The Fleshtones — Fleshtones Vs. Reality

• Artist: The Fleshtones
• Title: Fleshtones Vs. Reality
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records and Tapes in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

My memories of Fleshtones Vs. Reality are fuzzier than those of the records The Fleshtones made before it. I remember the songs, just not note-for-note. Must’ve been busy that year. I did get to see the boys that same year at the great ol’ 930 Club in D.C, at its original location on F Street. Check out the ticket stub below, only $8! In 1987! That was half a lifetime ago for me, oof.

Anyhow, this record seems a little more mature, in a good way, but the good time music is still what it’s all about. Also, the horns seem bigger and badder than before. As I have said a few times before you can’t achieve maximum rock and roll, or Fleshtones’ “Super Rock”, without horns. I like all the songs, and my favorite is probably “Way Up Here” with that sweet sounding recorder riff. Side two has another Fleshtones-style club banger in “The End of The Track”, complete with wailing alarms and sirens. And this concludes the posts of official Fleshtones records… or does it?

The Fleshtones — Speed Connection II

• Artist: The Fleshtones
• Title: Speed Connection II
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – When I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

In general, live recordings are “for-fans-only”, and Speed Connection II from The Fleshtones is no exception. Moreover, I think this record killed their chance to break out to a wider audience in the late 1980s and beyond. I’m no Fleshtones historian but I say all that based on my real world experience from working at a chain record store when this was released. I had been a fan for a while and my perception was that their label IRS really decided to promote this one. Which is too bad because for a lot of people this was the first thing they heard by The Fleshtones. And they did not dig it, they told me. This isn’t the greatest recording ever. The performances are great, but the sound is inconsistent. Also, many of the songs are covers or medleys or watered-down versions of studio tracks. For fans only.

The Fleshtones — American Beat ’84’

• Artist: The Fleshtones
• Title: American Beat ’84’
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1984 – No clue where
• Keeper: Yes

Yeah, I don’t get the extra apostrophe after the 84 either, but I’m going with it since it’s that way all over the record. Some might call a four song record an EP; IRS calls it a “Maxi Single.” The Fleshtones’ “American Beat ’84′” is a solid song, well-constructed and perfectly played like all their work, but it has a slight sheen of cheese. I think it was featured in the soundtrack to the Tom Hanks’ movie Bachelor Party. I never saw it. Someone check that for me, please, thanks. “Super Hexbreaker” is what it sounds like, a remix, but it’s slightly less super than the original. “Mean Old Lonesome Train” is interesting because it’s more bluesy than usual for The Fleshtones and guitarist Keith Streng sings. What Keith may lack in natural vocal ability he more than makes up for with intensity and enthusiasm, a trade I’ll take every time. The standout for me is “Hall of Fame.” There are more hooks in this one song than most full length records. It’s a Fleshtones version of a “club banger” circa 1984, not that anyone would’ve called it that back then.

The Fleshtones — Hexbreaker!

• Artist: The Fleshtones
• Title: Hexbreaker!
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1983 – Not sure
• Keeper: Yes

Hexbreaker! Even the title of this album is cool. The super rock continues on their second full album, and this time it’s even more eclectic. There’s everything from the silly, but fun, “Screamin’ Skull” to the mid-tempo heartbreaker “This House Is Empty” (one of my favorites). The Fleshtones even get philosophical on “Burning Hell” and I don’t know if that, or the fact that they did with a soul-powered dance freak out number is more surprising.

I have deep, and very fond memories of listening to this in high school. I know every note of every song. I’ll say it again: I wanted to be Peter Zaremba. I love all the songs on this record but it’s the title track, “Hexbreaker!” that really tears the roof off.

Listen, are you ready everybody? Yeeaahhh!
Are you ready for SUPER ROCK time? Yeeaahhh!
Are you ready for communication? Yeeaahhh!
Well I think you’re ready for the HEXBREAKER! baby come on… Yeeaahhh!

Fleshtones — Roman Gods

• Artist: Fleshtones
• Title: Roman Gods
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1982 ? No idea where, just glad to have it.
• Keeper: Yes

Thanks to my friend John Hurlock and his older brother Mike I was exposed to the Fleshtones early on. They were one my favorite alternatives to the alternative bands of the 1980s. Not that anyone used the word “alternative” back then, but you know what I’m saying. These guys were essentially rock and roll (a high compliment) at a time when a lot of non-mainstream music was anything but. The Fleshtones called it “Super Rock.”

The Fleshtones did have a 1960s vibe but their sound was unlike anything before, or since. I think they are one of the most under-rated bands ever. The music was fun but not silly, the lyrics smart but not pretentious, and they put on a helluva show. I was lucky enough to see them a number of times, always in small venues. I even got to talk to my hero Peter Zaremba, the lead singer. He also hosted the coolest show ever on MTV, The Cutting Edge. I’ll admit it, I wanted to be Peter Zaremba. I even grew my hair like his. If only I could do that now.

