do-Dads–The Big Dipper (Volt)
• Earl Lett Quartet–Do the Thing (Wild)
• Chuck Bernard–Hobo Flats (Maverick)
• Toots & Maytals–I Can’t Believe (Starapple; Jamaica)
• The Vibrettes–Humpty Dump pt. 1 (Lujon)
• The X-Citers Unlimted–Soul to Billie Joe (ABC)
• Tony Roman–Mustang Sally (Canusa; Canada)
• Ernie K-Doe–A Certain Girl (Minit)
• Sam & Dave–I Thank You (Stax)
• Rhetta Hughes–You’re Doing With Her–When It Should Be Me (Tetragrammaton)
• The Realistics–What’cha Gonna Do (Loma)
• The Gladiators–Girl Don’t Make Me Wait (Direction; UK)
• Samantha Jones–Ford Leads the Way (Ford; UK)
• Miss Ursela Walker–The Javelin Beat (American Motors)
• Joe Tex–I Wanna Be Free (Dial)
• Bobby Byrd–Gonna Need My Lovin’ (Smash)
• Los Valldemosa–Mendocino (Phiips; Spain)
• Sylvie Vartan–De Ma Vie (Rescue Me) (RCA Victor; France)
• The Rev-Lons–It’s Gonna Happen Some Day (Reprise)
• The Third Rail–The Shape of Things to Come (Epic)
• The Wild Ones–Aozora No Arukagiri (Capitol; Japan)
• The Animals–Baby Let Me Take You Home (M-G-M)
• Fats Domino–Have You Seen My Baby? (Reprise)
• Ramsey Lewis–Ain’t That Peculiar (Cadet)
• Ella Fitzgerals–Sunshine of Your Love (Prestige)
• La Lupe–Down on Me (Roulette)
• Carmen Rivero y Su Conjunto–Pata Pata (Discos Columbia)
• Vicki Anderson–Baby Don’t You Know (King)
• Bar-Kays–Knucklehead (Volt)
• The Impressions–Check Out Your Mind (Curtom)
• Jimmy McGriff–Let’s Stay Together (Groove Merchant)
• Arthur Lyman–Afro Blues (HiFi)

None of these records are for sale!  Photos by Nancy Gardner.

Do the Limbo, baby!!

Our pal and superfine DJ Josh Styles is often involved with some pretty exciting events—many generated by The Man himself. For the second or third year in a row, he has been asked to make something fabulous happen following the Dick Dale performance at the Brooklyn Bowl. On August 2, he did just that. Not only did he round up some cool DJs, but he got Anna Copa Cabanna to Go-Go dance, he put a grass skirt on the DJ booth, threw a bunch of beach balls out on the dance floor (do the kick-ball, baby!) and got horror film maker Frank Henenlotter (Basket Case, Brain Damage) to MC a limbo contest! Plus, there were prizes and surprises galore! And he called it Surf City!

The great Dick Dale did his show, displaying his incendiary guitar playing and ending with his signature theme, “Miserlou.” It took a while to get the DJ booth set up, but once it was, WHAM, Surf City was in full blown non-stop Go-Go mode, with DJs Drew Redmond (Finger Lickin’ Fridays), Mike Hunchback (Screeching Weasel), Mr. Styles (of course) and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, blasting rockin’ trash all night long. Mr. Redmond played his usual trash (that is to say, the wild and rockin’ stuff!) and Mr. Styles played some excellent beach-summer-surf-car-themed songs (“I Live for the Sun” has got to be one of the greatest records of all time!), leaving Mr. Hunchback and The Boog to whip the crowd into a frenzy with some hot guitar-driven surf instrumentals.

Apparently, The Boog has become the go-to guy for limbo dance parties, as he was called upon to play calypso records during the limbo dance contest held at Surf City! Let Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus play calypso records at YOUR next limbo dance party!!! Call him today!

Mike Hunchback swings with another hot surf instrumental at Surf City!

