the hollywood persuaders - jerry
lawson
When
Paul Buff came up with a Mexican-sounding instrumental entitled "Tijuana
Surf" at his Pal Studios in Cucamonga, California, he asked fellow Pal
musician Frank Zappa to write a B-side. Zappa
turned in the brilliant, fuzz-toned instrumental "Grunion Run," and
Buff sold the recordings to Art Laboe's Original Sound label.
The Hollywood Persuaders became Buff's performing name, but they were not
a band! With very few exceptions,
Paul Buff would play all the instruments.
When
Original Sound released "Tijuana" in the summer of 1963, the record
became a big regional success. In
fact, the record was released twice: as "Tijuana Surf" by The
Persuaders, and as "Tijuana" by The Hollywood Persuaders.
"Tijuana" was released in Mexico and Argentina as by Los
Persuaders and went on to spend 16 weeks at #1 in Mexico - even preventing The
Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" from reaching the top spot!
The
success of "Tijuana" enabled Buff to create more Hollywood Persuaders
recordings, and back royalties from the record also helped bail Frank Zappa out
of jail after he was arrested in March 1965!
The
following single "Persuasion"/ "Juarez" did not stir up the
same kind of sales as "Tijuana", but Paul Buff was working on an idea
which showcased drums in the arrangement. Buff's
first attempt was entitled "Drums" and simply featured drums with his
wife Allison's backing vocals. This
version was released on an extremely rare promotional single with "Yes, I
Want To Dance" as the B-side. Paul Buff went back and completely re-recorded the track with
an extremely powerful drum presence, more instrumentation and a sax replacing
Allison Buff's vocal. This version
became "Drums A-Go-Go," and it was an even bigger local success.
It also just missed hitting Billboard's single chart, but it generated
even more attention through cover versions by the likes of Sandy Nelson and Hal
Blaine. The flipside of "Drums
A-Go-Go" was "Agua Caliente (Hot Water)," another Mexican-styled
instrumental. The belated Mexican success of "Tijuana" led to the
release of a unique LP containing tracks from The Hollywood Persuaders, The
Rotations and The Teen Beats. "Drums
A-Go-Go" has become The Hollywood Persuaders' most recognizable song, and
it was also included in the film "Natural Born Killers."
In
the late spring of 1965, Art Laboe of Original Sound gave Paul Buff the go-ahead
to do a "Drums A-Go-Go" album. It
was released in August 1965. Aside
from the title track and a new mix of "Tijuana," the album included
reworkings of "Persuasion" as well as The Bongo Teens' tracks
"Last Night" and "Forget It."
Buff did some more recordings by himself and called in fellow Original
Sound artist Adam Saylor's backing band (Brian Blanchard, Bob Husband and Mike
Martin) to do the tracks "Eve Of Destruction," "(I Can't Get No)
Satisfaction" and "Hollywood A-Go-Go."
The third song by this lineup was backed by the first song for The
Hollywood Persuaders' final single.
Paul Buff went on to do the Original Sound-released solo single
"She's Got A 60 Cycle Brain"/ "Cause I Love You" and many
tracks with Allison Buff as The Buff Organization. These tracks are available as part of Paul Buff's 20-volume
Pal Studio/ Original Sound series. Buff
also engineered many recordings by other artists at Original Sound Studios,
including The Music Machine, The Strawberry Alarm Clock and Sugarloaf, to name
just three.
The
Hollywood Persuaders released just five singles (including a promo-only release)
between 1963 and 1965, but the original single mixes had never appeared in
digital form (from the original master tapes) until the 2010 download release.
In addition to both sides of Paul Buff’s solo single “Slow Bird”/ “Blind
Man’s Buff,” there are many unreleased tracks: two versions of “Evil
Underneath,” a demo version of “Drums A-Go-Go,” “Go-Go Music,”
“Organ Stomp,” “Cruisin’,” a demo version of “Agua Caliente (Hot
Water),” “Rollin’,” and “Something Else,” which only exists on an
acetate. Another rarity is the Mexican album version of “Yes, I Want To
Dance,” and you even get a countoff before Frank Zappa’s “Grunion Run”!
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.2" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"One of
Paul Buff's recording personas was The Hollywood Persuaders, and it was his most
popular venture. Nearly all the instrumental recordings made under this name
featured Buff playing all the instruments. A perfect example of The Hollywood
Persuaders' style is the unreleased track from 1965 - "Go-Go Music."
