Mr. Zero’s Inc.
*Est. 2009
“BUZZ Newspaper Article” April- May 2014 (#37-nRd)
By: RLSchwinden Aka MrZer0
As April is National Record Store Month & Mr. Zero’s 5th Anniversary, I thought I would cover some of my favorite records.
As The Story goes, like this …
My life has been compared to the film “High Fidelity” 2000 Touchstone Starring John Cusack.
In March 2009, myself, Computer Steve, Lamar, Watrous & Crazy Rob, began putting together what was to become Mr. Zero’s Inc. (14 April 2009) I took the name from “The MONKEES” TV episode #52 from 5 Feb 1968, “Devil & Peter Tork” where Peter Tork accidentally sells his soul to “Mr. Zero” (The Devil played by Monte Landis: 20 Apr 1933) at a pawn shop, in return for the ability to play the harp. Our main mascot “Mr. Zero” was drawn by (DC Comic Artist): Jose Delbo (9 Dec 1933 Argentina), who drew The BEATLES: “Yellow Submarine” comic book 1968 Gold Key Comics. At 1st we were an “On-Line” Store, then after a few months I showed my business partners, in order to get quality product we have to open an actual brick & mortar Shop for the customers to bring us the product.
Since we opened the doors in Nov 2009 I have been on local TV-C15 “Tale Of Ten Cities” & Fox 9 Local & National news, involved with 3 local films, a guest on local radio, I have been involved with the local band, “Jesus Chrysler” I am currently in the band MrZERo (the 4 members met here in the shop) & a KISS: Tribute Band “Rock And Roll All Nite” (formed by: Cat Jackson) & recently added as the Bassist to the Local Original Band “Action Go” I have been featured in “Star Tribune” “City Pages” “Vita.Mn” “Metro Magazine” & The “Park Bugle” as well as helping to promote: ”Tommy Bolin Music Fest” “Crypticon” “Northland Toy Show” “SpringCon & FallCon” “Musicians Trade Fair” “VFW RecordShow” Music Expo” & “Sound + Vision Show” I wrote a vintage film column for “Lost My Stub” I have written this music column for “BUZZ Newspaper” since April 2011 & many, other promotions to numerous to list here.
In Feb 2014 I was a guest on the KFAI Radioshow “The Pop Shop” with Liberty Finch & DJ Izzy. So I will go over some of the songs I played on My Radio Show “Mr. Zero’s Psychgello” as a guest of the “The Pop Shop” & what they mean to me.
“Surfin Bird” The Trashmen “Surfin Bird” 1963 Nov Garrett #LPGA-200
When I was a kid my Dad Willis Jr. had a drumset in the basement, a Japanese kit, orange sparkle, & a Trashmen LP, he always used to play along with. Once I asked him “Dad, why do you always play with that old music?” he answered “Because before I went to Viet Nam, I played with this band”
“Glad All Over” Dave Clark Five- “Glad All Over” 1963 Nov Epic #26093
When I was a toddler my Aunt Debby used to play this song on her record player, to get me to dance to it. Somewhere I have 8mm video footage of me dancing with her to this music.
“John Riley” The Byrds “Fifth Dimension” 1966 Jul Columbia #2549
I 1st heard this band in a late 70s documentary on “The 60s” they played 1 of their more popular songs, so I went to Woolco & bought this LP, I heard this song & it took the wind out of me, it’s based on Homer’s “Odyssey” in Oct 2000 I met Joan Baez before her concert @ St. Kate’s & asked if she would sing this song that night, she answered “That’s an old one” after the intermission she came out & said “Before the show I met a young man who reminded me I used to be a folk singer, & asked me to sing this song, I hope he’s out there, because here it goes” & she sang the song. After the show her Road Manger Jim, told me “she has only ever done that for someone twice in the last 20 years … you should feel honored”
“With A Girl Like You” The Troggs “Wild Thing” 1966 Jul Fontana #27556
I heard this song in the Nicole Kidman film “Flirting” 1991 SGC, I think it captures a teenage boy’s dreams of his 1st love. It’s a great coming of age film too, set in Australia.
“You’re Gonna Miss Me” 13th Floor Elevators “Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators”1966 Nov. International Artists. They just played “1st Ave” in Feb. The opening song to the film of my life “High Fidelity”
“Today” Jefferson Airplane 1967 Feb “Surrealistic Pillow” RCA #LPM-3766
I had already liked this band, but a girl I was dating back in the 90’s Grace H. told me this was one of her favorite bands, so I gave them a deeper listen & discovered this gem.
“Fixing A Hole” The Beatles “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” 1967 Jun. Capitol #SMAS-2653
As a kid this was my all time favorite LP, I would sit & stare at the cover for hours, I always wanted a suit like Ringo’s. It was hard to choose my favorite song from this LP but I did it.
“Words” The MONKEES 1967 Nov “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.” Colgems #COM-S 104
When I 1st heard this song in the TV episode #51 “Monkee’s Paw” (29 Jan 1968) as a kid on Sat. Morning Reruns. This song really made an impact on me, I spent the whole day singing it over & over I asked my baby-sitter Stacey P. what was this song, the following week she gave me the 45 single of it.
