Ah, Carlo Trenta. The poor man's Larry Lazar. While he's doing the duck walk on the cover, if you think about it, as the picture is being taken, he's really about to fall on his ass. Out of five stars, this album is
the quintessential TURKEY. Which is all the more reason to "rock da box" on your stereo ... while nobody's looking. Sure, strangers things have come out of Hollywood. And the Punk Trick Box maybe had a shot at the big time singing a duet with Kermit on the
Muppets before being cast to the back alleys lining Sunset Blvd. Pulling tricks for Carlo, the box was at least able to raise enough money to realize her pimp's dream of four hours in the studio, five days in mastering, and endless cocaine for all!! If I paid close enough attention to "Trick Box Woman" on Side One I might be able to get the real dirt on why the box has boobies for eyes. And maybe listening close to "Credit Cards," "Habit Rabbit," and "The Woman I Love" will bring me closer to understanding the world that brought us Carl J. Trentadue. But for whatever reason I find myself distracted by songs like "Mechanical Liz" (uh, robot sex and synthesizer), "Microwave Oven" (guess that technology was a real game-changer in '81), and "Tough Boy's A Punk" ("Rock 'n' Roll Refuge" he is not). Obviously Carlo snorted one too many lines when he rouged his cheeks, revealed his chest fur from the unzipped leather jacket, and assumed the Syl Sylvain pose during the back cover photo shoot. And I'm still not sure but kinda intrigued by why he's line dancing with a Corvette (circa "Honey Bop" era) in a live shot. Points go to the classy shot of his fourteen year old and fifty year old backup singers/'tutes/girlfriends (??) in their leopard print and silver lame spandex pants, vinyl blouses and high heels. And ... oh gawd, camel toe!!! It would have been cool if The Demons backing Carlo were the ones that gave us "She's So Tuf" back in '77, but it ain't so. Instead of the Jones brothers we get Stan and Bruce Bush. But whatever. The Trick Box is three years away from her big break boogying down in the cave for her fifteen seconds of fame on episode 5, season 2, of
Fraggle Rock. Okay, here's Side Two's "Street Kids" for ya ...
Get your own playlist at snapdrive.net!
Looks like he now goes by the moniker Capt. Jonny Rush And The King Chinook Band and is based in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone knows how to get in touch with Carlo Trenta (Joey Trentadue) please email me.
ReplyDeletepermanentwax (at) gmail
Thanks!
Lance
Permanent Records
Yes I know him and how to get ahold of him
DeleteYes I know him and how to get ahold of him
DeleteThis album was also issued by Koala records in 1982 and then again on CD by Creative Sounds Ltd. (along with the Attila album) as "Billy Joel and the Hassels" (sic). In fact I have reason to believe this is better known as a fake Billy Joel album than a real Carlo Trenta album.
ReplyDeleteThese tracks were reissued again under the artist name Joey Trentadue and the King Chinook band, retaining the original title, but adding the parenthetical title "Columbia River Gorge One".
The cover art of new version appears to have news paper clippings pasted over the original Carlo Trenta album. There is also about a half dozen new tracks that sound as if they were recorded on a tape recorder designed more for dictation rather than music.
The new tracks are sort of country, although I think "outsider music" may be a more accurate description. It's also evident Trenta(due) has since become a bit of an anti-government, anti-left conspiracy theorist not job since his attempt at punk rock.
I was at two Billy Joel Q and A sessions near Long Island back in 2012 and 2013, but the moderator would never let me ask him about Rollin' Home CD, and I even had it with me! Makes me wonder if Billy Joel either doesn't want to address it, or has had legal action pedning against Wes Sanborn or John LaMonte.
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