Strangers on a Train (album)


Strangers on a Train is the third and final studio album by American baroque pop band the Left Banke and was released in March 1986.

Recording

Strangers on a Train was recorded in 1978 by a reformed line-up of the Left Banke, featuring three of the original members: Steve Martin, Tom Finn, and George Cameron. Original member Michael Brown had initially been involved in the recording, but left after working on five of the songs. Although Brown played piano and mellotron during the sessions he is not credited on the album, either as a writer or musician. Recording engineer/producer Les Fradkin was also involved with the same recording sessions that featured Brown. He recalls contributing bass, mellotron, slide guitar and vocals, but like Brown, he is not credited on the album.
Although they were pleased with the songs on Strangers on a Train, Finn and Cameron were both ultimately dissatisfied with the finished record. Finn has described it as being largely a demo recording, with only two or three of the songs being properly produced.
Two songs that were recorded during the album sessions, but didn't make the final track listing, were titled "Poor Boy" and "Right by My Side". The songs "Queen of Paradise" and "And One Day" were released together as a single in late 1978, but failed to chart. The single's lack of success resulted in the album being shelved and the reformed band broke up again shortly afterwards.

Release

Although Strangers on a Train was recorded in 1978, it wasn't released until eight years later in 1986. The album was issued in the U.S. by the West Coast rock and Grateful Dead specialist label, Relix Records. The cover art for the album was produced by Gary Kroman, from a concept by Leslie D. Kipple.
In Europe, Bam-Caruso Records released the album with a rearranged running order, under the alternate title of Voices Calling.

Track listing

''Strangers on a Train''

Side 1

  1. "Hold on Tight" – 2:45
  2. "Heartbreaker" – 3:29
  3. "Lorraine" – 3:03
  4. "You Say" – 2:51
  5. "And One Day" – 3:22

    Side 2

  6. "Queen of Paradise" – 2:57
  7. "Only My Opinion" – 4:30
  8. "Strangers on a Train" – 4:20
  9. "I Can Fly" – 4:10
  10. "Yesterday's Love" – 3:50

    ''Voices Calling''

Side 1

  1. "Strangers on a Train" – 4:20
  2. "Heartbreaker" – 3:29
  3. "Lorraine" – 3:03
  4. "Yesterday's Love" – 3:50
  5. "Hold on Tight" – 2:45

    Side 2

  6. "And One Day" – 3:22
  7. "You Say" – 2:51
  8. "I Can Fly" – 4:10
  9. "Only My Opinion" – 4:30
  10. "Queen of Paradise" – 2:57

    Personnel

Adapted from the liner notes.
Additional personnel