History's Dumpster

Thursday, January 09, 2014

The Wurlitzer C-110

The Wurlitzer C-110 (1972) was an unusual jukebox. Instead of playing 45 RPM records, it played cassette tapes.

The cassette tape was still a very new invention in the early '70s and it would be another decade before they rivaled the vinyl LP. This could play ten cassettes, individual sides or whole cassettes.

This video shows the mechanics of this jukebox and while it claims there were cassette singles for this machine, the cassette single was a product of the '80s. More likely, it played entire albums on cassette, as 20 songs is a pretty pathetic selection for any jukebox.

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

"Where Is My Man" Eartha Kitt (1983)

Tuesday, January 07, 2014

"Teach Me Tiger" April Stevens (1959)

For those of you in the Midwest right now, I thought this might warm you up a bit.

It's April Stevens, of whom would be better known a few years later as part of a duo with her brother, Nino Tempo when their single "Deep Purple" rocketed to #1 in November 1963 and would have stayed there a few more weeks had fate kept Lee Harvey Oswald at home....

Monday, January 06, 2014

Before They Were Stars: Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar didn't just open the door for women in rock. This little woman with the HUGE voice absolutely KICKED the door in. Right off the hinges.

But before her mega-platinum career one of as rock's most influential female superstars, she was.....a lounge singer?

"Coxon's Army Live from Sam Miller's Exchange Cafe" (Trace Records, 1974), was produced as a reportedly unaired local TV special for Richmond, VA public TV station WCVE and is the very first album she appeared on.

This album also features a cover of "Theme From Shaft" but no indicator if she actually sang it (perhaps the female backing part.) This is a $500 record in mint condition. About 1,000 copies were pressed and that's a VERY short run for any record.