Commodore Crush Blog | Music | Art | Weirdness

Water Jelly Crystals Pool Party

2010-08-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

This pool was disgusting.

Frank Zappa's Unreleased Lumpy Gravy Cover Shoot & Studio Session Photos - Part 5

2010-08-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

Part 5: Frank Zappa conducting.

Click on the image below to see the hi-res zoomable version.

More Pigeon Propaganda From Rik Martino

2010-08-22T16:59:00.001-07:00

Cotton Jones at The Echo

2010-08-17T23:23:00.000-07:00

Cotton Jones: Short & Sweet

Zelda & The Unibrows Presents "Unreason"

2010-08-12T23:54:00.000-07:00

Short from Zelda & The Unibrows' Joe Krause and Paul Szewczyk. If you're not doing anything on this Friday the 13th, you can see this during the Flyday the 13th Drive-In Movie in Detroit at Northend Studios/Sparklewood Parking Lot.

Check out Zelda & The Unibrows' site for more zaniness.

Frank Zappa's Unreleased Lumpy Gravy Cover Shoot & Studio Session Photos - Part 4

2010-08-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

Part 4:

Click on the image below to see the hi-res zoomable version.

Frank Zappa's Unreleased Lumpy Gravy Cover Shoot & Studio Session Photos - Part 3

2010-07-24T23:31:00.000-07:00

Click on the image below to see the hi-res zoomable version.

Frank Zappa's Unreleased Lumpy Gravy Cover Shoot & Studio Session Photos - Part 2

2010-07-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Here you can see some more detail of the Capitol Records studio (see mic) and another great t-shirt that Zappa is wearing. Really ahead of his time in both music and fashion. He pretty much puts any LA hipster to shame.

Click on the image below to see the hi-res zoomable version.

Frank Zappa's Unreleased Lumpy Gravy Cover Shoot & Studio Session Photos - Part 1

2010-07-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

Well, it's about time I share these photos with everyone. I luckily found these at a yard sale in San Diego a few years ago. I bought about 10 different Frank Zappa photos, 8 of which were the original photographer's proofs that still had red crayon circled approvals on several of the shots in the roll. I scanned them in at 600dpi (if I remember correctly) so you could still get an amazing closeup of each frame. Original cost was about 5 bucks and then bills needed to be paid and sold on eBay for $900... I think.

I believe these studio shots may be from around the time Lumpy Gravy was released. If you look closely, you can see he's wearing the Pipco shirt underneath his cardigan. I'll put put a new hi-res photo up every day for the next 8 days ending with the alternate versions of the Lumpy Gravy cover. As far as I know, these have never been released. Enjoy!

Click on the image below to see the hi-res zoomable version.

Best Idea Ever & Lovebot Smash!

2010-06-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

My buddy Wally Jaczkowski has a new site up and soon to be released album on the label 7173 with his band Best Idea Ever. The album is titled Listen To This, and if you're in the Detroit area on June 19th, you can hear them play their songs at The Corktown Tavern with This Is This and the 3 Chord Lords for the record release show.

In the meantime, check out this link to download some free songs and after that, check out his site, Lovebot Smash! He writes:

"For those of you who don't know, it's a blog geared towards chronicling the art, poetry, music, and general beauty that is coming out of what most of the world considers a dying city."

That city is Detroit.

Jack Kevorkian Lunch Time Banter

2010-05-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

While eating lunch in a nearly empty restaurant on my vacation in Downtown Detroit, I secretly snapped this photo of Jack Kevorkian (in the hat and plaid shirt). I think he's an amazing person for standing up for something he believed in knowing that the outcome would be years in jail. Not to mention his paintings are amazing too. My fiance and I were at this restaurant for a food tasting/consultation for our wedding. I think it'll be great to tell our guests that Dr. Death frequents the establishment where their dinner just came from.

When asked by another person at the table about how he deals with introductions at gatherings and parties he said, "If it's someone I don't want to speak with, I simply say, 'She's not as ugly as you said she was' ".

Well played sir.

