Tuesday Titillation: Cocoa Butter

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Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 222 - Bad Boys - Part 4 of 4

Acquired Tastes XLIII: 

Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 222

Bad Boys

Part 4 of 4

Today, we take a final look at the Bad Boys imprint.

Brought to you by the good people at Star Distributors, LTD., the Bad Boys imprint published 46 titles, from 1989-1994. 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 BA-101, and continues thusly. The book number only appears on the spine of the book.

All the books feature the imprint's distinctive Bad Boys logo somewhere on the book's cover.  The cover design varies, but consists of an all-caps title and a color illustration by Craig Esposito. The initial design features a white backdrop, the logo at the top, a framed color illustration in the middle and the books title at the bottom, framed in a black circle. This eventually gives way to the illustration taking over the whole of the cover with the logo and title placed in various ways. 

All titles are attributed to 'anonymous'. Some of the manuscripts are originals, while others are republished from other imprints. In addition, Bad Boys would republish some them, yet again, as part of its own imprint.  

 

The original price point for the books was $3.95.Typically, you can buy these books today for between $25-$50.

This week, something odd - BA-141, BA-142, BA-143, and BA-144 all have duplicate titles, according to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List. And note the price increase to $4.95.

 

Here are the last twelve titles and I only found four out of twelve.

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The Earl's Slaveboys

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

 1993 

BA-137

(Cover not found.)

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 Dungeon Torment

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

 1993 

BA-138

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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 Supermeat

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

 1993 

BA-139

(Cover not found.)

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 Bar Room Ball

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

1993 

BA-140 J

 Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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Trucker Stud

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

1994 

BA-141

Previously published by the Stud Series imprint as SS-1026 and the Finland Books imprint as FIN-172.

(Cover not found.)

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Young Slaveboy

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

 1994 

BA-141

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 Sure-Fire Shortstops

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

 1994 

BA-142

Previously published by the Hung Studs imprint as HD-102, and, later, republished by the Gay Erotic imprint as GE-213 and GE-228.

(Cover not found.)

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 The Club

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

 1994 

BA-142

Previously published by the Bad Boys imprint as BA-114.

(Cover not found.)

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 Savage Desires

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

 1994 

BA-143

Previously published by the Bad Boys imprint as BA-115.

 Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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 Sex Slave

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

 1994 

BA-143

 Previously published by the Hard Studs imprint as HD-107.

(Cover not found.)

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Boys in Love

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

 1994 

BA-144

Previously published by the Finland Books imprint as FIN-139.

(Cover not found.)

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 Sailor On Leave

 Author: Anonymous 

Bad Boys

 1994 

BA-144

 Previously published by the Finland Books imprint as FIN-170, and later republished by the Gay Erotica imprint as GE-230.

(Cover not found.)

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And that's all for now.

Next up: titles from another vintage gay pulp fiction imprint.

Until then...

Thanks for reading.

Boys In Love - Elliot James Reay

Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: The Blow Monkeys

Wonderland Burlesque's

Down The Rabbit Hole:

The Blow Monkeys

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 history and musical evolution of the UK's The Blow Monkeys.

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From Wikipedia and other sources:

The Blow Monkeys are a British pop band formed in 1981 who enjoyed four albums and eleven singles on the UK charts between 1986 and 1990.

The Blow Monkeys formed in 1981 when lead singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, and piano player Dr. Robert (Robert Howard) returned to the United Kingdom after having spent five years in Australia. The other band members are Mick Anker on bass guitar, Neville Henry on saxophone and Tony Kiley - or - Crispin Taylor on drums.

In 1984, the group released their debut album Limping for a Generation. It failed to chart, but success was within reach. Their first hit single came in 1986 with Digging Your Scene, from their second album Animal Magic. The single attracted attention for its topical lyrics, dealing with the AIDS-fueled backlash against gay people. It peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #7 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. In addition, it reached #12 on the UK Singles Chart, #24 in Italy, and #25 in Germany.

Regarding Digging Your Scene, Dr. Robert had this to say in 2023: "I used to go to gay clubs, like Taboo, a lot because, to be honest with you, in London, in the early ‘80s, it was grim. Pubs closed – there was nowhere to go, but those clubs were open and they played great music. People were flamboyant and there was a freedom – it was a scene. Then AIDS came along and those people got demonized – even the Government starting putting out ads and Donna Summer said AIDS was God’s revenge. I know she took it back later, but that’s where the line ‘It’ll get you in the end – it’s God’s revenge’ came from. At the time, I don’t think a big deal was made of what the song was about lyrically."

Their third album She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter (a reference to then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher), was released in January 1987. It reached #20 in the UK, thanks to its biggest hit, It Doesn't Have to Be This Way, which reached #5 in the UK and #28 in Italy. Working outside the group, Robert Howard released the single Wait, which featured Kym Mazelle on female lead vocals. It reached #7 on the UK chart and was included on The Blow Monkey's fourth album, Whoops! There Goes the Neighbourhood.

The band split up in late 1990, shortly after the release of their fifth album Springtime for the World. This was due to diminishing radio interest and sales and a lack of direction. The band simply felt it had run its course. No drama, no conflict.

Which made it easy for them to reunite in 2007. Since that time, they've release seven albums of new material, the most recent being 2024's Together/Alone.

Digging Your Scene - The Blow Monkeys

Wicked Ways - The Blow Monkeys

It Doesn't Have To Be This Way - The Blow Monkeys

Out With Her - The Blow Monkeys

Some Kind Of Wonderful - The Blow Monkeys

Wait - Robert Howard and Kym Mazelle

This Is Your Life - The Blow Monkeys

Choice - The Blow Monkeys feat. Sylvia Tella  

Weekend Onesie: Bill Jones - Part 3

Weekend Onesie: 

Bill Jones

Part 3

People who check in on this blog on a regular basis know that I am a huge fan of vintage graphics. Some of the finest? From corporations looking to motivate their employees. I adore their big, broad use of color and presentation of iconic ideals, characters and images.

During the 1920s, a number of American companies produced motivational posters and cards to promote industrial efficiency and ethical behavior in the workplace. Motivational sayings were combined with high quality illustrations to provide easily readable images to convey the messages. During this time, Parker-Holladay Company, a British firm, was also producing motivational posters, featuring the fictional character Bill Jones. 

Here's more!

And there are a lot of them.

 

Simple and direct...

These graphics have become iconic.

And part of history.

- uptonking from Wonderland Burlesque

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Working - Tate McRae, Khalid

Working My Way Back To You (Forgive Me, Girl) 

- The Spinners