(2010, download, - , crossfire publications)

(2011, flash-drive, usa, crossfire publications)

various artists

paul buff presents the pal and original sound studio archives, vol.15
    - feat.contributions by frank zappa

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 Paul Buff

1. paul buff: organ 2

2. the buff organization: the land of in-between

3. the hollywood persuaders: sunset strip (lp version)

4. the tornadoes: the inebriated surfer (lp mix)

5. sonny wilson: lonely nights (without overdubs)

6. paul buff: mono drums 2

7. the hollywood persuaders: evil underneath (second version)

8. the bongo teens: blue skies

9. paul buff: donna (backing track 2)

10. johnny barakat and the vestells: static (take 2)

11. the music machine: taxman

12. shapes of sound: lost weekend

13. the bongo teens: the happy surfer (without bongo overdub)

14. paul buff: you will never have to dream (version 2)

15. hunger!: mind machine (revised lp version)

16. the pal studio band: any way the wind blows

17. the ragamuffins: chances

18. hunger!: she let him continue

19. paul buff: donnica

20. terri & the velveteens: la flor

21. paul buff: love is a stranger (backing track/vocals)

22. paul buff: piano/drums/effects

23. paul buff: tape effects

liner notes by Greg Russo

Welcome to Volume 15 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.

We promise that this volume will be just as eclectic as Volume 14! Starting off with a Buff organ piece covering many different themes and rhythms, we move seamlessly into the master version of The Buff Organization's "The Land Of In-Between." Allison Buff turns in one of her absolute best vocals on this melodic song. There are many other versions of "The Land Of In-Between" that can be heard on the other Buff Organization releases.

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. You want more variations? Try the album mix of The Tornadoes' "The Inebriated Surfer" (engineered by Frank Zappa) and Sonny Wilson's "Lonely Nights" before final overdubs. In-between the Sonny Wilson cut and "Evil Underneath," you are treated to another brief Buff drum track recorded in glorious mono!

"Blue Skies" by Irving Berlin was done in a pre-surf version by The Biscaines in late 1960. In mid-1963, it was now The Bongo Teens' turn to attack it in full surf style. Buff's second backing track for "Donna" leads into Johnny Barakat's second version of "Static." Yes, that's Barakat yelling at his father at the end of the track! You see, Mr. Barakat controlled every moment that his son and The Vestells were in the studio, and he was the official timekeeper. It was his job to tell Johnny how much time was left for their session, and when he didn't do that after a take, Johnny yelled at him!

Following this, The Music Machine's version of "Taxman" greets us. George Harrison's song kicked off The Beatles' "Revolver" album, and it was out a short time before Sean Bonniwell's group laid down their own powerful take. Incidentally, Sean is not the lead vocalist on this one - keyboardist Doug Rhodes did the honors. Since it's an Americanized version of the song, The Music Machine referred to president Lyndon Johnson and his Secretary of State Dean Rusk rather than UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson (of the Labour Party) and Conservative Party leader Edward Heath.

Back to strangeness! Shapes Of Sound turned in another odd but brilliant song for their All-American B-side: "Lost Weekend." Once again sung by Greg Munford, the haze of a substance-filled weekend of sin comes our way. They don't make them like this anymore! It was recorded at Original Sound with Buff behind the desk.

Equally spaced-out is "Mind Machine" by Hunger! Originally cut for the band's Public label LP "From Hunger!" with organ as the lead instrument, Strawberry Alarm Clock lead guitarist Ed King completely transformed the new mix of the song (meant for the All-American label) into something that really stood out from the competition. As with many All-American albums, Hunger!'s LP never made it past a test pressing. "She Let Him Continue" was one of the very few tracks that appeared in the same way on both the Public and All-American albums. It is a stunning work that many fans feel is their absolute best. From its dark vocals and lyrics to the band's top-notch playing, "She Let Him Continue" wins hands down.

Buff and Aerni initially recorded "The Happy Surfer" without their hired bongo player, so here is a rare opportunity to hear it in its "naked" form. Buff's second version of "You Will Never Have To Dream" along with "Donnica" didn't go any further, but it's interesting to hear different ideas that Paul was playing with. The original Pal Studio Band version of "Any Way The Wind Blows" (with Frank Zappa, Paul Buff and Ray Collins) is a little longer than you're used to hearing it - another bonus for you!

Volume 12 and 13 featured tracks by Sean Bonniwell's pre-Music Machine trio, The Ragamuffins. "Chances" is another of the four songs cut at Original Sound in the fall of 1965, but this is one is more like the folk music that Bonniwell recorded with The Wayfarers for RCA. On this track, aggression is replaced by reflection. After the demise of The Music Machine in 1969, Sean's vocal approach would again sound like this track.

One of the rarest tracks done at Pal that still exists (and just barely) is "La Flor" by Terri And The Velveteens. Every existing copy of this Arc label single sounds like it's trashed, and this one is no exception! As one of the very few Pal tracks done in Spanish, we felt that it was important to present it as best we could rather than not at all.

"Love Is A Stranger" was an unfinished song that Paul Buff never addressed, but he made two attempts at it - a version with backing vocals, and a purely instrumental version. This is the first of the two.