As 1975 turned into 1976, The Hamlin Avenue Boyz made a memorable road trip from Los Angeles to Dallas in Vince’s old red VW bus and did so by skirting the U.S. Mexico border all the way from San Diego to El Paso. Pretty much nothing was seen along the way but scorpions, snakes, and occasional illegals making their way to a new life in America.  The purpose of the trip was to move Vince from his former Hollywood digs to a new adventure in Texas.  What worldly possessions Vince owned at the time were found in that VW bus.  That along with a case of Coors Beer (previously only available west of the Mississippi River), a carton of Marlboro Cigarettes and a fairly large quantity of Panama Red secured just prior to departure from a Hollywood stuntman Vince befriended during his days spent on many a movie studio casting couch. The Boyz spent their time driving day and night, drinking, laughing, smoking cigarettes, and occasionally rolling up some ‘Red’ in Vince’s old red VW Bus.  The entire trip kept them close to the border, which at that time was a difficult line to see or follow.  Sometimes the road would take a turn south for a while and it was not easy to tell whether you were still in America or Mexico.

On the edge of America’s southern border, west of El Paso right where New Mexico and Texas meet Old Mexico lies the famous rough-and-tumble Mexican town of Juarez.  Late one night a couple of hours west of El Paso; the road seemed to once again take a turn to the south only this time it didn’t turn back east or north so the Boyz didn’t know what else to do, so they kept going.  Their decision that night was certainly influenced by the unusual contents that could be found in the VW bus. As the Boyz kept driving they could see lights on the horizon from some kind of a town a few miles up ahead and before long they also saw a sign for El Paso pointing in a northerly direction away from that town.  At the time, the Boyz didn’t put 2+2 together, but the sign they saw pointing to El Paso was a little different than others they had seen along the way.  This one read “Por Aqui A El Paso” 12.6 km.  Even in their late-night condition, the Boyz thought it was a little strange that the distance to El Paso was not in ‘miles’, but kilometers. The Boyz later figured out they had indeed wandered just south of the border under cover of darkness within a few miles of Juarez, but ultimately they wandered back north across the border well before reaching El Paso.

Thanks to the many listeners of the Hamlin Avenue Boyz Podcast for pointing your ears in this direction now and then.  And remember, you can send along your comments, questions, or topics for the Boyz to ponder:

JustRollTape@mail.com

Vince Hamlin

Edward Hamlin

TRACKS:

1. You're Forever
2. At The Movies
3. Time Travel Trails
4. Going To Mexico
5. Would Ya?
6. Singer and Dancer
7. Family Jewels
8. Hangin Out (With The Past)

MUSIC COMPOSITION / PERFORMANCE CREDITS:

1. “Live Forever” > Little Big Town 2014 / Little Big Town 2014
2. “The Green Mile Movie Soundtrack” 1999, “Forrest Gump Movie Soundtrack” 1994, “Titanic Movie Soundtrack” 1997, “Easy Rider Movie Soundtrack” 1969, “The Godfather Movie Soundtrack” 1972
3. “Sky Trails” > David Crosby 2017 / David Crosby and The Lighthouse Band 2017
4. “Going To Mexico” > Kenneth Duane Bantz 2019 / KD Bantz 2019
5. “Would Ya?” > Devin The Dude 2002 / Devin The Dude 2002
6. “Honky Tonk Women” > Jagger/Richards 1969 / The Rolling Stones 1969
7. “Jewels” > Jon Stickley Trio 2017 / Jon Stickley Trio 2017
8. “Hangin Out” > James Linck, Philip Desharnais, Michael Sabatini & Richard Edward Solecki 2020 / Mega Powers 2020

RECORDING ENGINEERS / BOARD OPERATORS:

DB Cooper

Dick Goesinya 

Barry MyKockinher

Craven Morehead

PRODUCERS:

Tiffany Rosedale

Anita Hickey

Ben Dover

RECORDING STUDIO CONSULTING:

Jack Herer & Friends

CERVEZA CART ATTENDANTS:

Anita Hardon

Sofonda Peters

Sharon Sipsome

CATERING:

The Cannibal Cafe

Wonder Burger

TRANSPORTATION:

Harley Davidson