The Next Big Thing

DECEMBER AND BEYOND AT NORTONVILLE...
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS...
Holiday wishes to Nortonians worldwide… joy was certainly tempered by an early morning telephone call to Norton HQ from a shocked and mournful Mighty Hannibal, who broke the sad news that his friend, Mr. James Brown, had unexpectedly shed his earthly mantle in the wee dark hours of this Christmas morning. The Godfather of Soul leaves behind an immeasurable legacy, the least of which may be his still properly unlauded FUTURE SHOCK television show. Our condolences to the Mighty Hannibal and to all friends, fans and family of J.B. In his honor, let’s " THINK…about the right things, THINK about the outta sight things, baby…"

NEW YEAR’S EVE ROCK N’ ROLL DANCE!!!
A-BONES/SWINGIN’ NECKBREAKERS/GREAT GAYLORD MAGNETIC FIELD, 97 ATLANTIC AVENUE, BROOKLYN http://www.magneticbrooklyn.com
The A-Bones will be joined onstage for our entire set by special guest Ira "Keys" Kaplan of Yo La Tengo on piano. Ira the K has backed many of the top names in SHOW business, now let’s see how he does with MONKEY business! Will he survive a dive into the shallow end of the rackety A-Bones pool of high geared mayhem? Learn the answer to this question first-hand, plus witness the sonic assault of Garden State gargantuans, the Swingin’ Neckbreakers, as they piledrive their wiley ways into Kings County to close out yet another annus mirabilis… baby the world ain’t round, it’s a square…circle… and HELLO GIRLS! The Great Gaylord ("El Grand Guillardo", now a legend in Spain) will be firing up his special Squat magic encased tightly and rightly in full-on sharkskin magnificence! The Thing With Two Heads (Bazooka Joe and Xtine) will spin wildass records all night long which means reelin’ and rockin’ and rollin’ ‘til the break of dawn bringing in a …REVVIN’ 2007! Like, varoom! PS, people: This will be Lee at Magnetic Field’s last chance to employ his Norton’s 20th Anniversary marketing scheme. Fear not, Mr. Lee! Our 21st signifies the legal drinking age, the 21st amendment (ended Prohibition!), the big new century, plus for the true Nords in the A-Bones (Lars and Miriam), atomic Element 21 is the elusive and fabulous Scandium… ergo, mayhaps, a 21 gun salute! Lee, let the proliferation ploys begin anew!

GREAT JONES A-MIGHTY! (They plugged us, let’s plug them-- Jones-town USA!)
Hi Everybody,
We are throwing a dance party at Great Jones Cafe on New Year's Eve. At midnight there will be a free champagne toast and at 12:01, once the tables have been pushed aside and salt has been poured all over the floor, the dance party gets under way.
Ridiculous hats and noisemakers provided at no charge.
No cover to get in. Booze proudly exchanged for money all night long. So come early and fortify your liver, or come late after you see the A-Bones at Magnetic Field, or whatever it is that you people do. The address is 54 Great Jones St., right off the Bowery in the up and coming borough of Manhattan. Pass this on to friends & family if you want... -Matt
P.S. If you want to eat, remember that the kitchen closes at 11 on New Year's Eve. Okay then.

Friday Dec. 29 BLACK LIPS (Maxwells, Hoboken) Last area show at Don Pedro’s, the Black Lips blew the roof off the joint. Get there early – this will sell out! With a Norton 45 right around the corner as well as new album on Vice (recorded live in Tijuana!), these guys cannot remain contained! Don’t miss it! Totally top rank- see you there!

Sunday Dec. 31 THE ALARM CLOCKS (Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland) The time has indeed come. RING IN the New Year with the world’s only garage band! Midwest mod-hoppers and ATA puddle jumpers, clock in at the Beachland and file reports herewith, please!

Friday Jan. 12 MIGHTY HANNIBAL/BLACK LIPS/REIGNING SOUND (The Earl,
Atlanta) King Hannibal returns home with his fiery brand of raw soul backed by the incredible Black Lips a/k/a the Official Mighty Hannibal Fan Club, Atlanta Chapter. The truth shall set you free!! Reigning Sound throws an already wild lineup into the stratosphere! This will sell out so purchase show tickets before you start driving!

