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Songs In The Key Of Z
''Songs in the Key of Z'' is a book and two compilation albums written and compiled by Irwin Chusid. The book and albums explore the field of what Chusid coined as "outsider music". Chusid defines outsider music as; "crackpot and visionary music, where all trails lead essentially one place: over the edge." Chusid's work has brought the music of several leading performers in the outsider genre to wider attention. These include Daniel Johnston, Joe Meek, Jandek and Wesley Willis. In addition, his CDs feature some recordings by artists who produced very little work but placed their recordings firmly in the outsider area. Notable amongst these are nursing home resident Jack Mudurian who sings snatches of several dozen songs in a garbled collection known as ''Downloading the Repertoire'' and the obscure and extreme scat singer Shooby Taylor AKA 'The Human Horn.' The compilation albums ''Songs in the Key of Z – The Curious Universe of Outsider Music'', the companion compilation al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irwin Chusid
Irwin Chusid (born April 22, 1951 in Newark, New Jersey) is a journalist, music historian, radio personality, record producer, and self-described "landmark preservationist". His stated mission has been to "find things on the scrapheap of history that I know don't belong there and salvage them." Those "things" have included such previously overlooked but now-celebrated icons as composer/bandleader/electronic music pioneer Raymond Scott, Space Age Pop avatar Esquivel, illustrator/fine artist Jim Flora, various outsider musicians (including William "Shooby" Taylor, a.k.a. "The Human Horn"), and The Langley Schools Music Project. Chusid calls himself "a connoisseur of marginalia," while admitting he's "a terrible barometer of popular taste." Chusid oversees the catalog of the late Afrofuturist artist/composer/bandleader Sun Ra and administers Ra's music rights on behalf of the artist's heirs. His forthcoming book, ''Sun Ra: Art on Saturn — The Album Cover Art of Sun Ra's Saturn La ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Shaggs
The Shaggs were an American rock band formed in Fremont, New Hampshire, in 1965. The band was composed of the sisters Dorothy "Dot" Wiggin (vocals and lead guitar), Betty Wiggin (vocals and rhythm guitar), Helen Wiggin (drums) and, later, Rachel Wiggin (bass guitar). Their music has been described as both among the worst of all time and a work of unintentional brilliance. The Shaggs formed at the insistence of their father, Austin Wiggin, who believed that his mother had predicted their rise to fame. For several years, he made the girls practice every day and perform weekly at the Fremont town hall. In 1969, Austin paid for the Shaggs to record an album, ''Philosophy of the World'', which was distributed in limited quantities in 1969 by a local record label. It received no attention and the Shaggs disbanded in 1975 after Austin's death. The Shaggs had no interest in becoming musicians and never became proficient in songwriting or performing. They composed bizarre songs with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Legendary Stardust Cowboy
Norman Carl Odam (born September 5, 1947, in Lubbock, Texas), known professionally as the Legendary Stardust Cowboy, is an outsider performer who is considered one of the pioneers of the genre that came to be known as psychobilly in the 1960s. Early life Odam was interested in space travel from early childhood, recalling that at kindergarten age he "used to look at the moon and ell himselfthat some day man will go to the moon." As a teenager he combined his interests in outer space and the American west to create the name "Stardust Cowboy", adding the word "legendary" because "I am a legend in my own time." The fact that the initials of "Legendary Star Dust", LSD, referred to a popular drug at the time was coincidental; he claims to have adopted the name in 1961, before the drug was popularized. Odam took up music in his high school years as a means toward popularity and impressing girls. Inspired by Chet Atkins, he learned guitar and also taught himself to play the bugle. A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Luie Luie
''Touchy'' is a 1974 album by Luie Luie. Self-produced by the outsider musician and nightclub performer Luis Johnston, the album initially sold no more than 25 copies. ''Touchy'' was included in a list of the "101 strangest records on Spotify". Album ''Touchy'' was an LP that was self-funded by Luie Luie. When ''Touchy'' was released in 1974, up to 25 copies were sold. The album included a "Touchy" button affixed to the sleeve of the LP. A listener could attach the button to their body, in a spot their dance partner could "pay special attention to" with a "Touchy" button of their own. Luie Luie painted the picture used for the album's cover. ''Touchy'' is a conceptual album aimed at getting listeners into a "touchy mood". Luie later described how people were disconnected from each other and using drugs in the 1970s—"People lost contact with reality, and at that time we saw the dancers — I was playing in the nightclubs — and there was no more romance. The heart was not invol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sri Darwin Gross
Eckankar is a new religious movement founded by Paul Twitchell Paul Twitchell (born Jacob Paul Twitchell) (died September 17, 1971) was an American author and spiritual teacher who created and directed the development of the new religious movement known as Eckankar. Twitchell described himself as "The Mah ... in 1965. Its membership today is primarily in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The spiritual home is the Temple of ECK in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Eckankar is not affiliated with any other religious group. The movement teaches simple spiritual exercises, such as singing "''HU''", called "a love song to God", to experience the Light and Sound of God and recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit. Etymology Twitchell was known for adapting Sanskrit words into English, and the word ''Eckankar'' is likely Twitchell's adaptation of the sacred phrase Ik Onkar, ''Ik Onkar'' of Sikhism, meaning "One ''Om''". ''Eck'' is intended to mean the Holy Spirit, as found in the b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Telstar (song)
