Root Boy Slim (and the Sex Change Band)
Band members Related acts
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- Root Boy Slim (aka Foster MacKenzie III) (RIP 1993) -- vocals, harmonica
backing musicians 1978: - Cosmo Creek -- pedal steel guitar - Flaco -- percussion - Cherri Grasso -- backing vocals - Bob Greenlee (RIP) (aka Rattlesnake Rattles) -- bass - Mickie Lee Jonnie -- backing vocals - Winston Kelly IV Esq. (aka Lounge Lizard) -- keyboards - Tommy Ruger -- drums - Kathe Russell (RIP) -- backing vocals
backing musicians 1983: - Mitch Collins -- keyboards (1983) - Steve Dennis -- drums (1983) - Jim Hanson -- bass (1983) - Dan Hovey -- guitar, percussion (1983) - Brent Mingle -- bass (1983) - Jim Ore -- synthesizers (1983) - Jimmy Powers -- harmonica (1983) - Rex Wilson --
drums (1983) backing musicians 1986: - Scott Corwin -- drums (1986) - Tommy Lepson -- keyboards, backing vocals (1986) - John Perez -- percussion (1986) - Ray Tilkens -- guitar (1986)
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- Ernie Lancaster (solo efforts) - Tommy Lepson (solo efforts)
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Genre: rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band Company: Warner Brothers Catalog: BSK-3160 Year: 1978 Country/State: Washington, DC Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 3 Catalog ID: 4620 Price: $20.00 Cost: $66.00
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Unless you lived in the mid-Atlantic during the late-1970s through the mid-1980s, it's doubtful you'll recognize the name Foster MacKenzie III - aka Root Boy Slim. I was in my prime college years for part of the timeframe and thanks to friends (hi Bruce) got the opportunity to see Root Boy and company in concert several times. One of those New Year performances at Radford College still haunts me some thirty years later ...
Ah, the infamous 'root' sunglasses and an older Root in a reflective moment
Tall, overweight, balding and seeming in a continuous drug and/or alcohol induced stupor (he was once arrested and subsequently committed to an asylum for scaling the White House fence while on LSD), Root Boy wasn't your standard rock and roll star. With a voice that could take old varnish off a piece of furniture, a sense of humor that was nothing short of bizarre and a stage show that frequently went over the edge, I've always been amazed that he managed to attract the attention of a major label.
Most folks would probably be surprised to know that Root Boy attended Yale, let alone that he was a frat brother. Along with fellow frat brother/football team captain Bob Greenlee, he formed Prince La La, Percy Uptight and the Midnight Creepers. After graduating Root started working as a city planner before dropping out and bumming around. The mid-1970s found him back in his native Washington, D.C. where he reunited with old buddy Greenlee. The two began collaborating, eventually forming a band around the talents of guitarist Ernie Lancaster.
Having enjoyed some success on the Washington, D.C. club circuit, the band cut a series demos that eventually landed in the hands of Steely Dan's Donald Fagen and producer Gary Katz. At the same time the band released a self financed single on the Takoma Maryland-based Joe-Tel Records
- 1979's 'Christmas at K-Mart' b/w 'Too Much Jawbone' (Joe-Tel catalog number 4972)
The single became a local hit (I remember radio station WHFS playing it), with the single catching on just as Fagen and Katz began pushing Warner Brothers to sign the Root Boy and company. Warner Brothers promptly signed Root and company to a reported $250,000 recording contract.
1978's "Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band" teamed our hero with Katz handling production. Largely penned by MacKenzie, Greenlee and Lancaster, the album showcased prime Root Boy. Material such as 'Boogie 'Till You Puke', 'I'm Not Too Old For You' and 'Mood Ring' offered up a weird mixture of pounding blues and rock with lyrics that were either cutting edge criticism of American excesses, or simply the goofiest crap you'd heard in years ('My Wig Fell Off'). Personally I find the lyrics hysterical and I've spun this album dozens of times. If being a rock star was all about alcohol, bad women, drugs and more drugs then Root and company had it down to a fine art ('In Jail In Jacksonville'). Even if you find the lyrics juvenile or offensive, these guys could rock ('You Can't Quit My Club')! Imagine captain Beefheart and the crew with a better sense of humor and several life hampering addictions and you'll be in the right aural neighborhood. Unfortunately, Warner Brothers didn't have a clue to do with Root Boy. The band was shipped off to do a European tour (great idea) and in the absence of any sales, was promptly dropped from the company's recording roster.
"Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Boogie 'Till You Puke (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster - Kelly) - 3:26 2.) I'm Not Too Old For You (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 3:25 3.) I Used To Be a Radical (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 3:10 4.) Heartbreak of Psoriasis (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 3:47 5.) I Want It Now (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) -3:32
(side 2) 1.) Mood Ring (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 2:30 2.) Too Sick To Reggae (Foster MacKenzie III - Bernstein - Hall) - 3:04 3.) My Wig Fell Off (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 2:03 4.) Country Love (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 2:35 5.) In Jail In Jacksonville (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 4:20 6.) You Can't Quit My Club (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 3:12
In the meantime. having lost Root Boy to a major label, the small Joe-Tel label decided to cash-in on the band's unexpected success by releasing a second single:
- 1979's 'Meltdown' b/w 'Graveyard of Losers' (Joe-Tel no catalog number)
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Genre: rock Rating: ** (2 stars) Title: Zoom Company: Illegal Catalog: SP-006 Year: 1979 Country/State: Washington, DC Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor edge wear Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4452 Price: $10.00 Cost: $66.00
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If you grew up in Washington, D.C. during the late 1970s/early 1980s, then there's a good chance you know about the late Root Boy Slim.
Dropped from Warner Brothers after one album, 1979 saw Root and company signed by Miles Copeland's newly formed IRS Records. Co-produced by Bob Greenlee and Sex Change Band guitarist Ernie Lancaster, 1979's "Zoom" stood as Root Boy's second shot at the big time. Released by the A&M affiliated Illegal Records, the band's sophomore release stood as prime Root Boy. Exemplified by tracks such as 'World War III', 'Do the Gator' and 'Quarter Movie On My Mind'', the album's equal parts blistering rock, comedy and pure insanity. Sure, Root's vocal skills resembled those of a hoarse frog ('Quarter Movie On My Mind'), but the man had a secret weapon in the form of The Sex Change Band. Led by guitarist Lancaster, Root's backing band was razor sharp and managed to repeatedly channel the man's energy back to the right path. Sure, this isn't going to be for everyone, but in a world where Skip Nixon could generate critical raves, there has to be room for the late Root Boy Slim.
God only knows why, but Illegal actual launched a single from the LP 'Dare To be Fat' b/w 'World War III' (Illegal catalog number 9007-S). Illegal records released the single in the UK, though with a different picture sleeve (Illegal catalog number ILS0014).
"Zoom" track listing: (side 1) 1.) World War III (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster - Bangham) - 3:05 2.) Do the Gator (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster - Kelly) - 3:12 3.) The Loneliest Room In the World (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 3:24 4.) Quarter Movie On My Mind (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 3:05 5.) Sugar Daddy (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 3:25 6.) Ignite It (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 3:40
(side 2) 1.) She Wants To Move In (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 3:00 2.) Dare To Be Fat (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 3:52 3.) Motel of Love (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 4:45 4.) Dozin' and Droolin' (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 4:20 5.) Express Train (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 2:52
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Genre: rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Dog Secrets Company: Congressional Catalog: CR-001 Year: 1984 Country/State: Washington, DC Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: includes lyric insert Available: 3 Catalog ID: 5634 Price: $100.00
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Dropped by Warner Brothers after two poor selling albums, 1984 saw Root Boy Slim (sans the Sex Change Band) return to the fray via a recording deal with the small Washington-D.C.-based Congressional label. Judging by "Dog Secrets", the loss of Warner Brothers support had little impact on Root Boy. Produced by longtime sidekick/guitarist Ernie Lancaster musically the album wasn't a major departure from his earlier releases. Like those two earlier LPs, this set mixed Roots ragged voice, likeable eccentricities with a mixture of R&B and rock moves. A top notch backing band certainly helped, but like everything in his catalog, this stuff was kind of hit-or-miss and clearly had a selective audience.
