Chubby Checker

One is struck by the incongruity when you first become aware of it. Thinking of Chubby Checker immediately causes the body to bend slightly, knees and hands shaking side to side opposite of each other doing the dance and accompanied by the song known as the Twist. What was that, 1962?

In 1971 Chubby released an album titled “Chequered/New Revelation” released only in Europe. Actually, they were released by a man well known for his unscrupulous behavior. This man, Ed Chalpin, had the habit of recording popular chart hits with the help of unknown musician, releasing them in South America and Europe, and thereby evading copyright laws. This was the guy who also released the bootleg that had King Curtis and Jimi Hendrix playing together.

Anyway, this album, especially in these tracks that I’m presenting shows a lot of funky psychedelic soul. Now that’s something you don’t hear often and why I’m so pleased to be offering it here.

Goodbye Victoria
A lurking piano intro pulls this one right at you from the beginning. By the time the Hammond organ meet up with it, Chubby has his best soul vocalization going on to conquer.

This has an almost gospel choir feel to it when the chorus takes its turn. You might get a mind tingle from the organ break because it could be reminiscent of the legendary Jimmy Smith.

Time Won't Forget You Victoria
Time Just Won't Let You Victoria
Goodbye Victoria
Goodbye Victoria
Everybody's Going to the Moon.

Stoned in the Bathroom
This begins with an organ sounding like it comes from the innards of a calliope. Later joined by a funky guitar this just drips with heavy soul. We even get a scream out of Chubby towards the end, which leads to a fiery banter between the organ and guitar.

Stoned in the bathroom
On a Sunday afternoon
Stoned in the bathroom
Just sitting on the moon

Who would have thought it, Chubby Checker? Apparently, to this day he prefers to not talk about this release. But, here you have it dear faithful.

Chubby Checker: Goodbye Victoria
Chubby Checker: Stoned in the Bathroom
From: Chequered/New Revelation [1971]

Addendum #1: Of course it was a scam last week, an April Fools joke. Did you notice that I didn’t call him ‘Elvis’, but always The King? But, I’ll be damned that only an hour after I posted the blog an anonymous person left a comment telling whom it was exactly! An hour after posting!

The tracks are done by someone called The King who was found at an Elvis show somewhere and sounding so much like Elvis, was offered a contract to sing more contemporary songs in the style of E.P. I’m telling you, I love this album "Return To Splendor" and the follow up "Gravelands".

Addendum #2: Been reading like I haven’t done in years. Seeming as I have SO much spare time lately, I hate to be stuck watching the vast wasteland, so I go not to the library, but to the bookstore and spend literally hours there in a comfy chair reading everything and anything my whim takes me. You’ll never guess where my whim took me on one sweep of the aisles - to the series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim F. LaHaye, the first in the series being “Left Behind”. Hey, I’m at a bookstore and I can indulge a capricious itch!

So, I read the first one in the plush chair in two successive visits to the bookstore. And I liked it a lot. Liked them enough so that I began to read the next in the series, and the next and the next. Well, I’m at book 11 out of 12 and after this post I’m going back to finish the 11th and begin the 12th and last. Here’s the list:

Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days
Tribulation Force: The Continuing Drama of Those Left Behind
Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist
Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides
Apollyon: The Destroyer Is Unleashed
Assassins: Assignment: Jerusalem, Target: Antichrist
The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession
The Mark: The Beast Rules the World
Desecration: Antichrist Takes the Throne
The Remnant: On the Brink of Armageddon
Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of the Ages

And I also had time to read Sick Girl by Amy Silverstein.