Playlist for 8/26/09: Norton Records, The World's Greatest Sinners

New York City’s legendary Norton Records got the I Love My Label treatment this month. For the first time, I dedicated a whole show to one label, and with a catalog like this (look for the link at the top), Norton truly deserves much more than that. I did sets dedicated to the new I Still Hate CD’s Vol. 2 digital-only comp, the 5-LP Benny Joy retrospective, the A-Bones, who have their first new album out in over a decade, and the one-and-only Hasil Adkins, who I appropriately began and ended the show with.
Regrets? I didn’t play nearly enough Link Wray, Andre Williams was recognized only through a Church Keys sample, and I left out T. Valentine, the Flamin’ Groovies and Doug Sahm. There will be a next time. Perhaps when Norton turns 25 in 2011.
For a great interview with Norton co-founder Billy Miller, look here. Miriam Linna, the other half of the Norton dynasty, Miller’s wife and A-Bones drummer, has an excellent blog, Kicksville 66, detailing her wild and wacky experiences after landing in New York City from Ohio in the mid-1970s. Norton also has its own blog and has begun a podcast. Need more Norton? The Hound has great and nutty unreleased Hasil Adkins recordings, here’s the latest news about Norton releases, here’s another interview with Billy Miller from 1996 (I think) that’s interesting despite being apostrophe-free, and check out an interview with the Haze from 1995. Finally, big thanks to Miriam for the extras she put in my recent order after I told her about the show.

Download or stream it right here.

I Love My Label special - Norton Records, New York, NY

The Hunch - Hasil Adkins - Out to Hunch
The Rock-Around - Esquerita - Vintage Voola
Born Bad - Jack Starr - Born Petrified
Drag Strip - The Fender Benders - Some Kinda Nut
Go Go Ferrari - Untamed Youth - Untamed Melodies
Wild Guitar Trailer - Arch Hall Jr. & The Archers - Wild Guitar

I Still Hate CD's: Norton Records 45 RPM Singles Collection, Vol. 2
Go Go Go - Del Tinos
Let's Dance - The Excels
Trick Bag - The Artesians
Study Hall - C.J. & The Casuals
Railroad Jag - The Jaguars

Vendetta - Link Wray - Hillbilly Wolf - Missing Links, Vol. 1
Ale Up - Church Keys - Work With It!
Feelin' Fine - The Alarm Clocks - The Time Has Come
Come on Up - The Jinx - Fort Worth Teen Scene, Vol. 1
Shortnin' Bread - The Ready Men - Get Ready

Gino is a Coward - Gino Washington - Out of This World
You Shouldn't Oughta Done it - Night Owls - The Rock-A-Round
Black Bottom Blues - King Coleman - It's Dance Time
Fishin' Pole - The Mighty Hannibal - Hannibalism
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7" Six-Pack
Congratulations I'm Sorry - King Khan
Voodoo Woman – Gene Maltais with the Flat Duo Jets
Witch – Stud Cole
A Certain Guy – Mary Weiss
Button Nose – Benny Joy
Rockin' Satellite – The A-Bones

A-Bones
She Sure Could Hypnotize – Not Now
Little Egypt – I Was a Teenage Zombie OST
World's Greatest Sinner – Daddy Wants a Cold Beer
Time Machine – The Life of Riley
Darlene – Free Beer for Life
Cat Nip – Not Now

Benny Joy
Wild Wild Lover - Crash The Party (The Benny Joy Story 1957-61, Vol. 1)
Rebel Rock - Wild Wild Lover (The Benny Joy Story 1957-61, Vol. 4)
Night Owl - Rollin' To The Jukebox Rock (The Benny Joy Story 1957-61, Vol. 2)
Don’t Boo Hoo Mary Lou - I'm Gonna Move (The Benny Joy Story 1957-61, Vol. 3)
Love Zone – Love Zone (The Benny Joy Story 1957-61, Vol. 5)

