Strangers on a Train (album)

Strangers on a Train
Studio album by The Left Banke
Released March 1986
Recorded February - April 1978, Kingdom Sound Studios, Long Island, NY
May - August 1978, RCA Studios, New York City, NY
Genre Pop, rock
Length 35:30
Label Relix Records (RRLP 2021)
Producer Joe Ferla, Camerica Productions
The Left Banke chronology
The Left Banke Too
(1968)		 Strangers on a Train
(1986)		 There's Gonna Be a Storm: The Complete Recordings 1966–1969 (1992)
Singles from Strangers on a Train
  1. "Queen of Paradise" b/w "And One Day"
    Released: 1978 (Camerica CS 0005)
Alternate European cover
Cover of the European Voices Calling LP

Strangers on a Train (aka Voices Calling) is the third and final studio album by American baroque pop band The Left Banke and was released in March 1986.[1][2] 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.[3] Although the album was released in 1986, it had actually been recorded some eight years earlier in 1978.[3]

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.[1][3] 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.[1] It was issued in Europe by Bam-Caruso Records with a rearranged running order, under the alternate title of Voices Calling.[4][5][6]

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.[7] 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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[7] 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.[9]

Track listing

Strangers on a Train

Side 1

  1. "Hold on Tight" (Tom Finn) – 2:45
  2. "Heartbreaker" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin) – 3:29
  3. "Lorraine" (Tom Finn) – 3:03
  4. "You Say" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 2:51
  5. "And One Day" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 3:22

Side 2

  1. "Queen of Paradise" (Shade Smith) – 2:57
  2. "Only My Opinion" (Tom Finn) – 4:30
  3. "Strangers on a Train" (Tom Finn) – 4:20
  4. "I Can Fly" (Tom Finn) – 4:10
  5. "Yesterday's Love" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 3:50

Voices Calling

Side 1

  1. "Strangers on a Train" (Tom Finn) – 4:20
  2. "Heartbreaker" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin) – 3:29
  3. "Lorraine" (Tom Finn) – 3:03
  4. "Yesterday's Love" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 3:50
  5. "Hold on Tight" (Tom Finn) – 2:45

Side 2

  1. "And One Day" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 3:22
  2. "You Say" (Tom Finn, Steve Martin, George Cameron) – 2:51
  3. "I Can Fly" (Tom Finn) – 4:10
  4. "Only My Opinion" (Tom Finn) – 4:30
  5. "Queen of Paradise" (Shade Smith) – 2:57

Personnel

Adapted from the liner notes.[3]

Additional personnel

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hogg, Brian. (August 1991), "The Left Banke Discography", Record Collector, London
  2. ↑ "The Left Banke Discography". The Left Banke Fan Page. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Hyde, Bob. (1985). History of The Left Bank (1985 LP liner notes - discography and sessionography).
  4. ↑ "Strangers on a Train track listing". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  5. ↑ "The Left Banke - Voices Calling product information". Esprit International. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  6. ↑ Sandoval, Andrew P. (1992). There's Gonna Be A Storm: The Complete Recordings 1966-1969 (1992 CD liner notes).
  7. 1 2 3 "Recollections of The Left Banke by recording engineer/producer Les Fradkin". The Left Banke Fan Page. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  8. 1 2 "Left Banke Interview Part 1". samkogon. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  9. ↑ "Rough Mix - NYC Charly Cazalet". www.cdbaby.com. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
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