Sophie Thunder, Frank Henenlotter and Josh Styles swing at Surf City!

DJ Ratta won a cool Ventures record in the Limbo Contest at Surf City!

Drew Redmond and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at Surf City.

Click on the photos and they will Big-O-Fi!

Here’s a list of all the 45s played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus:

• The Astronauts–Baja (RCA Victor)
• Sandy Nelson–Pipeline (Imperial)
• Yuzo Kayama–Black Sand Beach (Toshiba; Japan)
• The Dave Clark Five–On the Move (Epic)
• Guitar Ramblers–Surf Beat (Columbia)
• The Arrows featuring Davie Allan–Moon Dawg ’65 (Tower)
• The Music City Five–Wipe Out (Hit)
• The Chiefs–Tom Tom (Valiant)
• Ronny Kae–Swinging Drums (LEO)
• Billy & the King Bees–Susie Q (Volt)
• The Revels with Barbara Adkins–Church Key (Impact)
• The Avantis–Wax ’Em Down (Chancellor)
• Curtis Knight & the Squires–Hornet’s Nest (RSVP)
• Dick Dale and the Del-Tones–Mr. Eliminator (Capitol)
• The Ventures–Escape (Liberty; Japan)
• The Gee Cees–Buzz Saw Twist (Crest)
• Jimmy Gordon–Buzzzzzz (Challenge)
• Kookie Joe–Kookie Limbo (Nermel)
• Telco Recording Orch.–Madam Dracula (Telco; West Indies)
• Lord Funny–Soul Chick (Antillana)
• The Eloise Trio–Chi Chi Merengue (Decca)
• The Charmer with Johnny McCleverty Calypso Boys–Back to Back, Belly to Belly (Monogram)
• Lord Superior with ‘Fats’ Greene Orch.–Calypso Twist (Cab)
• ‘Fats’ Greene featuring Pritchard–Green Bananas No. 2 (Camille)
• The Roemans–Misirlou (ABC-Paramount)
• The Ventures–Comin’ Home Baby (Dolton)
• The Rondels–Back Beat No. 1 (Amy)
• The Turtlenecks–Vibrations (Audio Fidelity)
• The Surfaris–Wipe Out (Dot)
• The Rondels–110 Lbs. of Drums (Amy)
• Davie Allan and the Arrows–U.F.O. (Tower)
• Los Belking’s–Setima Patrulla (Virrey; Peru)
• Gene ‘The Draggin’ King’ Moles–Burning Rubber (Challenge)
• Cecil Moore and the Notes–Diamond Back (Atco)
• The Road Runners–Road Runnah (Felsted)
• The Lively Ones–Surf Rider (Del-Fi)
• The Hollywood Tornadoes–The Gremmie (Part I) (Aertaun)
• Freddy King–Sen-Sa-Shun (Federal)
• The Young Ones–Sour Grapes (Columbia)

None of these records are for sale.

Dave the Spazz and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at the Wang Dang Doodle!

Our pal Dave the Spazz is a connoisseur of really fine, really trashy and really rockin’ records. His radio show, Music to Spazz By, airs each Thursday night and it is one of the best in the country. Emanating from radio station WFMU out of Jersey City, New Jersey, it is listened to by scores of people throughout the greater New York City area, and over the interwebs his show is monitored by discriminating human beings nationally and internationally. He was the guest DJ at The WANG DANG DOODLE—as he usually is—held on July 25 at the friendly confines of The Commodore in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

All night long, Dave the Spazz and host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus took turns playing fantastically boss records—the kind that make the place jump and shout. That is exactly what went on that night, as folks were getting tore up and tore the place up! Yes, bottles were broken! Drinks were spilled! 45s hit the floor! Girls tried to pick up on the DJs! Nobody requested Lady Ga-Ga or “Free Bird!” Dozens of piña coladas were poured! Dancers did the Watusi! The Commodore’s renown fried chicken was devoured in amazing quantities!

