The Ben Vaughn Combo blazed the trail for American music that was way off kilter compared to the competition. Their tri-state type Tex-Mex sound really shook things up. Their reputation as a live act grew exponentially with every show they played. Theirs was a twist on the roots rock scare with a reach something like The Fleshtones, outside of the standard 80s ranch stash. The sort of thing that has a tendency to get written out of history despite being timeless, it doesn’t easily fit into any premeditated narrative.

When “The Many Moods Of Ben Vaughn” appeared in 1986, the Combo literally had the world at its feet. Many of the hits you hear when you see him (and the Quintet) today are on this platter. Long out of print and somewhat sought after, this was the first time that Ben’s Rambler car was heard on a record. And not the last.

The Andy (then Adny) Shernoff inspired ‘I Dig Your Wig’ is like The Cramps with a Doug Sahm infusion. The accordion is the secret weapon here. Little used in rock ‘n roll and often scoffed at, it allows these songs a setting that your conventional instrumentation would just flatten. Reading the sleeve info you’ll see the legend “DEDICATED TO THE GEATOR”, a nod to the legendary Philly DJ that inspired Ben to come up with his sound. It sounds just as fresh now as it did back then.

Perhaps you’re too young to have been around when this record album was first available? Maybe you wore your three copies out? Whatever your story is, these “Many moods…” will lift yours in these perilous times. Don’t end up sorry (like Brenda Lee).

The man himself (and the aforementioned players) will be revving up their engines for an appearance at Surforama 2022 in Valencia and appearing at other locations across Spain in late May/Start of June. That ought to juice up demand.