Five Weird Tunes To Make You Happy

Here are five songs I have been listening to a lot lately. Hope you enjoy.,,

The Night Beats: "Night Beat"  CLW Records (Edgewater, Colorado)

The Night Beats

One of my favorite early sixties primitive surf instro tunes.  Released as a single on CLW Records out of Edgwater, Colorado. The B-side is a cover of George Gershwin's "Summertime". Not sure if it was a vocal cut or another instrumental.Unfortunaely, I can't find a recording. Were The Night Beats a family band? There seems to be a big age dispairity and the two guys on the end resemble one another but, who knows? For more information on CLW Records, go HERE . Enjoy the tune below.

Eric & The Norsemen   "Norsemen's Theme"  

Eric & The Norsemen

Sixties midwestern rock n roll band out of the University Of Kansas. Really not all that obscure, they have lots of information online including a Facebook page. They toured around the region in the mid-sixties doing mainly cover tunes with some originals. This (self-released?) single is my favorite. A little bit of Peter Gunn vibe going on. For more information on the band go, HERE. "From the windblown hills of the icy Northland, I give you the Norsemen!"....

Errrol Parker  "Jerkology"  (1967) Decca Records

Fun record from obscure South African jazz musician, Errol Parker. A.hard bop tune in the Ramsey Lewis/Vince Guaraldi style of the time but Mr. Parker plays in a more rocking boogie woogie style. You feel like things could go off the rails at any minute. . His music became much more avant garde, as time went on, and he eventually switched instruments from piano to drums. His stuff is worth seeking out. Turn this one up, it will make you glad to be alive,

Marty Manning & The Cheetahs   "Tarzan Theme"  (1966) Columbia Records

Marty Manning was a Grammy award winning producer, composer and arranger who worked with many of Columbia Records biggest acts. He also put out of very weird experimental album called, 

"The Twilight Zone": A Sound Adventure In Space". This must have been his stab at at a hit record. I'm guessing The Cheetahs were just a bunch of studio hacks and after the single bombed, Marty probably went back to arranging horn charts for Perry Como. But, he left us a this fun rollicking one minute and forty one second chunk of fun and I, for one, am ever greatful.

Frank Zappa  "W.P.L.J"  (1970)  Bizarre/Reprise

Say what you want about Uncle Frank (and you can say a lot of things about Uncle Frank) but he sure loved old rhythm and blues and doo-wop . He paid homage whenever he could and he did it no better than on this cover of the Four Deuces 1956 record "W.O.L.D". The fact that he put it on an album (Burnt Weeny Sandwhich) that was, for the most part, composed of his left of center classical music pieces makes it, somehow, even more fun.  A great tune to cruise around in your car to. Incidentily, the initials stand for "White Port And Lemon Juice" which was a big drink among the younger crowd back in the fifities. Give it a try. Just not in the car.

Have a nice day!

Casey Redmond

March 24, 2023

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