“Yummy, Yummy, Yummy” is one of my favourite Julie tracks.  As a kid, I’d always loved the original bubblegum version by The Ohio Express (the one 8-track (!) tape my grandma had that wasn’t Barry Manilow), but Julie’s version, with her languid vocals and louche string arrangements, twists the sickly-sweet original into a super-saucy gem.

I first came across this track via the bootleg Lux ‘n Ivy’s Favourites compilation series.  As far as I know, it’s only been re-issued as a Japanese import in 1995.  The prices have since come down, but it looks like it may be out of print again (Amazon has only 2 copies and the rest are private sellers) so if you like what you hear, snap this one up quick.

Julie London – Yummy, Yummy, Yummy by hells-belles

MP3: Julie London – Yummy, Yummy, Yummy

Julie London on eMusic

We’ll be manning the decks on at least two of those Saturdays a month, spinning 50s and 60s rock ‘ n roll, rockabilly, Motown, New Orleans funk, garage, psych, freakbeat and maybe the odd bit of country. The next one is on 11 September from 8pm, so roll on down, grab yourself a mint julep and come cut some rug with us.

Shake, Rattle & Bowl combines dancing, bowling and diner to bring a night of unrivalled variety and fun! Musically, you can expect to hear the cream of 50s and 60s Rock n Roll, Soul, Motown, Girl Groups, Freakbeat, Psychedelia and Ska.
View the full playlist & DJ top tens.

Shake, Rattle & Bowl takes place at All Star Lanes, a smart and stylish 50s themed bowling lanes with a nice big dancefloor, an amazing diner and six bowling lanes for you to enjoy and experience in the same night! Perfectly situated within easy reach of many night buses, it also feels enough off the beaten track to feel like a well kept secret. Nearest tube is Holborn.

The full address is:
All Star Lanes, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Place, London WC1B 4DA.

Reasons to love Thomas Truax:

• He plays an instrument of his own making called The Hornicator.
• He’s been described as “Like Tom Waits, presenting kids TV.”
• He wrote a song about Joe Meek’s attempt to warn Buddy Holly of his impending death called “Joe Meek Warns Buddy Holly”. Naturally.
• He used to be an animator on Celebrity Deathmatch.
• He is FREAKIN’ AWESOME.

Listen to / download a track from his new album, Sonic Dreamer. Then buy said album because, like I said, it’s FREAKIN’ AWESOME.

Thomas Truax – Beehive Heart by charmfactory

TT’s Top 10 – Shake, Rattle and Bowl – April 2010 by hells-belles

You can’t beat a good song about chicken, especially one by a West Virginian one-man-band.  With influences like Hank Williams Sr, Jimmie Rodgers, Little Richard, and  Colonel Sanders and a vast catalogue of songs about love, heartbreak, police, death, decapitation, hot dogs, aliens and tasty, tasty chicken… well… sheeee-it, if you haven’t got down with The Haze yet, you done might as well be deaf.

NYC-based Norton Records has been keeping the fryer sizzlin’ since poor Hasil tragically kicked the KFC bucket in 2005.  This glorious nugget  can be found on the Out To Hunch collection.

Hasil Adkins – Chicken Walk by hells-belles

MP3: Hasil Adkins – Chicken Walk

…they was funky.  And just a wee bit psychedelic.  Between 1969-1971, The Sweet had a handful of unsuccessful singles.  Then they signed to Parlophone, dropped a definite article from their name, discovered shiny fabrics and made girls all over the world swoon.

“The Juicer” is the B-side to one of those unsuccessful* singles, 1970′s “All You’ll Ever Get From Me”.  The guitar groove is Deep Purple, with an extra side of Funk.

GROOVE.

The Sweet – The Juicer by hells-belles

MP3: The Sweet – The Juicer

* = one record label nitwit’s “unsuccessful” is our AWESOME.  Just sayin’.

At least for the US.  Can’t find any UK listings for the Runaways film yet.  Is it any surprise that all of Tits of Death are dying to see it?

MP3: The Runways – Cherry Bomb

(Of course.)

And here’s the film trailer.

Marva Whitney, along with Lyn Collins and Vicki Anderson, was one of the singers with the James Brown Revue.  She’s one hell of a belter in her own right, and released a string of stormin’ 45s, including this funkity-ass slice of funk in 1969.

MP3: Marva Whitney – Things Got To Get Better

Jack Bedient and The Chessmen were active mainly in the Pacific Northwest 1961-1972.  A large amount of their material veers towards the schmaltzy end of the crooners, and while I generally have  a lot of time for easy listening, I’ve never really fallen in love with The Chessmen’s take on it.  They played a lot of Vegas shows, weddings, and similar tuxedo-wearing gigs, so I suspect the schmaltz factor was borne out of necessity rather than desire.  For over the second side of their third LP, Where Did She Go? looms the shadow of a lurking frat-rock garage werewolf beast.  Or at the very least, Paul Revere and The Raiders.

Jack Bedient & the Chessmen – Glimmer, Glimmer, Sunshine by hells-belles

MP3: Jack Bedient and The Chessmen – Glimmer Glimmer Sunshine