LOOK WHAT I COULD FIND vol 66
"Covers to die for 12" - 16 garage and punk renditions of our fab faves

 

In The Trashcan Records       GEM066
"Please don't tell my baby I'm stranded with nice boys; let's talk about girls, it's the next big thing..."

1. let's talk about girls - the undertones

The Grodes' garage punk classic from 1967 in the hands of Feargal Sharkey on this B-side of "You've got my number". They probably heard about this obscure tune because of the 1977 Moxie reissue by Tongues Of Truth, both bands of Manny Freiser, the author. Terrific version by Northern Irish punk icons from 1979 on Sire.

9. please don't tell my baby - the strikes

Think of The Scabs trying to play a Milkshakes tune. A Belgian trio from Heist-Op-Den-Berg who recorded this song, written by Billy Childish and Mickey Hampshire, for Color in 1988.

2. shakin' all over - generation x

An uptempo punk pop rock 'n' roll cover version of Johnny Kidd's classic tune. Here you already could get an idea of what singer Billy Idol was planning to do with his career. A plastic peroxide punk rock icon Hollywood style in progress. Producer Ian Hunter decided to add a guitar solo, totally not done in 70s punk rock. It's the 1979 flipside to "Valley of the dolls".

10. ain't that lovin' you baby - the squares

I love each and every version of this stomper, the best being the Link Wray recording. The Squares from Nancy, France, recorded it in 1995 for Hangman's Daughter. First class Medway r&b punk.

3. lil' riding hood - 999

I just love that song, every version has at least something special. Also this one by ex-punk band 999, which they recorded in 1981 for Albion Records.

11. be a sect maniac - thee headcoat sect

Don Craine, singer of The Downliners Sect, is considered to be the very first Headcoat, 25 years ahead of his time, so it makes perfectly sense to see him join Thee Headcoats in the recording studio in 1990. Damaged Goods Records released this wonderful EP.

4. no limit - anal babes

Shockpunk band Anal Babes recording the trashiest version ever of a Euro dance classic. Two Unlimited's "No limit" is brutally sodomized by these Norwegians. Released in Belgium by Demolition Derby in 1994. And surprise: this really works on the dance floor haha. The other side contains two tracks by Brainbombs.

12. the best things in life - the milkduds

Perhaps the biggest Milkshakes fans ever! With names like Billy Boyish, Micky Hamster, Bruce Bland and John Russell (see vol 46) there's no doubt about it. From a 1995 EP on Square Target. They hailed from Illinois. See als vols 76 and 84.

5. stranded - kustomized

Not so many bands have a Wire song in their setlist. Kustomized have and they did a great job. Too bad nobody seems to remember the band. Matador Records from NYC released their two albums and a few singles, inlcuding this one in 1994. Another reason to get this 45 is the terrific cover version of The Saints' "Stranded".

13. jump & run - sicniks

When Candy Del Mar left The Cramps in 1991, she joined Sicniks, a Cramps influenced trash garage outfit, comparable with Sickidz. Instead of bass she plays guitar on this Ronnie Dawson song.

6. nice boys - nashville pussy

We know that nice boys don't play rock 'n' roll, but what about nice girls? Corey and Ruyter looked mean but actually they were gentle and friendly as a pussy from Nashville. An excellent version of Rose Tattoo's best known song. The even better flipside is on vol 36.

14. leavin' here - the cracked jaffers

Holland-Dozier-Holland song and yet this ain't no soul tune: it's raw garage rock from down under. This Melbourne quintet are here with their first record "Drop in...", released in 1986 on Australia's finest garage label Kavern7 Records.

7. little red rooster - the jesus and mary chain

Is this the trashiest version of a blues classic ever? I like this so much I played it ten times in a row when I bought this EP in 1993. A Blanco Y Negro release.

15. ski bum - the primeteens

These Italian psych-heads were big fans of Back From The Grave, simply the best garage punk compiliation series ever. In 1990 they recorded this splendid lo-fi version of "Ski-bum". See also vol 41.

8. surfin' bird - the psychotic petunias

No doubt about this: it's the trashiest, weirdest, craziest version of The Trashmen's "Surfin' bird", yes even wackier than The Cramps' first single. Did The Cramps hear their version or were The Petunias simply Cramps copycats? Who'll know… Released in 1978 on Mayhem Records, a Pennsylvania label.

16.   the next big thing - the screaming dizbusters

Aka The Nomads from Sweden in 1988 on a 7" given away with Next Big Thing Issue 24, a fanzine made by Lindsay Hutton, once head of The Legion Of The Cramped. The original is a Dictators song from their 1975 debut album "Go girl crazy!".