SfanGoch

Okay, this isn't everybody's cup of tea; but, this is from where Rock and Roll evolved. It's also my favorite music genre. This is the music I grew up listening to on the radio and on the street in the form of acapella street corner harmony as a youngster in the '60s. What attracted me to this music were the harmonies. You won't find this type of vocal style in music today. The tenors, baritones and bassman combined to create a rich sound, each part distinct but working together. I'm going to start off with a couple of songs recorded for Bobby Robinson's Red Robin Records, located on 125th Street in Harlem. Although only forty singles were released on this label, Red Robin is one of the legendary names in the recording industry. The first is "I" by The Velvets, the second of three records made by this group, released in December 1953, and which has to be the shortest song title in music history. Charles Sampson is the lead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ayNlfsBpC4 The second song is "Love You" by one of the most talented vocal groups ever, The Vocaleers. The Vocaleers were lead by John Martinez, who was known professionally as Joe Duncan. Joe had one of the most distinctive voices and vocal styles in group harmony music. Joe, you see, sang through his nose, not his diaphragm. Other members were Herman Dunham, also known as Herman Curtis (first tenor), William "Red" Walker (second and first tenor), Melvin Walton (second tenor and baritone) and Teddy Williams (bass). This record is the fourth of five made by the group and was released in January 1954, This is a really beautiful ballad and it's amazing how fresh it sounds today. The third record from Red Robin is titled "Mary Lee", by a Washington, D.C. group called the Rainbows. It was the only record released by this group on the Red Robin label and was released in November 1954 with Berry and Miles sharing the lead. The group consisted of John Berry (second tenor and lead), Ronald "Poosie" Miles (second tenor and co-lead), Henry "Shorty" Womble (first tenor), James "Sally" Nolan (baritone), Frank "Jake" Hardy (bass) and pianist Donald Watts. Don Covay, a legend in his own right, was a later member. The rumors that Billy Stewart and Marvin Gaye sang with the Rainbows arose from the fact that Stewart and Gaye were friends of the group and occasionally appeared with them when an original member was sick or couldn't make a show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIkhfNMjn6I

Her's a doozy of a group from Finland, the Leningrad Cowboys. These dudes know how to have a good time; and, they are excellent musicians, to boot So, git yer Guarachero boots on an' start a-dancin'!

Speaking of obscure, There's Trio

Blind Faith was the first supergroup. What a lineup!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDNCkcC47eQ

It's all part of being a boulevardier without the money. I schmoozed around with the right people in my younger days. Google "David Mugrabi". I used to get booze for him, his brother and friends when the parents were out.

I saw him every so often during my Trump Tower days. He lived at The Galleria, on East 57th Street, with Carla Bruni. After his son died in 1991, she moved into Trump tower.

If that happens, let me mention Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers. I spent many an evening at Tommy Makem's Irish Pavilion, on East 57th Street, marinating my brain cells with Black bush while listening to Rebel music.

Probably all those Dexys Midnight Runners and Pogues fans. You know how they can be.

Have you considered calling in an exorcist?

What's to quibble about? They speak Engrish, right?

Why is it that all of the cool and interesting critters like bats, raccoons, skunks, etc. are so darned dangerous? At least there isn't an alligator problem where you live. Yet.

The entire Stiff Records lineup was fantastic. Elvis, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Nick Lowe, Devo and one of my favorites, Lene Lovich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0mN4iIsOno Remember, "If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a _____".

I'm also a big fan of the Two Tone movement from the late '70s - early '80s. Madness and The Specials pretty much epitomized the sound. Time to skank

How about "Bus Stop"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZEoKqjfvkw

King Crimson is another favorite. Robert Fripp is one of the best guitarists in the business. His work with League of Gentleman was really good. I saw him at Club 57 on St. Mark's Place in the East Village in 1980.

A lot of their albums were concept type. That was a popular theme with a lot of artists in the mid-late 1970s. Remember the Intergalactic Touring Band?

A great post-punk band was The Cure

Yup. It was renamed The Gershwin and it was on W.51st Street. The show was on May 11. Being on a Saturday, it was the only way I was able to go. I was a month away from graduating 8th grade. I still have the ticket stubs from all of the concerts I went to somewhere in the cave.

The only band that matters

I was never into Fleetwood Mac. Not loud enough.

That's what made me think of Italian spy flicks.

More collaboration than single band was Vindaloo Summer Special. The lineup featured comedian Ted Chippington (really funny), The Nightingales and We Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It. They recorded a song "Rockin' With Rita (Head to Toe). It's a plain old fun tune, perfect for beach parties.

I always liked "For Your Love". It reminds me of a song used in an Italian spy flick soundtrack from that time.

The damned is another great band.