American saxophonist, flautist and clarinetist, best known as a Los Angeles session musician (
This record comes from Crown, one of many junk record labels of the 60's: cheaply produced music and records sold for under a buck. Besides the work of B.B. King, the highlight of Crown's catalog are two rock records made by Steve Douglas and the Rebel Rousers, Duane Eddy's backing band. This 1962 album is one of those records. The record is essentially a novelty dance record, capitalizing on the Twist and The Popeye, and also making reference to the rising surf culture of southern California.
Douglas, his sax a prominent fixture of Eddy's popular instrumentals of the late 50's, went on to become one of the premier session players in LA. Another member of the "Wrecking Crew", his sax was a prominent feature of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson productions. Along with other sax players like Plas Johnson and Jay Migliori, he was a defining element on many pop records of the 1960's.
Douglas was interviewed one last time by Dominic Priore before his death in 1992, featured in the aforementioned Dumb Angel #4 (Highly Recommended reading, BTW). Douglas talks about making the two albums for Crown (This Popeye album and another instrumental LP Doin' The Twist), and getting payed around $200 for the two of them. He also mentions embarrassment about the vocals, which he performed on this album.
01 They Did The Popeye
02 If You're Ever In Doubt About Me
03 I Never Felt Like This
04 Surfer's Twist
05 I Can't Believe It's True
06 Twistin' Round The Mountain
07 Popeye The Twistin' Man
08 Mashed Potatoes
09 Clap Your Hands
10 Baby You Just Wait And See
good!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Looking forward to hearing this!
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