In short, the evening was a gas! Toward the end of the night, The Spazz and The Boog traded punches, playing every other record. The Spazz worked a monkey record—his specialty—and The Boog responded with The Persians record. The Spazz played Roy Head’s fabulous hit record “Treat Her Right” and The Boog countered with the Sandy Nelson version! …And so it went all night, rockin’ and frantic, up until the last record of the evening, when the bouncer came over to tell the DJs to stop the music at four o’clock in the morning.

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

• Jack Nitzsche–Rumble (Reprise)
• Los Hitter’s–El Hanky Panky (Orfeon; Mexico)
• Dino, Desi and Billy–It’s Superman (Reprise)
• Rusty Draper–Hip Monkey (Mercury)
• Louis Prima–Civilization (HBR)
• The Johnson Brothers–Zombie Lou (Valor)
• Dave and the Triumphs; Jerry Anderson, vocal–Soul-Shout (Boswick)
• Clarence Francis–Subway Rock – Version 2 (Free as a Breeze)
• Marathons–Peanut Butter (Argo)
• The Runabouts–Pink Socks (Columbia)
• Donovan–The Trip (Epic)
• The Equals–Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys (Shout)
• Les Hou-Lops–Je Suis Heureux (Canusa; Canada)
• Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra–Gesundheit (A-Choo! Cha-Cha) (RCA Victor)
• Tribe–Funky Kingston (Grenade)
• The Mohawks–Ride Your Pony (Pama; UK)
• Mango Jones & His Orchestra with the Harry Ballu Singers–Ska La Bomba (Vee-Jay)
• Palito Ortega–Poco Puede Darte (A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You) (RCA Victor)
• The Kane Triplets—Theme from ‘Mission: Impossible’ (United Artists)
• Four Seasons–Things Go Better With Coke [from EP Let’s Swing the Jingle for Coca-Cola] (McCann-Erickson/Coca-Cola)
• Los Surfs–Tu Seras Mi Baby (Be My Baby) (Gamma; Mexico)
• Wayne Newton–Comin’ on Too Strong (Capitol)
• Tony Roman–Niki Hoeky (Canusa; Canada)
• Chubby Checker–Birdland (Parkway)
• Scott Fallows and the Ebbtones–Surfing Boop-Boo-A-Do (Dot)
• Sandy Nelson–Work Song (Liberty; Japan)
• The Everly Brothers–Somebody Help Me (Warner Bros.)
• R. Sayre – The Vacant Lot–Don’t You Just Know It (Ltd.)
• Los Johnny Jets–Bajate de Mi Nube (Get Off of My Cloud) [from EP Los Johnny Jets A Go-Go] (CBS; Mexico)
• The Monkees–Valleri (Colgems)
• Demetriss Tapp–Ring Dang Doo (Brunswick)
• Tiny Morrie with Al Hurricane’s Band–Come on Let’s Dance (Hurricane)
• (Little 12-Year-Old) Patrice Holloway–Do the Del Viking (Part 1) (Taste)
• Freddie ‘Slim’ Summerville–Wiggle Tail (GMC)
• Ronnie Hawkins–There’s a Screw Loose (Roulette)
• Jimmy Liggins and his Drops of Joy Orchestra–Knocked Out (Duplex)
• Bo Diddley–Pretty Thing (Checker)
• Downliners Sect–Be a Sect Maniac! (Columbia; UK)
• Freddy Cannon–High Heel Sneakers (Warner Bros.; France)
• George Young–Chicken Scratch (Columbia)
• The Angels–My Boyfriend’s Back (Smash)
• Bobby Comstock–Right Hand Man (Ascot)
• The Echoes–Scratch My Back (Swan)
• Googie Rene–Big Foot (Class)
• Jimmy Norman; vocal background: The O’Jays–What’s the Word? Do the Bird (Little Star)
• Els 4 Gats–Tu Parles Molt (You Talk Too Much) (Ediphone; Spain)
• The Lively Set–The Pomona Drags (Decca)
• Michael Holm–Mendocino (Ariola; Germany)
• Dean and Jean–I Love the Summertime (Rust)
• City Surfers–Beach Ball (Capitol)
• The Jamies–Summertime Summertime (Epic)
• Glenn Reeves–Tarzan (Decca)
• Les and Larry Elgart and the Unforgivens–The Early Bird Catches the Bomb (Columbia)
• The Pleasures–If I Had a Little Money (Catch)
• Jessie Hill–Whip It on Me (Minit)
• Dale Hawkins–I Want to Love You (Checker)
• The Visions–Bulldog Cadillac (Warner Bros.)
• The Uptowns–The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Shangri-La)
• Arthur Alexander–Cry Like a Baby (Sound Stage 7)
• The Zombies–Don’t Cry for Me (Date)
• Nancy Sinatra–Last of the Secret Agents (Reprise)
• The Great Scots–Give Me Lovin’ (Epic)
• The Girls–Chico’s Girl (Capitol)
• The Chellows–Dawn (Go Away) (Hit)
• Takeshi Terauchi & the Bunnys–Summer Boogaloo (Seven Seas; Japan)
• Van Doren–Surfin’ Liza (Hickory)
• The Knightsbridge Brass–Let’s Cha Cha (Shad)
• The Persians–(Let’s Monkey) At the Party (Music World)
• Sandy Nelson–Treat Her Right (Imperial)
• The Kiwis–Oopy-Doopy-Sam (Brunswick)
• The Moniques–Teach Me How to Dance (Benn-X)
• Mike Sanchez; Conjunto de Ricky Rays; Ernesto Marroquin: sax–Papa Molida (Mashed Potato Time) (Falcon)
• Jimmie Haskell and Orchestra–Rockin’ in the Orbit (Space Satellite) (Imperial)

