The Walkabouts: Death Valley Days 1977 + Drunken Sountracks 2002 (Lost Songs & Rarities 1985 - 2001)

 

Despite their background (punk), geography (Seattle), and label affiliation (Sub Pop), the Walkabouts were anything but a grunge band; dark, haunting, and elegiac, their work instead sprung forth from the storytelling traditions of American roots music and the kinetic excitement of rock & roll. The

Walkabouts were formed in 1984 by Chris Eckman and his brothers Curt and Grant, all of whom had previously played together in a number of punk-pop outfits, along with singer Carla Torgerson, a veteran of folk and street singing. The group's lineup proved fluid, although Chris Eckman and Torgerson remained the Walkabouts' driving forces; a later roster including bassist Michael Wells, multi-instrumentalist Glenn Slater, and drummer Terri Moeller did hang together for a number of years.
                                

The band drew inspiration from folk and country music, particularly Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young and Johnny Cash, but also from other types of artists and musical styles such as Scott Walker, Leonard

Cohen, French chanson and Jacques Brel. Their sound was typically rich, with string arrangements and keyboards in addition to the standard rock instruments. The Walkabouts achieved commercial success and a strong fanbase in Europe, where they had done promotion and extensive touring starting from the early 1990s. They occasionally even made it high on the record charts in countries such as Greece and Norway.
                       

Eckman and Torgerson have released albums as side projects under the name "Chris & Carla" and as

solo artists. Carla Torgerson has worked with Greek musician Akis Boyatzis and his band Sigmatropic on their album 16 Haiku & Other Stories (2001). Later Torgerson released a solo album Saint Stranger (2004) with help of Akis Boyatzis.
                             

Between 1996 and 2003, Chris Eckman worked with Norwegian band Midnight Choir and teamed with Al DeLoner of Midnight Choir in electronica-project called "Höst" for an album The Damage

Suite (2001). Also Eckman has worked with Willard Grant Conspiracy on the albums Regard the End (2003) and Let It Roll, as well as with The Bambi Molesters. Eckman is also a member of the trio Dirtmusic along with Chris Brokaw and Hugo Race and he has worked with the band Tamikrest from Mali. These two acts toured Europe as a double bill in the spring of 2010. Eckman has worked with Tosca on projects including the song "John Lee Huber", and with Rupert Huber of Tosca] on the album L/O/N/G.
                       

Terri Moeller has formed The Beltanes with Eric Alton, formerly of X-15, releasing one cassette EP,

entitled Love Punks (1990), and The Transmissionary Six with Paul Austin, formerly of Willard Grant Conspiracy. She released a solo CD under the pseudonym Terri Tarantula in 2010.
                           

THE WALKABOUTS - DEATH VALLEY DAYS (LOST SONGS AND RARITIES 1985 - 1995) 1997

                                 

Death Valley Days is a fragmentary collection reining in scattered tracks drawn from demos, B-sides, unreleased albums, compilations and tribute records, along with a few covers left off the domestic reissue of New West Motel. This album contains awesome songs as "The Beach", "Train To Mercy"and "Prisoner Of Texas".
                             

The Walkabouts – Death Valley Days (Lost Songs And Rarities, 1985 To 1995)
Label: Glitterhouse Records – GRCD 404
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: Jan 1997
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock, Folk, World, & Country

TRACKS

                            

01. Drunk (On A Civilized Rule) - Written-By – The Walkabouts   3:49
02. 1 + 1 - Written-By – Chris Eckman   3:03
03. Barnstorming   3:12
04. Chain Gang - Written-By – Chris Eckman   3:44
05. On The Beach - Written-By – Neil Young   4:33
06. Big Black Car - Written-By – Alex Chilton, Chris Gage   4:28
07. Cello Song - Written-By – Nick Drake   4:15
08. Maggie's Farm - Written-By – Bob Dylan   4:50
09. Break It Down Gently - Written-By – The Walkabouts   3:07
10. Train To Mercy (Italia Version) - Written-By – The Walkabouts   6:27
11. Yesterday Is Here - Written-By – Kathleen Brennan, Tom Waits  3:15
12. Prisoner Of Texas - Music By – Traditional   3:36
13. Inauguration Day - Written-By – The Walkabouts   3:16
14. Pass Me On Over - Written-By – The Walkabouts   4:31
15. Like A Hurricane - Written-By – Neil Young   7:50
16. House Of The Rising Sun - Music By – Traditional   4:16
17. Loswerden - Written-By – Tilman Rossmy   2:18
18. Sand & Gravel Strings - Written-By – The Walkabouts   1:42

MP3 @ 320 Size: 170 MB
Flac  Size: 444 MB

THE WALABOUTS - DRUNKEN SOUNDTRACKS (LOST SONGS AND RARITIES 1995 - 2001)  2002

                                 

