Elmer City Rambling Dogs – “Jam It!” LP (1975)
Another biker band here, sans any “cool” Punk influences—they were at least a year too early for that and I doubt these hicks would have given a fuck, anyway. All the same, this record has its charm and is somewhat obscure, as it was released on an indy label (Dog Dirt Records). What we have here is your basic biker rock, crudely and drunkenly played. The lead singer on some tracks sounds like a barking Jim Morrison, only drunker and sloppier. Great cover art on this one, too and I was kind enough to do a high-resolution scan so you can find the penis mushrooms, pot plants, dog-fucking, bong, dog rolling a joint, etc., etc………
Jam It!
SAMPLE TRACKS:
Download HERE
4/20/2010 UPDATE: The Truth Behind the Dogs (see comments):
“my name is teeny tar and i was lead screamer for the band ELMER CITY RAMBLING DOGS. the article above states we were a biker band. no one in the band drove or owned a bike. the shows we played were biker free. also it says i was drunk. i don’t even drink alcohol. the guitar player james rowland drank only heineken beer but not when we played. the art work was done by my best friend joe rodgers a.k.a MONKO. sadly he passed away a few years ago at age 53 of throat cancer. i do like the article though. i think its wild and funny. i still own two unopened albums and have been offered up to 500 dollars but i won’t sell. i did have 50 c.d.’s recorded and gave to my friends. i stii have 1 cd for me. i don’t know what proof i have. i can say i wrote 8 songs on the album including the three sample tracks. the dog in the window doing doggy-style is the drummer mike mascirelli and his bitch deviette. they are still together living in philadelphia. the dog rolling the joint is guitarist james rowland who lived in elmer, new jersey at the time we got together but now lives in wallingford,pennsylvania. the little dog pissing on the porch is richie ver-el who played fender electric piano and electric fender bass piano. he now lives in gaitherburg, maryland. and me teeny tar i live in lake wales,florida moving here 4 and a half years ago after living in tavernier, florida for 12 and a half years which is located in the beautiful florida keys. keep on doing what you’re doing. rock and roll and rockin’ blooze forever. you got my e-mail if you want to reply.”
Well, I have no reason to doubt you, buddy! I stuck your comment on the main page as a correction. As far as the biker thing goes, I actually read it in an article that discussed obscure biker bands many years ago–I didn’t hatch it myself. I believe my copy was still sealed when I found it, but I’d never sell. For some reason the psychedelic collectors have latched onto that record and a lot of those geeks spend serious $$$ for that stuff, which is to your advantage, I suppose. I’ve played that LP countless times, by the way–it’s everything I look for in a band: honest, crude and raw! Perhaps, if some of the other guys in the band touched your sealed copies, we could clone the DNA and breed another band–it would be worth it to have one decent rock band left on the planet, as music completely sucks right now!
Hey its Dan from Rutledge, Pa. Remember the good times hanging out and getting in trouble?
WoW! Dan Fernandez. Howz it going? was too young to hang with you guys at Tar’s house. Well probably not but Pat my older Brother was there with you guys and he didn’t want me around to spoil his fun. I did have the pleasure of listening to Pat play Tar’s album over and over. Loved it!!! So sorry to just learn of his passing. Peter Paul Green Balls.
hey mr. poopy, i forgot to mention the elmer city rambling dogs also released a 45 record. the a side was a song by james rowland called TRIBORO BRIDGE. it was about fighting traffic in new york city trying to get to the TRIBORO BRIDGE. the b side was a song by me teeny tar called EYE OF THE NEEDLE. it was an anti-drug song. the a side only has a label which has the dog dirt records logo and underneath that is an 1940 airplane pulling a banner that says “presents” and to the right of that is a sideway headshot of king kong looking at the banner. the b side has no label but it does have eye of the needle. talk about rare. i don’t think you could ever find this. in the mid 80′s i did some video’s that are on youtube of me in a band called jack and the offs. check them out if you want to see some crude and raw music. let me know what you think. in the picture on this site of the dogs i’m the one on the right giving an upside down peace sign. the drummer is bending down with sun glasses. in the doorway on the left is james rowland and on the roof with the dog is richie ver-el. GLORIFY THE TURD!!!!!!!
Dude, you guys are hilarious! Why don’t you get some CDs pressed and get a website? I pay a whopping $15 a month for this thing and have hundreds of regular readers and thousands of viewers, despite the fact that I did almost nothing to publicize it–and it’s a piece of crap! There are millions of geeks who never leave the house just trolling for this kind of stuff. Generally, I rarely use more than 30% of my allotted bandwidth.
The Dogs were a DIY outfit at a time when there was no distribution and no publications to publicize it–you should at least get yourself a website for your bands and collect some kudos. Musically, I think Jack and the Offs reminds of of the Child Molesters–an LA band that latched on to the Punk scene that seems to have a similar attitude and influence that you guys have. That guy “Raven” put out one obscure record in 1975 that hardly anyone ever heard and got to tour Europe and collect long overdue kudos–don’t sell yourselves short!
O.K. Poopy, you win the prize, you’ve captured the gold. THis is why I blog. THose links kick some serious ass!! Wow, you’ve peeled back the crust and found GREAT punk roots for people here. Fascinating backround from teeny tar!!
hey mr. poopy, thanks for the kudos but my days of being in a band are over. i just started kidney dialysis and i have to be dialysized three times a week for 3 and a half hours tues, weds and sats. that’s what i get for partying hard thru the 60′s-70′s and part of the 80′s. i am now 61 and our drummer is in poor health also but hey we had our fun with lots of free puss-puss and party material if you catch my drift. anyhow i love your site- its wild- and i’ve been telling my wacko friends about it. keep gloryfying the turd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i’m the drummer from Jack and the Offs, and I have to tell you that on his worst day, Teeny tar is still the sickest mother fucker I have ever met, and i met a lot of sick people, I talk to Tar all the time, and while he is having some medical problems for sure, it really has not changed his outlook on anything, I’m working on getting J, Rowland my rythym guitar player down here in florida, to put together one more batch of sick shit. my site on youtube with a lot of our stuff osted is under jkallih, easy to see some real shit there, check out “totally nude singer:” and “swine flu rap band for some high end shit..type in Teeny Tar on the site, and maybe twenty five or thirty videos with Tar featured will pop up.
You guys need a goddam website.
hey deviette here and yes snakepit you couldnt carry mikes socks when it comes to being a drummer, nobdy mntions what a great drummer mike is or ritchie verel the piano player ove you tar deviette
There must be something in the air–I was actually thinking about you guys the other day. My site doesn’t do you justice–you should get yourselves a real website with a bio, pics, etc. I’m a busy guy, but I’m almost to the point of offering my assistance. It isn’t hard and costs as little as $1.99 a month–less than a pack of smokes. I only pay $15 a month for this site and I rarely use up even 60% of my bandwidth despite thousands of downloads.
played some great gigs,i loved being down at james farm had a lot of fun there deviette
Hey Vicki…..It’s Ray…..Been way too long of a time…..e-mail me sometime @ vampyre466@yahoo.com…..been thinking about you and Mike.
Hey…
I’m the daughter of Deviette or Mrs. Vivian Masciarelli. And stepdaughter to Mike Masciarelli. Hi Tar!!
I was just a teen when the Elmer City Rambling Dogs were in their heyday.
My mom and dad will be married 34 years this Saturday. And it is Mike’s 60th birthd
ay.
My personal favorite is ‘Triboro Bridge’. And no, they were not a biker band.
i picked up one of these albums back in the late 70′s at the englishtown auction (in central new jersey)..it is still in awesome shape. bought it due to the cover and was so happy i did…they did such a great job, i was hooked..glad to see they are alive and kickin..is the cd re-mastered? or a lp rip like the crackly ones that are floating around?
nobody mentions canned heat, but these guys remind me of the early years of canned heat…
These guys have better lyrics than Canned Heat! No reissue that I’m aware of but this was a sealed copy when I bought it.
Okay, Mr. P… you got it! Yeah I still have a few more still wrapped ECRD from when I bought a case from House of “Hounds”… This album was a decent result of some experiments with spontaneous improvisational methods and it was an honor to see it is still appreciated. All the musical equipment was first generation electrified, James had a custom built left hand Danelecto,as I recall and I used a Wurlizter e.p. and a Fender Rhodes keyboard bass The only exception the few cuts with a Hammond B. Wish I had a copy of the first tickets we printed for ECRD Jam And Beer Party. I miss the friends and the fun, still get invited to play jams and gigs here in Maryland, this thing wont quit, man. I lost my copy of the CBGB’s gig review, Tar, you got a copy of that? Last night I almost shredded a microphone trying to do Roll With The Changes at an open mike at a place called Growlers. It’s all good. It’s all fun. Me go bak 2 wurk now cyuz soon.
I met James at my mothers house in Cape May,(they dated briefly) he probably wouldn’t remember me but I was about 13 and had just gotten my first guitar. And James spent time with me and showed me a few chords and gave me a copy of the now famous album. this was also the first time I ever saw a left handed guitarist in person. I will never forget that time Jim was really cool. I would love to jam with him nowadays. Marc (Denise’s son)
yeah they were the good old days down on james farm, best days of my life wish i could turn back the clock deviette
The first time I heard about this band was when I read about them in the pages of one of the Incredibly Strange books. I think it was in the Jello Biafra section. Allegedly another LP exists going by the name of “XXX”.
