January Is Mighty Hannibal Month!

Mike Vraney 1957-2014

Mike Vraney and Lisa Petrucci, photo credit: Lars Erik Holmquist

Shocking news awaited us as we awoke this morning. Mike Vraney, the founder of Something Weird Video, had passed away from lung cancer at the age of 56. An official statement from SWV said, "Mike was a very private person and didn't want anyone, except his closest friends, family and colleagues, to know about his illness. He went through aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments for over a year, but sadly the cancer spread and cruelly took him from us."

The news hit those of us who have been fans of his life's work for the last three decades like a ton of bricks. You see, his was not merely just another home video company. Founded by Vraney in Seattle in 1990, Something Weird unearthed thousands of films and entire b-movie and exploitation sub-genres from the dustbins of history. Especially back in the early and mid-90s, when information on the kinds of films he championed was not widely disseminated or easily found, the Something Weird Video catalog was a revelation. The films were categorized under headings like "Untamed Video", "Sexy Shockers From the Vault", "Grindhouse Follies", "Spies, Thighs & Private Eyes", "Crime Wave USA", "Sci-Fi Late Night Creature Feature Show", "Wrasslin' She Babes", "Nudist Camp Classics", "Twisted Sex", and the perfectly succinct "Big Bust Loops". I and countless other intrepid cinematic explorers poured over those catalogs, with their eye-catching graphics, tidbits of biographical and historical information, and original ad mats and poster art, like holy grails. We ordered these films through the mail, and some of us were lucky enough to live near adventurous mom and pop video stores that actually carried them. My own local mecca was Scotty Cooper's Video Bazaar in Metuchen, NJ, who always stocked a large collection of SWV titles on VHS, their colorful spines practically jumping off the shelf and into my curious hands, enticing me to take them home and dive into a world that had been lost to time, or may have existed only in the mind of a single, twisted auteur who died penniless and unknown, but whose life's labor was finally being presented to a (comparatively) wide audience.

He brought the films of people like David F. Friedman, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Andy Milligan, Doris Wishman, and Harry Novak to public attention and helped spread the gospel of the "forty thieves", a loosely-affiliated cabal of roadshow impresarios whose traveling exploitation shows in the early decades of cinema played fast and loose with local vice ordinances as they zig-zagged back and forth across the countryside. And he didn't merely do it on a subterranean, cult level. In the early 2000's, he pulled off something that we all would have thought impossible just a few years earlier (and which would have been impossible only a few years later), when he made a distribution deal with Image Entertainment which led to the then ubiquitous Borders Books chain to stock Something Weird Video DVDs in their big box stores nation-wide. Suddenly, middle Americans looking for the latest Adam Sandler or Sandra Bullock movie might accidentally come across The Monster of Camp Sunshine, Color Me Blood Red, or Satan in High Heels. He also got the films exposure on mainstream television, first with a series on the USA Network in the mid-90s, Reel Wild Cinema (hosted by Sandra Bernhardt), and more recently with the Something Weird On Demand channel available through Comcast cable. Today, we take it for granted that these kinds of movies are part of our collective kitschy Americana, but Vraney blazed a trail, without a map, not knowing how it was going to end up. His was a mission fueled by personal passion, and without his work, we'd all be living in a less interesting world.

Mike is survived by his wife, Lisa Petrucci, and two children, Mark and Danielle. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, his friends, and everyone else who will miss him.

Now lets take a look at some of the familiar images that we may never have even known about if not for Mike Vraney via the famous classic opening bumper that kicked off every Something Weird Video release.

Vocal Group 45 of the Week!

Anna_Macora

Happy New Year!

Return To Malamondo

MALAMONDO VOL. 1

Travis Wammack, Folk Rocker

Travis Wammack - Tomorrow Night

This catchy vocal folk-rocker is the flip of the instrumental Stay, posted here the other day.

