This Trolley Is Finally On Track
Birdman | Chicago | 06/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was in an Eckard's drugstore in St. Petersburg, Florida in April of '69. My family and I were on our annual Florida spring vacation and I was browsing through the 8 track cutout bin in the store and came across the Peppermint Trolley Company. It was on sale for just a few bucks and I remembered their minor hit from the year before, "Baby You Come Rollin' 'Cross My Mind." What have I got to lose I thought? Turns out, I had everything to gain. I fell in love with the 8 track on 1st listen and set out to find it on album as well so I might play it in the house instead of only having to listen to it in the car. It quickly became one of my favorite albums that year and I played it incessantly along with all the other new releases I was buying. I've heard their music described as a cross between the Association and the Left Banke and I'd say that's a fair description. It's highly melodic and harmonic. The songs glimmer and shimmer with a sophistication that both surprises and pleases. The follow up single, "Trust" is an absolute essential 60's pop classic that will burrow its way into your brain only to lodge there permanently. Lucky us! Why this song wasn't a huge hit defies logic. Extensive liner notes anoint the CD's booklet and the history of the band is fascinating reading. If sophisticated psyche-lite is a turn on for you, then this CD is a must for your collection. Much thanks to all involved for getting this absolute gem of an album out there again after all these years. You've really made my 2009 while bringing back my 1969 in all of its rose colored glory."
Terrific album
Kenneth Umbach | California USA | 07/05/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD, with the original 1968 album's contents plus a lot more, is even better than I expected after all these years. (I knew Danny Faragher et al., Peppermint Trolley Company, in high school and college, and liked their music then.) The tracks range from good old fun to surprisingly edgy, leaving me wanting more. There is a lot of feel-good music here, well performed -- nicely produced but not over-produced. I am not only recommending the album to friends and acquaintances, but buying extra copies for gifts. Listen to the samples and see what you think. I see that one of the tags is "sunshine pop." That captures the essence of the music, but there is more to it than that."
Excellent
William R. Nicholas | Mahwah, NJ USA | 03/17/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Buying a lot of what is labeled sunshine pop often means wading through near elevator music and plain boring material for those two tracks with great melodies and soaring harmonies.
This is no problem with Peppermint Trolley Company. This is harmony pop, but starts at a vibrancy level where most sunshine pop climaxes. Much of this is based on guitar and not string sap, and the numbers are up tempo.
Important, because there is no sap factor here-heavenly harmony that runs straight down the ally and always hits the middle pin."
Track Listings (26) - Disc #1