Third Rail - ID Music
by Lisa Torem
published: 4 / 2 / 2019

Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
Lisa Torem finds that the Third Rail’s 1967 only album ‘ID Music’ is somewhat dated, yet a fine period piece for those with fond memories of an earlier time.
The Third Rail came to fame with the quirky, satirical and harmony-laden ‘Run Run Run,’ a veritable sign-of-the times in 1967, when politically-motivated songs were graciously applauded by the counter culture. The album, ‘ID Music’ was their sole recording. The band consisted of writers Artie Resnick and Joey Levine as well as Artie’s wife, Kris Resnick. Joey went on to write bubblegum for the Buddha label, which kept the Third Rail sort of on the grid. In the early ‘70s, ‘Run Run Run’ found new life when it appeared on the Lenny Kaye's 1972 psychedelic/garage rock compilation ‘Nuggets’. The album has some shining moments — a strong lyric from ‘The Shape of Things to Come’, “rising up angry in the sky” influenced Chicago activists who would go on and publish an underground paper called ‘Rising Up Angry’. This track stuns with a rad organ solo, rough-hewn vocals, a psychedelic underbelly and youthful idealism. There are other songs that pin their hopes and dreams on strident harmonies, such as ‘Boppa Do Down Down’. ‘Swinger’ and ‘Jack Rabbit’ are largely tongue-in-cheek themes whose fun lyrics call for an impromptu party. ‘The Ballad of General Humpty’ is better left to the before bedtime crowd. The eighteen-track album repeats several songs in different formats: ‘No Return,’ ‘Invisible Man’ and ‘Run Run Run’ appear as a “single” and regular version. Honestly, there seems to be little difference in these variations. The album is pretty much a trip back to what many might call a simpler time but there’s not a lot of writing or arranging here that really stands up, other than the few mentioned. Still, the Third Rail’s ‘ID Music’ is a one-of-a kind and may please a lot of boomers.
Track Listing:-
Play in YouTube:-
Have a Listen:-
Picture Gallery:-

most viewed articles
current edition
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - InterviewJack Frost - As Seen on TV
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Chicago - Stay The Night
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Badly Drawn Boy - Aviva Studios, Manchester, 18/4/2025
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
previous editions
Loop - Loop / Godflesh - Heaven, London, 4/6/2014Brad Elvis - Interview
Boomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Basil Gabbidon - Interview
Bathers - Interview with Chris Thomson
Kevin Armstrong - Interview
Davey Woodward - Interview
Ist Ist - Interview
Chris Constantinou - Interview
World Party - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboVultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Eddie Chacon - Lay Low
Lapsley - I'm a Hurricane, I'm a Woman In Love
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Pulp - More
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Morcheeba - Escape The Chaos
Little Simz - Lotus
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart