Gone Digital: The Exciters, Lotti Golden, Alabama State Troopers, The Persuasions, and Berlin Blondes

If it’s Tuesday, then it must be time for Gone Digital, our weekly look at five additions to Rhino’s digital catalog that may have escaped your notice. As ever, the types of music we’ll be covering will be all over the place, but that’s Rhino for you: we’re all about variety!

•    The Exciters, THE EXCITERS (1965):  Formed in the early ‘60s, this girl group – one which later added a guy to their ranks, but that’s another story – had already experienced what would turn out to be their career high in 1962 with the single “Tell Him,” but they took another shot at success when they signed to Roulette Records in 1965. They did manage to eke out one very minor hit with “I Want You To Be My Boy,” but it was the only hit their self-titled album managed. That said, it’s a great record that you should check out  if it’s passed you by up to this point.

•    Lotti Golden, MOTOR-CYCLE (1969): You may not know Golden’s name, but you really should, because she was a real musical innovator, one who’s spent more time as a songwriter and producer than as a performance. That said, this was her debut album, and it’s something to behold. The website TinyMixTapes.com offered the sonic comparison that it's “as if The Velvet Underground recorded for Motown. In short: debauchery with a beat.”

•    Alabama State Troopers, ROAD SHOW (LIVE) (1972): Doug Nix recorded an album called LIVING BY THE DAYS in ’71, and then he created a group to tour the album. The tour went so well that the band became an entity unto themselves, resulting in the release of this live album.

•    The Persuasions, CHIRPIN’ (1977): You may well be familiar with this acapella group,  but you might not be aware of this particular album, the eighth studio LP of their career. They’re legendary enough that there’s a joint album out there between them and Barenaked Ladies, so you may want to give it a listen. If the opening track, “Papa Oom Mow Mow” doesn’t grab you, you may want to check your pulse.

•    Berlin Blondes, BERLIN BLONDES: EXPANDED EDITION (1980): Formed in Glasgow in 1978, this synthpop group was ahead of its time, but this was their only LP, so they were destined to be cult sensations. If you came of age during the new wave era, however, you’ll probably want to join the cult.