A.K.A. Wixie the Pixie!

Some great info on Detroit legend Marv Welch here, including info on his various careers, all as an entertainer. He was a comedian, an early local TV star on WXYZ as children's show host Wixie the Pixie, and a singer. His lounge career is definitely at odds with that of being a kiddies' hero. If you look here, there's an autograph he wrote on a copy of this album that says 'Mary & John, Live it up & get it up & keep it up.' :p

The cover should not include these double rings. I guess someone thought it would be funny to add them. I...kinda do too. :p

Shame this copy is in bad shape.

Some more thoughts on the album here...

Interesting how it appears the two sides are quite different. I haven't listened yet, but that's some nice praise for side two.

The Bigwoods

Obviously, this is the sort of cover that just jumps right out at you, which is always a good thing.  The Bigwoods, from left to right, are Anne Bigwood (drums), her brother Bobby (accordion and vocals) and Robb Wyatt (guitar and vocals). They performed Caribbean standards and Caribbean-flavored tunes, along with originals, on cruise ships (including the Queen Elizabeth II) and had impressive hair! ;) Really, that link up there says more than I could, and includes some responses by Mr. Wyatt.

When I saw the cover, I was instantly reminded of this classic...

I may have this one, but I'm not sure. If I do, I should frame it and put it on the wall.

Interesting back cover, including a crude drawing of the QE II. Almost looks like someone put a sticker there. Anyway, beautiful beach. Love seeing all the trees. Any beach I've been to either has no trees around, or they're way back.

How to Listen to Music

Well, not quite, but how to listen to music...better? More efficiently? Yeah.

*Apologies in advance for the smaller pictures...but they're not that bad, I guess*

CBS Laboratories (where safety is number one priority?) presents what didn't need a nice colorful, eye-catching cover, but got one anyway. So yes, this is yet another stereo setup records, but something you'll see later sets it apart from others a bit.

Again, these are very standard tests, so here comes the more interesting part...

It came with a booklet for professional test records, as opposed to the album featured in this post, which is basically for the vinyl layman. Let's look inside...

STR 100: Stereophonic Frequency Test Record

STR 112: Square Wave, Tracking and Intermodulation Test Record

STR 120: Wide Range Pickup Response Test Record

STR 130: RIAA Frequency Response Test Record

STR 140: RIAA Pink Noise Acoustical Test Record

STR 151: Broadcast Test Record

See? When you're getting into super tech RIAA and Broadcast stuff, those are records that few home consumers would ever care about or need. 

STR 170: 318 Microsecond Frequency Response Test Record

STR 101: Seven Steps to Better Listening

SQT 1100: Quadraphonic Test Record

The 318 Microsecond record isn't exactly for home use either, but those last two are, especially the STR 101 record featured in this post, which apparently cost $6.98, whereas all the other ones are $15.00 each.

Kaptain Kool and the Kongs

As I was looking through my pics for something to upload, I came across this and decided to post it on a whim. Didn't mean much to me, and I figured it was just another disco group I hadn't heard of, but I dig the outfits and the name. (and Kaptain Kool reminds me of Dennis Farina a bit) But something on the back intrigued me...

Notice the Krofft in the lower left corner. I thought 'Krofft as in Sid and Marty Krofft?' I looked them up and yep! They were part of The Krofft Supershow, another Krofft production I either never saw or saw so little of, I have no memory of it, due to extremely limited TV options at the time. Or because it was off the air by the time I was a 1-year-old. ;) 

But I've obviously become well aware of the various shows over the years, especially since the internet age, as evidenced by what I immediately thought of upon seeing this Bentley...

I grew up being somewhat aware of Krofft shows, but I think it was mostly from seeing clips on other shows, and my mother mentioning certain things from time to time. (H.R. Pufnstuf [see above], etc...) I don't remember Krofft shows ever being on any channels I had growing up in New Brunswick, Canada in the 80s. If I'm wrong, please let me know!

Wardrobe Malfunction

Do you need a safety pin or something?

Non-veterinarians need not apply

Really no reason why I should have this, which is all the more reason I should have it...

This is easily my favorite kind of thrift store find! Not sure how many of these would be floating around in the wild these days. (there are currently 9 for sale at discogs.com, though, and 2 on ebay) I figure most would've been thrown away decades ago when they were cleaning up their offices, or are still just rotting away in closets, long forgotten. Glad I found one. :)

Evsco Pharmaceutical is still around, specializing in products for dogs and cats, including carpet stain and odor remover. I could've used some of that more than once.

Murmurs galore.

The Original Conniff Cutie Strikes Back

I refer, of course, to this stunner. And now she's back!

"The Most Beautiful Girl"? Maybe not quite, but one of the more fetching lasses in my collection.

Oh, let's not leave Ray out. I suppose he's cute too. Haha.

Sonny Crockett's in the studio

Nice simple cover with good contrasts. Distinctly non-pastel.

I'm kinda surprised they didn't use this for the front cover. Guess using an artsy cover looks more serious...but they still have this for the ladies anyway.

The fold is gated.

Here's his cover of "Lost in Your Eyes":

He does a good job, but it's not my favorite version. And though it was written by Tom Petty, his isn't my fave either. It's Jeff Healey's, easily.

Freaky shepherd

I saw this and thought 'whoa, I hope it's prog!' Well, it's not (mostly funk/disco), but it certainly has proggy elements. He plays a mean bass, as one might be able to discern in this video presentation:

More on Miroslav, founding member of Weather Report (!),  here.

Not just gold...

...it's Supergold! (mit Maria und Margot Hellwig)

The only other Hellwig I know of was Jim "The Ultimate Warrior" Hellwig, who later legally changed his name to just plain ol' Warrior.

Nice gatefold pic of the ladies. Didn't realize I'd taken it at lower resolution. Oh well. That's Margot on the left and her mother Maria on the right. Maria died in 2010, but Margot still performs.

Link to the Hellwig site here.

Ferrante and Teicher Blast Off!

I love covers like this, where seriously talented artists don't feel the need to be serious all the time. ;) I'm not sure that those suits are space-worthy.

True story!

More fun. :)

Achingly Eighties

This is a pure fashion post, folks!

Not into modern country, but I love their name and man, them clothes! I'm especially digging the skinny tie. I had a black leather one. That super skinny studded belt is also cool.

The back cover pic is even better! It's so strange, though. The lighting on them is harsh to the point of making the background look almost fake. Seems to be high up as well. Why do three of them look like they're walking away? (actually, I think Wide Mustache Guy's feet are glued to the ground)

The WHAT song?!

On a kids' album?! (more on that later)

Is that uh...pencil bird Rica Moore? ;)

There it is! Let's zoom in...

Yep, ADDITION! No wait...

SUBTR...I mean THE CANNIBAL SONG! Kinda gross, but at least not all of them end up with disgusting ends.