Tomb of Vinyl Horrors: Boyd McCoy

Boyd McCoy was a Rochester, NY performer whose records have gained some notoriety in the funk collecting world due to some hard-hitting 45s and LP tracks. Here we present the killer/corny title track from one of his LPs, "Locomotive Woman."

Boyd McCoy: Locomotive Woman LP (Funky, FR 2002, 1974)

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

Feel free to pass around...

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.

Vintage Signage 48

Admiral Dry Cleaning, Watervliet , NY.

Fanny Hill Festival

Raleigh's great Center Drive-in screened this Fanny Hill triple-feature in July, 1971. THE YOUNG, EROTIC FANNY HILL (1971) was a strange Joe Sarno film featuring Tallie Cochrane in the lead role; available on VHS and DVD-R from Something Weird. FANNY HILL MEETS THE RED BARON (1968) is a lost Barry Mahon film. THE NOTORIOUS DAUGHTER OF FANNY HILL (1966) was from producer Dave Friedman, and featured Stacey Walker and William Rotsler, and cinematography by the late, great László Kovács.

This will be the last ad for a while (but rest assured they'll be back later; I have thousands). Look for more surprises soon, I have some cool stuff planned.

THE YOUNG GRADUATES / SWINGING SUMMER

The New Forest Drive-in screened this double-feature in July, 1971. THE YOUNG GRADUATES (1971) was a Crown release starring Patricia Wymer; was released on VHS by Academy, but no DVD release. A SWINGIN' SUMMER (1965) was a beach party musical with Lori Williams, William Wellman Jr., and Raquel Welch; no official release, but available on the grey market.

WANDA (THE SADISTIC HYPNOTIST) / THE SKIN GAME

The Wak-Art screened this adult double-feature in January, 1969. WANDA (THE SADISTIC HYPNOTIST) (1969) was a weird sexploiter from Greg Corarito, featuring Lynn Harris and director Richard Compton. Not sure what the THE SKIN GAME is; anyone have any clues?

THE VELVET TRAP / THE FICKLE FINGER OF FATE

Here's an amazing ad for a double-feature at the Center Drive-in, from February, 1968. THE VELVET TRAP (1966) was a Craddock Film release directed by Ken Kennedy; no known video release. THE FICKLE FINGER OF FATE (1967) was an obscure Spanish/US comedy directed by Richard Rush and starring Tab Hunter; it had a video release on the Burbank label, but no DVD.

YOURS, MINE AND OURS, etc.

The Tri-City Twin screened these triple-features back in July, 1968. YOURS, MINE AND OURS (1968) was the Lucille Ball/Henry Fonda family comedy. FITZWILLEY (1967) was a romantic comedy with Dick Van Dyke and Barbara Feldon; no DVD release. DUEL AT DIABLO (1966) was a western with James Garner and Sidney Poitier. THE GRADUATE (1967) must have made record money as it was playing for a couple years after its release. THE GAME IS OVER (1966) was a French/Italian Roger Vadim film starring Jane Fonda, aka La Curée. LUV (1967) was a comedy starring Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk; no DVD release.

YOURS, MINE AND OURS

YOURS, MINE AND OURS (1968), directed by Melville Shavelson, played the Branche in May, 1968.

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE / THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

This big, manly double-feature played the Riverview Drive-in back in July, 1968. YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967) was the fifth of the Connery Bonds. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (1966) was Leone's Eli Wallach tour de force.

January Desktop Calendar

Here's a desktop calendar I designed; feel free to use and forward to friends. I'll be doing one for every month this year.

WINNING, etc.

The Tri-City Twin screened this diverse pair of triple-features in January, 1970. WINNING (1969) was a Paul Newman race car flick. THE LOST MAN (1969) was an updated remake of ODD MAN OUT with Sidney Poiter; no DVD yet. EYE OF THE CAT (1969) was a Universal horror film written by Joseph Stefano; no home video release. THE UNDEFEATED (1969) was a John Wayne/Rock Hudson western. 100 RIFLES (1969) was a 20th Century Fox western featuring Raquel Welch and Jim Brown. FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH was the US title for QUATERMASS AND THE PIT (1967), the Hammer science fiction classic.

WILD IN THE STREETS, etc.

Here are a couple of ads for the caustic counterculture satire WILD IN THE STREETS (1968), both from July, 1968. The Super 50 paired it logically with its trippy AIP peer PSYCH-OUT (1968), while Proctor's teamed it with THE COBRA, AIP's release of the Italian/Spanish spy thriller Il Cobra (1967); no official video release known, but it is available on the gray market.

Western Aires

The Western Aires played Schenectady's Maxwell House Restaurant (now an Eckerd Drugs) in February, 1962.

THE VAMPIRE LOVERS / THE CRIMSON CULT

Proctor's screened this British horror double-feature in January, 1971. THE VAMPIRE LOVERS (1970) was a Hammer lesbian vampire tale with Ingrid Pitt. THE CRIMSON CULT was AIP's release of the Lovecraftian Tigon production CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR (1968); no R1 DVD yet.

VENUS / COOL IT BABY

This double-feature played the Cinema Art in June, 1968. Not sure what VENUS this could be; any suggestions? COOL IT, BABY (1967) was a sleazy Lou Campa sexploiter with writer Bhob Stewart (!).

UNWED MOTHER

Here's a November, 1961 ad for the Allied Artists release UNWED MOTHER (1958), playing the Turnpike Drive-in.

TWO GIRLS FOR A MADMAN / JUDITH

The Center Drive-in screened this weird double-feature back in January, 1969. TWO GIRLS FOR A MADMAN (1968) was a Distribpix release starring Arlene Farber. JUDITH (1966) was an Israeli/UK/US drama starring Sophia Loren; no home video release.

THE TWELVE CHAIRS

Mel Brooks' THE TWELVE CHAIRS (1970) played the Cinema Delaware in January, 1971.