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)

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?)

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)

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)

Vintage Signage 53

Martha's Motel, Queensbury, NY.

Upstate New York Notables: Don Arioli

Don Arioli (1936-2005), writer/director/actor/animator, born in Rochester, Monroe County.

Upstate New York Notables: Terry Anderson

Terry Anderson (1947-), political hostage/journalist/professor, raised in Batavia, Genesee County.

Upstate New York Notables: Florenz Ames

Florenz Ames (1889-?), actor, born in Rochester, Monroe County.

Upstate New York Notables: Jeff Altman

Jeff Altman (1951-), actor, born in Syracuse, Onondaga County.

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: Forecast

I enjoy checking out booking sampler LPs; though they're usually loaded with dopey, wannabe-rock star AOR barband crap, the occasional rough gem can be picked out, like "Shot in the Dark" from Forecast, a loose, dirty basement rock outfit. This LP, complete with galactic record holder on the cover, was a QCA pressing from a Syracuse agency. I remember hearing radio ads for shows featuring some of the other acts on this record, like 805 and Alecstar. The liner notes say of Forecast, "the audience is chauffeured through time...the Who's Tommy...a salute to Hendrix...the Doors come to life...modern classics...showmanship and presence."

v/a: The Album, the Acts, the Agency LP (DMR, 107094X, 1981)

February Desktop Calendar

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Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: Alan Caddy and Bob Faloon

Alan Caddy, founding member of the Tornados who passed away in 2000, produced dozens of now sound/exploitation LPs chock full of a mix of rock and orchestral covers of hit songs of the day, mainly through the Canada-based Avenue of America label, for which he was house arranger and producer. Don't know who Bob Faloon was. Here's a gruff and loose cover of "Honky Tonk Woman" from their album of Stones covers.

Alan Caddy and Bob Faloon: Do Songs Made Famous by the Rolling Stones LP (Canada: Avenue of America, AVE-4304, 1972?)

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: Affinity

The lounge band Affinity, in between rousing renditions of "New York, New York" and "I'll Never Love This Way Again" throw in a curve ball with their Scientology ballad "I'm a Thetan." They're still active in Arizona; here's their site.

Affinity: Live! LP (Aces, 810717, 1981)

Upstate New York Notables: Kim Alexis

Kim Alexis (1960-), model, born in Lockport, Niagara County.

Upstate New York Notables: Scott Adams

Scott Adams (1957-), cartoonist: Dilbert, born in Windham, Greene County.

Vintage Signage 52

Hoffman's Playland, Latham, NY.

Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: A.J. Marshall

Welcome to a new musical feature here at Chateau Vulgaria. The Tomb of Vinyl Horrors will feature weird records, with an emphasis on strange covers and unusual sounds, with special attention paid to local, privately-pressed records of a highly personal and eccentric nature. A single song sample will be included with each selection, for 30 days (I'm thinking).

First up is a guy with a pretty froggy voice, A.J. Marshall. Seems like he was an old-time crooner dude who MGM assigned the task of interpreting "now" hits like "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Little Green Apples." Here's his take on Blood Sweat & Tears' "You've Made Me So Very Happy"; A.J., take it away...

A.J. Marshall: There's a Lot of Lovin' in This Old Boy Yet LP (MGM, SE-4648, 1969)

Vintage Signage 51

Snow Man ice cream, in the Lansingburgh section of Troy, NY.

Vintage Signage 50

Lou Simon's Wine and Liquor, Latham, NY. Was recently forced to close by the nearby Albany Airport after 43 years.

Vintage Signage 49

Body King, Latham, NY.