Before + After
Quite a while ago I convinced my daughter to give me this empty Elvis Presely 45 display case (she removed the fake "Jail House Rock" 45 long ago... :P). I've been planning to take it apart, revamp it, and use it to display a 45 by my dad's old band Dahcotah, and I finally got around to doing it today!
Here it is after I took it apart. The original cardstock insert made a perfect template for my new and improved one, naturally.
Here it is all finished. I used some cardstock from a Martha Stewart set I got cheap at Wal-mart. There are a lot of really attractive prints in there for only around 7$, and they carry them at Michael's too, if you're opposed to Wal-mart. For the title I used self-stick letters in a circus/carnival-esque font. I love things that look like they should be at a carnival or circus! ♥ (Except for clowns...I really hate those. O_o)
Anyway, a little more info...
The band was called Dahcotah, and they were from Iowa. They were active during the early to late seventies. My dad played bass, lead, and rhythm guitar at various different times. He also wrote a lot of awesome songs, sang backing vocals, and once or twice sang lead vocals. He had a great voice, and was such a talented musician and songwriter. This 45 is signed by all of the band members except for my dad, unfortunately. I purchased it through an Iowa record dealer sometime after my dad passed away in 2004. I have a record player, but can't play this record because I don't have an adapter for the larger centre hole. I know the songs, though, and I do have a remastered CD containing many of their recordings, as well as old tour posters, live & promo photos, and various other memoribilia (including some of my dad's old "rocker" clothes ^^). The A-side of this 45 is "Too Easy to Love", and was a minor hit for Dahcotah in the 70's. The B-side is "She's a Bore". :) It's kind of hard to describe what they sounded like, but if you could cross early Cheap Trick with maybe Mott the Hoople, that would be a fairly decent description.
Anyway, I have a lot more things I'd like to finish today and I don't want to get all sad and nostalgic to the point where I'm depressed, so I think I will end this here....
Labels: mementos, records, repurposed, revamp
posted by Elisabeth @ 3:39 PM
4 Comments:
Hello,
I am close friends with Randy Miller, the lead singer and manager for Dahcotah.
Where can I hear some of their music? I met him way after the band broke up.
I am in Champaign, IL.
Thanks,
Duane
d.randleman@mchsi.com
I also have a copy of this 45 rpm single. My wife and I followed the band to shows around eastern Iowa in Waterloo, Swisher, and Iowa City. They even came to my home in North English for a steak cookout I was having on a Sunday, between gigs in Iowa City on Saturday night and Sunday night. I even have 3 or 4 pictures of them in my yard. Was your dad the one with the long, black hair?
I ran into Fungus, their roadie , some years later at a Jaycee convention. I'd like to get back in touch with the remaining band members if possible. I know they would remember my wife and I. I live about 60 miles south of Des Moines, IA.
Dan,
I will tell Randy about your post and find out if he wants you to call him.
I hope to hear a record someday. I have a very high end turntable that would not wear a record at all.
Duane:
I am sure if you get in touch with Gale Maag, he would be able to hook you up with some Dahcotah music. He has a homepage located here:
http://www.geocities.com/gmaag99/
I don't think that I have seen Randy Miller since I was a very little girl! How is he doing?
Dan:
Yes, my dad was Ross, with the long black hair. I am sure he would have remembered you; he had a very good memory. :)
As I mentioned above, Gale Maag has a website where you can get in touch with him. I have been in contact with Dave Parker recently, but haven't heard back from him in a couple months. He is no longer living in Iowa these days.
I remember Fungus from when I was very little! I never imagined my post about the 45 would lead to comments from people who knew the band. :)
Last weekend I was given an adapter for my record player by a very nice man at an antique shop. I can now play my Dahcotah 45, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do it just yet. Soon, though. :)
I'm sorry I missed these comments until now! I haven't been diligent about updating this page.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home