US Courts Website Steals Stock Images

2010-05-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how long this will be up on their site, but here's the original banner image on the U.S. Courts website:

Notice anything weird about the Photoshopped image to the right? You'd think that a government law site would know better than to steal stock images and to leave the watermark on it. It's not even that hard to shop those lines. Here's the original link while it still works: http://www.uscourts.gov/RulesAndPolicies.aspx

Solar Winds

2010-04-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

Are New eBay Store Fees Made For Imbeciles?

2010-03-03T20:02:00.000-08:00

I just may have to close my eBay store for good after this moronic change to their fees.

I have a basic store subscription with 700+ auctions running every month.

If I sell no items that month, with the current fees it costs me roughly $15.95 + $21.00 = $36.95. (based on average .03 cent listings)

With the new fees it will cost me roughly $15.95 + $140 = $155.95 per month!

And that's not even including the closing fees or my regular auction fees!

Tell me how this will benefit sellers again?

Here's my live chat I just had with them:

6:56:56 PM AgentChristine Br.
Hello!

6:57:00 PM Customercommodorecrush
Hello!

6:57:06 PM AgentChristine Br.
My name is Christine. How may I help you tonight?

6:57:14 PM Customercommodorecrush
I have a question about the new fees.

6:57:24 PM AgentChristine Br.
Absolutely!

6:57:32 PM Customercommodorecrush
Everything I read is really vague about already having a store.

6:57:49 PM Customercommodorecrush
Right now, I pay 3 cents per listing

6:58:04 PM Customercommodorecrush
I have a basic store btw.

6:58:34 PM Customercommodorecrush
So on March 30th, are all of my store items that will be listed in the future cost 10 cents each?

6:59:26 PM AgentChristine Br.
It is a little complicated...

6:59:39 PM Customercommodorecrush
yes.

6:59:40 PM Customercommodorecrush
i know

6:59:42 PM Customercommodorecrush
hahahah

6:59:50 PM Customercommodorecrush
it always is with ebay

7:00:11 PM AgentChristine Br.
Most sellers are happy with the changes, but let me break it down.

7:00:26 PM AgentChristine Br.
We are no longer going to have store inventory.

7:00:57 PM AgentChristine Br.
Store inventory was wasting a lot of money for our sellers...even though it is cheap.. it doesn't have the same visibility.

7:01:12 PM AgentChristine Br.
We are only going to have auction and fixed price.

7:01:27 PM AgentChristine Br.
Store inventory only had a 9% turn around.

7:01:47 PM AgentChristine Br.
That means that most sellers were wasting their money -- items only sold about 9%of the time.

7:02:07 PM AgentChristine Br.
Whereas with Fixed Price and auction...it is closer to a 50% turn around.

7:02:22 PM AgentChristine Br.
Am I going too quickly?

7:02:32 PM AgentChristine Br.
Let me know if you have questions.

7:02:37 PM Customercommodorecrush
not yet

7:03:02 PM AgentChristine Br.
Perfect.

7:03:20 PM Customercommodorecrush
Is there more?

7:03:32 PM AgentChristine Br.
There is.

7:03:47 PM AgentChristine Br.
So all store inventory will automatically go to Fixed Price on April 1st.

7:04:02 PM AgentChristine Br.
You get the reduced price fee for having a store.

7:04:17 PM AgentChristine Br.
Fixed price is going to $.50 if you are not a store owner.

7:04:32 PM AgentChristine Br.
So with a basic store, you get it for $.20.

7:04:43 PM Customercommodorecrush
!!!!

7:04:46 PM AgentChristine Br.
$.30 less than a non-store holder.

7:04:53 PM AgentChristine Br.
Yes!

7:05:00 PM Customercommodorecrush
and .17 cents more than before!

7:05:16 PM AgentChristine Br.
But no one sees your store items.

7:05:17 PM Customercommodorecrush
=(

7:05:28 PM Customercommodorecrush
i sell items every day from my store!

7:05:50 PM AgentChristine Br.
That is good -- but with all of them at Fixed Price you may get tons more sales.

7:05:59 PM Customercommodorecrush
so if everyone has fixed price, it's not really going to make a difference is it?

