The Roto Rooter Good Time Christmas Band Blog

2011-05-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

BONUS! JOLLITY FARM - LIVE !!!

2011-05-15T00:06:00.000-07:00

,A Roto Rarity! "Jollity Farm". We stole it from the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band who in turn stole it from a 78 by Leslie Sarony w/ Jack Hylton & His Orchestra.

Thanks for listening!

RRGTCB backs David Steinberg on his 1976 LP

2011-04-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

Don Novello, a.k.a. Father Guido Sarducci, opened for us a few times. Roto co-wrote with Novello "Tears on the Dashboard". We recorded a demo with Don. David approved and we recorded it "for real" with Mr. Steinberg's plaintive lament over the high cost of gasoline (remember, this was 1975). "Some loves are like cars, they're born not to last"......etc.

Squeaky sax solo by Mabuse.

The ROTO Horns on Peter Alsop's LP 1976

2011-04-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

Solo artist Peter Alsop was RRGTCB's opening act for many Ice House performances. For his Flying Fish LP "Asleep At The Helm" Peter enlisted the section work of the "Roto Horns" for "sweetening" on 4 of his songs. Prominently featured on the title track, "Doin' It For You", "The Young Woman Disco" and "When You Ask Me First" we enjoyed the session and were very pleased with the results.

RRGTCB @ Wilshire Ebell Theatre 1/30/1975

2011-03-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

Our "big time" concert with a "big name" opening act !

And Dr. Demento as MC!!!

And shortly after our performance the Ash Grove burned down

2011-02-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

Thanks, Erika a.k.a. "Fifi"

47 YEARS AGO IT'S 2 ROTOS OF THE FUTURE!!!

2011-02-12T13:14:00.000-08:00

The 1963 "Production Band" trombone section in L.A. Co.'s annual Battle Of The Bands

It's Awf d'Walle------ It's Sgt. Charts

And Then The 4 Remaining Rotos Pressed This

2011-02-10T15:07:00.000-08:00

A Baxter Original

"Gonna Be Mine Tonight"

"Mack The Knife"

Both were recorded and released after the departure of Dr. Mabuse.

(Above scans OBVIOUSLY do not properly reflect the "roundness")

Vinyl Releases - Roto and Beyond

2011-02-10T14:41:00.000-08:00

The 1976 Roto 4 song EP

Side 1

1. Breakout

2. My Love

Side 2

1. Ticket To Home

2. Million Bucks

I think we pressed only about

100 of these. We sold them at the Ice House and at other gigs around town.

Something is brewing in Roto Rooter Land

2010-12-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

Sgt. Charts evaluating "new" possibilities in his sophisticated state-of-the-art digital work station in preparation for exactly WHAT??????

Could it be true? Are Sgt. Charts and Dr. Mabuse, d.o.a. up to something? What's this about a Rooter Revival? Have they started already utilizing their newly found skills with ProTools? Is there a list of songs that are being considered for Roto-izing? If so, what are they going to do with all this? A "new" album? The possibilities are unlimited and already IN PROGRESS! Look for the original members to contribute to this new project and be ready for some exciting new YOUNG talent to join in. Coming soon in 2011. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Roto Rooter on 45 rpm

2010-04-06T14:27:00.000-07:00

When the RRGTCB played at Spokane's "Expo '74" Vanguard pressed several hundred "souvenir" 45s for us to sell at the gig. "Martian March" and "Swamp Lake" both "mixed" to mono. You had to be there to buy it.

In 1975 Vanguard pressed a mono/stereo 45 of "Martian March".

Roto Rooter FACTOIDS

2009-08-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

1. Our Vanguard LP was produced by long time pianist/keyboard artist for Neil Diamond

2. Sgt. Charts, Awf d'Walle, Little Orphan Ollie AND Uncle Jimmy were all students of Paul Tanner, UCLA professor of music and the theramin player on the Beach Boys "Good Vibrations".

3. The Rotos are featured on David Steinberg's 1975 Columbia LP, backing David on "Tears On The Dashboard", produced by Don Novello (Father Guido, to you!).

4. ROTO was featrued in the Wheat Brothers short "calling card" film "Stuck On The Screen", circa 1975. Bb Baxter wrote the theme music and he and Mabuse played on the recording.

5. Dr. Mabuse, d.o.a., was the elected head yell leader at UCLA in 1968/69, and featured in Sports Illustrated.

6. Uncle Jimmy was a member of both the Stan Kenton and Don Ellis big bands and is featured on some of the recordings.

7. The RRGTCB was discovered by Tom Hensley, the aforementioned ivory tickling Neil Diamond guy, at the Rose Bowl Swap Meet, 1974. The rest is history.

