Riot on the Sunset Strip

 I'm now working from home most days as my core peers are in San Francisco.  Doesn't make a lot of sense to go into the office and just sit on Zoom calls.  

It seems I've visited the Sunset Strip more often than in the last few years.   X at the Roxy, Los Lobos at the Whisky (with the Chris D and the Divine Horsemen opening for both).   Tonight going to see a friends band at the Viper Room. (where River Phoenix dropped dead on the Sidewalk).

The area became a mecca for nightclubs long ago as it was small region that wasn't incorporated into the City of Los Angeles.  It's now in its own City of West Hollywood.   When easy drives to Las Vegas lured clientele away, the clubs began to book rock acts for the younger folk who needed places to see bands play.  It became a mecca for counter culture.  

In 1966, the local business owners complained they were losing business due to the congestion.  As result, a 10PM curfew was put in place for all minors. This became the catalyst for the riots as youth refused to obey the curfew and the LAPD along with the LA County Sheriff responded the only way they knew how. 

Soon American International Pictures responded as they only knew how - an exploitation movie

So - in honor of that stretch of Sunset through West Hollywood, here's the soundtrack.  

Music Composed for the Original Soundtrack Riot on the Sunset Strip  (Tower 1967) 

Highlights are The Standells and The Chocolate Watchband.  Both bands appear performing in the film. Coincidently, both bands are on Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records and named after their iconic cylindrical building near Hollywood and Vine.

iViva Los Teen Tops!

 Latin American rock and roll!

Artes Del Carne

The pandemic has led me to some pretty obscure little corners in my LP collection.  I have a few boxes in a storage room of indeterminate origin. 

So I find this record in an old box.  

My father in law liked latin music.  I'm assuming this came from him.  What amused me about it was the tape listing 'artistry in meats.'   My wife confirmed this was from her dad's store.  

So - it does to show.  One can find artistry anywhere.  Even in meat.   

What's in a term?

A local Hispanic market hoping to cash in on the foodie craze has rebranded their carniceria as a 'craft butchery.'   I've been going there for years and hope to for many years to come.  The clientele has changed since their name changed.  Hipsters are now shopping at the Hispanic market.   

Reminds me of a Simpson's episode where a tunnel led from the trendy part of town to Moe's.   'This isn't a faux dive bar, it's a real dive bar.'   Moe's reply - 'You're a long way from home yuppie boy.'

The Roots of Led Zeppelin

Jimmy Page was an accomplished studio guy in the '60's.  He played with the likes of The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Donavan, Petula Clark and Johnny Hallyday.

In 1968 he joined The Yardbirds which then featured Jeff Beck on lead guitar.  The two guitar lineup was brief.  Beck left the band leaving Page as the sole guitarist.  The Page only output was limited to one album (Little Games) and a tour.  After the tour, Page was the only remaining member of the band and recruited Plant, Jones and Bonham to fill in for some gig obligations.  The rest, as they say, is history.

After Led Zeppelin was firmly established, Epic records decided to release a live album of the 1968 tour.

The Yardbirds - Live Yardbirds Featuring Jimmy Page (Epic 1971)

The record was quickly deleted as Page and Zeppelin's management took exception to the prominent featuring of Page in the title.   It was released again in 1976 by Columbia Special Products and faced swift legal threats.  I found my CSP pressing long ago in a cutout bin (shrink wrap still intact).

In my humble opinion, they were probably more upset by the inclusion of the track I'm Confused which is an early take on Zeppelin's Dazed and Confused.  Although it's painfully obvious singer Keith Relf is no Robert Plant.  A few years later he would die in true Spinal Tap fashion while playing electric guitar in the bathtub.

Liner notes by Lenny Kaye - of the Patti Smith Group.

The recording itself is OK for a 1968 live album and has some stunning moments that scream Led Zeppelin.  It's marred, however, by the obtrusive audience noise dubbed in from other sources.   During the quieter moments the audience is just yacking. Pay attention people, this is history.

Ellen Foley

This is kind of a Clash footnote.   Ellen Foley just happened to be the girlfriend of Mick Jones of The Clash around the time of Sandinista.  She sang co-lead vocal on Hitsville Hit UK.    At the time she was appearing on the NBC sitcom Night Court.

When it came time to do her album, 'her boyfried' (Mick Jones) produced it.  Songs were written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones.  For a band, he used The Clash.  

Ellen Foley  - The Spirit of St. Louis (Epic 1981).

Released on the The Clash's label.

We're All DEVO

They came from Ohio. They played in Los Angeles at the dawn of the west coast punk scene.  Iggy Pop saw them at the Whisky.  He took David Bowie to a gig. Their first album ended up being produced by Brian Eno.  

Prior to the first album, they released two DIY singles.  This is the first one.

DEVO - Jocko Homo b/w Mongoloid (Boojie Boy 1977)

Formed by two sets of brothers from Ohio.  At least one of them an art student at Kent State in 1970.  They came to the scene armed with the philosophy that man was de-evolving.  This was evident in 1977.  It's even more evident now.  A Kardashian for governor of California anyone?   It might happen soon.

I saw them several times early on.  At clubs, at the Long Beach Arena.  In later days at a party for the Rugrats producers and at their final (I think) gig at the Burger Boogaloo in Oakland.

We're all DEVO

RIP Series: Ivan Kral

Since I haven't posted for quite some time, there are quite a few musicians who passed on.  Some are household names.  Some are unheralded side men who deserve some mention.    One such side man is Ivan Kral  - lead guitarist for the original Patti Smith Group.

So here's Patti's first album to commemorate Ivan.

Patti Smith - Horses (Arista 1975)

 I got this at time of release - note the white 'Horses' 

 

Even though the record was credited to Patti alone, she truly treated this as a band release.  The musicians are prominently featured on the back cover.  These four stayed with her until Patti's semi-retirement to be a mom after marrying Fred Smith from the MC5.

Early blue Arista Label in company sleeve.