Pennsyltucky was hardly a place for budding rock visionary's, not in 1975 or, for that matter, ever. Yet in the midst of the oppressively mundane atmosphere of Bad Company and Rush cover bands, two local misfits were in the process of transcending their surroundings, in a way previously unheard of in their neck of the woods. Victor Poisontete, inspired by the New York Dolls and Patti Smith, was writing original songs for his band, Schizoid. Meanwhile, Rudi Protrudi, a guitarist who had not yet discovered his voice, was writing 60s-garage-style songs for Tina Peel, not yet a band but a concept waiting to be actualised. Rudi knew all too well that the chances of finding sympathetic musicians in Harrisburg were practically nil. He soon enlisted Victor and his bassist, Jim Nastix, as well as Jack bertolette, who'd played with Rudi in an early incantation of Springhead Motorshark, in 1972, and would go one to play for the Punk Rock Janitors, Harrisburg's first Punk band. An ad in the local paper aroused the curiosity of a very straight electric pianist, Ken Branoff. A 300 lb. black girl named Jennifer and a housewife named Karen were also added as backing vocalists., along with Victor's girlfriend, Carol. After sufficient rehearsals. this motley crew entered Westa studios, a 4-track recording facility that was set up in a barn, somewhere in the sticks. After hearing the band run through "Penis Between Us," the middle-aged hillbilly couple who ran the place confided that they belonged to a swingers club! And this was the first rock band they ever recorded (surprise)!
It's important to note that at the time these songs were written, and these recordings were made, the only music of the burgeoning CBGBs inspired "Punk" scene to have been released was Patti Smith's "Horses" and Television's "Marquee Moon." You can hear Patti's influence on Victor's vocal style, as well as his lyrics at the end of "Hungry," the only cover version (Paul Revere & The Raiders) to be attempted in the studio.
Rudi had been reading a lot about the NYC scene in Rock Scene magazine, and the songs he'd written were what he imagined the bands he'd been reading about (Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, Heartbreakers) might sound like. The influence of 60s Garage Rock is even more obvious here then on the later Tina Peel recordings, and certainly puts to rest the question of who was "first," as far as the Garage Revival is concerned. As a matter of fact, the first recordings Tina Peel would do as a fully-realised Banda few months later, lean toward what was to be referred to as "New Wave" almost two years later. Same with their attire (clashing black and white polka dots, stripes and checkers). Tine Peel was the first band to bring back vintage 60s instruments as well.
The musicians you hear on these recordings never had any intention of becoming a band. During the recording sessions, Carol left Victor and became Rudi's girlfriend. She bought a Farfisa combo organ and became Deb O' Nair. Rudi submitted the demos to Greg Shaw's Bomb! magazine and they were reviewed. One track, "Penis Between Us," appeared on a Punk compilation entitled "The Boston Bootleg" on Varulven Records a few years later. Deb and Rudi went on to form Tina Peel and move to NYC, where they recorded tow singles and enough tracks to fill an album, which Misty Lane/Teen Sound released 30 years later ("Pajama Party").
Tina Peel played all the NYC hotspots, often as headliners. They lasted 'til 1980 and then split up when Rudi and Deb decided they wanted to pursue the Garagestyle more intensely, and formed The Fuzztones. Victor moved to NYC in the early 80s and formed Rat At Rat R, one of the early art/noise bands.
Tina Peel's story is a long and impressive one, well worth reading. Check out their album, "Pajama Party" (vinyl version to be released on the Easy Action label this February). Rudi's liner notes alone are worth the price of admission.

One additional note:
Two tunes included here were recorded in 1975, before the Tina Peel concept materialised. "Out To Lunch" and "Big Hunk of Love" are sung by another local Pennsyltucky misfit, Doug Zugay, and features Rudi on guitar.