Let's give it to 'em, right now!

Rockin Robin Roberts - Louie Louie
Rockin Robin Roberts - Maryann

This version of Louie Louie has real historical significance, in a musical sense. In 1961, it was the first revival of Richard Berry's obscure R&B b-side. A full two years before The Kingsmen, with The Wailers backing him, Rockin Robin Roberts spurred Louie Louie on to become immortal classic that it is today. This record was the first release on Tacoma's legendary Etiquette record label; I posted the second release, Mashi, back in June. Although nowhere near as symbolic a recording, Maryann, on the flip, is still a positively exciting listen. It's a cover of Ray Charles' 1956 R&B No.1, Mary Ann, but lost the gap somewhere along the way.

Oh, what can it mean?

The Monkees - Daydream Believer
The Monkees - Daydream Believer 33rpm

The third in this series of singles slowed down a notch was suggested to me through email. It's the only way that one Diddy Wah visitor listens to this tune. I suspect it's soon to be the only way that many Diddy Wah visitors listen to this tune. Just as with Gloria and Funnel Of Love, Daydream Believer transforms into a new song when revolving thirty three and a third times per minute. As if by magic, this pop ballad, that we've all heard a countless number of times, suddenly carries a whole lot more weight. It does make me wonder though, how common the practice of speeding up the tempo of a recording is. Unfortunately, the vinyl I've ripped these mp3s from is a tad crackly, which is especially noticeable when the needle is dragging through the groove with less vigour than the label prescribes. But, have a listen and you'll understand why I couldn't wait to score a clean copy before sharing this.

I was born in a crossfire hurricane

Johnny And The Hurricanes - Crossfire

Led by the tenor sax playing Johnny Paris, Johnny and the Hurricanes were the one of the quintessential rockin' instrumental bands. Today I'm posting their debut hit single from 1959, Crossfire, recorded in a cinema for extra echo. It was first released on Twirl records and then later on Warwick, both out of Detroit. During the early sixties, the group performed a number of times at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany. On occasion they were supported by the Beatles, which, without taking absolutely anything away from their own scorching rock'n'roll successes, is a pretty decent claim to fame.

Mashi

A few weeks back, Gav from Get Involved asked me to contribute to his Shing-A-Ling series of podcasts. Being a big fan, I could hardly refuse. Regular visitors to Diddy Wah will have noticed that I've been buying lots of West Coast 60s surf instrumentals recently. With the podcast in mind, I figured it would be swell to bring them together in a mix. The result is Mashi, which I'm hoping will pipe a little sunshine into your day.

I've also done some tinkering with the site layout, including a new Mashi-inspired header. I trust this looks nice and neat in your browser, do let me know otherwise.

Sign up to the Shing-A-Ling thing through RSS feed or iTunes.

mp3: Mashi

The Wailers - Mashi
Paul Revere and The Raiders - Night Train
The Rebel Rousers - Peter Gunn Twist
The Intrigues - The Belly Dancer
Preston Epps - Bongo Rock
The Gamblers - Moon Dawg!
Billy Strange - Hava Tequila
The Rondels - Back Beat No.1
Sandy Nelson - Let There Be Drums
The Rumblers - Boss
Jimmy Gordon - Buzzzzzz
Gary Webb - Drum City Pt.1
The Gee Cees - Buzz Saw Twist
The Hollywood Persuaders - Drums-A-Go-Go
The Nomads - Desert Tramp

Strange Rumbles

The Strangers - The Caterpillar Crawl
The Rumblers - Boss

Would a version excursion by any other name sound as sweet? In 1959, The Strangers' sinister instrumental, Caterpillar Crawl, was the first record released on California's Titan label, capturing nationwide attention. Then, in 1963, The Rumblers had a chart hit with a tougher interpretation of the same, out-and-out dangerous sounding, surf tune. Around twenty years later, The Cramps, a band with exquisite taste, would also borrow those riffs for one of their early singles, Garbageman.

