Underground Buttons

Don Julio

Don Julio

Ikon Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2011
I'm embarrassed to once again have to beg the forum subcommittee like a sick dog if any rumors of this record's existence have surfaced in the last few years. This has now semi-officially become the greatest remaining mystery group/record in the Texas pantheon.

Underground Buttons (Port Isabel?)

Midas 1000 - I’m Telling You/I Think I’m On Love

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Isabel,_Texas

Port Isabel is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States.[4] It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsvillemetropolitan areas. The population was 5,006 at the 2010 census.

In September 1967, Hurricane Beulah caused extensive damage to much of the city of Port Isabel. [5] On 23 July 2008, Hurricane Dolly, a category 2 storm, also caused extensive damage to the city.
 
I presume you don't need me to repeat the story I've already posted twice about the record, especially since it's been 25 years.
 
wow, congratulations on finding one of the rarest garage 45s.

not much of a story, really. Many years ago, I borrowed a tape from a collector who found the record in the 1970s and had put one of the songs from the 45 on tape. I got to hear the record but the tape, and person who owned the record, and the copy of the record, is long gone, and I did not bother to make a copy of the tape.
Because the record is so rare, no one else on this forum had ever heard the record, so I was asked to provide some perspective on what it sounded like.

And that's about it.
So, would you be willing to provide a way of hearing the record? mp3 file? youtube post? If not, I understand, but I think you would get a lot of appreciation if you could share it, along with a picture of the label. You can email me - [email protected] - if you prefer to carry on that way, but as I said a public airing of the songs and label would be really appreciated.
 
I have no idea if it's the same copy, but I purchased a copy of this about a week ago. It hasn't arrived yet, but i have heard it. It's very good but not amazing, in my opinion. I give it 6 on the garage-o-meter.

Unusual nasal whiney vocals, with weird pronunciation of certain words. Crude fuzz guitar somewhat buried in a distant sounding mix. At least it sounded that way via the mp3 I have heard. Slow sing-song type melody sections alternated with faster and louder crunchy fuzz blasts with pounding drums.
 
bosshoss said:
I have no idea if it's the same copy, but I purchased a copy of this about a week ago. It hasn't arrived yet, but i have heard it. It's very good but not amazing, in my opinion. I give it 6 on the garage-o-meter.

Unusual nasal whiney vocals, with weird pronunciation of certain words. Crude fuzz guitar somewhat buried in a distant sounding mix. At least it sounded that way via the mp3 I have heard. Slow sing-song type melody sections alternated with faster and louder crunchy fuzz blasts with pounding drums.
Click to expand...

That's kinda the way I remember it from Mark M.'s tape dub.
Of course I haven't heard it since probably 1984, so...
 
MopTopMike said:
Martucci Man!

I scored some monster 45s when he sold off his collection.
Click to expand...

I got a nice stock copy of The Brogues on Challenge from him back when he liquidated
his vinyl assets. Do you know who eventually got his Underground Buttons 45? Pretty
sure that it wasn't Hans K.
 
Said Texas lawyer is indeed an excellent person! He does not have a copy of this 45 though, since him and I have discussed it before.
About 5 years ago, I managed to get ahold of one of the last living band members.
He confirmed the records existence but told me his personal copies were all destroyed in the massive storm that hit Port Isabel in the 90's. Attempts to speak to other members failed, and I got confirmation that one of the other members very recently passed away.
I did get the bands story and would love to write a piece for my blog but I wanted to post up scans and sound files of the record to go with it first.
Needless to say, I still haven't heard the record but would love to!
 
buckeyebeat said:
wow, congratulations on finding one of the rarest garage 45s.

not much of a story, really. Many years ago, I borrowed a tape from a collector who found the record in the 1970s and had put one of the songs from the 45 on tape. I got to hear the record but the tape, and person who owned the record, and the copy of the record, is long gone, and I did not bother to make a copy of the tape.
Because the record is so rare, no one else on this forum had ever heard the record, so I was asked to provide some perspective on what it sounded like.

And that's about it.
So, would you be willing to provide a way of hearing the record? mp3 file? youtube post? If not, I understand, but I think you would get a lot of appreciation if you could share it, along with a picture of the label. You can email me - [email protected] - if you prefer to carry on that way, but as I said a public airing of the songs and label would be really appreciated.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response. I will record an mp3 and post a pic in a few days. I just bought a large 45 collection and I need to get those sorted.

Thanks again,

Randy
 
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