Hideaway

Travis Wammack

Travis Wammack  -  Stay

Vocal Group 45 of the Week

Stormy_Weather

Where I'd Like To Have Spent Christmas Forty-Seven Years Ago

The Imperial Hotel at 355 Peachtree Street in Atlanta was home to a succession of nightclubs in the old days, and my fellow Ichiban stalwart Greg G has shared many great ads for them in the past, both here and at his invaluable Atlanta Time Machine site. But to the best of my knowledge, he doesn't have this particular one!

Tijuana Christmas

The Border Brass  -  Tijuana Christmas  (1:59)

The Border Brass was just one of many Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass knock-offs that helped feed the world's insatiable appetite for faux Latin easy listening instrumentals back in the late 1960s. 

Lionel Hampton - Hep Santa Claus

Via the Jet magazine archives (December, 1957).

Santa's Movin' On

Happy Magic Christmas

Leonard Clark and Land Of Sky Boys - Happy Magic Christmas  (Thanks to Greg O)

There's A UFO Up There

Travis Wammack - There's A UFO Up There

Chinky Grimes & Jimmy Rushing come to Brooklyn, 1955

Jimmy Rushing  -  Lotsa Poppa  (2:35)

Photo via the Jet magazine archives.

Ruth Brown Beat Down

Ruth Brown  -  Lucky Lips

If you're fortunate enough to have a pair of lucky lips, you're probably safe from Ruth Brown's ferocious fists of fury.

Via the Jet magazine archives, 1954.

Louie Louie

Travis Wammack - Louie Louie

Let's Go To Strollsville

 Boots Brown & The Blockbusters  -  Let's Go To Strollsville  (2:20)


1962 – The Sandy Springs High Class of ‘62 dances at the Marietta Country Club, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's photo Tumblr.  The original caption?  "Those of the Charleston era puzzled? This is ‘The Stroll."

Thunder Road

LFLHDY

December Is Travis Wammack Month!

Happy Thanksgiving

Makin' Bacon: Songs of the Squealin' Swine

1 Sound Stage Orch. with The Children's Showcase Singers: Five Little Piggies
2 Chuy Reyes & His Orch.: Oink, Oink Mambo
3 Classie Ballou: Crazy Mambo
4 Eddie Kirk: The Hawg (pt. 1)
5 Fred Mick with The Kingsmen: Daddy-O-Goose And The Three Little Piggies
6 Harry Roy & His Band, feat. Marjorie Kingsley: The Booglie Wooglie Piggy
7 The Dorsets: Pork Chops
8 The Satellites: My Piggie's Gotta Dance
9 James Carter & The Twilights: Wild Hog
10 Blind Boy Fuller: I Crave My Pig Meat
11 Christmas: A Pig Amongst Men
12 Dick Curless: Hogtown
13 Land O' Lakes Co-Op Radio: Profitable Extra Pigs
14 The Coasters: I'm A Hog For You Baby
15 Bobby Byrd: Hang It Up
16 Dale Hawkins: Little Pig
17 Chuck Higgins & His Band: Greasy Pig
18 Memphis Minnie: Selling My Pork Chops
19 Todd Rhodes: Hog Maw And Cabbage Slaw
20 The Jaguars: Hog Wild
21 Andre Williams & His New Group: Bacon Fat
22 Merced Blue Notes: Do The Pig
23 Bessie Smith & Her Band: Gimme A Pigfoot
24 The Groupies: Hog (I'm A Hog For You Baby)
25 The Who Orchestra (aka Graham Bond Organization): Waltz For A Pig
26 Land O' Lakes Co-Op Radio: Shrinking Prices
27 R.T. & The Potlickers: Sticky Pig Feet
28 Earl Jackson Orch., voc Luther Luper: Take Out The Squeal (If You Want A Meal)
29 Charlie Rich: Hawg Jaw
30 Freddy Cannon: I Loves Ya (Like A Hawg Loves Slop)
31 Otis Redding: Hawg For You
32 Cecil Payne: Ham Hocks
33 Jimmy Castor: Ham Hocks Espanol
34 Natural Bridge Bunch: Pig Snoots (pt. 1)
35 James Duncan: Three Little Pigs
36 The Pork Dukes: Making Bacon
37 Joe Tex: Looking For My Pig
38 Tony McKay: The Island Hog (pts. 1 & 2)
39 Troy Hess: Wild Hog Boogie
40 Chill Wills: The Hog
41 Bo Carter: Pig Meat Is What I Crave
42 Pee Wee King & His Golden West Cowboys: Cincinnati Dancing Pig
43 Clarence Williams with Howard McGhee's Orch.: Bacon Blues
44 Grady Martin & His Winging Strings: Pork Chop Stomp
45 Tony Valla & The Alamos: Pork Chops
46 Land O' Lakes Co-Op Radio: Spring Start
47 The Four Blues: Chittlin's And Pigs Feet
48 George Harrison (live in Japan): Piggies
49 The Solotones: Pork And Beans
50 The Monkees: Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky
51 The Jive Bombers: Po'k Chop Boogie
52 Mel Blanc with Bonnie Baker: That's All, Folks (song!)

