Z

Artist: Z (aka. Mort Garson)

LP: Music For Sensuous Lovers
Song: "Climax One"

[ listen ]

Here's something titillating I picked up at Daybreak Records on my way home from work this evening. I've been playing some of my mp3s at work before the day gets started, but I guess I should probably skip this one. 

Prolific composer Mort Garson certainly does create a sensuous and erotic moog with this experimental electronic record full of ladies' moans, groans, whimpers and sighs. Released under the name "Z," the record features a cover that's basically the equivalent of the brown paper bag adult magazines were mailed in back in the 1980s and '90s...uh, from what I've been reading in history books, I mean. 

I was hoping side two would be "the man side," but no such luck. This was recorded back in 1971, when straight men couldn't utter any sound at all during sex without risk of seeming silly. 

[ Mort Garson: July 20, 1924 - January 4, 2008 ]

Christmas Becomes Electric feat. Dusty Wakeman

Artist: Christmas Becomes Electric feat. Dusty Wakeman

LP: Christmas Becomes Electric

Song: "The First Noel"
[ listen ]

Song: "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
[ listen ]

I always tend to overeat during the holidays and usually end up gaining a few extra pounds. That's why I was delighted to find this 1984 Christmas record that works so well with my current aerobics routine, which is also from 1984. I am now able to bask in the holiday spirit and lose weight at the same time! 

Producer and co-arranger Dusty Wakeman was evidently so preoccupied with magically touching these holiday classics that he forgot to name his band. I've decided to call them Christmas Becomes Electric and declare this album their self-titled debut release. It's basically the soundtrack you'd end up with if you crossed this film with this one.

[ Producer and Texan Dusty Wakeman ]

Kraftwerk

Artist: Kraftwerk

LP: 7" single

Song: "Musique Non Stop" 
[ listen ]

When I browse through my collection of 45s, I'm always grateful I picked up offbeat singles at Tower Records from the mid-'80s on—like this Kraftwerk single, for example. The song didn't registar on the Billboard Hot 100 at all when it came out in 1986 (it was evidently a hit at the dance clubs), and I've never come across another copy of it in 30 years of record hunting ever since. I only regret that I didn't start buying unpopular 45s with picture sleeves at Tower Records sometime around 1978 instead! But then how was a ratty 9-year-old Mormon kid from Yakima supposed to get to Seattle to collect rare vinyl?

[ Kraftwerk ]

Telex

Artist: Telex

LP: Looking For Saint Tropez

Song: "Pakmoväst" 
[ listen ]

The other record shop I visited in Olympia was Phantom City Records, which is stuck right next to a vintage clothing store; they share a space. There's no vinyl listening station there, so I knew I'd have to proceed with caution. But then I threw caution to the wind when I came across two albums by the Belgian techno-synth trio of pioneers known as Telex. This album, their very first, was released in 1979. Someone had written on the plastic sleeve in green marker: "Extreme Kraftwerk vibe - Why weren't they huge in the USA in the '80s?" All I can say to that is: Have you never been to Peoria, Illinois? Anyway, I went ahead and bought both LPs, sound unheard. Turns out they're pure electro-pop dynamite, so I'm glad I did!

 [ Telex ]

[ Phantom City Records — Olympia, WA ]

ADN' Ckrystall

Artist: ADN' Ckrystall

LP: Jazz' Mad

Song: "Le Blues de la Fille Aux Jambes de Jeans"

[ listen ]

I was fortunate to find a decent copy of this 1982 French electronic LP for just a couple bucks last year. When a bunch of copies were discovered in some basement in the south of France in 2005, those sold for $60 apiece—as you can see here. You can read about ADN' Ckrystall founder Érick Moncollin here, where you'll learn about his musical influences, see a list of his favorite books and movies, discover what kinds of pets he has, find out what a "Puckie" is, and there's a sexy photo of him there too. Notes and pictures from the back of the record are included below.

George Duke

Artist: George Duke

LP: Feel

Song: "Cora Joberge"

[ listen ]

Song: "Love"

[ listen ]

I thought maybe "Cora Joberge" was an anagram, but all I could come up with is "Grocer Jaboe." Born in San Rafael, California in 1946, George Duke is known as a pioneer of the synthesizer. Over the years, he's worked with Frank Zappa, Anita Baker, George Clinton and Jean-Luc Ponty, to name just a few. You can read about George Duke on Wikipedia here, where you can also find a link to his official website, which automatically starts playing really loud music—just ask anyone at my office.

a note from the next day: "Cora Joberge" isn't really one of this album's highlights; I chose it at one o'clock in the morning. This other song called "Love" offers a better example of why George Duke is considered a pioneer.

Geeez 'n' Gosh

Artist: Geeez 'n' Gosh

LP: Nobody Knows
Song: "Swing Down Sweet Chariot"
[ listen ]

Here's some gospel electronic music from Frankfurt, Germany's Uwe Schmidt. If you look closely, you can see my image reflected in the loving face of Jesus Christ.