Thanks, Basil, and John. We welcome feedback on one and all! Can't wait to start shipping. And very happy that almost everyone has ordered all four releases to take advantage of our special sale. Warms our heart to know that people will take a chance on some things they obviously are totally unfamiliar with based upon their satisfaction with previous releases.
Received the CD two-fer yesterday. Have only had time to listen to most of HIGH SCHOOL CAESAR, but enjoyed it very much. Musical motifs range from noir to hepcat.
I began by playing the bonus tracks on both discs, just to hear the Reggie Perkins vocals. They sound so much better than they ever did in the past (I've only previously heard them in poor quality VHS/DVD releases, and probably boolegged on old vinyl compilations). The CD seems to have excellent sound and very informative liner notes. This has been a great purchase, and I've probably only heard about half of the set, so far.
Personal recollection: in the late 1980's, a Seattle garage band featured Jeff Simmons (formerly of the Mothers of Invention). I played a copy of the song "High School Caesar" for Jeff, and he liked it enough to perform the song in one of the band's live gigs. It was so much fun to hear that song performed live.
Glad you've enjoyed at least half of the CD so far! Would be fun to hear that one song live. It's a real "snarler." I'll pass your comments on to Nick Carras' family. -- David
I once had an audio recording of that garage band performance (one of the members probably set up a cassette recorder near the "stage"). But that was 1988 or so, and that tape has been lost to the ages. Simmons had the "snarl" down perfectly.
I also played Tony Casanova's rocking "Diary of a High School Bride" theme song for Simmons, and he was thinking of performing that tune at another show. However, the band broke up before that could occur.
I'm listening to some of DATE BAIT as I write this. I'd say it's more moody and less rock-oriented than HIGH SCHOOL CAESAR. Will need to listen to HIGH SCHOOL BIG SHOT some other day.
Yes, the score was right up Gerry's alley. Thanks for the kind words.
I've chosen to prune the juke box track (3), and the very brief lighthearted tracks 9 and 10 from High School Big Shot and have had the remaining cues playing on repeat almost all afternoon. Excellent moody stuff. The theme at the start of track 8 is somewhat Incredible Shrinking Man-like.