"Telstar" is a 1962 instrumental by the English band the Tornados, written and produced by Joe Meek. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in December 1962 (the second British recording to reach number 1 on that chart in the year, after " Stranger on the Shore" in May). It was the second instrumental single to hit number 1 in 1962 on both the US and UK weekly charts." Stranger on the Shore" did make No.1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, the ''Record Mirror'' and ''NME'' weekly charts and also topped the end of year charts. Later in 1962, Meek produced a vocal version, "Magic Star", sung by Kenny Hollywood. It was released as a single by Decca Records (cat. nr F11546), with "The Wonderful Story of Love" on the B-side, written by Geoff Goddard. The musical director for both songs was Ivor Raymonde. Background "Telstar" was named after the Telstar communications satellite, which was launched into orbit on 10 July 1962. Written and produced by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Song Poem
Song poems are songs with lyrics by usually non-professional writers that have been set to music by commercial companies for a fee. This practice, which has long been disparaged in the established music industry, was also known as ''song sharking'' and was conducted by several businesses throughout the 20th century in North America. Production and promotion From the early 20th century, the business of recording song poems was promoted through small display ads in popular magazines, comic books, tabloids, men's adventure journals and similar publications with a headline reading (essentially) ''Send in Your Poems - Songwriters Make Thousands of Dollars - Free Evaluation.'' The term ''lyrics'' was avoided because it was assumed potential customers would not understand what the term meant. Those who sent their poetry to one of the production companies usually received notice by mail that their work was worthy of recording by professional musicians, along with a proposal to do ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jailhouse Rock (song)
"Jailhouse Rock" is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley for the film of the same name. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. RCA Victor released the song on a 45 rpm single on September 24, 1957, as the first single from the film's soundtrack EP. It reached the top of the charts in the U.S. and the top 10 in several other countries. The song has been recognized by the Grammy Hall of Fame, the American Film Institute, and others. Characters and themes Some of the characters named in the song are real people. Shifty Henry was a well-known Los Angeles musician, not a criminal. The Purple Gang was a real mob. " Sad Sack" was a U.S. Army nickname in World War II for a loser, which was also the name of a popular comic strip and comic book character. According to ''Rolling Stone'', Leiber and Stoller's "theme song for Presley's third movie was decidedly silly, the kind of tongue-in-cheek goof they had come up with for The Coasters. Presley, however, sang it ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
There's A Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
"There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" is a patriotic anthem written in 1942 by Paul Roberts (songwriter), Paul Roberts and Shelby Darnell (a pseudonym for producer Bob Miller (composer, born 1895), Bob Miller). With Elton Britt's version selling well over one million copies, the song was country music's greatest World War II hit, though ''Your Hit Parade'' would not feature the song in its original country music format. History The song was completed, along with other tunes, on Swan's Island, Maine, where Paul Roberts visited and performed with his soon to become wife, Annie Marrithew, during World War II. The song enjoyed its greatest popularity during the war years. The ''somewhere'' in the title of the song refers to an idealistic version of heaven reserved for the brave United States, U.S. military of the United States, soldiers fighting the Axis Powers, somewhat akin to the concept of Valhalla. The verses are a narrative of a young disabled man, who still yearns t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lucia Pamela
Lucia Pamela (May 1, 1904 – July 25, 2002) was an American musician, nightclub singer, bandleader, and eccentric. She is remembered today largely for a science fiction themed musical album and coloring book concerning an imaginary trip to the Moon. Biography Pamela was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She traveled to Germany to study at the Beethoven Conservatory of Music and Voice, and joined Flo Ziegfeld's " Broadway Follies" after her return to the United States. She was voted Miss St. Louis in 1926. She was featured in ''Ripley's Believe It or Not'' for memorizing 10,000 songs. She led the all-girl orchestra and Odeon Theatre house band the Musical Pirates, said by some to be the first all-female orchestra, and hosted radio programs including ''The Encouragement Hour'', Kansas City, and ''Gal About Town'', Fresno. She produced only one album, ''Into Outer Space With Lucia Pamela'' (circa 1969, Gulfstream and later on L'Peg), whose songs are mostly about an imaginary trip to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Walking The Cow
"Walking the Cow" is a song written and recorded by singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston from his 1983 album '' Hi, How Are You''. The title was inspired by an illustration on a wrapper for Blue Bell ice cream depicting a young girl attempting to lead a reluctant cow by its reins. Johnston recorded an updated version of the song on his 2010 album '' Beam Me Up!'' Covers Austin band The Reivers included their version of the song as a bonus track on the 1988 CD release of ''Translate Slowly'', their 1984 debut album. During Johnston's wave of popularity in the early 1990s, several musicians released covers of "Walking the Cow". Mike Watt's group Firehose included a version on '' Flyin' the Flannel'' (1991). Kathy McCarty of Glass Eye included it on her 1994 Daniel Johnston tribute album ''Dead Dog's Eyeball''. Also in 1994, the Austin surf-rock band Whirled Peas released a version on their second and final album, ''War and Peas''. In October of that year, Pearl Jam covered the so ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Shaggs
The Shaggs were an American rock band formed in Fremont, New Hampshire, in 1965. The band was composed of the sisters Dorothy "Dot" Wiggin (vocals and lead guitar), Betty Wiggin (vocals and rhythm guitar), Helen Wiggin (drums) and, later, Rachel Wiggin (bass guitar). Their music has been described as both among the worst of all time and a work of unintentional brilliance. The Shaggs formed at the insistence of their father, Austin Wiggin, who believed that his mother had predicted their rise to fame. For several years, he made the girls practice every day and perform weekly at the Fremont town hall. In 1969, Austin paid for the Shaggs to record an album, ''Philosophy of the World'', which was distributed in limited quantities in 1969 by a local record label. It received no attention and the Shaggs disbanded in 1975 after Austin's death. The Shaggs had no interest in becoming musicians and never became proficient in songwriting or performing. They composed bizarre songs with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |