ID: A to the K from Terrorist Magazine

TITLE: CB200
ARTIST: Dillinger
LABEL: Mango

This one is there for two reasons. The first one is the motorcycle on the cover. Anybody who dedicates an album to a CB200 needs to be recognized. This reminds me of riding around on my brother's Honda-90 and we get mad looks from people who looked like they had bit parts in "The Harder They Come" - no joke. Secondly, amongst other classics, it contains "Cocaine Running Around my Brain", which is a hometown anthem although we never did any blow, nor really had many options of buying any while we were growing up (??). I have since heard three or four breakbeat tracks that sample or incorporate this song, which always makes me happy. Plus it's great to wander through the city singing "A knife, a fork, a bottle and a cork, that's the way we spell New York" Right On.

TITLE: Fishbone
ARTIST: Fishbone
LABEL: Columbia 1985

Straight outa Compton before N.W.A. Every kid in my town of 10,000 bought this album. Our local store, Sarge's, located right behind a Burger Chef, must have sold 100 copies of this album. Fish was my inspirational drummer for a good while, along with Bill Ward and Mitch Mitchell. My brother got drums and when he wasn't at home I'd go into his room, put this on, and play along, or, actually, try and keep up with him. We played this album at every party like it was ground zero, and as if every chick was an ugly, lyin' ass bitch.

TITLE: ' Space Cowboy 12"
ARTIST: Jonzun Crew
LABEL: Tommy Boy 1983

This, along with Fly Girl, Roxanne Roxanne and AJ Scratch, were the classic Cleveland WZAK "Club Style" 20 Minute jams of my hiphop glory days memories. But no song summed up our small town parties better than Space Cowboy. I guess this was to Oberlin, Ohio what "Nobody Beats the Biz" was to Metropolitan New York or "The Choice Is Yours" was to, um, everywhere in 1991. I somehow managed to find the German 7" of this song with a great picture of the group on it, and was able to trade that to my Brother for this 12", which is of course much more useful to me.

TITLE: Go Go Crankin'
ARTIST: V/A
LABEL: 4th and Bway

The other classic party song'or, rather, collection of 10 albums. When our house parties got live and the DJ wanted to dance, he usually just threw this album on and had a whole 15+ minutes of time to meet a member of the opposite sex. As that was always an agenda for any hometown DJ, this usually was thrown on at every party. Plus, go-go music is just the best shit to dance to, live or on record.

TITLE: Free James Brown
ARTIST: Mass Appeal
LABEL:

I just picked this one up this fall. I always knew this song existed but I'd never ever seen a copy of it. I guess that's reason enough to show it, huh. It's actually not a very good song, but I play it out in solidarity'hoping someday James will finally be free. I found a copy of Free Nelson Mandela in the same store. If only I'd found Free Willy, the circle would have been complete.

TITLE: Hell
ARTIST: James Brown
LABEL: Polydor 1974

Hell is the world's best album cover. It's gatefold and James lays it down for the world to see. The front, as you can see, is full of troubled souls. The back has monsters looking at James saying "we cant stop him. He's too strong" and the other Technicolor beast states clearly, "that's because he's the Godfather". The high point of the album, which includes Coldblooded, Papa Don't Take No Mess, I Can't Stand It '76, a Latin version of Please, Please, Please and others'is the title track -- "Hell". James preaches on the misery of human suffering, then tells Maceo to "give them hell Maceo, good god, hit it hard" and Maceo proceeds to play the happiest solo he's ever played, like "It's always Christmas in Hell !" Props to the Firey Texan for giving me Hell.

TITLE: Brimful of Asha
ARTIST: Cornershop
LABEL: Luaka 1987

Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow, mine's on the 45.

TITLE: Pee Wee's Dance
ARTIST: Joeski Love
LABEL: Intertainment

I love this song because it basically encourages you to be a total fool on the dance floor. There is nothing worse than dancing with a bunch of people who are trying to look cool, even if it's a techno party. C'mon -- you gots to get funky. Check these lyrics :

It's not hard it's easy to see, Just act like Pee Wee Herman, very stupidly
Some think it's dumb, some think it's cute, Throw on a bow tie and a tight plaid suit
Highwater pants and 5 inch heels Now you look like Pee Wee Herman How do you feel ?

You might have the urge to talk to your food
While you're on the dance floor doing Pee Wee's groove
So listen to me and do what your told
And don't forget to act like you're five years old
Like Pee Wee Herman, act like a jerk And get on the Dancefloor, Let your body work So y'all rock as the DJ keeps the turntables turnin'
And let's do the dance called the Pee Wee Herman

Interesting note : the lyrics to this song are unavailable online, while A+, BG Knoc Out, Coo Coo Cal and Da Brat are fully represented on OHHLA. Yo Joeski Love, how do ya feel. I must also note that EPMD spoofed this song -- The Steve Martin on Strictly Business, those lyrics are on OHHLA too.

TITLE: Just Say No
ARTIST: The 1987 Los Angeles Lakers

All 12 Lakers rap, and then Pat "Threepeat" Riley adds a verse. Pat Riley can rap better than Kurt Rambis; James Worthy sounds like Issac Hayes; and Magic Johnson gets the premier rap slot in the song. Allen Iverson could probably take any of them in a battle though, but actually, I bet that Matt Geiger probably could as well. Regardless, as a crew they sound much better than any of the 1985 Bears did on "Superbowl Shuffle". I bought this in Williamsburg on the first sunny day of the year for a buck. The same dude had a Red Sox album and the guy who wanted it had to pay $5 because he had a Sox cap on. Much Respect to the vendor (and go Tribe!)