When the Queen Smiles At Me I Go To Rio

Following up with the last post of The Partridge Family Bootleg, I bring you another bootleg. This time it's a real band playing a live concert. It's Queen rocking like only they could in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was part of a huge rock festival that still goes on to this day called Cidade do Rock. This particular performance comes from January 18, 1985. There never was and has never been a band like Queen and they were truly amazing. Hear for yourself as you listen to "Queen - Rock In Rio". Enjoy!

Queen - Rock In Rio

Podcast 24!

Here is yet another brand new Podcast from the World of Wonder! Right in the heat of the summer comes this jam packed podcast full of clips from the likes of Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Muffs, Elvis, Art Carney, Herman's Hermits, Steve Martin, Fishbone, Sonny and Cher and more! This one is a lot of fun. Enjoy!

Dartman's Wacky Podcast #24

John Linnell Tours The States

I've always been a They Might Be Giants fan. And I mean always. I wasn't one of the people who found out about them through their "hits" when their album, "Flood", hit the charts. By that time, I had known about the duo of John Linnell and John Flansburgh for a couple of years already. I have been a fan since they first came about and I have probably seen them at least 100 times. In fact, there was a time when my wife and I were seeing them in New York on an almost weekly basis. It's amazing to me that they are still going strong and every time people count them out, they come back stronger than before. In 1999, John Linnell released a solo album entitled "State Songs". The whole concept to the album consists almost entirely of tracks that are named after, and are at least partially inspired by, 15 of the 50 U.S. states. But don't look for state facts or history lessons here. Unlike the TMBG song, "James K Polk" which gave us a history lesson, the songs on "State Songs" suggest that there is another West Virginia inside of the state, that one can drive a house to Idaho, that Montana is a leg, Iowa is a witch, Oregon is bad, and Arkansas has sunken and is to be replaced by a ship of its exact shape and size. Linnell's explanation of where the state names comes in is that he used them as a way of avoiding having to come up with song titles. After releasing the album, John hit the road and took his solo show to a few of the 50 states. Here's a rare treat that I have never seen anywhere else (in fact, I don't even know where I got them). They are two live shows of John Linnell performing the State Songs. The first one is from 1995 (pre-release of the album) at The Mercury Lounge in New York City. The second is from the tour that followed the album's release in 1999 from a performance at The Bowery Ballroom in New York. These shows are great and feature not only the great songs from the album but a few surprises as well. Enjoy! John Linnell - State Songs Live At The Mercury Lounge October 1995 / John Linnell - State Songs Live At The Bowery Ballroom 12/11/99

More From Ella

Last month I posted a great album of radio broadcasts from Ella Fitzgerald in the 40s. Today I bring you the same singer a couple of decades later. If you are like me, then you believe that Ella got better and better as time went on. She came to prominence in the 40s, went on to solo success in the 50s and became a legend during the 60s. The 70s and 80s just add to her already amazing presence and solidify her as one of the great all time singers ever. As I just stated, the 60s was where she became part of the elite who get to be called a legend and today's sharity is proof that it was earned. It's a concert from Amsterdam in 1961 and she sounds amazing! Don't believe me, listen for yourself. Here is Ella Live In Amsterdam, 1961. Enjoy!

Ella Fitzgerald - Amsterdam, 1961

The Original Formula With Added Monkees

Tomorrow night I start off a series of several shows playing for the one and only, Micky Dolenz. I am super excited to get back to playing with Micky. We start off with a free concert in Copiague, NY at a place called Tanner Park. If you are in the area come on down to the show and come say Hi afterwards. To celebrate the start of the "Season", I am posting another Monkees item. This time around it's a complete concert from 1989. What was special about this concert was it was on July 9, the day the Monkees received their star on the Walk of Fame. The "three-kees" played through half of the show and then were joined by the fourth Monkee, himself, Mike Nesmith. The Mike portions of this show have been circulating for years under the title, "Original Formula". The sound quality of the boot was ok but it was great to have for historical reasons (kind of like Elvis' last concert). However, I recently obtained the complete show from that date and the sound, though not amazingly perfect, is still really good. I present it for you now. Here is "The Monkees - July 9, 1989." Enjoy!

The Monkees - July 9, 1989
The Monkees - July 9, 1989: Part 2

Rock Around Le Clock

If you grew up in the 70s then you knew the song "Rock Around The Clock" and could probably sing it verbatim and even sing the guitar solo and the drum hits at the end. Of course, not everyone could sing "See You Later Alligator" or "Happy Baby". But I can. I love Bill Haley and the Comets. Unlike everyone else in my generation, I knew about them long before I ever saw Happy Days. They are credited with starting riots with Rock Around The Clock when it first was featured in the film, "Blackboard Jungle". It's hard to imagine that. It's also hard to imagine that they were a country and western band before jumping on the early rock and roll bandwagon. In 1966, the Comets made a trip to Paris. They would make the same trip again in 1974. Both trips yielded amateur recordings of the concerts. They are compiled into a nice bootleg called "Live In Paris". As an added bonus, you also get three tunes recorded off of Alan Freed's radio show as they were performed in Brooklyn in 1956. Here is "Bill Haley and The Comets: Live In Paris". Enjoy!

Bill Haley and The Comets-Live In Paris

The Three-kees of '89

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything. I've been incredibly busy with all kinds of different things and getting a chance to post something on the World of Wonder has been almost impossible. I do promise that it is worth the wait. As you noticed in my last post, The Monkees (or the Three-kees as they have become known) are reuniting this summer for their 45th anniversary with a tour of England and possible the states! To celebrate, I dug into my bag of Monkees goodies and have brought forth this most impressive radio broadcast of a show they did back in 1989 in Holland. Here is The Monkees Live In The Netherlands, April 21, 1989. The sound quality is fantastic and it features a very special intimate acoustic set with just the three guys and no backing band in the middle of it all. Here is that show! Enjoy!

The Monkees Live In The Netherlands, April 21, 1989

Spiderman Swings!

Here's a video clip of "The Shiny Lapel Trio", a great swing quartet (yes, I said a quartet name The Shiny Lapel TRIO) that I've been playing with for some time. Here's our version of Spiderman. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday To The King

Today would have been the 76th birthday of Elvis. I was just reminded of that by a super duper Elvis fan who moved to Memphis just to get a job at Graceland. She knows more about Elvis than anyone I know and I know a lot of Elvis fans (including the President of The Rock and Roll Hall of Lame, I mean, Fame). Anyway, to celebrate, here is the King recorded live at the University Of Dayton. It's from October 6, 1974 and the title says it all. Here is "Elvis: Breathing Out Fire". Enjoy!

Elvis: Breathing Out Fire

The First Post of 2011!

For the first post of our (can you believe it) 6th year on the web, we here at Dartman's World of Wonder bring you a piece of musical history. Many people consider Louis Armstrong to be one of the greatest musicians of all time. What he added to music is immeasurable and listening to him today is just as exciting as it was when he first hit the scene. In May of 1954, Louis played to a packed house at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. It was the annual Spring Germans dance and it was broadcast on the radio for those who could not attend. Fortunately, that broadcast still exists to this day! Of course, the only decent thing to do is to share that with you now. Here is Louis Armstrong along with Kenny Johns, Billy Kyle, Arvel Shaw, Trummy Young, Barnie Begard and Thelma Middleton from that historic night in North Carolina. Enjoy!

Louis Armstong - UNC May 1954

Leather Tuscadero Live!

Despite her musical ability on bass and her edgy vocals, rock's first lady was never able to become a household name in her native United States. At least not as Suzi Quatro. She did manage to earn fame as Leather Tuscadero, the younger sister of Fonzie's girlfriend, Pinky Tuscadero, on the hit sit-com, Happy Days. It's really too bad that that is how she is remembered here in the states. Back in England, she is a top notch rock and roll legend. She is largely responsible for all the female rockers who have followed in her footsteps, most notably, Joan Jett and the Runaways. She did try to make a dent in the US rock scene. In fact, in 1975 she participated in a live radio broadcast from the Record Plant in Saulsalito, CA. It featured Suzi rockin' her little heart out on a mixture of original tunes she penned with producer, Mike Chapman, and some choice covers including "All Shook Up." For the life of me, I could never fiure out why the US ignored this rock pioneer. We here at the World of Wonder have never ignored her. Here is that FM broadcast from 1975. Here is "Suzi Quatro Live In Saulsalito". Enjoy!

