Get The Lowdown

"We Don't Just Let Anybody Cum In Our Bust"

Baltimore honors late rocker Frank Zappa with bust

From the land of Da Boss

BALTIMORE – Rocker Frank Zappa was born in Baltimore but gained greater popular acclaim in Europe than in the United States. On Sunday, devout European fans of the late musician brought his mustachioed likeness back home in the form of a bronze bust.

Several hundred fans gathered on a sweltering afternoon as city officials dedicated the bust of the ponytailed rocker outside an east Baltimore library. The bust is a replica of another in a public square in Vilnius, Lithuania, and was donated to the city by Zappa enthusiasts in the small Baltic nation.

"The spirit of Frank Zappa is alive and well in Baltimore," Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.

The mayor joined Zappa's widow, Gail, and three of his grown children in watching as a curtain was drawn back to reveal the bust set atop a 12-foot steel pole. Later, Zappa's son, Dweezil, took the stage with his tribute band, Zappa Plays Zappa.

Zappa was known for everything from novelty rock songs to elaborate classical compositions. He died of prostate cancer in 1993 at 52.

Sunday's ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of Zappa's testimony before Congress on freedom of expression for recording artists, though the scheduling was coincidental. Zappa had testified against proposed warning labels about lyrical content, calling them a path to censorshiop.

Libraries were a vital resource for Zappa, who had no formal music education, Gail Zappa told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

Zappa would have appreciated the bizarre way he came to be honored in his birthplace, his widow said. Zappa's songs were known for their quirky, humorous lyrics: One of his biggest hits was "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow." Yet his music was also a favorite of the avant-garde.

"He'd be wildly amused by this, because of the absurdity of these guys in Lithuania coming up with this phenomenal sculptor who normally does busts of Stalin," Gail Zappa said.

Zappa's daughter, Diva, choked up while addressing a throng that chanted Zappa's name.

"Thank you so much for just loving my dad," she said.

Also at the ceremony were the mayor of Vilnius and Saulius Paukstys, the longtime president of a Lithuanian Zappa fan club who commissioned the original statue.

He has described the effort to erect the bust in Vilnius in the early 1990s as a test of the former Soviet republic's fledgling independence. The Baltimore dedication, he said, was a great day "for art, the human mind and democracy."

Helen Urban, 61, of Silver Spring, was among the Zappa fans in the crowd and saw the original bust during a trip to Lithuania last year. The replica is in a better location, Urban said.

"They have it sitting in the parking lot of a hospital," she said. "It's ugly as sin, but it's cool."

Gail Zappa, on the other hand, finds it beautiful.

"The guy was inspired," she said of sculptor Konstantinas Bogdanas. "It's more than a likeness. It captured the force of his personality and his will in terms of being an artist."

Remember, It Never Hurts To Help

Today, September 9th was the birthday of one of the nicest people I have ever met on the internet or anywhere else for that matter. A true friend of the blogger community, surf music addicts, and guitar fanciers, my friend Randy, or as most of you know him Eek! the Cat, lost his long battle with illness on July 10th. I only found this out last week by a friend who had checked in to Randy's Facebook page and saw the notice. I'm still a little stunned over this. Strange, you might say, for someone who had never met the man in person but Randy had a way of really touching you with his open and kind manner. I know he had the same impact on many others out there as he always tried to keep upbeat no matter how bad he felt. I visited his Facebook page myself last week and saw how much he meant to his wife, daughters, brothers and friends. I know I will always feel the loss.

He was a remarkable man, my friend Randy.

"I'm Going To Disneyland!"

A Musical History of Disneyland

2005

Review by Rob Theakston
While the Disney name is more commonly known for its animation, theme parks and countless other attributes, it has produced more than its fair share of popular culture anthems for the past century via its movies, animated shorts and TV specials. And though the marriage of music with the other projects is symbiotic, Disney's soundtracks have always been able to stand alone and remain instantly recognizable to anyone who has grown up with exposure to the Disney brand, a testament to the musicians, songwriters and arrangers that quietly stood in the background for decades while making timeless music. So with nearly a half century behind it, Disney's first theme park, Disneyland, was due for an anthology capturing the essence of visiting the park without actually being there. Collected over six discs, there are field recordings, rare radio excerpts, and soundtracks to the major attractions. To describe it as overwhelming would be a gross understatement, even for the most dyed-in-the-wool Disney fanatic. Divided up by Lands (for those who have yet to visit the park, it is divided into several themes, each with its own atmosphere, which are glued together by a section of the park known as Main Street USA), each disc features musical nuances so minute and in the background of the whole experience, it's easy to take their brilliance for granted. This box set not only rectifies that problem, it helps to bring a greater appreciation to the level of musical detail Disney invested into the theme park. It also unearths long-lost audio excerpts from such events as Walt Disney's dedication on opening day to the big band sounds of Disney's big band. During the '50s, Disney catered to adults during the evening by featuring a band that would play all sorts of music and provide the ideal atmosphere for a date, including carriage rides and fireworks (a precursor to the Pleasure Island aspect Disney would introduce decades later). Virtually every sound imaginable is crammed into this box set, and for this alone it's well worth the price for Disney collectors. As a bonus, there's also a lavish hard-bound book, The Sounds of Disneyland, featuring rare photos, conceptual drawings and in-depth essays. The price may seem steep for such a collection, especially for casual listeners. But for diehards, it's simply essential and one of the finest collections of Disney music ever assembled.