The second Walkabouts rarities compilation, following Death Valley Days, Drunken Soundtracks is a mighty fine plunge into the obscurer side of the band -- admittedly already obscure enough in its home country -- during its end-of-the-'90s days. The group's eternal transformation into something new is captured wonderfully from the start -- the title track, sung by Carla Torgerson and recorded in 2001,

sounds next to nothing like anything from even eight years ago aside from her wonderful voice. But rather than rural country atmospheres or classic rock fire, the song is supple and smoky with tinges of jazz and blues -- piano and drums are more prominent than anything else -- not to mention ambient techno here and there. It's a good summation of albums like Nighttown and Trail of Stars and more besides, but that said, it's hardly a case of abandoning their past (as the stunning "Death's Black Train" makes clear), more one of incorporating it and finding new settings.
                                 

A number of cover versions help make this clear, starting with a strong take on Mickey Newbury's "How Many Times (Must the Pipe Be Paid for His Song)." Other songs that perhaps shed a clearer light on the Walkabouts' more recent obsession include Serge Gainsbourg's "Sorry Angel" and Scott Walker's

"Cowbells Shakin'," but the former gets the brew spiked with a clattering breakbeat after being through Tom Waits' wringer. Gainsbourg takes another bow as well with a cover of "Bonnie and Clyde" originally released on a limited-edition live album -- with full backing from an orchestral string section and a dramatic arrangement with a killer false ending, it could well be the definitive English-language take. The touch of regular producers and engineers Phill Brown and Kevin Suggs can be heard throughout, bringing out the dark beauty of the songs excellently.
By Ned Raggett

The Walkabouts – Drunken Soundtracks (Lost Songs & Rarities 1995-2001)
Label: Glitterhouse Records – GRCD 561
Format:    2 x CD, Compilation
Country: Germany
Released: 2002
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock, Folk, World, & Country

DISC 1.

                           

01. Drunken Soundtracks   4:40
Written-By – Chris Eckman
02. Unbreakable   3:58
Written-By – Chris Eckman
03. People Such As These (Kevin's Dub)   5:53
Written-By – Jacques Brel
04. Shot Bayou   3:39
Written-By – 22 Pistepirkko
05. How Many Times (Must The Piper Be Paid For His Song)   5:28
Written-By – Mickey Newbury
06. Sorry Angel   4:33
Translated By – Bruno Bouchegnies
Written-By – Serge Gainsbourg
07. Undermine   2:49
Written-By – Carla Torgerson, Chris Eckman
08. Call Me Back Again   4:51
Written-By – Chris Eckman
09. On The Day (Bone Mix)   3:53
Written-By – Chris Eckman, Fred Chalenor
10. Desert Skies (Black Light Mix)   5:16
Written-By – Carla Torgerson, Chris Eckman
11. Albuquerque   5:39
Written-By – Neil Young
12. The Getaway   4:24
Written-By – Chris Eckman
13. Bonnie & Clyde (Live With The Nighttown Orchestra)   7:36
Translated By – Steve Wynn/Written-By – Serge Gainsbourg

MP3 @ 320 Size: 147 MB
Flac  Size: 374 MB

DISC 2.

                          

01. Rage On   5:27
Written-By – Chris Eckman
02. Death's Black Train   3:32
Written-By – Chris Eckman
03. Thieves Like Us   5:14
Written-By – Chris Eckman
04. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars)   3:35
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
05. Cover Of Darkness   3:59
Written-By – Chris Eckman
06. Silver City   3:09
Written-By – Chris Eckman
07. Sanitorium Blues   2:48
Written-By – Townes Van Zandt
08. Cowbells Shakin'   1:43
Written-By – A. Semel, S. Walker
09. Come Along   4:25
Written-By – Chris Eckman
10. The Light Will Stay On (Country Mix)   5:50
Written-By – Chris Eckman
11. Desierto   3:43
Written-By – Chris Eckman
12. Glory Road   6:01
Written-By – Neil Diamond
13. Winded   4:22
Written-By – Chris Eckman
14. Incognito   2:09
Written-By – Chris Eckman
15. Master Of None   6:48
Written-By – Chris Eckman
16. Theme From "Where The Air Is Cool And Dark"   4:28
Written-By – Chris Eckman

MP3 @ 320 Size: 158 MB
Flac  Size: 429 MB

SHOT BAYOU  LYRICS

                                 

Yes it´s like rainy day
Rainy day in shot bayou
Rainy day in shot bayou

Hello my little cat
I´m gonna die tonight
What i´m gonna do about you

Hello my little cat i´m gonna die tonight
What am i gonna do
What am i gonna do about you

My cat is listening to you
It always says
Don´t get your eyes wet

Because in the night
Is the shining moon
And your friend will come back soon

Hello my little kid
I´m gonna die tonight
What am i gonna do

What am i gonna do about you

The Walkabouts on Urban Aspirines HERE
Chris And Carla on Urban Aspirines HERE