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Mr. Gasser
and the Weirdos
- Limited Edition CD's
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos was a 1960s
novelty music group led by Ed Roth, who was known as Mr. Gasser.
Formed in the early 1960s, they released
a few bizarre surf rock albums.
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Hot Rod Hootenany
featured an eye-popping, full-color cover illustration by Roth. Upon
release in 1963, it created quite a stir among surf/hot rod aficionados
and entered the lower reaches of the Hot 100. Falling out of print after
the crest of the hot rod craze, this album quickly became a prized
collectable. Out of print for decades, Sundazed Music is gassed to roll
this LP out of the garage and back onto your turntable! Pressed on
competition-ready vinyl and compact disc, packaged in a retina-searing
reproduction of the original Big Daddy artwork, it will go from zero to 33
1/3 RPM in seconds! FLOOR IT!!!
A true "renaissance man," Ed "Big Daddy" Roth excelled
in a number of pursuits. Artist, cartoonist, car-customizer and pinstriper
were but a few of his specialties. Growing up in California, surrounded by
the surf and hot rod movements of the late '50s, Roth's expansive
imagination was set in motion and popular culture would never be the same.
Working closely with Ed Roth, who assumed the nom du disc "Mr.
Gasser," Fred Rice carefully selected vocalists and musicians for the
recording session. Gary Usher assembled and led the vocal talent, which
included Jackie "Robyn" Ward, Chuck Girard, Richard Burns and
Darlene Love. And how's this for a guitar line-up: Glen Campbell, Jerry
Cole and Howard Roberts! On drums you've the great Hal Blaine. Meanwhile,
Cliff Hils anchored the bass position and Leon Russell played piano while
Steve Douglas wailed on sax. What a fabulous group of "Weirdos"!
The combination of A-list players and a top-notch studio produced a
superior-sounding LP, every bit the sonic equal of contemporary recordings
from stars like the Super Stocks and the Beach Boys.
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Rods 'n Rarfinks When
it came time to follow up the success of Hot Rod Hootenanny,
Capitol's Fred Rice wisely stuck to the arithmetic of the first LP: great
Ed "Big Daddy" Roth-inspired songs + the best session musicians
+ Capitol Studios = another outrageous LP! Rods n' Ratfinks
continued the party started on the first album under the direction of Gary
Usher. Piling in the Weirdos' woodie for this road trip were Glen
Campbell, James Burton and Billy Strange on guitar, Ernie Freeman on
piano, Carol Kaye and Steve LaFever on bass, Earl Palmer on drums and
Steve Douglas on sax. Gary Usher, Richard Burns and Chuck Girard returned
to do vocal duty. And, of course, "Big Daddy" himself created
another screaming-technicolor-suitable-for-framing LP cover! Looking at
the illustration, if you peep past the wacked-out jalopy, you'll spy Rat
Fink hanging at least two as he shoots the curl. Take that, Sponge Bob! |
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Surfink! In
April 1964, Mr. Gasser and the Weirdos reconvened in Capitol Studios to
record the third installment of their surf rod trilogy, Surfink!
It was their hottest album yet, combining clever parody songs like
"Surfer Ghoul" with knock-out instrumentals like "Midnight
Run" and "Santa Barbara" that stand alongside the best
singles of the surf era. Fuel-injecting the Weirdo wagon this time around
were Jerry Cole, David Gates and Neil Levang on guitars, Leon Russell on
piano, Steve LeFever on bass, Earl Campbell on drums and Steve Douglas on
saxophone. The vocal department again featured Gary Usher, Richard Burns
and Chuck Girard.
The sonic quality of the original recordings is astounding! Saxman Douglas
rips, honks and wails with absolute authority while the guitars of Cole,
Gates and Levang cover the gamut of classic six-string tones. Palmer's
drum kit and cymbals sound so crisp you'd swear he was right there in the
room and LeFever's bass anchors the bottom beautifully. The album is a
testament to vintage analog recording and one that could also serve double
duty as an audiophile test LP. |