Crawfish, Crawfi-i-i-ish

The Stone Crushers - Crawfish
The Stone Crushers - Tadpole Wiggle

After chasing this 45 for some time, I'm tickled pink to have finally caught it. It goes something like this: In 1958, Elvis Presley starred in the movie King Creole, set in New Orleans. In it, in duet with Kitty White, he sings an ode to the humble Crawfish – which is a lot steamier than it sounds. Musician and songwriter Jesse Stone, who wrote such hits as Shake, Rattle & Roll and Money Honey – both of which Elvis recorded – must've played some part in The King's version of Crawfish. I suspect he was the arranger or band leader or both. Under the name The Stone Crushers, Stone released another version. What stands out about his own arrangement, and what made me need it so, is that it's much, much rhythmically heavier. Although there's some backing vocals, it's basically an instrumental. A sleazy saxophone takes on the lead role and the tune doesn't lose any heat whatsoever. The record's label indicates that The Stone Crushers' recording is also featured in King Creole. I have it, but my DVD player's broken, so if anyone can verify that point, I'm sure we will all rest slightly easier.

Can't go on like this

The Seeds - Can't Seem To Make You Mine

Sky Saxon's off-key vocals on this stalkerish-love song are entrancing, as are the sunshine filled guitar licks and keyboard solo. Originally released in 1965, The Seeds' first single, Can't Seem To Make You Mine, has been covered by Alex Chilton, The Ramones and Garbage. Recently, it was used in an advertisement for a deodorant that is popular among teenage boys (the scent of Africa is recalled with mixed emotions from when yours truly stumbled through that demographic). Saxon had the unfortunate circumstance last year, to pass away on exactly the same day as Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. Where were you when you found out Sky Saxon died?

She makes me feel alright

Them - Gloria
Them - Gloria 33rpm

Following on from Wanda Jackson's Funnel Of Love -- posted, the other week, at the original 45rpm and also at 33rpm -- here is Them's Gloria given the same treatment (props to Jonas for suggesting this). There's not a lot I can add to what has already been said about the pure rock'n'roll brilliance of Gloria -- released in 1964 as the b-side to, the equally incredible, Baby Please Don't Go. Slowing the record down to 33rpm makes Van Morrison sound a hell of a lot older than the teenager he was when it was recorded. He actually sounds a bit deranged. The music stands up nicely though. How many more of these ambidextrous tunes are out there?

Soulin' with Sir Stan

Sir Stan - Soulin'

I was about to type that I couldn't tell you anything about this artist or this record, but with just a teeny bit more googling I discovered that Sir Stan is Stanley Griggs, who was born in Oklahoma and raised in Kansas City before moving to Los Angeles. He sings, plays bass guitar and on this recording his band was called The Counts. Released around 1964 on the Magnum label, Soulin' is another killer instrumental. Off the measure in terms of groove, it just blissfully bounces along. But I must confess to using it as a ringtone, which means that it's become a bit weird for me to hear it in other contexts.

Drum City

Gary Webb - Drum City Pt.1
Gary Webb - Drum City Pt.2

I was turned on to the frenetic, marching, surf sound of Drum City through the excellent compilation, Lost Treasures - Rarities From the Vaults of Del-Fi. Some years later I managed to track down a vinyl copy; it was actually put out on the Donna label, a Del-Fi subsidiary. Gary 'Spider' Webb was a drummer who played with the Hollywood Argyles as well as with the cross-dressing entertainer, Troy Walker. It has also been whispered that, in fact, he was the man behind the distinctive drum solo on The Surfaris huge smash, Wipeout.

So, Webb was a session drummer in Hollywood in the early 1960s, but I can't find any indication of what he did after that. Half a century later, for me as a DJ, Drum City (both parts) is a dream find -- neverfail dancefloor dynamite. I play it all the time and I'm not only one; the cool kids really go wild for it. If Webb is still around, I doubt he knows this and if he found out, I wonder what he would make of a room full of young East Londoners cutting shapes to the one record he released way back when.

Call 'em out, Ride 'em in

Link Wray And The Wraymen - Raw-Hide

From 1959, and following on from a rumbling debut, Raw-Hide was Link Wray's second single. It started off as a b-side but became the hit-side by reaching #23 on the Billboard charts. Although a completely different song to the Frankie Laine sung theme to the television series Rawhide, it was released just three days after the first episode first aired -- now, even the firmest believer in coincidences would have to be a bit skeptical about that. Anyway, what's unquestionable is that today's pick is a solid tune featuring the tough guitar sound of a true rock'n'roll pioneer, Link Wray.