Rare Black Boots & Bikes LP + bonus hot-rod/bike/surf LPs. Free shipping

$

25

The extremely rare Kickstands LP, Black Boots and Bikes, Hill Climbing Instrumentals and Vocals. This is one of Beach Boys associate Gary Usher's many surf- and hot rod-centric 1960s bands--all of which consisted of the same circle of L.A. session players--the Kickstands' slant on the genre was aimed at motorcycle aficionados. Titles like "Devil on Wheels," "Johnny Take Care," and "Haulin' Honda" are clues to the high-octane rock & roll content, while soon-to-be music legends like the guitarist and singer Glen Campbell and the drummer Hal Blaine strut their anonymous, early-'60s stuff.
The Kickstands: Glen Kastner (guitar); Steve Douglas (saxophone); Steve La Fever (bass guitar); Bill Oden, Earl Palmer, Frank Capp, Jerry Cole, Ray Johnson.
The lp and outer sleeve are in like new condition. The cover has been protected by a heavy vinyl cover sleeve. A couple of very very light scratches on the lp (you have to tilt under a light to see them), imperceptible to the ear, and the inner sleeve is split for about 4” on the bottom. LP has not been cleaned but should be due to age if nothing else. Capitol T 2078, 1964 Mono.

Side One: 1. Death Valley Run 2. Hill Climb 3. Mean Streak 4. Side Car 5. Two Wheel Show Stopper 6. Haulin' Honda

Side Two:  1. Devil on Wheels 2. Ridin' Trails 3. Slow Ride South 4. Johnny Take Care 5. Scrambler

Two Bonus LPs present more of Gary Usher's efforts.

The Hondells had a hit with Little Honda, and this album contains some of the same Usher motorcycle-themed songs as the Kickstands album: Trail Ridin', Death Valley Run, Two Wheel Show Stopper, but they are not note-for-note the same, although Glen Campbell and various Wrecking Crew members worked both versions. Little Honda was actually a Brian Wilson/Mike Love song included on All Summer Long in 1964, and re-released by the Beach Boys after the Hondells scored with it. Notably this LP contains a track titled Black Boots and Bikes, used as a title for the Kickstands LP.

The Rip Chords had a few hits, too. Glen Campbell on lead guitar and Hal Blaine and other Wrecking Crew members are apparent here as well. Just as important for these guys as the basically non-existent Hondells, as they were a vocal group, only; nobody played an instrument.

These bonus LPs look the worse for wear, especially the covers, and they have no inner sleeves. The LPs play fine and show no major defects, a good cleaning would restore some of their glory.

A Gary Usher collection in one box, with one of the rarest, in mint condition, stealing the show. Only Beach Boys/surf/hot-rod aficianodos might be interested in the slight permutations of these three Usher productions, but the minty and rarest Kickstands LP is for the vinyl or bike memorabilia collector.