Monday, January 19, 2015

It's Only January, But This is Already the Reissue of the Year!

From the very first year of the lamentable 1970s, and the solo album that sold five or six copies in his hometown alone, please enjoy the amazing Ron Nagle and his kick-ass ironic (or is it?) anti-drug anthem "Marijuana Hell."




Although not, alas, a household word, Nagle's nonetheless a really interesting guy. A member of terrific first generation San Francisco band The Mystery Trend (click over HERE to hear one of their songs)...


...he went on to a serious career as a producer and songwriter (for John Hiatt and Barbra Streisand, among a horde of others) while at the same time pursuing a totally separate life as one of the most important abstract expressionist ceramic sculptors in the country.

This little piece of his is actually in the Smithsonian.


In any case, "Marijuana Hell" is just a great rock-and-roll record, and the rest of Bad Rice, which I had on LP back in the day (thanks to being on the Warner Bros. mailing list when I was rock crit for my college paper), is almost as good; it's an album that clearly deserves its cult reputation. BTW, the great Jack Nitzsche produced, and Ry Cooder is all over it on slide guitar (including on "Marijuana Hell" itself).

I first wrote most of the above in 2010, when I found a clean copy of Bad Rice ripped from the original vinyl (which was long out of print at the time) over at some download site I was frequenting. However, I am delighted to announce that the good folks at Ominvore Recordings will be releasing a remastered and expanded two-disc CD version of the album on January 27; the sound -- which was always good -- is noticeably improved, and the set comes with all sorts of interesting outtakes and other Nagle rarities, as well as a fantastic set of liner notes by first generation Rolling Stone critic Gene Sculatti. In short, a great album just got better.

Needless to say, this behooves behearing; pre-order it at Amazon over HERE. You'll thank me.

6 comments:

buzzbabyjesus said...

That is by far the best song on that album.

I believe Ron is at least partially responsible for This Duroc's contribution to "More Oar":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vC0KYMCJJk

M_Sharp said...

Ron Nagle was half of the Durocs, who released only one excellent power pop album that I haven't listened to in a long time.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/durocs-mw0000837530

Thanks for the tip!

Anonymous said...

"Marijuana Hell" actually got a bit of airplay on underground FM out here circa the time of its release which, if memory serves me correct, was January of 1971. I picked it up as a cheap used promo at Aron's Records the same time I scored the first, and best, Little Feat LP, which also featured Ry Cooder a bit (and in much better form).

Is the creepy looking dude with the missing tooth on the cover Nagle? Yikes, if it is.

Marijuana Hell was co-written with ex-Sandals, John Blakeley, who also deserves credit for his fine guitar work on the Bad Rice LP.

In the 1990's Blakeley lived next door to a couple I knew in San Francisco that used to do short "art" films. He was a hell of a nice guy and loved it that I knew a bit about his career. Stoneground's "Total Destruction To Your Mind" always knocked me out, as did Endless Summer. He operated a recording studio during that brief time that my friends were using me in their rather odd films.

Is it just my filthy mind, or does Nagle have a song about a bar dancer who can pick up the dollars and change from the stage without using her hands, feet or mouth. Check out "Family Style."

Vickie Rock

buzzbabyjesus said...

I used to shop at Aaron's!

Anonymous said...

Oh shit, I forgot to post this Nagle tune Last night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMDU9TsQ8Wk

Don't Touch Me There was one of his too. Memorable in concert when the Tubes segued it into Mondo Bondage.

BBJ: Aron's was best when it was on Melrose across from Fairfax High School. It gradually lost its luster when it moved to Highland.

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a535/VanessaStone/To%20the%20Nth%20Degree/AronsonMelrose_zps8037e782.jpg

Vickie Rock

Anonymous said...

Oh, and then there's this early take of 61 Clay:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kvHhNgonzY

Vickie Rock - Even though he was an ass, bummer about Kim Fowley.

P.S. Saw James Williamson last Friday. Didn't expect much, but it turned out to be rockin'. Best thing I've seen so far this year. Just re-listened to it to verify. To give you an idea, here's the setlist, if you care:

1. "Head on Curve" w/ Jello Biafra
2. "Open Up and Bleed" w/ Carolyn Wonderland
3. "Scene of the Crime" w/ Joe Cardamone
4. "She Creatures of the Hollywood Hills" w/ Frank Meyer
5. "Till The End of the Night" w/ Alison Mosshart
6. "I Got a Right" w/ Lisa Kekaula
7. "Pin Point Eyes" w/ Joe Cardamone
8. "Wild Love" w/ Alison Mosshart and Jesse Malin
9. "Rubber Leg" w/ Ron Young
10. "I'm Sick of You" w/ Frank Meyer
11. "Gimme Some Skin" w/ Carolyn Wonderland
12. "Cock in My Pocket" w/ Shea Roberts
13. "Heavy Liquid" w/ Lisa Kekaula
14. "Wet My Bed" w/ The Richmond Sluts
E:15. "Search and Destroy" w/ Cheetah Chrome, Jesse Malin, and Jello Biafra
E:16. "Louie Louie" w/ James Williamson & Friends