It would have fit perfectly on any of the dance shows that appeared on
television during the mid-1960s."
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.4" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"The Hollywood Persuaders’ “Drums A-Go-Go” was the most popular Paul Buff
track, spawning many cover versions. This is the original single mix. Check out
the mono and stereo versions of the “Drums A-Go-Go” album, as well as
“Singles & Rarities” and “Raw Tracks” for more Hollywood Persuaders
action."
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.6" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"Next
up is the familiar single mix of The Hollywood Persuaders' "Grunion
Run." The "Drums A-Go-Go" album features alternate stereo and
mono mixes of this tune with searing Zappa guitar solos. It's an early FZ
triumph!"
"An
early Hollywood Persuaders track, "Evil Underneath," appears in the
first of its two versions on this volume. Unusual for a Hollywood Persuaders
recording, piano is the main instrument."
" "North
Beach" was one of Paul Buff's best melodic Hollywood Persuaders
instrumentals. Like "Romance Theme," it's a wonder why more people did
not cover it."
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.7" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"Finishing
things up this time is "Something Else" - another track rescued from
an acetate. Definitely one of the rarest Hollywood Persuaders tracks that no one
has listened to, but it's one of the best!"
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.10" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"We're off to a strong start with The Hollywood
Persuaders' version of the Stones classic "(I Can't Get No)
Satisfaction." It's one of the very few tracks that Paul Buff used other
musicians on."
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.11" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"The single version of The Hollywood Persuaders'
"Persuasion" is very rare. When the "Drums A-Go-Go" album
was prepared in 1965, Paul Buff recorded a more up-to-date version of the song
for the LP. So, this poor orphan didn't have a home until the recent Hollywood
Persuaders reissues! Here is the mono single mix. Another rare single mix,
"Agua Caliente (Hot Water)," has also been included. It was originally
released as the B-side of "Drums A-Go-Go" in 1965."
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.12" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"By now,
The Hollywood Persuaders need no introduction. However, the first-time stereo
mix of "Grunion Run" certainly has to be commented upon! Art Laboe of
Original Sound had this tape in his archives all these years, and Paul Buff had
completely forgotten that he made stereo mixes of songs that had never appeared
in stereo anywhere. This is a great opportunity to start off this volume! Later
on, you'll also hear the single mix of The Hollywood Persuaders'
"Tijuana" and a cover of the Barry McGuire smash "Eve Of
Destruction." All of them have the unmistakable and irresistible presence
of Paul Buff."
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.13" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)"
was the clear inspiration for The Hollywood Persuaders' "Rush Street,"
but Buff made sure to take it where it never went before. You can never go wrong
with those old familiar chord changes, so Paul would occasionally record those
bits as things like "Piano/Bass/Drums."
"
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.14" liner notes by Greg Russo:
""Hollywood A-Go-Go" by The Hollywood
Persuaders was clear and defined right off the bat. It was one of the best
tracks on the album and it was the final A-side for this Buff venture."
"Also, "Forget It" by Paul Buff and Dave Aerni was originally
recorded by The Bongo Teens in 1963. The Hollywood Persuaders version is
actually a different mix of the same take with some embellishments. Make your
choices!"
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.15" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"The
Hollywood Persuaders are represented by the album version of "Sunset
Strip" (note the similarities to "Louie, Louie"!) and the second
version of "Evil Underneath." "Sunset Strip" was another
strong HP entry, and "Evil Underneath" employs a slightly different
arrangement and ending."
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.16" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"The
Hollywood Persuaders' "Thunderbird" gets us off to a flying start,
with a shorter version of Paul (Conrad) Buff's demo of "Chocolate
Milk" a short time later."
""Last
Night" was recorded by Paul Buff as The Bongo Teens and The Hollywood
Persuaders, but the latter is included here. Unlike the other song that both
outfits recorded ("Forget It"), the HP version of "Last
Night" is a completely different take."
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.17" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"Speaking
of Zappa, an alternate mono mix of his "Grunion Run" with The
Hollywood Persuaders comes next."
"The Hollywood
Persuaders' "Juarez" was the B-side of "Persuasion." This is
the original (and only) stereo mix of the song that Paul Buff originally
prepared for Original Sound. It was never used until the recent HP reissue of
the stereo "Drums A-Go-Go" album.
