In The Trashcan Records
GARBAGE65
"Pre-Beatles
sounds from a lonesome Caribbean town while sitting in a go-kart watching
zombies dancing the cha cha cha or the mambo; not only Americans have these
dreams; also Europeans need taboo culture..."
(Decca 9-28756 from 1953)
My grandparents probably will remember Arkansas born Louis Jordan; nowadays you can only hear his Choo-Choo-Ch-Boogie at nostalgic radio shows or retro parties. I’m not his biggest fan, but I’ve always loved this particular tune. He died in 1975, only 66 years old.
(Coronet KS-132 from 1957)
This 45 was also issued in the US on Columbia 4-40866. The Coronet release is from Australia, though, where also a full album “Calypso carnival” was released. In the same calypso style as the flipside “Zombie jamboree” this song about the Boo Boo Man is 100% exotic novelty party music.
(Bell 96 )
One of my fave ballads (lyrically) is Ricky Nelson’s finest moment “Lonesome town”. Although I must admit that I first heard The Cramps’ version from 1978. Many have tried to capture the same heart breaking spirit, but it’s this unknown singer that could bring back the same feeling as the late Ricky Nelson.
(Cross Country 1-1818 from 1962)
A groovy organ intro and a speeding baby-dragster are the main ingredients in this fantastic instrumental which I even consider better than the a-side, also on this volume. I hope to learn more about this band. After the split of the Ring Leaders Steve Rowland returned to the stage with something completely different: Family Dogg.
(Discostar 45x1061 from 1963)
Add a little bit of foreign sauce to your dishes and you get something completely new. That’s what The Jokers (from Antwerp in Belgium) tried and partially succeeded. They were fine musicians and were the Belgian Shadows and Ventures.
(Reward 1002 from 1969)
And now the Flemish instrumental band is singing! And even in French! Because it’s already 1969, the guitar sounds are a bit heavier than usual. This was the second release of their own record label Reward.
(Coronet KS-132 from 1957)
Originally known as “Jumbie Jamberee”, a Trinidad calypso tune from 1953 "Zombie Jamboree" is about ghosts called jumbies dancing in a cemetery “back to back, belly to belly”. Harry Belafonte regularly performed the song and even Bob Marley and the Wailers issued a reggae version ("Jumbie Jamboree"). Later it was used by Spike Lee and others. It’s one of the craziest tunes to dance to on your local Tiki Halloween party.
(Philips B372619F)
A first class mambo tune sung in French backed by Claude Bolling and his Orchestra. My guess is that it’s from around 1958. On vol 75 you can listen to another Dario Moreno song. Was he related to Sylva Moreno who recorded a fine version of Brigitte Bardot (see vol 23) or Rita Moreno who released a super sexy version of “Erotica” made famous by Man?
(Philips 429107BE
Few know that Cuban hero bandleader Cugat actually was born in Spain and returned there in 1980 at the ever young age of 80. But in the meantime he was the one who was the biggest promoter of Latin-American music. Rhumba, samba, mambo, pachanga and cha-cha-cha were his trademark. It’s even possible that this tune was recorded as early as 1940; I really don’t know. For Europeans back then the cha-cha-cha was a brand new dance style. This is not an instrumental; a musical styled girl is singing all about that new dance.
(Newtone HT714 from 1962)
B-side of San Remo 1962 contest song “Tango Italiano” which has been compiled numerously. “Virgola di luna” is a great Italian cha-cha-cha song sung by this ever lovely signorina. It’s girls like her that attracted millions of young guys to the ancient towns of Italy.
(Cross Country 1-1818 from 1963)
What a great picture sleeve! An excellent boppin’ rock ‘n’ roll instrumental with a swinging organ and a wailing sax. It was their last recording. In the late 50s there were releases on Liberty and Virgo.
(His Master’s Voice 45-POP877 from 1961)
Don’t run, don’t hide; it’s not real bullets you hear at the intro… I’ve never heard a bad song by The Outlaws (these Outlaws I mean). Ambush is wild ‘cowboys against Indians” entertainment for 2’23” full of guitar madness.
(Kapp K554 from 1963)
I’ve got so many cool versions of this tune made famous by Ted Weems and I discovered it from a Lux Interior 1984 radio show LP. This version by Kenny Ball has got a little bit more spunk, perhaps because it was recorded a decade later.
(Fly F110
Heinz Burt of the Tornados had a world wide hit with this homage to Eddie Cochran. This unknown artist did an excellent copy of that tune for the Fly label.
(MGM K13061 from 1962)
A cool popcorn tune by Mark Dinning who recorded for a variety of record labels such as United Artists, Hickory and Cameo. He even recorded two full albums in 1960: “Teen angel” and “Wanderin”. At popcorn and soul parties I pitch up the speed a little bit and then it’s shuffle time on the dance floor.
(Discostar 1089 from 1964)
THEE exotica tune of exotica tunes “Tabou” by Belgian guitar instro masters The Jokers. There’s a Belgian surf band called Fifty Foot Combo who have the unlikely habit to include a Jokers song (cover or original) on each of their releases. Tabou appeared on their first EP.
