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(2010, download, - , crossfire publications) |
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(2011, flash-drive, usa, crossfire publications) |
paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.14
-
feat.contributions by frank zappa
2010 | download | - | crossfire publications |
re-releases
(2011, flash-drive, usa,
crossfire publications) =
the complete 35 album series, with bonus liner notes on pdf and 56 extra tracks
various tracks recorded by
the bongo teens:
wipe out
paul buff: call
me on the telephone
the buff
organization: windows (paul buff vocal)
the hollywood
persuaders: hollywood a-go-go
the tornadoes:
the swag
paul conrad (paul
buff): chocolate milk (demo - long version)
paul buff:
donna (backing track 1)
ricky dean:
flowers (mono mix)
shapes of sound:
twisted conversation
bobby ray:
encinada way (backing track 1)
the sonny wilson
band: guitar workout
paul buff: i
will go to the ends of the earth
ricky dean:
i'll never love another (mono mix)
johnny barakat and the
vestells: (ghost) riders in the sky (alternate take)
the hollywood
persuaders: forget it
the music machine:
the people in me
the pal studio band:
love of my life (alternate version)
the thundermugs:
motion tree
thee sixpence:
can't explain
thee sixpence:
in the building
the thundermugs:
mr. z's backyard
the buff
organization: upside down world (demo - version 3)
paul buff: mono
drums 1
liner notes by Greg Russo
Welcome to Volume 14 of Paul Buff's 20-volume series of
recordings from Pal Studios and Original Sound Studios! Pal Records was a record
company run by his mother Olivia and stepfather Ward Allen. After Paul Buff was
honorably discharged from the military, he finished putting together Pal Studios
in December 1957. The studio costs were $12.50/hour for mono recording and
$15/hour for stereo. Local musicians booked the studio to make recordings of
their rehearsals and repertoire. When Pal Records wound itself down in mid-1959,
Paul Buff created his first record label - Emmy. Other labels (Plaza, Yukon and
Vigah!) would follow shortly thereafter. The music presented on this series was
released on extremely rare records that would literally cost thousands if you
can find them. In addition, there are many unreleased tracks spanning from 1960
to 1969. Paul Buff is now making them available again for everyone to
appreciate.
It's time to "Wipe Out"! Yes, it's The Bongo
Teens' version that appeared on the "Surfin' Bongos" album that they
shared with Preston Epps. That album has been reissued in mono and stereo. Paul
Buff's vocal demos "Call Me On The Telephone" and "I Will Go To
The Ends Of The Earth" show that he tried many different ideas. Some of
these ideas were well developed and became complete songs, but others like these
two exist just in this form.
"Windows" by The Buff Organization went
through a few iterations before it evolved into the song "Summer
Avenue." This version of "Windows" has Paul Buff singing alone.
The other versions can be heard on any of the Buff Organization albums now
available. "Hollywood A-Go-Go" by The Hollywood Persuaders was clear
and defined right off the bat. It was one of the best tracks on the album and it
was the final A-side for this Buff venture.
During their first visit to Pal Studios in late 1962,
The Tornadoes cut two tracks with Frank Zappa engineering. One was
"Raw-Hide" and the other was this volume's "The Swag," and
both were Link Wray staples. Roly Sanders' guitar playing on "The
Swag" made his career highlight reel!
Before Paul Buff (under his Paul Conrad guise) got
"Chocolate Milk" together, he did a demo version. The longer version
of that demo is present and accounted for!
When you do a recording, you have to lay down a backing
track. Paul Buff recorded two backing tracks for his version of Ritchie Valens'
"Donna." This volume has the first one, along with the first backing
track for Bobby Ray's "Encinada Way." Mono mixes for both sides of
Ricky Dean's "Flowers"/ "I'll Never Love Another" single
state their case here as well.
Just when you think everything is nice and comfy, we
throw you a curve! Shapes Of Sound's "Twisted Conversation" was one of
the most unusual and psychedelic tracks that Paul Buff ever engineered. Written
and sung by Greg Munford, the song employs sped-up vocals that echo what Buff
accomplished on the original version of "I'm Losing Status At The High
School" with Frank Zappa and Allison Buff. Lyrically, "Twisted
Conversation" is very advanced. As a single A-side, it's completely
uncommercial. That's precisely why it's so brilliant! The shame is that the
record may be the rarest one that Bill Holmes ever released on his All-American
label, and that's really saying something. As mentioned previously, Munford is
known as the vocalist for "Incense And Peppermints," and he recorded
with Indescribably Delicious and other All-American acts.
Sonny Wilson's band proved that they could record some
quality material at Pal without their leader, as "Guitar Workout"
clearly indicates. A later volume will have another track that they recorded -
"Cotton Pickin' Rock."
In the meantime, you can do some comparing and
contrasting work! Compare Johnny Barakat's later, reverb-drenched version of
"(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" to the unreleased version issued on Volume
11. Also, "Forget It" by Paul Buff and Dave Aerni was originally
recorded by The Bongo Teens in 1963. The Hollywood Persuaders version is
actually a different mix of the same take with some embellishments. Make your
choices!
With Paul Buff engineering, Sean Bonniwell's original
lineup of The Music Machine recorded "The People In Me" at Original
Sound as the follow-up to their #15 hit "Talk Talk." Incidentally,
"Talk Talk" isn't part of this series because it was recorded at RCA
in Hollywood prior to the band's signing with Art Laboe's label. "The
People In Me" only reached #66 as a result of radio politics, and the song
was also included on their only album for the label: "(Turn On) The Music
Machine." The LP managed to reach #76 on the album chart. Featured here is
the slightly longer stereo album mix.
The unknown Mary Gonzales joined Ray Collins on yet
another Pal Studio Band version of FZ's "Love Of My Life." Ray redid
some of his vocal parts for this edition, which is another interesting
variation.
Two tracks each from two All-American acts, The
Thundermugs and Thee Sixpence, are up next. The Thundermugs' "Motion
Tree" was the B-side of their single "Captain Midnight" (Volume
13). Jack Lutz wrote that song and "Mr. Z's Backyard." No, not THAT
Mr. Z, but another one from Lutz's imagination! Sarcasm and humor reign supreme.
From August 1966, Thee Sixpence's "Can't Explain" (co-written by
Arthur Lee) was the B-side of their first single "Long Days Care"
(Volume 12). "In The Building" was a very adventurous A-side, their
third for All-American. It was released in November 1966. There was absolutely
no commercial potential for such a dark sounding record, and it was compounded
by two misspellings: the group was shown as The Sixpence and the B-side
"Hey Joe" was shown as "Hay Joe"!