Jo Ann Castle and Crazy Otto- One Album Each

(click on the picture for a great example of the good ol' back cover write up)

Found both of these records at Goodwill the other day, and it's not too surprising that they both came from the same person's collection (the name Dupuis is written on both covers). Two great ragtime/honky tonk piano albums, each in their own way.
Jo Ann Castle- 12 Great Hits in Ragtime
I recognized the name Jo Ann Castle from "Incredibly Strange Music Vol. 1," even though she was playing accordion on that, the lightning pace, lightness, and accuracy of her frantic playing remains. Its only weakness is the one song that adds overly wholesome vocals...would've been much better as an instrumental.
Crazy Otto- Golden Award Songs
Crazy Otto (classical pianist Fritz Schulz-Reichel) takes a much looser approach, using a de-tuned piano he calls his "Tipsy Wire Box." He also occasionally sings along, non-verbally, in a drunken Germanic slur sounding like it was picked up by the piano mic, to fantastic effect. Check out liner notes above. Great record.

both albums in one file:

http://www.mediafire.com/?hg5c2su4wvsccya

Incredibly Strange Music Vol. 2

See thoughts with "Incredibly Strange Music Vol. 1" a few posts down.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ziy2mzuxcye

...and if you are curious about the song "The Mummy" is referencing ["Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)"-a novelty single from the TV show, "77 Sunset Strip"], my Mom had that 45...so here it is.

http://www.mediafire.com/?y4nzm2zzy5v

Incredibly Strange Music Vol. 1

What I like so much about this kind of "strange" music versus contemporary "strange" bands is that these musicians use their own inner weirdness instead of relying almost solely on effects pedals, sampling, referencing what has already been done, half-assed improvisational bullshit, and a bunch of dumb hollering. These sound more otherworldly by being more unique personal manifestations by uniquely strange people. Just imagine the musicians in the studio recording any of these songs.
Examples: what sounds like an Art Carney impersonation over Beach Boys style harmonies, a ten minute telling of a telephone conversation between Buddha and a Yogi who sounds like a mid-western housewife, frantic xylophones, everyday noises turned into songs, self loathing and societal parody, solo whistlers, etc.
100% enjoyable and makes me want to go search through every thrift store record pile I can get to.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ygzxnqaduuy