1. Nortonville!

Announcements, Pronouncements & New Releases!

You better believe me, indeed, Nortonians! Miriam here from HQ with our brand new ballyhoo--- the newfangled illustrated Norton newsletter! The master plan is to keep you up to the minute with Norton Records goings-on, and jeepers, there's a lot going on! Sign up as a follower to be instantly tipped off to new posts and inside scoops.

Kids, it seems that our recent alliance with Sun Ra has paid off with immediate interstellar overdrive access into the future and beyond, what with this segue into Blogdom and very soon, a Podcast, a new downloadable box set, and who knows what all! Strap in, enjoy the ride. Rocket to Mars! But lest we forget, we will retain our loyalty to the analog world. Plastic and paper are still our tactile preferences, and we'll keep pressin' and printin' until the wells run dry.

KICKSVILLE 66 Earlier this month, on request, I started a blog called KICKSVILLE 66. This experiment in terror covers my gawky prehistoric teen-age years-- pre-Norton, pre-Kicks, pre-A-Bones -- back when I was an impressionable lunkhead (okay, in the earliest stages of gawky impressionable lunkheadedness). This may be of interest to fans of pre-punk, mid-seventies Ohio and New York bands. It's a gal's-eye point of view which has already stirred the pot, so come and look at kicksville66.blogspot.com now and then. The Flamin Groovies will be the top topic as June arrives, teenage heads out there, and we'll be delving into obsessions-- old fanzines, mags, paperbacks and general essestial nonsense. Hopefully we'll have Billy in there soon, contributing with his astute guy's-eye perspective. One can hope! Check it out at Kicksville 66

NORTON HOUSE OF WAX PODCAST! Nigel Strange and his able staffers at The Orchard have pried open the doors of the NORTON HOUSE OF WAX, our very own downloadable podcast, details of which will be divulged before summer comes! Let's just say it will be unlike any podcast you have ever heard and will feature the wildest wax, the coolest guests on the planet, and a mind-blasting peek through the cranium-crackin' keyhole of NORTONVILLE!

CRYPT COMES TO NORTONVILLE! Yes, the unholy alliance is a reality! Crypt prexie Tim Warren has relocated to sunny Germany and in the process has left his compilation empire in the stable of the Norton label! All the ferocious blues, soul, instro and garage comps will be distributed stateside exclusively by Norton, and will be of course, available to our retail customers as well. Welcome aboard, Sir Tim, and best of luck in Europa, ya knucklehead!

SCHOOL OF ROCK/DAVE THE SPAZZ/WFMU FUNDRAISER REPORT! Musical Linn Twins tribute! What more can ya say! It was a golden gasser-- these kids are da best. Here's the deal. You know that funny movie "School Of Rock"? Well, it's s true story based on a substitute teacher named Paul Green. After the movie came out about him, he started up a school.. of rock, for little kids, and now there are like 40 franchises across the USA. One day not all that long ago, Paul was driving down the highway in NJ and tuned into WFMU by accident, just when Dave was broadcasting, and his ears caught hold of the bold sound taht Dave was putting out-- a veritable hodge podge of ear flappin' delights from the far reaches of the talent spectrum. Paul was so besotted of Dave's wild sounds, that he contacted WFMU and asked what he could do to support a station so marvellous as to give a demented genius like Dave The Spazz a home for the last several DECADES. Well, this n' that, and suddenly, Paul and his school kids were up for doing a WFMU benefit show, with Dave hosting, and with the kids performing songs that Dave featured on his show, songs that Dave selected. I was totally stoked to join a super cool batch of young uns in blasting away at the Musical Linn Twins'  Rockin' Out The Blues!  Oh my lord! Whole show will broadcast on WFMU soon! dave the spazz on wfmu

KICKS BOOKS PRESENTS HIP POCKET FICTION FROM THE ANNALS OF ANDRE... WILLIAMS, that is! Stay tuned as we prepare to announce the first fiction pulp paperback release from Norton's KICKS BOOKS dept.

NORTON ALMANAC! MARK YOUR CALENDARS

JUNE 9/10 (Fri/Sat) MUMMIES RETURN TO ATLANTIC SEABOARD!
June 9 Mummies Maxwells, Hoboken NJ/ June 10 Mummies Southpaw, Brooklyn NY
Take a pause for the gauze-- Our old pals the Mummies head east! Both shows SOLD OUT!

JUNE 12 (Fri) PITTSBURGH MIDNIGHT RAMBLE RECORD FAIR!
Belvedere's Bar Pittsburgh 4016 Butler Street, Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville), PA 15201 8 PM- 2 AM
Billy and Miriam from Norton will be blasting 45s including Mad Mike monsters and Norton raunchsters all night long. Well, until 2 AM at which time we can convene at Eat'n Park for a rehash, DANA! Norton will be set up with their waxen wares, you bring yours too! Tons of records, plus a wide array of frosty adult beverages at the bar! Admission $3 for guys, free for gals. As it should be. Worldwide. For everything.

