Engine No. 9 (pre-Fudge) 7" (1991, Bus Stop); V/A -Peppermint Stick Parade (1995, Bus Stop)

As promised, here's another installment in the Fudge legacy series. Turns out that prior to getting all woozy in Fudge, the band's nuclei of frontmen Tony Ammendolia & David Jones had their antecedents in a group called Engine No. 9, who's recorded output involved a mere 7" single. Gee, thanks a lot guys. If you would have been a little more generous I wouldn't be lamenting the fact there were no more songs cut from the same flabbergasting fabric that bore "Sleep," and "Waterfall," two modest, but deeply affecting mid-fi downer pop classics for the ages.

 

While I've scanned the sleeve for the single to your right (that Pier Platters tag ain't getting peeled off for nothin'), both tracks also appeared on Bus Stop Record's Peppermint Stick Parade compilation, which I've posted in it's entirety (that means the whole thing). Since you've been gracious enough to come for Engine no. 9, stay for jangle-pop keepers by the equally impressive Bag-O-Shells and St. Christopher. And if that weren't enough, there's also some vintage Velvet Crush action going on here too, and believe it or not, the pre-VC Springfields (Rick Menck) and a solo cut from the Crush's other prime mover, Paul Chastain. Should you crave more of the Menck/Chastain axis, proceed to this pertinent post from last year.

 

01-The Stupid Cupids - Big Blue Bus

02-Bag-O-Shells - Almost Home

03-Honeybunch - Warts and All

04-The Mayfields - Deeper Than the Ocean

05-Engine No. 9 - Waterfall

06-St. Christopher - Even the Sky Seems Blue

07-The Springfields - Sunflower

08-The Sneetches - Flying on the Ground

09-Bag-O-Shells - Whatever Happened to My Life?

10-Engine No. 9 - Sleep

11-Honeybunch - Hey Blue Sky!

12-The Mayfields - Feels Like Yesterday

13-St. Christopher - Our Secret

14-The Caroline Know - Orphaned Too

15-Paulie Chastain - Raining All Day

16-Velvet Crush - Circling the Sun 

 

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