Pete Seeger, Traditional Christmas Carols LP album art.

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In the spirit of our economic plight this holiday season, I’ve got some good ol’ folk music and throwback dust-bowl tunes for your listening pleasure.

I recently watched PBS’s American Masters on Pete Seeger: The Power of Song, and have been meaning to play more of his music on the radio. In this set he sings a peaceful Christmas carol – not what you might expect from a so-called anti-capitalism freedom-hating commie. I’ve got quite a few records from the folk-revival era (on top of many original folk, before folk, albums), and it’s interesting to see how inter-influential a lot of these old folk balladeers were. In this here set, arising even out of the spontaneous format of a live broadcast, I happened to piece together a number of artists paying tribute to each other.

Let’s see, what have we got here… These first two albums are total gems. People like “Tex” Carmen, and Alberta Slim, are in a way more folk than folk; you never hear of them, yet there they were, crooning and strumming their western style as well as anybody ever to follow – in fact better, as their authenticity can’t be replicated (yeah, yeah, you can argue that none of those singing cowboys were actual bronc busters, but I’m talking about musical authenticity).

Next, we’ve got the grand-daddy of yodeling cowboys, Jimmie Rodgers, and another Jimmie paying tribute to him directly after. We’ve got Ed McCurdy singing an arguably anonymous number, Blood on the Saddle, though I believe Tex Ritter and Marty Robbins both popularized it. The man, Alan Lomax himself (yes the man responsible for digging up and recording numerous would-have-been unknown musicians) strums his own guitar and sings us a bluesy little folk song. Tom Paxton (another one at the core of folk-revival) pays direct tribute to the original ramblin’ man Cisco Houston, who in turn tips his hat to Woody Guthrie; Woody follows it up with the original of the same. Ramblin’ Jack Elliot gives us another Guthrie tune, 1913 Massacre, which is the beginning of an unassuming dose of Christmas music here. Seeger adds to the holiday cheer, and revolutionary Malvina Reynolds (who apparently wrote Little Boxes) tops it all off with an oddly cute religious carol, while representing the “children-song” factor of folk music.

I hope it’s all a pleasing soundtrack for your holiday. A merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours. May you have plenty of food upon your table in 2009… and the cupboards well-stocked for 2012.

Set List:

“Tex” Carmen
Get Along Pony
12″ 33rpm Album (Crown)

Alberta Slim with the Bar X Ranch Boys
Little Tin Cowboy
12″ 33rpm Album (RCA Camden)

Jimmie Rodgers
Rough and Rowdy Ways
The Legendary Jimmie Rodgers Vol. 1
12″ 33rpm Album (Country Music Magazine)

Jimmie Skinner
Never No Mo’ Blues
Jimmie Skinner Sings Jimmie Rodgers
12″ 33rpm Album (Mercury)

Ed McCurdy
Blood on the Saddle
Songs of a Bold Balladeer
12″ 33rpm Album (Riverside)

Alan Lomax
Godamighty Drag
Texas Folk Songs
12″ 33rpm Album (Tradition Records)

Tom Paxton
Fare Thee Well, Cisco
Ramblin’ Boy
12″ 33rpm Album (Elektra)

Cisco Houston
Blowin’ Down the Road (I Ain’t Going to be Treated This Way)
Cisco Houston Sings the Songs of Woody Guthrie
12″ 33rpm Album (Vanguard)

Woody Guthrie
Ain’t Gonna Be Treated This Way
The Legendary Woody Guthrie in Memoriam
12″ 33rpm Album (Tradition)

Rambling Jack Elliot
1913 Massacre
12″ 33rpm Album (Vanguard)

Pete Seeger
Glory to That New Born King
Traditional Christmas Carols
12″ 33rpm Album (Folkways Records)

Malvina Reynolds
In Bethleham
Artichokes, Griddle Cakes and Other Good Things
12″ 33rpm Album (Pacific Cascade Records)

Nik Pascal [aka aka]
Zero Gravity LP album

Electronic Music
Narco Records and Tapes
NR 123 Stereo

© 1975 Nick Raecevic

Zero Gravity (22:50)

Robot Rock (4:30)
Sounds From The Blue Planet (4:01)
I Q + U = ? (4:03)
Alpha Wave Diffusion (4:09)

Composer and Producer: Nik Raicevic
Cover Design and Photography: Nik Raicevic
Moog Synthesizer Programming: Nik Pascal
ARP 2600 Synthesizer Programming: Nik Pascal
Special Effects: Gypsy Flemming
Engineer: William Elder

Recorded in Hollywood, Calif.
All Compositions Publish by
“Art in Space Music” BMI

8-Track Tapes and Cassettes of this album are available exclusively on Narco Records and Tapes.

This record is incredibly rare, and highly desired by those who know of it.

I held this album in hand, playing it just once for Missoula on last week’s radio broadcast, but I heart-wrenchingly had to part with it, shipping it out to some lucky bastard, rather than keeping it for myself. Shows you the strength of my moral fiber. Now the only available copy of it to be found at the moment is in Sweden, in the Rune Cosmic collection on GEMM, and it’s only €135, which I’m assuming is a lot of $dollars.

There’s not much to be found on this mysterious composer, aside from what a few collectors of obscuro records are saying about him:

Proghead72:

-completely obscure electronic music, from a guy from Los Angeles who went by several names (Nik Raicevic, Nik Pascal, Pascal, Nik Pascal Raicevic, Gypsy Flemming) and even appeared on a Rolling Stones album (Goats Head Soup).
[…] loaded with lots of trippy sound effects, use of ring modulation, LFOs, and so much more, sounding like it came off a low-budget sci-fi film. And you can’t argue with an album that had a warning on the shrink wrap that read: “Do not listen to this album if you are stoned”!

Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide:

He made one of his earliest albums on the Buddah label as simply Head, attempting to cash in on the psychedelic drug culture by naming his extended synthesizer noodlings after illegal drugs such as “Cannabis Sativa” — worth a 17-minute album track, no less.

Raicevic eventually put out five albums on his own Narco label after being dumped from Buddah for being too influenced by drugs.

Mimaroglu Music Sales, apparently has the complete Narco recordings (1971 - 1975), on CD, and this to add:

“finally, after a year off, nik drops his last album, “zero gravity,” the side-long title-track working a harmonic-series patch with drizzles of space-dusted echo & miniature alien-tongued white-noise licks”

I’d just say, “Well, I’ll be damned.”

Dorothy Matar:
Swiss Bells & Vibraharp

© 1972 Tom Britton & Associates

I don’t remember which pawn shop / thrift store it was where I found this record, but I remember almost overlooking it as I flipped through a pile of absolute trash records. It was Dorothy’s proud smile and horn-rimmed glasses that made me do a double-take, and when I did, I noticed her unusual choice of instruments. You don’t see too many musicians so versed in Swiss Bells or Vibraharp, not to mention both! Out of curiosity I took her home, and this record has since become the most unassumingly enjoyable record, which I actually listen to. Who knew evangelical religious-nut music could be so nice to put on when just needing some relaxing background atmosphere. Actually, at times I find these instrumentals to be a bit psychedelic. From what I can find, Dorothy continued her music and loving service to God, backing evangelist choirs, and “dedicating her life to her children,” but this record may be the height of her commercial musical career. It’s a very lo-pro production. I doubt Tom Britton & Associates were ever big-time producers, and that’s even more reason why this record is such a gem.

Dorothy Matar demonstrated much musical talent in her early years. That initial beginning has blossomed through the years. Since her graduation from college, where she received a B.A. degree in Elementary Education, she has expanded her talents to the areas of the vibraharp and Swiss bells, which were self-taught. These instruments add a unique touch to this album.
At the time of this recording, Dorothy joins her minister-husband, Alfred, in evangelism in the Nevada-Utah Conference. Their ministry, following their graduation from Walla Walla College, began in Texas, then to Noth Dakota, Montana, Nevada, Central California, and back to Nevada and Utah.
In this recording, she is joined by her daughter, Dorothy Helen Wareham, and her son-in-law, Gerald, as they assist with the piano and organ accampaniments. Their duet in this album adds to your listening pleasure.

