MARK RICHARDS & THE SILVER KEYS, The Twist, 1962
Posted: July 23, 2009 Filed under: Twist Records, USA | Tags: 45´s, Record-Album, The Twist 13 Comments
I´m on vacation right now so this week fellow record collector Stefan is filling in for me. He collects mostly German advertisement records and has donated missing sleeves of records I posted a few times over the last weeks. He made quite an effort to scan the records, digitize the music and write these posts. I hope you enjoy his selections as much as I do. So please feel free to comment if you download his music. It would be a small gratification for his work. I now leave you with Stefan:
When it comes to the TWIST I ´m not an expert like Andreas is. But every 45 collector should at least have a couple of Twist records in his record cabinet, or rather in his record-ALBUM. Dance records were used for parties and to carry them you needed a record album or a box. The pretty designs of these albums made it easy to leave the picture sleeves at home. In order for the record to find its way back to its owner after the party, it was common to put a name or a sticker (on the black labels) on them. Of course today most of those party records are visually and audibly in quite a different condition than the MINT material that makes for sleepless collector´s nights.
But they ´re HOT TUNES!
MARK RICHARDS & THE SILVER KEYS, Side A, 1962
MARK RICHARDS & THE SILVER KEYS, Side B, 1962
(Ich bin ja im Gegensatz zu Dir kein Spezialist, was den TWIST angeht. Aber jeder Singlesammler wird zumindest ein paar wenige Twist-Scheiben im Schrank haben, oder besser: im ALBUM. Nachdem die tanzbaren Sachen gerne bei Partys aufgelegt wurden und man die dann auch zu solchen mitnahm, bot sich ein Album oder Köfferchen zum Transport an. Auf eine Bildhülle konnte man dank der vielen hübschen Albenmotive daher meist verzichten. Daß die Single wieder nach der Party den richtigen Besitzer fand, war es üblich, auf dem Label Namen oder Sticker (bei schwarzen Labels) anzubringen.
Derart partytaugliche Platten befinden sich natürlich in sichtlich und hörbar anderem Zustand wie das MINT-Material schlafloser Plattensammlernächte. Aber: Heiße Nummern !)
Because Hans from Holland wanted to hear it and because it fits the gap, here´s another record by Marc Richards and the Silver Keys. I don´t know anything about him but this French EP seems like another typical record that was trying to cash-in on the Twist craze. There is a a vocal-group style song, another that sounds more like Sam Cooke and two straight Twist numbers.
But its all great black Rock´n´Roll!!!
MARK RICHARDS & THE SILVER KEYS, My Baby Couldn´t Dance, 1962
MARK RICHARDS & THE SILVER KEYS, Take A Chance, 1962
MARK RICHARDS & THE SILVER KEYS, After School, 1962
MARK RICHARDS & THE SILVER KEYS, I just couldn´t Take It, 1962
Now if only one of you had this little French record by LES GUITARES DU DIABLE that is displayed on the back of the sleeve. I sure would like to listen to that…
DIE KESSLER-ZWILLINGE, Schotten Twist, 1962
Posted: July 23, 2009 Filed under: 60s, Flexible Records, Promotional Records, Twist Records | Tags: Die Kessler-Zwillinge, Lill Babs, Nylons, The Twist 2 Comments
To increase the sale of pantyhose in the early 60´s, the German “nur die”-brand had a record pressed onto the box itself. To play the record you had to cut it out of the cardboard.
The listening pleasure is narrowed by a silly anouncement that cuts half-way into the song- common practice for advertisement records of the period- after all consumers were supposed to not only buy nylons but also real records.
The Kessler Twins were a popular German duo who were not only famous for their singing but also for their long legs. They were incredible dancers and they also did the TWIST. With two different backgrounds even – cheers to the sky of Scotland!
