Strangers On A Train (album)
Encyclopedia
Strangers on a Train is the third and final album by the American rock
band
The Left Banke
and was released in March 1986. The album was recorded by a reformed line-up of the band, featuring three of the original members: Steve Martin
, Tom Finn
, and George Cameron. Although the album was released in 1986, it had actually been recorded some eight years earlier in 1978.
Two songs taken from the album recording sessions
("Queen of Paradise" b/w "And One Day") had been released as a single
in late 1978 but had failed to chart. The single's lack of success resulted in the album being shelved and the reformed band broke up again shortly afterwards. Strangers on a Train was eventually released in the U.S. by the West Coast
rock and Grateful Dead
specialist label
, Relix Records
. It was issued in Europe by Bam-Caruso Records with a rearranged running order, under the alternate title of Voices Calling.
Original member of The Left Banke, Michael Brown
had initially been involved with the recording of this album but left after working on at least five different songs. Brown played piano and mellotron
during these sessions but is not credited on the album either as a writer or player. Recording engineer/producer Les Fradkin
was also involved with the same recording sessions featuring Michael Brown. He recalls contributing bass, mellotron, slide guitar and vocals, but again he is not credited on the final version of the album.
Although pleased with the songs, Tom Finn and George Cameron were both ultimately dissatisfied with the finished album. Finn has described it as largely a demo recording
with only two or three of the songs being properly produced.
The songs "Poor Boy" and "Right by My Side" were also recorded during the sessions for this album but didn't make the final track listing. Also during this time, Steve Martin Caro wrote and sang the songs "Nothing Ever Lasts Forever" and "I Know Love Is Blue" for Charly Cazalet's album "Rough Mix - NYC". George Cameron also plays drums on three other songs.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
The Left Banke
The Left Banke
The Left Banke is an American baroque pop band that formed in New York City in 1965 and disbanded in 1969. They are best remembered for their two U.S. hit singles, "Walk Away Renée" and "Pretty Ballerina"...
and was released in March 1986. The album was recorded by a reformed line-up of the band, featuring three of the original members: Steve Martin
Steve Martin Caro
Steve Martin Caro, born Carmelo Esteban Martin Caro , was originally known as Steve Martin. He was the lead singer of the band The Left Banke...
, Tom Finn
Tom Finn
Tom Finn is a founding member of the 1960s baroque rock chart hit vocal group the Left Banke.After the Left Banke disbanded, Finn went on to become an engineer at Bell Sound Studios as well as working with jazz drummer Buddy Rich at his night club "Buddy's Place" as stage manager and MC.In 1982...
, and George Cameron. Although the album was released in 1986, it had actually been recorded some eight years earlier in 1978.
Two songs taken from the album recording sessions
Studio recording
The term studio recording means any recording made in a studio, as opposed to a live recording, which is usually made in a concert venue or a theatre, with an audience attending the performance.-Studio cast recordings:...
("Queen of Paradise" b/w "And One Day") had been released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in late 1978 but had failed to chart. The single's lack of success resulted in the album being shelved and the reformed band broke up again shortly afterwards. Strangers on a Train was eventually released in the U.S. by the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
rock and Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
specialist label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Relix Records
Relix
Relix magazine was launched in 1974 as newsletter devoted to connecting people who recorded Grateful Dead concerts. It rapidly expanded into a music magazine covering a wide amount of artists...
. It was issued in Europe by Bam-Caruso Records with a rearranged running order, under the alternate title of Voices Calling.
Original member of The Left Banke, Michael Brown
Michael Brown
-Politics:*Michael Brown , current mayor of Grand Forks, North Dakota*Michael Brown , former British Conservative MP, now a political journalist...
had initially been involved with the recording of this album but left after working on at least five different songs. Brown played piano and mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
during these sessions but is not credited on the album either as a writer or player. Recording engineer/producer Les Fradkin
Les Fradkin
Les Fradkin is a guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the original cast of the hit Broadway show Beatlemania...
was also involved with the same recording sessions featuring Michael Brown. He recalls contributing bass, mellotron, slide guitar and vocals, but again he is not credited on the final version of the album.
Although pleased with the songs, Tom Finn and George Cameron were both ultimately dissatisfied with the finished album. Finn has described it as largely a demo recording
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
with only two or three of the songs being properly produced.
The songs "Poor Boy" and "Right by My Side" were also recorded during the sessions for this album but didn't make the final track listing. Also during this time, Steve Martin Caro wrote and sang the songs "Nothing Ever Lasts Forever" and "I Know Love Is Blue" for Charly Cazalet's album "Rough Mix - NYC". George Cameron also plays drums on three other songs.
Side 1
- "Hold on Tight" (Tom FinnTom FinnTom Finn is a founding member of the 1960s baroque rock chart hit vocal group the Left Banke.After the Left Banke disbanded, Finn went on to become an engineer at Bell Sound Studios as well as working with jazz drummer Buddy Rich at his night club "Buddy's Place" as stage manager and MC.In 1982...
) – 2:45 - "Heartbreaker" (Tom Finn, Steve MartinSteve Martin CaroSteve Martin Caro, born Carmelo Esteban Martin Caro , was originally known as Steve Martin. He was the lead singer of the band The Left Banke...
) – 3:29 - "Lorraine" (Tom Finn) – 3:03
- "You Say" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 2:51
- "And One Day" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 3:22
Side 2
- "Queen of Paradise" (Shade Smith) – 2:57
- "Only My Opinion" (Tom Finn) – 4:30
- "Strangers on a Train" (Tom Finn) – 4:20
- "I Can Fly" (Tom Finn) – 4:10
- "Yesterday's Love" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 3:50
Side 1
- "Strangers on a Train" (Tom Finn) – 4:20
- "Heartbreaker" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin) – 3:29
- "Lorraine" (Tom Finn) – 3:03
- "Yesterday's Love" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 3:50
- "Hold on Tight" (Tom Finn) – 2:45
Side 2
- "And One Day" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 3:22
- "You Say" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 2:51
- "I Can Fly" (Tom Finn) – 4:10
- "Only My Opinion" (Tom Finn) – 4:30
- "Queen of Paradise" (Shade Smith) – 2:57
Personnel
NOTE: The source for this section is as follows:- Steve MartinSteve Martin CaroSteve Martin Caro, born Carmelo Esteban Martin Caro , was originally known as Steve Martin. He was the lead singer of the band The Left Banke...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Tom FinnTom FinnTom Finn is a founding member of the 1960s baroque rock chart hit vocal group the Left Banke.After the Left Banke disbanded, Finn went on to become an engineer at Bell Sound Studios as well as working with jazz drummer Buddy Rich at his night club "Buddy's Place" as stage manager and MC.In 1982...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitar, vocals - George Cameron - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals