by @thoughtontracks

Back in 2010, Sonny Smith of Bay Area garage outfit Sonny & The Sunsets undertook a ludicrous endeavor in the form of an art project called 100 Records. Smith set out to write 100 songs under the guise of 100 fictional band names. As a visual accompaniment, Smith enlisted a bunch of artists to design album covers for his various pseudonyms. A video detailing the project can be found beneath the post.

In January, Polyvinyl will release the third and final batch of songs from the 100 Records project in the form of a limited edition cassette and vinyl. You can listen to the album’s first single “If You Don’t Make a Change” below. The track is performed under the alias Don Adora’e. In 2010, Smith offered up the following bit of background on the character:

Don Adora’e recorded for DMade between 1963-1967. He kept his identity a secret by wearing a mask onstage and in the recording studio. His given name was Don Adora’e, so the mask didn’t keep anyone from knowing his true identity. He ran a dry cleaners in Passaic. He became locally famous for his delightful singles. He filled the local high school dances, and the kids loved him. Although he never got out of Passaic, Don Adora’e has lived up to his fantastic moniker. He is still loved in Passaic, and is a popular singer/local TV personality, lending his pipes to local commercials for used car places and furniture stores.

Smith & The Sunsets have kept busy in 2012, releasing one helluva break-up record in the form of Longtime Companion. The album’s lead single “Pretend You Love Me” is one of my favorite songs of the year. Pre-order your copy of 100 Records, Vol. 3 from Polyvinyl Record Co.

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Written by Rob Peoni