Dick’s 45s in The Raw
Originally posted May 15, 2008
“Selling all my records. $40. Call 555-5555 for more information”.
He could’ve saved himself the $3 he spent for the newspaper ad and simply emailed me directly.
Two hours later, I was in Dick’s living room looking at “all” his records: three boxes of albums and a couple of boxes of singles. Turns out Dick sold cars from his front yard for “20-some” years and had some experience stretching the truth. Turns out that “all my records” were the 150 or so leftovers he hadn’t moved to his girlfriend’s 96-year old father’s house. “The state bought me out,” he smiled, looking a little bit like a low-fi Ted Turner, “‘cuz they’re putting an overpass right about where you’re standing”.
“I guess I’d better step over here, then,” I said, as I flipped through the third box for the third time. After taking enough time to make him itchy but not too cranky, I offered him $10 for the one box of compilation albums and the two boxes of singles.
“But, those are the best ones,” he said, “the rest of the stuff is kind of, well, ‘quirky’ I guess is what I think they call it”.
“Yeah, that’s true,” I said, “those are the best ones and the others are…well, ‘quirky’ is a nice way of saying no one would really want them”.
Dick seemed hurt. “Really? I used to listen to them all the time.”
“Iszatso? What’s your favorite song from, um, this one…”Toni Carroll Sings The Hits of The 20′s”.
“Tell you what: give me 12 bucks and I’ll give you the whole deal,” he said, the look of a car dealer who’d just bought a lemon himself.
Revision: “Selling a bunch of records that only a junkie could love. $12. Stop by anytime”.
Here are some B-sides and out of print stuff from Dick’s collection, in the raw (complete with noise and needle drops).
Charlie Rich – I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water (Written by J. Babcock/SMASH S-1993)
Before Charlie Rich was found “Behind Closed Doors” with “The Most Beautiful Girl” (and, by some accounts, a case of bourbon and numerous livestock), “The Silver Fox” was a rock and roller. He played piano and guitar for numerous Sun recording artists, including Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash, as well as recording his own records. In 1964, he left Sun to score a hit with “Mohair Sam” on the SMASH label. This B-side has that great Sun legacy written all over it. Also recorded by: Spencer Davis Group, Stonewall Jackson, Buddy Knox, Lonnie Mack, Elvis Presley, Johnny Rivers and George Thorogood. Should be recorded by: Solomon Burke
Cornelius Brothers And Sister Rose – Lift Your Love Higher (Written by E. Cornelius/UA 50910)
Shortly after scoring hits with two great 70′s soul songs (“Too Late To Turn Back Now” and “Treat Her Like A Lady”), brothers Carter and Eddie Cornelius disappeared from pop music for religious pursuits. Eddie became and ordained minister and Carter followed a black Hebrew sect under the name Prince Gideon Israel. Carter considered a return to pop music but died in 1991 from a heart attack. Eddie continues to perform Christian music. This song, the B-side to “Too Late To Turn Back Now,” could very well being telling a spiritual story. Out of print. Also recorded by: no one. Should be recorded by: Jamiroquai.
Lou Christie – Cryin’ In The Streets (Written by Lou Christie and Twyla Herbert/MGM K13412)
For Lou Christie and his records, it’s all about the name. Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco was going to record under his first name, Lugee, until 1962 when his single, “The Gypsy Cried,” was accidentally released under the name Lou Christie. What’s more, his partner’s songwriting credit, on both this tune and “Lightnin’ Strikes,” is given to “Twiler” (rather than “Twyla”) Herbert. Even so, “Lightnin’ Strikes” was voted #33 in WCBS’ all-time list of great rock and roll hits and has supported Christie’s falsetto habit for 40 years. This B-side, on the other hand, confirms that lightning strikes only once on any given record. According to his website, he’s recently written an Italian language song and is looking for a place to sing it. Also recorded by: no one, gratefully. Should be recorded by: Robert John, Leo Sayer or no one, depending on who raises his hand first.
