Songbook

Here, by request, is the very first loss leader. Not the greatest rip, so if someone has a better one please feel free to grace us with a link in the comments.

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All Singing - All Talking - All Rocking

Had a request for this one. Enjoy.

Record One and Record Two

Larry Henley

From the interwebs: Larry Henley was the lead singer of the Newbeats, the man lending the 1960s trio the high vibrato-laden voice that made "Bread and Butter" a left-field hit. While this would remain the group's high water mark as hitmakers, singles would continue sneaking out into the mid-'70s. Concurrently, Henley released sporadic solo singles and turned to songwriting, at which he's piled up writing credits on many country and pop hits over the past few decades. Along the way a lone solo LP emerged: 1975's Piece A Cake. Recorded with Capricorn labelmates Fallenrock, Henley and company work in a swamp rock mode that's surprisingly funky at times with "Love Junkie" and "Rock & Roll Me a Number," tunes that showcase his inimitable vocals best. There is also an interesting take on an early Sam Cooke hit, "I'll Come Running Back to You," and another of a standard from his own pen, "Till I Get It Right." I guess I can forgive him for writing "Wind Beneath My Wings" now.

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The People's Record

One last loss leader collection before we move on to something else.

Record One and Record Two

Hamilton Affair

Would anyone have this? If so, please post a link in the comments.

Looney Tunes

Yet another loss leader, this time one of the best. It came in an elaborate three-LP box and with a well-written booklet, all for $3. Hard to imagine now.

HERE ARE ALL THREE ALBUMS IN TWO PARTS

Dreamland

We're all so busy
Busy, busy, busy
We start out somewhere and then we disappear
We come and go
Put on a show
How can anybody get anything done 'round here
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The Force

One more loss leader to add to your collection.

Record One and Record Two

Appetizers

Here's another loss leader, a very tasty stew of tracks.

Record One and Record Two

Middle of the Road

Here's another two-LP set from Warner's loss leaders series. Again, this one contains an eclectic bunch of tunes, from Dion's "Sunshine Lady" to Frank Sinatra's "Love's Been Good to Me" to Randy Newman's "Political Science." What a label. What a time it was. More to come ...

Record One and Record Two

Non-Dairy Creamer

During the late 1960s and into the early '70s, Warner/Reprise was really at the cutting edge for a mainstream label, and one of the cool things this Burbank-based operation did was put out a series of samplers known as "loss leaders," whose purpose was show off its eccentric roster. These records were inexpensive (I recall stuffing $2 in an envelope to get my copy of "The Big Ball," which I still treasure), but thoughtfully compiled and annotated. "Non-Dairy Creamer" demonstrates just how eclectic the label truly was, featuring artists such as Little Feat, Tony Joe White and Ron Nagle. I can post more if anyone is interested.

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John Renton

I could find little on this Vancouver native, other than he was in group called Three to One in the late '60s before landing a deal with Reprise in 1975, when he released this, his only record. The great John Hartford guests.

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Life Among the Lilies

I tried to love you
But you would not let me in
You kept me at a distance
Like a vestigial twin
You lied to me so sweetly
And I wanted to go on believing
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The Group

Warm and groovy? Sounds like the perfect record to post on Mondo Exploito ...

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Rick Neufeld

Some pleasant Canadiana from the guy best know for the song "Moody Manitoba Morning," which the Bells turned into a middling hit. Me, I think he comes across as a less saccharine version of John Denver.

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The Now Generation

It's unlikely that the manufacturers of this record were being ironic with the title, which makes it that much more apt - seeing as how they were taking other people's hits and making it their business, literally. Still, these cover versions are pretty goddamn cool, and I just love any "band" that goes by the name the Now Generation, of which there seems to be many. Here, then, is the quintessence of exploito.

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Pink Lady

Forget such wannabe hipsters as Cornelius, Cibo Matto and Pizzicato Five - Japan's one and only truly great disco export was this bloodless duo, who were produced by Michael Lloyd of West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band fame.

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Paul Pena

Typically atypical '70s folk/blues/gospel hybrid from a guy who rubbed shoulders with James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and Kris Kristofferson. His bio says he went on to play with the likes of John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Muddy Waters. If you've been diggin' the stuff I post, likely you'll dig this forgotten gem.

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Richie Lecea

SoCal soft-rock featuring ace sessioners Charles Larkey (bass), Andy Newmark (drums) and Dean Parks (guitar). I recall critic Robert Christgau grading this a D, which must stand for delightful. Freshly ripped from my vinyl. Richie's album "Magic" can be found over at Rock Archeologia.

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Kelly Gordon

What Groove Collector calls "totally slept on excellent blue-eyed soul."

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The Wanderers

Some soft sounds for gentle people.

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Up From Georgia

To celebrate the 4th of July, here's my vinyl rip of the second album by Charlie Brown. Gonna hunker down now as we await the arrival of Hurricane Arthur, which is coming up from Georgia (or thereabouts).

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Sunrise

Sole record from this sunshiny AOR-style band, produced by erstwhile Beach Boy Bruce Johnston. I might not care so much for it if it weren't on Buddah. BTW, I just updated this with a superior rip, so if you downloaded this when it was first posted, grab it again.

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