7:06:18 PM Customercommodorecrush
the ebay market will just be over saturated

7:06:26 PM Customercommodorecrush
this is a real bummer.

7:06:50 PM AgentChristine Br.
It will be a shopping frenzy that day.

7:06:59 PM Customercommodorecrush
i was paying $15.95 a month for my store... now I'll have to pay $15.95

7:07:03 PM AgentChristine Br.
I am really sorry that you feel that way!

7:07:05 PM Customercommodorecrush
+ .20 per listing!

7:07:25 PM Customercommodorecrush
well, you're HOPING it will be a shopping frenzy

7:07:33 PM AgentChristine Br.
How many items do you keep in your store a month?

7:07:39 PM Customercommodorecrush
700+

7:07:54 PM AgentChristine Br.
You will probably benefit more with Premium.

7:08:09 PM AgentChristine Br.
No bear with me. I never want people to pay more than they need to...

7:08:16 PM Customercommodorecrush
well... yeah, now it will.... but i wasn't paying $50 a month

7:08:21 PM AgentChristine Br.
But with a premium store, you only pay $.05 a listing.

7:08:23 PM Customercommodorecrush
i was paying 15.95!

7:08:47 PM Customercommodorecrush
and that's still .2 cents more per listing than before!

7:08:58 PM Customercommodorecrush
this is totally bogus.

7:09:15 PM AgentChristine Br.
Remember the visibility though.

7:09:30 PM AgentChristine Br.
Also you get free Selling Manager Pro -- which can save you hours.

7:09:49 PM Customercommodorecrush
most of my items were visible before because they're specialty and one of a kind items

7:09:56 PM AgentChristine Br.
What kind of turnover do you get -- how many sales do you get every month from your store?

7:10:02 PM Customercommodorecrush
this is really going to make me close my store and move to etsy

7:10:39 PM Customercommodorecrush
it's slowed lately because i have a job and am not listing full time, but before it was like $2500 a month

7:10:54 PM AgentChristine Br.
I am sorry to hear that! I hope not!

7:11:01 PM AgentChristine Br.
How many items is that roughly?

7:11:18 PM Customercommodorecrush
but not listing auctions and just letting my store run lately by itself i was selling several items per day

7:12:26 PM AgentChristine Br.
So let's say that you sell five items a day. That is 150 items a month.

7:12:48 PM Customercommodorecrush
okay

7:12:52 PM AgentChristine Br.
You have a 21% turn over.

7:13:02 PM AgentChristine Br.
That is better than most store holders.

7:13:33 PM Customercommodorecrush
they should just make it an option whether or not we want it in fixed or store

7:13:40 PM AgentChristine Br.
However, you could potentially sell 50%.

7:13:46 PM Customercommodorecrush
that'd be the easiest way to do it.

7:13:52 PM Customercommodorecrush
a check box:

7:13:56 PM Customercommodorecrush
store

7:13:58 PM Customercommodorecrush
fixed

7:14:01 PM AgentChristine Br.
Believe it or not, we did it because store owners are wasting so much money.

7:14:01 PM Customercommodorecrush
end of story

7:14:07 PM Customercommodorecrush
hahahahah...

7:14:09 PM Customercommodorecrush
i doubt it

7:14:19 PM Customercommodorecrush
no offense

7:14:27 PM AgentChristine Br.
I spoke to a lady who had a 2% turnover just last week.

7:14:28 PM Customercommodorecrush
i know you don't come up with the rules

7:14:42 PM Customercommodorecrush
yes

7:14:53 PM AgentChristine Br.
We did this on eBay Australia two years ago.

7:14:58 PM AgentChristine Br.
It has been a big success.

7:16:17 PM Customercommodorecrush
well, i hope you're right, but right now I'm not buying it. so... you're telling me right now, that if I keep my current store...I'll have to pay $15.95 + roughly $140 per month in listing these fixed price items right? Not to mention, the cost of the regular auctions that I run + closing fees?!

7:16:59 PM AgentChristine Br.
Yes.

7:17:45 PM Customercommodorecrush
bummer

7:18:00 PM Customercommodorecrush
That's a lot more than I pay right now.

