Just when you thought it was safe to go online.....

...along comes another edition of the Platterpuss Rock & Roll Records Party on Top Shelf Oldies this Wednesday night from 8 - 9 PM EST. If I say so myself it's going to be a terrific show so be sure to tune in.

In Case You Missed It

Last Wednesday was a special edition of my Platterpuss Rock & Roll Records Party on Top Shelf Oldies - it was the Platterpuss Rock & Roll B-Sides Party. And a pretty cool selection of tunes it was if I say so myself. My show is on once a month, the 3rd Wednesday of every month, from 8 - 9 PM EST. If you're around at that time, please tune in and feel free to join the chat room. We're a very friendly bunch of music fanatics. For those of you who missed it this time, you can listen to it by just clicking on the link.

SAM & DAVE - WRAP IT UP (I THANK YOU)
THE STANDELLS - RARI (DIRTY WATER)
THE DELLS - JO-JO (OH WHAT A NIGHT)
THE CHIFFONS - OH MY LOVER (HE'S SO FINE)
THE CRITTERS - WALK LIKE A MAN AGAIN (DON'T LET THE RAIN FALL
DOWN ON ME)
ADRIAN LLOYD - GOT A LITTLE WOMAN (LORNA)
J. FRANK WILSON & THE CAVALIERS - THAT'S HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU (LAST KISS)
THE FOUR SEASONS - SILENCE IS GOLDEN (RAG DOLL)
THE SUPREMES - REMOVE THIS DOUBT (YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON)
THE CRESTS - MY JUANITA (SWEETEST ONE)
RON TYSON - I'M NOT TOO YOUNG TO SING THE BLUES (OH WHAT A NIGHT FOR LOVE)
THE KAN-DELLS - CRY GIRL (CLOUDBURST)
THE LEMON PIPERS - NO HELP FROM ME (GREEN TAMBOURINE)
THE BYRDS - SHE DON'T CARE ABOUT TIME (TURN TURN TURN)
TICO & THE TRIUMPHS - NOISE (CARDS OF LOVE)
LITTLE WILLIE JOHN - I'M SHAKIN' (COTTAGE FOR SALE)
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL - BUTCHIE'S TUNE (SUMMER IN THE CITY)
SLIM HARPO - DON'T START CRYING NOW (RAININ' IN MY HEART)
THE COASTERS - THREE COOL CATS (CHARLIE BROWN)
THE STONES - WHO'S DRIVING YOUR PLANE (HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR
MOTHER BABY)
TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS - THUNDERBOLT (HANKY PANKY)

Better Late than Never

The latest edition of the Platterpuss Rock & Roll Records party aired on Thursday, June 14 on Top Shelf Oldies. As you can see, there are some repeats from my recent posts from my TOMH but there are a number of songs I haven't posted here just yet. Unlike my TOMH posts this is one big hour-long file. There's not that much more to say about it and especially since I am dealing with a really bad toothache and I am waiting for the pain killers to kick in, I'm just going to say here it is. Enjoy.

BRUCE & TERRY - SUMMER MEANS FUN
B.B. KING - SUMMER IN THE CITY
JIMMY JONES - EE-I-EE-I-O
KENNY & THE KASUALS - NOTHING BETTER TO DO
CURTIS LEE - I NEVER KNEW WHAT LOVE COULD DO
JUANITA WILLIAMS - YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WAS GETTIN'
THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS - YOU'RE GONNA MISS ME
LARRY DALE - LET THE DOORBELL RING
THE RELYEAS - COUNTRY BOY
ERNIE MARESCA - PLEASE BE FAIR
JODY REYNOLDS - FIRE OF LOVE
CAT STEVENS - TROUBLE
SUN RA - DADDY'S GONNA TELL YOU NO LIES
THE POETS - THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GOT TO BE
RONNIE BIRD - OU VA T'ELLE
CURT BOETTCHER - I LOVE YOU MORE EACH DAY
FRANK GORSHIN - THAT'S THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE
DOROTHY PARKER - SHINDIG CITY
THE REDWOODS - PLEASE MR. SCIENTIST
SUGAR BOY WILLIAMS - LITTLE GIRL
THE BARBARIANS - YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND
JONI MITCHELL - RAISED ON ROBBERY
NAT KENDRICK - SLOW DOWN

