Dave Perryman Sincerely Yours Pearce Records Year Unknown

Dave Perryman Sincerely Yours Pearce Records Year Unknown CAT #7632

Dave Perryman looks like quite the honky tonker on his album cover and his LP starts out that way, although its the heartbroken kind of honky-tonk. Pretty typical of regional country that's removed from Nashville, the LP is all covers and depends on the school of Hank Williams.

However, Perryman blows the door off a traditional song, "Hookin' on Crawdad," that employs some sounds not found in country music. There's a fuzzed out blues guitar riff and a moog line that runs throughout. It's a highlight and in a sea of sappy covers, makes the album for a collector.

This album was put out on the Kansas City custom label, Pearce Records. It's was also produced by the "caveman" at Cavern studios in Independence, MO. It appears that Perryman is actually closer to Springfield, MO than he is Kansas City, though. The address to reach Perryman lists Niangua, MO which is south and in between Kansas City and St. Louis.

John Bayley Minstrel of the Morning... Lifetime Records 1976

John Bayley Minstrel of the Morning... Lifetime Records 1976 CAT# 2001

When I first found this I sent a photo to a friend who stated, "That cover is a constant source of conversation and inspiration." The same LP sits among some other framed LPs my friend has displayed. Looking at it, how could it not want to start a conversation? There's just so much going on in this cover. Where to even start? Is that a living room? Where'd you get that sweet tiger? What's up with the white lady and her kid? Is that John Bayley's girlfriend/wife? And dude, where did you score the killer threads?

The backside notes indicate Bayley was heavily influenced by the Jesus Music scene of the 70s, or trying to fit into it. However, the tunes are fairly secular, unless you group songs about "love" into a religious setting. Even when Bayley tries to be religious, it's a bit off. The song "It's Good To See You," states, "I've laid a thousand women, but come back to see you." So he tries to find the Jesus scene, but you can tell, the dude just likes to write tunes.

And, his tunes are a bit all over the place. If it had to be labeled, outsider folk would be the best term. However, there's elements of Indian music, jazz, singer/songwriter, rock, and a lot of reggae floating throughout. It's an interesting work and far better than most "outsider folk" private albums you'd come across. There's a fair amount of experimentation throughout the LP. Also clever, Bayley filled out the sound remarkably well with only a few players. He plays a host of guitars and does his own lead and background vocals. There's limited synth, but he found some guys to do some violins and wind instruments in addition to recording with a drummer.

The LP was also recorded in the Cavern in Independence, Missouri. Lifetime Records (Bayley's private label) shows an Independence as well, but could just as easily be a Kansas City guy. If you YouTube him, you'll find he's channeling George Clinton's fashion sense and playing experimental gospel music over in Colorado now-a-days.

Going Home Alone

Numbero Presents Lows In the Mid Sixties Volume 54: Kosmic City Part 2 2015

Numbero Presents Lows In the Mid Sixties Volume 54: Kosmic City Part 2 2015 Numero CAT #NBR004

This was released on Record Store Day 2015 by Numero/Numbero. It may be somewhat limited, but there wasn't a huge buzz about so it's still readily available. If you can't find it in a record store among the rest of the RSD leftovers, it can still be purchased online .

I was pretty jazzed on the disc, I was concerned I may not be able to grab a copy due to the local success of things like The Bulbous Creation LP and the Cavern Sound comp also released by Numero. Early research showed that a few local stores didn't even bother to order it. Apparently, so obscure and undocumented that even local stores weren't aware of it.

The backside has an introduction by Johnny Dolan proclaiming Kansas City as a hotbed of unheard garage and claiming the town could have been much hipper had local radio given these obscure singles a chance. And, there is some truth there, despite being covers of your basic Nuggets garage tracks, all things were recorded in the Cavern in Independence, Missouri. It's quality and the tracks could have had much more local appeal especially considering the hits of the era. Even has as solid cover of Hays' Blue Things, "La Do Da Da", as done by the Changing Times out of Platte City.

