Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years 1965-1968 and was a major influence on punk rock. Rhino Records reissued an expanded version of the set in 1998, with 118 tracks in total. I’m profiling and rating each of these 118 tracks, working backwards.
Track 10: Moulty by The Barbarians
Release Date: 1966
From: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Aphoristical Rating: 8/10
MOULTY – The Barbarians [2:29]
(Eliot Greenberg/Douglas Morris/Barbara Baer/Robert Schwartz)
Personnel/VICTOR “MOULTY” MOULTON: vocals, drums * BRUCE BENSON & JEFF MORRIS: guitar * JERRY CAUSI: bass [+ THE ELEGANTS: vocals][Note: It’s been suggested that this recording featured session musicians: ROBBIE ROBERTSON: guitar * RICHARD MANUEL: piano * GARTH HUDSON: organ * RICK DANKO: bass * LEVON HELM: drums]
Produced by DOUG MORRIS
Recorded in New York, NY
Laurie single #LR-3326 (1/66); Pop #90
The Barbarians formed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Drummer Victor “Moulty” Moulton quickly formed a band for a gig at his cousin’s establishment, an ex-jazz club. The band became popular and was courted by record executives. They appeared in the 1964 movie The T.A.M.I. Show alongside The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, Lesley Gore, Chuck Berry, James Brown & The Famous Flames, The Miracles, and Marvin Gaye.
‘Moulty’ is about The Barbarians drummer, Victor “Moulty” Moulton, who lost his left hand to a homemade pipe bomb at the age of 14. He had a hook, which he adjusted to hold a drumstick.
‘Moulty’ is a novelty song, with spoken verses and a singalong chorus. That’s a shaky formula but it works here. It helps that some top-class musicians are backing Moulty’s monologue. Moulty travelled without the rest of the band to record the song – he was instead supported by The Hawks, later known as The Band. The organ hook that underpins the chorus, presumably performed by Garth Hudson, makes the song.
The Barbarians’ debut album wasn’t successful, mainly consisting of rock and roll chestnuts like ‘Bo Diddley’ and ‘House of the Rising Sun’. Most of the band quit in 1967, forming Black Pearl.
The remnants of The Barbarians started combining martial arts and music. They practiced most days at a Karate dojo owned by Moulton’s brother-in-law. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they sank into obscurity.
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Had forgotten The Band connection.
I do like that description of novelty songs applies to most, doesn’t it? Do you have a favourite novelty song, G? Probably “Surfin’ Bird” for me.
I wonder if I’d hate this one if it was overplayed – I’ve only heard it on Nuggets. But that Garth Hudson organ part is lovely.
Maybe Todd Rundgren’s ‘Onomatopoeia’ is my favourite novelty song. Helps it doesn’t get played on the radio….
The name The Barbarians sounded familiar. I guess you previously covered “Are You a Boy Or a Girl?”, which I see is another of their songs included on Nuggets. I think I prefer that one over “Moulty.” That said, it’s not a bad song. The alternating spoken verses and sung parts certainly is something unusual.
Moulty really works for me for some reason – possible I might burn out on it if it was all over the radio though.