THE LOST RPM

Super interesting, obscure one here. Along with a slew of other labels, McKinnon Records was owned and operated in the Reading, Pennsylvania area by William Leonard McKinnon a.k.a. "The Slide King." No info exists on Jonathan or his orchestra, but the primitive, outsider teenage vibes are strong with this one. The A-side "Cheryl" is a zonked love ballad featuring a few audible cracks in Jonathan's possibly still-developing adolescent voice. The track also features a rickety sax performance that expertly sets the tone for what Jonathan and the Orchestra are all about. While the ballad side is charming in its ineptness, the more uptempo B-side "The Mummy" is what we're all here for. This track has it all: horror movie/Halloween themed lyrics, dripping wet tremelo'd out guitar riffs, heavy Farfisa organ chord progression, and all sounding like it was recorded by a bunch of greasy pre-teens in a basement somewhere in 1950s suburban America. If you ...

Although the small Bay Town label out of Hayward, California is well known to local collectors, this primitive Doors-worship release by a band calling itself Yellow Brick Road remains one of the more obscure entries in the label's compact discography. Bay Town was run by a handful of people including one Barry M. Carlos, and released some pretty stellar (and sought-after) psych and soul singles in the late 1960s. I was able to track down Barry and speak with him over the phone a year or so ago.  He informed me that Bay Town operated as a one-stop shop for local bands to record, press, and promote their records. Barry served as the in-house producer of the label and does not recollect the players in Yellow Brick Road. Both original sides of this brooding, organ-driven single are amazing in my opinion, and it's hard for me to choose a superior cut. The musicianship and vocal delivery are obviously informed by Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison, and the band's playing chops are qui...

Ariel Pink before Ariel Pink? Glen Banks is reportedly from Long Beach, California - the same city the author of this blog resides in - but efforts to track him down have been futile as of this writing. Glen released this 3-track 7" EP in 1989, with the standout tracks being "Coconut Dream" and the instrumental "Wish You Back To L.A." Rumors have it Glen also had a television show back in the day on a local Long Beach cable access channel. I really dig this record and have yet to see another copy surface in the wild.

All hail Johnny Impala, the teen idol that never was. Like an alternate universe Buddy Holly on quaaludes, Johnny's comin' in hot on the A-side "Mary Ann." Speaking of comin' in hot, check out those completely blown backing vocals that sneak up on you out of nowhere to bore their way into any eardrum or brainstem within a five mile radius. I debated on whether or not to include the B-side "Cry Cry" which is much more tame - and dare I say, even retains some straight-ahead bland 1950s pop sensibilities - but for completist sake here it is. My research has yielded exactly zero information pertaining to Johnny or Chanteau, so as always, if you know of the artist or label, please message me or leave a comment.

Really obscure, gritty real people rock & roll record here on the Concert Recording label out of Lynwood, California. Interesting to note that out of the 170+ Concert Recording releases catalogued in a certain online record database, most all of them are organ instrumental or easy listening LPs. Super primitive vibes served up on this release, with both sides sounding like they were recorded in a California garage. Highlights include elongated psychedelia-inspired guitar solos, a primitive drummer really going for it, presumed makeshift production elements, and a teenage female lead singer (?) I would love to find Toni Mauro of Flashing Chance to see if there are other recordings by the band. If you know any info on the artist, please message me or leave a comment.

Totally bonkers, burnt-to-a-crisp, definitely unknown Xian madness out of Gary, Indiana. Not sure what Len was on when he cut these tracks, but I need some. Both sides feature droning, minimal, scattered musical accompaniment softly nestled under Len's meditative, barely-there, stream-of-consciousness vocals, that seem to be beseeching the Lord for a variety of random things. If you have any information on this artist or release, please contact me or leave a comment.

Originally sent to me in a care package by a friend in the Midwest, Bully Jax's "Sweet Lespadesia" b/w "Robin Egg Blue" was love at first listen. The release actually seems to be the second in Bully's short-lived Talent Scout Records discography run, with the first being "Red And Black Mack" b/w "Grandma's Stoned" (see below). Bully's *unique* vocal delivery and super primitive lyrical content, gives these sides an otherworldly quality that evoke a honky tonk in some other dimension. "Red And Black Mack" references the Kansas City Stockyards and both of these records were found in the KC area, leading me to believe that Bully was from around the Midwest.  Bonus points for the whacked-out groover about grandma getting "stoned to the bone." If you have any information on this artist or release, please message me or leave a comment.    

About as outsider as it gets.  No information exists online as to who Roger Fullbright was, or who The Wire-Tappers were, but what is known, is that their single was recorded at the locally-renowned Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina. Farfisa organ abounds on both sides, as does a geriatric-sounding lead singer who warbles his way through songs about nobody being able to do it like they do it, and apologizing to his girl for going down this old road. Makes total sense to me! If you have any information on this artist or release, please contact me or leave a comment.

Completely ungoogleable, unknown anti-Vietnam War acid rock protest single from 1973. Thomas Mullaney is credited as writer on both sides, and the C/D catalog letters lead me to believe there could be an accompanying A/B disc floating around somewhere out there? I really hope so. Either way, both tracks on this release are very primitive and immediate. "A Soldier's Cry" starts with thunderstorm sound effects before segueing into an anthem about a soldier calling out to his mother while dying on the battlefield. Heavy stuff. The aptly titled "Epilogue" follows the same motif as the flip, decrying the needless death of soldiers of every race, but this time with a bit more tempo. I love this great example of outsider Vietnam era protest music, and if you have any info on Light Red or any of the names associated with the release, please message me or leave a comment.

Excavated from a garage full of 45s of a friend in my neighborhood, scant info exists online as to the identity of Rhon Tomas, or what seems to be his backing group "Agy." Both sides of this record are quite unique, and after a handful of spins, I believe it to be a religious/Christian themed record.  The A-side "I Found Out" features not only searing synth and guitar solos, but also the opening lyrics: "Tired of waitin' on a gloomy day. Can't find the sun in the sky of grey. (?) Look to the Lord, He's got what you need. It's a ray of hope shining everyday..." (?) The B-side is a rambling Dylan-esque jangler with another nice synth solo, random tambourine hits, and indecipherable lyrical delivery.  If you have any information on this artist or release, please contact me or leave a comment.