Judging by this incredible album, punk rock was invented in New York 20 years before the Ramones debut, by a black saxophonist playing instrumentals. You doubt me? Ladies and gentlemen, behold! the one album I've been dying to post here on our series of wild, post-war weekend-starters.Buddy Lucas "Shake Rock Rattle And Roll"
If "lowbrow" music of the pre-rock crit era ever gets the respect it deserves, this album would be a Holy Grail collectible. I mean, just look at that artwork!
Oh, and how do you know that a '50s recording artist is black? They're not pictured on the album cover! The pic of Mr. Lukas below was collected elsewhere off the inter-webs. The actual back cover of this album contains no info, just a black-and-white rendering of that Bukowski-drumming-with-Jayne Mansfield front cover drawing.
9 comments:
Man, like...dig this crazy square!
thks
wonderful album!
What an extraordinary album! For once I have to agree with the normally racist term "jungle music", since this guy's sax really sounds as though it might break loose and savage a few people at any moment. That or he's actually playing a bull elephant with holes drilled in its trunk and it's understandably pissed off.
If this record ever comes out on CD, they should make it a DVD and give you the option of watching old footage of burlesque performers while you listen, because it doesn't seem complete without visuals along those lines. Perhaps somebody with the necessary software might fancy combining this music with an appropriate film clip? I suggest those freakout scenes from Glen Or Glenda? in which strippers are inexplicably flogged by Satan.
Yeah, great idea Count, there must be some clever video-savvy maniacs out there who could whip up something like that. *snaps fingers* Come on folks, hop to it!
once again, thanks for sharing your incredible taste in music and making my ipod so much cooler than it otherwise would be...
This is great stuff. Always loved the days of one mic hanging from the ceiling for the whole band.
Is that really Jayne/Mariska or just an artist's rendition of beauty in the 50's? Or is that a redundant question?
You all are very welcome, thank you for swingin by our wild party. As there is no info whatsoever on the album cover, I don't know if thats really Jayne, Mamie van Doren, or whoever. I'd also like to know who the guitarist is, as there are some tantalizing glimpses of Link Wray-like fuzztone.
I like the Ramones. My favorite is "I Want To Be Sedated." What I don't understand is how Punk can be called original, or that the Ramones invented it. Johnny Cochran, Gene Vincent, Little Richard, and others invented raw Rock and Roll. I guess if one never heard of these guys, Punk may sound new, but to me, Punk is derivative. Give me the early practitioners, like Buddy Lucas. Thanks for introducing him to me.
Omg, what a find! Being a saxophone player, I really appreciate hearing the session guys who never got to step out. And this is easily the most outrageous example of that EVER!
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