Gerald and Dorothy Wareham are music education graduates of Pacific Union College in California. Both studied piano at an early age, continuing their musical training through college. Their growth of interest and appreciation for music, led each to seek a major in the field of music.
Currently, they are on the music staff at Monterey Bay Academy in Watsonville, California.

Carol Ann Retzer began her study of the marimba at the age of 12. Further training was received at Wells of Music in Denver, Colorado.
She attended La Sierra College in California and Andrews University in Michigan, graduating from the latter with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and Speech. At the present time, she is teaching the third and fourth grades at Sierra View Junior Academy in Exeter, California. Her husband, Darold, pastors the Visalia Church.

Walter Heiser has had a deep interest in music since childhood. He began his study of the Bb tenor saxaphone when a student at Lodi Academy, Lodi, California. He continued his musical talents as a member of the Special Service Orchestra during World War II. His contribution in the music world continues to inspire many.
Presently, he is a wholesaler in Reno, Nevada.

May this music album not only glorify God but may it bring you inspiration and relaxation.

All selections (except saxaphone numbers) recorded at Gary Boyd Recording, Ripon, Ca.

Side One

1. In the Garden – Miles
2. Tell Jesus – Peterson
3. The Prayer Perfect – Stenson
4. My God and I – Wihtol
5. Calvary Conquered My Heart – Peterson
6. Meditation – Massenet

Side Two

1. Teach Me to Pray – Reitz
2. Medley:
The Old Rugged Cross – Bennard
When They Ring the Golden Bells – Marbelle
3. Sweet Hour of Prayer – Bradbury
4. Are You Ready for Jesus to Come – Pendleton
5. The Green Cathedral – Hahn
6. Sweet Peace, The Gift of God’s Love – Bilhorn
7. I Asked the Lord – Lange and Duncan

Here’s a pretty unique find: A Janis Joplin one-sided 8″ red plastic flexi-disc. Apparently this was released with the book titled “Janis” written by David Dalton.

Janis

Simon and Schuster 1971

Tracklisting:

A1 Train Rap With Bonnie Bramlett
A2 Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
A3 St. James Infirmary
A4 Walk Right In
A5 Vamp On Time

Frankie Stein and his Ghouls, Monster Melodies LP
12″ LP
Power Records - 341

An album like this is enough to scare a body into dancing anything from the “Twist” . . . “Watusi” . . . “Hully Gully” . . . “Swim” . . . “Frug” . . . “Surf” . . . “Monkey” . . . “Dog” . . . “Lindy” and even the lowly fox trot. AND without losing a DEAD beat. . . .

The monster maestro (Frankie Stein) is a graduate of the mausoleum of music at the University of Paris Green . . . He plays guitar with three hands and conducts with the other two. He is DEAD serious about his music. Many critics have hailed him as “hideous” . . . “ghastly” . . . “horrormonius” . . . etc. etc. etc.

This record was recorded with the fabulously eerie sound of Power Records new D.D.T. method. The die-namic sound with the DEAD beat that has everything to make your dancing party a HOWLING success . . .

For more on this ghoulish guru, try these links:
Vintage Vinyl Revival - Watusi Zombi
Complete album discography at Scarstuff’s blogspot
Power Records Plaza

Tracklisting

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Side A:
Doctor Spook (Twist)
In a Groovy Grave (Watusi)
Frog Frug (Frug)
Melancholy Monster (Hully Gully)
Haunted Mouse (Slow Rock, Surf)

Side B:
Ghoulish Heart (Hully Gully, Twist)
Dressed to Kill (Fox Trot)
All Choked Up (Surf)
Swingin’ Head (Swim)
Ain’t Got No Body (Mashed Potato)

Other Frankie Stein Albums:

Introducting Frankie Stein and his Ghouls

Shock! Terror! Fear!