Wild Weekend - Jon & The Nightriders - Stampede!
Wild Little Willie - The Hesitations - Go! Go! Go! To Surfing School
Eaffin & Surfin' - Ron Haydock - 99 Chicks
Tight-Spot - Paul & The Four-Most - Wolf Call! Tall Cool Ones From the Vaults of Golden Crest
Peppermint Twist - King Uszniewicz & The Uszniewicztones - Twistin' and Bowlin'
Firewater - Premieres - Mad Mike Monsters, Vol. 3

Backseat Boogie - The Dictators – Everyday is Saturday
All Kindsa Girls – The Real Kids – S/T
You Get What You Deserve (live) – Big Star – Nobody Can Dance
Going to a Town - Flat Duo Jets - Introducing the Flat Duo Jets
Nobody Knows (But I Do) – Mary Weiss – Dangerous Game
Cockroach - Charlie Feathers – Wild Side of Life: Rare and Unissued Recordings, Vol. 1

Front Porch Entertainers – The Hentchmen – Three Times Infinity
Why Not Knock Yourself Off? - Figures of Light - Smash Hits!
Step it Up and Go - Rudy Ray Moore – Hully Gully Fever
Hot Lips and Swivel Hips - Gene Rambo & The Flames – Kicksville, Vol. 4

Hasil Adkins
Let’s Do Like We Done – Look at that Caveman Go!!
The Slop – Peanut Butter Rock and Roll
Chicken Flop – The Wild Man
She Said – Out to Hunch
A Fool in this Game – Moon Over Madison
Gonna Have Me a Yard Sale – Acky Breaky Ha Ha Ha

Playlist for 8/19/09: Dead, not gone

I paid tribute to Jim Dickinson, the legendary Memphis musician and producer who passed away at 67 on Aug. 15, in the last hour of my show this week. One hour wasn’t nearly enough time to recognize a man who participated in an amazing amount of great music over the last five decades. I pledge allegiance to indie labels on Zero Hour or else I would have certainly included the Replacements, Rolling Stones and others. For well-done written remembrances of the man, look no further than Chuck Prophet, Eric Ambel, the Hound and Boogie Woogie Flu. James Luther Dickinson's "Production Manifesto" also is essential reading.

To begin the show, I looked back at my recent trip to House on the Rock in Spring Green. New music this week from Joe Henry, the Shazam and Joe Pernice. Next week, my three-hour, I Love My Label tribute to the mighty Norton Records. Three hours into the wild and way out world of Norton Records featuring Hasil Adkins, Link Wray, the Real Kids, the A-Bones, the Flat Duo Jets, the Mighty Hannibal, Roky Erickson, Benny Joy and more! Hunch included.

Archives are here.

Why Don't You Play the Organ, Man – Memphis Black - The In-Kraut: Hip Shaking Grooves Made in Germany, 1966-1974 (Marina)
Drowning In the Sea Of Love – Joe Simon – Soul Patrol, Vol. 4 (Ripete)
Devil Doll – Roy Orbison – The Sun Records Collection (Sun)
Down By the Old Mill Stream – The Frantics Four – Sin Alley, Part 1 CD (Crypt)
Infinity – The Gamma Rays - The Ultimate '60s Surf Classics (Goldenlane)
Circus Freak – Flop - Flop and the Fall of the Mopsqueezer! (Frontier)

Jupiter Bulldog – The A-Bones – Not Now! (Norton)
Pipeline – Johnny Thunders – Born too Loose (Jungle)
Milkshake Baby – Jack Oblivian – Saturday Night, Part 2 (Big Legal Mess)

Guitar Boogie – Les Paul – Hot Guitars: American Guitar Tracks from the 1920s-1950s (Viper)
Smoke on, Jerry - The Minus 5 - Killingsworth (Yep Roc)
Tell Me When It’s Over – Joe Pernice – It Feels So Good When I Stop (Ashmont)
Golden Sombrero – The Baseball Project – Volume One: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails bonus track (Yep Roc)

