George Gerdes: Son of Obituary

 

On this sequel to his 1971 debut Obituary George Gerdes moves more solidly into Southern boogie rock territory, and the results are super satisfying. Standout tracks for me are "Sack of Woe" and "Roll Me Over Jehovah".

Hey Packy
Long Time, No See
Sack of Woe
Messin' with Missus Lately
Son of Obituary
Roll Me Over Jehovah
Slash Your Sole
Catechism Wednesday
Intellectual Baby
Waiting Is
S.O.B. Reprise

Album audio & artwork

DISCLAIMER: To the best of my knowledge, this work is out of print and not available for purchase in any format. If you are the artist and are planning a reissue, please let me know and I’ll remove it from the blog. Also please get in touch if you’ve lost your art &/or sound masters and would like to talk with me about my restoration work.

Boise Elementary Honor Concert 1980: Salute to America

 

Yes, this record documents the infamous occasion in 1980 when a soon-to-be-fired children's choir director thought it would be fun for the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade mixed voices to sing "Nothing" from "A Chorus Line", with its famous line "...except the feeling that this bullshit was absurd", which instigated a riot among the parents whereupon a set of bleachers collapsed, killing a janitor and...no, only kidding, this is just your average Honor concert record. Lots of unison singing and talktative babies in the audience. For many listeners, this will be a short visit to hell; for the collagists, a boon. Note especially the cut "Commercials" where a group of kids sing a medley of jingles for Almond Joy / Mounds, Coke, Oscar Meyer, and Alka-Seltzer. Even though I felt I was obliged to digitize this because I've had the record since I attended the original concert, this was of course not true, and this blog post may mark the end of my capacity to make good decisions in life. Still, it was worth it to rescue the concert band's rendition of "Blowin' in the Wind".

Kiwanis Choir: My Train
Kiwanis Choir: Tomorrow
Kiwanis Choir and Training Choir: Commercials
Elementary Honor Orchestra: Turkish March
Elementary Honor Orchestra: Two Woodland Dances (part one)
Elementary Honor Orchestra: Two Woodland Dances (part two)
Elementary Honor Orchestra: Canyon Sunset
Elementary Honor Orchestra: Skip to My Lou
Elementary Honor Choir: If Tomorrow Never Comes
Elementary Honor Choir: Dream a Dream
Elementary Honor Choir: June Is Bustin' Out All Over / June
Elementary Honor Band: Aura Lee
Elementary Honor Band: Blowin' in the Wind
Elementary Honor Band: Love That Latin
Combined Honor Groups: Salute to America

Album audio & artwork

DISCLAIMER: To the best of my knowledge, this work is out of print and not available for purchase in any format. If you are the artist and are planning a reissue, please let me know and I’ll remove it from the blog. Also please get in touch if you’ve lost your art &/or sound masters and would like to talk with me about my restoration work.

George Gerdes: Obituary

 

Before George Gerdes (1948-2021) became a character actor, whom you may have seen in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Grey's Anatomy, and The X-Files, he had a brief and sweet career as a country/folk recording artist in the Loudon Wainwright III mode (no surprise, as he and Loudon were once in a band together). This is the first of his two albums for United Artists Records, released in 1971. His second—which in the trophy room of great album names I believe deserves a spot above the fireplace—is called Son of Obituary.

Peas Porridge Hot
Sweet Janine
Real as Rain
The Lap of Luxury
Backyard of Your Heart
Song of the Hero's Heroine
Tequila Blue
Time Will Let You In
Gardenia Lady

Album audio & artwork

DISCLAIMER: To the best of my knowledge, this work is out of print and not available for purchase in any format. If you are the artist and are planning a reissue, please let me know and I’ll remove it from the blog. Also please get in touch if you’ve lost your art &/or sound masters and would like to talk with me about my restoration work.