tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26249237063213013802024-02-19T21:06:35.922+11:00record hunting in australiaChristopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-18806333342108853432010-04-08T23:52:00.003+10:002010-04-08T23:55:16.377+10:00Record Hunting In Australia in Scotland and Vintage Violence nite club<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hello and best wishes from Scotland!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I haven't posted here recently as I've spent the last two months traveling New Zealand and South America on a slow journey home after a great few months living in Australia, finally landing in Edinburgh a couple of nights ago. To be honest I wasn't sure anyone would notice my abscence, but at least Cousin Creep has missed me (thanks for the comment!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I will definitley carry on this blog in some form, and I have a LOT more records that I hunted down in Australia to share; though unfortunately I sent them back sea mail so they're currently missing in action somewhere between here and Melbourne... At some point I guess I'll move on to other records (I already grabbed a few gems from NZ and</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">South America along the way) and I'll have to change the name of the blog, but until then I'll remain Record Hunting In Australia. Hey it's my blog I guess I can call it what I want even if I'm about as far as you can bloody get from Australia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In other news, I'll be deejaying at the fabulous Edinburgh nite club <a href="http://www.myspace.com/vintageviolenceclub">Vintage Violence</a> on Friday 23 April, spinning a hot mix of garage rawk, bubblegum pop, new wave spazz, glitter stomp and whatnot.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxseJNz0eni44d4_Wpu_U4Akj1JVyIeXLiPSxDX7ckl5YgAGnNl9xalA6h9yzZK1BvZNyluwMpL60cBUX21G1AmE3-JMEC1gA66DNhJkJe1W7kr0COS5h2L5DWI_N0HjRjVxjvsvdAR8Q/s1600/l_d17bfe9ed966453e94e968f6faca9bf9%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxseJNz0eni44d4_Wpu_U4Akj1JVyIeXLiPSxDX7ckl5YgAGnNl9xalA6h9yzZK1BvZNyluwMpL60cBUX21G1AmE3-JMEC1gA66DNhJkJe1W7kr0COS5h2L5DWI_N0HjRjVxjvsvdAR8Q/s400/l_d17bfe9ed966453e94e968f6faca9bf9%5B1%5D.jpg" width="281" wt="true" /></a></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-66498539502717341602010-02-16T13:15:00.007+11:002010-02-16T13:22:36.242+11:00THE CHEROKEES- Minnie The Moocher/I've Gone Wild<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wSAKtqq3u5qCVdVE0YxwhAuWZdsvNqRJ5-S8CbVpobWkey_3XKaGOT-RGv1DPCKCmgT2IAzSWzdJ_tJDHNZkvmOz5yy72rErtmRIhOg9s-aEWkTydB5KQ902G7NetbiwiUUixJDyx1Y/s1600-h/Scan1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wSAKtqq3u5qCVdVE0YxwhAuWZdsvNqRJ5-S8CbVpobWkey_3XKaGOT-RGv1DPCKCmgT2IAzSWzdJ_tJDHNZkvmOz5yy72rErtmRIhOg9s-aEWkTydB5KQ902G7NetbiwiUUixJDyx1Y/s400/Scan1.JPG" width="398" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's another classic Aussie disc, this time from 1967 and courtesy of Melbourne's Cherokees. The A-side is a slightly bizarre beat take on Cab Calloway's 'Minnie The Moocher' and I guess it works on it's own terms as a likeable piece of novelty that saw fair chart and radio action for the band. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The CHEROKEES- Minnie The Moocher</span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10487449-428" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10487449-428" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But, as so often the case, the real dark meat is lurking on the B-side. 'I've Gone Wild' lives up to it's title; a brooding slab of prime freakbeat with uk mod-style vocals and an excellent psychedelic guitar effect- I'm afraid my copy is a little beat up, but you'll get the idea.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The CHEROKEES- I've Gone Wild</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10487450-e14" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10487450-e14" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-91624982037857513912010-02-15T15:25:00.004+11:002010-02-15T20:50:48.652+11:00RAY BROWN and THE WHISPERS- Fool, Fool, Fool/Go To Him<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97kGUuHZ0DJ2w9lqHWWKPMIAxt2KAhq6T9tGYUp7-p8DlPDvRLtLnxppzrLlGBl7UPM9jzXQS9IgMhzaQkEUHYO22a9Mk3zIadShZ2GKWcNDJetAZ2htoxVzfWoHqoqfMXfVj30nHsl0/s1600-h/ray+brown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97kGUuHZ0DJ2w9lqHWWKPMIAxt2KAhq6T9tGYUp7-p8DlPDvRLtLnxppzrLlGBl7UPM9jzXQS9IgMhzaQkEUHYO22a9Mk3zIadShZ2GKWcNDJetAZ2htoxVzfWoHqoqfMXfVj30nHsl0/s400/ray+brown.JPG" width="395" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Based in Sydney and operating from just 1964 to 1966, Ray Brown and The Whispers were a very popular beat and soul group both live and in the Australian charts. This 45 was their third release and the band's third No.1 in Sydney (there were no national charts in Australia until the end of the sixties). It was also sonically their most adventurous record, particularly on the spectacular 'Go To Him', with both sides benefiting from other worldly production: double tracked drums, echoey vocals, and treated guitars sounding not unlike something Joe Meek might have concocted at 304 Holloway Road.