New Norton 45s in the works… prepare for the onslaught!
• THE DICTATORS – 16 FOREVER/STAY WITH ME (45-124) Long lost unissued 1978 single b/w original BLOODBROTHERS demo! Twin-spin anthems!
• MARY WEISS – DON’T COME BACK/A CERTAIN GUY (45-132) Pre-album rocker b/w non-CD Ernie-K-Doe cover (burn, K-Doe, burn!) featuring the mighty Lonnie Youngblood! Solid Reigning sound backing! Welcome back, Mary!!
• BLACK LIPS - WHAT TO DO/DEMON’S CLAWS – FACTORY GIRL (9656) Latest Rolling Stones cover song twin spin! Down home romps from today’s action teens!
Stupendous sides, both!
• THE VIKINGS – I NEED YOUR LOVIN’/SUCH A LOVE (45-136) Ultra super mega rare ’65 garage monster! Only two known copies of this brutal monster and it’s never been reissued, much less heard before! Gold wax!
New Norton Jukebox Series by super-popular demand-- THE MIDNITERS!
• THEE MIDNITERS – EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOVE/NEVER KNEW I HAD IT SO BAD (45-873) • THEE MIDNITERS – JUMP, JIVE AND HARMONIZE/THEE MIDNITE FEELING (45-874) • THEE MIDNITERS – I FOUND A PEANUT/LOVE SPECIAL DELIVERY (45-875)
Norton’s Thee Midniters collection IN THEE MIDNITE HOUR!!! (ED/CED 315) is clocking in on many 2006 "Best Of" lists…dig this frantic slab on LP and CD, NOW!!! And lube those Seeburgs n’ Wurlies for the upcoming super blast sevens!
Stay tuned for solid date on rumored Los Angeles appearance!
GREEN CARD BLUES… BLOODSHOT BILL BANNED IN USA … Our great pal, Bloodshot Bill, the one man band from Montreal (if you dig Charlie Feathers…) has been prohibited from re-entering the USA for FIVE YEARS thanks to tyrant-o-saurus border guards…. But Bloodshot Bill Mania will not be stopped-- Norton will issue ONE MAN BANNED!!!! An extended-play vinyl slab to help keep Bloodshot in the Stateside limelight. Happy Birthday, BB, eh?
…big thanks to the many of you who bought our Arthur Lee 45 of 1965 demos.
Proceeds went to Arthur before he passed away in August and sales of each and every copy continue to go to his estate-- this record was fully sanctioned by Arthur himself… never to be forgotten. http://www.thelovesociety.com/
New albums due March 6
MARY WEISS – DANGEROUS GAME (Norton 323 LP/CD) First ever solo album from the original lead singer of the Shangri-Las! Thirteen original songs plus a cover of the Shangs’ Heaven Only Knows! Backed by the Reigning Sound – more details to come next time!
THE SONICS – BUSY BODY: LIVE IN TACOMA 1964 (Norton 913 LP/CD) Ferocious Northwest live radio broadcasts from the Tacoma Sports Arena and the Red Carpet Teen Club – The Witch/Tough Walk/Hitch Hike, mo’!
WINTER/SPRING ROMPS AND STOMPS! STAY TUNED!
• Saturday, March 3 MARY WEISS/REIGNING SOUND – BEACHLAND BALLROOM, CLEVELAND – Record release show! The countdown is on for Mary’s solo debut- stay tuned! http://www.beachlandballroom.com • March 14-17 NORTON RECORDS SHOWCASE AT SXSW - Mary Weiss, Reigning Sound, Alarm Clocks, A-Bones, Dex Romweber- stay tuned!
• May 2 (New Orleans, Louisiana!) PONDEROSA STOMP returns to the Big Easy- stay tuned! http://www.ponderosastomp.com • May 16-20 (Green Bay, Wisconsin) ROCKIN’ 50s FEST! Get tix now and… stay tuned! http://www.actionpackedevents.com/Oneida%20Fest%202007.htm
NORTON CHIEF HONCHO BILLY MILLER INTERVIEWED Cool photos, too! Norton crowd w/Esquerita, Miriam and Dion compare hats, mo’!
http://turnit-down.blogspot.com/2006/11/norton-records-owner-billy-miller.html
NORTON 20TH ANNIVERSARY RADIO PARTY
Dave The Spazz’s Music To Spazz By on WFMU. Three hour party features live studio guest Mary Weiss plus phone-ins from Robert Plant (yes, Benny Joy puts a bustle in his hedgerow!), Roky Erickson, Sam The Sham, Ronnie Spector (requesting T. Valentine’s Hello Lucille Are You A Lesbian!), Dale Hawkins, Kim Fowley, Question Mark (he may still be talking!), the Alarm Clocks, Deke Dickerson and a live in the studio set from the Real Kids!
http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/21014
Check out Norton Records at myspace.com/nortonrecords and always click the news link at
http://www.nortonrecords.com