Go Blue Angels Go - The Young Fresh Fellows - I Think This Is (Yep Roc)
Don’t Look Down – The Shazam – Meteor (New Boss Sounds)
We are London - Madness – The Liberty of Norton Folgate (Yep Roc)
Whenever You’re Ready - Dinosaur Jr. – Farm (bonus disc) (JagJaguwar)

7” Six-Pack
Crossed Wires - Superchunk (Merge)
Wedding Boots - Finger (Third Sister)
Obliteration – Charlie & the Moonhearts (Tic Tac Totally)
Applications - Crappy Dracula (Self-released)
Brand New Chevy – The Muffs – Estrus Gearbox (Estrus)
Beat Beat Beat – Sugar Stems (Bachelor)

Devil With the Blue Dress - Bill Kirchen – Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods (Proper)
Half a Boy and Half a Man - Nick Lowe - Quiet Please ... The New Best of Nick Lowe (Yep Roc)
Regional Hits – The Figgs – Follow Jean Through The Sea (Gern Blandsten)
Hold Back the Night - Graham Parker w/the Figgs - 103 Degrees in June - Live In Chicago (Bloodshot)
She’s Got Everything - Terry Adams - Holy Tweet (Clang)

The Man That I Keep Hid – Joe Henry – Blood From the Stars (Anti)
Murdering Oscar - Patterson Hood - Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs) (Ruth St.)
Dress Blues – The Drive-By Truckers – Live in Milwaukee mp3 (Ac
Every Night About This Time – Dave Alvin – The Best of the HighTone Years (HighTone)

Jim Dickinson tribute
Cadillac Man – The Jesters - The Sun Records Collection (Sun)
Shake 'Em on Down - Jim Dickinson & the Catmandu Quartet (mp3)
Money Talks – Mudboy & the Neutrons – It Came From Memphis (Upstart)
Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well – James Luther Dickinson – Dinosaurs Run in Circles (Memphis International)

It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo – Harmonica Frank Floyd - The Missing Link (Memphis International)
Baron of Love, Part II – Ross Johnson with Alex Chilton – Make it Stop: The Most of Ross Johnson (Goner)
If You Want Me You Can Find Me – Lawson & 4 More – Thank You Friends: The Ardent Story (Big Beat)
Zombie for Love – Green on Red – Here Come the Snakes (Restless)
Station Blues - North Mississippi All-Stars - Shake Hands With Shorty (Tone-Cool)

Lumberlung – Slobberbone – Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today (New West)
Jesus Christ – Big Star – Third/Sister Loves (Rykodisc)
Redneck, Blue Collar - James Luther Dickinson - Jungle Jim and the Voodoo Tiger (Memphis International)
Out Of Blue – James Luther Dickinson - Jungle Jim and the Voodoo Tiger (Memphis International)
I'll Remember You - Jim Dickinson & Duff Durrough - Just One More: A Musical Tribute to Larry Brown (Bloodshot)

Playlist for 8-12-09: Drive Me Bananas

Visited the State Fair last week with my parents and sisters – tried the chocolate-covered bacon and it was as disgusting as I imagined it would be. Why did I try it? How the hell could I not? All was not a loss, however, thanks to Sen. Herb Kohl and his banana milk, which made me happier than, well, a gorilla with a whole keg of banana milk.

Archives are here.

Bacon Fat - Andre Williams – Movin’ On With… (Vampisoul)
40 lb. Block of Cheese - Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Crypt Style (1+2)
Milk Cow Blues - Obits - Live on WFMU on the Evan “Funk” Davies show (mp3)
The Girl With the Biggest Hair - Red Meat - Meet Red Meat (Ranchero)

Stick to the Plan - Graham Parker - Don't Tell Columbus (Bloodshot)
Nothin But a Driver - Bottle Rockets - Lean Forward (Bloodshot)
Tumbleweed Stew - Slaid Cleaves - Everything You Love Will be Taken Away (Music Road)

