Friday, July 28, 2006
Ebay and other stories
Outrageous record for sale on Ebay: Chuck Higgins, Pachuko Hop on Combo. $199.00!!!!! Besides the price, there were at least two other problems. The record was only in VG condition, and it was on the purple combo label, with the address. Rockin records lists the original (red label) 45 at 40-60 in mint condition, and frankly, that seems generous to me. The record was popular enough in Los Angeles to continue the pressings into the purple label design, so it is safe to say that it sold very well. My estimate on this version of the record is about 20 bucks. That's a long way from the 200.00 this particular misguided Ebay seller was looking for.
I have a record by Bobby Jackson on the Brunswick label called Wow, Man! He says" Wow Man Wow", and there is a female voice that usually repeats it. It's a novelty of sorts, and I thought it was a fun record. I got a copy of it on the Gold-Air label, and am about 95% sure it is the first label before Brunswick. It mentions Gold Air Shows in Amarillo Texas, and also shows Norman Petty's Nor Va Jak music. He is also credited with 1/2 of the writing. And if that's not enough, it has an RCA matrix code in the dead wax and on the label. I don't know much about the Gold Air Shows in Texas, but that may place Jackson from that area.
I bought a DVD about a year ago that has vintage TV shows on it. One of those is the Milt Grant program from WTTG, channel 5 in Washington DC. The year is 1957, and after watching it, you realize how far TV has come in 50 years! One of the artists that makes a "live" appearance to lip sync her new song, is Jeri Renay,. Her song, Hold 'Em Joe, pretty much takes a hard dump. It's a calypso number, and she looks a little uncomfortable, which can be expected since it seems to be her first record. The audience, when they are shown, is also a bit uncomfortable. I actually found the record on the Point label, and it looks like they changed their mind and set "With This Pen" as the A side. It's a much more pleasing ballad. Oh, and before I forget. The folks that issued the DVD spelled her name wrong. It's actually Jeri Rene. They didn't know, as it was not listed in any of my reference books.
Have you seen any unbelievably high priced records on Ebay? Let me know and I will include it on a future musing.
I have a record by Bobby Jackson on the Brunswick label called Wow, Man! He says" Wow Man Wow", and there is a female voice that usually repeats it. It's a novelty of sorts, and I thought it was a fun record. I got a copy of it on the Gold-Air label, and am about 95% sure it is the first label before Brunswick. It mentions Gold Air Shows in Amarillo Texas, and also shows Norman Petty's Nor Va Jak music. He is also credited with 1/2 of the writing. And if that's not enough, it has an RCA matrix code in the dead wax and on the label. I don't know much about the Gold Air Shows in Texas, but that may place Jackson from that area.
I bought a DVD about a year ago that has vintage TV shows on it. One of those is the Milt Grant program from WTTG, channel 5 in Washington DC. The year is 1957, and after watching it, you realize how far TV has come in 50 years! One of the artists that makes a "live" appearance to lip sync her new song, is Jeri Renay,. Her song, Hold 'Em Joe, pretty much takes a hard dump. It's a calypso number, and she looks a little uncomfortable, which can be expected since it seems to be her first record. The audience, when they are shown, is also a bit uncomfortable. I actually found the record on the Point label, and it looks like they changed their mind and set "With This Pen" as the A side. It's a much more pleasing ballad. Oh, and before I forget. The folks that issued the DVD spelled her name wrong. It's actually Jeri Rene. They didn't know, as it was not listed in any of my reference books.
Have you seen any unbelievably high priced records on Ebay? Let me know and I will include it on a future musing.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Random thoughts
The Hunter's IV page has now been indexed by Google and at least one of the other major search engines. It is a unique name as a string without quotes, and as I write this, it is number one of 14 million pages. That was a great interview with Dwight Hunter, and he is a very interesting guy. If you have not had a chance to hear it, cruise over to the Hunter's IV page and check it out.
I hope to start editing my Pixies three interview with Kaye Krebs. I have fallen a bit behind as I usually do in the summer, but progress will be made! I am actually trying to set up a few more interviews, but have not confirmed any additional chats as of yet.
I have always found it interesting how records were issued with different flip sides. The Chords is a classic example of using Cross Over The Bridge upon first issue, and quickly changing to Little Maiden. It certainly reinforced which side to have the DJ's play, and I believe that is exactly why it was done. I also think there is some truth to the stories about "Bridge", Patti Page, "covering", etc. That would be a blog entry of it's own. Though lesser known, another example I found recently was the Five Playboys on Fee Bee. Pages Of My Scrapbook was the "A" side, and it was first flipped with "Love Me Right". Fee Bee then Paired Scrapbook with "When We Were Young"which was then dealt to Dot records for distribution. They must have had some action on the song in Philly, and hoped to do the same thing they did with the Del Vikings. Anyway, there are many examples, and probably almost as many stories answering the question burning in this record collector's mind.....WHY? In case you were thinking it, YES, now I have to get both versions. I'm telling you, it never ends!
