Patty Duke - Don't Just Stand There

Patty Duke.  Talented actress.  Star on Broadway at a young age.  One of the youngest people to ever win an Academy Award.  Star of her own television series.  Role model for teenage girls.

Posing in a dress that looks like the ones my mom and my sister used to make from patterns.

As a star of stage screen and television, it only makes sense that she should be a recording star as well.  Someone at United Artists Records (which coincidentally was the studio behind her hit TV show) thought she could sing.  If she could, it's not evident on this record.  

This record has a hand written note on the front cover:

"Liz Gambon (Look at some of the songs  - even if you think I'm crazy)" 

OK. I'm not sure what this means.  The songs here consist of (among many others) 'Danke Schoen,' 'Say Something Funny,' 'The End of the World.'  I don't quite get it, but then again I'm not on the same wavelength as Liz and Patty.

Could Patty Duke be speaking to Liz Gambon in the same way the Beatles were speaking to Charles Manson?  

Could Liz Gambon have some sort of insight to Patty's later in life bout with bi-polar disorder?  Had we listened to Liz could we have gotten Patty the help she didn't seek until later in life?

Was Liz the only one who got the subliminal message from the TV show about Patty's sanity?  After all - she was schizophrenic with another personality in the form of a British 'cousin.'   

Was nobody alarmed that a hot dog made her lose control?

The mirror is often used as a cinematic symbol of a split personality

Patty did manage to further her career, succeeding her TV father as president of the Screen Actors Guild.  My favorite Patty Duke role is that of Neely O'Hara in 'Valley of the Dolls.'  Who can forget that hysterical fit in the rain screaming "Neely O'Hara" or the fight in the bathroom with Susan Hayward where she flushes a wig!

I don't remember where I bought this record. Most likely at a thrift store.

Velouria Records in Visalia

In the central part of California lies the Central Valley.  The Coast Ranges make up the western flank.  The eastern flank is made up of the Sierra Nevada.  It's one of the nation's most productive farmlands.  It's home to Bakersfield - birthplace of the Bakersfield sound in country music.  The state capital, Sacramento, is on the northern end.  Fresno, the 'raisin capital of the world' and the fifth largest city in California, is at its center.  Modesto, where American Graffiti takes place, is a typical example of a Central Valley small town.  The place is flat and hot.

This brings us to Visalia.  Located between Bakersfield and Fresno on State Route 99, it's a slightly larger than average town in the central valley.  It serves as the gateway to Sequioa/Kings Canyon National Parks.  The closest place to the park one can get a hotel room.  They have a  somewhat vibrant downtown with nice restaurants and a restored movie palace.   It's the last place you'd expect to find a record store.

About two years ago, we took a family trip to Sequoia/Kings Canyon.  Not wanting to spend the first day of our trip driving, we left Los Angeles in the afternoon with the plan of staying in Visalia overnight and taking the 40 minute drive up to the park in the morning.   While looking for a place for dinner, we ventured into the central business district.  We found a nice restaurant that could hold its own with any of the fancy-ass places in the big city (the name escapes me - but this isn't a restaurant blog - so forgive me.  I think it's name was a number).  While parking, we found ourselves in front of Velouria Records.   Unfortunately they were closing as we pulled up.

 I don't have a photo of the store - but I did get me a t-shirt

My wife, Winnie Margate, who fully understands my obsessions, suggested we delay our departure in the morning so I could crate dig.  Knowing that I would chomping at the bit until they opened, I let rational reasoning take the lead.  I thought it best that we stop on the way back.  The valley is so hot, I wondered how people ever got records safely from the store to their home.   So stop on the way back we did.

What I found was a revelation.  I wasn't expecting a used vinyl selection as deep and varied.  Stock rivaled the finest used record stores in the big city, without the picked over feel one normally finds in larger stores.  From what I gather, the store is owned by a woman who always wanted to own a record store.  She got her wish.  She appeared to be the only employee - or maybe the only one who was willing to work on Sunday.   Stock is nicely organized and staff knows where everything is and what they have.

Given their location, they do have a decent selection of country, but it doesn't predominate.  All genres are represented healthily.  My only regret was that I didn't have more time to spend going through the 45's.


I don't recall what I got there that day.  I think maybe Loretta Lynn's 'Fist City' album.  It was once owned by someone named 'Marg.'

I wonder if Marg liked this song because of the lyrics. 

If you don't wanna go to fist city
You better detour around my town
'Cause I'll grab you by the hair a the head
And I'll lift you of the ground.

Did Marg get in barfights with other women when she heard of her man 'cattin' around with a kitty?'

I digress.  This speculation of a record's previous life is the subject for future posts.  I actually like it when a used record has someone's name on it.  Even better when there's some sort of dedication.



If you ever find yourself in Visalia, be sure to visit Velouria.  Just remember to take your records out of the car when you stop for ice cream at Dewar's in Bakersfield.

Website:   Velouria Records

RIP Series - Johnny Winter

Since I just started this here blog recently, I'm going to periodically do some posts in tribute to some musical greats (and not so greats) who have departed in the last year or so.   I'll catch up at some point and be more timely.  Until then, I've unfortunately got a lot of catching up to do.  

I'm avoiding the well researched career tributes and appreciations.  I'll leave that the to paid professional scribes.  I'm sticking to my basic subject matter and blogging about the records.

