Two Hundred Pounds of Swingin' Hound - s/t

Name: 200 lbs. of Swingin' Hound
Album: s/t
Year: 1995
Style: Rockabilly
Similar Bands: Stray Cats
"One-Word" Review: Country Pub Raw Swing Band.
Based Out Of: Philadelphia, PA
Label: Apple-Z Productions,

Cover, Back

CD, Sleeve Back

200 lbs. of Swinging Hound (1995)

1. When Your Baby's Got the Blues 3:45
2. Nearly Perfect 4:23
3. 30 Lovesick Days 5:47
4. Rock 'n' Roll Party 2:56
5. Hot Lips! 4:03
6. The Cold Bed Blues 2:48
7. Single Again 3:34
8. Lies 4:33
9. Lifetime Guarantee 5:32
10. I'm A' Gonna Get Ya 2:43

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Ace Filipini - Vox (Reach Around Rodeo Clowns, Kingpins)
• Joe Gallo - Guitars
• Wally Wollet - Drums, Backing Vox, Piano
• Trey LaRue - Standup Bass
• Mike Lampe - Standup Bass (Steve Guyger)
• Bob Williams - Engineer
• Rick Stranix - Logos, Art Direction (Apple-Z Graphix)
• Ken Hinchey - Cover Photo

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. When I bought the record, my mind was infected with the late 90's swing movement, and i thought this might have been right in that swing/rockabilly sweet spot, but i don't actually ever remember listening to the album. I reckon this is a small pub band version of the rockabilly-big band sound.

Album Review: Straight up swing & rockabilly, predating the revival of the late 90's. A couple of the songs rock out a little more, but it leans toward the country vibe at it's heart. It seems like it is pretty good for what it is. "Lies" has a slightly more aggressive punk tone to it.

Not much out there on this band based out of the Philly area, just based on their phone and mailing address contacts. "Hot Lips" appears on a compilation of Ace Filipini songs that's on Spotify (Songs That Made Him Infamous) , but is not playable.

Stand Out Track: Lies

Links:

Discogs - wrong name

amazon

Reverb Nation - Ace

Soundcloud - Ace

Joboxers - Like Gangbusters

Name: Joboxers
Album: Like Gangbusters
Year: 1983
Style: Blue-Eyed Soul, Swing, Motown
Similar Bands: Joe Jackson, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Elvis Costello, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Madness, The Jam
"One-Word" Review: Showtune Soul & Swing
Based Out Of: London, UK
Label: RCA, Victor

 Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

Like Gangbusters (1983)

1. Boxerbeat 3:03 (single)
2. Crosstown Walk Up 3:02
3. Fully Booked 3:22
4. Not My Night 2:28
5. Just Got Lucky 4:45 (single, #36 US) /
6. She's Got Sex 2:59 (single b-side)
7. Curious George 3:22 (single b-side)
8. Hide nor Hair 3:15
9. Crime of Passion 2:46
10. Johnny Friendly 5:05 (single)

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Alan Shacklock - Producer
• Mike Pela - Engineer
• Ian Mullard - Mgmt
• John Wallace - Sax (Heavyshift, Stargazers, Big Town Playboys, Sound Barrier, Peter an the Test Tube Babies, Little Willie Littlefield, Tot Taylor, James Taylor Quartet, Marshall & the Shooting Stars, Princess Erika, Grant & Forsyth, Jive Romeros, Virna Lindt, 
• Nick Pentelow - Sax (Andy Fairweather-Low & the Lowriders, Juice on the Loose, Shortlist, Wizzard, Glenn Cardier, Steve Gibbons Band, Louis Clark, Adrian Snell, Roger Chapman, Paul Field, Rejects, Normaal, Swans Way, Diz Watson, Cliff Aungier, Big Jay McNeely, Nick Lowe, Ron Kavana, Flesh For Lulu, Poli Palmer, Elton John, Vic Goddard, Chas & Dave, Colin James hay, Dreams Come True, Gary Moore, Wishbone Ash, Squeeze, Virunga, Paul Millns, Moody Marsden, Martin Barre, Stephanie Lawrence, Jim Preen, Robert Forster, Balham Alligators, Jack-E McAuley, Rhythm Kings, Geraint Watkins, Ui, Eric Bibb, Bill Wyman, Lee Sankey Group, Annie Haslam, Tony Stevens, Mick Abrahams, High Society, Slim Chance)
• Dig Wayne (Timothy Wayne Ball) - Vox (Buzz and the Flyers, DW & the Chisellers, Matt Bianco)
• Sean McLusky - Drums, Vox (Subway Sect, If?, Joe Public, Stingrays, Johnny Britton, Euston Jones, Whitey, Cazals)
• Chris Bostock - Bass, Vox (Subway Sect, Spiritual Cowboys, Style Council, Stingrays, X-Certs, Johnny Britton, Spear of Destiny, Shakespears Sister, Amina, Rhythm Sisters, Tracey Thorn)
• Robert Marche - Guitar, Vox (Subway Sect, If?, Earl Brutus, Joe Public, JLP Sessions Project, Johnny Britton, Euston Jones, The Grid, Dreadzone, )
• Dave Collard - Keys, Vox (Subway Sect, If? The The, Lisa Stansfield, Johnny Britton, Humpe Humpe, Billy Ocean, Richenel, Beth Nielsen, Tanita Tikaram, Laura Satterfield, Celien Dion, Gardenz Darkx)
• Steve Rapport - Photos
• Andrew Christian - Cover

