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| (2010, download, - , crossfire publications) |
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| (2011, flash-drive, usa, crossfire publications) |
paul buff presents the pal and original sound studio archives, vol.4
| 2010 | download | - | crossfire publications |
re-releases
(2011, flash-drive, usa,
crossfire publications) =
the complete 35 album series, with bonus liner notes on pdf and 56 extra tracks
various tracks recorded by
http://cdbaby.com/cd/paulbuffvarious
liner notes by Greg Russo:
Welcome to Volume 4 of Paul Buff’s 20-volume series of recordings from Pal
Studios and Original Sound Studios! Pal Records was a record company run by his
mother Olivia and stepfather Ward Allen. After Paul Buff was honorably
discharged from the military, he finished putting together Pal Studios in
December 1957. The studio costs were $12.50/hour for mono recording and $15/hour
for stereo. Local musicians booked the studio to make recordings of their
rehearsals and repertoire. When Pal Records wound itself down in mid-1959, Paul
Buff created his first record label – Emmy. Other labels (Plaza, Yukon and
Vigah!) would follow shortly thereafter. The music presented on this series was
released on extremely rare records that would literally cost thousands if you
can find them. In addition, there are many unreleased tracks spanning from 1960
to 1969. Paul Buff is now making them available again for everyone to
appreciate.
For this cross-section of Paul Buff’s activities, things are kicked off by
Paul Buff’s B-side “Blind Man’s Buff.” It was licensed to Donna for
release in early 1963. Another B-side, The Biscaines’ “Menagerie,” was the
snappy flip of “Blue Skies” (Volume 2). Pianist Randy Thomas takes the lead.
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.
Paul Buff and Ronnie Williams recorded “Toothpick Boogie” in the early fall
of 1960, with Buff providing additional instrumentation to the basic track in
2007. That revised version, “Tropical Toothpick,” is on this volume. The
original “Toothpick Boogie” will appear later in this series as well as on
The Masters’ album.
“Far Across The Sea” was supposed to be the B-side of the fifth Plaza label
release. Based on a label mock-up, Johnny Atlan (aka Johnny Fisher) was going
with his song “Indian Maid” as the A-side. Even though Fisher recorded
“Indian Maid,” he left Pal Studios before he recorded his vocal on Buff’s
“Far Across The Sea” for the B-side. As a result, the release was cancelled
and Paul Buff recorded the song himself.
“Walkin’ Out” by The Pal Studio Band is another Zappa instrumental
showcase that has never been heard. Like all the others Pal Studio Band tracks,
this dates from April 1963. Recorded shortly afterward, The Bongo Teens’
“Last Night” was a strong cover of The Mar-Keys’ classic. Paul Buff and
Dave Aerni’s recordings as The Bongo Teens are also available as separate mono
and stereo releases of the “Surfin’ Bongos” album as well as on the “Raw
Tracks” album with The Hollywood Persuaders.
Sonny Wilson’s “True Love” was one of his many unreleased Pal masters from
1961. It’s amazing that nearly all of his output was not released at the time.
The Ascots’ “Perfect Love” was released as an A-side by Ace in 1962, but
was surprisingly ignored. It is still in great demand by collectors.
“Say A Little Prayer” by Bobby & Linda was the flipside of their Emmy
single “I’m Mostly Lonely” (Volume 3). When this record was released in
October 1963, there were so many 45s of vocal groups that many of them did not
get the attention they deserved.
The original single mix of The Buff Organization’s “Studio ‘A’” is up
next. A satirical look at the recording process and its impact on the ultimate
success of a record, “Studio ‘A’” was not well distributed and got lost
in the shuffle in 1968.
Frank Zappa produced “Cradle Rock” for The Heartbreakers in 1964 and Paul
Buff licensed the record to the Donna label. The tune was a slow ballad using
“Rock-A-Bye Baby” lyrics in an East L.A. musical style. Bobby Ray And The
Gents’ “Make You Feel Like Livin’” was cut in 1963, but was not released
until the next year. As the flipside of “My Brother” (Volume 3), “Make You
Feel Like Livin’” holds up well today because it did not employ any of the
musical trends of the time.
Saxophonist Mike Dineri contributed to The Rotations’ B-side “The
Cruncher” with what Paul Buff calls “good sax” because Dineri was a master
at his instrument. Dineri cut five unissued tracks at Pal, including two
versions of the standard “Stormy Weather.” Both versions use the same
backing track, but Mike Dineri’s ending solos are completely different. Here
is Take 1.
The Cordells were a little-known group that cut four tracks at Pal, two of which
(“Sand Flea” and “Down Under”) are lost. The two surviving tracks,
“Happy Time” and “I Love How You Love Me,” formed a Daytone release
produced by Irvin (Dave Aerni) and Curry (Frank Zappa) in January 1964. “Happy
Time” is included on this volume. It is quite possible that members of this
group evolved into the Daytone group The Pharos, which became The Rhythm
Surfers.
Concluding Volume 4 is Paul Buff’s “Runaway Wedding Song.” This is another
of Buff’s replicas of popular songs, clearly influenced by Del Shannon’s
“Runaway” and a wedding theme.