Hello, fellow seekers of the unusual, the out-of-the-way, and the incredibly cheap!
I come to you today as a means of illustrating what can be achieved with just a bit of devotion to the Thrifty Music cause. Old-timers will know that the purpose of this series is to showcase music that I acquire at random through visits to my local thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales. I don’t seek out specific artists or big paydays from finding obscure collectors’ items for pennies on the dollar (though that’s happened a few times). I mainly just pick up music that “looks good.” There are earlier Thrifty Music posts that explain the HVB Thrifty Music methodology — I encourage you to go back through the archives to learn more — and to hear some obscure music that’s floated across my transom over the last couple of years, for next to nothing.
Today, I thought I’d share the results of one foray, to one thrift store in suburban Maryland, in a neighborhood affectionately called “Korean Corner.” In exchange for a few dollars, I walked home with these choice sides, and relatively few clunkers:
“All American Girl”, Freddy Cannon
This one was real pleasant surprise — like music from a 1962 teen surf movie that actually kicked ass. Don’t you love it when Hollywood actually delivers the goods in those old, crappy, teenxploitation flicks? It happens so seldom, but when they get it right — and there’s some righteously rockin’ music to go with the high-quality, 16mm film and wide-screen color saturation, it’s an awesome thing. No vuh-deo here, obviously, but close your eyes and imagine it. Ahh, the sea… the sand… chicks in bikinis doing the frug… and Freddy Cannon rockin’ it up at the tiki bar.
“Reveille Rock”, Johnny and the Hurricanes
Readers of previous editions of Thrifty Music will know of my weakness for those silly tunes from the ’50s and ’60s that featured straight-ahead, fast-paced rockin’ instrumentals, made noteworthy only because every so often, the band stops for somebody (probably the bassist) to utter some incomprehensible, out-of-context catch phrase or slogan. Here’s one by Johnny & the Hurricanes entitled “Reveille Rock.” In addition to it featuring the required spoken word interludes… man, check out the insane tempo of this number! ‘Fess up, RTHers in bands: how many of you could maintain a pace like this for longer than 30 seconds, without falling to your knees, wheezing for mercy?
“The Monkey Time”, Major Lance
This was a nice find: Curtis Mayfield protege Major Lance, singing a Mayfield composition entitled “The Monkey Time”. If I hadn’t told you who wrote and produced it, I’m betting you could’ve guessed. Gotta love old Curtis!
“Party Down, Parts I & II (HVB Groovealicious Extended Dance Partython Remix)”, Little Beaver
Lastly, a purchase that really made my day. I don’t remember if I featured Little Beaver’s ode to the ’70s party scene, “Party Down,” in a previous edition of Thrifty Music. I do know that my old 45 of the tune — also acquired at a thrift store — was so beat up it’s practically unlistenable. Thanks to the Korean Corner thrift store, I don’t have that problem anymore… and neither will you! Man, I love this song. Righteous, soulful, and jazzy guitar playing, glasses tinkling in the background, a mellow attitude (in the best sense of the word) — makes me want to pour myself a Courvoisier, turn the lights down low, and just chill with a room full of friends. Thanks, Little Beaver — anybody who can write the soundtrack to the perfect party is okay by me. (Note also that I’ve edited both sides of the single together, so you can enjoy six full minutes of Beaver’s laid-back party vibe. Enjoy!)
That’s all I’ve got this week, folks. Tune in next time for some more choice musical tidbits from the milkcrates, junk bins and garbage bags of our great nation.
HVB
Hey, Mod/TheBackOffice – thanks for posting that link to previous editions of Thrifty Music. I’ve been enjoying myself taking a trip down memory lane. There’s some really good music in there!
Exactly what happened to “Party Down” in your remix? You didn’t add scratching, did you?
Major Lance’s Monkey Time was actually a major hit — #2 R&B and #8 Pop. Here’s a clip (unfortunately it cuts off before then end of the song) of him singing it on Shindig!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMRLrf4pNn4
That’s a cool pic of him.
All Thrifty Music tracks come by their scratches naturally.
My pleasure, in linking back to those old Thrifty Music pieces. I’ve been meaning to create a new category under which we can easily organize all back issues on The Main Stage. Maybe once work settles down a bit…
Man, Lance could DANCE! Thanks for the Youtube clip, Biggie.
Major Lance seems to have a good half dozen eminently listenable tunes, from what I recall of past mix tapes made for me by E. Pluribus Gergely. It’s a wonder he’s not a little better known.
That Freddie Cannon song was a winner. It would be fun to collect all the good chugging dance songs from around 1962, stuff like “The Peppermint Twist” and this song. There must be a solid dozen winners among that ilk.
That extended dance mix at the end is pretty boss as well. The only tune I can’t get behind is the goofy instrumental. Man, that might be an entire genre in rock I could do without.
At first I thought hvb was calling his Little Beaver remix an Extended Dance Pantython.
Thanks for your commentary, Mod. Your appreciation — for all the RIGHT reasons — of that Freddy Cannon song was particularly important.
People: I stopped by the Georgia Ave. thrift store on the way to the Nats game this evening, and picked up an album for 99 cents that is absolutely blowing my mind. I’ll share more later, but… shit, I may have to go for the extremely rare CD upgrade on this one. I’m through side one, and every track was really, really good. And I wasn’t expecting it, either. It’s like finding $20 in your suit jacket pocket. Sweet!
I was listening to a Major Lance CD comp last night that came out in the 90s & is probably out of print now. His other major hit was “Um, Um, Um,Um” & a lot of his OKeh stuff was produced by Curtis Mayfield.
It was enjoyable going through the back pages of Thrifty Music. I’ve found some pretty interesting stuff myself in bargin bins, thrift shops & even the garbage (where I found the 1st Jim & Jean album).
HVB, re: your hatred of Monterey Pop, I do understand, but jeez, didn’t the women look great? I mean, if it was held today, there would be plenty of tats n’ piercings, which is a turnoff to me.
Diskojoe is a contender for Post of the Month with this nugget:
Now THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about!