Van Dyke Parks has a celebrated career in music, but his earliest recording remains generally unknown. Put together as a side project with Gary Usher (then a bus boy at the Capitol building canteen) while studying at Berklee College Of Music, the Rods N' Ratfinks album [original cover at left - Ed.] was privately issued on VDP Records (at Parks' expense), and is today regarded, if at all, as a novelty teensploitation item.
Eff the music. The cover is peachy.
ReplyDeleteDon't hold out on a homie Farq. Kick down wit da link.
ReplyDeleteGee, that's swell Mr. Throckmorton. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious. I had little plastic ratfinks as a kid. They used to be sold in a gumball machine type dispenser at a local bowling alley. To think that Parks was the musical genius behind this is just unbelievable. Its like discovering that Paco de Lucia was the brainchild behind Alvin and the Chipmunks.
ReplyDeletewait, that wasn't Paco....the mind reels...
DeleteI'm with you pmac. It IS totally unbelievable....
ReplyDeleteHeyyy!
DeletePaco along with Mario Escudero were the brainchildren behind Jonny Quest.
DeleteI knew it!!!!
DeleteLove the Big Daddy Ed Roth cover. I made a Rat Fink model when I was a yoot.
ReplyDeleteI still have a RatFink model in shrink wrap. Gonna pass it along to my grandkids.
DeleteToo cool for school!
ReplyDeleteFound this:
"Working closely with Ed Roth, who assumed the nom du disc "Mr. Gasser," Fred Rice carefully selected vocalists and musicians for the recording session. Gary Usher assembled and led the vocal talent, which included Jackie "Robyn" Ward, Chuck Girard, Richard Burns and Darlene Love. And how's this for a guitar line-up: Glen Campbell, Jerry Cole and Howard Roberts! On drums you've the great Hal Blaine. Meanwhile, Cliff Hils anchored the bass position and Leon Russell played piano while Steve Douglas wailed on sax. What a fabulous group of "Weirdos"! The combination of A-list players and a top-notch studio produced a superior-sounding LP, every bit the sonic equal of contemporary recordings from stars like the Super Stocks and the Beach Boys."
You will note they fail to mention VDP, though! That's the kind of granular research you only get on th' IoF©.
ReplyDeleteBig fan of this and the other two "Mr Gasser & The Weirdos" albums, especially the fantastic Big Daddy Roth album art. BDR is definitely in the pantheon of great American pop culture artists. Here's the complete collection (3 albums) in iPod busting 320kpbs for you hoedogs and gremmies that ain't got 'em: https://www98.zippyshare.com/v/0GyXWqAg/file.html
ReplyDeleteContribution-wise, MrDave, you're garnering a lot of kudos!
DeleteThx, MrDave. Hot Rod Hootenanny was my 2nd fave LP as a youngster - imagine my glee as a somewhat grownup when I discovered there were 2 more! Now all I need is a good copy of my #1 fave Chipmunks Sing The Beatles Hits!
DeleteNow, THIS is why I come to places like this in the first place!
ReplyDelete