"
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.18" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"We're underway with Paul Buff's classic drum
showcase, "Drums A-Go-Go." This Hollywood Persuaders selection now
appears in its original stereo mix."
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.19" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"Another
surf title, Johnny Barakat's "Go Surfer Mo (El Zebra)," takes us into
The Hollywood Persuaders' "Organ Stomp." That HP track was not
released until recently. The Frank Zappa-written B-side of the Bob Guy single,
"Letter From Jeepers," is yet another piece of lunacy!"
"The Bongo
Teens' "Forget It" was a Buff/Aerni piece that Paul Buff got more
mileage from when it was remixed for the Hollywood Persuaders album "Drums
A-Go-Go." A considerably longer Bongo Teens version of "Forget
It" is available on "Raw Tracks." "
"A trio of
Hollywood Persuaders tracks, the album version of "Persuasion," the
stereo LP mix of "Tijuana" and the recently released
"Cruisin'" are surrounded by The Masters/Chester Martin single-tracked
version of "Come Back My Love" and the seventh version of The Buff
Organization's "Upside Down World." Cut at the same time as his
Original Sound single, Ricky Dean's "Blue Christmas Day" has never
been released until now. It was his final recording session."
from the "Paul Buff presents the PAL and Original Sound studio archives,
vol.20" liner notes by Greg Russo:
"We have
lots of alternate versions on this volume from The Bongo Teens (the mono LP
version of "Baja Bongos"), The Hollywood Persuaders (the single
version of "Yes, I Want To Dance," an alternate version of
"Sunset Strip," the original stereo mix of "Tijuana," the
demo and single versions of "Drums" and "Drums A-Go-Go," and
the demo of "Agua Caliente"), The Buff Organization
("Windows" with Paul and Allison Buff's vocals, and the stereo mixes
of "Studio 'A'" and "Upside Down World"), and Sonny Wilson
(an unreleased demo version of "My Proudest Possession")."
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the
persuaders: grunion run / tijuana surf
(1963, 7"dj, usa, original sound)
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the
persuaders: grunion run / tijuana surf
(1963,
7", usa, original sound) a-side written by frank zappa, feat. frank zappa
on guitar
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the
hollywood persuaders: grunion run / tijuana
(1963, 7", regency)
a-side written by frank zappa, feat. frank zappa
on guitar |
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os
persuaders: ?? / el
gruñon
(19??, 7", brazil, fermata fb-3396) - written by frank zappa, feat. frank zappa
on guitar |
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los persuaders: tijuana - el
gruñon / ciudad juarez - persuasion
(19??, 7"ep, mex, gamma records gx07-046) |
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los persuaders: tijuana -
el surf del califa / ciudad juarez - el ritmo de surf
(1964, 7"ep, spain, hispavox) |
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the hollywood persuaders: drums a-go-go
(1965, lp, usa, original sound) |
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frank zappa: 20
years of frank zappa
(1981, 12-lp-bootleg box, usa, mud shark mz 4801 - 4812) |
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various artists: cucamonga years – the
early works of frank zappa
(1991,
cd, jpn, msi) - presenting early zappa productions |
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the hollywood
persuaders: drums a-go-go (mono)
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) |
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the hollywood
persuaders: drums a-go-go (stereo)
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) |
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the
hollywood persuaders / the bongo teens: raw tracks
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) |
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the hollywood
persuaders: singles & rarities
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.2
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.4
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.6
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.7
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.9
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
|
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.10
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.11
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.12
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.13
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.14
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.15
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.16
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.17
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.18
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.19
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives, vol.20
(2010, download, -, crossfire publications) -
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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various artists: paul buff presents the pal and
original sound studio archives: the collection
(2011, flash-drive, usa, crossfire publications) =
the complete 35 album series, with bonus liner notes on pdf and 56 extra
tracks |
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from straight to bizarre
(2012, dvd, uk, chrome dreams)
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various artists:
paul buff presents highlights from the pal and original sound studio
archives
(2012, 5cd-box, usa, crossfire publications) = a
selection of the pal and original sound studio collection //
feat.contributions by frank zappa |
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frank zappa:
masked turnip cyclophony
(2015, cd, uk, gonzo multimedia) |
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frank zappa: masked
turnip cyclophony
(2016, 2lp, uk, let them eat vinyl letv408lp) =
reissue of the 2015 cd with a slightly altered album cover |
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