The Wisconsin Music Blog

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 9 1964-1969 Roo-Buh-Doo-Buh-Doo!

2010-07-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 9 shoots right back into the 60's,and starts out with a terrific cover of "I Can Tell", gee who hasn't done a version of this song,it's a great one by The Marauders from 1964. The Journeymen do a version of the Yardbirds classic "Mister You're A Better Man Than I", I kind of love their other song on here "Realities In Life" which just rolls along much better than their cover. See kids,your own songs are much better! Cover songs are always going to be judged alongside the originals,and often fall short of wonderful. It's hard to compete with the Yardbirds...Now the Girls Take Over would most likely whip the Yardbird's asses easily. Their song "Hi Heel Sneakers" feels a lot like a precursor to The Runaways. We love that tough chick band sound around here!
The Girls Take Over are perhaps the highlight of this comp. Woah, dig their sound. An speaking of chicks who rock...Raylene & The Three Hoods kicks your ass as well with a version of "Shakin' All Over". Yow! I love The Faros,this song appears on the wonderful Highs In The Mid-60's /Pebbles comps with "I'm Crying" (vintage 1966) also a cover by Eric Burden & The Animals. Speaking of more covers...The Hitchhikers do "One Too Many Mornings", terrific folk rock sounds here from 1967.
The Crucibles from Madison do a credible surfy-garage song called "Beware Of Birds"... and it appeared on Madtown Records. The Coachmen "Movin" doesn't quite fit,because it's an early 60's track,from 1962 and has the instrumental surf sounds, but I still like the total primitive sound to it! I'd rather hear that than a lame attempt at the Beatle's track "Hey Bulldog", another weak yet charming track is the version of "Hole In My Shoe". Where do you know that track from? It's Traffic that originally did it. Some things just should not be revisited.
Oh well, everyone wants to be a rock star,right?
Another highlight of this particular comp is my favorite The Statesmen with "Roo-Buh-Doo-Buh-Doo" a really silly,wonderful track,that's unforgettable,it moves right along and sounds like a take off of the fabulous Minneapolis band the Trashmen or possibly the Rivingtons type mumble jumble silliness that in fact makes a great pop song! Those are the ones that kids like!
Those are the ones that sell! Shoulda coulda been a hit! Well, it's a hit with me.
I doubt you will find anything more fun, than this music from Wisconsin! Enjoy!

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 9 Various Artists
01. The Marauders - I Can Tell (Coulee 110)
02. The Journeymen - You're A Better Man Than I (Tee Pee 57/58)
03. The Journeymen - Realities In Life (Tee Pee 57/58)
04. The Girls Take Over - High Heel Sneakers (Pentagon 2002)
05. Raylene & The Blue Angels - Shakin' All Over (Cuca 6633)
06. Robin & The Three Hoods - We The Living (Fan Jr. 5678)
07. Robin & The Three Hoods - A Day You'll Never Forget (Fan Jr. 5678)
08. The Glass Candle - Keep Right On Living (Target 1004)
09. The Faros - I'm Crying (Target 103/104)
10. The Faros - I'm Calling You Back (Target 103/104)
11. The Hitchhikers - One Too Many Mornings (Cuca 6741)
12. The Syndicate - Next 21st Of May (Tee Pee 45/46)
13. The Intruders - The World You Created(In Your Mind) (Claremont 665)
14. The Crucibles - Beware Of Birds (Madtown 401)
15. The Sandmen - You And I (Night Owl 6769)
16. The Primates - Girl Don't Tell Me (Leaf 667)
17. The Ricochettes - I Don't Want You (Destination 629)
18. The Love Society - Without You (Tee Pee 3878)
19. The Private Property - Jewelry Lady (Tee Pee 35/36)
20. The Private Property Of Digil - Sunshine Flames (Tee Pee 23/24)
21. The Coachmen - Movin' (Type 3580)
22. The Coachmen - Hey Bulldog (Target 1009)
23. The Unchained Mynds - Hole In My Shoe (Transaction 707)
24. The Unchained Mynds - Warm Smoke (Transaction 707)
25. The Statesmen - Roo-Buh-Doo-Buh-Doo (Raynard 014)

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 9

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 8 Various Artists 1957-1967 Badger Rock

2010-07-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 8 features another 25 tracks of music you never heard before! So,you know,you have to come back here and at least give this a listen. This volume isn't as strong as the last but still contains some real gems! Some older rock numbers like "Say Mama" by The Rock-A-Fellers will charm you,yeah it's old fashioned rock 'n' roll but the guitar really swings! Aldon & The E.C's "Endsville" is a fine instrumental,they sound a little drunk and like they might be having fun! There's some oldies like ballads,and doo wop like sounds- Paul Stefen & The Apollos fit that sound,Chico Holiday has a strong voice,and has a fine R & B sound to it. So good it got picked up and released on RCA Records. And you could do the twist to it!
Jimmy Sun & The Radiants is a terrific rip off of the song "Muleskinner Blues",not a bad thing,just lovable and funny as hell. Al Jarreau sings the wonderful Motown sounding Room Boom. It's from 1965,on Raynard Records and most likely his first single ever. Wow! This surely proves that artists work many years before they are discovered,and there is no such thing as overnight success. The fabulous Harvey Scales is still working today, has a couple of soul/r & b songs on this compilation from 1964...thanks to Cuca Records who first recorded him and his band. He's still swinging and rocking,just look him up online! There's songs on You Tube and myspace! You're going to want to hear more!
The Triumphs rock out with "Susie In My Hist'ry Class". Rose DuBats "Signals From Saturn" is a funny little song about a love for a wavy haired martian...look I don't write this stuff,I just report on it...I don't know what Rose was on,but I love it...only in Wisconsin. The last song from 1962 is Badger By The Badgers with The Royal Lancers is like a high school /college varsity fight song but done with crazy David Seville vocals...also a must hear song. Only in Wisconsin! If this review doesn't get you to want to hear this music ,then I don't know what's wrong with you...

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 8 Various Artists
01. The Rock-A-Fellers - Say Mama (Cuca 1039)
02. The T.J's - Farty Party (Lindy 740)
03. Aldon & The E.C's - Endsville (Gaity 174)
04. Vilas Craig - My Heart (Rif 2118) this could be wrong catalog number
05. Dick Buscher - I Wonder Why (Cuca 1077)
06. The Von Gayels - Lonliness (USA 1221)
07. Robby & The Teens - The Angel You Sent Me (Sunderland 1086)
08. Paul Stefen & The Apollos - City Angel Cry (Cite 5008)
09. Chico Holiday - I Believe,I Beleive (RCA V.47-7621)
10. The Rollettes Orchestra - Why Oh Why (Cinch 2024)
11. Jimmy Sun & The Radiants - Molly & The Tenbrooks (Cuca 1045)
12. Ray Allen & The Trendels - I Love You (And You Know I Really Mean It) (Cuca 6544)
13. Al Jarreau - Room-Boom (Raynard 10024)
14. Harvey & The Seven Sounds - Glamour Girl (Cuca 1155)
15. Harvey & The Seven Sounds - (On The Street Of)New York City (Cuca 1155)
16. Vilas Craig - Walking Down The Avenue (Fan Jr. 4729)
17. The Vigilantes - Ramblin' On (Cuca 1042)
18. Wendi - You're So Fine (Champ 12148)
19. Chuck Tyler - She's All Mine (Fenway 7004)
20. The Stage-Men - Fall Out (Cuca 6472)
21. Arbis Hanyel - Roadhouse Rock (Count 103)
22. El Ray & The Night Beats - Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya (Revive 104)
23. The Triumphs - Susie In My Hist'ry Class (Iff 151)
24. Rose DuBats - Signals From Saturn (Raynard 1014)
25. The Badgers with The Royal Lancers - Badger (Cuca 1072)

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 8

Wsiconsin Rocks Volume 7 Various Artists 1965-1968 Go Go Gorilla!

2010-07-11T14:42:00.000-07:00

Wisconsin does rock on volume 7 in the mid 60's-a rich period of music and bands. This volume is quite possibly the best one in the series, I love the 60's sounds-the pop,garage sounds. Featured bands on this volume are from Milwaukee,La Crosse,Palmyra,Eau Claire,Madison, Brookfield, Stevens Point,Green Bay,Antigo, and even the wonderful Bryds (not the L.A. Byrds but pronounced "The Brides")who were from the Chicago area,yet recorded on the fabulous Wisconsin Raynard label. The song "Your Lies" is a rocking little garage song all 2 minutes and 24 seconds of bliss,covered by 80's indie garage bands: The Gravedigger 5,The Gruesomes,and The Brood...little known facts, that great garage music is loved by all.
Then the manic Benders with (You) Can't Tame Me is also a classic well known garage tune,complete with snarly vocals. Yes Wisconsin does rock! And there's much more: The Shag do a little known Bo Diddley inspired Dance Woman, The Shandells with the great R & B cover work out "Go-Go Gorilla" will totally make you scream! I can just see the teens dancing to this song!
Joey Gee makes another appearance on this volume with more well crafted pop garage with
You Know-'Til The End Of Time,not to be missed. The Intruders go mid tempo psychedelic with Bringin' Me Down a track from 1967. The Trodden Path pull out all of the folk garage psych sounds we all love with Don't Follow Me. It sounds a little like The Turtles happy 60's pop sound.
The Shaprels have a distinctly Beatles bend to their song A Fool For Your Lies. The Fax do a wonderful cover version of I Can Only Give You Everything,one of the best 60's cover songs for a band to attempt. This one stands up to the test of time. The Sixth Street Viaduct is a band name of a real street and bridge in Milwaukee,their song Kingdom Come is a fine garage song.
The Up Stairs with Operator Please is a nice garage pop call and response track,also quite catchy. Gord's Horde is a excellent classic garage song "I Don't Care". It's frantic,weird,has that cheesey keyboard we all love,and it's the typical 60's theme of girl-boy lost love. On the excellent Hodag Records label. Just type in a google search for the "Great Northern Wisconsin Hodag legend". It means nothing,really, it's a mysterious creature,but someone saw fit to make it into a large sculpture and a music label name. Wisconsin is weird and wonderful.
The Orbits do a cover of a much loved Zombies classic song. The London Fog with Mr. Baldi is another wonderful keyboard driven garage song of the highest order...one our our finest songs from this state. It sticks to the roof of your head,and never let's go. Just give it a listen!
All in all this is really a strong compilation! I also love The Spacemen's Same Old Grind,which is a nice little garage stomper,employs uses the melody from another song,you might remember...
The Tiki's We're On The Move is a quick little pop garage number,you're gonna love this music!
Get it while you can... it's complete with scans. I'll be busy learning how to dance the Go-Go Gorilla...I suggest you give it a try!

