Saturday, February 16, 2008

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: Billy ThunderKloud and the Chieftones




Billy ThunderKloud, aka Vincent Clifford, an Indian from British Columbia, had some success on the 1970s country scene (his "What Time Of Day" hit #92 on Billboard's Top Songs of 1975 chart), and this is one of (at least) three LPs from him. On this one he does typical lounge standards like "Proud Mary" and "Take Me Home, Country Roads," plus this pleasant take on "Beautiful Sunday."

Billy ThunderKloud and the Chieftones: Where Do I Begin to Tell a Story LP (Superior, S 2010, 1975)

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: Barney Armstrong's Machine



Barney Armstrong's Machine were a lounge band who sponsored hydroplane races in the Pacific Northwest when they weren't jamming their versions of "Shakey Ground" and "Disco Inferno."

Barney Armstrong's Machine: Live at Jordan's Alpine LP (Rockin N' Racin', RRR 2947-1, 1978?)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: The Bantams



You wouldn't know it from the clean-cut kids on the cover, but this record by the Bantams has some killer garage tunes, including this cover of "Susie-Q," complete with hellbent, pre-pube howls. Where are they now?

The Bantams: Beware LP (Warner Bros., W 1625, 1966)

Monday, February 11, 2008

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: American Whitewater



The immortal Century label was home to upwards of 80,000 (!) custom-pressed records, largely school band concerts, but including some stunning psychedelic and garage rock gems. Of course, Century pressed hundreds of lounge act LPs, including this live LP from the Concord, NH-based American Whitewater. Along with cocktail-era standards like "Proud Mary" and "Leroy Brown," they utterly decimate the Stones' "Brown Sugar" here.

American Whitewater: Live at the Red Blazer LP (Century, V-41977, 1973)

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Vintage Signage 53


Martha's Motel, Queensbury, NY.