As if we didn't have enough to worry about....

Burning question of the moment:  Why is the Sun is "too round"?  See piece: Sun too round

I.. I thought it was supposed to be round (?).

Anyway, what should we do?  I know: Everyone yell "Hey, stop being so round!!" at the Sun.

An interesting story, of course, but ablaze with funny-headline potential.  By the way, isn't "Sun" a proper noun??  Why do journalists call it "the sun"?  I can see writing "our sun," but not "the sun."

Just some side issues to take our minds off the dysfunctional and scary presidential race in progress.

                                      "Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!!"



Lee

Fake Haley hits, continued

 We just heard the five budget-label copycat versions of Rock Around the Clock (if anyone knows of a sixth, please let us know).  So, how to follow such a knockout post?  With more fake Haley hits, of course.  And here are some label scans to go with this post and the previous.

It's been a while since I last had any of these up, so... here there are again.  We'll be hearing from the usual budget-label suspects--Tops, Prom, 18 Top Hits (Waldorf), Parade--and the much lesser known TunePac (Crazy Man, Crazy).

You'll dig these crazy sounds--they're wowsville.  It's rock and roll, Daddy-o, and it's the latest and the gonest hep cat jive.  You'll rock.  You'll roll.  You'll "and."  (Or is it 'n'?)  Artie Malvin and the Deerhill Dudes await.

Ripped from 45 rpm EPs and one vinyl, 7" 78: Fake Haley hits

 FAKELIST
Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie--Johnny Curtis w. the Toppers (Tops 45-R71)
Don't Knock the Rock--Artie Malvin w. the Rhythm Rockets and Ray Bloch's O. (18 Top Hits 207)
Dim, Dim the Lights--The Brigadiers (Top 18 Hits 140)
Razzle Dazzle--Jerry Rudolph and His Radio and TV Orch. (Today's Records 1206)
Mambo Rock--Bob Daily w. the Prom Orch. (Prom 1109; 78 rpm)
The Saints Rock and Roll--Artie Malvin and the Zig Zags (18 Top Hits 188)
Dim, Dim the Lights--Bobby Powers and His Hits-a-Poppin (sic) Orch. (Parade 4509)
Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie--Artie Malvin and the Deerhill Dudes (18 Top Hits 163)
Mambo Rock--Artie Malvin w. the Brigadiers (18 Top Hits 150)
Crazy Man, Crazy--Ray Brankey w. Bernie Saber Orch. (TunePac 5002)


Lee

All five fake "Rock Around the Clock" versions

Since I'm always confusing them with one another, I thought I'd sort out the "fake" RATC versions--that is, the contemporary cheap-label copycat versions of Bill Haley's Rock Around the Clock.  To the best of my knowledge, there were only five such chintzy knockoffs, but who knows if one or two more are waiting to be found?

If there seems to have been any number of budget knock-offs, it's because at least two of these--the Gabe Drake (Prom) and Fred Gibson/Dick Warren (Tops/Gateway Top Tune)--popped up all over the place, label-wise.  In fact, you'll be hearing a Peter Pan label reissue of the Drake track.

Of course, there have been zillions of non-Haley RATC recordings, some of them contemporary with Haley--Pat Boone's not-bad version, for instance.  However, being legit, they don't count.  I should note that at least one cheap-label RATC appeared outside of the U.S.--the Canadians, on Embassy (Woolworth's).  You can hear that on Youtube.

If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Gabe Drake.  Though I like them all, the Gibson/Warren version is weak (made worse on the Tops version by a weak mix!), the Jack Richards not very inspired (even if the guitarist plays the genuine RATC solo), and the Four Bells recording takes the tempo way too slow.  Of course, at that time, who knew what a classic oldie this tune would become?  And who could have guessed anyone would be listening to (let alone blogging) these cheap knockoffs more than a half century later?

Hm.  Suddenly this post feels subversive....  Quick--to the zip file: RATC--the five knockoffs

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

1. Gabe Drake, w. the Prom Orch.--Originally, Prom 1118
2. Dick Warren, w. the Glenn Horne Sextet--Gateway 1124; 1955.
3. Artie Malvin w. the Rock & Roll Rhythm Rockets--Waldorf Music Hall MH 33 49
4. The Four Bells, w. Jimmy Carroll Orch.--Bell 1098; 1955.
5. Jack Richards, w. Vic Corwin Orch.--Broadway 301

I forgot to note that the Artie Malvin version, produced by Enoch Light, is one of a handful of RATC recordings which feature the song as originally written, i.e. prior to modification by Haley.  Dig the minor-mode verse.


Lee

A not at all grandiloquent post

At my other blog, Lee's Pontifications, I perform a public service for CFI's scribes by hinting, ever so gently, that they stand to benefit from practices like using the dictionary; reading back what they've written (and asking themselves, "Does this make sense?); and other tricks many of us learned by the time we were twelve.  Tough love is the best, I think.  These are eminently rational souls, so I expect them to run with my advice.  No thanks necessary.

Lee

Best headline ever

"Gates Foundation Project Challenges Scientists to Reinvent the Toilet."

Read here: New toilet technology after 150 years of waste.

Of course, it's a great and very important concept.  Gates continues to amaze and inspire.  But it's a project aflush with gag-headline opportunities.  At least if you're four, like me.


Lee

Oh, the humanity!

The bad-taste bar has officially been raised so high that, as of tonight, everything except this ceremony is, by definition, in good taste. I turned of the telly when TAKAS (the abomination known as Stomp) came on and started banging on things.

 Lee

Sunday morning gospel: The Best of Gospel Music (Modern Sound MS-820)

Sunday Morning Gospel has returned!  Or so my sources tell me.  Today: The Best of Gospel Music, on the el cheapo label, Modern Sound, which gave us those tacky (but fun) Hit label 45s.  It's one of those couldn't-think-of-a-better-title titles, but the selections are mostly excellent (Daddy Hold My Hand being the reason for "mostly").  In typical cheap-label fashion, Modern Sound has mislabeled some of the Side One tracks, so don't be surprised that the playlist order is different from the cover listing.  And--good grief--I just noticed that the front cover listing is a little different than the back.  Were these guys trying to out-Royale Royale?

Crappy pressing, but the source audio quality (tape, I reckon) is good, so we can only imagine how good the fidelity would be on a quieter surface.  The jacket notes are extremely informative--for instance, "Gospel music is like day and night, the seasons of the year, the rise and fall of the tide for it seems to go on and on."  Yeah, especially if you choose auto-play.  These may not be the dumbest liner notes ever penned, though I could be wrong.  Not a peep about the artists or recording dates, but we do get "Compatible" sound, and at a budget price, so...there.  "Compatible" means that it plays (in) both monaural and stereo, though presumably not at the same time.  I opted for the Compatible stereo.  The best listening environment, therefore, is one that is Compatible-compatible.

"We are happy to offer another fine album to our collection of gospel favorites entitled, THE BEST OF GOSPEL MUSIC."  I think by now we can conclude that these are gospel tracks.

To the gospel: Best of Gospel Music

PLAYLIST

That's When I Call the Lord--The Sons of Song
Child of the King--Sego Brothers and Naomi
Rock of Love--The McCormick Gospel Singers
Makes Me Feel Just Like Crying--The Travelers Quartet
Come Back Home--The Georgians
I'll Call My Lord Everyday--The Sunshine Girls
Noah Built an Ark--The Crusaders
Isn't It Wonderful--Clyde Beavers
Call on Jesus--The Melody Men
Daddy Hold My Hand--The Florida Boys

Lee