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The Hammersmith Gorillas are probably the best glam, pub-punk, mod, rockabilly, and straight-ahead English rock and roll band that you've never heard of. Led by Jesse Hector (the one with the wierd rooster cut, Brobdingnagian mutton-chop sideburns, tartan slacks, and quivering vibrato) the Gorillas were a group that should've stormed the charts, but somehow kept falling just short of it.

Despite their lack of fame Stateside, I managed to discover them by accident back in the early Eighties, when I stumbled across one of their 45s in the import singles bin at a local record shop. Riveted by their unique sound, I scoured the stores and mail-order catalogs for more. I managed to turn up another 45, but that was it. I've scanned the sleeves and posted them here for your edification.

I forgot all about them until yesterday, when I discovered, much to my surprise, that a Jesse Hector documentary called A Message To the World had been released in the U.K. last year, and a CD of his best work with the Gorillas, Crushed Butler, and Helter Skelter had been released on RPM Records.

If want to learn more about Jesse and his band of tartan-clad apes, here's a couple of links to explore:

[Link: Gorilla Garage (compilation CD)]
[Link: Hector St. Station (interview, discography, sleeve gallery, bio)]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 8:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A gloriously Technicolored Yma Sumac trills across multiple octaves in the closing scene of the 1954 film, Secret of the Incas. Filmed on location in Macchu Picchu.

[Link: Secret of the Incas]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 6:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Dig these gorgeous images of exotic organista and turbanic trendsetter, Korla Pandit, from Neato Coolville.

[Link: KORLA PANDIT]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 6:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

I ran across a bit of ancient history this morning that I'd almost forgotten; this promotional CD for the Silicon Graphics Octane workstation that contained 5 hilariously bad songs written and performed by actual SGI employees, singing the praises of the aforementioned chunk of mid-range graphics iron. The standout track here is "I Have A Dream" a soaring ballad that employs unforgettable lyrics like:

I have one dream
And it's called 2 CPUs
What this will mean
Is no more desktop blues
I have a dream
And it's called a crossbar switch
What this will mean
Is no big data glitch

I actually received this CD back in 1997, and promptly threw it in the trash (just like I did with everything I got from SGI marketing that I couldn't wear). I wish I'd kept it now. Sort of. As dumb as it is, it reminds me of a time when they were still the gold standard of computer graphics.

[Link: SGI Octane Songs]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 7:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Finally, a set of effects pedals that guitarists can really use!

[Link: RedTelectronix Custom Effects Pedals][via Blort]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 6:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

J.R. Williams�2000

As promised, here are 14 tracks of Screaming Lord Sutch ripped from hot vinyl for your listening pleasure. It includes 9 tracks of SHOCK!, 5 tracks of ROCK!, with front and rear cover CD inserts. The complete sharity is 35MB, so if you're still not sure you want that much Sutch, here's another sample track to help you decide.

Mwahahahahahahahaha!

[Link: Screaming Lord Sutch Sharity]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 2:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

...It goes on and on, my friends.

I'm Learning to Share! demonstrates once again why it's my favoritist 'blog of the next 15 minutes with this excellent post featuring the swingin' jazz stylings of Dave Lambert's cover of that evergreen (or is it everpalm?) staple of Exotica, Hawaiian War Chant. He also turns our earbuds on to the completely over-the-top 2-hour Hawaiian War Chant Extravaganza by New York Public Radio's Dave Garland, featuring every conceivable version ever recorded: punk, Klezmer, electronica, surf, lounge, vintage Hapa Haole, and too many more to list here. I'm just miffed that the link to the commemorative Spinning On Air diploma is broken. How else am I supposed to prove I survived listened to the whole thing?

My favorite version of HWC? Spike Jones', of course.

[Link: 78s fRom HeLL: Dave Lambert - Hawaiian War Chant]
[Link: Spike Jones - Hawaiian War Chant]

UPDATE: I sent an e-mail to WNYC asking, nay beseeching, them to fix the broken link to the Spinning On Air diploma. It took a while, but they graciously informed me today that the link is now up and running again, so those of you who listened to the program in its entirety may now download the reward you so richly deserve.

Posted by MrBaliHai at 6:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Image by Wayno

Next Tuesday is the death-aversary of the tragic suicide of Screaming Lord Sutch, England's least successful politician, and most forgotten rock 'n' roller. This year, I wanted to celebrate properly by shining a spotlight on the story of the his life and music with a couple of commemorative posts.

First up, a biography of the great man, written by me shortly after his death in 1999, for Cool and Strange Music magazine.

[Link: Screaming Lord Sutch: Sutch's Life]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 8:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I used to wonder if there was such a thing as too many bad album covers. Now I know that the answer is yes, oh sweet Pele on a pogo stick, yes.

[Link: Bad Album Covers Vol. 1 Vol. 2]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)