Welcome to the first two volumes of Trashcan Records, a new compilation series on Stag-O-Lee, devoted to obscure and forgotten vinyl treasures from the 1950’s and early 1960’s.
Compiled by Fedor, an Amsterdam-based record hound, whose huge collection mostly comes from flipping through thousands of used record boxes at Amsterdam flea markets for the last 25 years. For Wild Safari - the first volume - Fedor has selected 12 first-rate exotic rarities that have never been comped before.
SIDE A
01 Perez & Brana - The Crazy Cuban (1958)
02 Champ Butler - Border Town (late 1950’s)
03 Carlos Campos Y Su Orchestra - Tequila Mambo (1958)
04 Alfredito - Chop Suey Mambo (1954)
05 Fabulous Pearls - Jungle Bunny (1959)
06 La Bombas - Taboo (1961)
SIDE B
07 Royals - Wild Safari (1962)
08 Ilo Kay & His Trio - The Bagdad Fantasy (1961)
09 Joe Conwright & His Mighty Men - Down In The Congo (1961)
10 Don Schraier Rocktet - Zei Gezunt (1957)
11 Jean Wright Y Los Cinco Amigos - Taboo (1961)
12 Los Chavales De Espana - Flamenco Twist (1962)
Linernotes:
Welcome to the first volume of Trashcan Records, a new compilation series on Stag-O-Lee, devoted to obscure and forgotten vinyl treasures from the 1950’s and early 1960’s. For this first volume I have selected 12 first-rate exotic rarities that have never been comped before…
We start off with Perez and Brana’s fantastic latin-flavoured ditty, The Crazy Cuban, flipside of the better-known King of the Jungle by The Wildmen.
Next is Champ Butler with a storming mambo instro. Butler is better known as a country crooner but seems to have found some inspiration for this record in Tijuana... or maybe it was the tequila that went to his head. His cover of Down in Mexico, which was recorded around the same time, ain’t no slouch either.
And speaking of tequila, Carlos Campos mixes up the 1958 hit song with the mambo and adds some demented vocals on top. From Mexico, but also released in France.
Next on the list is Alfredito, who is mostly known by collectors for his string of exquisite mambo 45’s on the Rainbow label. Chop Suey Mambo is among his best and has a simply irresistible groove.
Then come The Fabulous Pearls, who deliver some stunning vocals with a hint of early soul on the fab Jungle Bunny.
And La Bombas finish this side with a superbly produced Taboo. Their bombastic offering is in total contrast to the more down to earth approach of Jean Wright’s version on Side B.
Over to the other side where The Royals kick things off in a spectacular fashion with the title song of this compilation. Wild Safari is a crude surf instro with lots of insane jungle noises. Pressed on red vinyl and seriously hard to find.
The same can be said for the mysterious song poem EP from where Ilo Kaye’s menacing sax instro, The Bagdad Fantasy, was taken. Even though the whole EP is kinda muddy sounding, its well deserving of being heard by a wider audience.
Next comes Rhythm and Blues front man Joe Conwright, who plods through the jungle with his Might Men in Down in the Congo, after which the Don Schraier Rocktet gets the party rolling with an infectious Yiddish Rock n Roll tune.
There are over a hundred covers of the evergreen Taboo, but this one by Jean Wright Y Los Cinco Amigos ranks among the rarest and most obscure. I was lucky to grab the only copy I have ever seen offered for sale, and love sharing it on this comp… what a superb version it is!
Last but not least, a truly hard-hitting dance floor bomb by Los Chavales De Espana taken from an otherwise completely forgettable Spanish flamenco EP. Do the Flamenco Twist… olé!
