Categories: Uncategorized

29 Oct 2009, Comments (0)

Steve Akin – I’m Trippin’ Alone (ASH) 1970

Author: michael selman

This week I have brought you a 70’s release rather than a mid 60’s cut. First gigging as The Incredible West, Elementary Delusion and The Nowhere Men only to decide, in the end, to go with the lead singers name. Another group of Houstonians, Akin and his group only recorded two singles for the Ash label. This psycho-ACID killer describes a psychoactive experience alone out on the town. Steve played guitar, Bill Ditto on bass, Ed Starkey on guitar and Bobby Prater on drums.

The few places on the net I was able to find any information about this group seemed always to center on the wild streak Akin possessed. He was known for jumping from one moving car into another because of the attractive passengers of the second car. Recording a song titled, “I’m Trippin’ Alone” really goes with out saying that Akin was a free spirit that broke social boundaries.

The group cut two singles on the Ash label, “Baby You’re a Habit I Gotta Break/ Take Your Time” (1969) and “It’s Heavy/I’m Trippin’ Alone.” (1970) I have not had the liberty to hear the first track yet. As far as I can tell, well what I’ve read, “You’re a Habit” does not hold a flame to “Trippin Alone.” Being a blues-rock single the first 7” has disappeared, where the second has been revered by Texas psych fans for years. I personally enjoy the way the track titles on the second single seem to fit together so well, I’m Trippin’ Alone and It’s Heavy, at least for 1970 they blend well.

This track has a bit of a ballad feel to it, mainly because of Akin’s voice. He sings in a talking manner much the same as the Memphis group The Hombres’ with their tune “Let It Out.” After a few listens you will realize this song has some psych lyrical content without most of the normal musical attributes of a psych tune. For instance this one has almost no effect on Akin’s guitar and the bass has minimal fuzz if any at all. Still a great Texas track even though.


LISTEN: Steve Akin – I’m Trippin’ Alone.

22 Oct 2009, Comments (5)

The Kings – It’s The L.C.B. (JOX) 1965

Author: michael selman

Under age drinking is the theme of this weeks post. The Kings were a five piece, only recording a few singles most notably “It’s The L.C.B.” This tune opens with the first few bars from the Dragnet theme song, foreshadowing being arrested for D.W.I. The L.C.B. stands for Liquor Control Board. The group recorded for Abe Epstein’s JOX label, out of San Antonio. I was able to track down only three of the member’s names: Donnie McCormick on Drums, Tommy Carlisle on Guitar and Rob Morgan on Bass.

The group only stayed together for a short time because four of the members were drafted. This track reached number one in Texas when it was released. Tommy and Donnie went on to form Eric Quincy Tate, an Atlanta blues rock group. In Kingsville, the L.C.B. used to raid the clubs quite frequently because of rampant underage drinking. It became a signal to all of the underage boozers in the venue when, “It’s The L.C.B.” was played that the cops were raiding the joint.

“Now I turned 21 just the other day
I thought I’d go out and hear a good band play
As sure as I’m sitting here singing this song
I must’ve been drunk and read the calendar wrong
Oh no! It’s the LCB”

I was able to find a shot from an early practice session and another at a local Kingsville venue. I have been sitting on this track for a while, trying to accumulate information, only to find there is not much known about these guys. I have decided to post anyways because this track is too good to sit on any longer. Enjoy.

Coastliners1966ed

LISTEN: The Kings – It’s The L.C.B.

22 Oct 2009, Comments (0)

Joe Tex-Give The Baby Anything The Baby Wants (Dial 1971)

Author: alex larotta
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Joe Tex, our man from the gulf coast settings of Baytown, TX, set the bar for rappers to come in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Undeniably funky and soul shattering, Joe Tex falls in that special category of eccentric soul singers who started ‘rapping’ as a unique form of shout-singing and rhyming over a steadfast funky backbeat, all before rap took off as its own movement.

