Blog

From the mind of Ritchie Hart (Charlie Gearheart), in late 1967, just as musical tastes were expanding on every hipster’s stereo on their milk crate shelf, we found The Wild Thymes and their mind-blowing music.  Incubated in late night hours of spec time in Studio A at Audio Recorders of Arizona, with engineer Tim Ramsey, and everyone bonded in a "Let's try this" frame of mind.  With creative inspiration from Mike Condello, Bill Spooner (Warren S. Richardson) and Steve Forman, who would all have their own albums months later, using the same interchangeable group of free-thinking studio musicians.  This was a short lived “studio creation band,” that rarely played together in clubs, creating these [...]

A most cool video of Emerald City Guitars trip to Phoenix to purchase the guitars and amp of the late P-Nut Butter bass player Bob Evans.  Includes a band reunion and the history of the band and Evans.  Professionally done.  Enjoy. […]

On December 18th, we gathered at The Dirty Drummer in Phoenix to celebrate Sanford’s life with his family and friends. His music and memories flowed that afternoon. I thought that you might enjoy the picture loop made especially for the gathering. RIP Sanford. […]

In the early ’80s, skate punk roared out of Phoenix, led by a group of teenagers called Jodie Foster’s Army. On JFA’s 1983 full-length debut, Valley of the Yakes, vocalist Brian Brannon rails against preps, gossipers, cops, and Reagan. But he saves some of his gnarliest lyrics for a local radio deejay, a guy named Johnny D. […]

As the fiddle drops...the newest release from Ramco Records; "Rare And Unissued Fiddle & String Band Music" '47-'50, featuring Eck Robertson, Curly Lewis, Carl Griswold, Everett Holman, Ardell Christopher, Clay Ramsey's Old Timers and others.  From the Ramsey Radio Studio, just off 7th Street at Weldon, next to the barber shop. Informative notes by Mr. Joe Baker make this a must have for you old school Arizona music fans out there.  Featuring 27 tracks, one hour of hoe down classics! Purchase on Ebay

In the late ‘50s and on through the 1960s, Phoenix, Arizona, was home to a thriving R&B scene. Though no other song catapulted onto the national charts like Dyke and the Blazer’s signature “Funky Broadway,” inspired by the South Phoenix road of the same name, regional soul and funk acts picked up steam in the Valley of the Sun as established artists passed through on the way to the West Coast and performers traveled along the bustling Southern California to Texas black corridor. Culled from the tape vault of Audio Recorders of Arizona by music archivist and legendary Arizona disc jockey John “Johnny D” Dixon and ZIA's Jason Woodbury, [...]

Arizona's PHIL and the FRANTICS finally get the deluxe treatment on this new "Frantically Yours" CD from Ramco Records. Packed with 26 tracks, this long overdue Digipak package includes a big 24 page booklet, with extensive liners by historian Dan Nowicki and lots of unseen pictures and vintage labels for your visual delight. The full story of Phil Kelsey's career as told by his band mates and family, including the group's complete story as the house band at JD's and The Fifth Estate and his latter solo years as Devin Payne. Kelsey died in 2003, never achieving the fame he longed for, but his music lives on as you'll [...]

A fantastic Jazz album by American jazz guitarist and composer LLOYD ELLIS, titled "Ellisintonia," with 26 tracks, many unreleased,on 1 CD, from the archives of Audio Recorders in Phoenix Arizona. Great takes on many standards, along with some Ellis originals, captured on tape in 1959-67 by Jack Miller and Dave Oxman. Ellis worked with: Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Red Norvo Trio, Page Cavanaugh, Liza Minnelli, Steve Lawrence, Phil Harris, Pete Fountain and many others as well as a long solo career. With beautiful packaging and extensive notes by Jazz historian Jim Carlton, this deluxe CD will not disappoint. On Fairmont Records #3881. Available now: eBay & Amazon. [...]

Mid-Century Sounds: Deep Cuts from the Desert is the story of Phoenix, AZ-based studio operator, label owner, and publishing entrepreneur Floyd Ramsey, but per its title, it’s simultaneously a tour of music history spanning 1957 to 1973. Light on mindblowers but consistently engaging, the set offers 29 selections from an assortment of artists; the biggest name included is Waylon Jennings, as Duane Eddy twangs behind the scenes. There’s also Sanford Clark, Al Casey, Tommy Strange, and even a young Wayne Newton. Danke Schoen! Beginning in a honky-tonk and ending in a psychedelic soul shack, the limited-edition double 140gm vinyl in a gatefold sleeve is out now through Fervor Records. Read the rest of [...]

At last, something that I have been working on for many years is finally realized. BDI has placed a beautiful bronze headstone on Ernie Johnson’s grave at Resthaven Cemetery in Phoenix.  As you know he was half of the great Eddie & Ernie soul duo that made so many great (and collectible) R&B recordings in the 60’s. Ben Dover Inc. hosted a headstone unveiling recently, where we premiered a wonderful 22 minute interview that I had with Ernie at The Elks Club shortly before his untimely passing in 2005.  That video is now up on You Tube for the world to watch and appreciate and you can view now it by [...]