Back on the Chain Gang Again

For the last 3 few weeks I have been enjoying some much-needed down time. Miracle of miracles, despite company policy against such practices, I got a renewal of my contract at the ol' pickle factory. So, for the first time since October of 2008, I had time to myself with the luxury of knowing that I had a job waiting for me on the other end. It's a nice feeling. I'm not much of a traveler so I didn't go anywhere but living in NYC there is never a shortage of things to do. Being the procrastinator that I am I only accomplished about half of the things on my to-do list but that's OK - I can always take care of some of those things tomorrow hahaha.But since I have decided to keep Time On My Hands active and I don't know when I will have the time to do another post after this week, I decided to put up a new playlist. Once again you long-term visitors to TOMH will find some repeats from earlier (and presumably dead) posts, but I've thrown in some new goodies to make it interesting for everyone.But before I get to the music, if you are up and about tonight, from 11 - midnite EST, you might want to check out the 4th edition of my "Platterpuss Rock & Roll Record Party" on Top Shelf Oldies radio.

Artful Dodger - You Know It's Alright
Back in the mid pre-punk 70's when I was starting to tire of the usual radio fare, I read a review of Artful Dodger's first album in Rolling Stone and sure enough, they were like a breath of fresh air. Of course, once punk happened they sounded kind of tame but 30-something years later they still sound pretty damn fine to me.
Carla Thomas - Same Thing
I'm not sure if this was ever a hit single for Ms. Thomas but if not it surely wasn't for a lack of quality. Upbeat and danceable with an almost Motownish feel to it I wish I would have known about this one in my DJing days.
The Gentlemen - It's A Cryin' Shame
Many long-time garageniks remember this song as being one of the highlights of Pebbles 5. Here it is in primo sound quality taken from a privately pressed CD-R .
The Relyea's - Country Boy
What a wonderful cover of Billy LaMont's "Country Boy". I must admit to being a sucker for that kiddie vocal sound.
The Groove Farm - Red Dress
I was first turned on to these guys by my friend Matthew who, at the time, went by the name Twee Kid and was totally into that whole C-86 thing. But these guys always seemed to have a bit more bite to them than many of their indie-pop cohorts. I'm pretty sure "Red Dress" is a cover but I can't place where I might have heard the original.
The Redwoods - Please Mr Scientist
I heard this record online and went straight to Gemm Music and purchased an original copy of the 45 for $40. Money well spent in my opinion. Brill Building mainstay Jeff Barry was a co-writer and may have even sung on this little gem.
Curt Boettcher - I Love You More Each Day
Before his untimely death at age 43 in 1987, Curt had been the brains and inspiration behind a whole slew of incredible singles and artists, mostly of the soft-rock and light psych variety in the late 60's and early 70's. "I Love You More Each Day" was the single from his "There's An Innocent face" album which was released by Elektra Records in 1973.
The Outasts - Long Tall Sally
This has always been a favorite of mine. While many of the records that came out in mid and late 60's Japan and lumped in under the "Group Sounds" banner are hardly worth a second listen, there are definitely some diamonds among the dreck and this demented version of Little Richard's classic is certainly one of them.
Dean Kohler - Gooseberry Pie
According to Google there actually IS something called gooseberry pie although from the pictures, it doesn't look like anything I want to try anytime soon. But that didn't stop Dean Kohler from recording this ode to his favorite confection in 1968.
The Skunks - Dance With the Fuhrer
Back in the early daze of Punk it seemed that there were no rules at all and anything was possible. I'm not sure what, if any, kind of a statement these guys were trying to make or whether they just had a weird sense of humor but "Dance..." is a pretty catchy and cool tune if you don't have to hear it too many times.
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Twisted
I first heard this song on a Joni Mitchell album and while our lady of the canyon did a pretty good job of it, nothing beats the original as sung by Annie Ross.
The Rayders - I Feel Fine
I'm willing to bet that even in their homeland of New Zealand these guys never saw anything approaching that mystical 15 minutes of fame. Listening to this record objectively there is almost no justification for its existence except as a cheap Fab Four cash-in. Nonetheless I find myself really enjoying this slavish imitation of one of 1964's biggest hits.
Thea Gilmore - Ever Fallen In Love
"...Love' is one of my all-time favorite songs and while this arrangement is not something I would want to hear more than occasionally, it still works somehow. Listen and judge for yourselves.
Freddie Cannon - June July & August
Ever since I bought the 45 of "Palisades Park" on Swan Records and turned it over to find this rocker gracing the b-side, it's been a summer favorite.
The Booze - Ain't It the Truth
Ah, the power of the Internet. Had I not heard these guys on some blog or other I would never even know of their existence, which would be a damn shame. If the Greenhornes' or The Woggles' brand of loud, fast and snotty garage appeals to you then you definitely want to check these guys out. Their Myspace page is a good place to start.
Z.Z. Hill - Baby I'm Sorry
For whatever reason, despite being a first-rate soul singer, mainstream crossover success has always eluded Z.Z. Hill. This upbeat mid-60's dancer seemingly has got it all.
Ronnie Bird - Elle m'attend
For my French visitors, in honor of Bastille Day, here is Ronnie Bird's version of the Stones' classic "The Last Time". As much as I've always loved this record by The Stones, I also like Ronnie's version. He also does a nice version of The Hollies' "Come On Back" which I will be playing on my show tonight.