I hope to start editing my Pixies three interview with Kaye Krebs. I have fallen a bit behind as I usually do in the summer, but progress will be made! I am actually trying to set up a few more interviews, but have not confirmed any additional chats as of yet.
I have always found it interesting how records were issued with different flip sides. The Chords is a classic example of using Cross Over The Bridge upon first issue, and quickly changing to Little Maiden. It certainly reinforced which side to have the DJ's play, and I believe that is exactly why it was done. I also think there is some truth to the stories about "Bridge", Patti Page, "covering", etc. That would be a blog entry of it's own. Though lesser known, another example I found recently was the Five Playboys on Fee Bee. Pages Of My Scrapbook was the "A" side, and it was first flipped with "Love Me Right". Fee Bee then Paired Scrapbook with "When We Were Young"which was then dealt to Dot records for distribution. They must have had some action on the song in Philly, and hoped to do the same thing they did with the Del Vikings. Anyway, there are many examples, and probably almost as many stories answering the question burning in this record collector's mind.....WHY? In case you were thinking it, YES, now I have to get both versions. I'm telling you, it never ends!
Friday, July 07, 2006
Pixies Three
442, Glenwood Avenuuuueeee. I can almost hear you singing the song from my blog. It was catchy, it sounded bright and fun, and it got to the top spot on several local radio station charts. Unfortunately, it competed with itself. The flipside, Cold Cold Winter, also made the charts, and the disc never had enough steam with the same side at once to be a national top 10 record. Ironically, It did sell a ton of records for the same reasons. So, what's up with the Pixies Three? I had the chance to Interview Kaye Krebs (McCool), and she is very knowledgeable and quite personable. I hope to get a web page of the group towards the end of August. I may not have all their records, but I have a good start.
The Hunter's IV page will be active either Saturday night or Sunday. Even with just one record, it should be enjoyable for you to see. My website will be the only documentation on the Internet for this group.
I finally got the Four Mints record on Choctaw. I didn't know much about the record, but have "realized" a few things since receiving it in the mail. At first, I thought the group might be associated with the Mints who recorded the same song on the Lin label from Gainesville, TX. Definitly the same song, but different recording. Most likely a different group. The Choctaw label is out of Valparaiso, Florida, and the flip is a song I associate with the Drifters, What'cha Gonna Do. The Four Mints do a respectable version, but with a twist. In fact, the twist is on both sides of the record. They use a trumpet! If you have ever heard Lulubelle Blues by Fatman Humphries with the Crows in the background, you understand trumpets in a rock and roll song.
Do you ever buy an LP just for the cover? I do once in a while. The latest aquisition was a record by VOM, Voice Of Music. The songs are not my type of music, but the cover is great. It is titled, Music To Read Road Maps By. It has two very small children on the front. One is by her "flower Stand", and the little boy is in a 1956 or 1957 kiddie car, that is a minature of the real thing. It has the classic fins of that era, and it could be a high class pedal car, or maybe it's electric? Very cool and very colorful. So, now what? I would hate to sell it. It will go in with my misc. albums.
The Hunter's IV page will be active either Saturday night or Sunday. Even with just one record, it should be enjoyable for you to see. My website will be the only documentation on the Internet for this group.
I finally got the Four Mints record on Choctaw. I didn't know much about the record, but have "realized" a few things since receiving it in the mail. At first, I thought the group might be associated with the Mints who recorded the same song on the Lin label from Gainesville, TX. Definitly the same song, but different recording. Most likely a different group. The Choctaw label is out of Valparaiso, Florida, and the flip is a song I associate with the Drifters, What'cha Gonna Do. The Four Mints do a respectable version, but with a twist. In fact, the twist is on both sides of the record. They use a trumpet! If you have ever heard Lulubelle Blues by Fatman Humphries with the Crows in the background, you understand trumpets in a rock and roll song.
Do you ever buy an LP just for the cover? I do once in a while. The latest aquisition was a record by VOM, Voice Of Music. The songs are not my type of music, but the cover is great. It is titled, Music To Read Road Maps By. It has two very small children on the front. One is by her "flower Stand", and the little boy is in a 1956 or 1957 kiddie car, that is a minature of the real thing. It has the classic fins of that era, and it could be a high class pedal car, or maybe it's electric? Very cool and very colorful. So, now what? I would hate to sell it. It will go in with my misc. albums.