None of these records are for sale.

Our pals Sei, Hiromo and Jun are the always-cool DJs from Japan who have been presenting Rebel Night at Otto’s Shrunken Head since 2005. Billed as a “Wild Dance Party,” it features mostly rockabilly music and people come from all around the area to swing dance and to do the stroll. In recent years they have been producing larger and larger shows, often in conjunction with professional groovy party throwers Dances of Vice. On July 19, they held such an event at SRB, a huge venue located a short jump from the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn.

Billed as Hula Rock, this event had just about everything one could possibly ask for in order to be properly entertained: Burlesque dancers Calamity Chang, Bettina May and Jezebel Express shook their respective booties; a Limbo Dance Contest was held and the winner—who went pretty damn low!—took home $100; vintage films were shown on two screens; traditional Japanese barbeque was cooked on the sidewalk; folks were able to get their photo taken with a fantastic Hawaiian backdrop, and/or with Elvis; all kinds of girls ran around in grass skirts; some guys wore some absolutely splendid Hawaiian shirts; a special Tiki drink was served; super cool old cars were parked out front; young women did the Stroll on the spacious dance floor; DJs Sei and Hiromo were joined by guests DJ Jumpy and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and they played some fabulously rockin’ tracks; The Clams played two sets of surf instrumentals while hula girls go-go danced; The Memphis Morticians arose from the grave to play this special party (having been asked to perform when Rockabilly X cancelled); The A-Bones played a top-notch show that included an appearance by The Great Gaylord; then The A-Bones backed one of our all-time favorite singers Barrence Whitfield in a particularly wild and rockin’ show! Serving as the amiable host and MC for the evening was the fabulous Mr. Dave the Spazz (WFMU).

Click on the photos and they will scientifically Big-O-Fi!