Anyway thanks for putting this mother up!!
I know the article you are talking about, but I’ve personally found a few inaccuracies in it, although you have to admit the man has a killer record collection and knows his shit. Several people involved with the band have posted in the comments and I am under the impression that no such LP exists by ECRDs–just this record and an obscure 7″. Am I right, guys?
I now believe that the “XXX” thing was a pre Rambling Dogs band or project, Unfortunately I have no concrete proof of this.
sorry to say teeny tyar passed away april 127th 2011 , probably in heaven jamming love youi rar
LOVE YOU TAR
I regret to inform you that Teeny Tar has passed to the other side….His legacy will live on as he was truly an original!!!, and yes the Elmer City Rambling Dog’s opened for this special show with the Poppees on May 12,1976 in a live performance at CBGB’s in New York City. They(ECRD’s) were called a “loose and proficient Philadelphia area Band” . Laughing Dogs also covered for the Poppees as well that night. About 20 years later the ECRD’s did a reunion tour at the Ponderosa Tavern and Marina in Ridley Park Pa. I remember that well. The place was packed to the maximum limit and then some….lol.. It was a fun night and my husband had so many women around him that I couldn’t even get close…..lol again I always tell the story and he would have a shit eating grin on his face every time I told it through the 28 years we were married. He will be sadly missed by all! Also I am not aware of any triple X Album…..I considered the Original Album cover of the Dogs to be triple X…lol Keep on doing it Mr. Poopy ,its people like you that keep bands like the ECRD’s alive and well!!!!
More bad news–just what the world needs right now, So much for the reunion show.
Lisa ~ My heart is heavy after reading this blog for the 1st time and learning of Terry’s passing. I shared a lot of wild and quality times with him back in the day in suburban Philly. I met him through mutual friends… the Pitts Family from Prospect Park. Tar, aside from being one hell of a righteous man, was very creative, entertaining and a joy to be around. I’ll never forget his collage-mobile. I also was fortunate enough to have attended the ECRD JAM & BEER BLAST… and what a blast it was. Those were days my friends!
Please accept my belated heartfelt condolences.
Chas O
lisa i havbe a copy of the xxx livbe bAND MIKE WAS THE DRUMMER FOR IT
thereunion gig at ridley was 10 yrs not 20
The newspaper seemingly had written the review, which here is some, Teeny Tar’s vocals were good but overmiked, that of James Rowland an okay lead guitarist. Ritchie Verrill was the groups mainstay supplying good electric piano and Mike Masciarelli a fine drummer completes the outfit and of course Teeny Tar plays the slide whistle on one tune.Seemingly relaxed ECRD offered a good program, much of it was etched on their own Dog Dirt label. Some of what was said on the review. Oh and I made a type error it was about their 10th year reunion at the Ponderosa in Ridley Park. Wanted to get my facts right. Thanks Mr. Poopy!
as there’s still no re-issue of the LP, would be so nice to hear it in at least 192 kps (like most of your later posts). i’m not one of those sound freaks & i don’t care too much about lossless shit or whatever, but you gotta admit 128 sounds a bit flat/thin.
however, huge thanx for posting this album, more huge than anything said above (otherwise i’d be an ungrateful leech). been curious to hear this record for more than 6 years. well, i love Simon Stokes & most of his vinyl was put to cd’s – which is what definitely should be done to this one, too.
cheers
I have a sticky note on my desk–I’ll do it this weekend.
okay, i see there’s other rips on the net — but personal stories on this page are just priceless)
This is where “The Dogs” go to mingle!
be happy you’re not living in Europe, otherwise you’d have to endlessly stand by w/a scoop & a plastic bag – or your site would be fined for environmental damage!
(and please don’t tell you ARE happy, we know it all)
excellent to see all this information about this awesome and obscure band! i have the 45 and will be posting it up and my blog soon. ( i found you trying to find info on the band) Of course when i do i will point people in your direction!
cheers and many thanks!
devil dick
the triboro bridge / eye of the needle 45 has been posted here:
http://devildick.blogspot.com/2011/10/rambling-dogs-triboro-bridge-eye-of.html
hope some of you can stop by and leave some more comments!?!?
cheers & many thanks again!!!
and great blog BTW mr poopy! i’ll need to stop by more often!
dd
Cool–it will be nice to hear something new from these guys.
Arrived via Devil Dick – this lp is awesome!
My condolences to all surviving band & family members.
