Now it's time to give these weird sounds the credit they deserved.
It's amazing; just LOOK WHAT I HAVE FOUND in thrift stores, second hand markets and sometimes even IN THE TRASH CAN.
Thanks to CD I was able to save these unusual tunes on 45 rpm 7" records. It's obvious that these 45s have been played a lot, so surface noice is almost obligatory. No hi-tek cd quality, but just back to the times where no one had ever heard of digital recording studios.
All the songs on these compilations are from the original 45 rpm records released prior to 1980 when CD took over the world of warm vinyl sounds. I've tried to exclude any song that's been compiled before, but as I don't own each and every compilation album ever made, there might be some songs that you already own on another compilation album. Look, listen and enjoy...
LABEL: In The Trash Can Records
CAT # : GARBAGE12
Subtitle: Sombrero - 16 exotic tunes from Yucatan to Zanzibar
Imagine this: you're on a sandy beach in Yucatan wearing a sombrero and drinking tequila while you're thinking of your friend in Zanzibar who's playing the bongos along with the roaches and the wild cats. And then you hear these native tunes and you hurry back to your tiki parlor...
(London 45-HL 9345 from 1960; in US in '61 Landa 667)
You may already know "Loose ends" byt this B-side, also an instrumental, remained unknown to so many lovers of "Las Vegas Grind", "Frolic diner" and "Jungle exotica".
2. basta - clem sacco
(Durium 6988)
Exotic Italian cha cha cha on an Italian label, probably the best known label in Italy in the 50s and 60s. I suppose this was recorded around 1960. This song invites you to dance the cha cha cha with the beautiful girl next to you.
3. gin fizz - ginger ale
(Cardinal C.3155)
I'm not sure whether this instrumental lounge combo was Belgian or Dutch. This late 60s b-side of "The flood" was followed by "In the sand/Get off my life woman", also on Cardinal.
4. chunky - the planets
(His Master's Voice 45-POP 818 from 1960)
On volume 9 you could listen to "Screwball"; its other side is even better. "Chunky" is a superb example of British instrumental soundtrack music using twangy guitars and John Barry-ish arrangements.
5. bongo bongo - the chanters
(MGM K13750 from 1967)
A girl band under the wings of Milan aka The Leather Boy. Maybe that's why this sounds like his "On the go" which was featured on the "Wavy Gravy" series. It was even written by Milan who was born as Rick Rondell. The Chanters have remained a mystery band as I've never seen this 45 on any compilation. I've used the other side for vol. 21.
6. the little man in chinatown - jim lowe & the high fives
(Versailles 9-1.008 from 1956)
Jim Lowe, isn't that the... yes, he's the guy of "Green door" and this is the flip. Jim was a good friend of Dot Records' boss Pat Boone and that's where this song was first issued.
7. rock-a-bongo-boogie - doc severinsen
(Command R.S.11.001)
Another bongo beatin' beauty. An instrumental from the Command vaults. That label was more than Enoch Light & His Light Brigade. Doc Severinsen released several great albums and also this 45. I think it was 1959, but don't shoot me if I'm wrong again.
8. el cumbanchero - trinity
(Pink Elephant PE 22.714-H from 1973)
The most psyched-out version of El Cumbanchero ever! On both sides! The other side's version is 63 seconds longer. So try to find the 45 and choose which side you'd like to play at your own garden parties.
9. jody - del shannon
(London REX10095 from 1961)
We all know his smash hit "Runaway", but this instrumental is his best ever: twangy guitar, loads of echo, crazy sax, handclapping. And don't forget that who wrote this song as well.
10. nee-no-nah-nee - bert convy
(Moonglow 5191 from 1962)
On Moonglow, the American label founded by the Belgian brother of Ronnex' boss Van Hoogten. On several "monster rock 'n' roll" compilations you can find his songs like "Gorilla", but this creature you can hear on "Nee-no-nah-nee" wasn't compiled before. The guys from the Neanderthals love this song when they came to my party a few years ago.
11. wild kitten - stu mitchell & doug roberts
(Frankie 106 from 1967)
Another wild instro on a Belgian label. And it's one of the wildest I know. It's fast, it's rough, it's powerful, it's playful just like a wild kitten. It's like a battle of the drummers. And more of this you can find on vol. 31 with its flip "Drumfolk".
12. valley of the sioux - the outlaws
(His Master's Voice 45-POP 927 from 1961)
British rock 'n' roll never sounded better on this instrumental two-sider. "Crazy drums", its b-side, was already featured on "Rockin' on the north circular vol 2". So you can only get "Valley of the Sioux", also a frantic pre-surf instrumental, but only half as crazy.
13. sittin' bull - the sioux
(Moonglow 5228)
And here are the Sioux themselves playing another instrumental killer about their most famous chief Sittin' Bull who together with Crazy Horse, crushed General Curtis at Little Bighorn (some history lesson, huh). You can almost hear the Indians riding their horses and closing in on the gun-crazy soldiers. About one century later The Sioux are back with this platter. "Ooh poo pah doo" is the flipside.
14. route 66 - paul curry
(Cotton 1007 from 1962)
The most unusual pre-Stones version of Nat King Cole's hit from 1946. It was written by Bobby Troup, Julie London's husband, who also recorded it in 1956. But this remake amazes each party animal who likes whatever that happened before the Beatles-age. After the Indian reservation and now leaving Route 66...
15. la cucuracha - terry snyder & the all stars
(Command SSD-200003)
... we continue our trip and we're dancing witht the cockroaches near the Mexican border. Terry Snyder has used the Command All Stars for this recording of the most famous Mexican song. If this weren't an instrumental, you could listen to the story of the cockroach who doesn't have to leave anymore after finding a spot on a marihuana leaf. It was written druing the Mexican revolution in 1916 and in 1934 it was used in the movie La Cucaracha.
16. tequila madness - versatility
(President PT435 from 1975)
And we're ending your journey across the border. Tequila is to Mexico what vodka is to Russia: it makes people mad. Tequila Madness is a mad version of Chuck Rio's hit song. I could also have taken Too Much Tequila, but I think this will do for this volume.
