In The Trashcan
Records GARBAGE38
"Polynesia, China, India, Congo,... What do
you dream of when thinking of these names? Strange
boats? Bugs in your tent? A good view? Exotic girls?
In the 50s and 60s these places were paradise to some
and too far away to visit. Now you can visit them when
listening to this volume. Get lost in the jungle..."
One of the most exotic instrumentals Mister Twangy Guitar has ever written. If there’s ever going to be a third volume of “Jungle exotica”, this '59 track must be the opening track. Just close your eyes and think about your Polynesian love on that lost island, just like Poison Ivy did: she used this song for her own Cramps song "Kizmiaz". Another influence is Preston Epps' "Flemenco boogie".
Aha, don’t fall asleep on a 10-feet high slope because it just might be a termites hotel. And you could wind up being the main dish. “Termites” is a savage tribute to the best known bugs in Africa. While The Cords just are a great instrumental guitar combo from '65.
And on that island you can watch the shrimp boats sailing towards the sunset. All across the Pacific until you reach the wild shores of China.
”King of the jungle” by The Wildmen is one of my all time fave “jungle” theme songs. Sam “Apple” Pie covered this song in 1969 and retitled it “Tiger man”. Mix the novelty crazy rockabilly of the Wildmen with the late 60s guitar blasts and go freak out on this bizarre Tarzan tribute.
A Belgian instrumental song about a Chinese temple dance. A twangy guitar, squealing organs and gongs lead you to the center of the temple where the monks are teaching you how to dance.
Also from the same '73 movie “Or Rouge” (or Red Gold) to promote the mining company Gecamines as “Lualaba source d’energie”. This EP contains two more but less interesting tracks.
In 1973 Mastiya had a Top100 hit with “Chimbombay” in Canada. A few years earlier John Woolley had no hit record with this Belgian release. Bombay is the capital of the Indian film industry, Bollywood. This is cool Belgian bubblegum pop by the band that also recorded the super “You’re lying”.
Hailing from Bellingham in the Pacific Northwest The Night People were one of the many instrumental rock band such as The Frantics and The Wailers. After dropping one member the remaining five recorded this sole 45. “Istanbul”, from 1961, the a-side can be found on vol 1.
And further to the west we arrive in the Arabian desert with the Pop Concerto Orchestra for another instrumental which doesn’t have a single middle-eastern influence, but it’s weird and funky and quite unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. From '73.
”Daniel Boone (the daddy of them all)” is the full title of this '55 song. Originally this hillbilly square dance banjo tune was released on Waldorf Music Hall 217 and hit the US charts for one single week. Backed up by The Brigadiers Loren Becker recorded this for both Waldorf and Enoch Light’s Command Records. Only for people living between the old mountains and the Ohio river.
Now this volume has taken us to the heart of Black Africa: the Congo. Or Zaire as it was called then. This is from a soundtrack for a promotional movie about the Belgo-Zaire mining company Gecamines. The composer and leader of this orchestra was Maurice Lecoeur.
In 1972 a Chinese neighbour could be big news in a little town. Roland Delys sings about the Chinaman, but not in English: no, it’s a French psych pop tune from Belgium.
Very powerful organ infused funk for the better soul & funk party. A year earlier, Tribe was known for their minor hit “Koke” from 1973 which you can find on vol 27.
Also in French, Annie sings about a female Tarzan who lives in a baobab. A '75 poppy samba popcorn ditty.
The panorama over the African steppes must be overwhelming I’m told. Thus is this '63 demented guitar instrumental. An organ duels the guitars and bass while the thunderous drums interfere with a power unlike anything else.
And to end this Tropicana volume I’ll eat mangos chilled by trombone vibes created by the Danish king of the trombone: Kai Winding. If you like Enoch Light, Arthur Lyman and Les Baxter, you’ll understand why I’ve chosen this '59 instrumental orchestral jazz tune to finish another super set of exotic tracks.
