The Martini Kings’ first vinyl LP, Palm Springs Serenade, will be released by Dionysus Records on July 10. The LP features cover art by SHAG. The band will play a record release party (and closing for Brad “Tiki Shark” Parker’s art show) at La Luz de Jesus Gallery on July 29, details here.
With over eight self-released CDs and gigs-a-plenty, it’s about time that Los Angeles based jazzy-retro-exotica-bossa-nova-cocktail-lounge combo The Martini Kings make an appearance on the beloved vinyl format. In their professional existence, The Martini Kings have performed events for the likes of Clint Eastwood, Stephen King, The Getty Center, Mattel and Universal Studios, had their music in HBO’s “Entourage” and made an appearance during the Malibu cliff-top wedding scene in the ”Six Feet Under’‘ season curtain-raiser. The Martini Kings’ Marsico brothers have performed in backing groups with Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Marianne Faithful. Martini Kings bassist Tony Marsico was in East LA punk legends The Plugz and The Cruzados, and played bass behind Bob Dylan on David Letterman’s show.
Their pro-resume aside, The Martini Kings are also loved among tiki and retro aficionados and are a staple at the yearly Tiki Oasis weekender, numerous burlesque, lounge events and backyard tiki parties. They have the technique and sound down to a fine art and in the process inject equal amounts of heart and soul into their craft. The instrumentation is centered around vibes, stand-up bass and percussion with tasty arrangements including piano, guitar, wind and stringed instruments.
“Palm Springs Serenade” is a collection of the group’s favorite tracks from their CD releases and features a track recorded with lounge legend and former Rat Pack member Buddy Greco. The art of their pal SHAG adorns the album cover and visually fits the combo’s sound from top to bottom. And, the sound on this album which was cut on a vintage Scully lathe with the legendary Westrex B3 stereo cutting head is huge and open with lots of warm low-end. The album jacket is printed vintage style; front cover slick on thick board… this is not your ordinary one piece fabricated album jacket but the Martini Kings / SHAG combination deserves no less. A coupon for a digital download is included in this package.
Black vinyl 180 gram LPs will be shipped to Dionysus Records’ distribuor, ILD (Independent Label Distribution). A limited edition of 100 CLEAR VINYL LPs will be avalible from the band and through Dionysus Records Mailorder only – on JULY 10!
Tracks: So Danco Samba, Swingin’ Shepherd Blues, Girl Talk, Cuchy Frito Man, Kings Highway, Dance of the Virgins, Lost In Paradise, Patricia, Stardust, Return to Paradise, Rumble, Enchanted Lovers
Dionysus mail-order cart, Garage Music, History of Recorded Sound (HRS), Mod, Stereophonic Space Sound, Vinyl Records, Vinyl reissues
Stereophonic Space Sound and Creatures LP releases
Dionysus Records proudly announces two vinyl LP releases for May of 2012: Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited “Plays Lost TV Themes” and The Creatures of the Golden Dawn “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was The Ground”
Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited “Plays Lost TV Themes” with free digital coupon – Dionysus Records ID123390 – click here to purchase
Out of print as an LP for over 15 years, Stereophonic Space Sound Unlmited’s debut platter, “Plays Lost TV Themes”, was originally released on Dr. Dream records on both LP and CD in 1997. When Dr. Dream folded operations a couple of years later, Dionysus Records reissued the CD, but not the LP version of this album.
Even with six full-length albums (including a soundtrack for a movie about Swiss racecar driver Jo Siffert) under their belt, not much is known about this mysterious Swiss electronica duo – not one SSSU photograph exists! But that hasn’t stopped them from garnering a legion of fans who love all retro, surf, spy, Henry Mancini, John Barry and electronica from buying and loving the group’s music.
The album jacket was designed by artist SHAG before he became famous. The LP was cut at HRS (History of Recorded Sound) on a vintage Scully lathe using a Westrex 2-B stereo cutting head. And – this LP has what is called an eccentric shut-off groove; when the album ends, the tonearm is lead to an off-center circle groove (harmless to the stylus) that swings the tonearm back and forth – this was a feature that was common on 78s and pre-1961 albums – it was used to kick in the shutoff or changer mechanisms. Dionysus had HRS cut the record this way because they are record geeks and wanted to take the retro thing a step further…
The Creatures of the Golden Dawn “Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground” with digital coupon, edition of 500 on gold vinyl – ID1233147 – click here to purchase
Arriving after the ’80s garage/psych revival – Bethlehem’s The Creatures of the Golden Dawn came on the scene with a lot more attitude then similar-minded combos. Lead by vocalist Mark Smith – their knife-sharp punky garage-meets-the-early-days-of-psychedelia tunes were filled with hooky riffs and always shadowed by varying degrees of darkness. The Creatures amassed a cult following in the states and Europe, and were played heavily on Little Steven’s Underground Garage syndicated radio show.
“Dark Was The Night…Cold Was The Ground” is a collection of what Mark Smith felt were the group’s best recorded efforts and includes tracks from their CD releases as well as their 7″ EPs. Though test pressings for the album were in Mark’s possession, Huntington’s Disease took his life before the LP was finalized. Thanks to the help of Mark’s brother Gregg and former Creatures of the Golden Dawn guitarist Steven Schlack, work on the record continued, was approved and set for release.
From the LP liner notes: Born of angst and attitude, The Creatures of the Golden Dawn bring forth a collection of songs compelling you to get up and get to action! Savage rhythms, angry guitars and vocals filled with rage and emotion will set your souls, hearts and minds on fire! This is the music that has brought teenagers around the globe to the edge of mania! So get ready to GO with the primitive beat of The Creatures of the Golden Dawn!
From Alison Martino’s VINTAGE LOS ANGELES channel on Facebook – Los Angeles history and popular culture. We highly reccomend you follow this channel! The last five minutes of this is missing but – it is worth the watch and wonderful on so many levels!!
For all our friends that didn’t catch the live streaming of the Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited LP cutting session at History of Recorded Sound (HRS) last Thursday – here’s a couple of short videos of the first and last track on side two of “The Fluid Soundbox” being cut along with detail of scribing the catalog number and a couple of thank you’s in the “dead wax” area of the record. Enjoy!
Tonight I’ll be cutting the vinyl for the first two Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited albums “Lost TV Themes” and “The Fluid Soundbox.” Both were originally released on Mai Tai Records in the ’90s. Dionysus reissued the albums on CD and digital only after Mai Tai ceased operations.
Our artist pal Shag recently resurrected the cover art for Dionysus and this evening, both albums will be cut at History of Recorded Sound in Culver City, CA – where all Dionysus / Bacchus Archives vinyl has been cut since 1992. The albums should be out byTiki Oasis 12 – perfect timing for the Spy Themed event this year!!
I’m going to try and live-stream part of the cutting session via Stream Junkie TV – here’s the link (or watch it on this post if the embed works properly) http://www.streamjunkie.tv/channel/view/leejoseph-546 – tune in around 8:30 Pacific and we’ll see if this thing works!!
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