- Sporting an ominous, jittery vibe and some uber-depressing lyrics ('got infant genitalia'), '21st Century Man' was either an anti-war tract, or inspired by a bad sci-fi book, or horror flick. - 'Liquor Store Hold-Up In Space' was another sci-fi episode. Gawd only knows what the inspiration for this one was though it sported some nice guitar from Dan Hovey. - Root's affectionate tribute to a special nighttime companion 'Inflatable Doll' boasted a wonderful breezy blue-eyed soul melody that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a Rascal album. Can't really picture Felix Cavaliere singing the about the given subject matter, but who knows ... - For a guy who seemed perpetually out of it, Root displayed a surprisingly acute sense for life's absurdities and he was more than willing to take a stab at his own fan base including groupies via 'So Young, So Hip, So Lame'. - Ever wonder what Root did on Saturday nights? 'Singles' Bar' provides a pretty good explanation. - You wouldn't have thought that he'd be able to handle a funky number, but 'Tough Luck' actually came close and it included one of my favorite Root Boy couplets ... 'I'm middle class, but this is half assed' - The chances of Root Boy enjoying radio airplay were slim and none, but 'Don't Make Me Stop' was one of his most commercial efforts - great melody and Root even sounded kind of in-tune. - Stringing together various food products into a ramshackle narrative made 'Mrs. Paul, Mrs. Paul ' one of two obvious throwaways. Totally forgettable. - And the second throwaway was - 'Don't Tell Your Mother' though this one at least had a nice guitar solo from Ernie Lancaster. - Wow, 'Cowboy Out in the Sun Too Long' found Root Boy getting political - guess he didn't vote for Ronnie ... - And he closes the album out with another anti-nuclear tract 'Death Star'. Not particularly funny, though it sounded a little but like Sly Stone through heavy phasing.
Bottom line - better than "Zoom", but not as good as the debut. In collecting terms this was easily his rarest release. I've seen three copies in my entire collecting life (including one I bought after seeing him live). The release is so rare, good luck finding an online review of this one, let alone a copy for sale in any shape.
"Dog Secrets" track listing: (side 1) 1.) 21st Century Man (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster - Dan Hovey) - 4:15 2.) Liquor Store Hold-Up In Space (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster - Dan Hovey) - 4:02 3.) Inflatable Doll (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster - Hovey - Lee) - 4:02 4.) So Young, So Hip, So Lame (Foster MacKenzie III - Stuart Smith) - 3:42 5.) Single's Bar (Foster MacKenzie III - Brunson) - 3:30
(side 2) 1.) Tough Luck (Foster MacKenzie III - Stuart Smith) - 4:10 2.) Don't Make Me Stop (Foster MacKenzie III - Dan Hovey) - 4:38 3.) Mrs. Paul, Mrs. Paul (Foster MacKenzie III - Stuart Smith) - 5:14 4.) Don't Tell Your Mother (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster - Stuart Smith) - 2:44 5.) Cowboy Out in the Sun Too Long (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster - Stuart Smith) - 4:44 6.) Death Star (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster - Dan Hovey) - 3:25
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Genre: rock Rating: ** (2 stars) Title: Don't Let This Happen To You Company: Kingsnake Catalog: KS 0001 Year: 1986 Country/State: Washington, DC Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 3 Catalog ID: 5584 Price: $20.00
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Signed by the Florida-based Kingsnake label, 1986's "Don't Let This Happen To You" was Root Boy's first studio album in two years. Co-produced by longtime sidekicks Bob Greenlee and Ernie Lancaster (they also co-wrote all the material with Root Boy), the album wasn't a radical departure from Root's earlier catalog. Yeah, his voice was a little deeper and craggier than the last time out, but if you bought this album it wasn't because you wanted to hear a technically gifted singer. Similarly if you were looking for cutting edge political, social, and economical commentary this probably wasn't the place to look. Okay, 'Rich, White & Republican' and the jazzy 'It's Only Murder' were more activist than one would have expected from our man. Funny thing is Root Boy nailed a lot of the country's political, social, or economical ills with those two songs. Anyhow, elsewhere the album was very much a reflection of the timeframe and whatever happened to be on Root's mind at the time. As a result songs like 'Health Spa Lady' and 'Computer Lover' had a disjointed and now-somewhat dated sound that occasionally pushed the set too close to parody for its own good. Nowhere near my favorite Root Boy LP, this one still had a couple of tracks that made the investment worthwhile:
- Subtlety was never one of Root Boy's strengths and was completely absent on his paean to college education 'Kinky U.' - The perfect love song for computer dweebs and porn addicts everywhere - the bluesy romp 'Computer Love' was goofy enough to elicit a smile from even the most jaded listener - 'she want it, she want it, she gonna put hot sauce on it ... she wave it in the air and jam it in the software' - Showcasing a killer Ernie Lawrence solo the rocking 'I Fell Down' was the perfect 3 minute anti-drug and anti-alcohol song from a man who knew quite a bit about addictions. - Regardless of the lame lyrics 'Evolution' was one of his most rockin' efforts.