Lill Babs was a Swedish pop singer who had a short career in Germany. At least she left this fab piece of cardboard before going back home…
DIE KESSLER-ZWILLINGE, Schotten Twist, 1962
(Um den Verkauf von Feinstrumpfhosen in den frühen 60ern anzukurbeln, hatte “nur die” auf die Verkaufsverpackung Schallpatten aus Pappe drucken lassen, die dann auch gerne gekauft und ausgeschnitten wurden. Der Klang ist natürlich von Hintergrundrauschen geprägt. Das Hörvergnügen wird zudem dadurch geschmälert, daß mitten in den Song ein alberner Werbetext reinplatzt – diese Unsitte ist für Werbesingles dieser Ära Standard – schließlich sollten die Konsument(innen) ja außer den Strumpfhosen auch noch “richtige” Schallplatten kaufen.
Die KESSLER-ZWILLINGE Alice und Ellen muß man ja nicht extra vorstellen, sie waren ein internationales Aushängeschild für das saubere Image des deutschen Showgeschäfts. Und auch TWIST gehörte dazu ! Mit zwei verschiedenen Hintergründen – da geht der Himmel über Schottland auf !
LILL BABS war eine der vielen Gastarbeiterinnen im deutschen Schlagerbusiness. Die talentierte Schwedin zog sich aber schon bald wieder in ihre Heimat zurück … und hat immerhin diese tolle Pappe dagelassen …
-Anmerkung: Die dritte Platte aus dieser Serie mit Fred Bertelmann fällt optisch und musikalisch deutlich ab (ich habe sie unausgeschnitten auf meiner myspace-Seite). Kann man sich schenken.)
THE LADY SITTERS, Pop-Art, 1962
Posted: July 23, 2009 Filed under: 60s | Tags: Acus Record Label, Bergisch Gladbach, Pop Art Leave a comment
From the Twist to Pop-Art. Remember that in the 60´s the general German public still regarded ROCK`N`ROLL as the work of the devil and therefore all kinds of harmless Ersatz-dances were used to replace it: the Slop, the Letkiss, the Hully-Gully, the Madison etc.
More creative dancers even invented their own dances. In a sense this is also sort of an advertisement record, namely for the POP-ART dance. The lyrics and the moves are explained on the back of this beautiful sleeve. So let ´s do the POP-ART! Warning: highly infectious both song- and dance-wise! Once you hear it you will not be able to stand still!
Hobble Dee Mobble Dee Dobble Doo Dee !
A side note regarding the label: ACUS from Bergisch Gladbach was one of the many tiny German record labels that mostly worked on commission. The post modern company logo was rumoured to have inspired KRAFTWERK to their construction worker-helmet LP covers. The label was also located in the greater Düsseldorf area. ACUS produced another advertisement record for Richmodis Kölsch containing bar-jokes and another one for the German Carnival before disappearing without a trace. Just like the POP-ART….
THE LADY SITTERS, Pop-Art, 1962
THE LADY SITTERS, Pop-Art Rhythm, 1962
THE LADY SITTERS, Damenwahl, 1962
(Nun vom Twist zum POP-ART.
Man weiß ja noch gut, daß die gängige Volksmeinung in den 60ern den ROCK´N ROLL für Teufelszeug hielt und man daher alle möglichen “harmlosen” Ersatztänze heranzog: den Slop, Letkiss, Hully-Gully, Madison … Besonders kreative Tänzer dachten sich gleich einen neuen Tanz aus. In diesem Sinne ist dies auch eine Art Werbesingle, nämlich für den POP-ART. Auf der Rückseite des wunderhübschen Covers ist der Text in deutsch und englisch sowie Tanzschritte. Do it yourself ! Vorsicht: Ohr- und Tanzwurm ! Unmöglich, sitzen zu bleiben ! Hobble dee mobble dee dobble doo dee !
§ Eine Randnotiz zum Plattenlabel ACUS in Bergisch Gladbach: Eines der vielen winzigen Plattenverlage der 60er, die meist mit Auftragsarbeiten ihr Geld verdienten. Das Fimensymbol ist postmodern und hat gerüchteweise KRAFTWERK zu ihren Plattencovern mit dem Baustellenhut inspiriert – ist ja alles Großraum Düsseldorf.
