In The Trashcan Records
GARBAGE02
"This volume is a mixture of 50's
and 60's tunes from several countries, both vocal and instrumental; don't be
scared to leave your past behind and take the train to a secret place,
wherever that may be, Disneyland, Tinseltown itself or even heaven. If you
don't like trains, you could go to space or
to your kitchen
or sit down in front of your tv..."
Now everybody goes on holiday by plane, but there was a time traveling by train was modern. No Orient Express here, but a great yet completely unknown train song by Wilbert Ervin. This organ grinder must have been recorded after 1965 because it's a remake of Smokey Robinson's My Girl. It starts AND ends with a train departing. The flip contains a weird version of Wade In The Water.
This organ instrumental comes from his "Four More Multi-Sounds!" EP. He toured for about 20 years as André Brasseur and His Multisound Organ and he had a worldwide hit with "Early bird". "Mad Train" wasn't a hit record. If you want to read more about this Belgian keyboard wizz, check out volume 31. And be surprised because he could sing as well!
The Sunlights were three Italian immigrants who lived in Belgium and were first known as I Cogoni. They released over 20 singles and this was their first. It was also issued as a 4-track EP. This Shadows-y instrumental also begins with a whistling train and it sounds like it's been recorded in a railway station.
And here is another organ instrumental and it swings even more. Bill Doggett was a renowned organ player and a much asked studio musician. In the US the A-side "The Kicker" (also on volume 29) was coupled with another song. But this song is WOW!!!
Yes, the same Night Train made popular by James Brown and a thousand others. But... it's a cover! Jimmy Forest recorded this in 1952, but stole it from Duke Ellington who wrote it in 1946 as "Happy go lucky local part2". Enoch Light's big band (as always with strings and strong percussion) is here with a groovy organ and makes this recording one of the most special versions.
A faster version of the Donovan classic "Sunshine Superman" might have been their sole recording (together with the flip "Carnaval"). You could surprise people on the dancefloor by playing this completely unknown and thus forgotten remake.
Again train sounds, but this time it's the harmonica and the fuzz guitar. And this is a vocal recording by one of Canada's most outstanding sixties punk bands. Hailing from Toronto, they were also popular in the North East of the USA. This is the flip to "She ain't no use to me", an uptempo super fuzz song that already appeared on other compilations such as "Ear Piercing Punk". But the b-side has escaped the attention of all the previous compilers it seems.
The B-side of "I want you to be my baby" (see volume 18). An uptempo beat, horns, steady drums, female backing vocals and more soulful sounds together with BIllie, whose singing career ended as quickly as it began. Maybe she could've had more luck as a model. But now she won't be forgotten.
Tired of all your journeys by train? Haven't you ever tried the Doomsday Train before? It's early seventies (I think). Brainbox was a Dutch band and is linked to Kaz Lux who had some minor hits in Holland during the 70s. He wrote the song on the A-side "Good morning, day".
That's the same label as Dale Hawkins and his Susie-Q, his Tornado and so many Lee Hazlewood influenced recordings. And yep, Lee is behind this one as well. And I won't be surprised to find out that the backing band is The Flips (Kip Tyler, remember?) aka The Rebels (yeah, Duane Eddy's). The ballad on the flipside is like a half paced version of Marty Wilde's "Teenager in love", but it's still a completely different song.
Back to the day that it wasn't uncool to take the train. Even in France the train was very popular. Alice Dona wrote "Mon train de banlieue" (="My suburb train") and the other 3 songs on this EP. She's age 17. This EP must've been released around 1964.
It's a Hollywood, CA label, but the 2 Delray Record labels I know are not linked to this release. This is late 60s: psychedelic guitar in overdrive, three heavenlike girls singing about you and the wonderful time together. The flip is even better : check it out on volume 19.
Another French recording by Jacques Dutronc protégé Benjamin. Jacques plays guitar on this one (loads of fuzz!). This song about a train from hell and the search for a girl. It seems that people always have sung about lost loves... or about hair! "Cheveux longs" (="Long hair") is the A-side and was written by Dutronc himself, a typical folk rock protest song.
Johnny recorded only one 45 and both songs are SUPER, especially the other side "Sixteen days" which would have been perfect right after Sebastian Peabody's "Grave in the desert" on the best compilation ever WAVY GRAVY. Listen to it on volume 13. "Secret place" is a ballad, but it's oh so cool. Grab your lover at your secret place and forget about the million tears you've cried.
In the early days of his career (read: when he didn't have money) Buddy Miles traveled by train from Memphis to the dozens of recording studios, for he was much asked hence his work for Jimi Hendrix, Santana and others in the 70s. But this
soul stomper is one of this first recordings and he himself got some help from his friends, the MG's. I don't know if Booker T himself is on this recording, but the rest are.
I know several versions of "77 Sunset strip", but none can match the danceability of Kid Burbank's remake. It must have been recorded during the golden sixties. The flip of this instrumental is a live vocal orchestral tune called "Open the door, Richard" (no no, it's not Hyacinth Bucket saying this). I haven't been able to track down any info on Mr. Burbank. I hope you enjoyed this train trip to Hollywood and beyond.