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but from the grainy cover, and depression era newsies outfits, I imagine this is going to be tedious, overthought, overproduced jangly college radio rock.

Album Review: So the album does have a mid-80's pub-band-discovers Jazz feel, but it is done so through very fun and bouncy swing and blue eyed soul /motown songs...somewhere between Madness and Dexy's with some Cab Calloway thrown in. I guess I could just say Joe Jackson, or offer "Town Called Malice" for comparison. Singles "Boxerbeat" and "Just Got Lucky" (featured in 40 Yr Old Virgin) are super catchy and fun tracks that make up for some of the free-er jazzy numbers and slightly odd compositions like "Curious George" and "Fully Booked." They have reunited and are scheduled to play in London this year (2020)

Stand Out Track: Boxerbeat, Just Got Lucky

Links:
Wiki
website
Discogs
allmusic
nostalgia central
bbc
rate your music
trouserpress

B. (Bruce) Willie Smith - World's Favorite Songs

Name:B. (Bruce) Willie Smith
Album: World's Favorite Songs
Year:1980
Style:Big Band, Swing, Oldies, Boogie Woogie, Rhythm & Blues
Similar Bands: Darts, Benny Goodman, Stray Cats, Blasters, J. Geils Band
"One-Word" Review: Great Grandpa's Youth Revisited
Based Out Of: New Haven CT
Label: Trod Nossel Artists

 Cover & Record

Record & Back

Worlds Favorite Songs (1980)

1. Walkin' Blues 3:02 (Jesse Powell Orch w/ Fluffy Hunter cover) 
2. Waitin' On You 2:02
3. Handle Now 1:43
4. I Can't Get It 1:44
5. Just a Little Bit 2:40
6. Steal My Heart Away 2:17
7. Stay With Me 2:55 / 
8. Wiggle Waggle 2:03
9. Be Mine 2:08
10. Please Please 6:08
11. Route 66 3:03 (Nat King Cole Trio cover)
12. Take Me With You 3:37
13. Come On Lets Go (All the Way) 2:35

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Mike Cavadini - Piano, Alto Sax (Roger C. Reale & Rue Morgue)
• Bob Elliott - Bass, Vox (Bandidos)
• Jerry Connolly - Harmonica, Drums, Vox (the Workshop)
• Bob Boettger - Tenor Sax, Baritone, Guitar, Vox (Robert Crotty, Loren Connors, Bandidos)
• Bruce W. Smith - Vox, Drums
• Steve Baldino - Guitar (8 to the Bar)
• Eight to the Bar Trio - Backing Vox
• Thomas "Doc" Cavalier - Exec Producer
• Richard P. Robinson - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
• Jeff Franklin - Additional Engineering
• Karen E. Burgess - Album Design
• James Montesanto, Jr - Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but from the cover, they remind me of the band the Q-Tips, and with the date & fonts, I'm thinking this might be some Blue-Eyed Soul mixed with New Wave.

Album Review: I should have looked at the back, as the way the individual members looks like the seated and stacked big band groups of the 20's, and that is what a majority of the songs are similar to. They also incorporate some harmonica blues numbers, pushing their style into rockabilly and 50's R&B style songs. The song Just a Little Bit sounds like J. Geils Band They are still reuniting (as of 2016) for bluesy shows with choreography among the members, and were popular in CT in the 70's (1972) through 80's.