“Twelve Thirty” Mamas & Papas “Papas & Mamas” 1968 May Dunhill #DS-50031
Christmas of ’67 my Mom played thissong over & over, I loved this song, it took me years to figure out it was not called “Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon”
“Goodbye Baby”: Boyce & Hart “Wonder What She’s Doing Tonite” 1968 A&M #SP-4143
When I was young I actually used to read the record labels, as well as the covers, I noticed Boyce & Hart wrote most of The MONKEES songs I liked, then 1 day after school I saw Boyce & Hart on “I Dream Of Jeanie” eventually I became friends of Bobby Hart & Billy Lewis (their Drummer) & acquaintances with Tommy Boyce (& his Widow Caroline). I actually worked on a “Behind The Music” for them in 1996, that never got picked up, however there is currently a Documentary in the works on them due out soon.
“Badge” Cream “Goodbye” 1969 Feb Atco #SD-7001
When I 1st heard this song it sounded like a George Harrison song to me, & then I found out, it was, because Harrison co-wrote it & performed on it. I love the descending picking on this song.
“See” The Rascals “See” 1969 Dec Atlantic SD-8246
In the 90s I was buying up as many 60s Band’s Greatest Hits on Cd as I could get my hands on. I remembered as a kid I loved a song by this band, then I got to this song, this one is really uplifting to me. I was able to meet 3 of the 4 band members.
“Planet Caravan” Black Sabbath “Paranoid” 1970 Sep Warner Bros. #WS-1887
Everyone knows this LP, & when my Uncle John brought it over to our house, to babysit me & my 2 sisters, 1 Sat. afternoon, holy smokes this changed my life, it was way heavier than The Beatles or The Osmonds. However this is the track I love the most off this LP. Occasionally we jam on this tune in practice for the MrZERo band.
“Gypsy Queen” Gypsy 1970 “Gypsy” Metromedia #MD2-1031
I found out about this song when the artist James “Owl” Walsh came to me & asked if our Shop (Mr. Zero’s) would like to carry his CD Boxset. I gave it a listen, oh man … little did I know only a couple weeks later I would meet a lady just like this song describes.
“Foggy Mental Breakdown” Steppenwolf “7” 1970 Nov Dunhill #DSX-50090
When I was a kid my Dad had a white VW Beetle with red interior & an 8Track Player & about 3, 8Tracks, this is 1 of them, I love this LP & this is my favorite song from the LP, I just love when John Kay & George Biondo trade off lead vocals, for a short time Journey did the same with Rolie & Perry.
“I’ll Meet You Halfway” Partridge Family “Up To Date” 1971 Bell #6059
The MONKEES had ended when I was really young, but I was just old enough to dig The Partridge Family TV Show, with 60% of the same song writers & musicians involved it was an easy transition for me. This one was written by Goffin who wrote several hits for The Monkees, also it captures my idea of how all relationships should work.
“Hold Her Tight” The Osmonds “Crazy Horses” 1972 MGM #SE-4871
Up until The Beatles this was the heaviest music I was exposed to, again introduced to me by my Uncle John, I loved this LP, yet another LP cover I would sit & look at for hours. I was fortunate enough to meet 3 of the 5 brothers @ Mystic Lake in Mar 2001 where incidentally they recorded their “Back On The Road” Live CD, that night. I was able to meet the other 2 brothers in 2003, so my LP is signed by all 5 brothers.
“Photograph” Ringo Starr “Ringo” 1973 Nov Apple #SWAL-3413
When we live in my favorite house as a kid on W. 17th st. I would sit the hallway listening to our big white & gold 1940s radio & this was my favorite song then. Yet another 1 written with Harrison.
“Got To Choose” KISS 1974 Oct “Hotter Than Hell” Casablanca #NBLP-7006
In the summer of ’76 I discovered KISS. This has to be my favorite song by them. I am in a KISS: Tribute Band “Rock And Roll All Nite” this is song #10 in our set. I also was on the staff that wrote a book about KISS :Alive Forever” 2002 Billboard Books.
“Sweet Burgundy’ Tommy Bolin “Private Eyes” 1976 Aug Columbia
I am from Sioux City, Iowa home of this artist, in fact his family lived across the street from us on Pierce St. this song really sums up Tommy’s music for me. Tommy showed me that “If Bolin from Sioux City can end up in Deep Purple, then surly I can get out of this town” I have been working on a book “Post Toastee” on Tommy for some time.
Ok, fans there’s a Top 20 for you.
*Please remember folks, “National Record Store Day” was designed for you to put down your Cellphone, & Get Off The Intronets, go outside & buy products from your local music store to help keep them open another year.
Another thing to keep in mind fans, until the mid 60s most Artists songs sold on 45 Singles (not LPs) in the 70s LPs & 8Tracks were the biggest selling format, in the 80s Cassettes were the Top format, 1987 was the last year for all 6 Major Labels Vinyl production in the USA, in the 90s almost everything sold on CD (some Cassettes). It wasn’t till the mid 2000s that they really started making Vinyl again.
So like Ace Frehley once sang in 1984: “You better get yourself to the record store”
Until the nest installment… “Nerd Is The Word”
Mr.Zero’s Inc. *Est. 2009
www.MrZeros.Com
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
651. 489. 0207
RLSchwinden: Owner
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