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 # : GARBAGE21
Subtitle: S.O.S. - 16 seldom heard cries for help
Yes, really, these 45s were crying "please put us on a compilation and have us heard all over the world". It's like I've known these 60's songs all my life and yet it was great to hear them all back again...
(Palette PB40.166 from 1963)
Of course this song starts with . . . - - - . . . and it's on one of the rarest Cousins 45s. The (Continental) Cousins: a Belgian success story...
2. tel-aviv - the cousins & strings
(Palette PB40.166 from 1963)
And on the B-side you'll find "Tel-Aviv", in those days still an attractive target for tourists, now for terrorists. After releasing about 40 or 50 EP's and 45's in seven years. As La Jeune Equippe this Brussels foursome played on parties held by the elitarian chique of the late 50s... until the owner of a club in Brussels, Les Cousins, invited them to play for him on the French National holiday (July 14 1961). Two years later they were almost gods in Argentinia under the moniker of Los Primos. In 1966 they called it an end. For more about The Cousins: check out volumes 20 and 26.
3. do the mashed potatoes pt2 - nat kendricks & the swans
(Trip TR-138; in US on Criteria from 1960)
On the first release it was issued as The Swans, but later Nat Kendricks was added. Who was this Nat? No one less than James Brown himself. Story goes that the record boss of King didn't want a mashed potato on his label, but in 1962 King released "Mashed potatoes USA", so you'll never know the real story behind this. Part 1 of this song has been reissued earlier on a compilation album.
4. unguaua pt2 - the kingpins
(United Artists UA-111 from 1958)
The best song on the sinsational compilation "Forbidden city dog food" is the Kingpins' "Unguaua". If you wanna know the rest of the song which could only be heard on the B-side of the rare 45, you're lucky. This song has led to two radio shows called Ungawa, one in Hamburg, Germany and one in Antwerp, Belgium. Both radio shows started in 1992 and around that time there was also a British movie related fanzine called "Ungawa!". If you listen very carefully to Johnny Weismuller in his early Tarzan movies, you'll hear him yelling Ungawa to the animals. Fantastic jungle song!
5. topsy '67 - hal blaine
(RCA-Victor 56-1001 from 1967)
At the age of 9 Hal began drumming. From 1958 on he became one of the best known session drummers. Besides his solo work he played with lotsa combos including surf acts such as The Avalanches, The Young Cougars, The Ripchords, The Catalinas, The Good Guys, most of those bands with producer and friend Richard Delvy. One of his best albums is "Psychedelic percussion" on Dunhill. And for me his 1967 version of "Topsy" is one of his best solo 45s: a perfect example of his astounding drumming qualities.
6. california sun - hal blaine
(RCA-Victor 56-1001 from 1967)
His rock 'n' roll roots are easy to explain: he also teamed up with Chris Montez, Tommy Sands and even Elvis. This instrumental b-side of "Topsy '67" is better than most covers I know of this Ramones classic. Ramones? Yes, it's hard to believe but the younger generation thinks that it's a Ramones song!
7. drumfolk - stu mitchell & doug roberts
(Frankie 106 from 1965, but released in 1967)
From Edmonton, Canada comes this duo, also much asked session musicians. The A-side is one of my fave instros: "Wild kitten" which can be found on vol 12. "Drumfolk" is also a wild instrumental with a frantic drum lead!
8. soul surfer - johnny fortune
(Sonet 2139 from 1964)
And this is from a Swedish release. As B-side of the super fuzzy instro "Dragster" (to be found on several comps) this song is often forgotten. Originally this song was released on Park Avenue in 1963 (b/w "Midnight surf"). Johnny "Fortune" Sudetta from Ohio was a highly respected guitar player and a Fender lover, and from California he relocated to Ontario, Canada.
9. paul - the pyramids
(Best 45-13001-V from 1963)
Best known for their "Contact/Pressure" and "Penetration" 45s which are available on numerous surf comps these 5 Californian guys released also this fabulous 45. Surf at its best.
10. pyramid's stomp - the pyramids
(Best 45-13001-V from 1963)
And on the B-side you'll find this one which is even better. Like so many instrumental bands The Pyramids used a gimmick: five shaven heads and a black left handed guitar player (even before Jimi Hendrix!).
11. free as a bird - the chanters
(MGM K13750 from 1967)
Don't have much to say about this unknown gem. See the liner notes on vol 12 where you can find the flipside of this fantastic 45. This side was also produced by the enigmatic Milan, but was written by a certain Collazo, maybe one of the band?
12. twelve months later - the sheep
(Boom 45-BM-60.000 from 1966)
The Sheep aka The Strangeloves, yes Feldman, Gottehrer and Goldstein all were in a different band as well. I've got this 45 (also b/w "Hide & seek", the Bunker Hill classic) also on ABC-Paramount ABC60000. This frat punker was the basic influence on the Fuzztones' own "Nine months later".
13. greensleeves - the atlantics
(CBS BA-221037 from 1963)
The Atlantics will always be remembered for their "War of the worlds" and "Bombora" which flipside I used here. Nobody seems to know this one, but hey, here it is, straight from down under
14. house of the rising sun - the frogs
(Top Hit Club THC514)
A super bizarre version of the folk classic on a Belgian promo label. And I think the band is from Belgium too, but I couldn't find any info on them except for another 45 on that same label. Is this novelty? Is this alien jazz punk? Is this weird'n'roll?
15. coesville - johnny zorro
(Warner Bros. 5111 from 1959)
The a-side "Road hog" reappeared on at least two comps, but I've never seen this utterly cool guitar instrumental "Coesville". First these two songs were issued on a 45 by a very small label Bravo (123).
16. honey suckle rose - paul curry
(Cotton 1007 from 1962)
As flipside of the best pre-Stones version of "Route 66" I'd be surprised if "Honey suckle rose" ever would have showed up on a compilation. Nobody seems to know the a-side either; that's why I put on vol 12. The picture here is from the french release on Columbia, but as I'm writing this I can tell I just found the original release on Cotton. If you want to see the label, check "Route 66" on "Sombrero" vol 12.
Just found out that "Do the mashed potatoes pt2" already appeared on "Frolic Diner vol 4".