01.The Shags - Dance Woman (Raynard 10034)
02.The Shandells - Go-Go Gorilla (Bangar 00659)
03. Joey Gee & The Come-Ons - You Know,'Til The End Of Time (Sara 6599)
04. The Fugitives - You're The Kind Of Girl (Trend 101)
05. The Fugitives - Come On & Clap! (Trend 101)
06. The Intruders - Bringin' Me Down (Claremont 556)
07. The Next Five - Talk To Me Girl (Wand 1170)
08. The Trodden Path - Don't Follow Me (Night Owl 6711)
09. The Ricochettes - Losing You (Quill 102)
10. The Ricochettes - I'll Be Back (Raynard 10030)
11. The Matadors - Girl Don't Leave Me (Feature 105)
12. The Shaprels - A Fool For Your Lies (Feature 103)
13. The Cannons - Day To Day (Night Owl 1312)
14. The Next Five - He Stole My Love (Destination 637)
15. The Exchequers - Is There Some Girl (Boom! 115)
16. The Orbits - Don't (Boss Sound 6744)
17. The Skunks - The Journey (USA 865)
18. The Love Society - You Know How I Feel(And Why) (Target 1006)
19. The Society - For Me (Feature 112)
20. Jack & The Beanstalks - Don't Bug Me (LeRon 3601)
21. The Fax - I Can Only Give You Everything (Trans-Action 701)
22. The Sixth Street Viaduct - Kingdom Come (PKC 1015)
23. The Up Stairs - Operator Please (Cuca 1309)
24. Gord's Horde - I Don't Care (Hodag 0540)
25. The Orbits - Make Me Feel Good (Big Sound 304)
26. The London Fog - Mr. Baldi (Coulee 118)
27. The Coves - You're All Through (Raynard 1058)
28. The Baroques - Rose Colored Glasses (Chess LP 1516)
29. The Spacemen - Same Old Grind (Big Sound 309)
30. The Tiki's - We're On The Move (Cuca 6641)
31. The Bryds - Your Lies (Raynard 10039)
32. The Benders - Can't Tame Me (Big Sound 306)

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 7

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 6 1963-1969 The Invaders Are Coming!

2010-05-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

This might be one of the best compilations,the strongest of Wisconsin's 60's music ever made,yet I know of some missing vital tracks here, I'm going to leave this "as it is". I won't add anything to this one, but might make a missing volume myself. This is essentially the coolest garage songs too. Some of these tracks appeared on other compilations like Highs In The Mid-60's the Pebbles series,and even some Back From The Grave compilations. I love this stuff! The one song that stands out for me is the amazing song Hard Life by the Why 4, garage fiends get ready! This is the coolest unknown garage songs on the planet. Completely uncomped ,and I never found this song on any garage compilation,so far and I've been collecting them since 1979-1980 when the very first Pebbles/Boulders were unleashed on the planet. This comp is a real treat!
Wisconsin Rocks Volume 6 Various Artists
01. The Converts - Don't Leave Me
02. Merrill's Marauders - The Marauder
03. The Wanderer's Rest - Anytime,Anywhere
04. Jack & The Beanstalks - So Many Times
05. The Zoo - Sometimes
06. The Invasion - Do You Like What You See
07. The Baroques - There's Nothing To Do But Cry
08. The Golden Catalinas - Varsity Club Song
09. The Why 4- Not Fade Away
10. The Why 4 - Hard Life
11. The Crucibles - You Know I Do
12. Joey Gee & The Come-Ons - She's Mean
13. The Moody Walkers - We Never Loved Before
14. The Young Savages - The Invaders Are Coming
15. Attilla & The Huns - The Lonely Huns
16. The Paegons - I Can Only Give You Everything
17. The Ricochettes - Find Another Boy(First Version)
18. The Ricochettes - Don't Waste Your Time
19. The Quarry Men - Don't Try Your Luck
20. Lord Beverly Moss & The Mossmen - Please Please,What's The Matter
21. The Deverons - On The Road Again
22. Kiriae Crucible - Salem Witch Trials
23. The Chevrons- Still In Love With You
24. The Limeys - Silly Little Girl
25. The Loyal Opposition - Telling Lies
26. The Young Savages - Welcome To My World
27. The Casuals - Come On(Pretty One)
28. The Wanderer's Rest - You'll Forget
29. The Matadors - You're A Better Man Than I
30. The Mustard Men - I Lost My Baby
31. The Nomads - You Come Around
The fabulous Joey Gee & The Come-Ons hailed from
Upper Michigan,and recorded their tracks in Wisconsin,
and you should visit Steve Seymour's excellent blog for
more about them(and some other Wisconsin bands-hey!)
http://rocknrollgraffiti.blogspot.com/
Rock n Roll Graffiti blog. He goes into greater detail about the
bands,and I sometimes just prefer to unleash the music
and let the reader decide whether it's a thumbs up or down.
(You either dig it or you don't,right?)
The bands are from: Milwaukee,Janesville, Oshkosh, Appleton,
La Crosse,Racine, Sheboygan, Oshkosh, Beloit, Marinette, and a
couple of bands are from Rockford,IL, Dubuque Iowa, but the labels
(LeRon, Rampro, Sara,Continental, Target,Raynard, Dynamic Sound,
PKC, Coulee, Feature, Wright, Night Owl, Madtown)
they are on,are strictly Wisconsin!
Complete with scans,so you can keep track of the coolness.
Wisconsin Rocks Volume 6

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 5 The Darnells- (She She)Little Sheila!

2010-05-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

More of that rare Wisconsin music this volume features tracks from 1958-1967.
A lot of rare singles,and songs you'd never find anywhere else, for example The Wanted with the song Wanted is a demo,and again, all these singles were really never re-issed on any kind of CD or album. The bands are from Milwaukee,Racine,Superior, Stoughton, La Crosse, Janesville. And the record labels are original issues on: Cuca, Sara, Little Fort, Raynard, Chess,Leaf, Coulee, Robin and some other obscure as heck one off releases.
Wisconsin Rocks Volume 5 Various Artists
01. The Emotionals - Miserlou
02. The Valients - Mutha
03. The Bel-Airs - (I'll Be)Forever Loving You
04. The Wanted - Wanted
05. The Darnells - (She She)Little Sheila
06. Johnny Waleen - Mystery Train
07. Sonny Williams - Lucky Linda
08. Skip & The Dukes - Angel
09. Paul Stefan & The Royal Lancers - Baby,I Don't Care
10. The Tempests - Bop-A-Shimmy
11. The Casuals - Come On(Pretty One)
12. The Von Gayels - Twirl
13. The Nocturnes - Cyclone
14. Little Sir Ryland - My Worried Lover
15. The Supremes Four - I Lost My Job(And I've Got to Find Another)
16. The Mule-Skinners - Galloping Paul Revere(The British Are Coming)
17. Al Jarreau - Shake Up
18. The Triumphs - Surfside Date
19. The Super-Phonics - Teen-Age Partner
20. Chuck Sargent & The Ambassadors - I'm Afraid You'll Put Me Down
21. The Rhythm Royals - Near To You
22. The Blue Echoes - Moonride
23. Dick & Roger - Greatest Girl
24. The Fabulous Mad Lads - Walkin' With My Angel
25. Outro - Outro (I kept this from the original disc I got)
26. Bobby Dean - Go Mr. Dillon
A lot of this music is rock and surf/instrumental styled. The terrific
Al Jarreau track is rhythm and blues and is a very catchy little number
from 1966. Most likely his very first single on Raynard Records.
Wow check it out! Moonride by The Blue Echoes is an excellent
surf/instrumental. And naturally The Triumphs is the wildest
song ever...The Nocturnes - Cyclone is yet another fine sax fueled
instrumental...Get it while you can!
Wisconsin Rocks Volume 5

Tribute to The Crusher - Reggie Lisowski -The Greatest Wrestler EVER!

2010-04-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

The Crusher Speaks His Mind - Milwaukee's Favorite

2010-04-18T23:19:00.000-07:00

Meteor Shower Over Wisconsin - God Just Loves The Packers

2010-04-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

A meteor shower over Wisconsin late last night, and several other Midwestern states looks like the end of the world. But it's just really a large green football shaped meteor that's just coming to Wisconsin where it belongs. The sign the Packers will win the Superbowl next season is what some people are saying. The first video portion of this is over the skyline of Milwaukee taken by WISN. The second part of the clip is over Iowa,the third clip is Madison,Wisconsin, a quick flash...yes it's a sign...Well, it could happen,right?

