Deep Into The Funnel Of Love

Wanda Jackson - Funnel Of Love
Wanda Jackson - Funnel Of Love 33rpm

Today's selection has become one of Wanda Jackson's best known and most highly revered songs. Written by Charlie McCoy, Funnel Of Love was released in 1961 as a b-side. It's not shy about being mysterious, with spooky background vocals, a syncopated beat and Roy Clark's twangy-to-the-point-of-trippy guitar licks. All that, combined with Jackson's vocal inflections and lyrics about falling, make for a dreamy, almost Sci-Fi, overall sound. Make no bones about it though, this is an utterly brilliant tune.

As a bonus, I've also included a recording of this 45 played at 33rpm. I read about this phenomenon on the WFMU blog and the result is incredible. I even played it at this speed during one of my DJ nights a few months ago. It makes me want to try this technique out on all my singles, but for some reason I don't think many of them would sound so good.

I'm Your Witchdoctor

John Mayall - I'm Your Witchdoctor

I thought it would be fitting to post a Halloweeny type tune this week so I was flicking through my records looking for something appropriate when I happened upon today's offering. John Mayall is sometimes referred to as the father -- sometimes the godfather -- of British blues. It's well noted that members of his group, the Bluesbreakers, included, at various points, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Taylor. I'm Your Witchdoctor was first released in 1965. It was produced by Jimmy Page and features the sounds of Mayall, Clapton, McVie and drummer Hughie Flint.

An ol' partner in crime of mine, Blind Benny, found me this particular piece of scratchy vinyl in a charity shop somewhere in East Acton. I think he paid £4 for it, which is a proper score. Incidentally, Mayall's son, Gaz, runs a rockin' Rhythm & Blues night in central London that Ben and I used to cut a rug at from time to time.

Bongo On

Preston Epps - Bongo Rock

Preston Epps, with the help of Los Angeles radio DJ, Art Laboe, cracked the US charts by climbing to #14 with Bongo Rock back in 1959. However, the follow up record, Bongo Bongo Bongo, only bothered the charts slightly, peaking at #78 the following year. Unfortunately, his subsequent releases -- Bongo in the Congo, Bongo Rocket, Bootlace Bongo, Bongo Boogie, Flamenco Bongo, Mr. Bongo, and Bongo Shuffle -- didn't quite capture the public's attention the same way. Still, in 1973, a cover version of Bongo Rock by The Incredible Bongo Band again nudged the charts, reaching #57. And, just because I know you can never get enough bongo, I'll tell you that the flip side to this record is a tune called Bongo Party and that Epps' three albums, released in successive years from 1960, were Bongo Bongo Bongo, Bongolia and Surfin' Bongo.

A country boy named Gootchy B. Goode

Gootch Jackson - Johnny B. Goode

Based in Cincinatti, Gateway Top Tune was one of those budget labels that rerecorded and released popular songs of the moment. That's exactly what they did in 1958 when Gootch Jackson stepped into the studio with Herbie Laybe's orchestra to lay down a version of Johnny B. Goode. 1958, the very same year that the monumental original was let loose on an unsuspecting world. Now, I can't tell you anything about Jackson except that he doesn't come close to matching Chuck Berry's brilliance -- but seriously, who does? However, the addition of horns on today's selection makes for an interesting enough arrangement. When a song is as utterly perfect as this one, there's plenty of room for alternative interpretations, even if they're not that alternative.

Holy vintage vinyl, Batman!

Ronnie Kole Trio - Batman Theme

Well, I think this record must have been release in 1966 since Neal Hefti's Batman Theme was the most recorded song of that year. I'm not 100% sure because, inexplicably, there doesn't seem to be a discography for Cosimo Matassa’s White Cliffs label online. Ronnie Kole is an ex-Chicagoan, a pianist, singer and bandleader who lives in New Orleans and has done for many years. According to his website he's performed for Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton. I wonder whether he played them this.

Bird Dance

The Trashmen - Bird Dance Beat
The Trashmen - A-Bone

Whether you are aware of it or not, I think almost everyone must know The Trashmen already -- they're the group from Minneapolis that had a mega-hit on their hands in 1963 when they combined two songs by doo woppers The Rivingtons into the immortal party tune, Surfin' Bird. Today's post features their follow up single from 1964, Bird Dance Beat, which follows familiar lines with Dal Winslow's -- acerbic? antagonistic? punk? -- vocals enticing one and all to do the bird dance to the bird dance beat. Also included is the flip side, A-Bone, which is about a car race in which the protagonist is behind the wheel of a suped-up Model A Ford. Dancing the bird to The Trashmen on a warm Friday night was just one of the highlights of my recent trip to New Orleans.

Boppin' With Mr. Lee

Lee Allen And His Band - Boppin' At The Hop

Tenor saxophonist Lee Allen, along with Alvin Tyler on baritone sax, co-led the Cosimo Matassa studio band which produced many a 1950's New Orleans hit from artists including Little Richard, Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew. However, the only hit recording Allen made under his own name was Walkin' With Mr. Lee. Today's selection is the b-side to the 1958 follow up single, creatively titled, Strolling With Mr. Lee. In 1962 the inevitable happened and Twistin' With Mr. Lee was released. Unfortunately I don't have that one yet so Boppin' At The Hop it is.

Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger

Bo Diddley - Gun Slinger

After 1960, when this single was released, there was little doubt in the minds of the faithful that Bo Diddley was, in fact, a gunslinger. This single was the opening track on the album Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger, also released in 1960. The lyrics are simple and to the point, the rhythm is undeniable. Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger.

Where The Action Is

Paul Revere And The Raiders - Louie, Louie
Paul Revere And The Raiders - Night Train

Today I bring you one of the great early versions of the iconic, if not definitive, garage rock fave, Louie Louie. Paul Revere and the Raiders recorded their version in the same Portland studio as The Kingsmen; in the same month too, April of 1963. Which group cut it first doesn't really matter since, on the Pacific Northwest rock'n'roll scene, Louie Louie had been a popular cover choice for a couple of years already. What matters is that the Paul Revere and the Raiders version is more rough'n'ready and starts with a superb sax intro. Incidentally, my all-time favourite version is by Don and The Goodtimes but unfortunately I don't think it was ever released as a single. On the flip we get Night Train, which is about as good a b-side as you could ask for -- rockin' sax-driven instrumental bliss.

On his arm he wore

Chico Holiday - Blue Tattoo

Alright, I'm back, and here's the first of the wares I'm sporting. Chico Holiday, born Ralph Vergolino, was a teen star of the 1950s who turned to gospel later in life. Blue Tattoo is from 1962 and, well, there's not a lot to tell about this tune except that it's all about sailor tatts which gives it considerable hipster cache theseadays.