No more ifs or ands or buts

Here's to all us aging Rock & Rollers

A few weeks ago I turned 60 years old. Me. 60!! When I was a kid my grandparents - quaint, lovable, white-haired folk with these funny old-world Jewish ideas and accents were in their 60's. They were old and I was young and hip and cool and 'with it'. Now I'm 60! Last night I went to see the Baxx CC's, an 'in-their-twenties' Japanese-American garage band. I've seen them twice before already and as always, they were great. But unlike the last few times I saw them, for much of the time I was there last night I didn't see anyone else I knew. All around me were these younger people, just about all of whom were young enough to be my sons or daughters. I honestly can't remember the last time I felt so old and out of place. Ironically before the band started they were playing one of the "Nuggets" discs, filled with songs I remember hearing on my AM transistor radio when they were new. I am glad that the next generation of rock and rollers are still into all of the cool stuff that came out in the 60s. And I am also glad that there are lots of new bands out there (many of whom I've heard in my travels throughout blogland) that are just as good as the bands I used to go see every week or so back in "the day". But as my friend Jeff, who showed up a bit later said: "It's just not our scene anymore - it belongs to them now."

I hope he's wrong and that yesterday I was merely feeling a bit out of sorts. While I don't go out nearly as often as I used to, while I'd probably die if I tried to party like it was 1999 and while those nights of sex, drugs and Rock & Roll are decades old, I don't feel quite ready to trade in these Rock and Roll shoes for some sensible orthopedic footwear just yet.

A word or two about the music. First, I would like to thank my cyberpal and fellow blogger Glenn who despite his own troubles on his Born In Tyme blog is still going strong and is not letting the bastards win. Glenn, you, and all of the people who wrote such nice comments when I first decided to stop posting, have inspired me to keep going. Because of my work schedule and the fact that I am also now doing my once-monthly show on Top Shelf Oldies, (my next show will be at 11 PM EST on Thursday July 14 - Happy Bastille Day!) I don't know how often I will be posting. But Time On My Hands is definitely up and running - just a wee big slower than before - kinda like its 60 year old master of ceremonies.