Millie Small – Something’s Gotta Be Done (Written by Tony Washington/SMASH S-1893)
After recording reggae tunes at Coxsonne Dodd’s legendary Studio One, Small went to London, where she recorded “My Boy Lollipop”. It was a major smash on both sides of the ocean and lead Small to be known as “The Bluebeat Girl” (after the style of island music that became know as Blue beat). This is the B-side from “My Boy Lollipop,” clearly from the same songbook. Out of print. Also recorded by: no one. Should be recorded by: Lou Christie?
? Mark and The Mysterians – Got To (Written by The Mysterians/Million Seller MS-800-8)
Named after a Japanese sci-fi flick, The Mysterians, Question Mark and The Mysterians were actually Rudy Martinez and his mates from Bay City, Michigan. Setting the precedent for both rock star eccentricity (and garage rock, too, for that matter), Martinez to this day insists he was born on Mars and lived with dinosaurs. If this were true, then Sun Ra would’ve covered “96 Tears,” not Garland Jeffries. On the flip side of “96,” is this little nugget called “Got To”. As with most Q-Mark songs, it’s all about the organ. Also recorded by: no one. Should be recorded by: Tom Waits.
? Mark and The Mysterians – I Need Somebody (Written by The Mysterians/Cameo C-441 A)
Also included in Dick 45′s was this tasty little bit of garage punk. As near as I can tell, it’s the B-side of “8-Teen” (or maybe it’s the other way around). Complete with reference to “Mary Had A Little Lamb,’ this sounds even better for all the dirt and scratches. Also recorded by: The Pretenders. Should be recorded by: Air Traffic or Smashmouth.
The Animals – Club A-Gogo (Written by Eric Burdon/MGM K 1331)
Before they hit it big, The Animals were part of Giorgio Gomelsky’s stable of artists, playing blues and R&B around London. That explains why this tune, which was likely written by Burdon while brushing his teeth, sounds like The Yardbird’s “I’m A Man” (which sounds like “Mannish Boy”). Pretty cool piano sound, though, and he’s unapologetic about name checking the blues at the end. Also recorded by: no one. Should be recorded by: Ian Siegal.
There have been so many iterations of The Drifters, it would take three Mensas (or the soul mensa himself, Larry, over at Funky 16 Corners) to figure who’s on this record. There’s a renewed interest in the writing and production of Bert Berns, however. This one, the B-side to “Up On The Roof”, was a bit like a mix of Boudleaux Bryant and Allan Sherman. Also recorded by: The Searchers, The Moody Blues, Van Morrison, Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles, Ginger Baker and, believe it or not, Nazareth. Should also be recorded by: Metallica.
The Honeycombs – Please Don’t Pretend Again (Written by Meek and Lawrence/Interphon IN-7707)
The Honeycombs’ name was created by founder Martin Murray, who combined a tool of his day-time trade as a hairdresser (“comb”) with the name of his assistant (and drummer) Honey Lantree. This flip side of “Have I The Right?” was written by legendary producer Joe Meek and was likely a B-side throwaway. Out of print. Also recorded by: no one. Should also be recorded by: Belle and Sebastian.
The Jackson 5 – One More Chance (Written by The Corporation/Motown M 1171)
It’s pretty spooky to hear 12-year old Michael Jackson sing: “Everybody loves a star/When he’s on the top/But no one ever comes around/When he starts to drop”. By all accounts, this B-side to one of the great pop soul songs of all time, “I’ll Be There,” included a session drummer named Gene Pello. Strangely enough, Pello also played drums for Captain Beefheart. Out of print. Also recorded by: no one. Should (NOT) be recorded by: Mariah Carey.
The Vogues – Some Words (Written by Willett, Cohen and Ferry/Co and Ce B-229)
Progenitors of grandiose vocal pop well beyond it’s time, The Vogues continue to tour around the country playing a half-dozen dates every month (often with other vocal groups of the time). This is the B-side to “You’re The One” and is a classic example of the genre. Out of print. Also recorded by: no one. Should also be recorded by: no one. Grab your favorite girl (or guy) and go see them sing.
That Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose cut is outstanding. I found that album last fall and that was one of the tunes I ripped.