However, to say KC could have been Hipsville if radio gave this all a chance, though,. I don't know. The real punk stuff featured on numerous other garage rock comps didn't bring much excessive fame or fortune to the countless teen bands that sprang up in every home town, USA. Sure, some towns like Chicago got teen bands charted, but KC didn't have the same market, we've always been a Cowtown first, rock hotbed 2nd or maybe 5th. That said, it's a good garage rock comp featuring a solid, and surprising song selection. The 1st side goes the punk, teen rock, route. The 2nd side is still filled with fuzz, but gets a bit more soulful and folk orientated.

Basically, if someone wants an introduction to teenage punk and garage ravers form the late 60s, they should skip this for the Nuggets or Pebbles series. If garage rock is your thing, you probably already know about this, it's got the deep cuts. It's for those types and the only reason I'd recommend it is because I'm a huge KC-Homer.

The Singers Traveling Light Pearce Records Year Not Listed Cat #42270

So, my dad got this.  Admittedly, had I seen three girls on motorcycles on what appears to be a private press LP I would've have looked at it, too.  But, I would have quickly discarded it due to the religious subject matter.

My dad, though, he saw Kansas City plastered all over it and thought I had to have this.  Thanks Dad, but this is fucking awful.  First, they aren't just Christian, they're Jews for Jesus.  Being Jewish, that whole scene is just offensive.  Seriously, you're Christian and we all think it's cool you're finding a way to incorporate Jewish practices into your Christianity, that part we get.  However, kindling Shabbat candles and spitting out some Hebrew doesn't make you Jewish.  Whatever, motorcycle ladies, do your thing, though.

Admittedly, there is a record collecting scene centered around private press religious recordings.  I'm not sure what triggers collectors to search out certain albums, I assume it's a lot of word of mouth.  There are moments on this LP that aren't half bad.  Killer moog breaks on "I've Got Confidence," "Bright Sunshiney Day" done up as a Jesus cover isn't half bad, there's some unexpected fuzz guitar, and the last song "God's Might Spirit" is all out country rock jam, but outside of that, it is what you'd expect from private press, creepy white people, Gospel music--I don't think this album is going to hit Popsike.com anytime soon at astronomical price points.

Also of note and to the excitement of my father, Jim Wheeler recorded the LP at the Cavern in Independence, MO.  Jim Wheeler did some cool stuff after moving away from Kansas City with the likes of James Brown and John Hartford in Denver as sound engineer.  He had a solid career in the biz and it started in KC with albums like this.

Beacon of Hope Chapel Singers Kansas State Penitentiary Lansing, KS Over The Walls Cavern Sound Corp 1971

Beacon of Hope Chapel Singers, Kansas State Penitentiary Lansing, Kansas Over The Wall Cavern Sound Corp.No Cat # Year Not Listed, possibly 1971

This put out by Cavern Sound Corp. out of Independence, MO and apparently recorded at their facility.  There's no catalog number listed on the jacket or record.  The year, 1971, is from Discogs.com and seems about right, but it is also not listed anywhere on the LP.

It's fantastic.  The back cover indicates the inmates wanted a Chapel in Kansas State Penitentiary but it was not allowed by the State.  So, to raise money the State Legislature allowed a group of inmates to perform across Kansas to whomever would allow.  The funds raised at those shows went to build the prison a chapel.  The liner then states, everywhere the prisoners went, there was requests for a LP.  This is the result.

A second taped on note I have on my copy indicates that the album was donated to the M2-W2 program.  A program developed to train civilians to assist with men and women while confined.  By signing up or donating to the program, you got this LP.

No matter how people got the album back in the day, they got a solid LP.  As expected, it's Gospel.  It's got hints of soul vocally, but it is deeply rooted in old time gospel.  It sounds nothing like the 60's or 70's.  The music is stripped down to the basics.  It's electric, but you can tell this was recorded in a large open room, the musical accompaniment playing alongside the men's choir, so it gives the guitar and bass a rootsy feel.  There isn't any tricks.  It's just some dudes, prisoners to be exact, singing.