As in the past Root's first-rate backing band managed to salvage even the weakest tracks with special credit going to sax player Ron Holloway and guitarist Ernie Lancaster. Not the place for a novice to start, but the dozen hardcore fans out there will want this for their collections.
"Don't Let This Happen To You" track listing: (side 1) 1.) When You Date The Undead (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 2:53 2.) Rich, White & Republican (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 3:49 3.) Health Spa Lady (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 4:01 4.) Kinky U. (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 4:04 5.) Computer Lover (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 4:21
(side 2) 1.) They Don't Sing On the Corner (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 4:17 2.) I Fell Down (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 3:13 3.) It's Only Murder (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 5:07 4.) House Band from Hell (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 4:48 5.) Evolution (Bob Greenlee - Foster MacKenzie III - Ernie Lancaster) - 3:02
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Genre: rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Left for Dead Company: Kingsnake Catalog: KS 006 Year: 1987 Country/State: Washington, DC Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5585 Price: $25.00
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I remember being in a record store (showing my age here) back when 1987's "Left for Dead" came out. I recall picking up a copy of the album and seeing the following statement on the back cover: "This album is a spontaneous Blues Jam - recorded in one session, unwritten and unrehearsed." On record Root Boy Slim was always something of a hit or miss proposition (he was even more erratic live), so the thought of a live album length jam session was not something for the weak hearted. Luckily I was brave and plunked down my $6.00 (or whatever an album cost back in 1987). I've been rewarded over the years since with what was one of Root Boy's best releases. Produced by bassist Bob Greenlee (guitarist Ernie Lancaster mixing the sessions), the album marked a major return to form for Root Boy. Singing with considerable more energy and enthusiasm than on his previous LP, Slim and company literally tore their way through a killer set of Greenlee, Root Boy, and Lancaster penned originals.
- Compared to most folks Root Boy had a pretty messed up personal life which has always left me wondered if the bluesy 'Left for Dead' was autobiographical. Regardless, backed by one funky Ernie Lancaster lead guitar, this harrowing tale of life and death was an amazing addition to the Root Boy catalog. - A straightforward blues number, with a patented loser lyrics, 'Too Wrong To Be Right' probably sounded better in a live setting. - Root Boy lived through some tough times and this funky tale of substandard housing and poverty may well have been another autobiographical number. - 'Fire In the Hen House' may have justified the price of admission, if only to hear Root Boy making chicken sounds; to say nothing of the hysterical BBQ plotline. - 'Kinky Karma' - um, forgettable blues-rock number. - 'My Sign Don't Work' was his funniest song since 'Christmas at Kmart'. - Saddled with a straight forward blues base and predictable lyrics, 'Credit Card Woman' was another bland entry that probably came off better in a live setting. - 'When My Jones Comes Down' may well have been an improvised jam, though it at least had a killer Lancaster and Steuart Smith guitar duel going for it. - He's always been at his best on up tempo numbers and 'Eviction Blues' had it all going. Life couldn't get much worse than this ... - Another by-the-number blues outing, 'How Low Can You Go?' was pretty forgettable. - Yes, the title and lyrics were completely tasteless, but 'Snake Bit & Can't Shit' was one funky little number. I can picture Root Boy performing this cautionary tale with bottle in hand.
Not perfect, but with six of eleven tracks standing up to repeated spins it was a nice return to form.
"Left for Dead" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Left for Dead (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 2.) Too Wrong To Be Right (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 3.) Livin' In the Ghetto (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 4.) Fire In the Hen House (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 5.) Kinky Karma (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) -
(side 2) 1.) My Sign Don't Work (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 2.) Credit Card Woman (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 3.) When My Jones Comes Down (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 4.) Eviction Blues (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 5.) How Low Can You Go? (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) - 6.) Snake Bit & Can't Shit (Foster MacKenzie III - Robert Greenlee - Ernest Lancaster) -
There's now an official Root Boy Slim website at:
I don't think he's updated it in awhile, but Root Boy buddy Andrew Singer has a fascinating, if slightly haphazard Root Boy-oriented site at:
http://www.rootboyslimmovie.com/
As far as I know this is the only video Root ever filmed. It's from rather late in his career and the quality isn't all that great, but it's certainly better than nothing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KSLJm7psEs 'Hey Mr. President'
YouTube also has a poor quality clip featuring a couple of live performances at DC Space. Be forewarned, this is Root Boy at the end of his career, looking and sounding pretty much out of it. When he hits the floor during the first song, you're not sure he's ever going to get up again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCh0CXgTxbk&feature=related
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