The Nashville Ramblers - "The Trains"

Rare (only?) archive footage of this cult band doing their power-pop masterpiece, apparently from a cable public access show on San Diego TV circa 1985.



The band has been playing some live shows recently. You can check them out at their MySpace page:

http://www.myspace.com/thenashvilleramblers

The Hotrats - "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" (2010)

The Supergrass side project remakes the Beastie Boys oldie.

Johnny Burnette Trio - "Hound Dog" (1956)

Paul Burleson on guitar, Dorsey Burnette on bass.

Brinsley Schwarz - "Surrender To The Rhythm" (1973)

Gene Pitney - "She's A Rebel"

Trini Lopez - "America" (1964)

"Karen" - The Beach Boys (1964 TV sitcom theme)

The opening credits of the short-lived 1964 sitcom Karen, with a theme song performed by The Beach Boys.

Does a longer version of this song exist?

Wally Cox - "There is a Tavern in the Town" (1949)

The Louvin Brothers - "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" (1956)

Leonard Bernstein on Beethoven's Fifth (Omnibus, 1954)

Brigadoon (1966 TV version)

1966 TV version, recently unearthed after being little-seen for decades, of the classic Lerner and Loewe musical about a Scottish village that appears for one day ever hundred years.

Stars Robert Goulet, Peter Falk (!), and Sally Ann Howes

The Wizards - "See You Tonight" (1967)

The Wizards were from Narvik, Norway.

The members were Terje Rönstad -- guitar, Jan-Harry Hope -- bass, Per-Reida Rognmo -- lead guitar, and Ivar Lunnemo -- drums.

From about 1963-4 they were mostly based in Sweden, but also toured in Denmark, Spain, and Germany (West and East). In 1966 they appeared on Norwegian TV together with Sony and Cher.

I first became aware of this track on a 1980s Pebbles compilation. Even on my initial hearing I recognized it as a classic. The Who influence is obvious, with its harmonies, coda, and Moonish drumming, though with its heavy beat it actually reminds me more of The Move, who were starting to record around this time.

After being included on various 1960s anthologies "See You Tonight" has garnered cult status among collectors. The folk-rock band Vetiver recorded a remake on their 2008 EP More Of The Past. In the words of Vetiver frontman Andy Cabic: "Perfectly doubled vocals and delightfully loose drumming ensure that I will love this song 4evah. "

(A big thank you to Wizards drummer IVAR LUNNEMO for graciously furnishing info about the band in a personal email)

The Standells - "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White" (1966)

Back in the high life again

Did you miss me?

Tim Buckley - "Morning Glory" (Late Night Lineup - BBC 1968)

Bill Fay - "Be Not So Fearful" (1970)

The Changin' Times on SHIVAREE (1965)

The Changin' Times were two L.A. based songwriters, Artie Kornfeld and Steve Duboff. They recorded the original, punky version of "The Pied Piper" in a sort of Sonny Bono-goes-garage style in 1965. The next year it would be a top 5 hit for Crispian St. Peters in a much poppier, MOR arrangement.

Also in 1965 the Changin' Times recorded the great fuzz-punker "How Is The Air Up There?". 

"How Is The Air Up There?" was covered by New Zealand's La De Da's in 1966 (a version which found a new audience when it was included on the Nuggets II compliation in 2001). According to Wikipedia the flip side of "How Is The Air Up There?" was a cover of "The Pied Piper".

"How Is The Air Up There?" has also been recorded by The Blues Magoos (where the La De Da's first heard it) and The Bangles in the early '80s, though I've never heard those versions.

"The Country's In The Very Best of Hands" - From Li'l Abner (1959)

Peter Palmer and Stubby Kaye, extolling the "virtues" of our Federal government. As true today as it was half a century ago --Johnny Mercer's brilliant lyrics haven't dated in the slightest.

Ric Cartey - "Young Love" (1956) Original Version

The Atlantics - "Come On" (1967)

One of the greatest garage punkers of all time. 

All attempts by the Army's heavy artillery to dent the lead singer's hairpiece have proven unsuccessful.