A couple of days ago I bought for a mere $1.50 on Amazon a compilation called “Pure Spun Sugar” released in 1998 by two labels together: American Pop Project and Candy Floss. It feels like a compendium of many small bands from those days, including some known names like Dressy Bessy, Cuckooland, Aquadays or Poastal, to name a few. It flows nicely, and surprises at many points. My first surprise is that Dizzy Joghurt, the great twee-ish band from Japan, was already in the radar of some labels in the USA, I have never understood why they aren’t more known. Second surprise was that The Brian Jonestown Massacre song included is quite good. I admit never listening to them because I think they have a terrible name. Maybe they have some stuff that’s worth? And the last surprise I get from it, is a track called “Phil Spector’s Birthday Song”.
The compilation includes many California bands, I wonder why. From the 14 songs on it, 6 are from the Golden State. That’s 43%! Two of these bands, from the 43% clutch, are from San Diego, the great Red Dye No.5 and the unknown to me, The Sleazy Beats. They are the ones who have penned that tribute song to Phil Spector, that whose wall of sound is over exaggerated nowadays with the reverb tuned up to the max. And no, today it’s not his birthday, I’m not doing any sort of tribute myself. We are a month away actually, Mr. Spector was born the same day as baby Jesus, December 25th. And anyways, he will spend his birthday in the state prison of Corcoran. Don’t think he’ll have a big celebration.
‘Kind of like the Wall of Sound/You stand tall forever…’ – The Sleazy Beats sing. Also as the song starts to fade, a guitar countermelody first features the line associated with the words ‘be my, be my baby,’ and then the one for ‘to know, know, know him…’ The song is full of nods to Phil Spector. But are there any nods or hints to who The Sleazy Beats were? The answer is no. I looked online for more information about them just to come empty handed.
The only other clue is an address written on the compilation. 6633 Solita Avenue, San Diego. Plotted the address on Google Maps, and went ahead to some modern stalking skills. Street View! A one floor white house comes up. A small US flag hanging outside, the front porch surrounded with a white picket fence. A lovely house, a big garage, and I assume at least 2 bedrooms. There are only four houses on this block, two in this side of the street, big enough to house a band. Also it seems to have a big garden in the back and a bungalow! Perfect place to store the drums! But then, 10 years have passed and most probably they have moved away and some retired couple is now living and gardening this house.
This case seems to have too many lose-ends and not many clues for the indiepop detective. Whatever happened to The Sleazy Beats? Did they release any other songs? Did anyone remembers them playing live? Judging from the poptastic “Phil Spector’s Birthday Song”, they were up for something special.
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2 Responses to “:: The Sleazy Beats”
(from a facebook message by Gary Strickland)
I ran across a blog where someone was curious about the Sleazy Beats from the American Pop Project comp. They were a group of my friends and not really a band. Though, I think some of them used the name for a few gigs. I was the manager for Red Dye No. 5 and my friend Jay played me the Phil Spector song in his car. It was around the time Mike Toy was collecting tunes for the comp. I thought he might dig it and sent him a copy.
The story my friend Jay told me about the tune is that a girl he knows wrote the song. She wanted to send it to Phil Spector and asked for his help with the music. He recruited some people to play on the recording. Hector Penalosa from the Zeros played bass. John Chilson played drums. Jay’s wife Mirella sang along with a couple of other girls. The House you googled was Jay and Mirella’s They no longer live there they moved to Australia in about 2002. Jay has a band called thee Oscar Wildes in Melbourne.
My wife, brought this to my attention
I’m Jay Wiseman and Mirella Belsito is my wife, and yes now we have been living in Melbourne, Australia since 2000. I have a local band called Thee Wylde Oscars since 2010. My wife and I had a band together as well called the Devil Dolls.
If you want photos, I’ve got them of the recording session and the band after the recording.
You actually went to our old house? LOL!
It was the party house from 1992 to 2000 when we owned it. The place had a great vibe!
Story from Gary is essentially correct.
I wrote the music and arranged the vocals and music after getting some lyrics from Sandra Castillo, who had a huge crush on Phil Spector, was his pen pal, and decided to send this song as a present.
Members of the band were:
Mirella Belsito (Diabolik) – Vocals
Rachael Gordon (Rachael Gordon) – Vocals
Sandra Castillo – Vocals
Hector Penalosa (Zeros)- Bass, guitar (tweedly bit on the bridge)
Xavier Anaya (Hoods, Mach 5) – Guitar
John Chilson (Hoods, Loons) – Drums
Me (Hoods, Mach 5) – Rhythm Guitar
Recorded at Gar Wood’s (Fishwife) Studio in present South Park, San Diego in 1997 or 8.
After the recording the band stayed together, although not in the same lineup.
Mirella and Rachael stayed on and recruited Diabolik’s guitar player, and now Swedish fine artist, Anders Stone (Diablo 44); drummer Joel Kmak (Beat Farmers, Penetrators, SFs Hitmakers); and bassist Gordo (Spent Idols).
They got another singer Candy Johnson from Helvis and the Hellvets to complete the 3 girl front.
They played a few shows and got noticed by Rodney Bingenheimer and were put on to headline a show in LA. The bass player quit the day before the show and lost the gig from an irate Rodney.
The band played one more gig in LA’s garage before breaking up and heading in different directions: with Mirella and I moving to Melbourne, Australia; Candy and Anders moving to Sweden, Rachael starting her own solo project and eventually being Ace Frehely’s main girl; and the rest staying in San Diego.