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 # : GARBAGE14
Subtitle: Stampede - 16 weird instro wailers from the pre-surf era
What a good time that was, the late 50s and early 60s. If you couldn't sing, don't bother; just start an instrumental band and make some great songs. Now everyone thinks he can sing and we have to listen to it day after day. Write your own lyrics to these tunes, daddy-o. and sing along under the cold shower...
(United Artists U.A.400 from 1962)
"Stampede": the song that became "Bikini girls with machine guns", still the best sold 45 made by The Cramps. This orchestral version with a super fuzzy guitar mustn't be forgotten.
2. uh-oh - the imps
(Scepter 1240 from 1961)
One of Poison Ivy's favourite guitar instrumentals. I still can't comprehend why this song never made its appearance on the legendary series "Born Bad". On a future volume I'll sure use "That'll get it", the b-side of this fantastic instro monster.
3. boomerang - tom & jerrio
(Lost-Nite LN-248 from 1965)
Eddie Thomas and Jerry Murray were known as Tom & Jerrio. Both songs on this 45 were written by Jerry. "Boomerang" is a killer tune for each party; don't forget the flipside "Boo-ga-loo".
4. underwater - the frogmen
(Candix 314 from 1961)
The Frogmen released four 45s, this being the first. It was also released on Astra 1009 in 1961 and later in 1964 on Scott. Their other 45s were "Beware below", "Tioga" and "Sea haunt". The B-side "Mad rush" was recorded by another band, although credited to The Frogmen. It attained a #44 spot on the Billboard charts in 1961.
5. torque torque - the howl brothers
(Galaxy GR-001 from 1962)
This may be a hoax. I've never heard of a Galaxy Records in the 60s which was a division of Green Sprouts Music. But then again, one cannot know all. It's a great surfish guitar instrumental. The a-side is the vocal version.
6. fireball - don spencer
(20th Century Fox 440 from 1963)
"I wish I was a spaceman, I'd be the fastest man alive..." but then it turns into a spacey love song. Yes, this is not an instrumental, but as the instrumental side was included on this volume and this song's too good to ignore, it's here. Enjoy "Fireball".
7. tranquilizer boogie - rex qual
(Apache AR-1836 from 1960)
A frantic guitar instrumental b-side of his "Going rocking tonight" which will be put on a future volume of this series. This was his sole release. Both songs are written by Guitar Jr., nobody else than Lee Baker; so it is not that strange to assume that Rex Qual and Guitar Jr. are the same.
8. boo-ga-loo - tom & jerrio
(Lost-Nite LN-248 from 1965)
Some honkin' and shoutin' to accompany this r&b instrumental and I assure you: you'll be dancing the boogaloo when you listen to this one. Jerry Murray released some solo 45s from 1967 to 1969 on labels such as Shout and White Whale.
9. maharadja - the tramps
(Fontana 265 091 TF from 1961; in US on King)
A great twangy guitar instrumental; a bit heavier than Duane Eddy. This King release was their sole effort. Why? Maybe they were a studio band that operated on various names.
10. desert tramp - the nomads
(Rust 5028 from 1961)
This guitar instrumental with a leading sax could have been a Jungle Exotica track or a Las Vegas Grind tune, but no no no; nobody has noticed this song before. These Nomads released a few more 45s on Genie, ABC-Paramount and Pharos.
11. xl-5 - don spencer
(20th Century Fox 440 from 1963)
Subtitled "Zero G", XL-5 is a racer; it's fast and it's fierce. Keyboards, a female choir and all the rest mixed together in a skydivin' smash record that never became a hit.
12. the caterpillar crawl - the strangers
(Titan FF-1701 from 1959)
Forget everything that's been told about the original tune that became The Cramps' "Garbageman". Everywhere you read that The Rumblers' "Boss" is the original, but that's wrong, daddy-o. "Boss" is from 1962. Featuring Joel Hill, the future Canned Heat singer. Canned Heat's bass player Larry Taylor recommended another song to the Cramps, namely "The green door". Larry Taylor recorded "LSD-25" in 1959 with The Gamblers, a band that consisted of the same musicians that were playing with Duane Eddy (Rebels) and Kip Tyler (Flips). The b-side 'Rockin' rebel" already reappeared on the 1981 comp "Instrumental madness!"
13. long long ago - the explosions
(Decca FM 264 498 )
This instrumental is an arrangement of a traditional. In Holland and in Belgium it was a kid's song called "Roodborstje", which was hilariously covered by ex-MTV veejay Marcel Vanthilt with his band Arbeid Adelt! The Explosions were a Dutch instrumental guitar combo that recorded in the erly 60s.
14. surfin' liza - van doren
(Funckler HY42.770 from 1964; in US on Hickory)
Another old old old song reinvented: this is a surf version of Beethoven's "Fur Elise", although the credits show "Van Doren - Terry Roberts". This should be classified as novelty for I can't believe it can be taken seriously.
15. huntington beach - van doren
(Funckler HY42.770 from 1964)
Another party surf instrumental with more handclapping than drumming, but I don't complain. This 45 was his sole release.
16. rollerama - al caiola
(United Artists U.A.400 from 1962)
This volume started with big band leader Caiola covering The Scarlets' "Stampede". And now he's back with the flipside of that 45, an exciting keyboard plus guitar instrumental. Most of his work is big band stuff. His recording output is tremendous: from 1953 till 1973. And then this: in 1958 The Tones recorded a 45 together with The Al Caiola Orchestra. He was a busy man.
