Railroad Jerk

[tinobeat]

I've been listening to my One Track Mind LP all day today. So frickin awesome. "The Ballad of Railroad Jerk" might be the true heir to the Bob Dylan crown of amazing chuglalug beats plus awesome nonsequitor storytelling.

I wish these guys had kept it up...

"I just gotta get away but I don't wanna lose my spot!"

anyway, carry on...

[johansen smith]

you should check out White Hassle, it is essentiually Railroad Jerk by any other name. last year's Death of Song had a bunch of great tunes on it.

[tinobeat]

I didn't realize White Hassle was still at it...

awesome

[Miss Tasty Princess]

White Hassle are pretty good but just can't touch the greatness of Railroad Jerk, IMO. They are sorely missed by me. :(

[winterversion]

Funny you should mention them since I just happened to have their "We Understand" double 7" on my player this morning. It's one of my favorite 7"s I own (and I found it in the used bin for $1!).

[Patrick]

'One Track Mind' I think is their best album. Though during the 'Third Rail' tour I saw them do 'We Understand' and kill it. I didn't get into their earlier recordings (I wasn't at Matador or in the US) but I understand they were always a great live band.

Patrick

[tonylee]

i know this is an old thread but anyway, i found it last night

thanks guys,
just decided to google railroad jerk and came up with these posts.

glad to know people dug us.

thanks for the compliments

xo
tonylee

[Miss Tasty Princess]

glad to know people dug us.Very much so! Now get back together!

[tinobeat]

for real, man! I never got to see RRJ back in the day...

[tonylee]

:D:D:D
hehehe...
thanks guys.
i will never say never.
but if i was a betting man...

[Funk]

The back of the first LP says it was recorded March 10/11, 1990, which makes tomorrow and Saturday the 16th anniversary of the recording. Was this the first recorded Matador full length?

[Lukas]

Funk! How are yas?

[Patrick]

Funk! How you like the new vinyl?

Patrick

[Kid B]

I know of this band, but I am not fimilair with their music. I can't really even recall a single song. What kind of music do they play? You all seem to speak with with such regard, it seems worth checking out.

[Moon Pix]

What I have heard of it is incredible. If you are patient enough to wait for it to load up follow this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSeSQI16ZE0&search=captain%20beefheart
Its a bit like that but more conventionally structured.:)

[tinobeat]

Interesting that you link to a Beefheart video...

I can see a little Beefheart in RRJ, they definitely have their own thing. I'm sure a little searching might turn up some RRJ mp3s, KidB. Its worth the search. Their album One Track Mind is the masterpiece, you can order it from Matador still, for pretty cheap, no less. I'd say its good enough to blindly jump into like that.

[Moon Pix]

In my estimation White Hassle hold their own easily. :)

Life is still sweet. On the road to the one hit wonder.

[pizzagratis]

yeah...One Track Mind is one of my all-time favorites, on Matador or any label really. Get it dood.

On the topic, I found a copy of We Understand recently. So good. This is where I bring up that someone somewhere needs to reissue all the RRJ singles/EPs/comp songs onto a single disc.

[Kid B]

super sweet. I just won a brand new copy of One Track Mind off E-Bay for $5.23. Great price. I can't wait to give it a spin.

[fashoda]

I was a big RRJ fan. I saw them live once in New Orleans during the Third Rail tour, and I was blown away. I like all the stuff I've heard from them, but personally I think their last album, The Third Rail, is better than One Track Mind. I recently located a copy of their unreleased last album, masterpiecemeal, which has a lot of great stuff on it.

White Hassle is still putting out good music, but I miss RRJ.

[pizzagratis]

unreleased album? huh? any of the songs make it onto White Hassle releases?

[tinobeat]

I recently located a copy of their unreleased last album, masterpiecemeal, which has a lot of great stuff on it.


yeah reaally? whoa. where did you locate this? tell us more!

[fashoda]

It's for real... It's even mentioned on White Hassle's web site at: http://www.whitehassle.com/bio.html . It's 24 songs... so much material that it doesn't fit on one 80 minute CD-R. I got a copy from a former RRJ member a few months ago. It was all recorded on 4-track, so the recording quality is not the best, but it has some great music on it. It does have at least one White Hassle song on it, an early version of "Resolution" from The Death of Song. If anybody is really interested, I can try to find the tracklist and post it.

I don't know where you can get it, but you could try emailing White Hassle or asking Tony here. Or convince Matador to release it!!!

[Funk]

yeah reaally? whoa. where did you locate this? tell us more!

This was actually being sold in NYC stores several years back, and on the Billions Corp. RRJ page, they'd mentioned this and they wanted it to stop. The band sorta completely ceased to exist after that message, save the Sub Pop single.

[johansen smith]

Was just watching the DVD that came with the new Eugene Mirman album and one of the shorts has a White Hassle song on it, hope it scores them a couple new fans.

