In The Trashcan
Records GEM036
"Do you wanna know why it's not unusual you get
kicked in the teeth while waiting for the sun like a sex
machine..."
Hardly recognizable yet hilariously great version of The Moody Blues' biggest hit single, released on A&M Records in 1979 by funpunk outfit The Dickies. See vols 2 and 3 for more info. On vol 56 you get an even better cover song.
A Japanese punk outfit on a French record label and three songs by the same Belgian punk band, The Kids. This 1995 EP on Wild Wild Records features "This is rock 'n' roll" (see vol 76), "Bloody Belgium" and this one and it is a tribute to one of the very best '77 punk rock bands from... anywhere. And The Kids are still performing! Teengenerate, ex-American Soul Spiders, debuted in 1993 (see vol 14) and were one of Japan's wildest groups. And surprise: it's not Fink or Fifi singing here; it's Steve Baise of Adam West fame and also Devil Dogs who was asked to do the vocals.
Being one of Canada's first punk bands, they were already 15 years on the road when they recorded this Tom Jones classic in 1993 for Alternative Tentacles.
Very old Italian traditional. My favourite version is the one by Marino Marini. This is 1978 and it's a punk pop parody by the most fake punk singer of all time. But again, it's so bad it's brilliant.
French version of a Small Faces hit by "Ca plane pour moi" punk pastiche from Belgium in 1978 on Vertigo. Uptempo beat with a twist. Bad taste is good taste, they say…
This is not a 7", but a 6" single, released in 1978 on Chiswick Records. "I want candy" was in 1966 a US hit single for The Strangeloves. This punky pubrock version rocks hard and is one of my Chiswick faves.
An unexpected and yet fantastic 1986 cover version of The Doors' "Waiting for the sun", recorded for Fire Records. They hailed from Leeds, city of The Sisters Of Mercy, who discovered them. The A-side can be found on vol 67.
A completely unexpected cover version of a Leonard Cohen song, recorded in 1990 for the "Rollercoaster EP". Jim and William Reid invented a new sound in 1984 and perfected it throughout the years. Walls of distortion in an echo chamber clad with fuzz layer upon fuzz layer.
The Stranglers have always been more into The Doors than into The Stooges and that's why I wasn't surprised to discover they covered this Cream classic in 1980.
I never was and will never be a Madonna fan; maybe that's why I love this awful 1985 cover version of "Like a virgin" by Stiv Bators' new band, founded in 1982 after disbanding Dead Boys. Stiv died 5 years later in a car accident in Paris, France, age 40.
A 1981 Black Flag song brought by a drummer and sound engineer from Madrid backed by a girls-only band? Read more about Las Pussycats on vol 42. Lagarto was well known in Madrid and was good friends with Munster Records and its subsidiary Electro Harmonix that released his three 45s. See more about Lagarto on vol 71.
Simply their best release and it contains two cover songs. This one from AC-DC and the flipside from Rose Tattoo (see vol 66). Released on Scooch Pooch Records in 1997. A few years later I saw the band the first time as opening act for the disappointing Turbonegro. Their live show fried my mind. Corey Parks left the band in 2000 and I saw her again as part of Duane Peters & The Hunns. She was always more into punk rock than hard rock.
A weird Belgian cover version of The Turtles' millionseller, released in 1983 on Antler Records. See also vol 56 for the A-side.
An unexpected 1980 cover version of Booker T's exotic "Soul limbo" on Red Lightnin' Records. They had a second 45 on the same label and I think that's all they ever released.
Sally Peterson was the substitute for Patti Palladin to sing on the 1984 Flying Lizards recordings as on this James Brown cover, the band's final record.
Boheemiu… no… Boheameeun Rapso… no Boheimium Raspody… no… "Queen song"; that's what's written on the back sleeve. This kids' television hero has recorded 5 cover versions on this Regal Zonophone EP from 1985. The first time I heard it I couldn't stop laughing. Brilliant from the eternal kid with the big head from Timperley...