Finally, some of you long-term visitors will notice a few repeats in this latest playlist. Since so much of what was out there has been taken down and many of my older posts are no longer available I have decided to start from scratch. So with all of that being said, it's time to strike up the band.

The BaxxCC's - Rock N' Roll Guitar
I first saw these guys about 3 or 4 months ago at a benefit for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Along with the A-Bones they were the highlight of the evening. This is from their already out-of-print mini-LP "Two Seconds To Mars!!!" which I am still trying to find on actual vinyl or CD. Hey guys, if you're reading this - got an extra copy?
The A-Cads - Watch Your Step
As I've written so many times before, back in the 60's, long before the internet made it so easy, all over the world guys (mostly) heard the Beatles, Stones, Kinks etc. etc. and decided to pick up some instruments and give it a go themselves. The A-Cads from South Africa were 4(?) more who heard the news that there was good rockin' tonight and heeded the call.
Barbara Lewis - I'm So Thankful
Barbara had a Top 10 hit with "Hello Stranger" back in 1963 but this song, which sounds as if it was recorded anywhere between 1968 and 1972 never cracked Billboard's Top 100.
DM3 - Caroline No
Generally I have mixed feelings about tribute albums and covers but I do enjoy this rather faithful re-creation of the "Pet Sounds" classic. Dom Mariani is a tribute-worthy artist in his own right and his love for the song is obvious in every note the band sings and plays.
The Overlanders - Summer Skies & Golden Sands
I think I probably heard this song for the first time on Dave the Rave's show on TSO (Sat. nights 10 PM - 3 AM EST) and it's definitely become a favorite. I'm not sure if it was released in the U.S. as a single back in 1963 or whenever but I can't help but think that it would have sounded incredible blasting out of my dad's 1963 Plymouth's tinny little radio speakers.
Paul Kelley - Chills And Fever
I'm pretty sure I included this song on one of my very first TOMH playlists and it's still one of my favorites. Definitely one for my monthly Platterpuss R&R Record Party show.
Fever Tree - I Can Beat Your Drum
Way before Fever Tree went all hippie on us with "San Francisco Girls" they cut this unknown (at the time) garage classic. Personally, I like this a whole lot better than their later material.
Mort Shuman - I'm A Man
Mort Shuman had a long and many-faceted career as an artist, writer, arranger and producer. Somewhere along the line he recorded this nifty little toe-tapper. I've got it loud and proud on a number of various artist compilations but I am still looking for an original 45.
The Flatmates - When I'm With You
One of the things I will always be grateful to my friend Matthew (Twee Kid) for is for turning me on to the Flatmates. A little Shangri-Las, a little C-86 and songs with hooks that grab you when and where you least expect them to. If you like this song, check out their best-of CD on Amazon.
Tyrone Schmidling - Honey Don't
I know I posted this song once before and I'll say the same thing now as I did then: With a name like Schmidling it's GOT to be good. I wonder what Carl Perkins thought of this over-the-top version of his hit.
The Painted Ship - Frustration
The Painted Ship recorded one of the nastiest songs ever with "Little White Lies" and while this one doesn't register quite as high on the Evil-O-Meter, it still has that same eerie and ominous vibe. A thousand times better than anything that spoiled bad boy wannabe Jim Morrison ever did.
The Resonars - If He's So Great
Even though TSO wants it's jocks to stick with 50's, 60's and early 70's sounds, every so often I like to throw in something a little newer. So far I've played tracks by The Lyres and Untamed Youth and they've both gone over quite well - at least in the chat room. I'm thinking of playing this song sometime and then following it up with a Hollies or Beau Brummels record.
Bo Diddley - Hong Kong, Mississippi
Hail Thee Mighty Bo! One of my favorite songs by one of my all-time favorite artists. She may say she's from Hong Kong but nobody fools Bo.
Gene Clark - Is Yours Is Mine
This is from Gene's very first solo album which he recorded with the Gosdin Brothers. Sadly, he left us way too young, never even reaching his 47th birthday, in 1991.
Willy DeVille - Every Dog Has Its Day
Willy "Mink" DeVille is another artist who died at way too young an age of 59. Unfortunately, while he was alive I never appreciated him all that much. I liked his first few albums on Capitol Records but I pretty much lost track of him after that. It wasn't until after his death that I started hearing some of his later recordings. He had a feel for classic soul music that few modern singers possess without having to imitate anyone in particular. "Every Dog..." is from his sadly out-of-print (and rather expensive) "Victory Mixture" CD. So enjoy it here folks.
The Channels - Now You Know
I've always been a sucker for some good upbeat doo wop and while The Channels are better known for their ballads such "The Closer You Are" and "The Gleam in Your Eyes", this song has always been a favorite.
Mose Allison - I Don't Worry About A Thing
I want to be Mose Alison when I grow up. While I actually know very little about him, I love that good-natured, twinkle-in-his-eye coolness that he projects. Even when he is singing a blues song he always sounds like he is in on some huge cosmic joke and never takes himself too seriously. And he is also one helluva piano player.

