Category Archives: Hampton Roads

Categories: Hampton Roads, Norfolk, S.P.Q.R., Virginia

Chaos Incorporated

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With a name like Chaos Incorporated, you’d expect sinister psychedelic sounds, but instead what we have here are two exploitative r&b tracks.

“Daktari Ooo-Ah” is in the tradition of Kip Tyler’s “Jungle Hop” and other jungle and monkey records. On the flip is “Spanish Cooking”, a take off on another genre: soul food records.

“Spanish Cooking” was writen by Frank Guida and Gary Anderson aka Gary “U.S.” Bonds. The way the band plays, it sounds like it could be a throwaway from one of Bonds’ sessions.

Guida was the man behind the S.P.Q.R. and LeGrand labels. He recorded some fantastic music by the Swinging Machine and Lenis Guess around this time that I recommend over this one. Frank Guida passed away on May 19 of 2007, just a week shy of his 85th birthday.Thank you to Marty for the 45.

Categories: Epic, Mala, Norfolk, Okeh, Swan, Virginia

Link Wray

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Link Wray Cadence 45 RumbleLink Wray Epic 45 Raw-HideLink Wray Okeh 45 Rumble MamboBunker Hill Mala 45 Hide & Go Seek, Part ILink Wray Swan 45 Run Chicken RunLink Wray and His Ray Men Swan 45 The Black Widow
Link Wray Epic PS Slinky
Link Wray photoLink Wray passed away earlier this month and word is only now getting out. As I look at it, garage has two main sources: Bo Diddley and Link Wray. Without them it probably wouldn’t exist.

I feel lucky to have seen Link in April in New Orleans. He didn’t shortchange us on the distortion or feedback that night – it was fantastically loud and chaotic.

Link Wray and the Raymen Swan 45 Hidden CharmsRay Men Diamond 45 Walkin' Down the Street Called Love
Link Wray Heavy 45 Blow Your MindLink Wray and the Ray-Men Mr. G 45 Mind Blower

Categories: Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Trend, Virginia

Dennis and the Times

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Denis and the Times 1967
Dennis and the Times 1967

Dennis and the Times of Norfolk, Virginia were three brothers on guitars and vocals, along with a couple friends playing bass and drums. The Burlage brothers’ father helped them record and release two 45s on the Trend label.

Denis Burlage – vocals
Guy Burlage – lead guitar
Dean Burlage – rhythm guitar
Skip Watts – bass
Paris Aiken – drums

The first from November of 1967 included their psychedelic masterpiece “Flight Patterns”. The song was certainly inspired by “Eight Miles High”, though I also hear some of “Have You Seen Her Face” in it as well.

The flip, “Just If She’s There” also owes a debt to the Byrds.

They found a harder sound for their second single, “Denis Dupree From Danville”, from 1969, released as Denis & the Times with only one ‘n’ in Denis. The b-side is a good ballad, “Whenever You Want Me”.

Denis and the Times
Denis and the Times

James Mrdutt sent in the photos of drummer Paris Aiken seen here, and other photos of Paris with an earlier group, the Mustangs, that I’ve posted to a separate page here. James reported that Paris passed away on December 24, 2009. He also informed me that Paris Aiken played drums on the recording of Billy Joe Royal’s “Down in the Boondocks”.

Jim McGuinn with Paris Aiken
Jim McGuinn with Paris Aiken backstage