[tonylee]

yeah its funny to pop in and out of here
every couple of months
sorry bout that
im a flake
:D
the beefheart comparing thing is funny because we discovered him
well after the first RRJ album as people kept mentioning the name
in reviews and articles about us
and of course the twisted blues of beefheart became
music we loved it being the great shit it is and all.
mirror man for example is a sick album.
that video on youtube is so awesome
youtube is awesome(type into the search al green or
stevie wonder or sly and the family stone
or tom waits and be mezmorized)
i have had that beefheart video on a videotape for like 10yrs or more
that has long since started rotting away. (yaay dvd recorders)
its funny and an honor to be mentioned on his gallery website
http://www.beefheart.com/caucasian/blues.htm
another google find.

anyway
i could certainly burn a copy of the cd if anyone is interested
email me at:
tonylee333@gmail.com
it may not be immediate but ill be glad make it for you
if your into railroad jerk its definatly a capsule of time
that meant somthing and is worth having
some really great songs
not being arrogant or anything
but we definatly did some cool that shit im proud of.
i really still love the first album.
and yes,
thats amazing to me
16 yrs ago we did it?
that is insane
we recorded and mixed that album at wharton tiers funcity studio
in 2 day, 10 songs fuunnnnn

anyways

sorry i forget the titles of some of the tracks
but here is the track listing

Unfinished Masterpiecemeal disc 1

One Thing
Car Alarm
A Particular Kind
Junk Jerk JAM
Track 06
I Dont Mind
Take It
New Years Day
Think Of You
Track 11
Point Of View

Unfinished Masterpiecemeal disc2

Indiana Sun
Some Mistake
Track 03
My Life
This Old House
Lazy Susan
Monica
She Hurts
Track 09
Genuis Youth
The Circle Line
Track 12

xo
tonylee
peazzzzzz

[Moon Pix]

youtube is awesome(type into the search al green or
stevie wonder or sly and the family stone
or tom waits and be mezmorized)

There, you see Pat.:)

[ubercat]

OK. Thanks for the link T-Bone. It's kind of a hoot to have RRJ on the Van Vliet
site. It almost makes me want to believe that he's listened to our records.

But alas, there’s probably more smoke then fire when it comes to RRJ influences. Tony
is right – Beefheart wasn’t an influence on Railroad Jerk (at least in the early days). I
have to admit that I didn’t listen to Beefheart until only a few years ago. Now I’m a big
fan.

In truth, my influences at that time were rooted mostly in Glenn Branca, Robert Fripp,
Harry Partch (aka the mysterious N. Senada), and Dave Brubeck (Quartet period).

In short, the early RRJ was a group of four musicians who came from completely different
backgrounds (as far as influence is concerned). T-Bone came from the world ruled by
the Motor City. Jez was a full-fist drummer ala Lori Barbero. I came from art-scum.
Marce came from the folk world. It all worked pretty well at the time.

[ubercat]

OK. Thanks for the link T-Bone. It's kind of a hoot to have RRJ on the Van Vliet
site. It almost makes me want to believe that he's listened to our records.

But alas, there’s probably more smoke then fire when it comes to RRJ influences. Tony
is right – Beefheart wasn’t an influence on Railroad Jerk (at least in the early days). I
have to admit that I didn’t listen to Beefheart until only a few years ago. Now I’m a big
fan.

In truth, my influences at that time were rooted mostly in Glenn Branca, Robert Fripp,
Harry Partch (aka the mysterious N. Senada), and Dave Brubeck (Quartet period).

In short, the early RRJ was a group of four musicians who came from completely different
backgrounds (as far as influence is concerned). T-Bone came from the world ruled by
the Motor City. Jez was a full-fist drummer ala Lori Barbero. I came from art-scum.
Marce came from the folk world. It all worked pretty well at the time.

[ubercat]

yeah...One Track Mind is one of my all-time favorites, on Matador or any label really. Get it dood.

On the topic, I found a copy of We Understand recently. So good. This is where I bring up that someone somewhere needs to reissue all the RRJ singles/EPs/comp songs onto a single disc.

Good idea. :)

[tonylee]

is it time to tell the history
of railroad jerk
thru the eyes of all the players
from beg to end?
is anyone interested?
we didnt think about it for years.
but if you care
let us know if you wanna know.
should we repress the early stuff?
anyone interested in demo/ rehersal / outakes / 4tracks
and or related tapes?
let us know
we have it
it seems that we have become an "esque"
we never thought we would be.
but gawd the big blur was a blast
so maybe its time.
let us know on our myspace what you think.
we will be updating the page if you want.
check out
www.myspace.com/railroadjerkmusic
all the best
tonylee

[Miss Tasty Princess]

Friend request sent and of course I (we) want unreleased stuff!

[pizzagratis]

Friend request sent and of course I (we) want unreleased stuff!

ditto

btw...the marcellus hall solo stuff is really good, everyone.

[tonylee]

www.myspace.com/railroadjerkmusic

new old photos added to the rrj myspace page

videos as well

hope you likey

TL

[Paul]

www.myspace.com/railroadjerkmusic

new old photos added to the rrj myspace page

videos as well

hope you likey

TL

Aww, the Bevis & Butthead video was deactivated by Youtube. :(

[9000]

was watching some of those RRJ videos the other day! good stuff.