Category Archive

By Max Conroy

The enigmatic and visionary electronic ‘band’ The Silver Apples will perform tomorrow night at Scrummage University.  I don’t know anything about the venue and was handed a flyer for the show, which is a photocopy of a primitive pen and ink drawing, by a group of teenagers that I befriended at the Jandek performance in Ann Arbor. 

The Silver Apples formed in New York in 1967, consisting of Simeon Coxe III (Simeon) and Danny Taylor, drums.  The duo were in a band called The Overland Stage Electric Band prior to the Apples, where band members rapidly left the group as a result of Simeon’s incorporation of a 1940s vintage audio oscillator, leaving the two.  Simeon developed a homemade instrument, the Simeon, consisting of “nine audio oscillators piled on top of each other and eighty-six manual controls to control lead, rhythm, and bass pulses with hands, feet, and elbows”(from the liner notes of their first album).  They recorded a self-titled album, released in 1968 on Kapp Records that barely cracked the top 100 and the follow up, Contact, in ‘69.  They toured to support Contact and recorded another album in 1970, but it was shelved when Kapp was devoured by MCA.  This third record would eventually be released as Garden in 1998.  The band dissolved as a result of Kapp folding and lay dormant for the next twenty-five years.

The Apples were brought back to life in 1994 when a German label TRC began issuing bootlegs of their first two records, causing a long-awaited rebirth of interest in their music.  The original records eventually were officially reissued, they toured (Coxe and a multi-instrumentalist named Xian Hawkins), and released several singles and albums in the late 90s that received favorable press.  In 1999 their tour van was involved in an accident that broke Simeon’s neck.  He’s been recovering since, but will probably never fully recover the movement of his hands, so apparently his performance is a bit more direct now.  Danny Taylor died of a heart attack in Kingston, New York in 2005.  Simeon went back on the road as a solo version of the Silver Apples in 2007 and is supposed to still put on a good show. 

This music must have been totally unpalatable in the late 60s, but it absolutely presaged the future of music and the advent of electronic music, from bands like Suicide and Kraftwork in the 70s to Detroit to Radiohead.

Oscillations:

I Don’t Care What the People Say:

From Pitchfork:  Better bring some extra cash to these shows, as Mr. Silver Apples will be peddling both a tour-only ChickenCoop Recordings LP of remastered tunes entitled Selections and a new Gifted Children Records EP called Gremlins at the merch table.

By Max Conroy 

It’s finally summer here in Michigan, the sweat pouring down my back as I type this in a coffee shop, is proof.  The air is thick, it’s hot as hell and there are tons of music-related events going on in the area; I’ll try and keep all of you hipped to what should be worthwhile and, of course, my opinions and reflections of those events.  Speaking of which, stay tuned for my write up of the Raconteurs/Black Lips show, which should be posted by tonight, or maybe tomorrow morning if any SNAFUs arise. 

Here is a track I recorded earlier today.  My friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, dusted off his Telecaster and let it fly.

PS:  The Donita Sparks show is coming up on Wednesday, which I promise will be worth the $10.

For Sale Soon

James Tatum (James Tatum Trio Plus), Contemporary Mass on private press jttp records.  VG++/VG++ (close to NM), super clean. 

In addition to playing the jazz piano, James Tatum holds a masters in music education from the University of Michigan, and is a composer, lecturer, and lifelong educator and promoter of jazz music.  In 1987, Tatum formed the James Tatum Foundation For The Arts, which provides funding and support to Detroit area youth who are involved in music and art.  James is a true ambassador of jazz music and education who deserves as much recognition for those contributions as he does for his incredible talents as an innovative jazz pianist.

We recently found this record by him, Contemporary Jazz Mass.  The intro was comped by Jazzman, off their “Spiritual Jazz: Esoteric, Modal, and Deep Jazz From The Underground 1968-1977″.  At first, I didn’t think I was going to like this record, but I was in the right mood this evening and I really got it.  You have to concentrate, you have to be alone, and you have to really listen, and then it takes off.  It’s perfectly and painstakingly arranged, but it’s still free and features plently of improvisation.  It’s extremely sacred and serious, yet it’s still funky and spaced-out.

The back of cover explains the album well:

“…Having converted to Catholicism some ten years ago, Tatum was deeply moved by the reverence, and the impressive beauty of the music.  As he became more involved with the church, it’s parishoners, and it’s music he recognized a chance to further explore the ‘Mass’ through a jazz interpretation.  Mr. Tatum believes the ‘jazz form’ of music could add another dimension, by using instrumentation and vocals to relate emotional feelings.  In composing the Mass, he attempted to convey the amicable, harmonious feelings exhibited by his parishoners: poetry of family living and brotherly love set to music.  James Tatum was commissioned by St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church of Detroit, Michigan to compose the mass.  The premiere performance was presented May, 1973 marking the first time in the United States that a Jazz Mass was celebrated by a Cathoic Priest from the Archdiocese of Detroit…”

I’m not sure how many of these were pressed, but it’s a pretty rare and sought after LP that we’ve never seen before.  It’s another one of those records that I hate to give up, but at least I got to enjoy it once before we have to sell it.  Check out a few samples from the album, and look for it go up for sale soon.