7:19:04 PM AgentChristine Br.
Remember the visibility though.

7:19:24 PM AgentChristine Br.
So if it means more sales, then isn't it worth it -- wouldn't you be willing to pay more?

7:19:46 PM Customercommodorecrush
You can not guarantee it will mean more sales.

7:19:59 PM AgentChristine Br.
No I can't.

7:20:13 PM AgentChristine Br.
But I see sellers that have items in their stores for years.

7:20:14 PM Customercommodorecrush
Unless you're talking about more sales for eBay?

7:20:17 PM Customercommodorecrush
;)

7:21:03 PM AgentChristine Br.
Isn't every company out to make money? They wouldn't be around if they weren't.

7:21:04 PM Customercommodorecrush
I've had items in my store for years too, but that probably means that people don't really want to buy that item.

7:21:17 PM AgentChristine Br.
But we are successful when you are successful.

7:21:47 PM Customercommodorecrush
Whether it's a crappy item running in an auction or a store, if it's a terrible item, it's a terrible item.

7:21:47 PM AgentChristine Br.
But why would you spend the money to have it then? Isn't it sitting around your house taking up space?

7:22:38 PM Customercommodorecrush
I don't mind that. And you know how much money it cost me to run that store item for a year? .36 cents.

7:23:16 PM AgentChristine Br.
But people see that stuff and they may question the quality of your other items.

7:23:22 PM Customercommodorecrush
Now, the item that didn't sell for a year before, will cost me $2.40

7:23:36 PM AgentChristine Br.
I know that this is a huge change.

7:23:46 PM AgentChristine Br.
I would not list that -- I would donate it!

7:24:46 PM Customercommodorecrush
You'd be surprised. It will sit there for awhile and then someone buys it though. It was cheaper for me to let it sit in the store for year and then sell it for $20 than it would
cost me for gas to go the Goodwill.

7:25:10 PM AgentChristine Br.
Don't you have curbside pick-up for charity in your area?

7:25:18 PM Customercommodorecrush
UGGGGGHHHH!

7:25:18 PM AgentChristine Br.
I must be lucky.

7:25:25 PM Customercommodorecrush
This is not the point.

7:25:30 PM AgentChristine Br.
We have someone come around every month.

7:25:35 PM Customercommodorecrush
You're getting off on tangent

7:25:38 PM AgentChristine Br.
Sorry -- did I hit a nerve?

7:25:51 PM Customercommodorecrush
Are you serious?

7:26:06 PM AgentChristine Br.
I honestly don't get why people list things that don't sell -- that is all.

7:26:16 PM AgentChristine Br.
I don't meant to go off on a tangent.

7:26:25 PM AgentChristine Br.
Some things sell. Most store inventory doesn't.

7:26:41 PM AgentChristine Br.
I am sorry if you don't like these changes.

7:27:28 PM Customercommodorecrush
Thanks for your help

7:27:44 PM Customercommodorecrush
but you seem to be getting ruder as this conversation goes on

7:27:48 PM AgentChristine Br.
I think you will be surprised.

History of The World Part II

2010-02-25T23:44:00.000-08:00

I can not wait for this to come out.

I hope Mel Brooks plays Muammar Gaddafi. Was there ever a better doppelganger? Especially at his age now. Or maybe Muammar is playing Le Garçon de Pisse! I imagine it like this:

Reading My Employee Handbook

2010-02-20T01:58:00.000-08:00

880 Lactation Accommodation

Effective Date: 12/1/2009

(enter office name here) will provide a reasonable amount of break time to accommodate an employee desiring to express breast milk for the employee's infant child. The break time, if possible, must run concurrently with rest and meal periods already provided to the employee. If the break time cannot run concurrently with rest and meal periods already provided to the employee, the break time will be unpaid.

(enter office name here) will make reasonable efforts to provide employees with the use of a room or location other than a toilet stall for the employee to express milk in private. This location may be the employee's private office, if applicable. (enter office name here) may not be able to provide additional break time if doing so would seriously disrupt (enter office name here)'s operations.

