Norman Petty's Vault and Clovis, New Mexico - Hippie Love Turbo Radio Show - Code Word "Onion"

This episode of Hippie Love Turbo, on KUCR 88.3 FM is named after one of the most versatile yet controversial vegetables ever...the onion. I could go into the important agricultural contributions onions have made over the years but instead I'll just jump straight into main topic I covered on this episode (totally not because I'm lazy). 

I can get down with Shrek

I played a couple tracks from the 2007 compilation Now Hear This! Garage & Beat From The Norman Petty Vaults and when I went to look up the album online I noticed that a bunch of tracks are now missing from the original release. The version of the album that you'll find online is from 2009 and ironically, it's missing the title track Now Here This! by Buddy Holly's former band The Crickets or as they were known at that time, Jerry Allison & The Crickets. Allison was the drummer for the band, as well as, a primary songwriter and during this time Jerry Naylor sang lead vocals. The other missing tracks include: 

• The Trolls - I Don't Recall
• The Perils - Hate
• The Teardrops - Sweet Sweet Sadie
• The Morfomen - Write Me A Letter
• The Monocles - Let Your Lovin' Grow 

It's a shame the tracks are missing because, honestly, they are some of the better tracks on the compilation. 

To those of you that are wondering who Norman Petty was, he was a musician, producer, and engineer that was most famous for his work with Buddy Holly and The Crickets. Petty had a somewhat tumultuous relationship with the band over the years and there is some argument about how much he contributed to their success, however, it is undeniable that Petty helped launch the careers of many local musicians through the Norman Petty Recording Studios in Clovis, NM. In fact, Roy Orbison's first studio recording, The Teen Kings' - Ooby Dooby, was made at Petty's studio, as well as, Buddy Knox with The Rhythm Orchids' hit song Party Doll. 

If you're ever on a trip to Clovis or are just passing through you can visit the studio, although you do have to make an appointment. Unlike the famous Sun Studio in Memphis, TN it doesn't appear as though the studio still functions as a recording studio but instead it's a museum featuring a collection of equipment that was used by Norman along with various other artifacts. If you haven't had your fill of Clovis' rock and roll history you can head about a mile and a half east to visit the Norman & Vi Petty Rock & Roll Museum. For more information about Norman Petty and the "Clovis Sound" check out this article by Stewart Green and if you can't quite make it to Clovis to visit the museums you can live vicariously through some informative videos made YouTuber Daze with Jordan the Lion.

You can listen to this episode's playlist below:

 

Royal Shandels - Be Careful With Your Carful
The Impac - Too Far Out