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 4 - The First Rock And Roll Song Recorded in Wisconsin and VERY First Swastika/Cuca Records Release

2010-04-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

Volume 4 is a hot one! This volume contains the earliest Cuca Records/Swastika Records release.
Along with bands from the same time period 1957-1962. This volume also contains The Fendermen's very first version of "Mule Skinner Blues",released in 1960. The story about Swastika Records and Willie Tremain's Thunderbirds "Frankie's Rock"is an odd one. I spoke to Jim Kirchstein owner/knob twiddler/engineer of Cuca Records,and Swastika Records label and name was just done without much thought,and no real meaness meant. He came up with the logo and name simply because he was living around a lot of people who spoke German,and lived in a small community of German ,Swiss,and other European families. It was common that most people who lived in the smaller towns spoke fluent German at home, and he did it thinking it wouldn't hurt anyone,and possibly just for a minor joke. He also noted that the Swastika logo was a good luck sign.
The problem with it, is that it wasn't really a joke,and when Jim wanted to press more records at a Chicago RCA Record pressing plant, they were a little uncomfortable with the label name and logo, and while ordering his next batch of records quickly dropped the Swastika Records logo and name right there and then. While he was on the phone ordering the records he quickly came up with the Cuca Records name and from then on, was the label's name. Now, these days, the original label and design of the Swastika logo is highly collectible, and noted as an oddity.
Jim isn't so proud of this fact these days, but you know you do crazy things when your just starting out, he says. He didn't think it would bother people at the time. Without a doubt,it is one way to get noticed! How else are you going break into the music market, and get your records played.
Cuca Records was a small one man operation, and never tried to use payola to get the records played on the radio Jim sent out records all over to radio stations to get played, and did whatever he could. The story is The Fendermen record was broke in small market radio and then grew from there to be one of the biggest, out of nowhere songs of 1960.
And it was all somewhat accidental! In December of 1959, a record salesman named Ron Straussburger stopped by Jim's label with a tape,and Jim set it aside for the holiday season,not thinking much of playing it. Ron asked Jim to consider releasing this tape on a 45 rpm record.
Jim rediscovered this tape left there on his shelf,in January of 1960,and heard the novelty rockabilly song "Mule Skinner Blues". He recognised the song being a version of a Jimmie Rodgers song from 1930 called Blue Yodel No. 8. The Fendermen duo recorded their version of this song in their basement,and that's what Jim had on his tape. Well, it was a great version of this song, updated complete with yelps,screams,and howls. Jim thought it could be a potential hit and released it,as Cuca label number 1003 and sent few copies here and there for radio play, with a note saying "This is new,we're small, Please give it a listen" The Fendermen got their break, from radio stations, in La Crosse, Wisconsin and other small market radio stations in midwest towns,radio listeners loved the song! Jim says "it simply grew from requests from listeners calling in loving the song", and that's the story. The song "Mule Skinner Blues" got as high as number 2 in the Billboard Charts that year.
Enough for Cuca Records to get established,noticed and able to put out more records.
And Jim Kirchstein ran the label from 1959 to about 1973 or so. So many bands from Wisconsin recorded at the Cuca label it must be mentioned a lot here on this blog. If it wasn't for Jim and his label,many bands would never have gotten to record and make singles in the 50's,60's,and early 70's.
And here's the tracks on this particular volume:

01. Intro
02. The Fendermen- Mule Skinner Blues (First Version)
03. The Noblemen- Dragon Walk
04. Dave Kennedy & The Ambassadors- You Didn't Listen
05. Bobby Dean- It's A Fad, Ma
06. Vilas Craig- Gotta Find My Baby
07. The Soul Brothers- What did She Say
08. The Teen Kings- I Might Have Known
08. Steve Sperry- That Ain't So
10. The Thundermen- Flyin' High
11. The Tornados- Scalping Party
12. The White Caps- Rock 'n Roll Saddles
13. Ken Davis- Shook Shake
14. Johnny Jay- Sugar Doll
15. Gary Lane & The Mad Lads- Henrietta
16. Scottie Stuart- Nightmare
17. The Teentones- Sands of Arabia
18. The Zakons- Wasted
19. The Furys- This Way Out
20. The Montereys- Rocker
21. Bud Squires & The Teen's Men- Like Now
22. The Six Shooters- Rotation
23. Willie Tremain's Thunderbirds- Frankie's Rock
24. Ronie Premier & The Royal Lancers- Angel In My Eyes
25. Bobby Dean- Dime Store Pony Tail
26. The Bonnevilles- Sky Dive

There's a lot of other very strong tracks on this volume:
The Noblemen are a fabulous mixture of novelty/ instrumental
"Dragon Walk" is one of my favorites! It has this wonderful sleazeball
sax weaving in and out of the song! It's nuts! Music to strip to!
The Teen Kings deliver the goods with "I Might Have Known" a
fine rockabilly song that came out on Cuca's sister label Sara Records.
The Zakons,from Green Bay,who I mentioned before with also a fine
instro called "Wasted", a cool early doo wop song by The Soul Brothers
From Milwaukee called "What Did She Say". Other faves include:
The Tornados (From Woodruff,Wisconsin) instro
"Scalping Party"complete with war whoops and hollers! Excellent!

The earliest Wisconsin rock 'n' roll song ever recorded is on here too!
The White Caps (From Appleton,Wisconsin) with "Rock 'n Roll Saddles"
from 1957! Wow! Where else are you gonna hear this????
I also love Gary Lane & The Mad Lads from Milwaukee,
"Henrietta" is a real shouter! (also released on Cuca Records in 1964)
Scottie Stuart's "Nightmare" is also really fun rockabilly number.
That song came out in 1960,and Scottie was from Madison.
Just listen to the cool rocking guitar! Why didn't that become a hit?!
It's complete with screaming and hollering!
I also love the Bonnevilles (From Waukesha) "Sky Dive" from 1960.
Another wonderful sax fueled instrumental rock song that shoulda
been a big hit!
I don't know about you, but this is a real great disc hipsters!
Dig it, Dig it right here! Don't forget to tell me what you think
of it,leave a comment, scream,holler!
Wisconsin Rocks Volume 4

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 3 More Great Rock From Wisconsin!!!!!

2010-04-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 3 -Various Artists from the wealth of Wisconsin independant bands from 1968-1977 on this disc.
Here's the low down kids:
01. The Skunks- I Recommend Her
02. Tony's Tygers- Little By Little
03. The Sidewalk Skipper Band- Cynthia At The Garden
04. The Sidewalk Skipper Band- Strawberry Tuesday
05. The Tygers- I Believe
06. The Love Society- Do You Wanna Dance
07. The Skunks- Small Town Girl
08. The Robbs- Changin' Winds
09. Thee Prophets- Playgirl
10. The Love Society- Tobacco Road
11. The Wrest- Bet Your Sweet Bippy
12. The Unchained Mynds- We Can't Go On This Way
13. The Coachmen- Girl In The Wind
14. The Skunks- Doing Nothing
15. Thee Prophets- Some Kind Of Wonderful
16. The Love Society- Let's Pretend(We're Making Love)
17. The Underground Sunshine- Birthday
18. Thee Prophets- Rag Doll Boy
19. Bare Fat- You Can All Join In
20. The Freeloaders- I Who Have Nothing
21. Larry Lynn- Back On The Street Again
22. Today's Tomorrow- Witchi Tai To
23. The Messengers- I Gotta Dance
24. Cherokee- Girl,I've got News For You
25. The Messengers- That's The Way A Woman Is
26. The Black Society- Look Around You
27. Truc- There's A Moon Out Tonight
28. Sunblind Lion- Jamaican Holiday
29. Bad Boy- Thinking Of You

The Skunks,Tony's Tygers,The Sidewalk Skipper Band,The Messengers,
The Black Society, Truc, Bad Boy,Cherokee,The Robbs, Thee Prophets,
were all from the Milwaukee area,The Unchained Mynds were from
La Crosse,The Love Society were from Plymouth,
The Underground Sunshine from Montello, Wisconsin.
The Sunblind Lion were originally from Appleton ,Wisconsin.
The value of this music is this : you get to hear these singles as they came out,and that's sometimes the only way you can hear these bands, just able to produce a 45 rpm single, which to me sound great! Many of the 60's bands broke up as they got older,went to college,got married, got drafted(didn't head for the northern or southern border to escape that impending doom of the Vietnam War). The Robbs got signed to Mercury Records and made some nice pop records! Some were lucky and continued on making records in other bands....I want to mention that the The Skunks in particular, they were on a Chicago label with more of a chance to get into radio air play, because of Quill Records (which Sundazed Records just released "We're Gonna Change The World! The 60's Chicago Garage Sound of Quill Productions)Wonderful stuff by the way!
Please check out Sundazed Records for that comp! You won't be sorry,it contains other songs from The Skunks,besides that great garage 60's sound of the Malibu's, The Riddles, The Commons Ltd. "I'm Gonna Change The World!",The Delights "Every Minute,Every Hour"! Wow it's cool,and only limited to 1,000 copies. Get one now before they're gone!

Bare Fat released this single here on Bang Records,in 1969. The Freeloaders single came out on A & M Records(in 1969), The Messengers single came out on Rare Earth Records in 1971. All of these labels were pretty new (only a year or two or three years as a record label) at the time,and were open to releasing singles by fairly unknown bands. I think the labels were hoping that one of these bands were going to make it into the charts,and cause a lot of excitement, but it just didn't click. Other bands on the Rare Earth label,A & M Records and Bang Records nudged these Wisconsin bands out. Too bad,I think it is just luck,chance and if you toured a lot,to get the name of your band out there...
But most of the other bands on this set/series got local airplay-local radio-and local gigs at the local high school/VFW Halls or Teen hangouts, which was pretty cool enough. A little taste of local fame was nice too. So I give you more Wisconsin rock and roll obscurities,enjoy...
Comes complete with scans front/backs/more info about where the bands came from!
Wisconsin Rocks Volume 3

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 2 Various Artists

2010-03-19T22:35:00.001-07:00

More rare Wisconsin bands and singles which may never see the
light of day, if it wasn't for people making their own compilations
like these. Again, this compilation has most bands hailing from
the Milwaukee area,with the exception of Robin and The
Three Hoods,who are from Madison. Volume two also has some
rare things never to make it to disc before,and were just vinyl
singles that were impossibly out of print since they were issued!
This batch is from the years 1966-1967,and features The Shag,
The Baroques, (who I featured on an earlier post),The Robbs,
The Ricochettes, Junior & The Classics, The Next Five,
The Skunks, Harvey Scales & The Seven Sounds,
and more. The labels represented are some of the best from
Wisconsin: Fan Jr., Magic Touch, Destination, Dynamic Sound,
Pentagon, Champs,even Quill Records from Chicago,
and some are the the first or second release on that very label.
There's only a few featured on major labels like Chess-the
label from Chicago took a chance with The Baroques and
The Shaprels. Odd for a mostly blues label!
There's rock, soul,psychedelic and garage music featured on
this volume,some light pop too with The Robbs,who made it all
the way on Mercury Records, and the wonderful Shag,who
were great enough to be on Capitol Records,the Beatle label!
Stop & Listen is their only single to do that well... and it's here!
More of these soon, Please check these out! They're special!

