Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, 8-10pm) include the Music Machine (see promo), Giorgio (see pic sleeve of the week), Stiv Bators, Girls at Our Best, the Three Johns, Les Calamités, Giant Sand, the Muffs, new music by Kelley Stoltz (SF), Germ House (RI), the Cool Greenhouse (UK), Music on Hold (UK), Chronophage (Austin), and the Golf Dolls (Madison WI), as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.
PICTURE SLEEVE OF THE WEEK: Before he pioneered electronic dance music and Euro disco (co-writing with and producing Donna Summer) in the 70s, Italian composer, arranger, and producer Giorgio Moroder had a moderately successful stint as a pop singer in the 60s and early 70s. He came to prominence in 1969 with the release of “Looky, Looky,” a delicious pop morsel that sounds like Beach Boys on bubble gum. The single was originally released on the German label Hansa, but with its growing popularity came out on different international labels, including Atco in the States. This copy is on Disc’Az, a French label, but has the same cover art as the original German release. Like many picture sleeves of the time, the artwork is uncredited. Enjoy “Looky, Looky,” and marvel at Giorgio’s impressive facial hair and classic neckwear:
LAST WEEK’S DUSTY DIAMOND (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): The Mooney Suzuki were a garage rock band from New York City, who formed in the late 90s. They were active through the early and mid 00s, and achieved a level of popularity up there with the Hives and Strokes. “Half of My Heart” is a rough hewn rocker with a pounding beat, distorted guitar, and a catchy melody. It appeared in 1999 on a self-titled, self-released promo EP (also known as “The Black EP”). It was rerecorded (along with two other songs from the EP) by Tim Kerr in Sweatbox Studio (downstairs from KOOP!), and reappeared on the 2000 “People Get Ready” LP on Estrus. Listen to it below:
This week’s promo art is from the Bonniwell Music Machine’s “Ignition” release on Sundazed Records.