Our Lady of Perpetual Obsolescence Vinyl Rescue Mission and Orphanage

Presented for your enjoyment is this somewhat obscure vanity release from 1971 by NHL player/coach Jim Schoenfeld.

Although Mr. Schoenfeld seems to be most famous for cussing out NHL referee Don Koharski, we at the Orphanage feel that the recording offered here is an achievement deserving of a great recognition.

As golden throats go, Mr. Schoenfeld’s larynx is 24 karat. He throws himself with complete abandon at the material he covers. He displays a wide range of vocal talents, ranging from primal screams to quiet, introspective musings. He even includes an original composition, Before, that ponders the age old question of what life was like before there were so many humans populating the earth.

The album was produced by John Valby (aka Dr. Dirty), who, I’m assuming is responsible for the unusual but oddly satisfying arrangements that permeate the recording.

Have fun listening and as always, Enjoy!

Download individual tracks:

1. All Along The Watchtower.

2. I Saw Her Standing There.

3. Great Balls Of Fire.

4. Chain Gang.

5. Before.

6. You Can’t Do That.

7. You Always Hurt The One You Love.

8. Barbecue In Heaven.

9. Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying.

10. Hey Bulldog.

Or download all the mp3s and cover art in one 49 MB zip file.

Our album for March is this solid offering from The Family Tree, a Country/Pop act hailing from the great state of Tennessee and spearheaded by identical twins Jerry and Larry Needham. There’s no date on the album, but judging from the style of clothing and the selection of tunes, I’d put it smack dab in the middle of the 1970s.

The album is mostly made up of recordings that feature simple but serviceable arrangements that serve to showcase the singing of Jerry, Larry, and the uncredited female member of the group. The group really shines when tackling some of the more ‘novelty’ tunes like She Taught Me How to Yodel and Auctioneer. I don’t know if it is Jerry or Larry, but one of them has an impressive set of yodeling pipes. On some of the other tunes, the quality of the singing tends to drift a bit, but the group’s personality and enthusiasm more than makes up for any less than polished moments. I was a little disappointed that they failed to breakout the trumpets that they are wielding on the back cover, but I’ll cut them some slack.

Nowadays, the Needham Twins are performing as a duo based out of Mesa, Arizona, and currently enjoy a very active concert schedule. Be sure to check out their website for more information. Have fun listening and as always, Enjoy!

Download individual tracks:
1. I Believe in Music.

2. Let Me Be There.

3. Sunshine on My Shoulder.

4. Behind Closed Doors.

5. You’re Sixteen.

6. She Taught Me How to Yodel.

7. Rocky Top.

8. Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree.

9. Why Me?

10. Satin Sheets.

11. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.

12. Auctioneer.

Or download all the mp3s and cover art in one 48 MB zip file.

A recent rescue sweep turned up this island treat from The Citations, a calypso/popular group that used to entertain vacationers at the Grand Bahama Hotel during the 1970s and 80s.
The Citations were founded by the group’s drummer and lead vocalist, Wendell ‘Swain’ Armbrister in 1975. The group was a popular one in the Bahamas and worked in many of the hotels on Grand Bahama Island. The Citations played regularly until the 1990s but disbanded when their lead guitarist, Henry Garland, was murdered during a robbery in his home. Mr. Armbrister died in 2006 at the age of 63. There is a recorded interview with Mr. Armbrister where he talks about the Citations and his conversion to born again Christianity here, and some more information about Mr. Armbrister and the group here.

This recording is the first album (out of six) that the Citations recorded. The guys put out a lot of sound for a four piece, due to the seamless way their intricate individual parts fit together. Although they sound great on the ’standard’ tourist music, the more impressive tracks on the album are the ones where they either put a different spin on an older tune (Yellow Bird) or cover a tune not usually associated with island music (Annie’s Song).

One thing that I wish I could share with everyone reading this is the way the album smells. I don’t know if this is the result of where it was sold or the environment it was kept in, but the inner sleeve has a really strong incense aroma. Every time I take the album out I feel like I’ve stepped inside of a head shop. Have fun listening and as always, Enjoy!

Download all the mp3s and cover art in one 64 MB zip file.