Bettina May

The Clams

DJ Jumpy

Dave the Spazz

Calamity Chang

DJ Sei

Memphis Morticians

Limbo Dance Contest

Gaylord with The A-Bones

The A-Bones

Barrence Whitfield

I think it was Bruce Bennett of The A-Bones who posted on facebook that it seemed like the Rebel Night guys were trying to cram all the fun and excitement of an entire summer into seven hours! Indeed, if this was the only event you attended in the last three months you could easily say you’ve had the most wonderful summer of your life! The handbill that promoted the show (taking both sides to get it all in!) promised “a singing… laughing… dancing… drinking… eating!” All of that was delivered, PLUS, The A-Bones with Gaylord AND Barrence Whitfield singing “Wooly Bully!!” How is that not fun?

The A-Bones with Gaylord and Barrence

Quite simply, folks, those Rebel Night guys—assisted, I’m sure by the Dance of Vice people—know how to throw a party. If you, dear reader, catch wind of their next event it would do you good to ink in that date and attend because you will have fun.

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, including those he played during the Limbo Dance Contest (who else is going to have Limbo records?):

• Johnny Poi and the Tradewinds–Hawaiian Beach Party (Design)
• Dale Hawkins–Baby Baby (Checker)
• Dean Beard–Party Party (Atlantic)
• The Exceptions–Down by the Ocean (Cameo)
• Bobby Bryant and the Rhythm Rockers–Piano Nellie (East-West)
• Billy Riley–Teenage Letter (Home of the Blues)
• Jackie Dee–Buddy (Liberty)
• Los Teen Tops–Lucila [from EP Rock] (Fontana; Spain)
• Chico Booth and the Upsetters–Hot Peppers (Palm)
• Terry & the Blue Jeans–Echigo Jishi [from EP Let’s Go – Echigo Jishi] (Seven Seas; Japan)
• The Rockin R’s–Crazy Baby (Tempus)
• The Shakers–Hippy Hippy Shake (Polydor; Germany)
• Jimmy Dee and the Offbeats with the Montclairs–Don’t Cry No More (Dot)
• Fabian–Got the Feeling (Chancellor)
• The Trinidad Serenaders–Limbo Like Me [from LP Limbo – The Latest Party Dance Craze] (Columbia)
• Chubby Checker–Limbo Rock (Parkway)
• The Fabulous McClevertys–Don’t Blame It on Elvis (Verve)
• Twistin’ Kings–Congo Part II (Motown)
• Michael Olatunji–Gin-Go-Lo-Ba (Drums of Passion) (Columbia)
• Hully Gully Boys–Yabba (Amy)
• Young William and the Jamaicans–Limbo Drum Part I (Dimension)
• The Sonics–Money (Norton)
• Floyd Dakil Combo–Dance Franny Dance (Guyden)
• Bull Moose Jackson–Watch My Signals (Encino)
• The Rock-A-Bouts–She’s a Fat Girl (Chancellor)
• Little Junior Parker–Barefoot Rock (Duke)
• Boots Brown and His Blockbusters–Block Buster (RCA Victor)
• Gus Jenkins and His Orchestra–Jealous of You Baby (Pioneer International)
• Tarheel Slim–Number Nine Train (Fury)
• Linc Jeffries with the Missing Links–On the Rampage (Key)
• Cliff Richard and the Shadows–Dynamite (Columbia; UK)
• John Greer–Come Back Maybelline (Groove)
• The Rockers–Mashed Potatoes (Audio Fidelity)
• Los Teen Tops–Buen Rock Esta Noche (Good Rockin’ Tonight) (Columbia; Argentina)
• Billy Riley–Flying Saucers Rock ‘n’ Roll (Sun)
• Eddie Cochran–Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie (Liberty)
• Eddy Bell and the Bel-Aires–The Masked Man (Mercury; Canada)
• The Top Notes–Twist and Shout (Atlantic)
• The Grand Prees featuring Douglass Pettijohn–Junge Fever (Golden Groove)
• Hollywood Hurricanes–Have Love Will Travel (Prima)
• Lincoln Chase–Miss Orangatang (Columbia)
• The Spiders–Furi Furi (Crown; Japan)
• Huey ‘Piano’ Smith–We Like Birdland (Ace)
• Elwood James–Arkansas Jane (Bonanza)
• Bobby Charles–Take It Easy Greasy (Chess)
• Mad Man Taylor–Rock ‘n’ Roll Espanole (East-West)
• John D. Loudermilk–Susie’s House (Columbia)
• Buddy Miller–Little Bo Peep (Band Box)
• Little Walter (Washboard Sam)–Diggin’ My Potatoes (Checker)

