TUNEFUL TROLLEY Island In The Sky 1968 FUZZ PSYCH HEAR

$

61

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

THE TUNEFUL TROLLEY "Island In The Sky"

Original 1968 LP on the CAPITOL label, STEREO ST110

Cover:  VG+, radio station stamp on front and back, cutout hole

Vinyl:  Light handling scuffs, pretty shiny, plays VG+

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.   

 HEAR IT!

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  I accept payments through Paypal. 

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town.