Hillbilly Frankenstein - Hypnotica
I was going to post this on my birthday, as my present back to you (whoever you are), but things got busy. So without further delay, I give you my favorite neo-retro-garage-lounge-rockabilly album, Hypnotica!
Hillbilly Frankenstein - Hypnotica (full album)
I bought this on CD back when I lived in Athens, but I loaned it out to someone out here and never got it back. When I was back in Athens on vacation, I went to Wuxtry to look for a copy. They were out, but they also informed me that if they DID have a copy, it would have been about $50, it being so out of print and all. But they did have a cassette ($6!), so I bought that. When I started digitizing my analog music, this was the first thing on the list. This is from the first play after breaking the shrinkwrap (I was saving it). I guess it's customary to include a scan of the cover with stuff like this, but since it's a cassette, there's not much of an image, and I couldn't find one online.
Lots of great surf/rockabilly/garage rock on tunes like "Pitchin' Woo," "Forty-Rod Liquor" and a great cover of the theme from She-Devils on Wheels, "Man Eaters on Motorbikes," but there's also some swanky lounge music ("Class With a Capital K"), swing gospel ("Gravyboat") and creole ("Fatback City Junction U.S.A.," a great tune for BBQ season). The blues tune "Human Tornado" is made up of signifyin' lyrics stolen from Rudy Ray Moore! For a sample, here's one of the album's best rockers, "Pitchin' Woo."
EDIT: Some great video of the band (with a different vocalist) is linked to here.
Hillbilly Frankenstein - Hypnotica (full album)
I bought this on CD back when I lived in Athens, but I loaned it out to someone out here and never got it back. When I was back in Athens on vacation, I went to Wuxtry to look for a copy. They were out, but they also informed me that if they DID have a copy, it would have been about $50, it being so out of print and all. But they did have a cassette ($6!), so I bought that. When I started digitizing my analog music, this was the first thing on the list. This is from the first play after breaking the shrinkwrap (I was saving it). I guess it's customary to include a scan of the cover with stuff like this, but since it's a cassette, there's not much of an image, and I couldn't find one online.
Lots of great surf/rockabilly/garage rock on tunes like "Pitchin' Woo," "Forty-Rod Liquor" and a great cover of the theme from She-Devils on Wheels, "Man Eaters on Motorbikes," but there's also some swanky lounge music ("Class With a Capital K"), swing gospel ("Gravyboat") and creole ("Fatback City Junction U.S.A.," a great tune for BBQ season). The blues tune "Human Tornado" is made up of signifyin' lyrics stolen from Rudy Ray Moore! For a sample, here's one of the album's best rockers, "Pitchin' Woo."
EDIT: Some great video of the band (with a different vocalist) is linked to here.
posted by Chris Oliver at 10:23 PM
12 Comments:
Hey Chris!
Damn proud of it myself! Glad you liked it too; thanks so much for writing about us. Would you believe a reader of your blog from Brazil liked what you said so much that she found my personal page on MySpace today? Good detective work, eh! She's also shamed me into getting around to making a dang page for the band, dead as it's been for over a decade.
Well, eventually. . . .
I hope you got to see us way back when in Athens. I may be singing with Robert Drasnin in San Diego at Tiki Oasis (in August). Come on out! Since you plug my friend Humuhumu's blog, Humu KonTiki, I figure you might enjoy the whole thing.
Thanks again for your very kind words,
Formica Dinette
(aka alice berry)
Thanks for the comment, Alice! I did see the band, once with you and twice with your replacement, who was a great singer, but nobody can touch you on "Gravy Boat" and "Please Bear it Away." Honored to have you comment. I don't know if I'll make it to San Diego, but the thought of you singing exotica with Robert Drasnin certainly sweetens the pot!
Yo - Alice!
I used to see HF a lot - generally opening for DRR or Cowboy Mouth,
I was the big guy with the bushy beard, generally down front. Helped you movce the steps at the stage at the Point one night,
You and i were standing in the crowd at Music Midtown 3 and we happened to look toward each other when Fred said that sex was "...maybe even better than red beans and rice...", and we both mouthed "Better than red beans and rice?!?" and then went like, "Nah!"
Glad this is still up! I bought the Hypnotica cassette in Athens about 15 years ago and have been looking for it on CD forever. Never seen it.
Thanks so much for sharing it!
Hi. I've got a copy of this album on CD. If anyone's interested in purchasing it, please contact velvetgefiltefish@yahoo.com
I have been wanting to hear Hillbilly Frankenstein's music again for a long time. This brings back memories of Tuscaloosa's strip and the Nick in Birmirmingham. Thanks so much for putting this up.
Ken
What's the original singer's name?
The original singer (who posted the first comment in this thread) is Alice Berry, but she performed under the stage name of Ms. Formica Dinette.
yeeeeaaaahhh!! dude, thanks so much! friend from georgia turned me on to HF. asked repeatedly for a "back up" and never got it. friend moved along w/the CD and you know how that goes....much alooooooohaaaa 2 U!
I saw both versions (1st and 2nd singer) in Charleston, WV. I thought the second girl was equally good on vocals but had nowhere near the stage presence of Formica. And yes, I have the CD!
I saw yall in Mobile Al, I still have a framed copy if that poster as well as a signed copy of the cd. It has been my favorite obscure album for decades!
OMG! I have a signed copy of this cd as well as a poster that i ripped off a phone pole the first time I saw them that I had framed. It seems very few others have heard if them...sad
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