None of these records are for sale.

Here are some more photos, taken by our pal Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner. Click on them and they will scientifically Big-O-Fi…

Mr. Fine Wine

Our pal Mr. Fine Wine continues to fight the good fight. We all know of his fine radio show on WFMU of course, and of his weekly display of soul records at the club Botanica every Wednesday night, plus other assorted record-playing carryings on. If you are a deep Fine Wine devotee—and you should be—you must know that over the last several years, he has been playing a song called “I’m Gonna Destroy That Boy” by an unknown female singer on his show and at his DJ gigs. The song originally existed only on a 10” acetatedisc that was given to him by his uncle (!) who apparently worked deep behind the scenes in the Detroit music business during the sixties. Fine Wine had it dubbed onto a 7” 45 RPM record so he can play it without causing damage to the fragile acetate. There are no credits on the label, only the song title: “I’m Gonna Destroy That Boy.”

The song is a great one, about a young woman’s desire to conquer her man with love. The rendition of “Destroy That Boy” on Mr. Fine Wine’s acetate is raw with sparse instrumentation—guitar, bass, drums and organ, with back-up singers and a tambourine—it is most likely a music publisher’s demonstration recording and, as often happens with a demo recording, it is arguably better than the versions of it that were actually released—two of which are known to the writers of the Boogaloo Bag: The Happy Cats and The What Four.

According to Fine Wine’s notes, the song came to his uncle, Morris Last, via the Detroit producer and songwriter Ollie McLaughlin (who was responsible for many great non-Motown Detroit soul records, including those by The Capitols, Deon Jackson and Barbara Lewis). The version by The Happy Cats bears this out, sort of. Not released when it was recorded—probably 1966 or so—but licensed by Ollie McLauglin to keen British Northern Soul reissue label called Grapevine and issued in 1978. The label notes McLauglin as being the copyright holder and the writer is listed as “Hampton”—most likely Riley Hampton, a talented and prolific arranger that McLauglin employed often.

However, the one version of “Destroy That Boy” that was actually issued during its time is the one by The What Four. It was issued on Columbia Records and produced by the respected Teo Macero (he produced just about all of Miles Davis’ recordings on Columbia). Also, it notes the writers as being A. Resnick, C. Resnick and R. Dante. For those who need a score card, that’s Artie Resnick (“Under the Boardwalk,” “Good Lovin’”), Kris Resnick (“Chewey Chewey”) and Ron Dante (voice of The Archies) who worked out of New York City.

So this is rather confusing.

However, The Boogaloo Bag is going to go out on a limb and present a theory as to how the recording came to be:

The likelihood is low that Columbia Records got the credits wrong. The song was written by the Resnicks and Ron Dante. Artie Resnick and his wife Kris were two thirds of a recording group called The Third Rail around this time, or soon after (third member was songwriter Joey Levine). The group’s “Run Run Run” is on the legendary Nuggets compilation. “Destroy” may have been written for The Third Rail to sing originally, but apparently was rejected. The group was signed to Epic Reords—a subsidiary of Columbia. It is not unheard of for a song to go from one floor of an office building to another. Or perhaps Macero asked the Resnicks to write a song for The What Four for their second single. At any rate, the song was written, a demo was recorded and a copy of it somehow found its way onto the producer’s desk.

