Fred Myrow & Malcolm Seagrave - Phantasm I & II (1979-1988)

With the passing of Angus Scrimm a few days ago, I was reminded of how awesome the music from Phantasm was.

Eerie and synth driven, obviously taking cues from the influential work on Exorcist. I can't help but listen to it and get the feeling it influenced other works as well, most notably the score for last years "It Follows".

The score has come in and out print countless times over the last 35+ years, however, the compact disc release here from '91 featuring selections from the score for Phantasm II has been out of print since its initial release 25 years ago, and marks the ONLY release of any music from the second film. It can easily run up to C-note to acquire. Enjoy!

Download album here!

James Dean Tribute Records

In the fall of 1955 The Champs recorded "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots," a teenage tragedy song about a biker who gets hit by a train on Highway 101. It was pioneering, in the effect that it popularized the "teenage death song"-genre in music. It also was one, if not the first song to epitomize the new-school "outlaw teen biker" stereotype. Also, the record was released the week before James Dean died. The song isn't about James Dean, but it definitely defined the period and mood of the fall of '55.

But I digress... James Dean tribute records were released sparsely by a few labels. Imperial released one, Coral released one with several tracks from a few of his films and a couple tribute songs sprinkled here and there by Jimmy Wakely and Dick Jacobs, which were also released individually as 45's.

I don't have the album unfortunately, nor do I have the Wakely single, but I DO have the Jacobs 45, which I'm posting here. Dick Jacobs was A & R guy for Decca and its Brunswick and Coral subsidiaries. He also released a few albums, including the cult classic "Themes From Horror Movies" featuring title songs to popular B-pictures of the day and featuring Karloff-esque narration by Bob McFadden.

As a bonus I'm also throwing in a track from the James Dean tribute EP on the T.N.T. label by Red River Dave. Red River Dave McEnery was known for releasing eccentric ballad songs for topical events of the day, starting in '39 with "Amelia Earhart's Last Flight," and moving through songs devoted to such subjects as the Sharon Tate murder, the Francis Powers Trial, Apollo 11 and Patty Hearst to name a few. The track I'm including is "James Dean Deck of Cards" which is a tribute/parody to Wink Martindale's "Deck of Cards," which is one the most oddball country records you'll ever hear.

And for good measure, just so this isn't a such a lean download, I'm including two versions of "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots;" the original Cheers version, and the reworking cover done by Edith Piaf, "L'Homme a' la Moto" which ended up being a hit for her as well.

Download here!

Sonic Coaster Pop - Super Miracle Circuit (2004)

Downloaded long ago from a now defunct blog I cannot recall, we have Sonic Coaster Pop's second album, Super Miracle Circuit.

Coming from the Shubya-kei school of electro pop, this album has those chillout/electro jazz elements... but then turns up the juice and becomes high octane, up-tempo pop you'd find on a Japanese children's show.

All in all though, this album is really fun.

Download album here!

Vincent Bell - Pop Goes The Electric Sitar (1968)

Session guitarist Vinnie Bell was one of the best pop session players of the 60's easy listening/pop scene... rivaling Al Caiola in my opinion.

His style was inventive and you can find his name listed all over the coolest Enoch Light and Tony Mottola albums on the Command and Project 3 labels. But his solo albums are tops.

Bell also invented several electric guitars of his own, including the first electric 12-string.

This is a great easy listening Sitar-sploitation sixties LP, among one of my faves, up there with Lord Sitars LP. Lots of theatrical flare from start to finish, and the rockers REALLY rock, well, for lounge.

Jackie Gleason also released a sitar LP which starts off with "Goin' Out Of My Head", but there is no comparison, Vinnie Bell's version is where it's at. THIS album is where it's at. Famous for his "wet" guitar sound... it's all over the place on this album. Bell's electric sitar playing was featured on the Lemon Pipers' hit "Green Tambourine" and it's apparent. Compare the sound on this record, it's unmistakeable. One last fun fact before I go: Bell played on the Twin Peaks soundtrack.

Download the album here!

The Munsters - The Newest Teen-Age Singing Group The Munsters (1964)

When you think of "cash-in" records... you think of low budget labels, but this is a big boy doing the shill. Jack Marshall did The Munsters theme, but sans Jack Marshall on this LP; he was on Capitol. So what does Decca do? Get a group to sing horror pop novelty numbers, name them "The Munsters" and plaster a photo of The Munsters on the front of the record.

"Munster Creep" is probably the winner of the vocal cuts. The instrumental songs aren't too bad though... kinda a middle ground between a Hanna Barbera cartoon and those Power Frankie Stein & The Ghoul LP's. "Eerie Beach" is probably the winner of the instrumentals... with an exotica tinge, almost Martin Denny-esque "Quiet Village" vibe.

Download album here!

Johann Georg Albrechtsberger - Concerto for Jew's Harp, Mandora and Orchestra

I was going to upload a Milva album of Berthold Brecht covers, but as I was preparing it for this blog, this album became the backdrop, and thus, plans changed.

Johann Georg Alberectsberger was an Austrian composer of the Viennese school of classical music. He was a classmate with Haydn and a teacher to Beethoven. He composed several concertos for orchestra, lute and the Jew's harp.

He wrote at least 7 concertos for Jew's harp, three survive, and this album compiles two of them.

It's bizarre to hear the Jew's harp in a serious concept, outside of a Morricone soundtrack, especially in a classical context... but that just gives it extra charm!

Download album here!

Ken Nordine - Colors (1967)

Renaissance man and voice actor Ken Nordine released some of the hippest jazz albums of the 50's and 60's. His Word Jazz recordings are profound, prolific, occasionally subliminal and at times philosophical.

Nordine's commercial work falls in all those categories as well. He's the everyman whom you've heard a million times and yet can never place him. That's his magic.

Ken Nordine's Colors album is crescendo that encompases both world's beautifuly to exemplify what makes his work special.

Originally done as a series of Fuller paint ads, the campaign proved to be extremely popular. Thus, Ken jotted down several more color-based tracks and recorded this album.

The original album is sought after and hard to find in the wild, and the compact disc is many a year out of print as well and can sometimes run up in price. I got my copy by accident! A friend of mine called me to as if I wanted him to buy a copy of Nordine's "Twink" and I'd reimburse him later... I said YES and when I got it, it was a perfect Twink cover, but with a near mint copy of Colors inside.

Nordine? He's still at it! He blogs, he podcasts, he's 95 years old and has a facebook. May he live forever, and reside in your subconscious.

Download album here!