Wichita Train Whistle -wtf?

**beddoes** · 27-06-2006, 03:08 AM

So what's going on here? This record, a Michael Nesmith side-project on Dot from 1968, is indecipherable. All instrumentals, there seems to be a faintly Western theme to the proceedings... but not really. And several instrumentals resolve in what can only described as cacophony.

**jakartajive** · 27-06-2006, 07:59 AM

Dunno . . . but it sounds great to me!!

**space debris** · 27-06-2006, 10:11 AM

Is that the album with the seemingly endless list of personnel ?
Has Shelly Manne (if I remember well) and others listed ??

I thought it was later - mid to late 70's...

Maybe we're talking different albums but the one I'm refering to is confusing to the extreme.

**Sie-Fly** · 27-06-2006, 10:43 AM

i have it and love it dearly mark.........the 'tipper household holds sir mike of nesmith in very high regard..

**Campag Record** · 27-06-2006, 10:50 AM

I've been gonna get this a few times having seen it described as almost cinematic but that was by Dusty Groove so who knows

Hello Lady on his Loose Salute (as recommend by Mr Sayers) has a bit of the country funk (with break), for anyone interested.

The Prisoner booklet on said LP is an interesting read. Can't remember if the actual music was any good mind.

I'm certainly a fan of his Monkees material too.

**Brainbomb** · 27-06-2006, 10:50 AM

What's up with Dot anyway? They released a lot of very mainstream stuff, but also loads of weird far out avantgarde strangeness. What was their business idea?

I guess it could just be that record companies back in those days were generally a bit less specialized than today and also certainly more eager to take chances...

**Campag Record** · 27-06-2006, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Brainbomb

What's up with Dot anyway? They released a lot of very mainstream stuff, but also loads of weird far out avantgarde strangeness. What was their business idea?

I guess it could just be that record companies back in those days were generally a bit less specialized than today and also certainly more eager to take chances...

I once asked this question to some older collectors. They were suggesting that these record releases by major labels (we were talking about Kak, Gandalf and the like) were a tax avoidance of some kind?

Record some group, press several thousand and then do no promo/press release of any kind. Not sure if it saved them money but it meant they didn't have to give at least more of their profits to the IRS?

Probably a load of rubbish?

**kirkatron** · 27-06-2006, 12:49 PM

Graet record and according to the Monkees Day by day book they had the party to end all parties when the sessions were over.

**Joe M'geek** · 27-06-2006, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Campag Record

I once asked this question to some older collectors. They were suggesting that these record releases by major labels (we were talking about Kak, Gandalf and the like) were a tax avoidance of some kind?

Record some group, press several thousand and then do no promo/press release of any kind. Not sure if it saved them money but it meant they didn't have to give at least more of their profits to the IRS?

Probably a load of rubbish?

I like to think that back then fuddy duddy old record execs really couldn't hear the difference between one bunch of longhairs and another, and viewed every musical project with the same mixture of ignorance and greed...

How else would the Downliners Sect have signed a 3 album major label deal! They really had no idea what was going to be 'big'

**jakartajive** · 27-06-2006, 03:42 PM

Whilst we're on the weird world of DOT, can anyone explain WOMB to me??!!

**Campag Record** · 27-06-2006, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by jakartajive

Whilst we're on the weird world of DOT, can anyone explain WOMB to me??!!

If you mean you're not a fan of it, well I'm not either.

If you mean you really love it but can't believe it's on Dot, I have no answer for you.

I'll await your responce after the Brazil game

**beddoes** · 27-06-2006, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Campag Record

If you mean you're not a fan of it, well I'm not either.

If you mean you really love it but can't believe it's on Dot, I have no answer for you.

I'll await your responce after the Brazil game

I think jj's wondering how the heck the record ended up on Dot...

Truth is, I'll buy for a buck anything on Dot I've never seen. Definitely a weird label. Like World Pacific in their late sixties period.

**Campag Record** · 27-06-2006, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by beddoes

I think jj's wondering how the heck the record ended up on Dot...

Truth is, I'll buy for a buck anything on Dot I've never seen. Definitely a weird label. Like World Pacific in their late sixties period.

Right, I thought that might be more the reason.

I only have a handful of Dot records. Was there a lot of releases across a wide spectrum of styles?

(btw signing off, footy starting

)

**son of stan** · 27-06-2006, 04:10 PM

From what I know of Dot they were one of those old timey-style labels who coped until about the mid-1960s but found themselves increasingly bewildered and in decline thereafter. Hence, I guess they would have been suckers for any old chancer who came along bearing the promise of the elusive magic formula for what the kids want.

**beddoes** · 27-06-2006, 04:32 PM

This Wichita Train Whistle is really darn good.

**Brainbomb** · 27-06-2006, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Campag Record

I only have a handful of Dot records. Was there a lot of releases across a wide spectrum of styles?

Yeah - I have seen albums on Dot by Pat Boone, Liberace, Anita Kerr, Lawrence Welk and Billy Vaughn on the one hand and Lalo Schifrin soundtracks and Komedas Rosemarys Baby on the other.

Then there's their Leonard Nimoy releases and Mike Melvoins moogsploatation Plastic Cow Goes Mooooooog on the third hand.

And those weird Sound Symposium e-z albums with the noisy screeching electric sitar that I kinda like but most people hate because it sounds really odd....

Then you have the odd jazz and country album too, as well as some r'n'b and popsike.

Anyway - I looked for some explanation on the net and found this, which I will print out and read when I get home - should clarify things...

http://www.bsnpubs.com/dot/dotstory.html

**jakartajive** · 27-06-2006, 06:51 PM

Overdub by Womb.

If I had my way, I would bloody well add a few overdubs and try to ensure these resulted in something approaching listenable. Should any of you feel tempted by a listing claiming killer psych fuzz etc. - you have been warned.

Dire!!!

**Viva Chiba** · 27-06-2006, 06:54 PM

Isn't that "Colours" S/T psych LP on Dot ?? Always tempted to buy that, looked pretty good.

Only other interesting stuff I think I have on the label are the 2 Mission Impossible OST's. . . .

**beddoes** · 27-06-2006, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by jakartajive

Overdub by Womb.

If I had my way, I would bloody well add a few overdubs and try to ensure these resulted in something approaching listenable. Should any of you feel tempted by a listing claiming killer psych fuzz etc. - you have been warned.

Dire!!!

Couldn't agree more. Cool cover tho. I wanted to find something to like on this record... I tried hard.

**highland cow** · 27-06-2006, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Viva Chiba

Isn't that "Colours" S/T psych LP on Dot ?? Always tempted to buy that, looked pretty good.
.

Supposed to be a bit of a stinker I thought....

**beddoes** · 27-06-2006, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by highland cow

Supposed to be a bit of a stinker I thought....

The first Colours lp is pretty good, with one standout track, "Bad Day at Black Rock". The second's a stinker.

**Campag Record** · 27-06-2006, 10:19 PM

I'll concurr with Beddoes again, as Colours was brought up a week or two ago, and once again say I like the whole LP.

Got to mention Nancy Priddy (again

) whilst we're talking about Dot. Still getting repeat plays by me.