This is r.v. I am saddened to learn about Teeny Tar. I have a private ritual when I lose a friend. I go to a piano or a guitar and play and sing a portion of the ballad of easy rider. When I get to the first verse the second time it will end at theqpart that goes “…all he wanted was to be free. I guess that’s the way it turned out to be.” …Tar, your genius lives in the memories of your friends from your All Amazing Amateurish Alphabet to your Zany front man Twitchdance… Celebrate his life. -RV
just popping in to say Glorify The Turd…by the way I am Teeny Tar’s son
Well, that record ain’t no turd. Been listening to it a lot lately for some inexplicable reason. Always liked that record, but I seem to get more out of it these days. Your dad was hilarious.
Dogs stories: We rode out to James’ farmhouse for practices/jams sometimes in Tar’s old 64 Plymouth. He got the car from some USPS used car deal and it had a right hand steering wheel. Toll collectors on the bridge would lose it laughing. Tar claimed he was being kidnapped by the invisible man in the “driver’s seat” Then he turned his next cat into a rolling collage from bumper to bumper.
HEY RICH REMBER THE TIME WE WERE IN THE CAR AND TAR TRIED PLAYING CHICKEN WITH A TRUCK WE ALLO CLOSED OUR EYES YOU PUT YOUR HEAD IN MY CROTCH AND SAID IF IM GONNA DIE GONNA DIE HAPPY THEN HE LAUGHED AND SAID BET THAT SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF YOU IWAS SO FUCKING PISSED AT HIM HE HAD HIS KIDS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME CRAZY MAN AND I ADORED HIM RIP IN PEACWE TAR
LOVE DEVIETTE
Hey everyone, Some of you know me, some don’t
Mike,Vickie,Jim Roland, Dale Eisenhut.
I loved those days and remember them well.
All the music especially before Woodstock.
Tar,Buck,Jack Cassady. Peace and love to you.
Sat in Jim’s basement in Darby after the InSex.
Then came XXX Live on half track recorder. At Lamonts building. Practice everynight.
Mike, you are the drummer. We had great times.
Bill Revelli has also passed on many years ago.
Take Care Earl Call 302 565 8404
Every time I sit in at a jam or play few and far between gig I think about the anazing way this music evolved in the half finished addition at The Rowland family’s farmhouse in Elmer. I wonder if any of the tapes at CN’s and the collection of poetry by Teeny Tar still exist. (we taped some of our improvising with an improvised setup using car stereo spea
kers amicrophones…improvise squared???
Hey all! This is Echo, Teeny Tar’s oldest daughter. I remember having fun times at Jimmy Roland’s farm! And who else but a member of ECRD would own a kinkajou as a pet?!?! (For those who don’t know it was Jimmy Rowland!) I also seem to remember a little and then coming home from the farm when my dad got pulled over by a cop who asked him “Didn’t you see that sign back there?” my father replied negatively and I jumped up from the back seat and said, “You mean the one that said ‘no left turn’?”and the cop let my dad go because apparently SOMEONE was paying attention! LMFAO. I have to say that I was reading all of your memories and it was making me cry but in a good way because there’s so many great memories with my dad! He was and will always be the most creative and unique individual I have ever known and I’m so happy to have had the time with him that I did! if anybody wants to message me my email address is Echo218@yahoo.com.
PS… his poetry does still exist… I believe Lisa has it…
my name is teeny tar and i was lead screamer for the band ELMER CITY RAMBLING DOGS. the article above states we were a biker band. no one in the band drove or owned a bike. the shows we played were biker free. also it says i was drunk. i don’t even drink alcohol. the guitar player james rowland drank only heineken beer but not when we played. the art work was done by my best friend joe rodgers a.k.a MONKO. sadly he passed away a few years ago at age 53 of throat cancer. i do like the article though. i think its wild and funny. i still own two unopened albums and have been offered up to 500 dollars but i won’t sell. i did have 50 c.d.’s recorded and gave to my friends. i stii have 1 cd for me. i don’t know what proof i have. i can say i wrote 8 songs on the album including the three sample tracks. the dog in the window doing doggy-style is the drummer mike mascirelli and his bitch deviette. they are still together living in philadelphia. the dog rolling the joint is guitarist james rowland who lived in elmer, new jersey at the time we got together but now lives in wallingford,pennsylvania. the little dog pissing on the porch is richie ver-el who played fender electric piano and electric fender bass piano. he now lives in gaitherburg, maryland. and me teeny tar i live in lake wales,florida moving here 4 and a half years ago after living in tavernier, florida for 12 and a half years which is located in the beautiful florida keys. keep on doing what you’re doing. rock and roll and rockin’ blooze forever. you got my e-mail if you want to reply.