Don Mueller The Ballad of Black Jack Audio House 1970

Don Mueller The Ballad of Black Jack Audio House 1970 CAT# AHSPLA 12670

This LP is very 'Waiting for Guffman.' The Ballad of Black Jack was a musical written by former Baker University professor, Don Mueller, for Baldwin's centennial Maple Leaf celebration in 1970. Through musical theater, it attempts to tell the story of Baldwin, KS in the era of Bleeding Kansas. So, it's not as hokey as the musical from 'Waiting for Guffman,' the subject matter is serious, but the musical theater aspect is an acquired taste.

As evidenced by the many online obituaries for Mr. Mueller, who passed in 2013, the Ballad of Black Jack was obviously well-remembered and apparently performed multiple times after it's debut in 1970. Coincidentally, is a recording of the musical's debut as evidenced by the label.

My favorite part about this LP is that I found it in a plain white outer jacket with the title, 'The Ballad of Black Jack' written across the top in permanent marker. I'm not sure if there was ever a cover printed for it. Seemed pretty local when I found it, so I looked inside and found Don Mueller's 2013 Lawrence Journal World obituary placed inside. Figured, whoever took the time to do so, wanted to keep it for posterity...just assuming I'm carrying that on even though it ended up in a Goodwill 3 years later.

Ottawa University Quartet S/T Audio House 1975

Ottawa University Quartet S/T Audio House 1975 CAT# AHS 176F75

Picking this up, I was thinking it's either going to be either really great or just really boring. The year, 1975 is about right for some killer Gospel sides. However, looking at it, there was no mention of instrumentation, which had me thinking this might not be that great. Unfortunately, it lands on the boring side, it's just the four voices accompanied by a piano, there isn't enough here, although they are good signers. There is a vocal work out on "Do You Know The Way to Jesus?" with some clever harmonies. The first track on Side 2, "I Kept on Serching [Searching] till I Found the King of Kings" gets soulful with just the minimal accompaniment. Other than that, it's really just a lot of Andre Couch covers.

The Ottawa University Quartet put this out on the Audio House label. Ottawa University is about 30 minutes outside of Lawrence, KS and not none for being hip, but hey, they're close enough to Lawrence. This group of singers actually only features one local from Kansas City, KS, two of the singers are from St. Louis and another from Pennsylvania. 

The Gaslite Gang Paul Gray's Jazz Place Presents Audio House Unknown Year

The Gaslite Gang Paul Gray's Jazz Place Presents Audio House Unknown Year CAT #AHS177F75

This isn't much different than the 1980 release by the same group, in fact the titles are virtually the same, except they spell Gaslite Gang consistently on this LP (additional release). One difference is that Paul Gray opted to release under the Audio House label rather than his own private imprint. By that, its assumed this predates the 1980 release, but it's hard to know for sure as this release isn't dated.

The Gaslite Gang adhere to New Orleans/ragtime styles here, with the exceptions of  a few ballads. The vocal numbers are fun and give you the sense these were just young, fresh out of college guys being hipsters.

It's fairly enjoyable in that it's fun. It won't hurt you to play it a few times. The cover, albeit just an advertisement for Paul Gray's Jazz Place is great in it's simplicity and style. Later, the Jazz Place would be renamed the Jazzhaus and was (last I knew) still situated upstairs in an old downtown building.

The Mitchells to God, the Glory (In Honor of Our Parents 50th Wedding Anniversary) Unknown Year

The Mitchells to God, the Glory (In Honor of Our Parents 50^th Wedding Anniversary) Unknown Year Cat# AHSPLS 17272

This is pretty much the definition of a custom press. I was done to honor a 50^th Wedding anniversary for Mrs. & Mr. Mitchell. Pressed by Lawrence’s Audio House custom label.

Couldn't have been an insane amount pressed, possibly only 50, possibly up to 100 to be shared with the family. Which questions why this copy was found in an Arkansas thrift store, you’d think you’d hold onto such a nifty family heirloom. It does feature a nice photo of the couple in front of their old-timey car on the cover. Also, just for fun, it was pressed on blue vinyl.