Johnny Winter - Second Winter

Johnny Winter's second album is somewhat of an oddity.  It was released in 1969 in an era where the album was restricted to about 45 minutes.  (Long before the expanded 75 minute CD format became the norm and forced artists to produce what amounted to a double album each time out).  So the story goes that there was too much material for a single album and not quite enough for a double.  Normally there would be a few choices:

1.  Hold back some material for future releases.

2.  Release the remaining tracks as B-Sides.

3.  Flesh out the album with a live side as filler.

4.  Scrap the additional material entirely.
5.  Hastily throw together some covers or loose jams to flesh out the album (I'm looking at you Underture).

Well Johnny Winter chose another option.   He released a three sided record.  Two LP's on Columbia.  One record consists of side1 and side 2.   The other Side 3 and a blank side.

The blank side

I purchased this at Second Hand Tunes in Chicago.  Not sure if it was the Clark Street store or the one in Evanston.  I heard they're both closed now.

We're Having a Holiday in Hawaii

Well one of you is at least.

Don't mean to lift my leg on your beach blanket, little boy In a bikini, but....

Hawaii is rabies free.   As a result they have strict quarantine laws for pets.    At minimum it's five days.    Maximum is 120 days.   

So while you're frolicking on the beach and learning the hula, Lassie is in a dark, damp Hawaiian doggie prison.  Just passing the time scanning the countryside for nene and mongeese through the tiny window.    Only poi and water for nourishment.   Marking the days on the calendar with paw prints.   Rattling his doggie dish against the iron bars to get attention.   

Poochie may get one day to frolick on the beach with his wierd looking friend.  Next day it's back in the crate and into the cargo hold of an aircraft for six hours.   Who knows what kind of re-entry rules apply in the state they came from.  

This is probably why Fido doesn't look so happy in the picture.   After his stint in the big house, he was thrown into the water to make it seem like he was on vacation.   We all know you're not really on a family vacation unless somebody gets wet at some point.  

I think I picked this one up at a thrift store.   It once belonged to someone named Terpstra.  They must have been afraid of losing it at a luau.   

If the intent of this cover was to sell records, then they succeeded.   I shelled out a hard earned 50 cents for it.  

I Love 45's

I started with 45's.  Beatles, Monkees, Stones, one hit wonders.  This was the way of the world back then.  When the album became the medium of choice coupled with the rise of FM radio, 45's tended to be relegated to bubble gum or top 40 music.

I never lost my love of 45's and still actively seek them out.  For starters, if you can find one that wasn't over loved, they boast a thick meaty sound.  Most of them were mastered to sound good on less than hi-fi transistor radios.  Play that same record back on modern equipment and the effect can be stunning.

Finding an older one in good shape is not that easy.  This was before the era of balanced lightweight single play turntables.  45's were stacked on a spindle and played with tone arms made of heavy metals.   They slid and grinded against each other.  To top it off, the anti-skating mechanism was non existent, which caused unspeakable wear to the grooves as they approached the label.

In the USA, the 45 became a second class citizen.  Not so much in the UK.   The Beatles ( and individual members) and the Who put out standalone singles into the early 70's

Once the album took over, the 45 was relegated to presenting the potential hit single from the album.  Here's where some of the fun started for me.  Often times, the B-Side of the 45 was something that wasn't included on the album.  Part of this fun of having rarities was taked down a notch with the inclusion of 'bonus tracks' on CD reissues.  There are many that still remain uncompiled. 

The punk movement signaled new life for the 45.  Part of that rebellion was against corporate rock and overblown statements. The single proved to be a great outlet once again for two minute epics.

Below is a fairly recent b-side that remains uncompiled.   The only place to get this one is on a 45.

Rolling Stones - Cook Cook Blues.    B-Side of Rock and a Hard Place   1989

Much more 45 fun to come in the future

Jonah Jones - I Dig Chicks

The adoration of women is a standard topic in popular music.  It's a many splendored thing.  It makes the world go round. It's all you need. And so on.   Despite the slightly un PC title, there really isn't that much to be offended about on the surface.

Analysis of the cover image tells a slightly different story.   Although there is nothing wrong with the general pursuit of women,  I think there might be an issue with harvesting them using giant earthmoving equipment.   You be the judge.   

I used to gaze up at this record on the wall of Lovell's Records in Uptown Whittier, CA.  It was proudly displayed amongst other jaw dropping cover images meant to amuse.

Many years later I inherited my father in law's record collection.   This record, along with a few others by Jonah Jones, was included.  

This record went from amusing to awesome.   A great example of 'jump jazz'.    Very swingin'.   Very peppy.  Heck, this record even won a Grammy for best jazz instrumental.     

Goes to show you can't always judge a record by the cover.

Below is an alternate cover from the European Budget Line MFP release.  Jonah Jones may dig Chicks, but it appears the feeling is not mutual in Europe.  

this photo is not from my collection

Louie Louie

I believe this is my first record.   Probably purchased at Scotti's Records  in Summit, NJ.   The store is still there.  Check their website.  I haven't been there since the late 60's.  I have no idea what they're like now, but please support them because of all the joy they brought me as a child.   I bought 'More of the Monkees' there.  The first record I got day of release.

Louie Louie  record was controversial at the time because some thought the lyrics were obscene.   It's just that the pudgy blonde frat boy in the band couldn't quite master the Jamaican dialect.   One needs only to reference the original by Richard Berry or hear versions by The Kinks or Paul Revere and the Raiders to be set straight.  If you'd like to hear an actual obscene version, take a listen to any one of the live recordings of the song by Iggy Pop.

Th Kingsmen had one one other hit.  Jolly Green Giant.  Have no idea where they are now.  Perhaps they're playing frat reunion parties.

Website:  Scottie's Records