Stand Out Track: Just a Little Bit

Links:
Discogs
Registered Citizen 2016- Connecticut
New Haven Registry 2013
Reverb Nation

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - S/T

Name: Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band
Album: S/T
Year:1976
Style: Disco-Swing
Similar Bands: Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Sergio Menendez
"One-Word" Review: Ballroom-Latin-Disco-Jive
Based Out Of: Bronx, NY
Label: RCA Records, Victor

DBOSB - Cover & Insert
DBOSB - Back & Insert
DBOSB - Record

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (1976)

1. I'll Play The Fool 4:47 (Sample)
2. Hard Times 4:12 (Sample)
3. Cherchez la Femme / Se Si Bon 5:44 (Sample)
4. Sunshower 4:04 (Sample)/
5. We Got It Made / Night And Day 3:46 (Sample)
6. You've Got Something/Betcha' the Love Bug Bitcha' 5:40 (Sample)
7. Sour & Sweet / Lemon in the Honey 6:03 (Sample)

Album Rating (1-10):

5.0

Members & Other Bands:

Cory Daye - Vocals

August Darnell - Bass, Writer/Screenplay, Vocals, Lyrics (Kid Creole & the Coconuts)

Stoney Browder Jr- Guitar, Piano, Musical Director, Arangement

"Sugar Coated" Andy Hernandez - Vibes, Bass, Marimba, Percussion (Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Coati Mundi)

Sandy Linzer - Producer

Mickey Sevilla - Drums
Don Armando Bonilla - Percussion
Jeffery Kawalek - Sound Engineer
Jim Bonnefond - Associate Engineer
Larry Fast - Special Effects
Tommy Mottola - "Capo de Capo"
Susandra Minsky - Casting Director
Charlie Calello - Orchestrations, Arrangements

Unknown-ness: I had never heard of the band. From the album cover and name, I was thinking this would be a Dixie land jazz album: Big Band, which would either be untouched or updated for the era of the 70's.

Album Review: Later to come, I will be reviewing Kid Creole & the Coconuts, a band made up mostly of people from this band. That is a good thing to know, going into the review of them, as I am unaware of their music and style too. "I'll Play the Fool" begins the album with a cymbal drum beat, and it transforms into a big band tune, tinged with Latin groove, and disco beats just under the surface. Where the vocals were a mix of male and female, the female takes the lead for the majority of the song. Soon, the big band style is lost, and the disco style takes over complete control, with its use of percussion, bass and strings. They revisit the big band swing for le last 30 second, and there is a grand ballroom finish. "Hard Times" also starts off with a big band woodwind sound. Then Latin percussion and piano take over, and the song becomes a laid back breezy Latin disco song. The song finishes off combining the two styles for a nice atmospheric groove, and the song fades out. Their popular disco dance song "Cherchuz..." also blends the old big band style with new (new for the time period) disco bass & drum beats for a refreshing new take on 20-30's jazz. The sound is not as dated as Bee Gees disco, and it is just as danceable. There is even soothing use of a xylophone that blends the two genres together very nicely. "Sunshower" begins with what sounds like a chorus of children echoing a man in repetitive lyrics, all underneath a storm. Then the song begins with a slide guitar & catchy chorus of children singing the lyrics "Sunshower, just a sign of the power of loving you, oh baby." That is the real hook. The rest of the song is a slow groove, with the woman's lyrics overlaying the relaxing drum and sleigh bell verse. Two and a half minutes the child chorus breaks down with two or three younger, selected voicies to carry the chorus. The end of the song is a reprise in melody of the chorus, and the song winds down very gently.

"We Got It" made is more of the same salsa/Cha-cha music with disco and brass overlay. The only slight difference is that this is a more driving song than has been represented on the album. "You've Got Something" is more Latin lounge than disco, and it features male vocals more than other tracks, although the female vocals are still the definitive lead. "Sour & Sweet" is back to the Latin disco theme mostly present throughout the album. It is a very deep and complex song with disco drum & bass, much brass, choruses of vocals, strings, and the consistent female lead. There are even s few odd electronic samples (one sounds just like a cell-phone ring) mixed in separately through the left and right speakers for even more depth.

Although the music feels dated to the 70's it smartly fits into the disco genre as well as lounge. Together they blend, mixing in big band elements, to form a cohesive unique sound, yet it is very familiar. This is probably nothing I'll ever come back too, but I can at least appreciate it, especially when thinking about the time period it is from.

Stand-Out Track:

Sunshower

Links:

DBOSB - Wikipedia

DBOSB - Allmusic

Savannah Band blog article

DBOSB - Myspace

DBOSB - Discomuseam

DBOSB - Disco Music