Ghoul Music

Monster

KBGA just had it’s annual Birthday Bash and on this, their 12th birthday, they had a 50’s theme party. You bet I was glad to DJ, offering up my old-school rock & roll records. Heck, some boppers even got up and danced.

Photo courtesy of Niki Payton, CDB Records

People had on some pretty slick get-ups, and the greasers fully represented. Here’s some more shots of some stylish folks:
KBGA Missoula’s Photos - BIRTHDAAAAY BASH

Thanks to the headliner, Monotonix, the night ended up being quite possibly the greatest night of Rock & Roll I’ve ever experienced. The Bugs went on after I played this here DJ set, but I think I lost a bit of respect for them (not really) when they yelled over the mic, “Fuck the fifties.” People in the fifties were the first to actually rock - actually Rock and Roll - and for the most part I don’t think anybody has really rocked that much harder since then, until Monotonix.

Be sure to see all the photos and footage of the wild night over at my new home site: Monotonix Wreak Havoc at KBGA’s Birthday Bash

Unfortunately, due to a bad setting, I didn’t get a good recording of the tag-team set Collin and I did before Monotonix, which worked the crowd into a frenzy. Ok, well, not really. They were bored and impatient, so they probably would have danced to anything. Anyway, here’s my set. Sorry, no Buddy Holly, no Duane Eddy, but nevertheless, enjoy.

Set List:

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Ron Haydock & the Boppers
This is Lonnie Lord
You’re Running Wild
99 Chicks
12″ LP Album (Norton Records) ED 247
http://www.nortonrecords.com

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Phantoms
XL-3
Diggin’ Out
20 Surf Blasts with the: Illusions, Vistas, GoldTones, Avengers VI, Chevells, Lonely Ones, Gestics and more!
12″ LP Comp (Mr. Manicotti) MM329
http://www.instromania.net/ALB/ALB_D/Diggin%20Out.php

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The Debonnaires
High Wall
Battle of the Beat
A document from Hollywood’s 1963 Teen Fair featuring Eddie & The Showmen and 15 other Surf Bands.
12″ LP Comp (Teen-age Fair)

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Everly Brothers
Bird Dog
15 Everly Hits
12″ LP Album (Cadence) CLP 25062
http://www.everlybrothers.com

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Continental Cousins
Kana Kapila
Jungle Exotica
12″ LP Comp (Strip) 005
http://www.klangundkleid.ch/katalog/detail.asp?ID=549&SID=4

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The Gaylords Sing American Hits in Italian
All Shook Up
12″ LP Album (Mercury) MG-20620
[Promotional Record for Broadcast Only]
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/11/365-days-330–.html

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Johnny Hallyday Sings America’s Rockin’ Hits
Maybelline
12″ LP (Philips) PHS 600-019
http://www.mp3standard.com/album/84472/Sings-America%27s-Rockin%27-Hits

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Johnny Burnette
Daddy-O
Crazy Date
Rock & Roll Demos Volume 1
12″ LP (Norton Records) ED-308
http://www.nortonrecords.com

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Unknown Flipster
Tonight We’re Gonna Rock
Kicksville! Raw Rockabilly Acetates
Volume 1
12″ LP Comp (Norton Records) ED 277
http://www.nortonrecords.com

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Walter Brown and the Wildcats
Cherry Lou
Kicksville! Raw Rockabilly Acetates
Volume 2
12″ LP Comp (Norton Records) ED 291
http://www.nortonrecords.com

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Eddie Cochran
Skinny Jim
Great Hits
12″ LP (Liberty Records) LN 10204
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Hits/dp/B000GTGT3M/

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Johnny and The Hurricanes
Bam-Boo
Johnny and The Hurricanes featuring Red River Rock
12″ LP Album (Warwick) W2007
[A Division of United Telefilm Records, Inc.]
http://www.johnnyandthehurricanes.com

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Bill Haley and the Comets
House Rockin’ Baby
Rock and Roll Dance Party
12″ LP Album (Somerset) P-1300
http://www.billhaleyscomets.com/

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Tic & Toc
Jibba Jab
Las Vegas Grind
12″ LP Album (Somerset) P-1300
http://www.amazon.com/Las-Vegas-Grind-Pt-1/dp/B0000058SO

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Bill Haley and his Comets
B.B. Betty
Bill Haley’s Chicks
12″ LP Album (Brunswick) STA 3011
http://www.billhaleyscomets.com

‘All I Need’ LP, album art by Miss Lana Rebel herself.