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 2

Wisconsin Rocks Volume 1 Various Artists

2010-03-19T22:01:00.000-07:00

This is a series of discs that are home-made,and therefore,
much cooler than most records labels could possibly put together.
Each disc has nearly 25-31 tracks or so, and features all music
made,recorded in Wisconsin. All carefully compiled from singles,
albums,you name it. I didn't make these,but think they're worth
sharing here. A lot of work went into these,as they are from some
pretty rare singles. And most tracks have never appeared on disc
for reissue. I wish certain record labels would take these and put
them out,just make the recordings sound the same volume,and
fix the tracks slightly,maybe find better copies on cleaner
vinyl or go back to the master tapes if they even exist anymore.
If the master tapes are no longer available, then I guess this will
have to do...Well, enough of that. Volume 1 features
The Noblemen-"Dirty Robber"
one of my favorites, and the b-side as well! Thunder Wagon.
Other special treats are: The Fendermen with
"Mule Skinner Blues",
the one that was re-recorded on Soma Records,The Citations
doing a super rare song called 'Moon Race". Moon Race is one
of those singles that charted locally, and made a small splash
in Milwaukee radio,I understand kids phoned into the radio
stations,and requested the song over and over until the song
actually made the local charts. Back then,those things could happen
well before record labels controlled the charts,and things like
that could happen. Another cool single here is "Lariat" by the
very popular Milwaukee band The Legends. A great little record
from 1962. This disc also includes their follow up single
"Bopalena" another treat! See Wisconsin music does not suck!
The rest of the CD has some pretty light hearted rock,
and instrumentals, nothing earth-shaking,it just proves
Wisconsin was a pretty busy state of music and bands.
This disc features bands from:Waukesha,mostly Milwaukee,
Stoughton, Oshkosh and features labels like: Soma, Ermine,
Sara,Groove, Raynard, Cinch, Cuca, Cite, and many more.
The music is from 1958-1965. Enjoy!
Wisconsin Rocks Volume 1

I'm taking a break.

2010-02-11T20:33:00.000-08:00

I'm just taking a much needed break,I'm still here. So, please don't give up on me. I'm collecting some nuggets of music, then,I'll post them soon. Thanks!

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T22:47:00.001-08:00

Yulesville - Various Artists Snowballs & Highballs From Santa's Cooler!

2009-12-24T17:02:00.000-08:00

Yulesville is coolsville -16 tracks of hipster music that will have you bopping...
Tracks include:
1. Pearl Bailey-
Jingle Bells Cha Cha Cha
2. Dean Martin- Winter Wonderland
3. Julie London-
I'd Like You For Christmas
4. Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66- The Christmas Song
5. Lionel Hampton- White Christmas
6. Leon Redbone- That Old Christmas Moon
7. Marlowe Morris- Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
8. Claudine Longet- Snow
9. The Four Piece Suit- Let It Snow!/Santa Suit
10. Randy Van Horne Singers- It Happened In Sun Valley
11. Louis Prima with Keely Smith- Shake Hands With Santa Claus
12. Duke Ellington- Sugar Rum Cherry(Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
13. Holly Cole- Christmas Trees And Holly Leaves
14. Ann-Margret & Al Hirt- Baby,It's Cold Outside
15. Booker T. & The MG's- We Wish You A Merry Christmas
16. Tiny Tim- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
It's fun stuff! Enjoy!

Yulesville

A John Waters Christmas - Various Artists

2009-12-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

Here at The Wisconsin Music Blog we love John Waters anything. He makes the best music compilations,and has the best music in his movies.
Here's a favorite disc this time of year!
1. Fat Daddy- Fat Daddy
2. Tiny Tim- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. Stormy Weather- Christmas Time Is Coming (A Street Carol)
4. Little Cindy- Happy Birthday Jesus(A Child's Prayer)
5. Rudolph And Gang- Here Comes Fatty Claus
6. Roger Christian- Little Mary Christmas
7. Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva- I Wish You A Merry Christmas
8. Jimmy Donley- Santa! Don't Pass Me By
9. Alvin & The Chipmunks- Sleigh Ride
10. Rita Faye Wilson- Sleigh Bells,Reindeer & Snow
11. The Cocktails- First Snowfall
12. AKIM & The Teddy Vann Production Company- Santa Claus Is A Black Man
Strange and fun! All at 320 KB/s with artwork. Link below elves.

A John Waters Christmas

Christmas With The Chipmunks - Happy Holidays To All!

2009-12-24T16:39:00.000-08:00

The Wisconsin Music Blog & Stephanie Wish you a
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays with music to share...
Thanks for coming to this blogging site!
Here's a fun disc-The Chipmunks-Christmas With The Chipmunks
Tracks:
1. Here Comes Santa Claus
2. Up On The House Top
3. Silver Bells
4. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. Jingle Bells
6. Over The River And Through The Woods
7. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
8. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
9. Frosty The Snowman
10. White Christmas
11. The Chipmunk Song
12. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Complete with artwork, everything @ 320 KB/s
Link below Alvin! Alvin!!! Alvin!!!!!!!

Chipmunks

Charley Patton Complete Recordings 1929-1934 Paramount Records Discs C,D & E (3 Discs)

2009-12-15T21:25:00.000-08:00

This will have to be a short and sweet blog post
and I'll leave it at that,I think the music pretty
much speaks for itself.
Here's the rest of the series of Charley Patton,
from the set on JSP Records. 92 sides of the
rarest blues music on Paramount Records.
And this is all from 1929-1934.
Remastered from The Masked Marvel!
Comes complete with artwork scans, and exact dates of when the music was recorded.It's not for everyone,this older blues music, but it's very cool stuff!
Enjoy!

Charley Patton Disc 3

Charley Patton Disc 4

Charley Patton Disc 5

Computer Issues #52

2009-12-12T18:58:00.000-08:00

I'd be posting more,but I have computer issues.See me in the photo,I am trying to fix my computer,I don't even have a monitor! Boy does this suck! Gee,time to upgrade. I think my power supply is slowly dying. So that's why I have not been able to post anything....Well, please try to understand,I'll post the rest of the Charley Patton box very soon. Sorry. Maybe Santa will bring me another computer.

Paramount Records Complete Recordings 1929-1934 Disc A & B June 1929 & October 1929.

2009-11-27T11:39:00.000-08:00

This music was recorded exactly 80 years
ago for the Paramount Records Company
based in Grafton and Port Washington,
Wisconsin.There's several of these box
sets floating around,of Charley Patton,
but I think this one sounds the best,
basically for keeping the original sound,
and not stripping away the music,
because the music comes off of old
original 78's this is all they can work
from,since this music was never recorded
on tape or the "newer" technology.
They didn't record and think this music was going to
be around all these years later,and technology wasn't as
caught up with music,as it is now.So keep that in mind
when you listen to this,some of it is rough, but some
of it is very contemporary and listenable.
Charley is "The Acknowledged King of The Delta Blues".
The originator,the father of blues,he made music that
was his own, and impossible to compare with anyone
else of the time.Charley blends all of the music near him
to form the blues tradition: local traditional
songs of the field workers,African American tradition,
white country music,and music from the
currently recorded 78's of the time. He blends these styles
to form a music made,and then handed down to others:
his near contemporaries Robert Johnson,Honey Boy Edwards,
Johnny Shines,and most likely every beginning black blues
musician knew of his work,and blended it into their own
music.You can argue this with me,but this music is
the essence of Mississippi Delta blues.Patton's lyrics are
not always easy to understand, the voice is gruff,
the phrasing eccentric, and heard through a Mississippi
accent that came about 100 years ago. His slide guitar
work was either played in his lap like a Hawaiian guitar,
and he struck the frets with a pocket knife or a conventional
brass pipe for a bottleneck. He also beat his guitar like a
drum and stomped his feet to reinforce a certain beat.
One of the first to record like this. Charley was 5'5"
tall and a spartan 135 pounds, but sounded like a man
twice his size! His gruff voice directly inspired the blues giant
Howlin' Wolf, and his guitar playing directly inspired
John Lee Hooker. Charley was also important for hooking
up other musicians to be recorded,he brought forward
fellow players Willie Brown and Son House.Charley became
within a year the most successful blues artist,thanks to
Paramount for having open ears and marketing his music.
Charley didn't live long,and his final session was done
only a couple of months before his death in 1934.These discs
I present to you, fine music fan,are thee best sounding
Paramount Records I could find.When the company went out
of business,the metal masters were sold off as scrap,some of it
was used to line chicken coops. All that's left are the original
78's rumored to have been made out of inferior pressing
material commonly used to make bowling balls (at the time)
and all of them are scratched and heavily played,making all
attempts at sound retrieval by the current noise reduction
processing a tall order indeed.
I think this label JSP did a fine fine job of making this excellent
music listenable,and I haven't been able to stop playing this
since I got it... I'm hooked on it,trying to follow his
singing,his lyrics and how it inspired countless other musicians.
Here he is, haunting my mind Disc 1 and 2 with all of the
artwork,track listings(and even with the exact Paramount
matrix numbers) When and where recorded,and even other
musicians along with Charley who recorded those same days.
(Louise Johnson,Willie Brown,a very young Son House,
The Delta Big Four,Bertha Lee,Edith North Johnson,
and Henry Sims) This is a 5 disc set,and I start you off
with discs 1 & 2. Listen to it and tell me what you think.
Charley Patton Disc 1

Charley Patton Disc 2

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

2009-11-26T13:17:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving To All!

