Ben Vaughn
Encyclopedia
Ben Vaughn is an American
musician
, music producer and a longtime Rambler (automobile)
enthusiast.
Vaughn grew up in Collingswood, New Jersey
, and his interest in music began at age 6 when his uncle gave him a Duane Eddy
record. The "Ben Vaughn Combo" released two albums and toured the U.S. from 1983 to 1988. Vaughn then had a solo career, 1988–1994, recording four albums and touring Europe and the United States. As a musician, he is perhaps best known for his "Rambler '65" album when Vaughn decided to "cut out the middleman," as he puts it, and recorded an entire album in his 1965 Rambler American
.
As a producer, Vaughn made albums for artists such as Charlie Feathers
and Los Straitjackets
. He also collaborated with Alan Vega
and Alex Chilton
and contributed a cover, (Paradise) to an Alex Chilton tribute album released by Munster Records based in Madrid, Spain.
In 1996, Vaughn produced Ween
's cult classic, a ten track exploration of country music - 12 Golden Country Greats
. Musically, 12 Golden Country Greats was, more or less, classic country sounds. Ween and Vaughn went so far as to enlist the services of veteran Nashville session musicians. However, while even the vocal performances were an exquisite mimic of country singing, the album's lyrics were decidedly twisted.
Vaughn also re-recorded "I Found Her Telephone Number Written on the Boy's Bathroom Wall" for the Mad Magazine-inspired song compilation Mad Grooves.
Now living in California
, Vaughn works in film and television. Notable for his work on That '70s Show
, 3rd Rock from the Sun
, Black Mask
and Psycho Beach Party
. "That 70s Show" has another Alex Chilton connection, with the title song being a re-worked version of "In the Street
", a Big Star song.
Vaughn also is the producer and host of The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn, a weekly, hour-long radio show on NPR
. The show, which features varying genres of music each week, airs on public radio stations.
Vaughn has been a longtime resident of Collingswood, New Jersey. His son, Andrew, ran a punk rock
clothing store in downtown Collingswood.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, music producer and a longtime Rambler (automobile)
Rambler (automobile)
Rambler was an automobile brand name used by the Thomas B. Jeffery Company between 1900 and 1914, then by its successor, Nash Motors from 1950 to 1954, and finally by Nash's successor, American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1969...
enthusiast.
Vaughn grew up in Collingswood, New Jersey
Collingswood, New Jersey
Collingswood is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 13,926....
, and his interest in music began at age 6 when his uncle gave him a Duane Eddy
Duane Eddy
Duane Eddy is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he had a string of hit records, produced by Lee Hazlewood, which were noted for their characteristically "twangy" sound, including "Rebel Rouser", "Peter Gunn", and "Because They're Young"...
record. The "Ben Vaughn Combo" released two albums and toured the U.S. from 1983 to 1988. Vaughn then had a solo career, 1988–1994, recording four albums and touring Europe and the United States. As a musician, he is perhaps best known for his "Rambler '65" album when Vaughn decided to "cut out the middleman," as he puts it, and recorded an entire album in his 1965 Rambler American
Rambler American
The Rambler American is an automobile manufactured by the American Motors Corporation between 1958 and 1969. The American was the second incarnation of AMC's forerunner Nash Motors second-generation Rambler compact that was sold under the Nash and Hudson Motors marques from 1954 and 1955.The...
.
As a producer, Vaughn made albums for artists such as Charlie Feathers
Charlie Feathers
Charles Arthur "Charlie" Feathers was an influential American rockabilly and country music performer.-Biography:...
and Los Straitjackets
Los Straitjackets
Los Straitjackets is an American instrumental rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1988. Originally comprising guitarists Danny Amis and Eddie Angel and drummer L. J. "Jimmy" Lester under the name The Straitjackets, the band split up soon after forming and reunited as Los Straitjackets...
. He also collaborated with Alan Vega
Alan Vega
Alan Vega For several years other sources stated that he was born in 1948 – see 'Myth' section is an American vocalist, primarily known for his work with electronic protopunk duo, Suicide...
and Alex Chilton
Alex Chilton
William Alexander "Alex" Chilton was an American songwriter, guitarist, singer and producer, best known as the lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star...
and contributed a cover, (Paradise) to an Alex Chilton tribute album released by Munster Records based in Madrid, Spain.
In 1996, Vaughn produced Ween
Ween
Ween is an American alternative rock group. They formed in 1984 in New Hope, Pennsylvania when central members Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class. Ween has a large cult underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in American pop music...
's cult classic, a ten track exploration of country music - 12 Golden Country Greats
12 Golden Country Greats
The original version of "Powder Blue" runs for 4:16 and ends with a sample from Muhammad Ali. Ween were denied permission to use the sample by the Ali lawyers, but Elektra pressed the album accidentally...
. Musically, 12 Golden Country Greats was, more or less, classic country sounds. Ween and Vaughn went so far as to enlist the services of veteran Nashville session musicians. However, while even the vocal performances were an exquisite mimic of country singing, the album's lyrics were decidedly twisted.
Vaughn also re-recorded "I Found Her Telephone Number Written on the Boy's Bathroom Wall" for the Mad Magazine-inspired song compilation Mad Grooves.
Now living in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Vaughn works in film and television. Notable for his work on That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979...
, 3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet...
, Black Mask
Black Mask (film)
Black Mask is a 1996 Hong Kong action film starring Jet Li, Lau Ching-Wan, Karen Mok and Anthony Wong Chau-Sang. It was directed by Daniel Lee and produced by Tsui Hark and his production company Film Workshop....
and Psycho Beach Party
Psycho Beach Party
Psycho Beach Party is a 2000 Comedy horror film based on the off-Broadway play of the same name, directed by Robert Lee King. Charles Busch wrote both the original play and the screenplay...
. "That 70s Show" has another Alex Chilton connection, with the title song being a re-worked version of "In the Street
Number 1 Record
#1 Record is the debut album by the American power pop group Big Star. It was released in 1972 by Memphis-based Ardent Records. Though many critics praised the album's elegant vocal harmonies and refined songcraft , #1 Record fared quite dismally in terms of...
", a Big Star song.
Vaughn also is the producer and host of The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn, a weekly, hour-long radio show on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
. The show, which features varying genres of music each week, airs on public radio stations.
Vaughn has been a longtime resident of Collingswood, New Jersey. His son, Andrew, ran a punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
clothing store in downtown Collingswood.
Discography
- The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn (1986) (Restless – US) (Making Waves – UK)
- Beautiful Thing (1987) (Restless – US) (EMI – UK, Europe)
- Ben Vaughn Blows Your Mind (1988) (Restless – US) (Virgin – UK, Europe) (DRO – Spain)
- Dressed in Black (1990) (Enigma – US) (Demon – UK, Europe)
- Mood Swings (1991) (Restless – US) (Demon – UK, Europe)
- Mono US (1992) (Bar None – US) (Club De Musique – Italy) (Sky Ranch – France)
- Instrumental Stylings (1995) (Bar None – US)
- Rambler '65 (1997) (Rhino – US) (Munster – Spain)
- The Prehistoric Ben Vaughn (1998) (Munster – Spain)
- A Date with Ben Vaughn (1999) (Shoeshine – UK)
- Glasgow Time (2002) (Shoeshine – UK)
- Designs in Music (2006) (Soundstage 15 – US)