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I usually only present to you here oldschool vintage vinyl, but I’m making an exception for this newly released, yet instantly timeless album. The music of Miss Rebel is so inline with my nostalgic old-western mindset as of late, that this record literally hasn’t left my turntable in the couple weeks since I’ve owned it – with the exception of flipping it from A side to B side and back.

It wasn’t really coincidence that I was horribly hung-over when I first listened to this record (I had purchased it from Lana the night before at the peak of my high on Total Fest), but upon hearing the hung-over heartache in her own lonely voice, it couldn’t have been more appropriate that I was. When you listen to this record, if you’re not awakening squint-eyed and melancholic to the Sunday afternoon sun, you just might yearn to be; Lana’s languid and lulling cowgirl crooning provides a sentimental comfort in the blues.

Lana, herself, describes the music simply as, “Shed those tears, baby. It’ll be all right.”

Hear more from Lana herself:
http://lanarebel.com
http://myspace.com/lanarebel

Available on Missoula’s own Wäntage USA Records:
Read Wäntage’s review, then Buy the album

‘Loneliest Love Song’ on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxdKq_tBuq4

BBC Coverage of Lana Rebel, and Juanita Family:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A4138986
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/huw/juanitafamily.shtml

Where it all started for Lana:

Little Lana, her sister and cousin at a rehearsal for Honeysuckle Rose.

My dad was a crew member during the filming of Honeysuckle Rose. My first trip on an airplane took us out to Austin for a few weeks where we stayed with Dad at the hotel, and got to meet the band and cast. Pretty neat. I remember dancin on my dad’s feet at that rehearsal. And Paul English riding up on his motorcycle. They were teaching Amy Irving some of the songs for the film. Everyone was so sweet to us. I remember my mom being really happy about how humble they all were, and kind to the crew families. A virtue that I can certainly apreciate now that I’m grown up. Thanks Willie and Family! Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Little Lana, sister, mom, and Willie.

MISS LANA REBEL
ALL I NEED

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12″ LP WAN050
Wäntage USA Records

The album itself is a collector’s item. Only 208 LPs were printed, each numbered and autographed. The beautiful album art was created by Lana herself, and is complete with a handcrafted lyric sheet, full of even more hand-drawn rustic cowboy scenes. From the raw paperboard construction to the hand-stamped spines, this album has a unique DIY, yet very professional flavor.

Credits

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Lana Rebel: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Lead and backing Vocals
John Schier: Trap Kit
Chris Coyle: Trap on “When I’m Gone”
Matt Strachota: Rhodes, Dobro, Nylon String Acoustic
Jim Austin: Upright Bass
Pall Jenkins: Saw
Matt Parker: Lap Slide, Electric Guitar

–

All songs written by Lana Rebel, © 2007
except “Purify” written by Rev. James Jordan, © 2007

Recorded Feb. 2007 at
Stereo Disguise Recording Laboratories
by Pall Jenkins – San Diego, CA
Produced by Pall Jenkins and Lana Rebel
Mastered by Rafter Roberts

Tracklisting

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Side A:
1. When I’m Gone (3:07)
2. Loneliest Love Song (4:14)
3. You Gotta Wait (3:07)
4. Li’l Bear (3:15)
5. Woke Up One Mornin’ (3:19)
6. Dreaming Of You (2:33)

Side B:
1. Road Song (2:32)
2. Purify (3:16)
3. Blue Song (3:36)
4. Yes Is Better Than No (3:15)
5. All I Need (5:04)

Still from the Third Rail’s 1967 “Run, Run, Run” music video.