Paramount Blues - Hometown Skiffle Various Artists Grafton & Port Washington Blues & Jazz Artists

2009-11-11T19:15:00.000-08:00

More Paramount Blues and Jazz artists,that recorded
in Wisconsin or appeared on the Black Swan label soon
to be known widely as Paramount Records.
This music is along the same lines as the earlier posted
4 disc set of Paramount blues. Here's yet another
discovered gem of ancient blues & jazz music:
1. Blind Roosevelt Graves - Bustin' The Jug (1929)
2. Blind Roosevelt Graves - Crazy About My Baby (1929)
3. Buddy Boy Hawkins - A Rag Blues (1929)
4. Buddy Boy Hawkins - Snatch It And Grab It (1929)
5. Hometown Skiffle - Part 1 (1929)
6. Hometown Skiffle - Part 2 (1929)
7. Beale Street Sheiks - Mr. Crump Don't Like It (1927)
8. Beale Street Sheiks - Jazzin The Blues (1927)
9. Tampa Red - Through Train Blues (1928)
10. Charlie Spand - Fetch Your Water (1929)
11. Charlie Spand - Soon This Morning (1929)
12. Dad Nelson - Cleveland Stomp (1927)
13. Blind Blake - He's In The Jailhouse Now (1927)
14. Blind Blake - Blind Arthur's Breakdown (1929)
15. Johnnie Head - Fare Thee Blues Part 1 (1928)
16. Papa Charlie Jackson - Forgotten Blues (1929)
17. Blind Blake - Southern Rag (1927)
18. Blind Roosevelt Graves - Guitar Boogie (1929)
19. Blind Roosevelt Graves - New York Blues (1929)
20. Will Ezell - Just Can't Stay Here (1929)

Hometown Skiffle

Wisconsin Death Trip-Black River Falls,Wisconsin

2009-10-28T13:02:00.001-07:00

Weird Wisconsin

2009-10-28T12:55:00.001-07:00

Ed Gein's Gravesite

2009-10-28T12:42:00.001-07:00

Ed Gein - A & E Biography

2009-10-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

Badger A Go-Go-Various Artists

2009-10-24T13:55:00.001-07:00

Wow, if you don't have this,you gotta have it!
This compilation features one track per band of largely Milwaukee bands. Or let's just say,every band was much loved in Milwaukee, and played Milwaukee so regularly they were thought of as from there.This album came out in 1989,and released on Atomic Records,which was a pretty cool indie store,that has since closed. A store,that the community of musicians,and music fans are already missing. You gotta have more stores selling music that doesn't have a place at the big blockbuster stores. They don't care about small bands that are local,but they sure want your local money! Well, I'm sorry to go off on that tangent. The music community is always measured by it's support by a record store that promotes,releases local talented musicians' works,or at least includes them on their racks. And that's what is important to say here. So this album was that grouping of people who were the best at this time period. Sure there could have been follow ups to this album featuring more talent,but in 1989,this was the sample of the best musicians working regularly. Some are still putting out records and playing locally. Some just have new band names. Glad they kept at it,and enjoy making music. Because I still buy their records, and at times, still manage to see them live.Watching the people come and go on this site,if you're from Milwaukee, and Wisconsin,please support the local bands...so see 'em,take your kids,so they can experience live music for the first time. Don't forget the earplugs. A lot of these tracks are exclusive to this compilation!

1. Liquid Pink- Danelectro 2. Plasticland- I'm Gonna Emphasize 3. The Squares- Downer Street
4. The Dummy Club- The American Way 5. Boy Dirt Car- K.I.D. 6. Paul Cebar & The Milwaukeeans- Can't Sit Down 7. Die Kreuzen - Seasons Of Wither (Original Version)
8. Couch Flambeau- Helvetica 9. The Blowtorch- Greivance In F#M
10. Cherry Cake- Mrs. Wilson 11. F/i - Stop At The Left,Look To The Right
12. The Appliances SFB- Play With Pain
13. Brian Ritchie & The Ghostly Trio- Blood In The Saddle 14. E-I-E-I-O-Gonna Get Gone
15. Voot Warnings- My Mother Still Likes Me
Badger A Go-Go

Boris The Sprinkler - End Of The Century

2009-10-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

Imitation is the most sincerest form of flattery,when it comes from The Reverend Norb and Boris The Sprinkler,they're from Green Bay Wisconsin, and make some of the best pop punk music around these parts. Geek powered writer Norb used to write regularly for Maximum Rock And Roll, and now currently writes a column for Razorcake. Obsessed with punk rock and pop culture,these guys are always entertaining, and this record is a tribute to The Ramones.
Here's the tracks,give it a spin.
1. Rock n' Roll Radio 2. I'm Affected 3. Danny Says 4. Chinese Rocks 5. The Return of Jackie & Judy 6.Let's Go 7. Baby I Love You 8. I Can't Make It On Time 9. This Ain't Hanava 10. Rock 'n' Roll High School 11. All The Way 12. High Risk Insurance. Not one song sucks either!
Boris The Sprinkler

Couch Potatoes - Curiosity Rocks Cassette 1982

2009-09-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

Couch Potatoes became Couch Flambeau.
And they're from Milwaukee, and
still do an occasional show here
and there. They're wildly entertaining,
and funny. The songs are catchy,clever
and the guitar playing usually borders
on punk rock meets Eddie Van Halen.
Jay will like that one. Well, he can
play! Yeah this is weird,me posting a
cassette,but that how this originally
came out, and this is from 1982.
And that's how a lot of local bands just starting
out put out their first releases in the 1980's. They are
one of a kind,and this cassette is warts and all, so don't
expect perfection.
The first track has obvious tape issues,but then the
noise goes away,pretty quick.(I must have played this
thing 100 times back in the day) The rest of the tape
sounds fine.
I was just warning you, dear listener.
It was recorded a long time ago, 27 years to be exact,
so deal with it. I think they've got "something", and I don't
mean a disease or anything like that, I think they're talented,
and original. I posted some other things from them, but this is
vintage Couch Flambeau. I think we all thought that they
were going to get signed to a major label and they would
never talk to us little people anymore, but it didn't happen.
It's a shame they didn't get signed, because they are/were
good!
Couch Potatoes Curiosity Rocks

Calling all musicians from Wisconsin!

2009-08-29T12:40:00.001-07:00

If you were in a band and put out singles and records from
the late 50's to about 1970, I really want to talk to you!
I'm doing an article about early rock music from Wisconsin
and hope it is published in a magazine. Please contact me
via garage66@live.com ,tell me what band you were in, and
lets take a trip back in time. I'm really looking for bands that
might have recorded on Wright Records, Cuca & Sara Records,
Target Records, Tee Pee Records, Trend, Feature,Coulee,
Rampro, Dynamic Sound, Big Sound, Pentagon, and any other
smaller labels, and no matter what I still want to talk to you,
because it's hard to get a feel for the times back then, without
talking to someone from that time. I also want to talk to you,
if you were a fan that went to a lot of shows, and have photos,
records memorabilia, and anything to color this article. It would
be wonderful to talk to people that went to The Scene Club in
Milwaukee,and tell me about the place,the bands,and anything
else you'd like to talk about.
Please write me soon.

Highs In The Mid-60's Volume 15 Wisconsin Part 2

2009-08-21T18:45:00.001-07:00

Highs In The Mid-60's Volume 15 Wisconsin Part Two has fifteen
more tracks of Wonderful Wisconsin sounds.. This particular
volume came out in the mid 1980's, and was part of a series
of twenty-eight volumes of music from the early to mid sixties.
Some of the other volumes concentrate on other states, for example:
there's three volumes for California (the largest music concentration,
they also had more radio stations dedicated to music)
a couple for Michigan, one volume for Colorado,
2 or 3 volumes for the Northwest (a real hotbed of music)
there's one focusing on Illinois bands, but surprisingly two for
Wisconsin (Go Wisconsin bands!). And this is like many of
the other volumes, it's focuses on the lesser known bands
that put out singles on small labels. Featured here are The Baroques
with "Nothing Left To Do But Cry",The Shaprels "A Fool For Your Lies"
are friendly easy to like pop music, then you get to
Gord's Horde with a song called "I Don't Care" and
all hell breaks loose. A frenzy of keyboards and drums, recorded
somewhere in outer space, I believe. A song about a cheating girl,
and basically he sulks and doesn't care what she does.
The main theme of most teen/garage angst rock and roll songs.
The Challengers are my favorite,perhaps it's the strange backwards
sounding recording sound of "The Challengers Take A Ride On
The Jefferson Airplane" the actual title is an ode to the
San Francisco band,and is a playful slice of psychedelia.
And I always say, guys, please,more cowbell.
The Family with "I Wanna Do It" is a dirty little song, filled
with innuendos,repeating "I wanna do it with you", "I wanna do
it to you" easily the most basic,simple and unfortunately also a
forgettable track.
The Cannons with "Days Go By" attempt to harmonize with a
pop song that's somewhat forgettable. It does not stick to
you as soon as it's over with. But that's okay.
The Wanderer's Rest go full bore with the folk rock song
"You'll Forget",which has a fabulous Stonesy feel of
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction guitar hook in it. Fits right in
1965,right at the top of the heap with other folk rockers The Turtles.
The Mustard Men who are also a favorite of
mine with "I Lost My Baby", do a song with an R & B feel, and
terrific call and response towards the end. They must have been
the real deal live.They have a British Invasion Animals sound.
The Impalas, do a fabulous snarling punk blues rock version
of "Spoonful". Just listen to the vocals, these guys mean it!
Yes there's talent in Wisconsin, in the 1960's and these bands
prove it. Some of the music is primitive,but these are mostly teens
making music,by themselves.They recorded it, and pressed these
records, with little or no help from anyone giving them professional
direction. Maybe that's why I like this, it's raw talent, and playing.
The Spacemen with "Same Old Grind" is a direct copy of
"I'm A Man", but you can't complain, since that's a great song to cover.
It fits right there in garage rock heaven like the songs "Louie Louie"
and "Gloria". Who can resist the simplicity and stomp value?
I can't. The rest of the album is nothing really earth shaking or new.
The Mid-Knighters perhaps are the odd ones,doing a sort of
oldy moldie styled "Charlena", it has a rockabilly and country feel.
The band The Rehabilitation Cruise,has quite possibly the strangest
name,and I'm still not sure what they are singing about in "Mini Skirts".
I can't tell whether they like mini skirts or not. I keep listening to
it and wearing a groove into it, but still...I don't get it.
It will perhaps, remain the biggest mystery known to mankind.
The Fugitives "Come On And Clap" sounds like a merging of several
classic songs, with maybe a little bit of a Little Honda /Beach Boys
crescendo. What could be better? It blends the cars,girls,California,
the sunshine happy clap along theme. Only it's in Wisconsin.
Sample this wonderful album below for your own bad self.
And stay tuned for more Wisconsin music. Wait until I drag out
all of the polka records, I know you're excited.
Highs Volume 15

