A Belated RIP for Aretha Franklin

This one was so big it actually made headlines in the mainstream media.  Aside from Fox News making the announcement with a picture of Patti LaBelle and Trump boasting she once worked for him, her death elicited beautiful responses from a diverse population.

Aretha held the well deserved title of Queen of Soul.  Her singing served the song and she only did vocal gymnastics when the song warranted.   (unlike the current crop of manufactured 'divas' undeserving of the title).

She transformed Otis Redding's Respect from a narrative about a man wanting to 'get some' from his girl into an anthem of female empowerment.  Accomplished without changing a word.

The records she made on Atlantic are pretty awesome.

So in 1987 she teamed up with Keith Richards for a remake of Jumpin' Jack Flash for a Whoopie Goldberg comedy.  The result is this single.

Aretha - Jumpin' Jack Flash (Arista 1987).

Keith produced.  Keith and Ronnie Wood played.  Aretha made the song her own.  A gem.

Meet Keri-Ann. She Got Around

Meet Keri-Ann Muller.  I had no idea who she was until reading a little something on Roxy Music while spinning their first LP.

Roxy Music (Reprise 1972)

Keri-Ann posed for this retro cheesecake photo which would define all Roxy Music covers to follow.  She was young and paid the equivalent of $30 USD for the shoot.

Fast forward.

I didn't realize she appeared on another rock gem a few years later - probably for more money.

Mott the Hoople - The Hoople (Columbia 1974)

Keri posed for the cover of Mott The Hoople's follow up (and name completion) to their previous LP Mott.

She's been married to Chris Jagger for over 20 years.  Chris has a better fidelity record than his more famous older brother.

It might be fun to revisit the Roxy Music cover models on an individual basis.  Each one has an interesting story - and contrary to speculation - none of them were drag queens.

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

My parents had a Woody Woodbury album when I was growing up.  I remember a few jokes, but at a young age I didn't get most of them.  Woody evidently was a big deal, playing theaters rather than night clubs.   This particular album was recorded at the then brand new Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Woody Woodbury's Concert in Comedy (Stereoddities 1961)

The cover sports a backdrop of the building itself.

But I don't want to talk about early sixties 'adult' comedians this time out.  I want to talk about the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. 

In the early seventies, this was the place for up and coming bands to play when they hit the Los Angeles area.  It held about 2,500.  It has a floor that could be leveled for a trade show or pitched for a concert.  It sounded great.

A few shows I saw there....

One of the first gigs The Clash played in the USA.  Opening acts were Bo Diddley and The Dils.  One of the most electrifying and exciting shows I have ever seen.  Saw them many times after, but there's nothing like your first time.  Many of the current crop of LA punk bands could be spotted in the audience.  

Aerosmith when they were already playing arenas.  A special gig in 1978.   

The Kinks  - a few times there.

The filming of URGH  - A Music War featuring The Cramps, Iggy Pop, Gang of Four and Dead Kennedys

The Patti Smith Group.  The loudest show I've ever seen.

Frank Zappa - he did four shows there (early and late) rather than play at an arena.

A memorable New Years Eve with X, The Blasters and Lone Justice.  Dave Alvin did double duty playing with The Blasters and X as he was a member of both bands at the time.


Today the building sits derelict and its future is uncertain.  The property value of the ample parking lot might do it in.  The past 10 years so it's the go to place for cat shows. 

Borscht Belt

I'ts been a while since I posted something just because it had a goofy cover.

Mickey Katz - The Borscht Jester (Capitol 1960)

Here's the man how gave us the tune 'How Much is That Pickle in the Window' and begat Joel Grey who begat Jennifer Gray.

There ya' go.

RIP Series - Lorrie Collins

As is the case when someone passes who isn't a mainstream star, I don't find out about it until I see it in the British music magazines or Goldmine.

Lorrie Collins died this week at the age of 72.  She was half of an electrifying rockabilly duo from the '50's,


Lorrie and Larry Collins - The Collins Kids.   A brother/sister act that started when Lorrie was about 13 and Larry about 10.   Lorrie did most of the singing.  Larry was an ace guitarist  - even as a child.

Check out this clip.

The guy just rips through this thing.  This was before 'guitar hero.'

Hailing from Oklahoma, they relocated to Los Angeles rather than Nashville.  While in LA, they became regulars on Tex Ritter's Ranch Party.

Here's a clip of them doing Shake Rattle and Roll.  I doubt Lorrie understands the true meaning of the line 'I'm like a one eyed cat peepin' in a seafood store.'   As usual Larry tears it up.

Their records were hard to come by in their original state.  They were signed to Columbia.  I only have a CD compilation.

Aum

Every local music scene has a ton of bands.  When the majors swoop in and sign them, there are always a few left behind.  An example of this would be San Francisco Fillmore era band Aum

Aum  - Resurrection (Fillmore 1969)

A San Francisco band that barely toured outside Northern California.   They played the Fillmore/Avalon/Carousel circuit in San Francisco often.  Most likely because they were an easy phone call in the Bay Area when a slot needed to be filled.

Back in college I spoke with someone who frequented the Fillmore during it's heyday.  Their favorite band was Aum who - of course - I never heard of.   When I saw this in a used record emporium, I snapped it up.

It was issued on Fillmore records, a short lived company operated by Bill Graham to get a piece of the pie not already snapped up by the majors. 

Ivanka Wants Her Orange Back

An oddity picked up at the Burger Boogaloo.   

Didn't know anything about this, but it's fun to get anti-president records.  They're a piece of history.

Rolling Stones Records Company Sleeve

Back to 45 fun and company sleeves.  One of the goofiest belongs to The Rolling Stones.  When they launched their own record company, they needed something striking in the shops when they didn't have picture sleeves.  This is what we got!

It didn't last too long.   Releases soon came in generic Atlantic sleeves until (for some reason) it was revived for the Hang Fire sleeve in 1981.   The originals were on card stock and featured a tapered lower right corner.   In 1981 we got square paper.