Strangers on a Train (album)

Strangers on a Train (aka Voices Calling) is the third and final studio album by American baroque pop band The Left Banke and was released in March 1986. The album was recorded by a reformed line-up of the band, featuring three of the original members: Steve Martin, Tom Finn, and George Cameron. Although the album was released in 1986, it had actually been recorded some eight years earlier in 1978.

Contents

• The left banke strangers on a train
• Side 1
• Side 2
• Personnel
• Additional personnel
• Songs
• References

Two songs taken from the album recording sessions ("Queen of Paradise" b/w "And One Day") had been released as a single in late 1978 but had failed to chart. The single's lack of success resulted in the album being shelved and the reformed band broke up again shortly afterwards. Strangers on a Train was eventually released in the U.S. by the West Coast rock and Grateful Dead specialist label, Relix Records. It was issued in Europe by Bam-Caruso Records with a rearranged running order, under the alternate title of Voices Calling.

Original member of The Left Banke, Michael Brown had initially been involved with the recording of this album but left after working on at least five different songs. Brown played piano and mellotron during these sessions but is not credited on the album either as a writer or player. Recording engineer/producer Les Fradkin was also involved with the same recording sessions featuring Michael Brown. He recalls contributing bass, mellotron, slide guitar and vocals, but again he is not credited on the final version of the album.

Although pleased with the songs, Tom Finn and George Cameron were both ultimately dissatisfied with the finished album. Finn has described it as largely a demo recording with only two or three of the songs being properly produced.

The songs "Poor Boy" and "Right by My Side" were also recorded during the sessions for this album but didn't make the final track listing. Also during this time, Steve Martin Caro wrote and sang the songs "Nothing Ever Lasts Forever" and "I Know Love Is Blue" for Charly Cazalet's album "Rough Mix - NYC". George Cameron also plays drums on three other songs.