Les Paul Guitarist Extraordinaire From Waukesha,Wisconsin

2009-08-13T14:33:00.000-07:00

Les Paul & Mary Ford "How High The Moon"

2009-08-13T14:27:00.001-07:00

Les Paul June 9th,1915 - August 13th, 2009

2009-08-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

Highs In The Mid-60's Volume 10 Wisconsin

2009-07-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

This is the album you must own, along with the other volumes from AIP Records,this is Highs In The Mid-60's Volume 10. This compilation contains some rare records from Wisconsin bands,that are next to impossible to find,so this series was created. Even copies of this compilation album seldom turn up anymore,they were released in the late 1970's early 80's. And at some point they made 28 volumes of these concentrating on each state.There's two for Wisconsin,saying yeah,there's enough cool music here to compile. Actually there could be at least 5 volumes. There's two volumes of Highs In The Mid 60's for Michigan 60's rock, several for California,a couple for the Northwest, and so on and so forth,it would be in your best interest to search them all out,if you love 60's garage music. Because recently,in the last 10 years or so, garage music singles have shot up in value, and this might be the only way people can hear this music. But never fear,dear garage music fans, there's a lot of wonderful labels, putting out this music on small labels, and it would be worth the search and time to seek them out. It's not only valuable to collect these, but the music is really fun,and addictive.You will thank me, when you hear this,well, at least I hope so. One other thing of note,is most of these singles came out on tiny labels,like Cuca,Tee Pee,Dynamic,Nite Owl, and so, this might be the only way you can hear them again. Many of these singles were pressed in limited quantity. Featured on this particular compilation is the Shag or Shags,known by both names, and their biggest single for Capitol records "Stop & Listen", from 1967,which I never get tired of listening to,since there's nothing quite like it for fuzz guitar, and if that wasn't enough,there's the Noblemen "Dirty Robber",from 1960, which is a fabulous piece of surf/frat rock/early garage rock hybrid that's also infectious.
Another song of note, is The Wanderer's Rest "The Boat That I Row" (from 1967) is a fine slice of pop garage rock,that also will stick to the roof of your brain, along with Lord Beverly Moss and The Mossmen "Please Please What's the Matter", doing the best R & B singing and playing that you ever heard, along with the wackiest guitar freakout at the end of the song,perhaps they didn't know just how to end the song,either way it's priceless. The Hinge from Appleton doing "Come On Up" (from 1968) is a terrific cover version of The Young Rascals song, The Young Savages (From Milwaukee) "The Invasion Are Coming" (1967) perhaps not to be taken too seriously -seeing as they think outer space martians are coming soon. Still it's a fun song, and sang tongue on cheek, and has neato reverb and "outer space" effects, although simple,it's effective. I do believe there is an invasion coming, but maybe they didn't know it was the British Invasion. The Deverons "On The Road Again (1965) is a fine example of the folk rock sound,in the mid 60's. The Faro's (from Neenah) "I'm Cryin'" perhaps is a little poor sounding, on the mix, which suffers a little muddy sound, but still pounds out like a good R & B cover that it is. Still for the time, this compilation record came out it was COOL enough,to start me collecting that genre of music, which I will always be glad I did. I always listen to this music. Because if you know the disease that is record collecting, it is never fully complete.So you collect all of your life, hoping to find that original rare record that isn't so much worth five or a thousand dollars, but it's the copy you must have to complete your collection. So you hear it the way the band made that single back in the day. More of this stuff soon, because there's another volume on Highs In The Mid 60's Wisconsin Part Two, so please stay tuned.
Highs In The Mid 60's

Milwaukee Early Punk Singles-The Haskels,Die Kreuzen & The Lubricants

2009-07-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

I've got 3 cool singles here, which are pretty rare early Milwaukee
punk rock legends...Die Kreuzen with The Cows and Beer EP,
The Haskels 4 song 7 inch extended play from the early 80's which
features the songs: Taking The City By Storm, Body Language,
Daddy's Girl & Baby Let's French. Also for your listening pleasure,
The Lubricants 1980 2 song 7 inch single Activated Energy and
Trans Formation Vacation. Culled from the depths of my rock
and punk vaults,just waiting to assault the public.I hope you enjoy it!
Milwaukee Early Punk Singles

The Baroques- Self Titled Album on Chess Records and The Musical Tribute To The Oscar Mayer Weiner Wagon

2009-07-12T16:07:00.001-07:00

The Baroques formed in 1966 in Milwaukee,Wisconsin.
In January 1967 they signed a contract with Chess Records.
By June 1967, both the album “Iowa” and single “Mary Jane”
were released and banned in the same week. The ban was imposed
by some local DJs whose stations directors thought “Mary Jane”
was a pro-drug song about marijuana. Jay Berkenhagen had actually
written it as an anti-drug song but no one got it. Instead The
Baroques became infamous as “acid-heads” due to the “far-out”
sounds on the record. At this point, Jay had never tried drugs in his life.
The Baroques had a fuzz-guitar/keyboard-damaged sound that
retained much of the garage intensity of ’66 while plunging into the
experimentation that marked the latter part of the decade.
Sure, there are traces of the Byrds and the Zombies,
but by the time the Baroques have had their way with a pop song,
it’s like the deformed bastard child of those bands hobbling around on
one leg. As on “Rose Colored Glasses,” where Jay Berkenhagen’s
odd,deep vocals bounce along with awkward (yet insanely catchy)
riffs until settling into a gorgeous, harmony-laden chorus.
“Nothing To Do But Cry” is an exceptional folk-rocker that’s
dirtied up with some nice distorted jangling and raw power-chording.
At times they veer into chaotic fits of noise that wouldn’t sound
too out of place on a Scientists album.(the punk/garage band from
Perth, Australia-which I think might be stretching it a bit,but what
the heck-maybe you'll check out the band because they are
awesome) (“Iowa, A Girl’s Name” “Musical Tribute…”).
But what really sets them apart from other similarly-minded
bands is the excessively glum atmosphere which pervades most
of the album. The sludge-folk(a new term) of “Purple Day” and
“Seasons” may come off too monotonous for some, but there is
something absolutely hypnotizing lurking in the uncommonly dark
textures of these songs.
Included for your pleasure are the original album The Baroques,
the way it appeared on Chess Records,and I include the newest
release Purple Day 1967-1968 with some ultra rare Milwaukee
recorded outtakes,and other bonus songs,never before heard.
They are a little strange,but they might grow on you.
The Baroques

The Baroques-Purple Day

Paramount Records- The Paramount Masters- World's Rarest Blues and the music made at The Wisconsin Chair Company

2009-06-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

Where have I been? Well, um researching. And it's time
I let you inon a secret, I'm obsessed with old blues,and
odd music, and can't getenough of it. I've had this 4 CD
set a while,but didn't listen to it. I wantedto savor it,like a
fine wine, and wait until I was done listening to garage,
punk,and other styles of music for a while. Now I'm ready
to let you all have a taste, and a brief, but unusual history
that is uniquely weird Wisconsin. This is what my research
told me:
Paramount Records started in 1927 and was owned
by The Wisconsin Chair Company. It's gets stranger.
Since chairs are made of wood, as were old phonograph
players and radios were like a piece of furniture, the
Wisconsin Chair Company got into making phonographs,
recordings,and when they found out it was profitable,
they started recorded artists right in Grafton, Wisconsin.
I don't know who made the decision or jump into making
recordings,but it's just lucky this company came along
and recorded some of the most interesting and rare records
ever.
The initial recordings were not made in Wisconsin, some
were made in Richmond, Indiana, and others made
in Chicago,until Paramount had a suitable recording
site in Grafton,Wisconsin.
Oddly, the earliest recording equipment was very
portable, and usually,many of the other labels recorded
artists almost anywhere.They'd get hotel rooms and
record, where is there the least noise, from trains,
street cars, and traffic, that's where they recorded.
So, it could have been anywhere for that matter.
So why they had the artists come to Grafton,
Wisconsin is confusing, but maybe that's where
they finally bought the recording equipment and made
history. It could be that they had an excellent
recording area set up, spent the money, and could
control the sound the best....I'm still learning about it
all myself. I do know that "they", the record labels of the
times,recorded as many songs as they could in a 1-2-3
day marathon, and then pay the artist a
flat rate, and said goodbye. It was all very makeshift.
Paramount recorded many different artists, not just
the earliest Charley Patton records.(or Charlie Patton)
The first recording was in 1925 was by Blind Lemon
Jefferson. And his records were an immediate success,
due to the fact that Paramount Records were really
the best advertisers of music,as well as really great at
distribution. They did a brisk mail order business.
They advertised in the Chicago Defender, the
nation's first black newspaper, and advertised in many
other small rural papers,where people, mostly African
Americans wanted to hear the blues.They targeted their
audience and knew their market, it seems.
Want to know just when Charley Patton recorded
his first record? Paramount arranged Charley to record
on June 14th, 1929 at Gennett Records' Richmond Indiana
Studios, and he recorded a total of 14 tracks that day.
The tracks he recorded that day were his best known:
Pony Blues,Pea Vine Blues, Tom Rushen Blues,and
Banty Rooster Blues among others. The records that
launched every blues performer known to man.
All were pressed into 78's and sold well. And because
of his success, he was asked to record again, but this
time in Grafton, Wisconsin, later in the year about
November-early December 1929. This is 80 years
ago, almost to the day and I wish I was there!
Meanwhile there's a New York Recording Laboratory
involved,and I don't know where they fit in, I know they
eventually maintained an office in Flatbush, Brooklyn,
New York, and that they might have been supervising
the recordings. They were created in 1917, and they
figure in somewhere, and in what my rough research tells
me, that The New York Recording Laboratories were a
subsidiary business and they made records
for various genres, and labels including Paramount.
It's high time I bought the book by Alex van der Tuuk
entitled: Paramount's Ride And Fall, A History of The
Wisconsin Chair Company and it's Recording Activities.
I'm sure that will repair my retarded research.
(hey there's 15-20 websites that have to do with
Paramount Records,and I don't know who's right or wrong)
But I'm here to expose the music. That's my job, and at least
give you a small background story to tease you about the
music,so to speak.
If you like the blues, this set of 4 CD's will really get you a
quick education of some of the earliest examples of the
Paramount Records Story. If you don't like the blues, you
will at least find these recordings strange, and haunting.
And maybe you'll delve deeper. And if you're a history buff,
you might want to listen to these recordings while reading
the fabulous book by Robert Palmer entitled Deep Blues.
Which gives you a back round on life in the
Southern Delta region, and how the blues came about.
Hands down, this is thee best book on the blues,man.
This is the best recorded I've heard of these 78's that
I can find, and hope someday people who collect these
recordings could help by making them available to more
people, so we can hear them as they were released.
John Teftteller, please donate your fabulous old records to
some museums and people who could make sure that this music is
part of our American heritage, and make sure that they make it
available to us for all to hear!
I think this is important to mention, since he's got all of the early Charley
Patton records on his website. You might want to have a look and drool.
Meanwhile, I'm still searching for more 78's in re-pressings on CD or album
but I think these 4 CD's will at least give you a great start of this music from
Paramount Records and Wisconsin. Links are in the comments section
with complete artwork,scans,etc. There's more complete information
about each recording in the booklet scans.