If We Land a Man on the Moon - Beulah - When Your Heartstrings Break (Sugar Free)
Haven't I Been a Fool – G.W. McLennan – Watershed (Beggars Banquet)
Girl Behind the Bar - The Rip Off Artists - Esque (Self-released)
Riverdale High – The Liquor Giants - Every Other Day at a Time (Matador)

Let Me Dream – Mink Deville - D.I.Y.: Blank Generation: The New York Scene 1975-78 (Rhino)
Mixed-Up, Shook Up Girl – Patty and the Emblems – Mixed-Up, Shook Girl (Distortions Funkadelphia)
Within Your Reach - Bastards of Melody - High School Reunion - Tribute to Those Great 80s Films (American Laundromat)

7-inch Six-Pack
She Says - Heavenly (K)
Tender Distance - Idle Wilds (Opus)
Serious Drugs - Gigolo Aunts (Fire)
Empty Head - The Hoods (Get Hip)
Encrusted - The Grifters (Doink)
Don't Cry - Green Magnent School (Sub Pop)

I Go Crazy - PC Munoz - High School Reunion - Tribute to Those Great 80s Films (American Laundromat)
Save Me - Peter Zaremba's Love Delegation - Spread the Word (Moving Target)
Dizzy Miss Lizzie - The Plimouls - Plimsouls... Plus (Rhino)
Psycho - The Miracle Workers - Moxie's Revenge (Get Hip)
Shake a Tail Feather - Debutantes - Destroy That Boy! More Girls with Guitars (Ace)
I Don't Get It - Sugar Stems – EP (Self-released)
If Someone Loves You - Outrageous Cherry – S/T (Bar/None)

My Girl, My Girl - Terry Adams - Holy Tweet (Clang)
Wild One - Those Darlins – S/T (Oh Wow Dang!)

Daddy's on a Book Tour - The Dipsomaniacs – Whatever Planet (Face Down)
Jenny G - Push Kings – S/T (Sealed Fate)
Easy on the Eye - Trashcan Sinatras – In the Music (Lo-Five)
David Ruffin's Tears - Paul K & The Weathermen – Love is a Gas (Alias)

All Going Out Together - Big Dipper - Heavens (Homestead)
Crazy Rhythmns - The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms (Line)
Tape from Califorina - Squirrel Bait - Skag Heaven (Homestead)
Elizabeth Montgomery's Face - The Embarassment - EP (Cynykyl)
Jesus & Tequila - Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime (SST)
Outlaw Blues - Soft Boys - Only the Stones Remain (Armageddon)

Dead End America - Pagans - Cheapo Crypt Sampler (Crypt)
Tiger in Your Tank - Jack O' Fire - Hodge Podge & Barrage From Japan Vol.2 (1+2)
Been So Long - The Little Killers - A Real Good One (Gern Blandsten)
Get Back at You - Red Planet - Degenerate (Gearhead)
Melvin – The Headcoatees - Girlsville (Get Hip)
No Matter What You Do - Leslie Gore - The Jack Nitzsche Story - Hearing is Believing: 1962 – 1979 (Ace)
You're My Miss Washington D.C. - Nation of Ulysses - 13 Point Program to Destroy America (Dischord)
Rock House - Flat Duo Jets – Go Go Harlem Baby (Skyclad)

Playlist for 8-5-09: R.I.P., Red Hot Riley

I said goodbye this week to Billy Lee Riley, who died at 75 on Aug. 2 of colon cancer. I had a short story published with a lead character who I named after Mr. Riley, who was probably my favorite Sun Records original – either him or the late Carl Perkins. Started with a family-inspired set, as my mom, dad and sister are visiting Milwaukee this week. Chocolate-covered bacon, Benno's microbrew tent, cherry milk, cheese curds and swimming pigs are on the agenda tomorrow at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Archives are here.