New York Stock Exchange:: Heart Attacks:↑ 2 3/4 || Mental Illness: SPLIT 3/1 || Ulcers:↑ 1 || General Chaos:↑ 1/4 || Great Society:↓ 5

Set List:

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The Lonely Ones
Miserlou
Diggin’ Out
20 Surf Blasts with the: Illusions, Vistas, GoldTones, Avengers VI, Chevells, Lonely Ones, Gestics and more!
12″ LP Comp (Mr. Manicotti) MM329
http://www.instromania.net/ALB/ALB_D/Diggin%20Out.php

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Los Holy’s
Hawaii Five-O
Sueño Sicodelico
10″ LP (Electro Harmonix) [South America] EH 021
http://www.munster-records.com/archivos/holys/holys_ing.htm

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Los Grimm
Viaje en la Alfombra Magica
Viaje en la Alfombra Magica
(Maximun Freakbeat From Spain 1965/1969)
10″ LP (Electro Harmonix) [South America]
http://www.munster-records.com/archivos/grimm/grimm_ing.htm

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The Strangeloves
Night Time
Nuggets
Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968
12″ LP Comp (Elektra) 7E 2006
http://www.rhino.com/store/productdetail.lasso?number=75466

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The Shadows of Knight
Shake
The Best of the 1910 Fruitgum Co. and other Bubblegum Smashes
The Shadows of Knight vs. The Archies
12″ LP Comp (Rhino Teen Magazine) RNLP 060
Special Edition Number Two
http://shadowsofknight.com/
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&q=RNLP+060+Best+of+the+1910+Fruitgum

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Gert Wilden & Orchestra
Follow Me
Schulmädchen
Schoolgirl Report & Other Music from Sexy German Films (1968-1972)
12″ LP Comp [Nudie Picture Disc]
(Crippled Dick Hot Wax) [Germany]
http://www.crippled.com/

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The Jaggerz
The Rapper
The Best of the 1910 Fruitgum Co. and other Bubblegum Smashes
12″ LP Comp (Rhino Teen Magazine) RNLP 060
http://www.jaggerz.com

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The Third Rail
Run, Run, Run
Nuggets
Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968
12″ LP Comp (Elektra) 7E 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rvhcT-5_Rg
From the liner notes:

Artie Resnick likes to tell the tale of how he wrote the Young Rascals’ “Good Lovin’ ” in twenty minutes. Here, with his wife and Joey Levine, he went into the studio and constructed a group called the Third Rail, which had a hit record named “Run Run Run” that never let its social significance get in the way of good solid humor. A winner from the summer of 1967, and when, pray tell, else?

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Canned Heat
Change My Ways
The Very Best of Canned Heat
12″ LP (United Artists) UA-LA431-E
http://www.cannedheatmusic.com/

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Norman Greenbaum
Junior Cadillac
Spirit in the Sky
12″ LP (Reprise) RS 6365
http://www.spiritinthesky.com/

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John Berberian and the Rock East Ensemble
The Oud & The Fuzz
Middle Eastern Rock
12″ LP (Verve Forecast) [Special Disc Jockey Record] FTS3073
http://www.johnberberian.com/

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The T-Bones
Hole in the Wall
No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In)
12″ LP (Liberty) LST-7439
http://www.amazon.com/Matter-What-Shape-Your-Stomachs/dp/B0000008ZZ

Close-up of Džo Maračić Maki’s Vraćam Se Kući LP cover, photograph by Dragutin Jajac

It should be rad enough that I present to you here the “Waylon Jennings of Yugoslavia,” but I hope you’ll find what has prompted me to make this lengthy (if not epic) post to be especially interesting.

