Browse by Artist: KEITH, RODD

Artist:	KEITH, RODD
Title:	Saucers In the Sky
Label:	ROARATORIO
Format:	CD
Price:	$7.00
Catalog #:	ROAR 010CD

"Rodney Keith Eskelin, aka Rodd Keith, aka Rod Rogers, would've certainly found the recognition during his lifetime that his talent demanded, if he hadn't chosen to work in the lowest depths of the music industry: the 'send us your lyrics' field, known today as the song-poem genre. Saucers In the Sky gathers together twenty-six previously uncollected Rodd Keith gems from the hundreds upon hundreds of songs that he recorded before he leapt from a highway overpass in 1974. It would be inaccurate to call this a collection of forgotten pop classics. 'Forgotten' implies that they were known in the first place. Outside of the aspiring lyricists who bankrolled the proceedings, plus a few of their friends and relations, none of Rodd Keith's records registered the slightest blip on the musical radar of their time. The irony runs deep: the song-poem business was a stylus' breadth away from being an outright scam, capitalizing on the dreams of would-be songwriters and filling their heads with visions of breakout hits and fame and fortune. In reality, if the lyrics themselves weren't unwieldy or strange enough to hobble any chances of entering the charts with a bullet, the assembly line production style of the recording insured that the majority of the songs were musically undistinguished. The best of Rodd Keith's work, however, easily transcends its lowly, no-hope origins, and therein lies the kicker: if the pressing runs for songs like 'Magic In Her Eyes' or 'Go Go Girlie' had broken the triple digit mark, or found their first point of sale in a Sam Goody rather than a thrift shop, they could've undoubtedly attained some measure of the popular success that their hapless creators were led to believe would follow. And while such tunes as 'Ravens' or 'Sawdust' were too lyrically bent for Billboard glory, they remain prime examples of Rodd's brilliance as a singer, composer and arranger. Saucers In the Sky also includes two never-before-released tracks: a cover of 'Here Comes The Judge' from a soul-soundalike session, and 'Get On My Honda, Rhonda,' written as a birthday gift for Rodd's best friend's son. Packaged in a mini-LP gatefold sleeve, with liner notes from Del Casher, inventor of the wah-wah pedal and guitarist on many of Rodd's early recordings, and Stacey Keith, Rodd's daughter."

Artist:	KEITH, RODD
Title:	My Pipe Yellow Dream
Label:	ROARATORIO
Format:	LP
Price:	$16.00
Catalog #:	ROAR 023LP

"'Song Poems Wanted' read the ads. 'We need new ideas for recording!' The send-us-your-lyrics business was a borderline scam, taking whatever lyrics came their way from would-be songwriters and -- for a fee -- setting them to music. None of the results ever came close to being a hit, and to be sure, the vast majority was sufficiently bland or clumsy to insure no great karmic loss in their instant obscurity and miniscule press runs. But Rodd Keith -- the late, great genius whose prolific output was almost completely confined to the song-poem industry -- had a knack for turning sow's ears into silk purses. The nature of the business required him to work quickly, with no second takes, and his skill at writing and arranging on the fly was not unlike that of a master improviser. When at his best, he put his unique musical stamp on some lucky customer's submission. My Pipe Yellow Dream is the second Roaratorio anthology of the highlights of Rodd Keith's work. Compiling fifteen previously unreissued songs from 1966 through his death in 1974 -- including a never-before-heard cover of 'Choo Choo Train' -- My Pipe Yellow Dream showcases the full range of his talents. From exquisite mid-'60s pop balladry ('Deep Velvet') to blue-eyed soul ('You Don't Have To Alibi') to folk-rock ('Tired Of Waiting') to solo Chamberlain creations ('Red Sports Car') to gospel testifying ('O Jesus My Savior') to a pair of patriotic screeds (the all-spoken word 'America The Not So Beautiful' and the bizarre-world lounge funk of 'Search Out Your Soul, American'), this collection continues the rehabilitation of Rodd Keith's recorded legacy from thrift-shop throwaway to celebrated cult artist. A limited edition LP in a gorgeous gatefold jacket, with artwork by Josh Journey-Heinz and liner notes from song-poem vocalist Dick Kent. Digital download coupon included."

Artist:	KEITH, RODD
Title:	I Died Today
Label:	TZADIK
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	TZ 7401

First release in the Tzadik Lunatic Fringe series, which will "excavate the innermost views from some of the outermost reaches of human creativity, bringing to light some of the most intense creative acts of our time." The first release by Rod Keith is "A retrospective of an American original -- the varied works of Rodd Keith (aka Rod Rogers), the musical auteur of MSR's send-us-your-lyrics record label, and insane genius of Beat of The Traps and The Makers of Smooth Music. America's most wretched lyrics transformed by a uniquely twisted sensibility. Jazz, rock, ballads and exotica like you've never heard before. Newly discovered recordings, curated by the artists' son, jazz saxophonist Ellery Eskelin." The aforementioned compilations of MSR-label material on the Carnage Press label have been consistently upheld as some of the finest novelty/genius documents released in our times, and this new CD (especially notable for the track "Hippy Happy Land") will surely continue that stream.

Artist:	KEITH, RODD
Title:	Ecstasy To Frenzy
Label:	TZADIK
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	TZ 7406

"Rodd Keith is known as one of the wildest and most creative of the 'send us your lyrics' composers, but Ecstasy To Frenzy shows us a hitherto unknown side of this twisted genius. Two versions of a recently unearthed extended studio composition featuring Rodd's legendary backwards vocals, maniacal organ playing and more. Added as bonus tracks are three of Rodd's song-poem masterpieces, including the infamous 'Beat of the Traps'. Explorations into another universe from one of the world's 'out-sider music' pioneers."

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