16 Bars

Tanya Winley - Vicious Rap (1980) (buy)



Intelligent Hoodlum - Grand Groove (Bonus Mix) (1990) (buy)



2Pac - When I Get Free (OG Unreleased) (1997) (buy)

Heads up to people in LA, tonite is the premier of Girls on the Wall. Directed by Heather Ross, the documentary follows a group of girls in prison who (taking straight from the film's site) get a shot at redemption in a most unlikely form: a musical based on their lives.

As part of the opening night proceedings, doings and goings on I'll be up on the roof spinning a set of tunes focused on musics made by and / or about people in various stages of the incarceration process, so come one come all. Until then check out some of the more hip hop centric hits I've been digging through in getting ready for the show.

Zillionaire

'

Bootsy's Rubber Band - Roto Rooter (1978) (buy)



Bootsy's Rubber Band - What's The Name Of This Town? (1978) (buy)

I think the fact that I'm even beginning to want to listen to this music means that summer is upon us.

Raising AZ

Marty Mitchell Band - Damned If You Do (1981)



Tempest - Modern Love (1981)

Browsing ye olde Pasadena City College Flea Market a couple weeks back I was more than a little surprised to come across a compilation titled Arizona Sounds Volume 5, released in the early 80's by a radio station under the call letters KDKB. I know those don't mean anything to anybody who grew up outside of the Sonoran Desert, but as a native Arizonan I know that KDKB rocks Arizona and swiped it up. All we ever get credit for is the Gin Blossoms so I wanted to see what the local talent was doing thirty years ago.

Turns out that it was a lot of bar rock and country, but as the first track demonstrates some of it could be catchy as a cholla cactus. I'm not sure what to make of the second track other than guess by then a couple copies of Autobahn had made their way out to Phoenix.

Anyway Suns are in the playoffs, which always reminds me of this. Beat the Blazers.

Not sure if this record is out of print or what, but if anybody can find a place online to buy it that'd be swell.

On The Up

Utopia - Fahrenheit (1982) (buy)



Utopia - Junk Rock (Million Monkeys) (1982) (buy)

Have you really thought about Utopia? In the early 80's Todd Rundgren and company certainly were. Suffice to say both of these tracks sound like the beginning of a night full of good decision making. Cheers.

Thee Party

Godley & Creme - The Party (1982) (buy)

Godley & Creme - Joey's Camel (buy)

Quick post today of a couple space oddities from Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, who wrote and released music together after they split from 10cc. From what I can gather if 10cc had been At The Drive-In, this would have been the Mars Volta half, but give these a try and see for yourself.

L.A. Fireworks

Battery Farley - Memories of You (1987) (buy)



Battery Farley - Blue Mermaids (1987) (buy)



Battery Farley - Things We Said Today (1987) (buy)

Ugly, ugly stuff today brought to you by Battery Farley. The first three tracks are from their 1987 album Dress For Obscurity, while the details are scant on the one below. Synthy, snotty, grimy in ways that were only acceptable in the 80's. Enjoy.





Battery Farley - Bagman On Sunset (198?) (buy)

Pure Pleasure

The Dynamic Superiors - Soon (1975) (buy)



The Dynamic Superiors - Release Me (1975) (buy)



The Dynamic Superiors - Don't Send Nobody Else (1975) (buy)



The Dynamic Superiors - Don't Send Nobody Else (Jung Hollywood Edit)

Been meaning to get these up for a while now - today I've got a few tracks from the Ashford & Simpson produced self titled debut album from The Dynamic Superiors. The Superiors, whose live act was anchored in openly gay lead singer Tony Washington's campy theatrics, were together for over ten years before they scored a record deal, but I think the results speak for themselves.

I wanted a version of 'Don't Send Nobody Else' with only the build ups for mixing, and so the edit I posted is a simple cut and paste job mainly of just the verses. Use it dynamically and superiorly.

Beware The Eyes of The Beholder

Santa Esmeralda - The Wages of Sin (part 1) (1978) (buy)



Santa Esmeralda - Danse de la Beaute (part 2) (1978) (buy)

Maxing out on ghoulishness this Tuesday evening, these couple of tracks find a group of 70's French disco producers getting their French touch all over sounds ranging from flamenco, horror scores, cop show tv themes and everything in between. Aside from the Edgar Allen Poe heartbeats check out the squashed cymbals on the second track.

Apologies that these get chopped off a little early - the first side of the record essentially runs together as one long disco suite and I was just trying to dole out a little taste. The full side is available to those interested in further sinning.

Dora The Explora

Dora Hall - How Are Things In California? (19??) (buy)



Dora Hall - Dear John (19??) (buy)

'Dora Hall is the greatest! - When I listen to her, my cup overfloweth!' - B. Reimenschneider, Georgia

Somedays I just can't say it better myself. Whether from Georgia the state or Georgia the state, B's quote comes to you live and direct via Dora's World, where you can immerse yourself in the life and times of the woman who reigned as the Queen of Vanity Entertainment long before her or her.

Long story short, Hall's husband Leo Hulseman founded Solo Cups. Hulseman had zero qualms about forking over the money to finance his wife's recording career, and packaging the results along with his cups and plates. Red plastic cups and music bundled together. Sounds like a party to me.