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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.5
| 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
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/paulbuffvarious1
liner notes by Greg Russo:
Welcome to Volume 5 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.
Our first track by The Pal Studio Band is familiar to Zappa fans as “Speed
Freak Boogie,” but that’s not what it was originally called. Frank Zappa
wrote the titles of the original tape reel’s songs on the back of a “While
You Were Out” note, and the original title was “Cookin’ Turnips.” Doug
Moon was the acoustic rhythm guitarist. This is the original presentation of the
tape without any embellishments.
“Under The Earth” was the third and final Masters A-side. Released in August
1961, “Under The Earth” once again shows how well Ronnie Williams played
guitar. Collectors know how difficult this record is to get, but now everyone
can have it!
Ronnie Duran was the leader of Ronnie And The Casuals, who cut the late-period
Emmy single “Moe Joe”/ “One Degree South” in 1963. The B-side “One
Degree South” (included here) was a takeoff of The Mar-Keys’ album track
“One Degree North.”
Two duos follow next – Rene & Ray and Rosie And Ron. Paul Buff co-wrote
Rene & Ray’s “Queen Of My Heart,” considered a vocal classic of the
period (1962). Rene & Ray were Pablo "Rene" Valenzuela (of The
Velveteens) and Ray "Spider Ray" Quińones. Contrary to the Rosie And
Ron billing, Rosie Hamlin and Ron Holden did not record the single “So
Dearly.” Lucy Duran and Ray Quińones respectively imitated Hamlin and Holden
on this January 1961 recording with The Velveteens backing them. Both records
were licensed to the Donna label, with “Queen Of My Heart” doing extremely
well in California and selling moderately throughout the country.
Sonny Wilson was always compared to Elvis Presley, and when he covered a song
like “My Proudest Possession” that Elvis was known for, the comparisons were
unavoidable. Despite his vocal similarities to Elvis, Sonny Wilson added enough
of himself to deliver an excellent version of the song. It has not been released
until now.
The Cordells’ “Happy Time” was on the previous volume, and now we have its
B-side – “I Love How You Love Me.” Considering how raucous the A-side was,
a relaxed instrumental version of “I Love How You Love Me” was a big
surprise. The Paris Sisters had a big hit with the song in 1961. Like the
A-side, “I Love How You Love Me” was produced by Curry (Frank Zappa) and
Irvin (Dave Aerni).
Johnny Fortune’s second and final Emmy A-side was “I’m In Heaven (When You
Kiss Me).” Cut in 1960, he still had a rockabilly flavor with heavy reverb.
After doing some session work in 1961 and 1962, Johnny returned as an
instrumentalist before going back to vocal material.
Volume 2 included The Catalinas’ version of “Your Tender Lips.” On this
volume, we have the original version by Terri & Johnnie that was licensed to
the Donna label. Terri Bonilla and Mario John Valenzuela were married the same
year as this record (1962), and Terri recorded a couple singles with The
Velveteens that will turn up later in this series.
Paul Buff wrote “Romance Theme” and almost sold it to Screen-Gems, but the
deal didn’t happen. It is a lush, orchestrated piano theme that should have
been recorded by one of the many piano-based artists of the time. About five
years later, Buff wanted to create his own version of a Sonny Bono song. Sonny
had scored in 1965 with the solo single “Laugh At Me,” so Paul Buff wanted
to create a song about hair! The Buff Organization’s “The Square” was the
result, complete with Sonny-esque vocals from Buff.
Before he recorded his solo single “Little Princess”/ “Ambrosial” at
Pal, Dino Dupree laid down four rough Pal demos with The Pharaohs in 1960 that
only exist on acetates. Two of the tracks were instrumentals, with the other two
being vocal numbers. One of the instrumentals, “Chaser,” is featured here.
Bobby Ray was very productive at Pal in 1963, but he had little to show for his
efforts. One of his unreleased tracks was “Encinada Way.” This
Spanish-styled number was cut a few times at Pal, but this is the completed
vocal version.
The Tired 4 was Allison Buff and three friends produced by Paul Buff during
studio downtime at Original Sound Studios in 1967. They wanted to cut a single
for Original Sound, but the two tracks they completed (“Somethin’ Stupid”
and “The Stripper”) were not released. These were very strange and
uncommercial instrumental arrangements, not unlike what Frank Zappa might have
done if he attempted them. The then-recent Frank & Nancy Sinatra #1 hit
“Somethin’ Stupid” is included here in its first mix.
The Rhythm Surfers, previously known as The Pharos, cut three tracks at Pal
Studios. “502 (Like Getting Pinched On A 502)” was the A-side of their
September 1963 Daytone single. A “502” was (and is, in some areas) the penal
code for driving while intoxicated! Dan Braymer was the drummer for this
short-lived outfit, and was the driving force for this wild track produced by
Curry (Frank Zappa) and Irvin (Dave Aerni).
Larry Gee’s “Last Goodbye” was the B-side of his Emmy single. A pop number
balancing his cruising A-side, “Last Goodbye” formed Gee’s last recording.
Paul Buff’s master of The Friendly Torpedoes’ “Citizen Fear” is included
on this volume, and the final mono master was released on Volume 2. This
recording with former Music Machine honcho Sean Bonniwell will also appear in
another mix later in the series.
Finishing out this volume is an acetate from The Bongo Teens – “Another Wipe
Out.” Clearly inspired by The Surfaris’ “Wipe Out,” this is Paul Buff
and Dave Aerni’s interpretation of a similar theme. The original acetates
sounded like they were done in a tunnel, but we have presented the track with
the best possible sound from such a fragile disc. You should have heard it
before!