Thursday, September 24, 2009

Re-upped: $27 Snap On Face - Heterodyne State Hospital (1977)

Sonoma County weirdos, $27 Snap On Face, rank among the strangest of west coast cult acts from the 70's. Formed sometime early in the decade by guitarist Bob O'Connor and vocalist David Petri, the lineup was soon complete with the addition of bassist Steve Nelson, guitarist Jim Doherty, keyboardist Frank Walburg and drummer Ron Ingalsbe. Almost immediately, O'Connor and Petri knew they wanted to create something truly bizarre. Though the other members were resistant at first, soon the band were making waves in Sebastopol and its surrounding cities. With over the top performance art integrated into their shows, the band seemed destined for cult status from the get go. The band's history goes blurry from this point onward, though I am aware of at least one single issued in 1975, prior to the "Heterodyne State Hospital" album.

As for this album, well, let's just say it's an acquired taste. Some get it and others don't. I suppose I'm with the latter, though I can appreciate the band's desire to do something unusual. With Zappa flourishes penetrating the music presented here, the album comes across like an inside joke that only a select few were intended to understand. This being said, the listener might often feel a bit alienated by the material here. Sounding like an early Frisco hippie act fronted by Frank Zappa, the focus here is sublime and not so much about musicality as it is lyrical content. The band self-issued 1,000 copies of the album in 1977, though it sounds like it may have been recorded considerably earlier. The band continued for a short time, doing mostly union gigs in the Sonoma County area before eventually calling it a day. O'Connor now lives in Hawaii, Petri is a realtor in Cobb, Walburg runs a vacation community in Santa Rosa and Ingalsbe's whereabouts are unknown. Doherty passed away in 1993.

If weird cult bands are your thing, then you'll surely find something to love about $27 Snap On Face. This elusive piece of west coast psychedelic is, if anything, something you're not likely to ever forget. Enjoy this re-up from 'Gumby'!

20 comments:

Fuzzbox said...

;) ... damn too late ...
can you re-up the album one day?

i'm curious :)

thanks mate & greetings!
fuzzbox

Anonymous said...

I second that motion. The first thing I read about on this blog that sounded interesting and wouldn't you know it, not there.

arlan igo said...

could you please post this again? thank you.

Gumby said...

I have this LP. I can rip and post it if anyone wants it.

Gumby said...

http://rapidshare.com/files/284095110/_27_Snap_On_Face_-_Heterodyne_State_Hospital.rar

virgiliodonothing@gmail.com said...

Hi Ronnie:

I'm trying to find "Taste: Tickle your Fancy"...You're the only site who once had it...Could you please reupload it? It would be awesome.

Thank you So much!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for re-uploading!

Sammy... Davis... Juunyaa said...

TIE YER BOOTS TIGHT!
TIE EM UP TIGHT BUDDY!
TIE EM UP GOOOOOOD!

I love this retarded record.

Anonymous said...

Dang, I just missed this. The link is dead.

Anonymous said...

Please re-up this album. Way back when I knew one of the members of the band, Jim Doherty, who apparently passed away some time ago.

Gumby said...

Here's a new link. I hope it won't get deleted once again:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JUPMMR9G

Grab it quick, just in case.

Anonymous said...

Many thanks, Gumby, for the repost. That brings back memories. You de man.

8^)

the late Mr. Anonymous

freQazoidiac said...

why does this keep disappearing?

Anonymous said...

Thanks! Last link is still working.
Amazing i find this album on the net!
Very good blog you have!

Fuzzbox said...

woops ... how time flies.
Still very curious, just downloading!

Big thanks!

Anonymous said...

thx! from sonoma county, ha!

Bob Glibb said...

The last 2 tracks, tracks 9 and 10 have static skipping, the sound quality is poor. Can you re-up the tracks again??

King Dick said...

i must agree with anon. the first description that really piqued my interest. thanks for sharing - dl-ing now!

Anonymous said...

Want to know more about $27 snap on face. Get issue #32 winter/fall 2011 of UGLY THINGS magazine 1-518-731-6262-------Lots of info-----

Anonymous said...

Thanks, I love this album :-)