Es wurde noch eine Werbesingle mit Stammtischwitzen für Richmodis Kölsch und vermutlich auch noch eine Karnevalsplatte veröffentlicht, bevor ACUS spurlos verschwand. Und der POP-ART ebenso …)
MAGN´ET QUARTET, Cembalet Party, 1961
Posted: July 23, 2009 Filed under: 60s, France | Tags: Boogie, Cembalet, Django Reinhardt, Electric Piano, Hohner, Michael Ramos, Saint Louis Blues, Stomping At The Savoy 2 Comments
After the dancing we have earned ourselves a little relaxation. Let´s go to the bar and listen to the sounds of the Mag´net Quartet featuring Michael Ramos playing the CEMBALET.
The rarely heard instrument, where the player could control the volume with the knees (!), was developed by the genius inventor Ernst Zacharias for HOHNER in the late 50´s. His biggest success though, was the Clavinet , a instrument that became essential in 70´s Funk music.
Again these are lost sounds: only a few recordings remain by Manfred Mann, John Cale and The Stranglers.
Note: I found somebody who is still playing some nice tunes ( among them a piece by Michael Ramos) on the Cembalet today
MAGNET QUARTET, Cembalet 1, 1961
MAGNET QUARTET, Cembalet 2, 1961
(Nach dem Tanzen haben wir uns etwas Entspannung verdient. Begeben wir uns an die Bar anno 1961 und lauschen den Klängen des Magnet Quartet mit Michel Ramos am CEMBALET.
Ein selten zu hörendes Tasteninstrument, dessen Lautstärke mit dem Knie (!) verändert werden konnte. Entwickelt vom genialen Erfinder Ernst Zacharias für HOHNER Ende der 50er Jahre. Richtig berühmt wurde dann sein Clavinet, aus der Funk-Musik der angehenden 70er nicht wegzudenken !
Also auch hier: fast verschwunden, es bleiben wenige Aufnahmen von Manfred Mann, John Cale (Velvet Underground) und den Stranglers.
Anmerkung: Ich habe noch einen einsamen Cembalet-Besitzer und seine Sounds gefunden, auch er hat ein Stück von Michel Ramos mit drin)
DAS TANZORCHESTER NORD, Der Tri-Top Song
Posted: July 23, 2009 Filed under: 60s, Promotional Records | Tags: Louis Armstrong, Micky Maus, Tri-Top, Yellow Submarine Leave a comment
I promised a share of cartoons so here they are! For three generations the instant-drink TRI-TOP ( some sort of German Cool-Aid) has coloured children´s mouths. Here´s the corresponding song.
A funny number: everybody is drinking the sticky stuff- from Micky Mouse to Louis Armstrong. The characters are clearly influenced by Yellow Submarine. The B-side is typical Easy-Listening Big-Band sound so we skip that. 
Greetings, curious how this “stuff” goes down.
Stefan
(Ich habe einen Cartoonanteil versprochen und hier kommt er !
Seit 3 Generationen sorgt der Sirup TRI-TOP für farbige Kindermäuler, hier der entsprechende Song auf Werbesingle. Eine lustige Nummer: Alle trinken das klebrige Zeug – bis hin zu Micky Maus und dem HB-Männchen. Die Figuren auf dem Cover sind deutlich von Yellow Submarine inspiriert.
Die B-Seite schenken wir uns, typischer Easy-Listening-Big-Band-Sound, wie er auf Werbeplatten der Zeit sehr oft zu hören war.
Grüße, bin gespannt, wie dieser “Stoff” so ankommt ….
Stefan)
DAS TANZORCHESTER NORD, Der Tri-Top Song
BOGUSLAW WYROBEK, Jailhouse Rock, 1960
Posted: July 16, 2009 Filed under: 60s, Poland, Rock´n´Roll Records | Tags: Bill Haley, Elvis, Jailhouse Rock, Poland, Pronit Records 6 Comments
Finally it´s vacation time in Berlin. To celebrate that, here are a bunch of records with a vacation theme, at least sleeve-wise. Everybody`s going to the South so I´d like to take the freedom to go East.
