The Hondells

Artist: The Hondells

LP: Go Little Honda

Song: "A Guy Without Wheels"

[ listen ]

Song: "Rip's Bike"

[ listen ]

My friend Refugio and I had a great time up in Bellingham this past weekend, and I'm pleased to say I didn't buy a single record there! Actually, I told Refugio to keep me away from the city's record stores, since I'd already given the small town of Mount Vernon an economic stimulus package in the form of a record-buying binge on our way up to Bellingham—but not before we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the Mount Vernon Cafe & Lounge, of course. One of the things I picked up was this awesome 1964 surf-music LP by The Hondells, featuring songs with vocals, as well as some without. The group didn't actually exist when the song "Little Honda" began gaining popularity, so producer Gary Usher quickly threw one together with Ritchie Burns, one of the "Little Honda" backing vocalists, in the lead. Burns recruited a few friends, who had nothing at all to do with the record, to pose as fellow members of The Hondells on the LP sleeve, and the album was released in time to cash in on southern California's Honda motorbike craze of the early 1960s. You can read about all of this here and here, see The Hondells perform their bouncy top ten hit "Little Honda" on "Shindig" with the link below, and find the LP notes and photos after that.

The Hondells on YouTube:

[ "Little Honda" ]

The Big Irons

Artist: The Big Irons

LP: Sounds of the Big Irons

Song: "Steeplechase"

[ listen ]

No offense to Lulu Roman and her Hallelujah Wheels, but if I was blind and starving, I think I'd rather have one of The Big Irons boys bring me food and read me my mail. All photos on the album sleeve were taken at Ascot Park in Gardena, California.

 

 

 

 

 

Ardell DeBerg

Artist: Ardell DeBerg

LP: I Know Where I'm Goin'

Song: "The Little Boy From the Carpenter Shop"
[ listen ]

When I first saw this record, I of course admired Ardell's shirt, sunglasses and motorcycle and immediately wantetd to find out where he was going so I could meet him there. Unfortunately, it turns out he was just going to Mr. and Mrs. Dethmers' house. I picked the song "The Little Boy From the Carpenter Shop" for two reasons: First, it covers Jesus' entire life and plan of eternal salvation in just under 2.5 minutes. Second, this is one of the tracks where you can hear Ardell singing a duet with himself. The notes and photos from the back of the record are included here:

I am happy for the opportunity to write the backliner for the

first record ARDELL DeBERG is recording. Ardell has played the
bass guitar for THE AMBASSADOR QUARTET for the past five
years. His singing career dates back many years. The song, "He
Makes a Way," on this record was sung by him at a church
when he was three years old.

I am sure you will be touched by his voice and the selection
of songs. I feel his title song, "I Know Where I'm Goin'," is
very appropriate, not only for the front cover of his album,
but also as his personal testimony. I highly recommend
this Benson Album to all Gospel music lovers.

Sincerely, Ken Mulder—THE AMBASSADOR QUARTET
The site for the album cover was chosen by Ardell and was taken
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dethmers of Boydon, Iowa.
THE AMBASSADOR QUARTET is backing Ardell on six of the ten songs
of this album. On the songs, "Build My Mansion" and "The Little Boy
From the Carpenter Shop," Ardell sings a duet with himself.