Intro:

Alleluia:

Offertory:

Kiss of Peace:

by Cousin Geoff

Reissues are generally not my thing, I’d rather search for the original.  It kind of feels like cheating, and it’s nowhere near the thrill of playing the real deal.  That being said, there is no original album for Fugi’s Mary, Don’t Take Me On No Bad Trip.  Tough City reissued this unreleased acid-funk record in 1996 from Detroiter Ellington Jordan, AKA Fugi, originally meant to be put out by Chess’s Cadet label in 1968, but deemed too trippy for them.  When I came across this, not only was I put off by the fact that it was a reissue, but the cover was terrible.  It looked like a late 1990s Cash Money rap album.  But the writing on the cover was more than enough to convice me:

“From The Vaults of CHESS RECORDS…The legendary unreleased album by the blackballed acid-funkateer.”  OK - sold.

When I put it on, I was absolutely floored.  This is exactly the type of music I seek out.  And this was, dare I say, better than the Detroit funk I had been listening to - early 70s Funkadelic and Temptations, even Dennis Coffee.  The genre of funk that is uniquely Detroit - psychadelic, rootsy, Hendrix-like, but funk at it’s core.  The first Funkadelic record can’t be touched, but this, if it had come out as planned, might be better.  The thing is, I don’t understand why Cadet didn’t release this in 1968.  Fugi was not some ordinary stoned funk musician trying to peddle an album to a top label.  He was an extremely talented song writer who was good friends with Temptation Eddie Kendrix.  In 1968, in addition to messing around with his own stuff while being backed by the band Black Merda, he wrote songs for Chess.  Fugi rubbed shoulders on a daily with Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Donny Hathaway, Jimmy Hendrix and Etta James.  In fact, Fugi wrote the song “I’d Rather Go Blind” (his own version is on this album) for Etta James who turned it into a worldwide hit number one hit, selling 8 million copies.

Fugi did release a few 45s, but it is still puzzling why this album was never put out.  I’m fully convinced that he could have become a star, with more albums following this one, plus tours and the whole shot.  As for the excuse that I’ve heard that it was too trippy, Detroit psych-soul-funk was what was hot a few years later, around 1969-1970, with the pair of Westbound Funkadelic albums, and The Temptations Psychedelic Shack album, among others.  And even if that was the case (which it’s not - it’s perfectly put together and more soul-based funk than psych-rock funk), what about the Cadet Concept label?  This was created and put together by Marshall Chess, son of Chess records co-founder Leonard Chess, for the sole purpose of “concept” albums.  Rotary Connection is maybe the closest and best known example, and they were way more out-there and, in my opinion, not nearly as good as Fugi.  This would have been the perfect album to put on this label, and they flat out blew it.

It’s a crying shame that I had never even heard of Fugi until I stumbled upon this album, although I’m sure the crowd of more seasoned deep funk and soul seekers have known about him even before this was released in ’96.  You can pick this up for like 8 bucks at Tuff City, in fact here is their ebay link for this album.  Tuff City has lots more reissues, they’re based out of New York and are definitely worth checking out.

As for the record, it’s just amazingly good.  I would say it’s worth it to invest the $8 to see for yourself.  I’m just sort of pissed that I won’t be able to search for the original, but as long as I have the music, that’s the most important thing!

listen to “Mary, Don’t Take Me On No Bad Trip”:

listen to “I’d Rather Be a Blind Man”

by Max: 

On November 13th, Blue Cheer will be playing the Magic Bag with Scott Morgan’s Powertrane.  I don’t know a whole lot about Blue Cheer: San Francisco power trio, famous for a cover of Summertime Blues almost 40 years ago.  There’s one more thing I know about Blue Cheer, they were heavy, very heavy.  No one in 1968 were even close to this heavy…maybe the MC 5.  Imagine pillars crumbling into the ocean.  I’m not sure what they sound like now at all.  According to a freak at a record show early last summer, two of the original members are involved.  I’m more interested in seeing Scott Morgan.  He was a member of the Rationals and an integral member of  Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, writing most of their early, and some of their best, material.  He’s still got it, too, from what I can tell.  As a result of the profound, welcomed, interest in Detroit Rock and Roll, he’s teamed up with members of the Hellacopters in the past few years to form a band whose mission it is to give this guy a chance to properly record his SRB material in a studio, the Hydromatics.  The two albums he’s done with them are fantastic.  His two Powertrane albums are well worth finding also.  Scott Morgan is responsible for some of the best music to come out of this area ever and I can’t wait to pay homage.  Let me know if any of you are interested.  Here is Powertrane performing the SRB hit Dangerous

I finally hooked with Al Reid, lead singer with the Capreez on their garage soul hit Soulsation on Detroit’s Sound label.  We talked for about an hour about the history of the Capreez and that song, and about Al’s career: from his early bands, to going on the road with Jack Scott, to how he joined the Capreez, to why he turned down an offer from the Three Dog Night to be their lead vocalist, to the loneliness of the road, and to the joy of still playing music today with his son.    

