After one more unplanned hiatus, I'm back with another installment of Controversial Trousers. Sorry for the lapse. I promise you, it WILL happen again... and probably again.
What does 1950's Doo-Wop and the end of the world by nuclear annihilation have in common?
Everything.
Well... that is of course if you're talking about the apocalyptically-arty, radiantly-retro kitsch of San Francisco's Nuclear Beauty Parlor. This record, self-released on NBP Records in 1983, stands as a testament to the fact that political sing-a-long songs aren't just reserved for folk singers and hardcore bands(my definition of 'singing' is pretty expansive).
Rather than I try to explain the events that led up to the creation of this record, I'll send you to the website of one of NBP's founding members Marissa LaMagna where you'll find a short history of the Nuclear Beauty Parlor, links to articles and record reviews, and a couple interesting photographs. I don't want you to think I'm shirking my researching duties. It's just that it's probably better to get the information straight from the horse's mouth-so to speak-rather than get my boiled down interpretation of articles that I was going to direct you to anyway.
In my further research I wasn't really able to come up with anything too in depth (or anything at all, really) about the whereabouts of the other participants. I tried to uncover any information I possibly could about performer, lyricist and-from what I can tell-central NBP member Vicki Krohn. I only found one mention of that name in a Google search that I'm confident is the same Vicki Krohn. It appears in an article about NBP cover artist, famed comic book author and Church of the SubGenius co-founder Paul Mavrides and his battle for reclassification of comic art under the California sales tax code. I'm going to stop myself here and not get too off topic. Paul Mavrides' life and career is too much to cover for this little blog.
Probably the most famous (er... most recognizable) name associated with the NBP is Re-Styles of The Tubes. She performs the lead vocal track on the song The Nuclear Beauty Parlor with perfect AM radio precision.
Some the other non-NBP performers on the record include Claytoven Richardson, Larry Batiste, Stacy Baird, and Cookie Marenco. All of which seem to be professional musicians or work in the music industry in some function. Neil Kaku, who played bass and violin on Awake was a member of Club Foot Orchestra and is mentioned here and here about his 1985-1986 improvisational performance entitled How They Make Hawaiian Music. (Note the mention of Jay Cloidt and Marina LaPalme/IXNA in the first of those two links.) Bob Firpo, who's credited with Crashes on Awake may be a special effects artist but I cannot confirm that.
Anyway, if anyone has any further information about other members of the NBP and their whereabouts/connections or any other related information, please don't hesitate to comment or contact.
Zip includes 256kbs rip from original vinyl and scans sleeve and labels.