Suzi Quatro-Live In Saulsalito 1975

The Grandson Continues The Tradition

Shelton Hank WIlliams is known to most country fans as Hank III. The grandson of the legendary Hank Williams, Hank III is the rightful heir to the throne of king of country music. Of course, Nashville won't admit it and neither will the country music community. In typical "outlaw" fashion, Hank III has been overlooked by the powerful country music scene because he's very vocal about how pop country isn't really country and that Nashville has become too "pretty and perfect". He signed to country music label, Curb Records, as an answer to a court order that stated he wasn't a "real musician" and therefore couldn't supply child support to a child bore from a one night stand. He continued to fight with the label who wanted him to release the standard pop country that has become the norm. He refused and spent many years in court fighting his own label. During that time he started his own "F*** Curb" campaign which included t-shirts and stickers along with shouts from his band of the slogan while performing. He eventually won the right to release the music he wanted to. His last Curb record, which was released earlier this year, charted at #4 on the country music charts. Apparently, he's winning his fight. Hank spends most of his time on the road playing to packed clubs across the country. His show consists of three different sets; the country set of "outlaw country" featuring his respects to all those that came before him including his Grandfather; the "Hellbilly" set which puts a more harder, psychobilly edge on the music; and the "Assjack" set. A straight hard core death metal set. I prefer the first set above the other two but all three are done well and believe it or not, I actually enjoy it all. I was never a hard core metal fan but for some reason, I really like it when Hank III does it. See what you think when you take a listen to a show from February 27, 2004. Here's "Hank III Live at Ground Zero". Enjoy!

Hank III Live At Ground Zero 2/27/04

ELVIS MONTH 2010: Super 8 Theater Presents ELVIS Live In Chicago

ELVIS MONTH 2010: The King Has Complete Fun On Stage

I am sure you are all familiar with the 1974 album, "Having Fun with Elvis on Stage". It is considered a "live album" but it consists entirely of Elvis talking between numbers with no actual music being heard. Much of the album consists of Elvis making jokes, but the material is spliced in a manner that lacks continuity and is nearly devoid of comprehensibility, let alone humor. The album was concocted by Colonel Tom Parker so that he could release and album that RCA Records would own no rights on. Parker initially released the album on his own label, Box Car Records, and it was sold only at concerts. RCA would eventually get their just due by packaging their own version of the album which they sold as a legitimate concert album. Most consumers were duped into buying this without seeing the tiny "A Talking Album Only" in the upper right hand corner of the album cover. The album managed to make it up to #130 on the Billboard album charts and even as high as #9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Elvis was infuriated when RCA put this album into the general marketplace, considering it a tremendous embarrassment. As a result, the album was quietly taken off the market sometime in 1975 but reissued for a few years following his death. Since the late 1990s, fans have put together several pirate "sequel" discs. The four follow up volumes are actually far superior to the original "legal" release. As fans of the various bootlegs out there know, Elvis said some funny stuff on stage. Most of it unsuitable for a "legitimate" release. But that hasn't stopped the bootleggers from including that material on their versions. Here for you now are all known volumes of "Having Fun With Elvis On Stage". I was originally going to post them one at a time but due to the fact that between time constraints and internet trouble I haven't been posting daily, I give them to you in one lump sum. Here is "The Complete Having Fun With Elvis On Stage". Enjoy!

The Complete Having Fun With Elvis On Stage

ELVIS MONTH 2010: The King Comes Home

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of Elvis' untimely death. Some say his death was his final homecoming. Others prefer to remember July 5, 1976 as his final homecoming. That was the date of the last concert Elvis would give in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Twenty-two years earlier, Elvis had recorded "That's All Right" in that same city on the same date at the legendary Sun Studio. His performance that night was a highlight of the King's final years. Not only sticking to the usual set that he would almost strictly adhere to every night, but that night Elvis pulled out all of the stops and put on an extended show featuring songs that were normally missing from the set. All in all, it was quite the concert. Here is that amazing concert. Here is "The Final Homecoming". Enjoy!

