Heard this tune on the Mickey Bradley show a week ago and I've become quietly obsessed with it ever since. A Canadian act, Morgan and Nelson Bankes, have crafted a real earworm... but the other thing that keeps me listening is the vocal, which reminds me of... someone else I like... but I can't quite put my finger on who. Give it a listen if you have the time... who does it remind you of?
This is Pat Monahan, lead singer of the band Train.
And here are some songs loosely connected with choo choos...
15. Chased a bandit with Dick Grayson's lad... and made cod in breadcrumbs for everyone.
Smokey chased the Bandit. With Robin's son. Performing miracles.
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - The Tracks Of My Tears
14. They say that when AI takes all our jobs, we will become...
The Leisure Society - The Sleeper
13. Panic on the streets outside Hotel California.
Where The Eagles meet The Smiths...
Fred Eaglesmith - Freight Train
Or you could have...
Fred Eaglesmith - I Like Trains
12. Found with Julia's Squash.
Julia Donaldson (of Gruffalo fame / fortune) also wrote a book called The Squash & The Squeeze...
11. Another suitcase full of baby-teething biscuits in another hall.
Barbara Dickson sang Another Suitcase In Another Hall. I'm not sure whether her suitcase had a Rusk in.
Barbara Ruskin - Euston Station
10. Competition to find Messrs Cave and Lowe on a football pitch.
Remember Spot The Ball? This is Spot the Nick!
The Spotnicks - The Rocket Man
Do I need to explain why there's a Rocket in here?
9. James went there from Eden, to find Frankie's Opus.
James Dean went East of Eden. Frankie Valli sang Opus 17
8. Often mistaken for Dennis's dog.
Dennis The Menace has a dog called Gnasher. G-Nash?
7. After leaving Eastenders, Susan set up a shop for people who like to make things.
Susan Tully was in Eastenders (after being in Grange Hill, of course). I doubt Brian would get that clue, but I imagine he might recognise the picture.
Tullycraft - The Railway Prince Hotel
6. Lava everywhere.
5. The paella truck spilt its load.
"Paella truck" was an anagram.
Petula Clark - Don't Sleep In The Subway
4. Former puppet, pawn and patsy.
He used to be a Stooge.
3. Boy from the Greta Garbo Home swallows his biro.
My Name Is Jack, lived in the Greta Garbo Home for Wayward Boys & Girls. Did he eat his pen too?
Jack Peñate - Torn On The Platform
2. The Archies meet Daryl Hannah.
The Archies made Bubblegum pop. Daryll was in Splash.
Bubblegum Splash - 18:10 To Yeovil Junction
1. Sadly, she's never been to me.
Kylie Minogue - The Loco-Motion
Little Eva would have been too obvious.
A-ha!
It's time to Take On Me for another round of Snapshots. I've been Hunting High And Low for a link that will have you scratching your heads... have I succeeded?
Who are these people and how are their songs connected?
15. Chased a bandit with Dick Grayson's lad... and made cod in breadcrumbs for everyone.
14. They say that when AI takes all our jobs, we will become...
13. Panic on the streets outside Hotel California.
12. Found with Julia's Squash.
11. Another suitcase full of baby-teething biscuits in another hall.
10. Competition to find Messrs Cave and Lowe on a football pitch.
9. James went there from Eden, to find Frankie's Opus.
8. Often mistaken for Dennis's dog.
7. After leaving Eastenders, Susan set up a shop for people who like to make things.
6. Lava everywhere.
5. The paella truck spilt its load.
4. Former puppet, pawn and patsy.
3. Boy from the Greta Garbo Home swallows his biro.
2. The Archies meet Daryl Hannah.
1. Sadly, she's never been to me.
Stay On These Roads till tomorrow morning and all answers will be revealed.
Joe Pernice has a new album out, and he appears to have left his brothers to go and do their own things for a while as this one is a solo record. That said, it sounds like all the other Pernice Brothers recordings… quite lovely.
Best of all, he’s roped a few friends in to sing backing vocals, including the divine Ms. Aimee Mann on this, which is my favourite track on the album… at the moment.