But before all that, Joe Tex started as a ballad-style soul singer, recording a handful of minor hits for releases on Ace, King and Anna before really tapping the mainstream with his recordings on Dial. And as if to be more in line with the competitive nature and themes of rapping, Joe Tex and the Godfather of Soul himself Mr. James Brown had ongoing beef with each other, stemming from accusations from Tex that James was stealing his on stage antics and dance moves. And to add insult to injury, Joe’s ex-wife left to join the James Brown Revue, resulting in Tex’s subsequent recording of “You Keep Her”, you can check it out here. If that doesn’t result in some heavy beefing, I don’t know what else would. And to make matters worse/more awkward, James and Tex frequently shared bills together during their touring heyday, with one evening resulting in James’s firing of his handgun after Joe mimicked his signature cape maneuver during his show. Considering this was a messy and likely frightful night with the gun firing at the end of the night, I still would’ve loved to been there that night. Joe Tex mocking the Godfather of Soul, and him getting so angry as to shoot his gun off. Scary, yet memorable, at the very least. And it’s reported that James paid everyone at the joint a $100 to keep their mouths shut, what a great story for the grandkids.

This week’s post is a highlight of Joe’s funky repertoire, “Give The Baby Anything The Baby Wants” features a great driving groove-laden backbeat and bass line on top of some swirly horns and Joe’s signature vocalizing and shouting. Released on Dial Records in 1971, this would be one of the last records before his national hit ” I Gotcha” hit the mainstream, check out some dope soul train footage of that track here. And it would be shortly after that that Joe would retire from his short-lived recording career after converting to Islam and living out his days as a spiritual lecturer. Joe did eventually return to the stage and studio some years later, but never fully engaged his recording career as his days prior, though he did reach the charts again in the disco era, penning the regionally popular dance, The Bump, with the amusing song title of the same name, “Ain’t Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)”. Unfortunately, Joe died at the young age of 49 at his Texas ranch in Navasota, with fellow soulers Ben E. King, Don Covay, Wilson Pickett, and the songwriter Percy Mayfield serving as pallbearers. Alas, Joe Tex cut some mighty fine southern style soul and funk, hope you enjoy today’s selection of his impressive discography.

joetex

LISTEN: Joe Tex-Give The Baby Anything The Baby Wants

15 Oct 2009, Comments (2)

Loyce Cotton-Try It, You’ll Like It (Aquarius 1972)

Author: alex larotta
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I tried it, I liked it, a lot. I pulled this weeks 45 last weekend at the Austin Record Convention, considerably up there on my want lists and paid a fairly reasonable price for it, thanks to Pete for his flavorful 45 stacks. And I’ll apologize for not having too much detailed information for this weeks post so I’ll have to keep this short and sweet, much like this song. Loyce Cotton’s Try It You’ll Like It was released on the Houston-based Aquarius label and produced by Pope, another small time Bayou City label with wider distributive capacity. It seems that Aquarius released a slew of 45 singles throughout their activity in the 60’s and 70’s and even touching on some boogie and modern soul in the late 70’s, one release being a particular favorite of mine, Doin’ It by Houston bluesman Clarence Green, which I’ll definitely post sometime soon in the near future. I couldn’t find much, or anything really, on Ms. Cotton’s career or that of her recordings in my thorough detective interneting. I did find that France’s Motown President and funk and soul connoisseur, Gilles Petard, released this song on the first series of his illustrious Absolute Funk compilations. If you don’t know, now you know…

As far as I know, Ms. Cotton released only one other 45 on another Houston-based label (Jetstream) but it doesn’t seem that her records made it further past the local radio circuit. It’s a shame, considering her potential for national radio play as a strong female soul vocalist. Nevertheless, Try It You’ll Like It is simple and straightforward funky soul with some nice wah wah on the guitar, a punchy bass line and a groove-filled organ solo right around the middle, tendering a persuasive message about the niceties of receiving love and kisses. Clocking in at a mere two minutes, this mid-tempo workout is a fine piece of the ever impressive catalog of Houston soul music.

LISTEN: Loyce Cotton-Try It You’ll Like It

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