Please speak to Mr. (enter founder's name here) if you have questions regarding this policy.

School House Rock - Three Is a Magic Number w/out Blind Melon

2010-02-05T00:04:00.000-08:00

It just sounds better coming from Bob Dorough on vinyl. Oh, and Even though Shannon Hoon is dead, it doesn't mean we should have to indulge in the band's mediocrity.

Download the original from the scratchy vinyl recording HERE.

Poisoning Pigeons in Silver Lake

2010-01-30T20:07:00.000-08:00

Please call Rik if you've seen Tom poisoning any pigeons near Griffith Park. I hear he's not fond of squirrels either. Here's the video proof:

Suicidal Tendencies Pizza Party in Cleveland

2010-01-25T22:43:00.000-08:00

So, it's not like a regular pizza party, because I'd think there'd be a lot of hair in da pizza pie at this Suicidal Tendencies signing. I'm not real sure how I got this, but I think it's the only copy of it... ever. It was somewhere serving my 10 year term at everyone's favorite record store in Roseville (um, besides Record Time).

Anyway, I'll be posting more weird videos soon.

The signing is from a Cleveland parking lot. I especially love the guy at 4:15.

A Social History of The Grateful Dead With Neal Cassady

2010-01-03T22:12:00.000-08:00

Hank Harrison allegedly used to give his daughter, Courtney Love LSD as a child. That explains a lot. What do you expect from the manager of the pre-Grateful Dead era band The Warlocks?

Most importantly he authored this book with a Neal Cassady "rap" with background instrumentation by The Grateful Dead. I never understood the fascination with the Dead, as much as I do with Neal Cassady.

It comes on a double-sided 7" clear flexi record and is about 10 minutes long. I currently have it up for auction.

This version appears to be signed by Hank Harrison himself too. Listen to the Neal Cassady Rap HERE.

Hollywood Acting Lessons

2009-12-26T23:14:00.001-08:00

This was taped up and posted by the magazine racks in the grocery store across the street from my house.

Times are tough everywhere, I guess.

Keggers of Yore

2009-12-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

I could look at old photos of drunk people for days. And now, so can you. My dad (in the fancy cut-off flannel) was featured on the site one day in October. Make sure to check out the rest of the Keggers of Yore site.

Circuit Bent Casio MT-640

2009-12-09T22:54:00.000-08:00

Circuit bent Casio keyboard by Commodore Crush featuring two noise toggle switches, one "Freak Out" momentary push-button, one pitch knob potentiometer, eight input patchbay, and one reset switch on the back. I painted the speaker grills orange. The MIDI capabilities are pretty awesome when hooked up to a computer.

Download:

Circuit Bent Casio MT-640 Part 1

Circuit Bent Casio MT-640 Part 2

Man Incorporated

2009-11-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite Detroit bands isn't really a band at all. It's Matthew McGuire from his anti-conglomerate/pro-beer solo effort, Man Incorporated.

Tired of your office job? Well Man Inc. has the soundtrack for your dismal 9 to 5 life of filing, typing and hiding in the bathroom to help make it feel like a half day. From his Facebook page:

"While citing irreconcilable differences for an almost two year absence from the stage, Man Incorporated has set aside his issues-The sheer desire to rock as diplomacy-and is reuniting with new set of pissed fueled songs. Repressed... Pressurized... It won't be so much a performance as an explosion."

Most people in the Detroit area already know who he is, but here's a great video from Anthony Garth for the rest of you.

Man Incorporated is performing at Small's in Hamtramck, Nov. 28, 2009 for the Church of the Sub-Genius Devival. Tickets are only $5.00 at the door-21 and over. Man takes the stage at around 11pm for a short set including five new songs.

Satan's Plan, Purpose & Progress

2009-11-11T15:44:00.000-08:00

I picked up this excellent/hilarious double LP from the thrift store yesterday. It features Bill McKee preaching on Satanism and his exploits with "converted" Satanic priests. I made a little montage, if you will. The first third is some funny splicing while the rest is really just him ripping on The Rolling Stones for being Satanists.