I Wish I Was Your Mother - Dramarama - Stuck in Wonderamaland (Chameleon)
Fathers & Sins - The Magnolias - Dimestore Dream (Twin/Tone)
Switchblade Sister - Redd Kross - Yellow Pills: Vol 2, More Of The Best of American Pop! (Big Deal)
Mama Was A Rock (Daddy Was A Rolling Stone) - Kay Adams and BR59 - Rig Rock Deluxe (Diesel Only)
Family Man - June Stearns & Gene Martin - The Stars and Hits of Country Music (Nashville/Starday)

Sugar and Spice - Madness - The Liberty of Norton Folgate (Yep Roc)
Ballad of the Bootleg - The Young Fresh Fellows - I Think This Is (Yep Roc)
Welcome Back - Trashcan Sinatras - Weightlifting (spinART)
Tool - Heavenly - Le Jardin De Heavenly (K)

One-Minute Forty Five - The Nice Outfit - Kissing Joycelyn (Easter)
Yer a Blur - Reckless Hearts - Get Up & Run (Off the Hip)
Miss July - Brad Jones - Gilt Flake (Ginger)
Love You Till I Don't - Otis Ball - I"m Gonna Love YOu Till I Don't (Bar/None)

Kid With the Replaceable Head - Condo Fucks - Fuckbook (Matador)
San Antone - The Reducers - Shinola (Rave On)
Radiobeat - Devil Dogs - Choad Blast (Empty)
We Don't Have to Worry Anymore - The Exploding Hearts - Shattered

7-inch Six-Pack
She's a Lost Cause - Cosmic Psychos (Man's Ruin)
She Knows - The Barracudas (Dog Meat)
Dr. Strange - Bent Scepters (Sonic Swirl)
A House is Not a Motel - Yo La Tengo (Egon)
Babblin' Mules - Zuzu's Petals (Susstones)
Girl Who Reads - Belt Buckle (Sonic Bubblegum)

Billy Lee Riley tribute
Flying Saucer Rock 'n' Roll - Sun Records Collection (Sun/RCA)
Trouble Bound - Sun Spots, Vol. 1 (Sun)
Red Hot - Sun Records Collection (Sun/RCA)
Baby, Please Don't Go - Red Hot Riley (Sun/Charley)
Little Green Men - Blue Collar Blues (Hightone)

Mogul Monster - The Rangers - Shiverin' and Shakin': Hop Rockers & Sleazy Instros (RPM)
Gonna Find Me A Subsitute - The Pretty Things - Get the Picture (Snapper)
Uptight Tonight - Flash & the Casuals - A History of Garage & Frat Bands in Memphis 1960-1975 (Shangri-La)
Broadway Freeze - Harvey Scales & the Seven Sounds - Love-Itis (Soul-Tay-Shus)
Perdido (Parts 1 and 2) - Gary U.S. Bonds - The Best of Gary U.S. Bonds (Rhino)
96 Tears - Big Maybelle - Stompin 33 (Stompin)
Cut & Dried - Wild Jimmy Spruill - Scratch & Twist (Night Train)

Homesick Gypsy - Jack O & The Tennessee Tearjerkers - The Disco Outlaw (Goner)
The Apartment - Marah - If You Didn't Laugh, You'd Cry (Goner)
Hardshell Case - Daddy - For a Second Time (Cedar Creek)
Shiner Bock & Vicodin - Grant Langston - Stand Up Man (MSG)
Thoreau in the Woods - Ha Ha Tonka - Novel Sounds of the Noveau South (Bloodshot)

A Wild Holy Band - Mike Scott - The 2009 Believer Music Issue (Magazine insert)
Broken Path - The Bats - The Guilty Office (Hidden Agenda/Parasol)
Power That I Now Have- Go Betweens - The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit)

Wasted on the Wind - The Lost Crusaders - Have You Heard About the World? (Everlasting)
We Had it All - Green on Red - Here Comes the Snakes (Restless)
It Might Have Been - Phil Lee - More Barn: a Tribute to Neil Young (Slothrop)
Hung Up On Me - Those Darlins - S/T (Oh Wow Dang)
Turn to Grey - Hacienda Brothers - Live: Music for Ranch & Town (Self-released)