Outside of the Mainstream from Brian Cassidy Bookseller

I'm not sure what style of music to which Classical Gas belongs, but it certainly isn't punk. However, if your taste runs to punk, this is the classical photo. It is an 8” x 10” of Roberta Bayley's photograph of the Ramones from 1976. The pioneering punk band used this photograph on the cover of their first album, the self titled Ramones. The Ramones, who got their name from Paul McCartney's pseudonym Paul Ramone, were not the most talented instrumentalists when they formed, which led them to adopting a minimalist style. For those tired of the overblown progressive rock of the era, it was like the birth of rock and roll all over again. The photograph shows the Ramones, four unrelated New Yorkers who all adopted the last name “Ramone,” at their punk best. They wear jeans and leather jackets, and don't smile. Other then drummer Tommy, the Ramones seen in the picture are no longer with us. Item 74. $3,500.

This is a counterculture item, but from a very different counterculture – a poster that announces Ku Klux Klan Kolossal Karnival Dallas, Texas March 15^th to 22^nd 1924. One Solid Week of Amusement. The nativist hate group was at its peak at the time, with almost 200,000 members in Texas. Along with their own spring “karnival,” “Klan Day” was celebrated at the state fair in the fall. Fortunately, their power would soon begin to decline, their becoming a fringe group rather than one treated with all the dignity it never deserved. Item 87. $200.

Brian Cassidy, Bookseller may be reached at 301-589-0789 or books@briancassidy.net. The website is www.briancassidy.net.