One of America’s strangest musical figures: Eden Ahbez. Here’s a fan page, and here’s some great old video of the man with Nat King Cole. (Found via The Sounds of Monsterism Island CD.)
Somewhat related (in that it’s a partial explanation for the rapid success of Ahbez’s one hit song, “Nature Boy”): The Petrillo recording bans.
Somewhat related (in that it’s a CD I’ve been listening to recently): Dutch Rare Groove, a compilation of Netherlands funk. (It’s a lot better than you’re thinking.)
Somewhat related (in that it’s about ’60s and ’70s music from unexpected places): The complete catalogue of Sublime Frequencies. Would make an excellent Christmas present for the crazy person in your life.
Somewhat related (in that it’s about strange central Europeans): Germany or Florida, in which you, the reader, attempts to determine whether a bizarre occurrence happened in Stuttgart or Sarasota.
And finally, somewhat related (in that it’s about music both great and strange): My fave label, Stones Throw, has posted a streaming hour-long mix of holiday music, assembled by the great Peanut Butter Wolf himself. Some greatness (the buttery “Christmas Will Really Be Christmas” by Lou Rawls, the early ’90s Jeep beats of K. Nock, the Free Design’s “Close Your Mouth (It’s Christmas),” Caetano Veloso singing “In The Hot Sun Of A Christmas Day” — how very southern hemisphere), some lameness (“Christmas” by the still unlistenable Beat Happening), and some strangeness (the great old skool Christmas raps like “Seasons Greetings,” “Seven Days of Kwanzaa” by new label signee Georgia Anne Muldrow, the reggae “Broke at Christmas” — and last-minute guest appearances by Phil Spector and Esquivel).