Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221 - Rough Trade, Part 8 of 19

Acquired Tastes XLIII: 

Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221

Rough Trade

Part 8 of 19

Today, we take another look at the Rough Trade imprint.

Brought to you by the good people at Star Distributors, LTD., the Rough Trade imprint published 224 titles, from 1974-1990. Star Distributors, LTD. operated out of a P.O. Box at the Canal Street Station in New York City.

The imprint's numbering system begins with RT-401, and continues thusly. The book number only appears on the spine of the book.

All the books feature the imprint's distinctive Rough Trade logo in the upper left of the book's cover.  The books cover design consists of an all-caps (typically) title in a banner of orange or baby blue near the top. A frame is created by two white stripes descending from the top banner to a thin banner (orange or baby blue) containing the word 'Illustrated' - for the books are, with drawings throughout. At the center of the cover there is an explicit illustration - some ink/pencil, some woodcut/etching - all by various popular gay artists of the time, including Craig Esposito, Adam, Michael, etc.

Oddly, the early books in the series do not have a publisher's page. Price point for the books began at 2.25 and increased (by various increments) to $3.95. Typically, you can buy these books today for between $25-45.

The back covers sometimes feature a synopsis of the book to entice readers or advertisement for one of Star Distributors' other imprints. Ads also appear at the front or back of the book - offering books, videos, and sex toys.

Here are the next dozen titles. This week, I came up short three times. Also note that they have done away with author's names (all of which were pseudonyms anyway) and, starting with RT-485, the books are now all credited to 'anonymous'. 

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Jockstrap

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1980 

RT-485

(Cover not found.)

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 Booted Master

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade 

1980

 RT-486 

According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is about "S&M and leather".

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 Chicken Hawk

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1980 

RT-487

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook from Hommi Publishing.

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 Stable Boy

  Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1980 

RT-488

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook from Hommi Publishing.

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 Hard Leather 

Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1980 

RT-489

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 Cowpoke

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1980 

RT-490

(Cover not found.)

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 Meat Rack

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1980 

RT-491

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 Marine Master

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1980 

RT-492

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 Leather Cycle Club

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1980 

RT-493

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 Coach’s Jocks

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1981 

RT-494

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook from Hommi Publishing.

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 Prison Dick

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1981 

RT-495

(Cover not found.)

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Hard Hat Dude

Author: Anonymous

 Rough Trade

 1981 

RT-496

Back Cover

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook from Hommi Publishing.

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And that's all for now.

Next up: twelve more tantalizing titles from the Rough Trade imprint.

Until then...

Thanks for reading!

 

Stable Boy - Then Jerico

Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole - Cartoons

Wonderland Burlesque's

Down The Rabbit Hole

Cartoons

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at the techno-billy pop of Denmark's Cartoons.

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Cartoons started out as the Scooters in the late 1980s, playing rockabilly music from the 50s and 60s, releasing one album. In 1997, they changed their name to Cartoons and their musical style switched from rockabilly to 'technobilly' - a mix of rock and roll and Eurodance. Many of their songs were remakes of old rockabilly hits which they covered when they were the Scooters. The group first signed to FLEX Records, moving later to EMI Denmark.

Original members included: Toonie (Martin Østengaard), Sponge (Jesper Dukholt), Shooter (Erling Jensen), Buzz (Dave Stevens), Puddy (Natasja Skov) and Boop (Karina Jensen).

Their cover version of Ross Bagdasarian's novelty song Witch Doctor reached #2 in the UK, and charted equally well throughout Europe (#2 in Ireland, #9 in Belgium, #12 in the Netherlands, #13 in Sweden, etc.)  The group enjoyed further success in the UK with the Top 10 hit DooDah, which also proved popular throughout Europe (#3 in Belgium, #5 in Denmark,  #9 in Italy, #10 in Sweden, etc.)

Their debut album, Toonage sold incredibly well, peaking at #2 in Denmark, #6 in Italy, #8 in Spain, #10 in Portugal, #12 in Sweden, #14 in Norway and #17 In the UK.

A further UK Top 20 hit, a remake of  Jim Davidson's Generation Game's Aisy Waisy followed.

However, the group's second album, Toontastic, failed to match the success of its predecessor, charting only in Denmark (#7).  And the string of singles which followed -  Diddley-Dee, Little Red Ridinghood, Big Coconuts, Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep and a reworked cover of Les Humphries Singers' Mama Loo - met a similar fate. It seemed the writing was on the wall.

In 2001, Cartoons suddenly disbanded for unknown reasons. It was later revealed, during a Danish TV interview, that the group was set to tour the US, but these plans were cancelled due to the September 11th attacks. In 2005, the group came back together to promote their Greatest Toons album which included a new single, Day Oh. In addition, they performed a number of shows throughout Europe, including at Bonbonland and the Jelling Musikfestival.

In July 2016, Karina Jensen died of cancer, which she was originally diagnosed with in 2012. And in April 2019, Erling Jensen died of lymphoma at the age of 50. Since that time Jesper Dukholt, the sole original member, has soldiered on with a new cast of players, occasionally appearing at festivals and on package tours.

In 2020, they returned to the studio with original producer Kenneth Bager to record a new single, Shots, which was released in 2023, and, later that year, collaborated with Marnage to produce a faster version of DooDah.

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Witch Doctor - Cartoons

Doo Dah - Cartoons

Aisy Waisy - Cartoons

Diddly Doo - Cartoons

Mama Loo - Cartoons

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Weekend Onesie: Bloof!

Weekend Onesie:

Bloof!

Splat! Glorp! Bloof!

However you wanna do it... Just do it.

And remember: take it as it comes, for it certainly will. Ain't nuttin' you can do about it.

Why, just take a look at the men below.

Now, undertaking such an activity is not without its responsibilities. 

My advice? A cannister of wet wipes. On the nightstand. In your backpack. And in your car!

You never know. Because these things do happen. 

Oh, and avoid tissues. They tend to fall apart when wet and if you've ever had a tiny piece stuck to the tip - well, you know exactly what I'm talking about. 

In the end? Have yourself a happy ending.

Really? Is there any other kind?

Whether alone, as a part of a duo, or group...

Indulge yourself this weekend.

And 'bloof' your way to true happiness.

- uptonking from Wonderland Burlesque

Splat - Bailter Space

Splat - Connor Price

Friday Fun: It's National Black Diamond Month!

Friday Fun:

It's National Black Diamond Month!

Not all that glitters is gold.

And not all jewels are diamonds...

But the men below?

They are as beautiful as diamonds... black diamonds.

So celebrate these men as you would any precious carbonado.

For they certainly are worthy of crush velvet and our endless esteem (and gratitude).

A kiss on the hand...

May be quite continental.

But black diamonds are forever.

- uptonking from Wonderland Burlesque

Black Diamonds - KISS

Black Diamond - Stratovarius