Can't wait another day I gotta move on

Platterpuss on the Radio 05/11

For all of you who might have missed it, my radio show is available for downloading. It was a fun show and, as one good friend of mine so kindly pointed out, I definitely have the face for radio. Since I am now on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 11 - midnight, if you missed me last week you can catch me 'pre-recorded live' next month.

Otis Redding - Shout Bamalama
The Blues Magoos - (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet (stereo)
Jimmy McCracklin - The Wobble
The Beach Boys - In My Room
Vaughan Thomas - Need You Girl
Bill Cosby - Little Ole Man
Maurice & Mac - Lean On Me
The Little Boy Blues - I Can Only Give You Everything
The Jury - Who Dat
Sugar Pie DeSanto - Go Go Power (mono)
Tommy Todd - Tag Along
David Gates - Okie Surfer (Mystery Oldie)
Dorothy Williams - Watchdog
Baby Huey & The Babysitters - Messin With The Kid
The Cufflinks - Guided Missles
The Roulettes - Bad Time
The Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23
The Bobby Fuller Four - Baby, My Heart
Si Cranstoun - Chocoholic
Brenda Holloway - Just Look What You've Done
The Blue Jeans - Cool Martini

In other news, the job I started last June is due to end in 3 weeks - just in time for my 60th birthday ("Happy birthday, you're fired") so once again I will actually have some time on my hands - at least until I find another job. I've given some thought to reviving TOMH but I don't want to deal with the same crap I had last time. Taking the blog private isn't really an option as it defeats the whole purpose of trying to get the music out there for folks to hear. It seems kind of like preaching to the choir. So if anyone has any ideas or suggestions please feel free to leave a comment.

I'm Back (sorta)

The good news (I hope) is that I am back but not in quite the way folks might expect. I am now doing a 1-hour pre-recorded radio show on internet radio station Top Shelf Oldies under my alter ego The Platterpuss, a name I used when I was writing record reviews back in the 90's. I will be on this Thursday (5/19) from 11 PM to midnite EST. It's a cool station with some really great and knowledgable DJ's, of which I am honored to be one. There is also a chat room that is open to all and really easy to join that is also filled with some really astute collectors and people who are really passionately into the music. Being that this is an oldies station you won't hear much new stuff but if you have liked my garage, soul, R&B and rockabilly selections in the past, I don't think you will be disappointed. So please join me if you can.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the folks who've left such nice comments over the last month or so. While I didn't get to post as often as I would have liked, coming up with my playlists and writing about the music was the perfect means of self-expression for me - especially as I do not play an instrument, paint or engage in any other type of artistic endeavor. It is gratifying to know that there are others of you out there who are on the same wavelength. Perhaps at some point I will decide to give it another try. But in the meantime I hope you will enjoy my show on Thursday.