Al Reid is a great guy, and we really appreciate him sharing all those memories and stories.  He’s also sending us a copy of another one of his songs that was a big hit in Canada, called Blue Eyed Girl.  I am working on a big article about Al and the Capreez which I’ll drop in a few weeks here.  For now, listen to this story Al told me about how the Capreez celebrated when they heard their other big hit, Rosanna, being played for the first time on CKLW:

I’m working on 200 classic rock LPs to go up Monday night.  Mostly the classics - Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Clash, The Doors, ect…But as always there will be some rarities and odd balls mixed in, including the Triumverat - Illusions on a Double Dimple LP that Josh did a review on a year ago and still gets more hits than almost anything else on this blog.  

I’m glad it does, because Josh is such a talented writer and it was great to have him write reviews for us for a while.  He still drops by and leaves a comment every now and then - but he’s still busy gettin’ situated out in California these days.  Josh and I actually went to high school together at Ann Arbor Huron but didn’t really know each other too well.  Then I started picking up Current magazines mainly just to read Josh’s rock column every month.  One day I emailed him and Justin and I met him for beers at the 8 Ball, downstairs from the Blind Pig bar in Ann Arbor.  He wrote reviews for us and actually created the concept and beginning of this blog.  We also hung out and became friends - so I was sad to see him move to California - but excited for him nevertheless. 

Josh is a super great guy who is full of life and energy and is very knowledgable and enthusiastic about music.  He is also an extremely talented writer and I am sure he’ll make a good name for himself in California as the cream always rises to the top.

Our soul/doo-wop 45 auction ends tomorrow around 5 or 6. 

After that, new 45s will go up.  I haven’t decided what yet, but I’ve got early rock-n-roll and rockabilly, rare country, tons more soul and doo-wop, and a huge 60s and 70s rock batch waiting to be listed.  The rock will have some added interest locally because there’s a lot of Ann Arbor/Detroit stuff.

Since the last post earlier today, we bought another collection of 3,000 45s.  There’s some more rare Detroit/Michigan stuff in there too.  The new collection is mostly rock, but also has a good amount of soul, funk, doo-wop, Motown, ect.  There’s also some good odd balls here and there - including some country/rockabilly promos and a cool looking Detroit Latin 45. 

I’ll try to highlight the local 45s as we put up the next few auctions.  I might not have time to post audio clips because I don’t want to mess with the high-end ones too much.

This is usually how it works - we get hot with something.  Right now it’s been 45s, 45s, 45s coming in the door.

Have a good weekend, and GO TIGERS! 

I’m going to post a new batch of soul, doo-wop, and funk 45s tomorrow around 5:00 US eastern time.

The highlight is Little John (The Houserocker) on Martay, a so called northern soul “monster.”  I’ll post the audio to that and some other Detroit ones, probably on Saturday.

Change of plans…….

Due to another recent collection we just purchased, we are preparing to put up our finest and most rare soul/doo-wop 45 batch ever.  It won’t go up until Monday night, probably in two parts: the first batch of around 100 will go up around 5:00 US Eastern time.  There’s some good stuff in there, but…..

The next 65-70 that will go up around 7 or 8 will be the most exciting group of northern soul and doo-wop 45s we’ve ever seen.  Included are lots of extremely rare Detroit soul.  This group will truly live up to our slogan: The Best Records From Detroit and Beyond.  A very, very exciting collection.  Later that week, we’ll get into rock, rockabilly, psych, pic sleeves, Beatles, Elvis and more.  It will be an explosion of 45s.  Stay tuned.

Justin and I just bought a great 45 collection, around 1200 in all from a longtime Detroit area collector.  Tons of rare Detroit stuff, plus more northern soul, early rock n roll, doo-wop and rhythm and blues.  We’ll begin putting them up for auction within a week or so; stay tuned.  I’ll also feature some rare Detroit 45s here at this site, with some audio samples.

