Doris Saltkill writes:

What with the depression-era-tinged, hillbilly-roots of my parents and all, it’s really no surprise that I’m predisposed to behaviors toggling between collecting and hording, and I have a deep-running affection for The Andy Griffith Show.

During one of my last city-livin’ cleaning sprees, I vowed that less was more and tossed several shoeboxes of old cassette tapes in the garbage. There was one, however, that I couldn’t bring myself to part with. It’s been laying, half buried amongst discounted picture frames and art supplies, on my drawing table now for going on 6 months.

It’s a Maxell XLII 90. I am positive that it was dubbed on a cheap, maroon, off-brand boom box with tape-to-tape capabilities in the upstairs apartment at 1344 New Jersey in Lawrence, KS. The handwritten labels read “A: Homestead Grays/Mahoots” and “B: R.D.S.” Even before Napster, artists weren’t getting their due as college kids bought tapes from the merch table and circulated amongst friends.

*****

A few weeks ago upon arriving home from work, my beloved said he had a surprise for me and laid two jewel boxes (thick ones, like you get at retail) in my hands. Weary from a day of working for the Man and struggling with my middle-aged need for reading glasses, I tried to make out the artist’s name from the dark artworks of the covers as I ascended the stairs. “Is it John Doe?” I asked, wishing I had longer arms.

Two more steps delivered the light from the landing to my aid. “Oh My God! It’s Ricky Dean!”

*****

Many, many a late night drenched in beer and dance sweat was spent at the Jazzhaus or Bottleneck with Ricky Dean Sinatra in the late 80s.

Nothing was more fun than a Ricky Dean Sinatra show. I was reminded of this when I finally managed to get that old cassette into a tape deck. Twenty years ago, I had written the first track title down as “RDS ’88.” While I may have taken some liberties with the title, it was the band’s theme song which opened things up:

Elvis had a theme song, too, but his didn’t have lyrics.

Born to be a front man, Alan Murphy, aka Ricky Dean, never disappointed. A dancing dervish channeling Jed Clampett, always clad in thrift-store black, and sporting something approaching a mop-top…how could he be anything less than entertaining? After the band had torn through a few songs, the Dean, inevitably, would step to the stage’s front, raise up his regular (a Greyhound) and declare it time for a “power burst.”

The twangly, hollow-body guitar sounds of Dewey Mantini, aka Mark Roseberry, would be the likely segue back to the music. Dewey and the Dean are the heart, soul and sonic footprint of the band. Frequent co-writers, they are the genius behind oh-so-many playful lyrical rhymes (“She doesn’t wanna be Ricky Dean’s girl/ She doesn’t wanna be in that social whirl,” “I’ve had every ailment know to man/from the African mumps to the dishpan hands,” “A Mexican spitfire and a baked potato/Little [sister] Susie is a hot tomato”) and B-movie song titles (“Baby Doll,” “Wild Wild Wild,” “Go, Cheri, Go,” “Zombie School,” “Ghost of Elmo’s Car”).

*****

Recently released by Intelligent Design Records, Galaxy of Love delivers 21 re-mastered tracks of original material from Lawrence Band, Ricky Dean Sinatra.

According to archivist and sound engineer Barry Lee, details like exact dates and players per track on the disc are hazy, but in general, the songs come from three sessions. The majority of the disc is culled from the last of the three and clearly documents a good part of the RDS canon (“Head in the Wind” which was anthemic live, “Ricky Dean’s Girl,” “Tequilla Binge,” “Opie and Me” which was co-written with Chuck Mead and a version of which was included on the first BR5-49 ep). The collection is worth a listen for any roots rock fan, and I’m predicting you’ll be hooked by the rockin’ opener, “Wild Wild Wild.”

Whereas my old, pirated cassette is a live ruckus of a recording, the songs on Galaxy have richer arrangements and many have the keyboards of Jon Harrison (who can forget Big Dennis?!).

Rumor has it that there are a number of Ricky Dean Sinatra shows on the books in July and August in Lawrence and KC. For the uninitiated, it’s a great chance to join the Church of the Dean. For throw backs like me, it’s the only way you’ll get to hear “Little Latin Lupe Lu” since Galaxy has no covers.

*****

I was lucky enough to receive Galaxy along with a disc of extras that didn’t make the final collection. (Presently there is no plan for a second volume from Intelligent Design.) On the first Friday night that I had them, I took my husband on a history tour sitting in our car in the driveway. I thought it was good payback for bringing Ricky Dean back in my life.

I cannot recall the last time I was so touched by music. I won’t be letting Ricky Dean Sinatra sit on the shelf for a 20 years this go ‘round.

Galaxy of Love is available at Kief’s and at Love Garden in Lawrence and at the Westport Streetside in Kansas City.

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