Monday, July 23, 2007

V/A-BOWLING BALLS FROM HELL, LP, 1980, USA




For those into the mythos, this Cleveland/Akron underground compilation pretty much defines the term "must-have". Let's start with the inclusion of one of the greatest Pere Ubu songs that never was, here brought to you by the duo of David Thomas and Tin Huey's Ralph Carney. Just pure lunatic bliss. Now factor in two further Carney gems of damaged Residential rock and fully six GODHEAD tracks of instrumental minimal synth in a style redolent of The Human League circa The Dignity Of Labour by one Dennis DeFrange (virtually half the album) and you've got the makings of a stone cold classic. Really, there's not a duff cut in sight. Hell, even The Waitresses manage to turn in something great (well, they did start out weird, for the few who've heard their debut single) with a much odder version of their new wave hit "I Know What Boys Like", here mysteriously re-titled "Wait Here, I'll Be Right Back...".

NOTE: NEW LINK!

Get it Here
at

16 comments:

  1. human1138July 23, 2007 at 7:27 PM

    I'm from akron (we've got the blimp!)and i've never seen this record, and thanks for uploading it to (black)mass mirror....having a choice makes things easier for obsessive downloaders.

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  2. Dr. SchlussJuly 23, 2007 at 10:38 PM

    This blog is beyond amazing!

    I don't think mine quite ranks up, but check it out if you will:
    http://psychedelicobscurities.blogspot.com/

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  3. AnonymousJuly 24, 2007 at 7:57 AM

    I was able to get a copy of this and the follow-up (the ingeniusly-titled Bowling Balls From Hell II) a few years ago. I agree with your assessment, truly an undiscovered classic.

    Thanks for posting this and everything else!

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  4. AnonymousJuly 24, 2007 at 8:35 PM

    fantastic!, I love the Dennis DeFrange tracks...

    Cheers

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  5. AnonymousJuly 25, 2007 at 3:16 AM

    vdoandsound rules on this blog ...if it weren't his posts, this would be a bit boring ...thanks.

    Joseph

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  6. vdoandsoundJuly 25, 2007 at 10:10 AM

    Joseph-Receiving a compliment at the expense of those whose work I admire greatly makes it hard to accept. To me it would be somewhat like a person telling me they love VDO "because it's nothing like the work of that hack Stapleton". It'd annoy me as much as flatter me. Frankly, the whole reason I signed on to participate was out of the deepest admiration for both Jim's work here and Jim's superb taste (and that superb taste extends to our newest contributor Spyros as well) and they deserve every bit as much in the way of kudos as I do, in Jim's case more so in fact, as he's the one you can thank for starting this whole goldmine. I didn't even mosey on in here 'til Jim had already been blowing folks' heads off for several months...

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  7. AnonymousJuly 25, 2007 at 2:47 PM

    What's the problem ? I am merely stating a personal opinion which is that I like best the music you are posting than the music others are posting. And generally I like the way you, vdoandsound, write about the records. It's simply a question of personal MUSICAL taste and not a question of PERSONAL taste. It's got to do with music not with people. If it's superb or not, each one decides for himself ...

    Joseph

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  8. vdoandsoundJuly 25, 2007 at 3:22 PM

    Joseph-Sorry if my reply came across as being a bit harsh. It's not that I don't appreciate your compliments. I do. It was just the way you chose to phrase your original comment that made it seem as though you were beeing as dismissive of Jim and Spyros as you were being flattering to me and sometimes I can get a bit overprotective about those I consider my friends....

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  9. AnonymousOctober 18, 2008 at 8:51 PM

    I love Mutant Sounds ! Any chance of a re-up for this gem ? Thanks !

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  10. Ralph CarneySeptember 21, 2010 at 5:08 PM

    Could you be a sweetheart and Re-up this please. I haven't heard this in years

    Ralph Carney

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  11. vdoandsoundSeptember 21, 2010 at 5:48 PM

    Well hi there Ralph!

    Yes, of course...I'd be happy to. Look for the new link w/in a day or two. Great to hear from ya and mucho love from a long time admirer.

    Eric
    (vdoandsound)

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  12. Ralph CarneySeptember 22, 2010 at 5:36 AM

    AW Thanks Eric. Much Appreciated

    Ralph

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  13. vdoandsoundSeptember 23, 2010 at 2:42 AM

    Howdy Ralph,

    Okay...the album's been re-upped. Enjoy!

    Eric

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  14. My Car Runneth OverMarch 25, 2013 at 2:59 PM

    Hello-hi-howdy. Love your blog.
    I know I'm a late-comer to the party, but I've only just recently been researching the DEVO mythos, and I found out about this (related) project. Would it be possible to coerce you into a re-up? I can't find this anywhere else.
    Thanks in advance- Bob

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  15. darrellApril 30, 2013 at 2:20 PM

    anyone got a link for this? re-up pls!

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  16. UnknownJanuary 4, 2014 at 3:31 PM

    Hello,

    I am Evan Davis of Haff Notz (Side 2, Track 3, "Ride, Rider"), and I am proud to be a part of Akron's cultural history! I am now living in Florida but still miss Akron. I completed a CD in 2007, and here is the link:

    http://www.cdbaby.com/CD/EvanDavis

    Take care,

    Evan Davis

    ReplyDelete