It is also not unusual for a music publishing company to pitch a song to several artists, producers and/or record companies in order to get it recorded and released. Ollie McLaughlin, or one of his agents, may have picked it up in New York on a song-searching and/or record promotion trip. At any rate, McLaughlin cut it with a group called The Happy Cats, though it was not released. Thought to be a studio group, The Happy Cats did make a record: a cool version of “These Boots Are Made for Walking” that came out on the Omack label. (The B-side is “My Tune,” written by R. Hampton and published by McLaughlin.)

Fine Wine’s uncle, Morris Last, was an owner of Tuba Records and a friend of Ollie McLaughlin. Uncle Morris received the demo from his friend, McLaughlin, who probably thought Riley Hampton wrote it (maybe it was Hampton who found the song in New York). Ten or so years later, when the Brits came knocking on McLaughlin’s door, wanting to listen to his unreleased material to issue on Grapevine, he told them it was Hampton’s song because he didn’t know better. Most likely, it is Riley Hampton’s arrangement of the song that was recorded by The Happy Cats.

If you believe all of this—and it is credible—than perhaps it is not too far-fetched to believe that the singer of the Fine Wine demo is actually Kris Resnick! Songwriters often sang their own demos, and she was known to be a singer, as a member of The Third Rail.

The Boogaloo Bag heartily endorses all three versions of this song. The Happy Cats version is probably fleshed out the best, with a fine, soulful horn chart and a good vocal. The What Four adheres closer to the demo, with it’s driving, garage-rock beat; plus the modulation in the middle creates excitement. However, it looses points with the vocal—is that all four (?) members singing together?—which is weak.

The singer of the Fine Wine demo, whoever she is, is strong—the best of the three versions. The stark accompaniment and the pulsing organ riff on the demo lends a bit of danger to it that is not in the other recordings, making this the best of the three.

Fine Wine, in conjunction with the good people at Munster Records, has released the demo recording and it is now available for everyone to buy. In order to celebrate the release of the single—which comes complete with a cardboard picture sleeve with notes about the acetate and a further inserted note that discusses Uncle Morris Last’s legacy in the music business. In order to celebrate this cool record’s release, Mr. Fine Wine gathered the troops at Botanica on Wednesday August 16 and several of the area’s finest DJs, as well as Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, were asked to spin a few records: Mister Robinson, One Mint Julep, Peanut Butter Brown, Sheila B, Greg Tormo, Young Chris…did we miss someone?

Record dealer Tony and Greg Tormo swing at Botanica.

Sheila B swings at Botanica.

One Mint Julep swings at Botanica.

Peanut Butter Brown and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at Botanica.

Fine Wine announced the theme of the evening and he played the newly released “I’m Going to Destroy That Boy” record just prior to the set by The Boog. Ever the wise-ass, The Boog showed Mr. Fine Wine his copy of The Happy Cats record and Fine Wine insisted The Boog start his set with that. And so he did. Here is a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Destroy That Boy Record Release Party:

• The Happy Cats–Destroy That Boy (Grapevine; UK)
• The Banana Splits–Doin’ the Banana Split [from EP Kellogg’s Presents The Banana Splits] (Kellogg’s)
• Lu Parks Singers–Zap Pow Ee Yow (Ambassador)
• Simms Twins–Good Good Lovin’ (SAR)
• Chris Powell and his Five Blue Flames–I Come From Jamaica (Spanish Town; UK)
• Lowell Fulson–Blues Rhumba (Checker)
• Orquesta Joe Cain–Mambo Au Go Go (Mainstream)
• Mighty Sparrow–Calypso Boogooloo (RA; West Indies)

None of these records are for sale, however, Mr. Fine Wine’s acetate version of “I’m Gonna Destroy That Boy” is available for purchase here:

FORCED EXPOSURE

ROUGH TRADE UK

CLEAR SPOT

MUNSTER RECORDS

Caracas is the name of a city in Venezuela. It is also the name of a Venezuelan restaurant and bar located on the beach in the Rockaways, Queens. It is here that our pal DJ Ratta—un auténtico venezolano—holds forth every Sunday in the summer time. He calls his event Shake It Up Sundays at the Beach—and that’s exactly what happens from 2pm to 9pm. June 29 was his birthday, and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus was honored to be among the DJs he invited to help celebrate it. The other guest DJ was Debbie D from Georgia, who is the caretaker and den mother of the fabulous WFMU Rock ‘n’ Soul Ichiban interweb music stream.