Elvis Presley-The Final Homecoming
Elvis Presley-The Final Homecoming Part 2

ELVIS MONTH 2010: It's Midnight . . . (re-post)

The time was the start of 1971 (the year I was born!) and Elvis was in the midst of one of his many Las Vegas engagements at the International Hotel. On the evening of January 28th, Elvis performed a midnight show that had them rocking in the isles. Many consider Elvis' vegas shows the "re-birth" of the legend and this show is no exception. The great thing about the Vegas era is that you can see the outline for what would be Elvis' live shows from here on in. The jumpsuits, the 2001 theme, the flash, the glitter . . . all of this has become American folklore and is what most people remember when they think of Elvis. It has been imitated, satirized, plagirised and immortalized. What can't be denied is that the King returned to his throne with a voice and style like no other. Here is that great midnight show from 1971. Here is "ELVIS: Lean, Mean & Kickin' Butt". Enjoy!

ELVIS: Lean, Mean & Kickin' Butt

ELVIS Month 2010: Elvis For President!

It's our second ELVIS month! An entire month of Elvis to celebrate the King of Rock and Roll. We start off with an amazing concert recording from March of 1976. Charlotte, North Carolina set the stage for an unusual concert from the King. For starters, Elvis' band was made up of the usuals like James Burton, Charlie Hodge, Kathy Westmoreland and John Wilerson but they are augmented by subs on the piano and drum chair. The great Larry Londin fills in for Ronnie Tutt and holds his own. The change is definitely noticeable but Elvis seems to really dig what is happening. He is in a great mood and jokes around more than usual. The band introductions are probably the most extensive I have ever heard in an Elvis concert but very listenable and enjoyable. Head back to 1976 with Elvis and "Running For President". Enjoy!

Elvis:Running For President

The Dartman and The Monkee

With Our Backs To The Wall

I just saw an interview with the great, Roger Waters the other day where he was talking about bringing a production of "The Wall" on tour within the next year or so. I have always wished that I could have been there back in 1980 when the infamous Pink Floyd's The Wall tour had been in motion. At the time, I was too young to even know who Pink Floyd were, let alone go to a concert by them (a 9 year old had more important things on his mind). I do remember when the album came out because I remember it being prominently displayed in the local Caldor (for those of you who don't know what that is, it was an amazing department store that was the precursor to today's Wal Mart). As I grew into a young teen, I went through my obligatory Pink Floyd phase and listened to and watched The Wall so much that I can still quote the most obscure scenes in the film. During my "Floyd phase" I became the proud owner of a bootleg of one of the concerts on The Wall tour and was thrilled at the notion that I held in my hand a piece of history (not to mention some songs that were not on the original album but were in the film). I'm incredibly psyched to see that Waters is bringing that show out on the road again and I hope that I can be in a position to see it when it comes to the East coast in October. Until then, I'll just keep listening to that bootleg that I got all those years ago. And you can too. Here is "Pink Floyd's The Wall: Live At Nassau Colisem, New York, NY 1980." Enjoy!

Pink Floyd-The Wall, Nassau Coliseum, New York, NY 1980

Go-Go at The Whiskey

Since I recently shared the great Johnny Rivers album, "Changes" with you, I thought it would be good to share another great Johnny Rivers album with you. This time around we go back to 1966 with an album that ended Johnny's string of live recordings at the Whiskey A-Go-Go. The whole thing started in 1964 with "Johnny Rivers At The Whiskey A-Go-Go", continuing with several more albums of songs recorded at the infamous LA hot spot. In fact, out of the six albums he released from his start in 1964 to "Changes" in 1966, only two were not recorded at the Whiskey. The last of these great live albums was " . . . And I Know You Want To Dance". This album has been a favorite of mine since as long as I can remember. It was one of a handful of Johnny Rivers' records that were given to me by my dad back in the seventies when I was just a wee youngster. The difference between this and "Changes" are so great it's like comparing night to day. This is the original, three-piece rock and roll sound that helped make Johnny a favorite amongst the Go-Go crowd. Hard rockin' with an energy that makes you want to get up and dance, here's Johnny Rivers' ". . . And I Know You Want To Dance". Enjoy!

Johnny Rivers- . . . And I Know You Want To Dance