As far as what’s on the album, well, pretty boring Christian stuff. However, apparently the Mitchells did have some pull/clout. The album is introduced by former Senator Arden Booth who along with serving as senator founded Lawrence radio station KLWN/KLZR and served as a radio personality. His story draws the Mitchells into the Lawrence, KS where they made their home. But, he gives a substantial history of the extended family.

Other than that, it’s just Christian church music. Not even creepy white gospel music…just vocal hymns.

1975 Rock Chalk Revue Audio House 1975

1975 Rock Chalk Revue Audio House 1975 CAT# AHSPLM 37L75

Once, while working at KJHK 90.7, I received a call from a student writing a paper on the Rock Chalk Revue. If you're not familiar with Rock Chalk Revue, it's an annual musical theater/skit program that takes place at the University of Kansas. It was started and run by the Greek organizations on campus. A fraternity and a sorority team up, write a 15 minute act with corny jokes and music, then try out to get into the big show. Several teams are picked, they compete do their programs on campus at the large theater and a bunch of Greeks come to support it. Apparently, for a brief time, the Greeks hired out Audio House to record the skits and press a record. Likely only purchased by the Greeks that were a part of the program. The student that called me was looking for a particular year in which a LP was pressed.

What was interesting about her request is that she explained the Greek domination of the program, which I was aware of as my girlfriend was in a sorority. The reason she wanted a certain year is that apparently, one year enough students complained that about the practice of only allowing Greek organizations to enter the contest. At the student's request, there was apparently one year that non-Greek organizations were allowed to enter the contest. According to the student, art students entered the contest, were allowed to take part in the big show and blew everyone away and won. The following year, the Greek Counsel changed the rules back and never allowed non-Greek organizations to enter the contest again.

It's an interesting story and would probably make for a good record. Unfortunately, this is not that record. I wish I knew the year that did happen as I'd keep my eye out despite, never seeing these things in the first place. This record is a waste of time. Greek humor is cheap. Many of the gags were visual and don't translate to recording. The music is borrowed from musicals and pop tunes with jokes and rewritten lyrics. It does showcase some amateur talent by the Greeks, but, yeah, pretty amateur. And, I don't want to take away from their creativity...or dedication to the skit. This would require a lot of time and effort to put together, requiring marginally talented sorority and fraternity members to be lead by a house member with a goal. But, yeah, frat boys are going to be frat boys and a lot of the jokes are just cheap and land on the side of crude rather than edgy.

Central Missouri State University 1977 Summer Music Camp Modern Choirs and Stage Bands Audio House 1977

Central Missouri State University 1977 Summer Music Camp Modern Choirs and Stage Bands Audio House 1977 CAT# AHTI 136F77 AH 137F77

Owning these things will become a problem...these custom press high school and college albums are everywhere.  This one is from the Mules of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.  In actuality, that's a little outside of the range of my "local" scope, but the double LP has been hanging in my collection for years, so why not.

There's really only one reason to own it.  It's college performances so it is not the amateurishness that's found on the high school albums (still there, though).  This album's reason to own is the CMS funk workout entitled, "Funkley 19 #2".  I'm not sure on the title, little strange, might be a typo.  Either way, composed by someone named Izzard and from what I can tell, he was a member of the band and a student.  It's some raw shit.

Lilah Gillett and Harvery Prinz Play the Hammered Dulcimer Duets Happy Hammerin' Audio House 1979

Lilah Gillett and Harvery Prinz Play the Hammered Dulcimer Duets Happy Hammerin' Audio House 1979 CAT# AHKB105F79

Oh man, why not, right?  How bad could it be, right?  Well honestly, it's not that bad at all.  Lilah Gillett and Harvey Prinz throw down on their dulcimers; hardcore.  They do some traditional, some waltzes, and even throw in a few rags, one of which was penned by Kansas Citian, Charles Johnson.  I mean, keep in mind you have to like the sound the hammered dulcimer, then you have to be prepared for two hammered dulcimers going at it with each other (no dueling, though, just harmonizing).  Once you get over the fact that there is no other musical accompaniment, the arrangements are enjoyable and it's surprising how much room two of these instruments can fill.

