South Lamar and Speed Limit

A real obscurity from Irving, Texas on the Dunwright label that I can’t find a shred of info about.

“Population Zero” starts out well, with a great opening wave of reverbed distortion, then turns into a dirge with horns about wandering around a post-apocalyptic landscape. The song is psychedelic in some ways, but defies easy categorization.

“Pollution” begins as a funky instrumental. For the bridge there’s a slow horn break, then a jarring blast of guitar before going back into the rhythm. Both songs were written by V. Murphy, which turns out to be Vince Murphy.

A version of “Population Zero” turns up on a 45 on the Madella label by the Chaps b/w “Water Hole on Madella”, so there may be some connection between the two groups. The Chaps had many other releases including singles on the Paula and Soft labels.

Thanks very much to Don for introducing this one to me.

Chaps Madella 45 Population Zero

3 thoughts on “South Lamar and Speed Limit”

  1. Assume V. Murphy to be VINCE Murphy of the Catalinas outta the Big D. Them teen kings cut the pianner jammerin’ Speechless/Flying Formation With You on Back Beat in 1957.

  2. Thanks very much from Don to me, too. I discovered “Pollution” here probably three years ago and since had come to mistake it for some rightful hit I just couldn’t remember the title to. Did any more info ever turn up?

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