LOOK WHAT I HAVE FOUND - The Hippest Collection 1
16 of the hippest tunes extracted from 11 of the first 54 volumes

sample of the sleeve

In The Trashcan Records       GARBAGE-X6
"What's hip and what's not? Is there a definition? If so, I don't want to hear. Here are 16 mind expandin', brain beatin', parents killing rockers from 1964-1973 by bands from 6 different countries, including Sweden, Germany and Belgium. Rock on, Mr Trashcan... "

1. Dust: Stone woman
From vol 42 "Exorcist"
The biggest surprise for me was to find out that it’s the first band of future Marky Ramone. There’s also a connection with Rick Derringer who can be linked to The McCoys and also the Edgar Winter Group. This is hard ‘n’ heavy superpsychedelic prog rock from 1971. Dust released two albums for Kama Sutra.
9. The Paramounts:  Let’s break it
From vol 49 "Chase Me"
B-side of “Let us beat in Rio” which I’ve put on vol 59. It’s ultra fast Belgian beat with a weird English accent. In 1965 they won a famous Belgian song contest called “Gouden Micro” (the final contest was in Sportpaleis in Antwerp, then Belgium’s biggest music hall) and they won a recording contract. This is their second release. Their last release must have been in 1975 or so, but they kept on playing until 1987.

2. Asterix: Everybody
From vol 8 "Extra Large"
A German band with a Tommy Roe song? In the 90s Everybody was also sampled into a discotheque hit by a band I already forgot the name of. Psych fans will certainly love this version of the Tommy Roe song. The flip is "If I could fly".

10. The Frogs: Rhythm and greens
From vol 17 "Shim Sham"
The Frogs are a complete mystery to me. Could it be that they were a Belgian studio band? On
volume 21 I included their version of "House  of the rising sun". Man, do these guys love rhythm and blues or what?! Probably recorded around 1964 and ultra wyld beatpunker as so many recordings from that year.

3. Midgets: Mr. taxi man
From vol 3 "In Flanders Fields"
Fly was a part of Ronnex, one of Belgium's most productive labels from the 50s till the early 70s. If this 45 had been released 6 years earlier, it would have been a cult classic. But in 1973 nobody was waiting for psych-beat stuff. Distorted high-pitched vocals, fast rhythm, wah-wah pedals, car sounds, and lyrics about a young guy who takes a taxi down town to meet his baby. This was the last of 5 singles by this Antwerp based foursome.
11. The Honeycombs: Can't get through to you
From vol 46 "Teasin'"
The A-side is the not so spectacular hit single “That’s the way”, but when I flipped the record, my mind was blown to bits. It’s one of the fastest songs from 1965! However, The Honeycombs from London will only be remembered for their “Have I the right” chart topper.

4. Sir Henry & His Butlers: Everybody knows a place
From vol 51 "Shake Your Mini"
This is an Italian release as a b-side of Cosmorama. Known for 1968 hit “Camp”. Originally a UK band, but they relocated to Sweden first and then Denmark. In 1970 Columbia released their third and last 45.

12. Egbert Douwe: Toen viel de bril van m'n neus
From vol 3 "In Flanders Fields"
A Dutch recording and it's been written by Peter Koelewijn. The song (it means "Then my glasses fell from my nose") is sung in Dutch. If you can keep your feet from dancing while listening to this fabulous beat stomper, you're deaf or dead. The A-side is "Mamma, o mamma", a silly ballad.

5. The New Inspiration: M.T. From  vol 3 "In Flanders Fields"
Hailing from Ghent these 5 guys recorded 5 albums and a lot more 45s, but people didn't know back then that most of the early recordings were actually singer Dave Sinclair backed by London studio musicians. But live this band was a real sensation and accompanied a lot of 'stars' such as Dave Berry. This was their second 45 and it's the flip to "You made a fool of me" which was also issued together with The Cousins' "Rainbow".
13. The Hitmakers: Tricky dicky
From vol 17 "Shim Sham"
A super beat stomper from Sweden, probably recorded around 1965. Sonet still exists and is Scandinavia's most important record label. There's only one cover version of this Leiber-Stoller composition that's even better: the one by The Montesas from France recorded in 2002.

6. The P.C. Limited: Sunshine superman
From vol 2 "Midnight Train"
A faster version of the Donovan classic "Sunshine Superman" might have been  their sole recording (together with the flip "Carnaval"). You could surprise people on the dancefloor by playing this completely unknown and thus forgotten remake from 1969.

14. Johnnie Fever: Zombie
From vol 32 "Do it!!!"
A menacing freaky r&b stomper about the transformation into a zombie. It’s one of the most romantic ghoul songs I ever heard.And it was recorded as late as 1967. All you have to do is say “Hocus pocus come back to me”…

7. Bern Elliott & The Fenmen: New Orleans
From vol 17 "Shim Sham"
Wow, a great beat punker from the year of the British invasion. And the flip is on volume 18. They recorded one more 45 that same year "Money/Nobody but me" and then disappeared and just maybe they reappeared under a different name.
15. The Arrows: Cycle-delic
From vol 33 "F.B.I."
A super wild psychedelic guitar instrumental. I said psychedelic? I mean psychotic! It’s a fuzz OD, a wah-wah war with a little nod to “Gimme some lovin’”. And who do you think is the guitar player? Indeed: Davie Allan. Production as usual was in hands of Mike Curb. It's from 1967.

8. The J.J. Band: Cousins Jack
From vol 31 "Stop Slop Top Pop"
With a rocksteady r&b backbeat this 1968 mod instrumental by the Jess & James backing band who started first as Les Croque-Morts, Les Babs et Les Babbettes.

16. Gate Wesley & Band: Do the thing
From vol 32 "Do it!!!"
What a great r&b stomper this instrumental still is. See volume 6 for the other great side."Do the Batman" on the dancefloor and take off in your batmobile. Gate Wesley asked Billy LaMont to sing on these two sides from 1966.