8. Buffalo Steve holds the world's record for the longest saxophone note,63 feet, 9 inches, established at L.A.'s Century City, 1974..

9. Mrs. Sgt. Charts is a well respected long time teacher of dance at Cal State L.A.

10. Orphan Ollie's son is a regular drummer at the ROTO "old guys rehearsals " where 4 or 5 of the boys get together to jam be-bop.

Just a little Roto trivia

2009-07-15T18:12:00.000-07:00

Did you know:

Bb Baxter's daughter is a "Donna"?

Sgt. Chat's son portrays Sam Butera in the L.A. stage play LOUIS AND KEELY AT THE SAHARA?

Buffalo Steve was a high ranking executive at Fender Guitars?

Bb Baxter composes and designs specialty music and effects for a Japanese toy manufacturer?

Dr. Mabuse worked on over 10,000 episodes of your favorite game shows?

Uncle Jimmy's father was the Director Of Bands at UCLA?

Little Orphan Ollie was the drummer for the Marina Swingers?

Awf d'Walle has a flourishing gift basket business in Hollywood? Check out Fanciful on Melrose.

Dr. Mabuse had a can of paint dumped on his head by Jackie Gleason on the Captain Tenielle Show, 1975?

Sgt. Chats has tenure at Glendale Hoover High School and has DownBeat award winning students?

That's it for now.

Roto Rooter and Napoleon XIV

2009-07-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those who've got the RRGTCB CDs currently being offered on eBay. Thanks to Philly Mike for his incredible knowledge of not only Roto but also everything you'd want to know about Dr. Demento. Mike thought there was a Roto Rooter/Napoleon XIV (Jerry Samuels) connection and indeed there was. I (Dr. Mabuse) worked with Jerry in NYC 1969-1972. He produced and did both instrumental and backing vocals on 2 tracks featruring me (Geoff Cooper) . Absurdly psychedelic nostalgia and teenage angst expressed on "Teenager In Love" and "Sugar Time. They were presented to A&M records but they passed. It remains a relic in my personal collection. But then in 1973, I believe, Jerry (and his current girl friend of the time) visited L.A. (I'm born here and 3 years in NYC were enough) and stayed with me. He and the Rotos bonded quickly and we introduced him to Dr. Demento. Jerry had a one night performance at the Ash Grove in L.A. just before it burned down. Demento hosted. Roto and Jerry never recorded anything together (and only just now does it dawn on me how STUPID we were to not exploit, er, share our talents and create the ultimate demented music ever!!_. Actually there is something. Jerry did a "concert" in my living room at my apartment in Hollywood with all Rotos in attendance. Jerry's songs elicited hoots and hollers from us all and we all joined in on a very "special" version of "I Owe A Lot To Iowa Pot". Ah, yes, those were the days. Jerry has a successful talent agency in Philadelphia providing over 25,000 acts in the past 20 or so years to senior citizens events, and many other private and civic events. He's a most active and alert 71 years old.

Exclusive BONUS CD now on eBay

2009-06-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

I've posted our 25th anniversary CD "Retro Rooter 1972-1975" on eBay with the addition of an eBay exclusive 25 track bonus CD "Roto Relics Vol. 1". It has almost an hour of even more unreleased RRGTCB gems. It's FREE when you buy "Retro Rooter".

"Roto Relics Volume 1" (Free BONUS disc)

1. Roto On Wolfman Jack 1:57
2. Dr. Demento Theme 1:33
3. Alleluia Chorus 1:53
4. Marianne 1:52
5. And The Band Played On 1:22
6. Pay Phone 2:06
7. Tico Tico - Bass Trombone Version 1:35
8. Lonely At The Top 2:02
9. L ove Me (Sex Gods) - Original Demo 2:37
10. Knotts Berry Farm - Halloween Haunt Radio Spot 1:02
11. Pico And Sepulveda - Newer "Swing" Demo Version 2:05
12. Tico Tico - Fuzz Bass Version 1:35
13. South Of The Border (Live) 4:02
14. Night Train (Live) 1:48
15. Marsha My Elk 2:26
16. Demento Will Be Right Back …0:18
17. We Get Letters 0:16
18. Top Ten 0:10
19. Number One 0:10
20. Pick Up The Pizza 2:12
21. Half As Much - Bb Baxter demo 1:45
22. Say Guy Wanna Boogie - Sgt. Charts 1:22
23. Blue Fiesta 2:06
24. Love Me (Sex Gods) - Barbie and Audrey version 2:41
25. Wizard Of Oz - Prologue 1:58

I'll continue listing until all remaining copies are sold. Get yours now!