JUNE 13 (Sat) PITTSBURGH RECORD TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ARNIE WITZORRECK
Tony's Bar & Grill, 139 Howard Avenue, Millvale, PA. (Just down the street from the Attic!) 8:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. Corky, who worked for Mad Mike in the 1960s, is holding a tribute to his old friend, renowned Pittsburgh record-collector Arnie Witzorreck, who passed away last October. Dance the night away with DJ Flea, who brings 1,000 45s to appeal to everyone's musical tastes. Throughout the night, he'll spin records made famous by Arnie. Millvale, just across the bridge from Laurenceville, was Arnie's hometown so it's the perfect venue for collectors and rockers to gather and reminisce about the great old days, or pound the floor to Goo Goo Muck and more!

JUNE 18 (Thurs) BOWERY ELECTRIC, NYC Miriam and Billy DJ with Norton stuff and more galore at Daddy Long Legs show at the fabulousBowery Electric, 327 Bowery at Joey Ramone Place NYC Open vodka bar 10-11! DLL at 11! Yahoo!

JUNE 22 SONICS! NXNE festival in Toronto, Canada!

JUNE 28 (Sun) BROOKLYN RECORD RIOT Warsaw, 261 Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn NY Noon-8PM Join us and a gigantic ballroom rampacked with wax purveyors for this Sunday ritual in the heart of pierogi country, Williamsburg, Brooklyn! This gasser of a record show brings in slabs from all over the area and beyond, where DJ's are spinning and kielbasis are a-boilin' in the back bar as brews, braus and bodacious beverages are offered for quaffing. Great summertime record kickoff for the kiddies! Regular Admission: $3.00 Early Admission : $20.00

JULY 10 (Fri) A-BONES RECORD RELEASE PARTY BOOZE CRUISE!!
Skyport Marina - 23rd and FDR Dr. NYC o Ship Sails at 8PM
Ahoy! Celebrate the release of NOT NOW! the first all new A-Bones long player in 1.5 decades with a midsummer night's sloop slop! Take us on a boat, add you, a full bar, and the sylvan tides of the East River et voila! A full steam ahead, ramming speed voyage to alcohol fueled revelry and two chord enchantment. Is that the Statue of Liberty ahead? Is that my dinner flowing behind? A three hour tour, indeed...

JULY 23/24 (Thurs/Fri) ROY LONEY AND CYRIL JORDAN OF THE FLAMIN GROOVIES EAST COAST SHOWS!
Roy and Cyril East Coast dates! Getcha tickets! Backed by the A-Bones, endorsed by the IFGFC!

July 23 (Thurs) Maxwells
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=1660484

July 24 (Fri) Southpaw
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=1660894

Aug 7 (Fri) WOOLY WEEKEND FEST MONTREAL, CANADA! A-Bones! Question Mark and the Mysterians, Love, Electric Prunes, Alarm Clocks, Flakes and much mo'! . Festival runs from Thursday August 6 through Sunday August 9. http://www.myspace.com/woolyweekend

Aug 22 Sonics Sunset Junction in Los Angeles

A-BONES JAPANESE SUMMER TOUR!
It's official-- the A-Bones will take Bamboo Rock & Roll to the Far East! Stay tuned for post

Aug 28 (Fri) Shimokitazawa (Shelter) Tokyo
Aug 29 (Sat) Shijuku (Loft) Tokyo
Aug 30 (Sun) Hatagaya Heavy Shick Tokyo Norton Records Dance Party
Aug 31 (Mon) Oys Nagoya
Sept 1 (Tues) Rock Rider, Osaka

A-BONES TO SPAIN !

Oct 9 (Fri) CASTELLON * FOUR SEASONS
Oct 10 (Sat) * VALENCIA * FUNTASTIC FESTIVAL
w/Gino Washington and Jackie and the Cedrics
Oct 11 (Sun) CADIZ * FREEK FESTIVAL
Oct 13 (Tues) SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA LA NASA
Oct 14 (Wed) PONFERRADA COCODRILO NEGRO
Oct 15 (Thurs) VALLADOLID BURGOS ESTUDIO 27
Oct 16 (Fri) BASQUE COUNTRY t.b.a.
Oct 17 (Sat) MADRID GRUTA 77

TRASHMEN! Get aboard for these boss shows to coincide with the WFMU Record Fair!
Oct 23 Southpaw, Brooklyn NY
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=1756154
Oct 24 Maxwell's, Hoboken NJ
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=1755894


Bloodshot Records has organized a lengthy tour for the Dex Romweber Duo, supporting the Detroit Cobras. Grab Dex's Flat Duo Jets sides on Norton and dig his great new Bloodshot album THE RUINS OF BERLIN. Be sure to request some Benny Joy numbers - Dexy knows 'em all…
http://www.myspace.com/dexterromweberduo


RECORDS RECORDS RECORDS !
THREE NEW SINGLES FROM NORTON WAXWORKS!

BENNY JOY - BUTTON NOSE / IF I HAD YOU (45-147) Two unissued 1957 demo recording previews from the five... yes FIVE... upcoming Benny Joy albums on Norton! (See info about the Benny longplayers at end of this newsletter!) This atomic, super savage take of Button Nose predates the well dug version by two years and rocks with a scorching Money Honey feel! This is just the tip of the iceberg, baby!

