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Author archive: Robot A. Hull

POST-MODERN ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MUSINGS: STEP ONE

Author:
Robot A. Hull
04 Sep 2009

It began as a dream in the minds of two teenage companions, Don Van Vliet and Frank Zappa, isolated in the barren town of Lancaster. After their high school years, Zappa moved to Cucamonga, and Van Vliet, quitting his job … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 1 Comment

THE DELIGHTS OF DR. DEMENTO

Author:
Robot A. Hull
25 Aug 2009

Spikes Jones, Allen Sherman, Stan Freberg, Yogi Yorgesson–these are just a few of the wonderful gems that have been unearthed over the years by the crazy Dr. Demento. Dr. Demento’s syndicated radio show (online and off) has been a favorite … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Tagged Allen Sherman, comedy records, novelty records, Ray Stevens, Spike Jones, Stan Freberg, Yogi Yorgesson | 2 Comments

A GREAT SOUTHERN VOICE REVISITED (PART 2)

Author:
Robot A. Hull
23 Aug 2009

R.E.M.’s direct link to pop music’s past was their initial producer, Mitch Easter, a native Southerner who built his studio, Drive-In, at his parents’ home in Winstom-Salem, North Carolina. Easter produced great pop recordings by Chris Stamey and Oh-OK, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 2 Comments

A GREAT SOUTHERN VOICE REVISITED (PART ONE)

Author:
Robot A. Hull
19 Aug 2009

The music of R.E.M. speaks in many voices, swirling voices searching for a new language through the words of mythology, literature, and Holy Scripture. Like pieces of conversation overheard, the words of R.E.M.’s songs seem to tumble from their music … Continue reading →

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THE GRAND STORY OF BEACH MUSIC

Author:
Robot A. Hull
05 Aug 2009

It is with much trepidation that I write of “beach music,” a phenomenon that has consistently been making waves across America and the world (yes, Virginia, there are even “beach enthusiasts” in Muncie) since the early ’60s. Over the past … Continue reading →

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ONCE UPON A TIME…

Author:
Robot A. Hull
30 Jul 2009

….there was a giant Jesus who walked the hills of the Ozarks near Eureka Springs. I witnessed this grand event, and have lived to tell about it. You can, too. It was Tammy Faye who told me about this monstrous … Continue reading →

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ELVIS PRESLEY AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 58

Author:
Robot A. Hull
28 Jul 2009

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE KIND FOLKS AT POPKRAZY

Posted in Opinion | 1 Comment

THE UBIQUITOUS POP MASTERPIECE

Author:
Robot A. Hull
28 Jul 2009

“Sometimes I almost feel Just like a human being.” –Elvis Costello, “Lipstick Vogue,” 1978 The discovery of self, getting to know the inner you, is the very stuff of our troubled and crazy times. The growing number of support groups, … Continue reading →

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WHY THE CARTER FAMILY NEVER HAD A DIRECT-RESPONSE TV PACKAGE

Author:
Robot A. Hull
26 Jul 2009

I can’t remember the exact date, but it was after one of those Nashville Fan Fairs that I used to love. My cohorts in product development for Time Warner were with me. I know that much. We were heading north … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 1 Comment

MAKE IT FUNKY! FIVE REASONS TO GET UP AND DANCE!

Author:
Robot A. Hull
23 Jul 2009

1) “Brick House,” Commodores (1977) This torrid smash showed that the group could still create a down-and-dirty dance groove after their easy-listening smash, “Easy.” Written by the whole band like it was some kind of romp, it features a randy … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 1 Comment

SUMMER MEANS NEW LOVE

Author:
Robot A. Hull
10 Jul 2009

WikiPedia and Amazon and All Music Guide almost make this unnecessary, but for the record, I want to argue that the combo package of The Beach Boys Today! with Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) [love those exclamations points-although I don’t … Continue reading →

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MICHAEL JACKSON ON THE ROOF OF WOOLCO IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, 1977

Author:
Robot A. Hull
29 Jun 2009

When Michael Jackson appeared on the roof of Woolco in Southgate Shopping Center in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1977, he had no idea that one day he would be wed to the daughter of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 1 Comment

A JOURNEY TO THE HOME OF A COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND

Author:
Robot A. Hull
19 Jun 2009

Harold Lloyd Jenkins–or Conway Twitty, the name WE knew him by–was one of the America’s most successful country music performers. Until 2000, Twitty held the record for the most Number One singles of any country act, with 45 Number Ones … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 1 Comment

ROBOTS WILL BE FOREVER COOL!

