THE BLUES TRAIN – The Blues Train. Gear Fab GF 158. SEALED NEW CD. NOTE:  This copy, though factory sealed, was received with a cracked jewel case. As a result I have removed the cellophane wrap and replaced the jewel case. It has been placed in a clear mylar sleeve with resealable flap. Originally issued in 1970. This edition issued in 2000 and long out of print.

 

TRACKS:  

 

      01)  Ride The Train

      02)  Missin’ You  

      03)  Pain In My Head  

      04)  Some Body To Love  

      05)  Hootchie Kootchie Man

      05)  Busted In Chicago

      06)  A & R Man

      07)  Coast To Coast

      08)  Whole Lot O’ Blues

      09)  Got My Eyes On You

      10)  Mojo

 

DESCRIPTION:  Ultra rare album from 1970, contains the work of Canadian blues band who took the hard driving Chicago blues sound and spiced it up with driving fuzz & wah wah guitars, pounding Hammond B3 organ with a whirling Leslie, screaming harmonica, and great vocals. For a little more on the mystery behind this album we turn to Gear Fab label head Roger Maglio:  “The Blues Train, like The Crazy People, are unknown artists that released some great sounds in the late 60’s and early 70’s. While little is known about them, we do know they were Canadian and recorded The Blues Train on the Burnaby, British Columbia-based Condor label in 1970. Condor has gone down in history as a Canadian exploit label and they were indeed on the crest of the different crazes that were going on during these times. Condor released quite a diversified line of music during the late 60’s: everything ranging from the weirdness of The Crazy People to Latin Holiday to the highly-rated Blues Train, The Surf Riders, and The Jimmy Cole Unlimited. As with The Crazy People (see my listings for this release, also on Gear Fab), there are several rumors circulating as to actually who The Blues Train were. The most plausible theory shared by both Clarke Faville and myself is that one of its members was Johnny Kitchen, who has songwriting credits on both this album and on other Condor releases The World With The Trio Of Tyme and The Crazy People. It is a known fact that he was in Canada at this time and obviously associated with the label. Kitchen ended up in Los Angeles in 1969, making records beginning with The Victims Of Chance on the Crestview label. As arcane as this might seem to the casual reader, his name is synonymous with at least a dozen weird underground records released on various private labels in the US, and still nothing is known about them. To date, Johnny Kitchen has over 200 songs copyrighted through BMI!! We also know there is a connection with Johnny Kitchen to Wild Man Fischer. His 1969 LP Life Brand New, has the chorus “My life is all brand new”, which is the same voice and words appearing on the Parade At The Funny Farm and Let’s Split of The Crazy People LP. However, other Blues Train song writing credits that never appeared on the original Condor release do not match any others from The Crazy People. The inclusion of only one by Kitchen himself implies his involvement on Blues Train, unlike that of The Crazy People, may have been minimal. Although all performers are uncredited, there has also been some speculation that a prominent Vancouver “personality” (and local TV weatherman) was involved in putting together the “Rock” oriented exploit efforts on this label, and it is also likely that some of the musicians involved also appear on The Blues Train, Jimmy Cole Unlimited, and other Condor albums. Jack Millman, who has songwriting and production credits on Crazy People, also is shown as involved with the Condor release And I Love Her by Jack Millman and the Tempo Orchestra. In addition, Jack Millman, along with Jean Daniel Productions, produced The Blues Train.” So, anyone out there have some information to add to this?  




THIS ITEM IS NEW AND UNPLAYED. Used items will include condition details for inserts, disc, and jewel case/digi-pak/mini-jacket.

 

NOTE TO POTENTIAL BUYERS:  If the tray card, bar code, jewel case, insert, or digi-pak is punched, marked, or cut in any manner, denoting a promotional/review copy, I will state that as part of the item description. Also if an issue is a "music club" edition, that will be noted in the item description. (The below information last updated 7/09/23)

 

If you have any questions or if you have additional information, especially corrections, to the description, please e-mail me. I particularly enjoy when an artist, band member, or someone who has personal background knowledge of a particular album/artist and offers their insight/information of that recording, which I will include with the description for future listings of that release. As a collector of many years, part of the hobby side for me is to learn about the background of the artists and music that I collect. Hopefully, sharing some of this information in my descriptions will help educate and enhance your listening experience.     

 

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER CURRENTLY LISTED ITEMS AND EBAY STORE. 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

 

All CDs come sealed in standard jewel cases and are US releases unless noted otherwise. Mini-Jackets, digi-paks, and variable packaging will also be noted. Any item that does not come sealed or include an outer sleeve will be placed inside of an outer sleeve at the time it is received by me. All items that do not come in an outer packaging wrap are inspected by me prior to shipping. It is not unusual to find small/tiny imperfections on the play side of the CD disc, especially on European manufactured CDs; these small imperfections do no affect the playback of the disc. Also an unsealed jewel case may show light signs of warehouse/transit storage wear on the outer surface of the jewel case. If an unsealed jewel case is received by me broken, it will be replaced with a new jewel case before shipping; sealed CDs received with minor cracked/damaged jewel cases will be noted as such in the item’s description and will be shipped as is.

 

ABBREVIATIONS:

 

SS or SLD:  Still Sealed or Sealed. Short abbreviation that will appear in the title line of my listings. This item is new and unplayed. Also appears in the listing description as Sealed CD or Factory Sealed CD.