The whole album is pretty mediocre but the gatefold sleeve cover is priceless. It amazes me how much (church) money they put into the production of something like this. His photo could easily be moved around to real estate agent bus bench or yearbook superintendent.

Click here to play.

Mariachi El Bronx at La Cita

2009-10-14T02:12:00.000-07:00

Awesomeness ensued.

Selling My Small E.T. Collection

2009-10-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

Elliot.... Well, I'm finally selling my small E.T. collection on eBay. My favorite has got to be the Coors poster though with E.T. depicted as a bartender. Can you imagine if they used this kind of publicity stunt with today's kids' movies? Woody from Toy Story selling cigarettes like the Marlboro Man? Wall-E in a Captain Morgan advert? I guess Spielberg put the kibosh on that and set the standard when he digitally removed all of the guns from E.T. and replaced them with walkie-talkies.

Venice

2009-10-05T00:30:00.001-07:00

Burgess Meredith Narrates Garfield

2009-10-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, not exactly Garfield, but Lorenzo Music. The original guy that did the voice for Garfield.

This weird CD was found while doing some thrifting and features Burgess Meredith (Batman's Penguin and Rocky's Mickey) narrating a short story with Lorenzo Music. This was just a promotional release from Network Sound Effects showcasing their sound effect library, but is really strange.

What's weird too, is that I always thought as a kid, that Garfield was voiced by Bill Murray. Turns out, that when The Real Ghostbusters cartoon was still on, Lorenzo voiced Peter Venkman on the show who was Murray's character in the live Ghostbusters movie. When Murray heard Lorenzo's version of Venkman on the cartoon, he complained that the character sounded too much like Garfield. Lorenzo was then replaced with Dave Coulier. Later, after Lorenzo's death in 2001, Garfield The Movie came out, and guess who stepped in to do the voice that orange cat?

Listen to the tracks.

Buy this Burgess Merideth and Lorenzo Music CD..

(10/2/09 Update: Went to see Zombieland last night. In the movie they ask him if he had any regrets. Bill Murray answers, "Garfield".)

A.ttraction F.ailure D.isorder

2009-09-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

New song all played with a circuit bent Casio that I made. I made a quick video using some old footage of The Amino Acids playing at the The Old Miami in Detroit. Wrote, recorded, and filmed in a couple hours. Sorry for the pixelated shots. I'm editing on Windows for Christ-sake and my CPU sucks!

Circuit Bent Casiotone MT-240

2009-09-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

Finally something new I bent. Casiotone MT-240. This was one of the most fun bending projects that I've accomplished yet... probably because it completely works how I planned it to and it didn't blow up in the process. I love playing with the patchbay too! You can get it on eBay now by clicking ~~HERE~~ SOLD! and make sure to check out the video below.

Solid Dudes Kitchen

2009-07-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

Solid Dudes Kitchen is Detroit dudes filming dudes making dude food. Check out the trailer and check out their site soliddudeskitchen.com.

Big Black Box

2009-06-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

Starring Jeremy Altier (The Ded Dave Show, The Amino Acids)

I Am Raisin Bran

2009-06-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

Be prepared!

Circuit Bent Casio SK-5

2009-04-30T11:36:00.001-07:00

This was my first bend. Not that great, but there's still some cool glitches.

The Collector

2009-04-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

My newest painting. A study in mass marketing, mass produced "art" and hype. This is for the show Art Is Recession Proof on May 9th at the Santa Monica Art Studios, Arena 1. Check out Deliciously Uncivilized for more information.

The Collector (4'x3') Acrylic on Canvas

This is a short time lapsed progression video I made of my newest painting. Buddha Machine supplies music.

DIY Panasonic Panapet MP3 Mod

2009-03-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

I modded this vintage Panasonic Panapet transistor radio from the 70's with a stereo in jack.

When you get bored of listening to the AM band of weather & traffic on the 8's or Rush Limbaugh's loud mouth, just plug in your stereo mp3 player and listen to it turn into a glorious mono delight!

This was fairly easy to do and you need only basic soldering skills. Let me know if you need help making one yourself!

~~It's up on eBay right now. Click HERE to check it out.~~
SOLD!