More Wisconsin Radio Charts 1969-1970

2009-04-26T15:32:00.001-07:00

Vintage Radio charts! I love these because they remind me that radio used to be more fun. Heck, some charts from the 60's had
Frank Sinatra,Dean Martin right next to The Beatles, Paul Revere and The Raiders, and then you'd see easy listening music along with country cross overs. A much less narrow minded view of what music is, and what was once allowed on the air. Remember the hits?
One week it would be The Turtles with "Happy Together" and the next week it was Frank Sinatra with Nancy doing "Something Stupid" (that's a song title for you who think that's funny).
WZMF was the new Milwaukee station that was not only better sounding in FM,but it was one of the early pioneers of album rock. Strange charts for 1969 and 1970, which still contain "the little ones with the big holes" meaning singles still dominated radio play, and long playing albums were just starting to take off. Concept albums,long players were just starting to dominate the airwaves with longer songs,and less teeny bopper pop rock. You can still see Top 40 radio chart regulars Neil Diamond along side the new Plastic Ono Band release,and Steppenwolf, Melanie along side of Johnny Cash. Ahhh...those were the days where you'd hear all kinds of music of all styles, not just hard rock,or top 40 or easy listening, but country and jazz too.

More Wisconsin Radio And Music Charts From the 1960's and early 70's

2009-04-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

Local Radio Charts WRIT from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and WDLB from Marshfield Wisconsin.Most charts or surveys from the 1960's and 70's had advertising from the local stores on the backs of the surveys making them a cool time-piece. On the back of the WRIT charts from 1967 is an ad for Thunder Alley,which catered to the teens of the 60's. Almost all of the charts also had local bands making it to the lower chart numbers,and making a small dent in local radio airplay,if they were lucky.

Rock From The Mid-West- The Cuca Records Story Volume 2 -The Zakons "Wasted" !

2009-03-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

Oh this, is the best volume so far because it features the Zakons two wonderful instrumentals "Wasted!" and "Trackin' ", The Orbits doing "Orbit Rock", and a terrific rockabilly tune from Bob Mattice & The Phaetons doing "What's All This". Which features a neato-keen-poke-fun commentary on a lot of the popular songs of the day, and naturally makes fun of each and every one of them, saying "What's All This?". It's dated and well, songs like that have a short shelf life, and now mostly point out exactly when the song was recorded. It's clever, and worth hearing. Again,nothing really revolutionary about this music, other than, it's rare,obscure rockers from Wisconsin. The Zakons really could have challenged Link Wray in a duel guitar fight, but I think ol Link would have whipped them, and shown them a thing or two.But they do some nice Rumble like chords. I don't know whatever happened to The Zakons, and maybe with more research they ended up in another band. We'll see, but these guys are so hard to find in these bands. I was kind of hoping some of them are still around, so we could get them to write about their lives and leave more on this site too. That's what this is all about. So write me,leave a comment! Link in the comments as usual. Maybe Collector Records will re-issue more things like this in the future with an updated band information booklet. We can only hope Cees Klop from White Label /Collector Records comes to our musical rescue!

Rock From The Mid-West-The Cuca Records Story Volume 1- I'm Movin' On!

2009-03-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm still here.I'm just busy,and doing other things besides blogging,and well, this is all self produced,and I don't get anything for it. It's also a matter of finding more interesting music, and finding a clean copy on vinyl,and the whole nine yards of making it into a digital copy,blah,blah blah, and then posting it here. When you're doing 5 other things, it's natural to just post things slowly. And you should savor the flavor of each album I post anyways. It's not quantity it's quality my dear.
This album is courtesy of the fabulous Collector Records out of Holland and they did 3 volumes of this (that I found so far) and this is volume 1.It features mostly all rockabilly and instrumentals from the mid to late 1950's. Don't let the sad cover fool you, the inside features some nice primitive early rock instrumentals from The Rock-A-Fellers,Willie Tremain's Thunderbirds, and The Montereys. One track that stands out is "I'm Moving On" By Dick Hiorns with Jimmy Sun & The Radiants, it just chugs along like a rockabilly rocking train, and leaves me wanting more. Unfortunatly, a lot of these bands were only able to make a single or two, and then sadly, move on to either another band or give it up entirely, as the life of a musician is always precarious. Maybe they move on literally, get married, go to college or just work a straight normal job, but they left their marks here on this little record. I will be posting all 3 volumes so, please give them a listen. It's not musical history altering here, just damn good rock and roll from Wisconsin. Link in comments, cheese is welcome.

Badger Beat Chronicles- Various 1960's Garage- The Spacemen "Modmen"

2009-02-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

We're frozen solid this winter ... and that's probably
why I haven't been posting! Someone finally threw some rock
salt on me and chipped me off of the frozen ground. Thanks!
This wonderful vinyl only release from Misty Lane Records out of
Italy, really isn't complete, but has the makings of several more
volumes! (hint hint) It features a variety of small local labels of
the music of the 60's, and is a natural extension of the
Ace Records compilations:
Rockin' In Wisconsin-The Cuca Records Story Volume 3,
Elemental Instrumentals-Instrumental Rock From Cuca Records
1959-1965, and the wonderful Garagemental!-The Cuca Records
Story Volume 2 (also on Ace Records) It seems like the labels from
Italy and the UK are the only ones releasing music like this, sadly.
But what the heck, someone like us!
We music fanatic Wisconsin-ites have known about this music for years!
We have the singles, and that was the only way to have this music.
But no one's taken it the the next level by releasing it,on compilations,
until import labels made it cool. Thanks! Finally Wisconsin music has a
chance to shine! It's just as odd as any other state's garage musical
history, and Badger Beat Chronicles is just another example of the
fine music that comes from our fair state.
Many of the bands were also featured prominently on other
compilations (vinyl only) on two particular volumes of
Highs In The Mid 60's-Wisconsin Volumes 10 and 15.
You'll hear the other singles,on Highs In The Mid-60's like the Faros,
(doing a blazing garage R & B workout version of Please,Please What's
The Matter)with an awesome guitar freakout that runs crazy until
the song finally fades, like it can't go on anymore. Pure teenage insanity.
They don't make music like that anymore...and I wish they did.
It's raw and real.
I encourage you to seek out those vinyl editions, and give them a spin.
Otherwise, stay tuned here! I'll do my best to present it.
These are all important pieces of the music puzzle you must own
or at least hear, because if you're already reading this, you're interested!
But, back to Badger Beat Chronicles; you're going to get music from
bands who might have only released one or two singles on their own
labels, or a friend's label, or if they were lucky Cuca Records. Who were
able to distribute a little better than the smaller home made labels.
The only other way you could distribute your singles was just by
live shows, and maybe giving a local DJ a copy, to play. And you
had to play the larger cities, in order to get your singles heard.
Talk about do-it-yourself!
The punks weren't the first to invent it!
So this wonderful vinyl edition compiles singles-some A sides
and maybe an odd B-side for us, and is, perhaps
the only way you're going to hear this music,and their cosmic yelps.
Just because you've never heard of these bands,doesn't mean they
don't rock, and they aren't cool. Give it a chance,and you'll be
a garage music fanatic like me. I hope to see more of these type
of compilations, so this unheard music can be heard across
the world, putting Wisconsin rock music on the map. Though
this is surely obscure garage music, it rocks and is unforgettable.
Here's the slop, pop:
01. The Crucibles- Beware Of Birds
02. The Komons- Caught In A Trap
03. The Chieftones- Don't Dare
04. Sano & The Saints Five- Have Love Will Travel
05. The Quarrymen- Why
06. The Private Property Of Digil- To My Friends
07. The Inspirations- That Girl
08. The Henchmen VI- Is Love Real?
09. The Society- One Way Ride
10. The Quarrymen- Don't Try Your Luck
11. The Talismen- Glitter & Gold
12. The Spacemen- Modman
13. The Challengers Of Who- Leave Me Be
14. The Wanderer's Rest- The Girl That I Love
15. Tomorrow's Children- I Can Only Give You Everything
16. The Pynk Peach Mob- No Tears
17. The Faros- I'm Calling You Back
18. The Orbits- Don't
19. The Girls Take Over- High Heel Sneakers
20. The Hinge- The Idols Of Your Mind
Link in the comments sections.