Roman Gods is an excellent album, one of the most played records in my collection. My favorite song is Shadow-line. I have a lot more Fleshtones records, but I haven’t kept up with the band for a long time. That’s dumb. I’m going to catch up on what I’ve been missing.

They are still kicking it. Read more about the Fleshtones. (I wrote this while playing the album. Every few songs I increased the rating. By the end of Roman Gods it was clear, this can only be a “10.”)

The Leroi Brothers — Forget About The Danger…Think Of The Fun

• Artist: The LeRoi Brothers
• Title: Forget About The Danger…Think Of The Fun
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1984 – Not sure where…

I don’t know enough about The LeRoi Brothers, because this six song EP is great! I’ve always liked it and do pull it out for an occassional spin. I can’t get over how good it sounds. It’s perfect, everything just punches right through the mix, super snapping snare. I was only 17 or 18 when this came out and you can bet there was lot of air guitar sessions with Forget About The Danger…Think Of The Fun blaring. They list it as an LP on their site, but it seems too short for that. I wish I had more of their stuff, and I’m gonna start looking for it.

This can only be called Rock and Roll.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (and The Fuzztones) — Live

• Artist: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (and The Fuzztones)
• Title: Live
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – Mail order from the label, Midnight Records.
• Keeper: Yes

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins made a special guest appearance at a benefit show by The Fuzztones. These are the four songs on this short live record:

“Alligator Wine”
“I Put a Spell On You”
“It’s That Time Again”
“Constipation Blues”

I suppose this record could be filed under “F” for Fuzztones, but Mr. Hawkins appearance is what makes it special to me. So, “H” it is. From the crowd noise this sounds like a small club. When Fuzztones frontman Rudi Protrudi enthusiastically introduces Mr. Hawkins the crowd doesn’t exactly erupt like I would expect. What was wrong with those people?

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins — Feast of The Mau Mau

• Artist: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
• Title: Feast of The Mau Mau
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Bought it for myself at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Let me start by saying that “Feast of The Mau Mau” by Screamin Jay Hawkins gets a straight-up-stone-cold-solid 10! I’ve played this every day we were home for the last two months. Just ask my wife and kids. That’s the good news. The even better news is that it’s a double album. “Feast” is actually a re-release of two earlier albums, “What This Is” and “Because Is In Your Mind / Armpitrubber.”

I can’t tell you how exciting this music is. For me, it’s the perfect mix of blues, R&B, rock and roll, and weirdness. Occassionally he gets down right raunchy, so mind your audience. Most people know him for “I Put a Spell on You”, but there are many even better songs. Also, he’s so cool his music was featured in one Jarmusch film and he acted in another. Finally, Hawkins is a lyrical genius. Who else could rhyme with “righteous”?

Our Love Is Not For 3

You gave me a heartache
AAahh! a heartache
You gave me a heartburn!
My mind’s in neutral
Whaaa! I’m walking sideways
I can’t get righteous
I’m looking upside down
And outta-sighteous
Whaaa! You gave me a heartache
Have Mercy…

More about Screamin’ Jay Hawkins at Wikipedia.
Great NPR story about Hawkins’ alledged 70 plus children.

The Saints – Eternally Yours

• Artist: The Saints
• Title: Eternally Yours
• Year: 1978
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1986 ? – I think I got it at Unicorn Records in Portsmouth, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

I got into The Saints a little late. I think I bought this album after I picked up a later record. It’s a promo copy so unfortunately they didn’t get paid for it. But don’t worry Saints, I bought your other stuff too.

It’s hard to explain their sound but punk rock and roll seems fitting. The opening track, “Know Your Product”, has killer horns. For a long time I have believed that maximum rock and roll cannot be achieved without a horn section. No matter how hard you’re rocking, if it ain’t got horns there is room for improvement. This song supports my theory. The whole record is excellent. At first it sounds sort of ordinary, but the involuntary foot tapping and head bobbing “Eternally Yours” provokes tells you it is in fact very special.

Nervous Eaters — Hot Steel And Acid

• Artist: Nervous Eaters
• Title: Hot Steel And Acid
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1986 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

How many times have you said to yourself “I feel like hearing some Nervous Eaters”? Never? Seriously? OK, I admit I kinda forget they exist, but almost every time I see “Hot Steel And Acid” in the collection I give it a spin. The Nervous Eaters are hard, fast rock and roll with dashes of punk and blues. I didn’t know anything about the band when I bought this and I still don’t. I think the cool die-cut album cover and the fact that they were on the label Ace Of Hearts with other good bands like the Lyres prompted me to check it out. (UPDATE: NervousEaters.com no seems to be owned by the band.)