Circuit Bent Casio PT-180

2009-03-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

New bent Casio made by me. Pretty simple stuff really. Three switches, one reset button and I added a 1/4 inch output jack to plug into an amp or any other effects. ~~Up on eBay now... bid HERE.~~ SOLD!

DIY Stormtrooper Hanging Swag Lamp

2009-02-26T23:31:00.000-08:00

I made this cool Stormtrooper helmet that I got at the thrift store into a hanging swag light. It looks pretty damn good in a dark room, if I do say so myself. ~~It's currently up on eBay HERE.~~ SOLD!

The York Brothers - Hamtramck Woman

2009-01-26T22:30:00.000-08:00

This amazing compilation released on Detroit's Fortune Records features a song that probably only Michigan natives would recognize, let alone would be able to pronounce. It's a song from The York Brothers called Hamtramck Woman. Say it with me, ham-'tra-mik. Hamtramck's population was, at one time 90% Polish, so the song probably could have been called Polish Woman. But I guess Hamtramck has a better ring to it.

Found at a neighborhood thrift store here in LA, the cover is graced by a dame with tattoos, hence the name of the title track The Tattooed Lady by Skeets McDonald.... and don't forget about the ELEVEN OTHER SIZZLERS!

Fortune Records started in the mid 40's in Detroit and recorded many R&B, country, jazz and rockabilly artists like Andre Williams, Nolan Strong & The Diablos, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Bucket and more. Most of the risque tunes on this are dirty, gritty sounding rockabilly/country gems that are way out of print and sound like they were recorded using two cans and some twine. If you ever find this you better pick it up! If not for the songs, then at least for the cover art.

Listen: Hamtramck Woman

Barack Obama Velvet Painting

2008-09-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

My newest painting on stretched velvet with acrylic of Barack Obama.

Measures 18.5" x 22.25" in a ready to hang gold frame.

~~Click HERE to check it out with more detail and bid on eBay.~~

SOLD

Scott Campbell of Detroit's Nebula Records

2008-09-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

Put your headphones on and get ready for some sweet 7" psychedelia! I got this super rare record when I used to work at a record store in the Detroit area about 10 years ago.

Released on Nebula Records in 1973, this unamed project features some tasty psychedelic riffs and trippy guitars. Scott Campbell founded Nebula Records in 1973 while still a teenager. The label released cuts by Detroit artists The Sillies, Iggy Pop, MC5 & more.

I haven't seen this anywhere else, and I'm sure it was a limited release. Enjoy.

Listen:

Apparition / Quandary And Solution

Astral Spirit

Shit Howdy Boys - Ballad of The Swallows Inn

2008-09-08T00:06:00.001-07:00

With a name like "The Shit Howdy Boys", I couldn't help but buy it for a $1 at my local Goodwill. They seem like they'd vote for building a bigger, taller fence at the Mexican border, and they'd for sure vote for Palin too.

Super rare 70's honky-tonk (with emphasis on the honky part) from San Juan Capistrano is what you get. Yes, to the left is the real cover they used for their 45. Apparently, Swallows Inn is still open and serving Miller Lite & "Fine Food". Released on S.H.B. Records & produced by Larry Allen.

I never understood white people that live in SoCal that bitch about Mexicans. Those nice brown people were here long before you started hanging faux scrotum sacks from the back of your monster trucks. Anyways, these good 'ol boys decided to write a touching song about them called, "Beaners". No shit.

So, have a little snicker at these songs, and make sure to stay away from Swallows Inn if you know what's good for you!

Listen:

Ballad of The Swallows Inn

Beaners

A Count Scary Christmas... Detroit Style

2007-12-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

OOOOOOHHHH! That's scary!!

So digging through my pile of Christmas records, I happened upon a great 45 record from the 80's of Detroit vampire hero, Count Scary. Released on AM station 800/CKLW's label, it features Jingle Bells & We Wish You A Scary Christmas. Download below.

P.S... Sorry about the skips... this record was pretty beat.

Listen:

Count Scary - We Wish You A Scary Christmas

Count Scary - Jingle Bells