Underground Vault of Records, Music and all kinds of Stuff: Roto Rooter Good Time Christmas Band

2009-01-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

Underground Vault of Records, Music and all kinds of Stuff: Roto Rooter Good Time Christmas Band

Meet The Band

2008-11-10T20:46:00.001-08:00

UPDATED
10/31/08: Late 1972 the band was formed and made their
initial mark as a street band playing Christmas carols for unsuspecting
shoppers at Century City, Los Angeles. Reformed in spring 1973 the band
returned to the streets with a full repertoire of diverse tunes all
arranged for 4 trombones and 3 saxes. Venues included Century City, the
L.A County Museum of Art, the La
Brea Tar Pits, and the L.A. Music Center. Chrirstmas,
1974, the RRGTCB shared the stage with THE
MYSTIC KNIGHTS OF THE OINGO BOINGO at the Hollywood
Palladium..s "KPFK
Merrie Christmas Faire". The RRGTCB made appearances at the Ash Grove,
the Troubadour, Busch Gardens, Knott's Berry Farm, The China Trader and
the Ice House, where we became somewhat of a fixture playing there well
into 1976. Most disastrous gig was The Aladdin in Las Vegas. Boy,
were THEY surprised! We lasted 1 1/2 sets before we were advised "not
to play anymore". In 1974 we submitted our tape of "Laurel
and Hardy" to Dr. Demento which he premiered on his radio
show. He continued to feature our music regularly. "Discovered" by Tom
Hensley at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Swap Meet, the band was
signed by Vanguard
and made their only "official" LP. At this time we recorded various
short pieces for Dr. Demento
in exchange for him writing the back liner notes on the LP. A special
version of "Pico
and Sepulveda" was adapted and became the Dr. Demento theme
that he uses to this day! Barry has been our most valued ally
in our quest to "set music back 1000 years". We were
Demento's first "discovery", even before Weird Al. The band
was invited to Expo '74
in Spokane, WA, for an impressive 7 week gig as the headline
attraction. In 1975, just at the departure of Sgt. Charts from the
band, Roto taped a Tv show for Orange Coast College's KDOC Public TV.
Clips can be viewed NOW at YouTube (see link on this page). By early
1976 we became simply "ROTO" (the "wonder band") and went on the road
throughout the North West. By spring, 1977, Mabuse left the group, and
the focus turned primarily to original songs written by Walle and
Baxter. ROTO appeared (and lost) on The GONG SHOW. 1977. A 2nd LP was
proposed and the band recorded 20 new selections that continued in the
trend of the first record. These "demos" are the basis for the 1997
self-produced CD "RETRO
ROOTER: 1972-1976".. The CD is available if you are
daring. BUY
IT NOW ON GEMM.COM. Click here.
Contact me for details. Nowadays all the members
have gone on to
greater "glory" - educator, corporate VP, insurance sales, independent
music production, entrepreneur, retired Tv sound engineer, and
dilatant. On occasion 5 of the original members get together to jam
be-bop.

In Case You Didn't Know....

2008-11-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

The Venerable RRGTCB

Hand Made Sign

Class Picture 1973

2008-11-07T16:41:00.001-08:00

Top to bottom:

Sgt. Charts

Dr. Mabuse, d.o.a. and Buffalo Steve

Bb Baxter, Little Orphan Ollie, Awf d'Walle

The Original SEVEN Roto Rooters

2008-10-31T18:00:00.001-07:00

Top to bottom:

Bb Baxter

Awf d'Walle, Buffalo Steve, Little Orphan Ollie

Sgt. Charts, Uncle Jimmy, Dr. Mabuse, d.o.a.

The LP You Know And Love

2008-10-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

Our Self-Titled

1974 Vanguard

The 25th Anniversary CD

2008-10-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

The 25th Anniversary

Self-Produced

"Retro Rooter - 1972 -1976"

CD Front Cover

2008-10-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

Buy It On Gemm.

$10.00 + $3.00 S&H

See link below

1973 "I'm A Rooter" Fan Club Button

2008-10-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

2008-10-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

How It Happened

2008-10-31T17:09:00.000-07:00