Both these players are seasoned vets, so that's good.  Further, at the time of it's release, both were Overland Park residents.  A little research will lead you to YouTube videos with Lilah Gillett at the Dulcimer Players Convention which indicates she was a founding member in 1963 (I'd post them, but there's like 4 videos and each one is 20 minutes).  Further, the back cover lets you know she was once a teacher of the instrument.

Harvey Prinz was such a fan of the instrument, he ran a small Overland Park business making them himself.  His maker skills were even commissioned by the Walnut Valley Association of Winfield, Kansas, for use in their festivals.  Research shows though, that Harvey's true passion however was the Lutheran Church as he was an acting Reverend.  Nevertheless, his love of the instrument allowed him to record this album (there's apparently two others, both of which also feature Lilah Gillett).

Anyway, I'm not saying it's the best hammered dulcimer album I've ever heard, but I am saying it's the only album to focus solely on the hammered dulcimer I've ever heard.  Strange record, though.  I can't really put my finger on it's purpose.  Audio House didn't fund it as they were a custom label, they recorded and put your music on vinyl for a set fee.  So these two footed the bill in a custom press apparently to advertise Prinz's handcrafted dulcimers and lessons taught by Gillett.  No doubt, I'm sure there were some family and friends that scooped up the album as well.

Excelsior Spring Highschool Boys & Girls Concert Choir 1972-1973 Audio House

Excelsior Spring Highschool Boys & Girls Concert Choir 1972-1973 Audio House CAT# AHSPLS 17172

Another record that really never needed to exist.  This is a live recording of the 1972-73 Excelsior Springs Boys & Girls Highschool chorus.

The recording is pretty faint, when the kids solo, it's almost impossible to hear over the top of the sole piano providing backdrop.  The girls do not one, but two Carol King Melodies for some reason.  There's also the absolutely necessary rendition of "Aquarius".  There's a boy's version of Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again," which if you've ever heard is pretty depressing and an odd choice.  There's also a cover of the Beatles, "Blackbird," and the Carpenters "Superstar" is pretty enjoyable, but overall, pretty lame.  To it's benefit, it doesn't have any overtly Christian songs.

However despite all the middle of road-ness, the first song on the flip side is an original tune by a girl named, Cheryl Gruey.  Her song is called "Let's Rebuild that Bridge" and the subject matter is about a break up and trying to get back together (typical immature nonsense), but her plaintive vocals and sparse electric guitar (that's it, just her voice and guitar) make up for the rambling that's going on in the lyrics.  It's a bit of a loner folk gem and proves my theory that all these strange chorus and band albums have something to offer.

University of Kansas Band I'm A Jayhawk Audio House 1969

University of Kansas Band "I'm A Jayhawk" Audio House 1969 (?) CAT# AHS5470

Pretty much exactly what it says, KU Band doing some songs with the addition of the KU choir.  People around here try and get at least $20 out of this (or the Mizzou or K-State counterparts), but you can find it relatively cheap.  I'm sure if you found it out of state, the right person might give it to you free.

It's fun and all, but it's band music.  The KU Band does the fight song, some other stuff, throws in Home on the Range for state pride, but I wouldn't recommend it for the tunes.

It is cool for the label.  The Audio House label was a local label out of Lawrence, KS.  Founded in 1963, they used to exclusively release stuff like this.  You can find a bunch of high school choir albums around town.  Coincidentally, they also recorded the Count Basie KC Jazz LP I last talked about.  Now-a-days, they provide lightening and stuff for events.  I think the recording days to the extent they used to do this are long gone, but they'll still put you on CD if you are so inclined.

Audio House