Merry Christmas from Dallas Y'all...

Got too much going on right now to spend much time around here, but Jukeboxmafia will be back in 2010. Woo Hoo!

T-Shirts are Here!

Jukeboxmafia is proud to announce our new, extensive line of T-Shirts and other goodies. Just in time for Christmas! Stickers, Buttons, Mugs and more are also available. Go Here For More Details!

Doin' the Flake

Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Doin' the Flake
Liberty - 227
1965

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I like to pick up old, weird promtional records. Especially if they're from a breakfast cereal company. Here's one from Gary Lewis and Corn Flakes...

The Marijuana Polka

Will Barnes
Marijuana Polka
Armadillo Country - 77302
1980


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I don't normally think of Polka music and Marijuana as two things that go together, but it seems to work just fine here...

Who Dat!

The Singing Saints
Who Dat!
The Music Agency - 1001
late eighties?


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This one's for my friend at work who's a big Saints fan. Happy B-Day Brah!

Streetbeater!

Quincy Jones
Streetbeater
A&M - 1455
1973

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Here's Quincy Jones' "Streetbeater", otherwise known as the theme from Sanford & Son. I never have heard this all the way through. On the second half of the record, right after the part where it ends on the TV show, is where Quincy and the band really get down! Very cool!

Twiggy?

Twiggy
When I Think of You
Capitol - 5903
1967

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Did anybody out there know that Twiggy put out a record? I didn't until I found this. Apparently there's a picture sleeve for it too, but sadly it wasn't wrapped around this disc...

Karate - The Emperors

The Emperors
Karate
Mala - 543
1967

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Great track. This is my favorite part of record collecting. I had never heard of this group or song before finding this disc. You may already be familiar with it, but it's toatllay new to me...

p.s. To learn more about this record and The Emperors go here: http://funky16corners.tripod.com/8_emperors.htm

You know, I really should start googling BEFORE I post...

New Banner and Finished Logo

Hey Y'all, check out the new banner and the "Official" completed version of the new logo. In the next month are so I will be working on putting together some official Jukeboxmafia merch. Stay tuned...

Bubblegum Music (literally!)

The Clark Gum Shufflers
The Clark Gum Shuffle - Peppermint
?-?
Mid Sixties?


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Here's a promotional 7" EP from the Clark Gum Company. 4 swinging tunes perfectly suited for dancing the Clark Gum Shuffle. I was excited when I first saw this, thinking it might contain some cheesey late sixties sounds in the style of a low rent Archies. However, what I found was 4 instrumentals more in the style of a low rent Tiajuana Brass. The tune I have selected, "Peppermint" is the most soulful of the bunch. Anybody remember this disc? Anybody remember Clark Gum?
p.s. The disc and sleeve contain absoltely NO information. No band info, no composer credit, no record label or catalogue number and no date. I made up the name Clark Gum Shufflers myself and am simply guessing at the date. Feel free to weigh in if you know anything about this record...

*Update* Alert tipster Cranched hipped me to this youtube video for the Clark Gum Commercial. Turns out it IS the Tiajuana Brass! Be sure and visit his cool blog here: http://cranchedfornow.blogspot.com/ Thanks Cranched!

New Logo!

Many thanks to my good friend Jason Crow for designing the new Jukeboxmafia Logo! What do Y'all think?
Q: If a T-shirt or a sticker existed with this design would you want one?
p.s. He also designed our current banner...

Do the Monkey Dog!

O.V. Wright
Monkey Dog
Back Beat - 548
1965 - '66?

MP3 File
Here's one of my favorite tunes by O.V. Wright. It's taken me a while to come across a clean copy of this one, although it's not particularly rare or pricey. Love it!!

Ray Sharpe Needs Your Help!

Ray Sharpe
Help Me (pts 1&2)
Atco - 6402
1966

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I know Ray Sharpe primarily as a rockabilly artist. His hit "linda Lu" from 59 gives no indication of the sounds that would come along later in his career. Here he is in 1966 on Atco throwing down one very heavy soul groove...
*pts 1&2 have been blended into one track for this post.

The Rockin' Ghost!!

Archie Bleyer
The Rockin' Ghost
Cadence - 1293
1956

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This is my second favorite Halloween record of all time (Frankenstein Walk by Gene "Bowlegs" Miller being the first) and embarrassingly has already appeared on this blog numerous times. But! It's just too good not to share again. Dig it and Happy Halloween!

p.s. To hear the Frankenstein Walk just click the Halloween tag below and scroll down a bit...

Ghost Squad

The Tony Hatch Orchestra
Ghost Squad
London International - 10505
1962

MP3 File
This tune lies a bit far toward the easy listening side of the scale than we usually prefer to go here at Jukeboxmafia, but it is kind of cool and a bit spooky and has the word ghost in the title, so here you go...

Theme from Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary and Little Andy
Lullaby from Rosemary's Baby
Columbia - 44586
1968

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Here's a radio promo copy of the theme from Rosemary's Baby. I can't believe this wasn't a big hit! #1 in all markets, Rosemary and Little Andy!!

Thurl Ravenscroft!

The Loch Ness Monster
Thurl Ravenscroft
Disneyland - 789
1959-1960

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Here's an ultra cheapie kids disc (with a monster theme) from Thurl Ravenscroft that I picked up the other day. What? You've never heard of Thurl Ravenscroft? Don't worry, just click play and You'll recognize the voice immediately...

You Can Get Him Frankenstein

The Castle Kings
You Can Get Him - Frankenstein
Atlantic - 2107
1961


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I'm a Mummy

Bob McFadden
The Mummy
Brunswick - 55140
1958

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Mummies and Beatniks, what more could you want..?

Specialty Haunted House

Johnny Fuller
Haunted House
Specialty - 655
1958

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This song has been covered a million times, but this version is still my favorite...

p.s. If you're looking for more great Halloween tunes for your own compilations, for parties, etc., you've got to see what's going on here:

http://wfmuichiban.blogspot.com/

Halloween Nostalgia Trip

Haunted Mansion Storybook
Disneyland - 339
1970

MP3 File
I found this Disneyland records read along disc a while back and it brought back some powerful memories. Anyone remember these? I love the artwork on this one, although I have to admit that the narration (by Robie Lester) is pretty boring. Cool sound effects at the end of side 2 though...
p.s. more halloween discs coming soon!

Cheap Thrills (pt. 3)

Al Brisco Clark & his Orchestra
Soul Food (pt. 1)
Fontana - 1909
1964

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Yet another killer instro cheapie. This one supposedly produced by James Brown...

Cheap Thrills (pt. 2)

The Strangers
Rockin' Rebel
Titan - FF-1701
1959


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Here's another incredible instrumental 2 sider that cost me less thatn 5 bucks. Whoa!

Rock My Soul

Elliott Shavers
Rock My Soul
Zan Dan - 302
1961?

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Here's proof that great records don't have to be expensive. This double sided monster instro weighs in at well under the ten dollar mark...

Let's Hear It For Charline Arthur!

Charline Arthur
The Good and the Bad
RCA Victor - 5807
1954?

MP3 File
Whenever I find a Charline Arthur disc, I always pick it up. She performed regularly on local Dallas radio program The Big D Jamboree and recorded a number of great sides for RCA, as well as a few smaller labels. It really is a shame that she isn't more well known, she has such a unique voice. Just listen to that growl...
*edit* (see comments)

Henrietta and the Hairdooz

You've Got a Lot to Learn
Henrietta and the Hairdooz
Liberty - 55545
1963

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Nice Phil Spector influenced girl group sounds from Henrietta and the Hairdooz (formerly Baby Jane and the Rockabyes.)

Jukeboxmafia is Back!!

Cave Man Love
Blue Jays
Roulette - 4264

MP3 File
Now that this summer has finally started to loosen its death grip on my tortured psyche and I can feel the fog clearing from my weary brain, I have suddenly begun to regain interest in this blog. To launch our return to regular music postings, I offer this slab of exquisite stupidity...

Thanks FMU!

Thanks to a recent mention on the excellent WFMU blog (find the link in the blogroll at the right on your screen) Jukeboxmafia has just reached a new record for most hits in a single day. Woo Hoo!

Margaret's Moo

Things are still hectic this summer, so until I muster the energy to return to regular music postings, please enjoy this photo taken by my cow-obsessed wife...

1966 Plymouth Barracuda Radio Spots

I've run across a few of these little one-sided 7 inchers over the years. Usually they contain radio ads or PSAs. This one is especially entertaining. 4 different radio spots for the 1966 Plymouth Barracuda, done in a comical style that reminds me a bit of a Stan Freberg album. The voices sound familiar too. Anyone recognize them? Also, I find it odd that even though this is clearly intended for use on radio, the label reads "Not for Broadcast Use." What's the deal with that?



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Now With Fewer Posts!

I realize that activity on this blog has slowed to a crawl. This has been one hell of a busy summer and I find myself having far less time and energy to spend here. Please bear with me and hopefully things will improve in a few months...

Where's Captain Kirk?

MP3 File
Spizzenergi
Where's Captain Kirk?
Rough Trade - RTSO 4
1979

This is not one of those "timely" blogs. If a famous artist dies, you will not see a 5000 word eulogy with audio clips appear on this page within hours of the announcement (or ever for that matter.) BUT, in a small concession to topicality, I offer you this obscure bit of late seventies Star Trek homage, in honor of this summer's big blockbuster. REM released a cover version of this song in 1992, as a fan club only release. If you're patient enough, there is something strange going on in the trail off at the end of the disc. For your further pleasure, I have isolated and slowed this down, so that we may reach a fuller understanding of the artists intentions.



MP3 File
What's that?

Miss Sticks

Raymond Lewis
Miss Sticks
Instant - 3233
1961


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Miss Sticks


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Real nice double sider from Raymond Lewis. Written and produced by Allen Toussaint.

The Exotics - Come With Me

MP3 File
The Exotics
Come With Me
Tad - 2410
1966
Wow! This is one great record. The Exotics were a Dallas area garage band featuring some of the same personnel as the Floyd Dakil combo of "Dance Franny Dance" fame. This has got to be the greatest combination of fuzz guitar and organ I've ever heard anywhere. Devastating...

Loosen These Pains and Let Me Go - Albert Washington

Here's Georgia born gospel/soul singer, guitarist Albert Washington on Jewel records from 1965, or is it 1971? My guide book says '71, but the 1965 copyright on the label would indicate otherwise. Sounds earlier than '71 too...
Albert Washington
Loosen These Pains and Let Me Go
Jewel - 822
1965 or 1971?
* see comments


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Back from Austin... (w/ pics)

Well, the trip to Austin for the record convention was a big success. I bought a bunch of reissue LPs of New Orleans R&B and Soul that once graced my collection but have regrettably left me for one reason or another. I found nearly everything on my wants list, had some great BBQ and picked up a pile of 45s too.


inaugural dinner before and after





Convention pics





Retail shopping...


The Haul...

I'll be back soon to post some of what I found...