ESQUERITA - YOU BETTER BELIEVE ME / WHAT WAS WRONG / LITTLE RICHARD INTERVIEW (45-149) Over the top raw soul madness from the Voola! This 1969 shaker just never lets up! '58 fracas flip out flipside! As a bonus, Little Richard tells it like it is about his pompadoured pal! Hair raisin' sleeve, natch!



ART ADAMS - ROCK CRAZY BABY (EP-150) Wild Indianapolis rocker Art Adams celebrates fifty years of recording with all four of his insane Cherry label rockers in one commemorative package! You get Rock Crazy Baby / Indian Joe / Dancing Doll She Don't Live Here No More and a mad cover snap of Double A with the world's sloppiest ducktail!


JULY 14 NORTON RELEASES!!! A-BONES & BENNY JOY!

NEW ALBUM OUT JULY 14 THE A-BONES, NOT NOW! (Norton 345) Get ready for a brand new long play set of A-Bones mad blasts incloding Geraldine / Restless / He Sure Could Hypnotize / Bad Times / Shallow Grave / Jupiter Bulldog / The Rooster / Bing Bong (There's A Party Goin' On) / Cat Nip (w/Dave “Baby” Cortez) / Outcast / Granny Tops 'Em At The Hop / Stolen Moments / The Lover's Curse / Don't Talk About Him / Six Long Weeks...recorded at the posh underground Manhattan NY Hed Studios with reknown engineer Matt Verta-Ray, the A-Bones managed to lure elusive R&B legend Dave “Baby” Cortez back onto the Hammond organ to grind out a fresh take of his instro stomper Cat Nip... raunchy originals are filled out with covers of the Animals and the Clovers, plus Shallow Grave, Andy Shernoff's Bobby Fuller style ode to Charles “Smitty” Schmid, the notorious Pied Piper of Tucson and lots more!

THE A-BONES – SHALLOW GRAVE / ROCKIN’ SATELLITE (45-151) The A-Bones offer up a Bobby Fuller styled ode to Charles "Smitty" Schmid, the notorious Pied Piper of Tucson and Bad Seed fanzine icon, written by that respected songsmith of American folklore, Andy Shernoff! Flip is a non-LP cover of Ray Sawyer’s (later known as Dr. Hook – yikes!) crazed 1960 outer space rocker!

BENNIES FROM HEAVEN!

Roll to the jukebox rock with five big albums by Tampa's Rebel Rocker... BENNY JOY!!! Dig all of Benny's 1957-61 wild, wild masters, scores of unissued demos and tons of crazed photos! Coming this summer - EVERYBODY JUMP FOR JOY!!!!

• CRASH THE PARTY (346) Crash The Party/Little Girl Little Girl*/Wild Wild Lover/Stompin'/Bundle Of Love*/Steady With Betty/In Study Hall/Miss Bobby Sox*/Button Nose/Ittie Bittie Everything/Memory Of Memories*/I Remember Darling*/We'll Meet Again*/Don't Forget About Me*/Spin The Bottle

• ROLLIN' TO THE JUKEBOX ROCK (347) Rollin' To The Jukebox Rock / Hey High School Baby / Let's Be Friends* / If I Had You* / Money Money/ Night Owl*/ Talkin' About It / If You Were Mine* / Ittie Bittie Everything* / Little Red Book / Crash The Party* / Forever Now Or Never* / Gossip Gossip Gossip / I'm Doubtful Of Your Love / Hold My Hand / She Cried For Me

• I'M GONNA MOVE (348) I'm Gonna Move / Wild Wild Lover* / Nowhere* / Crash The Party / Hey High School Baby* / I Really Really Care* / Miss Bobby Sox / Kiss Me* / Spin The Bottle / Don't Make A Fool Of Me baby*/Don't Boo Hoo Mary Lou / If You Were Mine* / Lucky Little Old Me* / The Only One*

• WILD WILD LOVER (349) Wild Wild Lover* / Come Back / I'll Never Have The One I Love / Hey High School Baby / Rollin' To The Jukebox Rock* / A Dream, A Hope, A Love / Button Nose* / Cutie Pie / I'm Doubtful Of Your Love* / Dearest Darling / Bundle Of Love / Kiss Me / Gypsy Woman*/ I'm Gonna Move* / Rebel Rock

• LOVE ZONE (350) Love Zone* / Instead Of Me* / I'll Never Have The One I Love* / Only Time Will Tell* / (What'll I Do) Call The Zoo* / Follow Your Heart* / I Never Want To See You Again* / Eyes of Tears* / Bring Me Back My Love* / Only Time Will Tell* / Forever Now Or Never* / How Could Something So Good Turn Out So Bad* / Give Me back My Heart* / Queen Of My Heart* / Touchdown*

*=previously unissued

All 76 Benny Joy tracks will be issued on a limited 3CD box set.

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That's it, kiddios. Check us out at:

MySpace: Norton Records

and

Norton Records

and my godforsaken 70's blog:

Kicksville 66