Ja Se Opet Vraćam Kući [3:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (662)

I might possibly be the only one who’s given this album air-time on American radio, at least in the past couple decades. I’ve included it in several sets on KBGA, and even gave it a spin at a live DJ outing recently. Not long after posting the recording of that set [Z!080318RE2 - No Good Woman], being at the top of limited google results for the album, I was contacted by one James Jajac, whose father photographed the album cover.

Close-up of back cover of Vraćam Se Kući LP, photograph by Dragutin Jajac

My father was living in Astoria at the time and he used to shoot pictures of his friends band “Time.” He was friends with the guitarists Boris and Ernest. There were a lot of Yugoslavians immigrating to Astoria at the time and so venues began to spring up to meet the need. One such bar, on 44th street and Broadway, called “Turn Hall” was where a lot of Yugoslavian bands would play. Many of these musicians were the older singers of Jugoton records. My father says that Maki was the opening act (and/or host) for many of these established singers, and this is how he got noticed and eventually landed his record deal. He says that there was a lot of buzz about his Jugoton contract; apparently it must have been quite a good one. Jugoton at the time was looking for some new blood, and this was an album that, I suppose, was meant to appeal to both the immigrated Yugoslavians and the people back home. The title of the album translates to “I am coming back home.”

The album cover was trying to convey life in America and, going along with the title, some sort of transport (though to my knowledge the subway doesn’t stop in Croatia). The cowboy costume may have had a tongue-in-cheek aspect to it, or maybe not, but the image of a cowboy is still very much a symbol of America. They shot pictures of Maki as a cowboy, in central park with some horse carriages, and with corvettes, but the shots of him on the subway and on the train tracks created a more unified concept: the NYC skyline with the United Nations in the background, the cowboy, the subway covered in graffiti, and this immigrated singer laid out on the train tracks with a Jugoton contract under his belt. I suppose it is a success story. He came to America to escape oppression, maybe poverty, and now he is coming back home!

Another note: My father accidentally left his camera case in the cover shot! You can spot the small black case behind Maki’s legs. Thankfully it is hardly noticeable. He says he did so because it wasn’t the safest neighborhood at the time and he wanted to keep all of his equipment together, but he forgot to move it out of the way once they began shooting.

My father worked for United Press International (UPI), shooting pictures, but mostly color printing. After working for many photo labs fixing and repairing equipment, he eventually came to co-manage his own photo lab in NYC at (the second coming of) Larson color labs. He was well known for the quality of his prints and was chosen specifically by many photographers to print the images for their gallery shows. He took great pride in the quality of his work and fortunately that did not go unnoticed. Thats my father, Dragutin Jajac. Most people know him as DRAGO.

Džo Maračić Maki : Vraćam Se Kući LP, with sleeve from Jerry’s Records in Pittsburgh.

This record came into my possession about a year ago. I was working at Record Heaven in Missoula when a Mr. Brian McDermot interviewed me for an article about record collecting in Montana. The Vintage Vinyl Revival radio show ended up being featured in that article. Learning of my eclectic taste, Brian promised to score me a couple of oddball records when he was back home in Pittsburgh. He was looking forward to hitting up Jerry’s Records in particular. This Yugoslavian import is one of the records he brought back for me.

Jerry’s hand-scrawled description pokes a little lighthearted fun, likening this foreigner to Waylon Jennings – decked out in his best “American Cowboy” getup, complete with chaps, sheriff’s badge and “pistol.” I called up Jerry at his record store to see if the name “Waylon Jennasovic” rang a bell with him.

Oh I just made that up! Yeah, that was just a joke, like here’s the Waylon Jennings of Yugoslavia. It’s just a joke I made up, and it’s not very funny either. (laughs) I do that sometimes. If there’s a bunch of little Chinese girls, or oriental girls, singing in a choir, and there’s no English at all on the album, I’ll draw an arrow and say, “Yoko Ono’s first album.”

As is often the case, what begins as sheer novelty, ends up growing on me and results in profound admiration. Even though I still get a chuckle out of Džo’s cowboy costume, stylistically I think the album art is right on the money, and on second thought, incredibly nostalgic. The strange imported sounds of the album have really grown on me as well, especially the title track.