Our pal Tony brings DJ Ratta a beer for his birthday at Shake It Up Sunday!

Ratta is one of our favorite DJs on the scene. He likes to mix mambo records in with ska and old R&B jams. How can you not like that? Debbie D also digs the old noise, and her selections were all perfect for the event.

Shake It Up scene: Debbie D at the controls as Selector Bunny and Friar Popwell swing, and Tony.

It was a lovely day at the beach: the sky was blue, there was a cool breeze and the food at Caracas is amazing! The arepas, a Venezuelan delicacy, are deee-lishus! Plus, the coconut smoothie is highly recommended for those who do not partake in margaritas. Not only was June 29 Ratta’s birthday, but also it was the day of World Cup soccer games. At 4pm, the Shake It Up festivities were put on hold as a giant TV screen was dragged out and hooked up to the speaker system and the game, featuring Costa Rica and Greece, was watched. At the end of regular time, the game was tied at one goal apiece. It went into overtime and still no winner emerged. That left it up to a unique—some say bizarre—ritual known as “penalty kicks.” When the smoke had cleared, Costa Rica was the winner, and the country’s team advanced into another stage of competition. However, the game took nearly the whole early evening, leaving only a couple hours of Shake It Up time left, with mostly Debbie D and The Boog working the turntables. The night got crazy, with folks dancing and carrying on; and it included Debbie D ending one of her sets with Link Wray’s “Run Chicken Run,” only for The Boog to answer with his own chicken song, followed by a set of food songs!

The Boog swings at Shake It Up Sundays! All photos by Nancy Gardner.

Just before the clock struck 9, Ratta took to the turntables, where he was wished happy birthday and he played a series of boss rocksteady records.

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

• Orquesta Tropicana–Tequila (Soundway; UK)
• The Vibrations–Stranded in the Jungle (Checker)
• Tokyo Cuban Boys–Mambo No. 5 [from EP All About the Mambos Vol. 1] (Columbia; Japan)
• Alvin Cash & the Crawlers–Twine Time (Mar-V-Lus)
• Ray Barretto–Watusi ’65 (United Artists)
• René Touzet and His Orchestra–El Loco Cha Cha (Amarren al Loco) (GNP)
• Pedrito Ramirez con Los Yogis–Louie Louie (Angelo; Mexico)
• Los Johnny Jets–Bule Bule (Wooly Bully) (Discos Columbia)
• Hermanas Benitez–El Monkey (Clapping Song) (Discophon; Spain)
• Los Rockin’ Devils–Soy Feliz (I Got You) (Orfeon; Mexico)
• Mongo Santamaria–Sunshine of Your Love (Atlantic)
• Quincy Jones and His Orchestra–Soul Bossa Nova (Mercury)
• The Coral Reef–Cherry Cherry (Epic)
• The Fascinators–Fried Chicken and Macaroni (Capitol)
• Wendy Rene–Bar-B-Q (Stax)
• Bobby Hatfield–Hot Tamales (Moonglow)
• Quitman Dennis and the Escorts–Hot Tomales (Epic)
• Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra–Watermelon Man (Mercury)
• Gunga Din–Crabcakes (Valise)
• Laruel Aitken–Mr. Popcorn (NewBeat; UK)
• The Wailers–Simmer Down (CoxSone; Jamaica)
• Toots & the Maytals–Pressure Drop (Beverley’s; UK)

None of these records are for sale!