MAKIN' BACON

Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing: Ersatz Extravaganza

1 The Western Playboys, voc Les Guthrie: Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-o-Dee

2 uncredited: I Walk The Line

3 uncredited: Ready Teddy

4 Jimmy Leyden with Jimmy Carroll Orch. & Chorus: Stranded In The Jungle

5 Hank Smith: Heartbreak Hotel

6 Artie Malvin: Jailhouse Rock

7 Artie Malvin & The Brigadiers: Short Fat Fannie

8 unknown (Jap.): Little Darlin'

9 uncredited: Sweet Little Sixteen

10 Michael Reed: Don't You Just Know It

11 Edna McGriff with Jimmy Carroll & Orch.: Don't You Just Know It

12 Sam Cee: Johnny B. Goode

13 unknown (Jap.): What'd I Say

14 unknown (Jap.): Dynamite

15 Connie Landers: Vacation

16 Music City Five: Wipe Out

17 The Georgettes: Be My Baby

18 Ed Hardin: Suspicion

19 The Chords: Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter

20 Betty York: My Love

21 The Jalopy Five: Help!

22 The Jalopy Five: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

23 Betty Richards: These Boots Are Made For Walkin'

24 Betty Richards: How Does That Grab You Darlin'

25 The Jalopy Five: Yellow Submarine

26 The Jalopy Five: Sock It To Me Baby

27 uncredited: Batman Theme

28 Sherry York: A Sign Of The Times

29 Bobby Sims: Wild Thing

30 Sandy: Bang Bang

31 Sherry Young: A Single Girl

32 Kathy Shannon: I Take It Back

33 The Classmates: Tighten Up

34 Jack & Sherry Young: Jackson

35 Alan Caddy Orch.: Fire

36 Alan Caddy Orch.: Want Ads

37 Alan Caddy Orch. & Singers: Double Barrel

38 Alan Caddy Orch.: Freddie's Dead

39 The Now Generation: Half-Breed

AIN'T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING

Sax on the beach

I fully expect my blogging privileges to be revoked after that groaner.  But in the meantime, check out Louis Jordan as he throws himself a beach party of the shores of Lake Michigan, 1966. Via the JET magazine archives.  Also pictured, the "leggy lovelies" Agatha Collins, Gwendolyn Roberts and Phyllis Campbell.

Ape Call

I Like Girls!

The Fang!

Shoot The Juice To Me Bruce - Part 2 (Ed. Repost)

When Ichiban boss Debbie blogged a Nervous Norvus 45 here yesterday, I was reminded of the positively eye-popping NN photos buried deep within the Life magazine archives. Photographer Ralph Crane snapped these images back in 1956 and they seem to have been hidden away in the vaults ever since.