Boguslaw Wyrobek (1937-1997) was one of the first Polish Rock´n´Roll singers starting his career in 1958. That said the songs you are about to hear are very funny Rock´n´Roll. You think you have heard primitive Rock´n´Roll, well, this is reeeally primitive. At least I have never heard Jailhouse Rock sung this way. Listen how Boguslaw is fighting with the English lyrics while trying to rock his Polish soul out.
At least Poland had Rock´n´Roll in the 50´s and recorded it, unlike many other Communist countries like East-Germany, Romania and Russia.
But don´t get me wrong, all of Boguslaw Wyrobek´s songs are great! They make me laugh and they make me dance. And that´s the best kinda Rock´n´Roll I can imagine…
BOGUSLAW WYROBEK, Jailhouse Rock, 1960
BOGUSLAW WYROBEK, Two Hound Dogs, 1960
BOGUSLAW WYROBEK, Love Me, 1960
CLUB ENSEMBLE, Tip-Top-Slop, 1963
Posted: July 16, 2009 Filed under: 60s, Hungary, Instrumental Records | Tags: Hungary, Qualiton Records, The Slop, The Yenka Leave a comment
I don´t know anything about this Hungarian ensemble, not even if they really were from Hungary. But actually there´s not much to know. 
Tip-Top-Slop is a pretty standard semi-Rock´n´Roll instrumental played by a studio group. But both these songs are not bad. Not great but not bad. People obsess over much worse music nowadays. And at least you have never heard these tunes before in your life…
CLUB ENSEMBLE, Tip-Top-Slop, 1963
CLUB ENSEMBLE, At the Jenka Show, 1963
EMIL GOROVETS, A Queen of Beauty, 1964
Posted: July 16, 2009 Filed under: 60s, Russia, Twist Records | Tags: Russia, Sochi, Twist 6 Comments
Emil Gorovets was a popular Russian Pop singers in the 60´s and 70´s. Here he is singing on a souvenir record from the Russian resort city Sochi. The other tracks on this EP are lame and even this Twist has no Rock´n´Roll intrumentation. I don´t know Russian so I don´t even know what the real title of this song is. Maybe some Russian readers can fill us in on that one in the future.
Here´s a video of Emil Gorovets singing another song:
The song on this record is a nice little Russian summertime Twist. That´s enough to make me enjoy this…
EMIL GOROVETS, A Queen of Beauty, 1964
(Update 07/18/2009: DJ Vova from Russia just sent me a mail with a lot of corrections and even translated the lyrics. I had it all completely wrong, this Emil is from Russia. All the singers on this Ep were Soviet Estrada singers. From Vova´s translation:
There´s a summer that wanders around the lanes / Sun flows straight from the roofs / In the stream of sunlight / You are standing near a kiosk / Magazines shine with their covers / You look at them delighted / You saw a queen of beauty there / And I feast my eyes only on you / And you don´t realize / That with your beauty / You can overshadow any queen of beauty / And I go forward to you / And I bear flowers for you / As for only one queen of beauty alive.
The song titles on the sleeve read like this:
1. Hello Sochi by Georg Ots
2. A Queen of Beauty by Emil Gorovets
3. My Black Sea by Georg Ots
4. That´s how steamboats are sent off by Eduard Khill
Thank you very much Vova!
DJ VOVA TOTAL BLAM BLAM is booking shows to take his Russian records to Western Europe this year . His first tour ended in complete desaster because he was arrested at the border, detained and sent back to Russia. We still seem to be far away from freedom, justice and equality in Europe. If you would like to help him bring his Dusty Soviet Rock LP´s-Tour to your city this time, please contact DJ VOVA TOTAL BLAM BLAM. It´s also very interesting to read his full story of his first visit.
About me:
My name is Andreas Michalke. I´m a cartoonist from Berlin, Germany and I like collecting records. Most of the records I find in thrift stores or at flea markets here in Berlin. I like a lot of music but I thought I`d focus on odd German records. Preferably with cartoon covers.
All my scans are high-resolution. If you double-click on them they will get much bigger.
Berlin Beatet Bestes 
Recent Comments