 

NEW CD:  This item is new and unplayed, but was received from a supplier without being shrink wrapped or cellophane wrapped; more common on imports but also many of the smaller independent US labels do not seal their CDs; some have it both ways (for which I have no prior knowledge of or choice when placing my orders). Other companies use resealable clear outer sleeves which are used on some import and domestic releases. If I receive an item this way it will be shipped as I received it and not opened up. Items received unwrapped are placed inside of a resealable clear outer mylar sleeve at the time they are received.

 

GFC or GF:  Gate fold cover, refers to a style of mini-jacket CDs.

 

S/T:  Self-Titled

 

2/1:  This denotes that 2 albums are on 1 single CD.

 

RE:  Reissue. Variations from the original pressing will be noted when known.

 

REMAST:  Remastered. More specific sourcing will follow within the item’s description when available.

 

OOP:  Out Of Print.

 

MIX:  This sometimes appears in my title line and refers to a group's/artist's music having a mix of styles such a rock track with jazz then followed by a straight rock track followed by a psych rock track, etc., as opposed to a blues album with the album's tracks having predominantly one style.

 

XT, XTKS, or #XTKS:  Usually in lower case type as part of the title line, denotes bonus tracks on this release (extra track, extra tracks, or the number of extra tracks).

 

ULC, LRC, etc.:  Upper Left Corner, Lower Right Corner, etc. used in referencing the area of a defect or blemish to the jewel case or packaging.

 

MULTIPLE ITEM PURCHASERS: 

 

A shipping discount will be applied to all multiple item purchases. My automatically generated invoices do not apply discounted shipping (I’m kinda old school). Shipping discounts are automatically applied by two methods:

 

1)   Complete your purchase via the shopping cart and request an invoice total,         

The shipping amount will reflect the discount price for you to make your payment. This method seems to pose some difficulty in navigating to the request invoice link

 

2)   Purchase and pay the full individual shipping amount and I will automatically refund the shipping discount to you once processed for shipping. (This seems to be the preferred method of my customers)

 

US customers whose purchase includes CD(s) along with LP(s) will be shipped in a single package via media mail. Purchases of 3 or more CDs or a box-set will ship via media mail.

 

INTERNATIONAL customers whose purchase includes CD(s) along with LP(s) will be shipped in a single package at the current rate by weight and measurement.

 

A shipping discount only applies if all items purchased ship in a single package.

 

Please e-mail me with any questions you may have.

 

TERMS OF AUCTION/SALE: 

 

Buyer pays for POSTAGE & HANDLING:

 

US and INTERNATIONAL shipping information is as of July 9, 2023. Any subsequent changes in shipping will take precedence over the below information.

 

U.S. Shipping: 

 

$4.95 via USPS Ground Advantage. NOTE:  This replaces USPS First Class Mail Package Service. Package weight totaling 1 lb. and over will be shipped via USPS Media Mail.

 

Shipping of additional or irregular size items will be determined by weight.

 

All US packages are processed for shipping via eBay and include a tracking number. You will receive confirmation of shipping via eBay with your tracking number; check you purchases file.

 

Payment for all customers is handled via eBay's managed payment service, which offers a variety of options.

 

Items are shipped in professional corrugated mailers.

 

If there are any other needs of your purchase please e-mail me before you make your purchase and I will do my best to accommodate them.

 

INTERNATIONAL Shipping:

 

I ship worldwide via eBay’s International Shipping Service for all purchases.

 

Items are shipped in professional corrugated mailers.

 

Older listed items may still list First Class Package International Service as the shipping method. As eBay’s International Shipping Service is implemented it will take precedents

 

Multiple item purchases will be shipped at the current rate based on weight.

 

Tracking is included check and monitor tracking via your purchases folder (not USPS).

 

If you are planning on purchasing multiple items you may request a shipping total estimate prior to making your purchase.

 

CURRENT INTERNATIONAL RATES are set by Ebay's International Shipping Service based on the weight and size of your package. I ship world wide:

 

*ALL CUSTOMERS*  

 

HANDLING TIME: 

 

Packages are usually shipped with in 24-hours, excepting weekends and holidays. NOTE:  This is not the same thing as delivery time, which begins once a package is turned over to the post office; averaging 3-7 business days for US delivery and 5 days to 3 weeks for international delivery. As for eBay’s International Shipping Service, I have been using it selectively and increasingly over the past three years and with its improvements in security, delivery times, convenience, and price make it an easy choice.

 

RETURN POLICY:

 

If returning an item(s) to me you may request a prepaid shipping label for your return.

 

Refunds are issued once the item has been received.

 

I appreciate a brief comment as to the reason for your return.

 

NON-ARRIVAL OF PACKAGES:

 

US Customers:  Please wait at least two weeks from the confirmed shipping date before contacting me about the non-arrival of your package. All packages are shipped with confirmation/tracking via eBays shipping program. Check your purchases folder to track.

 

INTERNATIONAL Customers:  Please wait at least 3 weeks (or more) from the confirmed shipping date before taking any action. Follow eBay’s International Shipping program terms/instructions for resolution of any transit and delivery issues.

 

ALL CUSTOMERS:  If there is a problem with your purchase please e-mail me first with details before filing a resolution.