In The Trashcan Records
GARBAGE-X12
"Here I can officially declare: this is the
Hippest Collection of them all!"
From vol 78 "Gotta get back"
The original release was on Hebra in 1969 as The Closed, a band of Italian immigrants in Liege. After the big Sweet scandal (Brian Conolly was accused of rape after a gig) and the ban (The Sweet didn't play in Belgium until 1990) the manager of The Closed thought he could earn big bucks by re-releasing the 45 as by The Sweet in Belgium and France. Because of the big commotion he expected The Sweet not to react; naturally they did and the guy was convicted. So this 45 is NOT by The Sweet; it's TOO good!
9. Johnny Thunder: I'm alive
From vol 86 "Where is my mind?"
If you are a fan of 60s parties, you know this song. And probably it's the
brilliant Don Fardon version every DJ thinks he ought to play.
Nevertheless the original recording is by Tommy James & The Shondells. As I
prefer heavier/cruder sounds than most Brit-minded people, my favourite "I'm
alive" is the one by Johnny Thunder from 1968. And yes, it's the same guy
who gave us "Loop de loop" five years earlier.
2. Daisy Clan: Glory be
From vol 90 "Intoxicated Music"
I know you all prefer Howard Carpendale's German version "Du hasst mich",
but this English sung original by the Daisy Clan sounds so much better to
me. Germans say Daisy Clan was German while in Belgium they swear it was a
Belgian band. Truth is (or seems to be) that the band was partially German and Belgian.
This Belgian release from 1970 will always be one of my favourites.
From vol 76 "Window Dreaming"
I don't know anything about Don Cooper. He released at least one album and one 45 for Roulette in 1969. This more I started to listen to this folkish tune, the more I began to like it. The best moment to listen to this is when you look through your bedroom window and watch how a rainbow is chasing away the darkest clouds.
From vol 86 "Where Is My Mind?"
This 1968 platter is one of the best Belgian 60s discoveries from the last 10 years. I heard it once years and years ago, but I didn't know who it was. The Swallows' lead guitaris Ray Bossaer wrote both sides. He said they got the band's name because they used to perform at a striptease club. After the Beatles in 1961 Hamburg, they were the second continental beat band. Six years later they stopped with this fantastic slice of popsike.
11. Susan Shifrin: 25 miles
From vol 73 "Groovey Things"
So many good versions of Edwin Starr's "25 Miles", but only one that really
stands out! It's not the easiest one to find, certainly not this
Belgian pressing. This is not just soul, but fuzztone freakbeat as well. If
this 1968 killer can't fill a dancefloor, then it's a lame audience indeed.
4. Conexion: I will pray
From vol 80 "Neptune brain"
A completely forgotten and hence unknown Spanish group who released in
Belgium as well. They had at least 15 singles, 2 EPs one LP. They go further
than Jess & James ever dared to go. Also the flipside “Strong lover” is
great mix of uptempo soul and popsike. In Belgium it was released in 1971
and supposedly one year earlier in Spain. Luis Cobos wrote the track.
From vol 94 "Sticky Sunshine
What kind of a question is that? It isn't that difficult, is it? Whatever. This German release (I think it was also released in France on Vogue) surprised me. It's such a brilliant cocktail of soul and garage, featuring an organ and a fuzz guitar that are getting wilder and wilder and wilder.
From vol 75 "No English?"
Leather clad Johnny (he was born in Belgium, but lived in France) with a "Vapeur mauve" soundalike tune written for the same movie from 1967. Phasing psychedelic guitar sounds on motorbikes and of course sung in French (can be translated freely as "Tear it all up".
13. Mack Kissoon: Get down with it
satisfaction
From vol 90 "Intoxicated Music"
It's 1969 and Mack Kissoon is at the start of a promising career. As Mac (with
Katie) he had many hit records in the 70s, but I'll always remember him by
this fantastic uptempo soul dance floor filler that ends with a nod to the
Stones' Satisfaction.
6. Cleo: Madama la terre
From vol 99 "Voici les fauves"
Undoubtedly her best release and thanks to the Jacques Dutronc written "Et
moi, et toi, et soie" also her best known. "Les fauves" has already
reappeared as well on various compilations. But not this one. The breaks and
tempo changes makes this 1966 song quite unique. Another Cleo song from 1968
can be found on vol 37.
From vol 85 "Expressway To Soul Gyps"
Don't you all love "Tell mama"? Whether it's Etta James, Martha Velez or someone else, it's a brilliant song. Well, “Tell daddy” is the answer song to “Tell mama”, both written by Carter, but with new lyrics by Daniels & Terrel. The Soul Survivors were a great band, just listen to "Mama soul", the A-side.
From vol 83 "Groovin' in a time machine"
A Beegees song??? Yep, and it's a splendid version by Spain's well known "Black is Black" Los Bravos. They made it more soulful and yet added a fuzz guitar. It's even hard to recognize the original. "Sympathy" is the other side. To me the best Los Bravos song will always be "Bring a little loving"
15. The American Breed: The brain
From vol 80 "Neptune Brain"
David Niven, Jean-Paul Belmondo and Bourvil, all in one movie about a super
thief called The Brain (or "Le cerveau". It's 1968 and France has its second
revolution in May. But it's an American band that plays the tune for this
movie. I don't know how this link was established; not that I care, because
it's a fantastic song, also at parties. The flipside "Sophia" is the main
theme of the movie that isn't that bad either.
8. The Shanes: I don't want your love
From vol 98 "Away From Here"
This sounds like 1966 and it's released on the Belgian division of Columbia.
Were they Swedish? I think so. Anyway, it's one of the heaviest foot stompin'
garage beat tunes I've ever heard to come out of Europe. The B-side is a
Chuck Berry song "Sweet little rock 'n' roller".
From vol 78 "Gotta Get Back"
As far as I know this 45 was issued with two different sleeves, this being the most difficult one to find. It's from the 1968 French release. It's a brilliant mix of heavy psych and garage punk. If you gotta get back to 1968, be sure it's May in France.
