All Sports Band
s/t
Radio Records / Atlantic #RR19321
1981
Finally, here’s a record that reminds me of why I got into collecting bizarre records to begin with! A completely fabricated, major-label group specifically designed to cash in on the 80′s teen fad of… sports.
All Sports Band
All the top American sports of the day are represented. Car racing, from before car racers were rednecks. Baseball, from the days when baseball players were skinny and doing coke instead of steroids. Football, because he’s the black guy. Boxing, because he’s not wearing a shirt. And of course, karate, the king of all 1980′s sports.
Here’s a vid of Dick Clark talking with the band on American Bandstand. Apparently the actual musical performance was just too valuable to post on Youtube.
I’ve never seen a record with such a difference in the band’s look between the front and back covers. The front cover looks like a band that might have opened up for The Fixx on their “One Thing Leads to Another” tour. The back cover looks like the band that played your weird drunk uncle’s second wedding.
The Eastham Band
“Texas Prison Rodeo Presents: Behind the Walls”
1977, HER-A-IV
From the liner notes:
The colorful history of the Texas Prison Rodeo dates from 1931. The Rodeo has been held each year, except during the 1943, when no Rodeo was held because of the war. Each year it gets bigger and better.
Dr. Harley Rex has been directing the Rodeo Band since 1964, and since that time, the music program has been incorporated into the Wyndham School District. This year, Dr. Rex’s music directors on the various units have won national honors in several contests…. The Eastham Band and Choir, directed by Gene Ronsonette, received the Sweepstakes Award. The Louisiana Pacific Corporation sponsored this Nation-wide contest and the judges stated that “our presentation showed the epic struggle of the Blacks and Spanish in an attempt to find their place in American Society.”
Rogue Male “First Visit”
cover art: Peter Gudynas
1985, Elektra/Asylum
A relic of the days when metal was a lot like punk, only with longer hair, more leather, and wider-legged guitar stances.
Peter Gudynas is actually a very talented Sci-Fi book cover artist. Some of his work is beautiful. All I can think of is maybe the band ASKED for the “retarded Terminator” look.
Jim Steinman
“Bad For Good”
cover art: Richard Corben
cover concept: Jim Steinman
1981, Epic
Jim Steinman is primarily known as the co-creator and composer for Meatloaf’s “Bat Out of Hell”.
According to wikipedia, “In January 2012, it was announced that Steinman is working with Terry Jones of Monty Python fame on a heavy metal version of The Nutcracker.” Yow.
Jon Mikl Thor was a former Mr. USA & Mr. Canada who turned to heavy metal in the mid-70s. This was his band’s first album. In recent years the band has reformed and still tours.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
“The Sound of Sammy: From the Candy Man to Plop Plop Fizz Fizz”
1978, Alka-Seltzer/Warner Special Products
Many celebrity product promotion records that I find just are simply an artist’s greatest hits with an advert for the product on the cover. Maybe there’s a company jingle on the record, but its performed by someone else.
Not so here! This forgotten gem features TWO versions of Sammy’s unique version of the “Plop Plop Fizz Fizz” song! One for every taste.