Džo might be relatively unknown in these parts, but apparently he has no shortage of fans, as Youtube gives proof to.

Upon learning a bit of the back-story, thanks to James and Drago Jajac, I’m all the more intrigued by Jugoton Records, and this phenomenon of cross-cultural East-European music. I spent a little bit of time in Eastern Europe a few years ago, and remember hearing nothing but mainstream American music, mostly weathered and worn-out tunes from the 60’s and 70’s. It’s interesting to think how American pop-culture has influenced the far corners of the music, not to mention film, industry.

Wikipedia has some interesting things to add about Jugoton Records:

Jugoton was especially popular among the youths behind the Iron Curtain who couldn’t travel to western countries and rarely had access to western music. One of the solutions to obtaining western music was to go shopping in Socialist Yugoslavia which was not an Eastern Bloc country, but a member of the Non-Aligned Movement largely opened to western influences. Thus the Yugoslav records gained a cult status in Eastern Europe and became a sort of symbol of the western popular culture. […]
With the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, the name of the company became Croatia Records.

Croatia Records official site:
http://www.crorec.hr

Džo Maračić Maki : Vraćam Se Kući LP : Jugoton Label

Stereo LSY 61295
1976 Jugoton Records
Poduzeće Za Izradu Gramofonskih Ploća Zagreb-Dubrava
Made in Yugoslavia

Producent: Djordje Novković
Urednik: Vojno Kundić
Photo: Dragutin Jajac
Design: Ivan Ivezić

Strana 1

1. Ja Se Opet Vraćam Kući
2. Ptica Leti Jatu Svom
3. Ide Džo U Meksiko
4. Opet Su Kratka Tvoja Pisma
5. Čekaj Da Se Sjetim
6. Romantična Ulica

Strana 2

1. Srce Ti Je Kamen
2. To Je Bila Priča Oca Mog
3. Moja Obala
4. Nikad Više
5. Ti Si Žena Koju Volim
6. Sanja

These little tune-totes must have been a short-lived trend in the hey-day of 45rpm singles. I was pretty excited to come across this one in an antique store, especially considering it still has what must be the collection of the original owner. The name & address sticker of one Sheryl Johnson plastered on each of the records clued me in. I like to imagine a teenage Sheryl showing off her tune-tote to her friends, or sitting by herself listening to “Johnny Angel” and longing after her latest crush.

While I might never know who you really were, I thank you Sheryl Johnson for the time capsule of music. By the way, I’m keeping your nostalgic collection in it’s rightful place in the tune-tote.

Set List:

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The Cadillacs
Woe is Me
45-798 7″ 45rpm Single (Josie)
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Cadillacs/dp/B0000032SG
http://www.amazon.com/Spotlite-On-Josie-Records-(Series)/e/B000APHSG4

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The Fabulons
Smoke From Your Cigarette
E-1069 7″ 45rpm Single (Ember)

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Johnny Duncan
Freddy and his Go-Cart
L-812 7″ 45rpm Single (Leader)

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Leroy Vandyke
I Fell in Love With a Pony Tail
Auctioneer
45-15503 7″ 45rpm Single (Dot)
http://www.leroyvandyke.com/

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LaVern Baker
St. Louis Blues
45-1163 7″ 45rpm Single (Atlantic)
http://www.oldies.com/product-view/62312.html

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Bob Denton
Playboy
45-15833 7″ 45rpm Single (Dot)
http://www.last.fm/music/Bob+Denton

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The Everly Brothers
Wake Up Little Susie
1337 7″ 45rpm Single (Cadence)
http://www.amazon.com/All-Time-Original-Hits-Everly-Brothers/dp/B00002MZ3A

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Laurie Loman
Johnny Angel
45-10,108 7″ 45rpm Single (ABC-Paramount)
http://www.doowopshoobop.com/girl.html#sb101

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Reed Sherman
Don’t Call Me, I’ll Call You
FF-1600 7″ 45rpm Single (Demon)