Since Life's photographic treasures are not always labeled with 100% accuracy, finding them was a real stroke of luck. Instead of identifying him as Nervous Norvus, he's dubbed "Nervous Nervous" in the archives! Anyhow, these are only a few of the Nervous Norvus pictures they've got stashed away over there. Check out some more. Sure, many of them appear to be duplicates but have a look anyhow and your day will likely be made.

Nervous Norvus Month

Snidely Whiplash tells you what you need to know about our hero over at the Song-Poem Archives.

November Is Nervous Norvus Month!

Ernie Anderson vs Ghoulardi

 

 

Ghouardi fans be sure to check out the amazing print by Drew Friedman available here!

http://drewfriedman.net/prints/ghoulardi.html

I leave you with these fabulous out takes of the great Ernie Anderson losing his shit while doing voice over work for ABC television.  Anyone growing up in the 70's heard Ernie's amazing voice constantly on television, radio and movie trailers.

Warning!_Adult_Knif's_Only!_(bad_words)

 

How to Be a Vampire Victim in one Easy Lesson!

Norton Records Invades WFMU!

This just in from Rex:  Almost a year to the dreadful day that the flood waters of Sandy nearly washed them away--Norton Records is prouder and louder!  Join Billy and Miriam as they share the events of the past year of recovery and thrill to the sounds of several new Norton releases!  Plus special guest Charles Plymell, author of Benzedrine Highway (Kicks Books) will check in and take us on a ride in his Rocket 88.  Set your radio dial to 91.1 FM and stay tuned!

This Saturday on Fool's Paradise 1-3 PM EST.

Listen to the archive.

Ghoulardi Shock Theater - The Hypnotic Eye

The Whigs - Chicken Switch

Here's The Wigs, hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. Yesterday, we shared the group's fantastic publicity shot, showing the group clad in colonial-era garb.

The Wigs

Wigs Warble:  Wearing colonial style wigs and George Washington-type garments, Cleveland vocal group called The Wigs score big in their night club appearances.  Fancy dress and buckled shoes of yesteryear are no bar to their modern rhythm and blues numbers."  Jet - 1964

All I can say is, I sure hope they did the Buckle Shoe Stomp.

I Want A Radio

Ichiban Radio!

(Thanks to Chris T for the jingle!)

Voyage to the Bottom of the Barrel!

More Ghoulardi/Ghoul mayhem! Presenting Voyage to the Bottom of the Barrel!

Get_It!

Three Sixpacks, Two Arms And A Juke Box

Johnny Seay  -  Three Sixpacks, Two Arms And A Juke Box 

Most of Johnny's hits, not that there were all that many of them - but he did have a smattering of chart success stretching from the late 1950s until near the end of the 60s, were released under the name of Johnny Sea.  The pronunciation didn't change, only the spelling, when he reverted to his birth name of Seay.  In any event, this 1968 outing gets my nod for the Honky-Tonk Record Of The Week, full-up with fiddles, steel guitar and heart-wrenching lyrics about blotting out pain with the help of a little binge drinking.

Five Minutes To Live

Ghoulardi Party Part Two!

 

Ghoulardi_Party_Part_Two!

Ghoulardi Party Part One

 

 

Ghoulardi_Party_Part_One

Ghoulardi's Pet Sounds

So cool it with the boom-booms, overday! As originally compiled by Kogar The Swinging Ape !

Ghoulardi necktie party

Ghoulardi - Desert Rat

Desert Rat by Duane Eddy - The flip of Boss Guitar
& Ghoulardi's main theme music.

                                         
                                                              

October Is Ghoulardi Month? Sounds Just Right!

October Is Ghoulardi Month

Surfer From Tennessee (MP3)

Joey Paige  -  Surfer From Tennessee


What, y'all didn't know hillbillies loved surfing?