God bless you all,

Cousins

I’m watching the tournament and playing records too.  These are some I’ve been listening to:

I took a picture of the B side of Back To Ypsilanti playing on my record player because I wanted to hype it’s arrive coming soon to hear.  Van kept bugging me to make him a copy.  I made him a copy of Back To Ypsilanti and he kept asking for that B side.  Everyday, he’d say, “You got that other joint yet?”  I’d say no man, you gotta trade me.  He had this studio recording of the Temptations and Marvin Gaye and a few others all singing together, practicing.  One of the Temptations sons, who he knows on the Detroit soul and R&B karaoke circuit, gave it to him.  Van’s a big soul karaoke guy - he goes over to Detroit from Ypsi about 3-4 times a week to sing or host events.  And he sings to his middle school students everyday (he’s a gym teacher).  The nights he’s not singing he goes to watch high school basketball games.  But anyway, he wouldn’t give it to me.  He liked having that recording that nobody else had (or I had).  So I never made him a copy of that B side, Tarnished Love Affair.  But I will trade him though. 

But look Van, don’t you wish you just finished listening like I did?  It was good too - I can still hear it - (AND HERE’S A TEASER) so long, so long, so looooooooong…..

This next one is good for relaxing.  Like that end of the week relax when you first get home.  Jimmy Smith, with Grant Green.  A Blue Note classic.  And one of the best covers ever made.

Just a walkin’ the dog, if you don’t know how to do it, I’ll show you how to walk the dog.  1963 Stax.  Rufus Thomas.  I wonder if my wife will let us name our son Rufus?  I’m guessing no.  As you can see from the cover, ol’ Rufus sure did know how to make white people dance!  It must have been easy.

I love bluegrass.  And I love local music.  That’s why this is one of my favorite records in my collection.  The RFD Boys first record on Jessup.  I’d compare them to The Seldom Scene.  Which is another of my favorites.  They do a great version of Country Road.  And some good originals.  Overall just so good…I’m going to go see them on the 25th - maybe you should too?

After seeing the Holmes Brothers at the Ark a few weeks ago, I dug back into my gospel section.  Detroiters The Rance Allen Group is similar to The Holmes Brothers in their ability to blend gospel with uptempo soul and rhythm and blues.  This is their second album, on Gospel Truth, a Stax label.  They do a song called Just My Salvation that’s set to the music of the Temptations Just My Imagination.   

So that’s what I’m on so far tonight.  I’m thinking about making a mix CD from my vinyl collection, but I can’t decide if I want to pick a genre or do a multi genre.  My genre options I’m considering are: all Michigan bands, bluesgrass, funk, 50s to early 60s R&B, Blues, Funk, Reggae, or even something crazy like Gospel, Bluegrass Gospel, Zydeco/New Orleans, or old school Rap.  Of course, my laziness always takes over and I end up just playing them and thinking about making a mix some other day.

In other news, Max Conroy is visiting Cousin Justin this weekend.  Max is part of the 586 Gunson Street band from East Lansing that I’ve heard so much about.  Apparently there’s a long lost recording still floating around somewhere.  I’ll see the both of ‘em tomorrow so I’ll see what I can dig up. 

Get ready for a great auction this Friday.  About 250 LPs will go up - all selected by us from a huge collection.  Should be one of our best batches yet.

Also - coming soon to Cousins Vinyl is Johnny Bee Badanjek’s Detroit Motor City Sheeny Shop put together by R.W Peardon, a longtime Detroit music cat who still hangs out and works with all the old Detroit rock n roll guys.  Johnny Bee is legendary in Detroit and worldwide, having played with Mitch Ryder, Detroit, the Rockets, and a bunch of other Detroit bands.  The greatest rock n roll drummer in Detroit history.

Featured will be Johnny Bee’s music and art and various other things from his private collection.  Check him out here http://www.johnny-bee.com/

We’ve also got a CD of some unreleased Detroit stuff that we’re working on getting a review on.  Plus more jsREVIEWS coming tomorrow of some good stuff so stay tuned. 

There’s an assload of Detroit 45s in the pipe, and after that some metal, some experimental stuff from the mid-80s, and a few bits and bobs from the greater store. All coming up for you.

Geoff and I both went to the Shadow Art Fair on Saturday and bought some awesome stuff (for our own listening). He got some early Andrew WK from Bulb, and I think a couple of hardcore punk 7″s. I got The Temple of Bon Matin from Bulb, which is a pretty cool “noise”/eclectica album, a buncha 7″s from Flying Bomb including Bantam Rooste’s Big Mess and Watch Me Burn, MHz’ Action Figure, The Hunches’ Dance Alone EP, and the Christmas Surprise that has the Von Bondies, Mistreaters and Soledad Bros. on it. Both that one and the other Xmas surprise were famously part of John Peel’s Record Box, but I already had all the songs on the other one so I didn’t buy it. Two more 7″s from the Bad Idea folks (and a bunch of Bad Idea zines) capped off my purchases. I wanted to buy some Monkey Power Trio, but couldn’t justify it. Ah well.