1 Walt Disney's Dedication of Disneyland :41
2 All Aboard - Main Street Station :30
3 Minnie's Yoo Hoo! Disney, Stalling :41
4 Meet Me Down on Main Street Adair, Wallace 1:52
5 Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln 11:54
6 Disney Medley: March of the Toys/Whistle While You Work/Zip-A-Dee- ... Bruns, Churchill, Gilbert ... 4:06
7 Alexander's Ragtime Band 2:36
8 Let's Dance at Disneyland Ludlum, MacDonald 2:12
9 Tiki Room Barker Bird :46
10 The Enchanted Tiki Room Garden Show 3:58
11 Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room: The Tiki Tiki Tiki ... Damerell, Evans, Free ... 17:36
12 Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye Williams 3:25
13 Swisskapolka Baker, Jackman 1:54
14 Tarzan Medley Collins 2:38
15 The Mark Twain: Waiting for the Robert E. Lee/Crusin' Down the River 3:50
16 Pirates of the Caribbean: Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me) Atencio, Bruns 16:07
17 Feed the Birds Sherman, Sherman 3:04
18 Love Is a Song Churchill, Morey 1:10
19 Sounds of the Frontierland Station :45
20 Happy Rag Bruns 3:51
21 The Haunted Mansion: Grim Grinning Ghosts Atencio, Baker 13:52
22 Rufus :18
23 Bearless Love 2:03
24 Country Bear Jamboree: Pianjo/Bear Band Serenade/Fractured Folk Song Atencio, Bruns, Burns, Davis ... 15:33
25 All I Want Darby 2:14
26 Splash Mountain: How Do You Do/Ev'rybody Has a Laughing ... Gilbert, MacGimsbey, Wolcott ... 12:11
27 Country Bear Vacation Hoedown: The Great Outdoors/Life's No Picnic ... Boudleaux, Brown, Bryant, Love ... 16:46
28 The Rain, Rain, Rain Came Down, Down, Down Sherman, Sherman 1:45
29 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Winnie the Pooh/A Rather ... Sherman, Sherman 4:56
30 Battle Cry of Freedom Root 1:18
31 A Cowboy Needs a Horse Howard, Mills 1:29
32 Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland and the Rainbow Caverns 8:18
33 All Aboard the Mine Train Sherman, Sherman 1:44
34 The Golden Horseshoe Revue: Hello Everybody/A Lady Has to Mind Her PS ... Adair, Caligan, Donohue ... 31:33
35 The Columbia Sailing Ship 3:19
36 When You Wish Upon a Star Harline, Washington 3:12
37 Once Upon a Dream Fain, Lawrence 2:19
38 Fantasyland Dark Ride Suite: Little Wooden Head/Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee ... Cahn, Churc, Fain, Harline ... 17:54
39 Matterhorn Yodelers 2:18
40 It's a Small World Sherman, Sherman 13:42
41 The Sound of Toons :35
42 Steamboat Willie Bertram 2:08
43 Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin 2:26
44 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea Medley: Main Title/Whale of a Tale Gimbel, Hoffman, Smith 2:23
45 America the Beautiful Bates, Ward 17:51
46 The Monorail Song 1:53
47 Adventure Thru Inner Space Baker, Smith 7:31
48 Miracles from Molecules Sherman, Sherman 1:36
49 Star Tours Williams 4:06
50 The Carousel of Progress: There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow Sherman, Sherman 19:28
51 Progressland: There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow Sherman, Sherman 5:47
52 Nation on Wheels Bruns 1:56
53 Flight to the Moon 13:02
54 America Sings: Yankee Doodle/I Dream of Jeannie with the Light ... Bertino, Brooks, Brown, Davis ... 21:33
55 The Submarine Voyage Thru Liquid Space 9:10
56 Space Mountain Richard 3:48
57 Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Newman 6:13
58 Space Mountain Giacchino 1:26
59 Remember Dreams Come True: Wishes Fanfare and Theme/When You Wish Upon Churchill, David, Harline ... 17:10
60 Closing: Mickey Mouse Alma Mater Dodd 1:14
61 The Country Bear Christmas Special: Rudolph the Red-Nosed ... Anderson, Feiten, Hayes ... 16:11
62 It's a Small World Holiday: Jingle Bells/It's a Small World/Deck ... Sherman, Sherman 15:07
63 Haunted Mansion Holiday /Graveyard Finale/Hitchh ... [Premiere Edition/Graveyard Finale/Hitchh] Atencio, Baker, Davison ... 16:40
64 The Main Street Electrical Parade: Electric Fanfare/Fanfare of ... David, Dorsey, Fain, Hilliard ... 9:13
65 Fantasmic!: Main Themes, Pts. 1-2/Kaa and the Monkeys ... Harline, Healey, Menke

