LOOK WHAT I HAVE FOUND vol 210
"Sixteen tons of cafeine" - 16 cafeine-free violations of world-famous tunes

 

In The Trashcan Records       GARBAGE210
"Sixteen tons and what do you get... 15 more devastating versions of well known songs that will keep you out of your sleep, like, after sixteen cups of black coffee..."

1. sixteen tons - johnny desmond

I was pleasantly surprised by this splendid version of Merle Travis' biggest hit from 1947, made famous by Tennesse Ernie Ford a few months earlier than Desmond's recording from 1955. Desmond was born Giovanni De Simone and learned the show business in the 1940s in Bob Crosby's show band and later in Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band.

9. she's about a mover - trini lopez

Of course this is a cover of the Sir Douglas Quintet hit single, written by Doug Sahm, but the guitar riff can also be heard in The Beatles "She's a woman", written a year earlier in 1964. Funniest version must be André Van Duin's Dutch translation "Moet ik lopen". Lopez' version was also recorded in 1965.

2. jezebel - gary miller

Blackpool singer Neville Williams changed his name into Gary Miller. His recording career started in the early 50s and lasted until well into the 60s. I particularly like his rendition of Wayne Shanklin's 1951 million seller (thanks to the incredible Frankie Laine version). This Vogue single was released in 1959.

10. quinn de eskimo - tinus plotseling

A funny Dutch translation of Bob Dylan's "Quinn the eskimo". Tinus Plotseling was a pseudonym for Peter Tetteroo, the singer of famous band Tee Set. He had some solo singles too using his real name, including a fine version of "Red red wine". A Havoc release from 1968.

3. riders in the sky - eddie carter

On the same EP as "I leaned on a man" (see vol 209). I'd like to know the Eddie Carter story. Was he an Italian? In those days he recorded some 45s with I Trovatori. This EP was released in 1960 on Ricordi, an Italian record label.

11. light my fire - rhetta hughes

A terrific psychedelic soul version from 1968. I'm told she was born in 1953, which means she was only 15 years old when recording this tremendous version. First released on Tetragrammaton and then on Polydor.

4. caravan - nat king cole

One of the oldest sung versions of this Duke Ellington masterpiece. Nat and The King Cole Trio recorded it in 1938 already. This 7" release is from 1956. Both sides of this release also appear on his 1956 album "After midnight".

12. don't let me be misunderstood - conexion

Originally released in 1969 on Movieplay, a label from Madrid. And then reissued on various labels like Orlador and Sorpresa Fundador. My Pipe copy was issued in 1972. Luis Cobos was their best known member.  Nina Simone and also The Animals had hits with this song. Even Quentin Tarantino liked it so much that he used Santa Esmeralda's 1977 disco version for the film score of "Kill Bill".

5. sally was a good old girl - shocking blue

Harlan Howard wrote the song. The first version was recorded in 1962 by Hank Cochran. Eight years later Dutch outfit (of "Venus" fame) Shocking Blue put it on their third album "Scorpio's dance". It's the most c&w Mariska Veres ever sang with the band that also gave us the smashing "Send me a postcard".

13. my boy lollipop - the tramps

Another wild hammerin' guitar instrumental that reminds me of "If I had a hammer". See vol 207 for another track of this great Belgian EP. A 1964 EP on Gala Des Variétés.

6. twist and rock arond the clock - ray anthony & his bookends

Also featured on his 1962 album "The twist". Next to "Dragnet" this is my favourite Anthony recording, backed by these lovely girl singers. A Capitol release.

14. watermelon man - los cangaceiros

Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon man" is one of my favourite Latin tunes. Bandleader was Yvan Morice. They released ten EP's, mostly for the Président label. This one came out on Bel Air, another French label, in 1961. See also vol 211.

7. i can tell - johnny kidd & the pirates

Excellent two-sider on His Master's Voice by the band that gave us the seminal version of "Shakin' all over". This super version of Bo Diddley's "I can tell" is one of the best I know. Released in 1962. See also vol 214 for the flipside.

15. color cafe - roberto & jose-luis penamaria

A peculiar Spanish sung version of one of Gainsbourg's finest moments, originally from 1964. It sounds like a Spanish Henri Salvador with loads of bongos and congas. From a 1970 single on Fontana.

8. t'aimer follement - dalida

Although from Italian origins she was born in Cairo, Egypt, as Yolanda Gigliotti. She became one of France's biggest stars ever, selling tens of millions of albums and singles. Floyd Robinson wrote this song in 1959 as "Makin' love". It was a big hit for Dalida in 1960 and immediately picked up by Johnny Hallyday as his first single.

16. qwand les tchets - nanesse

Nanesse was an alias for Joanna, who gave us the magnificent psychedelic yéyé song "Hold-up inusité" from 1968. Here she's singing Chicory Tip's "Son of my father" in a local French dialect. Giorgio Moroder wrote the song, wich was first entitled "Nachts scheint die Sonne", a small German hit for Michael Holm in 1971. A year later Moroder recorded it himself as "Son of my father" and then followed Chicory Tip's million selling release. Joanna Lacomte recorded her weird version as Nanesse & les Nanas a while later.