One Of Wisconsin's Coolest Labels-Cuca Records! Elemental Instrumentals!

2008-12-13T12:12:00.000-08:00

Cuca Records was founded in 1959 in Sauk City,Wisconsin.The city was and still is a small farming community, caught in a time warp, a rocking time warp,musically. The small modest studio began in a basement(see above) ,and was one of the most significant small independent studios around the Wisconsin area. A lot of unknown bands and people recorded there, and it was a place to get your feet wet,and make a 7" single, and have it pressed up, and sell it at your live shows,impress your friends, and parents. It gradually became one of the best studios, through simple word of mouth, and virtually every Wisconsin band from the late 50's-to early 60's recorded there. You couldn't beat the recording rates! For $37.50 you could record your two or three songs,with no clock bearing down on you, get 300 copies of your single,and make some cool music. Cuca Records boss Jim Kirchstein was one clever decent guy, buying a lot of second hand recording equipment, and setting up shop. But the music on this label wasn't always rock and roll,some of it was polkas,old timey folk music, Swiss yodeling, and whatever else anyone wanted to record. This release "Elemental Instrumentals captures the instrumental rock found all over the Wisconsin area at the time.

What it was possibly lacking in technical skill in recording made up for it two-fold in the sheer excitement and creativity. This release is pretty amazing for the unknown bands of this era,

one song that just stands out strongly are The Montereys doing a song called "Rocker". Released in 1959, it pre-dates the surf era and the song "Wipe Out!" by a good two-three years. Where did they find music like this? Tucked away in those small towns, where kids,their brothers and sisters took their high school band classes, and just liked to mess around playing live shows to make a few extra bucks.

I don't think anyone had "stardom" in mind, I think they were just messing around, and that's where some of the best music comes from.

Another stand out track is "The Lonely Huns" by the band Attila & The Huns from 1965, also predating and sounding wildly close to a version of The Midnight Cowboy theme, which by my estimate came out in 1969 or so. Unusual music to say the least, and is definitely caught in a time warp. We're talking Twilight Zone.

Curious stuff! Creative and unlike most of the rock around the Midwest, considering Wisconsin a landlocked state, instrumental and "surf " styled music thrived. Sara Records was also another label name under the umbrella of Cuca Records, along with the Night Owl label-also part of Jim Kirchstein's publishing company.

There's so much more to say about Cuca Records,and the famous Fendermen single,and I think I'm going to spread that out over several releases, because you simply can't pin down this label to any one style of music or sound. It's also hard to condense this music into one post here.

Cuca Records; It was just: come on in and record your best tunes. Which for most musicians meant, do your own thing. Some of the music is dated sounding, but perhaps that's why the music still stands up after all these years, it's not really following every trend, or style, and has a sound all of it's own. Listen and see. It well worth tracking down this release,and get the liner notes, and also read online for there are several articles on the net all about Cuca Records.

It's well worth investigating, and learning how a small label nearly in the middle of nowhere can make some very cool music. Link in comments section. Be sure to stay tuned for The Fendermen, more garage music from Wisconsin, and other rarities!

Knuckel Drager Live Photos

2008-12-04T22:58:00.000-08:00

Madison,Wisconsin's Knuckel Drager rocks the house at

The Cactus Club in Milwaukee, opening up for The Lords Of Altamont.

Both bands were "on fire".

Photographs courtesy of & copyright Stephanie Soltes,

http://www.myspace.com/garagemusic66 tons of cool ass rock and roll and punk photos. Go see.
The Cactus Club is a fine place to see local, national and international bands, so go and support the place. It's a wonderful small club that is intimate, and has really great sound, and is battling to stay open,because it's a neighborhood bar,and the neighbors don't like the noise. Whatever happened to art?

Knuckel Drager - Slam Bang Showdown! & 13 Diabolic Hits - Madison Wisconsin Crazies!

2008-12-04T13:41:00.001-08:00

Knuckel Drager is a fire breathing garage surf band from Madison Wisconsin.

I think there's 6 members in this band. I've tried to do a mask count, and I think

I counted 6 of them running around. Little else is known about them, they wear

scary masks, and play a brand of music that could be compared to newer

garage punk bands like The Mummies,The Bomboras and The Lords Of Altamont.

Those wild tear 'em up bands!

They're crazy onstage,and use a traditional garage band instrument -a keyboard,

but their keyboard breathes fire! I caught them at a few shows, and was pleasantly

surprised how truly fun and crazy they are. If I were you, I wouldn't miss one of

their shows,ever! It's exciting,and fun, and there's always a feeling of anything

could happen. And that's always fun for me, as an audience member.

Their music is wild, and usually instrumental, short bursts of speed garage surf.

And they even graced the stages of Gearfest 2001 in Austin Texas.

They're getting around, and I think it's great to have a band like this who really

put on a wild stage show and put so much into their shows, you'd be a fool not to

check them out, and I'd expect them to be snapped up by a small independent

label or just be sure-they're going to be putting out their own product like

these two fine releases here. They have a myspace page, at :

www.myspace.com/knuckeldrager and I would expect you to write them,

and check out their shows,(I'm certain they have a list of shows and dates posted)

and support them whenever possible by buying their stickers,albums,t-shirts,

and naturally their shrunken head necklaces.

I've got one hanging in my car right now, right around my rear view mirror.

And whenever I gaze at that green skull hanging there,I think of them.

I think I'm in love. Links are in the comments section.

WRIT Milwaukee Radio Charts From The Golden Age Of Radio

2008-11-14T11:28:00.001-08:00

Click on radio charts to see them larger! Check out the competition in 1964 and 1966!

Couch Flambeau- Self Titled - Les Paul!

2008-10-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Couch Flambeau have been around since the early early 1980's, and continue to play shows around the Milwaukee area. Unusual for a band to even stay together this long, but then again, Couch Flambeau aren't you're usual band! They are a strange blend of punk pop metal rock with a sense of humor that maybe only Milwaukeens might understand.
Then again, some of their music and jokes tend to be very Spinal Tap. The recording,and playing is top notch, and they have three full length albums to date. They started out as The Couch Potatoes, and quickly changed that to the now Couch Flambeau-don't ask me what it means, but at least you will remember them, right?
I have their earliest cassette release Curiosity Rocks,which was recorded in 6 hours, and even then showed wild creativity.
They're fun and catchy and hard NOT to like!
They opened up for all of the cool Midwestern bands who blew through the area:
The Violent Femmes, Big Black,The Damned,The Butthole Surfers,The Replacements, and played many local gigs, with just about every other local band. They played every club in Milwaukee, that came along
(Cafe Voltaire,soon to be The Odd Rock Cafe or simply The Odd Rock ,The Underground,and many others) and were also well played on WMSE 91.7 FM the city's only college radio station that matters. They developed a fairly large cult following, and still really are a fun band to see, as they drag out most of their material at each show. (most songs are 2-3-4 minute compact little blasts). Always entertaining, never sucking! That could be their t-shirt logo along with a cool customed Hot Wheels car.
Look for their other releases: Mammal Insect Marriage (1983), The Day The Music Died (1985),and severals singles and EP's like "We're Not So Smart"/"Mississippi Queen"(yes -that old Mountain song from 1970! )(1986), and the brilliant Models EP (1987), and oh, don't forget Ghostride(1989).
All are highly prized,and worth finding! So get to it!
Here's a sample of what you've been missing. You're gonna like it- I'm sure!
http://rapidshare.com/files/156325784/Couch_Flambeau-Couch_Flambeau.rar.html

The Oil Tasters-Self Titled Album 1982 -Get Out Of The Bathroom!

2008-10-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning of a new blog,which we wanted to feature mostly Wisconsin bands. And bands from the area around Wisconsin.

Some you might remember, and some you might not know anything about, if we present the music, pure and simple, that might make you want to hear it, and enjoy it.

The Oil Tasters weren't a punk band,just a different group of 3 guys (Richard LaValliere, Caleb Alexander, and Guy Hoffmann )who made music unlike

anything else, so it got tossed into "punk music".

True- they did have an unsual sound-drums, sax and a bass guitar only? Yeah, why not? The music is herky jerky and jazz-like, and angular, so "they" called it post punk rock. I don't know who they are-let's just say the critics.

At the time this album came out, in 1982 anything odd was classified in punk music. But then, there was always a built in small group of people, that came to love this band,and support them,wherever they played any shows. Unfortunately there wasn't enough local support, and clubs to play and make a living out of this, and each member grew and morphed into other projects. But in the early 1980's they were pretty much the "house band" at The Starship. The Starship was the best place to play, and get seen, and sell your music at that time. It was always The Oil Tasters,supported by 1 or 2 or even 3 other bands who opened up for them . Lucky Milwaukeans were able to hear this self titled album and singles by The Oil Tasters on WSOE soon to be WMSE 91.7 FM radio,which was the only college radio station, and it the THEE PLACE to hear when and where the next Oil Tasters show was going to happen.

The Oil Tasters bounced from Chicago to Milwaukee,to Madison for years, and quickly gained a serious fan following. First they released their singles in 1980,and 1981 and even got noticed by Bruce Pavitt who made home made cassette compilations called Sub Pop. The album featured here, is the culmination of their singles, and their one and only album which was

released on Thermidor Records out of Berkeley,California in 1982.

They are truly one of the most unique and wonderful bands to ever come from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and we only wish they'd reform, for a show again, and remind us how great they were,and still are.

I'm still new at posting on blogger, so please be patient ! Here's the real live music link below which will no doubt change your life, once you hear it. Thanks for coming to visit, and you are always encouraged to write comments, and share your stories of

Wisconsin music. And if you don't like this blog, then start your own damn blog.

http://rapidshare.com/files/153486323/The_Oil_Tasters-The_Oil_Tasters.rar.html