TUNEFUL TROLLEY 1968 Fading Yellow fuzz psych LP LISTEN

$

51

If you ask Judy Garland, the trolley goes “clang, clang, clang.”  Then again, dame Judy never boarded this trolley, the Tuneful Trolley, which has a nasty habit of going “fuzz, fuzz, fuzz.”  In fact, as I was taking a mental accumulation of which songs on “ Island in the Sky” are laced with eardrum-shredding fuzz guitar, it occurred to me that it would be easier to list the ones that didn’t.  There are a few, but those are far between – and despite the fact that this album looks like a lightweight bubblegum sunshine pop groove, it’s considerably punkier than it should be.  Take “The Tuneful Trolley Theme,” for example – their statement of purpose, as it would seem – which is every bit as snarling, sneering and snotty a garage punk testament as anything recorded by Nuggets gods like the Seeds, the Music Machine or the Electric Prunes.  Only difference – and one that apparently makes all the difference in the world to garage purists - the Seeds talked about traveling with your mind, while these guys talk about traveling with a trolley pass.  Still, even when they’re saturating your stereophonics with bubblepop background vocals, even the “whoo whoo hoo hoo”s sound snide.  And the mega-fuzz riff and tinny department store organ are pure teen caveman raunch.  I imagine the Tuneful Trolley boys tried to sweeten things up for the precious Tiger Beat girls in pigtails who bought this expecting another Spanky and Our Gang, but no one ever told the fuzz guitarist, who saturates the otherwise bouncy Five Americans pop of “Hello Love” with layer upon layer of endless, merciless, pigtail-shredding electric noise.  The cute “Penny Lane” trumpet break helps make ‘em dreamy again, but only for a short while.  And speaking of the Beatles, “Lady (With the Tangerine Blouse)” sounds like something Paul might’ve written for Magical Mystery Tour, a bouncy little ditty laced with more of that saturating fuzz – Davie Allen and the Arrows covering “Fool on the Hill.”  Likewise “Uncle Joe’s Armada”, the unknown older brother to Paul’s “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”, or something that got left on the cutting room floor during the sessions for “Yellow Submarine.”  “Sunny Days” is one of the few songs on “Island in the Sky” that is – gasp! – fuzz-less, but its lush pop production and endless layers of pitch-perfect harmonies are the stuff that make sunshine pop fans go weak in the knees and move to Japan.  And if all this fuzz and noise masquerading in a soft pop record jacket hadn’t already gave me the impression that these Tuneful Trolley boys had an evil sense of humor, songs like “Written Charter” seal the deal.  It’s one of two songs here that revels in misdirection – starting out like an innocent pop song and then completely changing direction after 10 seconds of musical prestidigitation.  Of course, by now you can probably guess where the boys are headed – and after the initial sleight of hand, “Written Charter” turns into a trippy garage fuzz pounder with stompin’ rhythm, lysergic production tricks and a fuzz guitar mixed even louder than before, which I honestly didn’t even think was possible.  Its closest cousin is probably “Green Tambourine”, but that’s a more polite, refined relative.  So the next time you see this album – which won’t be often, since it also happens to be one of the rarest major label records around – get all those images of happy, bright red cable cars that go “clang, clang, clang” out of your head.  This trolley’s hurtling down Nob Hill, spitting furious fuzz-infested flames of psychedelic fire from its screaming metal wheels.  Judy Garland missed the bus on this one.  Original and very RARE 1968 pressing on the Capitol label, in STEREO.  Cover's only in GOOD shape due to large tear on front cover (see pic), repaired taped seam on bottom and discoloration on back.  Vinyl has scuffs and marks yet plays remarkably clean, real nice VG++ with only light crackling heard between tracks.   CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!
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