Had some bad .rar files I found out so these are all spankin' new.

Get CDs 1 thru 6 

HERE 

HERE

HERE

HERE

HERE

HERE

If you already d/l any of the old links try rb-16 as the password. Thanks A & B

Sorry for the mess.

T

  

It's A Gas

Fifty Foot Combo

Jennifer Jennings EP

2003

@ a loaded 320 w/ 3% Recovery

Fifty Foot Combo never took the easy way out. Without much media-attention and in a times where there seemed to be no room left for straight forward rock'n'roll, they mainly relied on bringing their music live and straight to their audience. Their live-reputation is one in a million,and their loyal fan base keeps on growing every day! In attendance of their new full studio album due April 2004, the uncrowned "kings of Monstrophonic sound' are releasing a brand new EP, named " Jennifer Jennings", a swinging and instrumental version of the legendary Louis Neefs track on which they push their barriers even further; using female backing vocals and a sitar! Powerfull but swinging. It's definitely on of their finest moments... Also included are 2 live tracks, "theme from f.a.c.t.s" and a neckbreakin' version of LIO-classic "Banana Split."

Tracklist

1. Jennifer Jennings
2. Theme From F.A.C.T.S.
3. Banana Split

Get it HERE

Hot Sheet Hotel

The Gasolines

Tanger Hotel

2003

The Gasolines are on the road for over 15 years. According to legend, Alexandre Kanashiro, the band's guitarist, had an epiphanic moment in a show of Guitar Wolf in 1993 in the U.S. and decided to assemble a band to play Link Wray.

Back in Brazil, rode the Gasolines. What began with influences of Link Wray was increasing its range of influences and have been incorporated Latin rhythms, melodies movies Bang Bang, Latin Jazz and, of course, always with a footprint Surf.

There are already four CDs and a demo released. The first demo, "Wild and Primitive" is a rarity and unfortunately not be offered. The first demo CD, "Sonido de la Frontera," already shows that the band came with the first appearance of the version of Tico Tico no Cornmeal and reissues from Link Wray and Ennio Morricone, plus his own compositions. The second CD, "La Shereefa," brings more reinterpretations of movie themes and more influences from Latin music. The third CD, "Tanger Hotel," was first released by Allied Cheap, and brings some songs already present in the previous demo. The fourth and latest CD, "Pure Veneta," already has an even wider set of influences, from music by Italian, Latin, Dub, and a mandatory version of the band's primary influence, Link Wray.

The band, which today includes Alexandre Kanashiro on guitar, drums Fabio Barbosa, Julian Campbell on bass and Richard on guitar Granata percussion, has performed throughout Brazil and in various festivals (including first Campeonato Mineiro de Surf , Sons of summer night) and was winner of the first GDP, which occurred in 2007. With this, the band became godmother night Aquatic PiB 2009, which took place on July 9 in CB Bar in Sao Paulo.

In August, the band released one more contract and play every Friday of the month in Astronete with a different repertoire each week. Start with Link Wray and end only with classic Surf Music, going for a night and an Exotic Jungle Jazz. Almost a deconstruction of his main influences and references. You may see the details of each night on our agenda next door while listening to their albums.

Tracklist

 Beachnik Road
 Havana Café
 El Moroco
 Cosa fai
 Winchester
 Pic Nic Panic
 Hava Nagila
 Krakatoa
 Mattar
 A Shot in the Dark
 Pintor
 Cine Triada
 

Light it up and get it HERE

Elvis Is Everywhere

Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper

Bo-Day-Shus!!!

1987

Review by Kieran McCarthy

When Mojo Nixon and his partner in silliness, Skip Roper, released Bo-Day-Shus!!! in 1987, it opened a Pandora's Box of attention for the charismatic funnyman. The song "Elvis Is Everywhere" found itself on television and radio programs all over the United States. As did its author, who became a part-time VJ on MTV on the heels of its success. Not every joke Mojo Nixon lets fly on Bo-Day-Shus! is a knee-slapper, but one cannot deny his persistence. If you don't like the first quip, he might catch you on the second one, or the tenth. And if you never laugh, well, he'll keep going anyway. That's what he does. "Elvis Is Everywhere plays out as you'd expect: Nixon rants about how Elvis constructed the Great Pyramids of Giza and claims that he can see the King in everyone around him, while Roper backs him up with a pre-Beatles bluesy riff. The Story of One Chord is no less self-explanatory: He sings of a time when prehistoric man had only one chord to play on their primitive two-string guitars. In "I Ain't Gonna Piss in No Jar," Nixon threatens to personally deliver his marijuana-contaminated urine to the first lady herself, Nancy Reagan. None of the songs are brilliant, but every track is worth at least a couple of chuckles.

  1 Elvis Is Everywhere 
  2 We Gotta Have More Soul! 
  3 I Ain't Gonna Piss in No Jar 
  4 The Polka Polka  
  5 I'm Gonna Dig up Howling Wolf 
  6 The Story of One Chord 
  7 Gin Guzzlin' Frenzy 
  8 B.B.Q. U.S.A. 
  9 Positively Bodies Parking Lot 
  10 Wash No Dishes No More 
  11 Lincoln Logs  
  12 Wide Open 
  13 Don't Want No Foo-Foo Haircut on My Head

Ya kin git ya sum rot HER

Where Did The Summer Go?

The Vista IV

KillerWaves

2006

@ a killer 320  w/ 3% Recovery

2000-2001 - SOME EARLY HISTORY OF THE VISTA IV:
The earliest lineup of the Vista IV was short lived at about 9 months but managed to travel out of state & record several lo-tech surf songs & get plenty of radio play in that short time. The Vista Four started as a twin guitar instrumental surf band by Skater j in Las Vegas, NV. Skater was performing as a backup player for Jim Masoners "The Lively Ones" (heard on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack) when he met Benny Hammond. Dressed in a black trenchcoat, black high-water pants, and standing alone back among the crowd, Mr. Hammond approached Skater j and introduced himself as a surf guitarist just up from Phoenix. Always on the lookout for surf musicians, Skater j asked Mr. Hammond for a tape of his surfage. Material from Benny and The Goons, his old band from Phoenix Arizona was available so the tape was slipped to Skater. The two guitarists set about rehearsing for the new band and by the spring of 2000 Little Donny (bass), Mr. Hammond (rhythm guitar), Tonya Jaynes (drums), and Skater j (lead guitar) had become known as The Vista Four and were performing in the old section of downtown Las Vegas. Eventually Mr.Hammond and Tonya both moved to California for other projects.


2002-2007 - Not long after their departure The Vista Four was joined by Liz N and Gary Levin. No longer a two guitar band they soon became the original and powerful surf & spy band they are today. Thanks to the interaction of Skater j on guitar and Liz N on organ & Rhodes, along with the heavy backing of Little Donny on bass and Gary Levin on drums, "The Vista Four sound" has made them in demand for playing First Friday's in the downtown Las Vegas area.

The Vista Four members are Little Donny, Liz N, Skater j, and Gary Levin. They have been busy recording, playing the hits, & arranging surf & spy instro music for years for very enthusiastic audiences.

Tracklist

1.   Tsunami Mommie

2.   The Ballad of Nansy Lou

3.   Mystical Abyss

4.   Malibu Longboard

5.   Summer

6.   Ocean West

7.   Agent X

8.   The Man In The Grey Suit (The Shark)

9.   Rip Tide

10.  Barracuda Baby

11.  Go Go Youbari  On The Tokyo Beach

You can snatch it HERE

Link Wray - Hotel Loneliness

Whys On Second

Of course Who's on first.

The Whys Live at The Purple Orchid

For those of you who have checked out the video of this show at the exotic Purple Orchid in BEAUTIFUL El Segundo, here is the tunage to plug into your mobile dee-vise and listen to it as LOUD as you want it. With a shimmy and a shake these darlin's (and one brave dude) will set your ears to smokin with some great Japaneezee surf sounds. Don't let them catch your grass skirt on fire.

Sorry, no tracklist for this one. Just got my computer working again and have too much catching up to do. You can rough it.

You can get it HERE