Author:
Robot A. Hull
18 Jun 2009

Some of you will already be familiar with this fabulous creation because it has made many appearances on playlists and radio programs of the weird and wacky variety. It has been labeled as one of the world’s worst records, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 1 Comment

TURN ON, TUNE IN, DROP OUT: PART ONE

Author:
Robot A. Hull
16 Jun 2009

Psychedelic rock was a mind-expanding consciousness, the first vestige of free-form experimentation in rock ‘n’ roll history. Prior to the spirit of psychedelia, rock ‘n’ roll was restricted by a certain form and melodic structure–teenage or British bands hacked out … Continue reading →

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YOU THINK I’M PSYCHO DON’T YOU, MAMA?–ORIGINS OF A HIT

Author:
Robot A. Hull
15 Jun 2009

The country cult classic, “Psycho”, was composed by Leon Payne, a blind Texas country singer-song writer, after he’d read about fellow Texan Charles Whitman. In 1966 Whitman had strangled his mother to death, stabbed his wife, and then headed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 1 Comment

AT HOME IN THE DEEP DEEP SOUTH

Author:
Robot A. Hull
13 Jun 2009

I grew up not far from the Mississippi line, just south of Memphis, and made many journeys to the delta. Birney Imes has done a great job of revealing the truth about this area with just 58 brilliant photos. It’s … Continue reading →

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THE FATHER OF THE LAND OF 1000 DANCES

Author:
Robot A. Hull
12 Jun 2009

Chris Kenner is almost a lost figure in the world of R&B and rock ‘n’ roll, and yet, the song he wrote and orignally recorded, “Land of 1000 Dances,” was covered so much in the ’60s by garage groups and … Continue reading →

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THE WAYOUT WORLD OF MOON MAN

Author:
Robot A. Hull
11 Jun 2009

In the late ’70s, disco video was all the rage. TV programs such as Kicks, Hot City, and Soap Factory Disco marred the broadcast airwaves. As long as folks had the desire to celebrate their beautiful brawn on the set … Continue reading →

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NOT OF THIS EARTH: A LOST SUPER SLEAZEFEST

Author:
Robot A. Hull
10 Jun 2009

It was the invasion of the sleazoids in deadly dull black and white, and I have the flyer somewhere. If it ever shows up, I will scan the damn thing, and post it on this blog. I’ve looked all over … Continue reading →

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GOD’S GREATEST HITMAKERS!

Author:
Robot A. Hull
09 Jun 2009

I absolutely LOVE the Chuck Wagon Gang!! I first heard their recordings, I think, on Rev. Mull’s Singing Convention on his flagship station WJBZ in Knoxville. On this praise station, Rev. Mull and his wife hosted the show and taught … Continue reading →

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ELVIS PRESLEY FUN AND GAMES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!

Author:
Robot A. Hull
08 Jun 2009

I grew up about a mile from Graceland in a suburb of Memphis called Whitehaven. In the late ’60s, it was always a trip to go see Elvis at his home. Back then, the lines of tourists weren’t so long, … Continue reading →

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FOLK MUSIC’S FINE FINE SUPERFINE ECCENTRIC

Author:
Robot A. Hull
05 Jun 2009

Released in 1976, at a time when the Sex Pistols were wreaking havoc amongst the Brit, “Have Moicy” then seemed like an album out of time, from another era—hey, even from another planet. With the Unholy Modal Rounders and the … Continue reading →

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THE GREAT LOST NEW YORK PUNK BAND

Author:
Robot A. Hull
04 Jun 2009

I’m not sure whatever happened to this guys. They released one amazing album, this one, and then were never really heard from again. Which is a shame because Hackamore Brick remains the precursor to all the NY punk that came … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 1 Comment

THE HOLY BIBLE FOR ALL R&B COLLECTORS

Author:
Robot A. Hull
03 Jun 2009

While in college at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, I would frequently break away from the library and head downtown to look for records. In the early ’70s, Providence was a funky place to be, and I loved it. … Continue reading →

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