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">RAY BROWN and THE WHISPERS- Go To Him</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10478732-910" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10478732-910" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">RAY BROWN and THE WHISPERS- Fool, Fool, Fool</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10478733-5d9" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10478733-5d9" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKBrUr5MuTdLJPUPqKA5PRKCtY29ZxmI4BcQ8S-rECUIrHss82XUyDUHU6XEOeFcCmxLg2ocQOTjyPoc3YSl2F6h4aoUbyIaVPq600jGxi7utrECVmsjfY12vJ1NyUTO78v0rQgM2WKo/s1600-h/rayfestfile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKBrUr5MuTdLJPUPqKA5PRKCtY29ZxmI4BcQ8S-rECUIrHss82XUyDUHU6XEOeFcCmxLg2ocQOTjyPoc3YSl2F6h4aoUbyIaVPq600jGxi7utrECVmsjfY12vJ1NyUTO78v0rQgM2WKo/s400/rayfestfile.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-13569211404530582642010-02-08T13:18:00.004+11:002010-02-13T15:52:06.086+11:00BLACKTOP- Here I Am.../Searchin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmlrN5NKMwvELB_NG4wVl3GSP3qcbwtibd_c8oBzMmgyGoHiDomaTBPxOp-CtEwN6YL79oNzlQhv-mMIsWNGSmpHdIPAijgKDHJeRz-Dm0PigLS7gjZGK5WAnbxBVppwm-4f-hBH4AGo/s1600-h/Scan1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmlrN5NKMwvELB_NG4wVl3GSP3qcbwtibd_c8oBzMmgyGoHiDomaTBPxOp-CtEwN6YL79oNzlQhv-mMIsWNGSmpHdIPAijgKDHJeRz-Dm0PigLS7gjZGK5WAnbxBVppwm-4f-hBH4AGo/s400/Scan1.JPG" width="393" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">BLACKTOP- Here I Am...</span><br />
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10410475-5b7" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10410475-5b7" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the demise of the phenomenal Gories, and before the Dirtbombs, Mick Collins joined forces with Fireworks frontman Darin Lin Wood to form Blacktop. On the A side of the above 7" they cover one of my favourite obscuro Captain Beefheart songs 'Here I Am, I Always Am' and do a grand job on it. The flip side, another cover, this time a Coasters tune is good too if a bit throw away. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">BLACKTOP- Searchin'</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10410476-3e3" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10410476-3e3" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Here I Am...' came out in '95 on legendary Australian record label </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au-Go-Go_Records"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Au-Go-Go</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, who also released a Blacktop long player Up All Night after Crypt turned the tracks down. Au-Go-Go was run by Melbourne music kingpin Bruce Milne and I'll post a little more about Bruce shortly since I just bought a pile of his records (he's been raising funds to pay off debts after the sad closure of what was Melbourne's best venue </span><a href="http://www.messandnoise.com/articles/3850129"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the Tote</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">).</span>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-83173550921741185602010-02-04T16:03:00.013+11:002010-02-15T21:10:25.504+11:00JOHNNY O'KEEFE and The DEE JAYS- So Tough/That'll Be Allright<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_wyrCO6ppfc8-W_E-Ljifmo8HoKNnJG93L-G8ASuiuAI1x2pIGNkIq6Za9uL8M7e_R0jgF_4olSRmaGiR_MGqno1zko4zchEQiVvreLAjkw4K9V9nU-xcVj-ahj67VSul2GN5YBSHFc/s1600-h/Scan1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_wyrCO6ppfc8-W_E-Ljifmo8HoKNnJG93L-G8ASuiuAI1x2pIGNkIq6Za9uL8M7e_R0jgF_4olSRmaGiR_MGqno1zko4zchEQiVvreLAjkw4K9V9nU-xcVj-ahj67VSul2GN5YBSHFc/s400/Scan1.JPG" width="396" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Johnny O'Keefe or JO'K or 'The Wild One', was Australia's first and biggest rock'n'roll star. He was an unlikely teen idol, with limited singing talent and perhaps closer in looks to Bill Hayley (his initial inspiration) than Elvis Presley (who's wild stage presence and gyrations JO'K imitated in his own unique way). But as ever in rock'n'roll such obstacles were overcome by determined self publicity, showmanship and being in the right place at the right time (and gold lame suits). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Outside Australia JO'K is best known for his signature song "Wild One". Jerry Allison of the Crickets took the song back to the USA after hearing JO'K play it while on the same bill (see the programme below). Jerry recorded the song as 'Real Wild Child' under the name Ivan, with Buddy Holly on guitar/backing vocals, and it's probably my favourite <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLIqhgGWUi8&feature=related">version</a>. Since then the song has been covered by countless artists including <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z63ab1L5yU">Jerry Lee Lewis</a>, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Joan Jett, and probably stands as Australia's only bona fide addition to the cannon of classic 50s rock'n'roll standards.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UU_HtHdY1fs8QC_3XQz2TZxe1F-JRAw3LuRsI_wbDj6XXM8MaGSTuH8PZpwxG-LDu5ndUIK9dqZ5IqoahVkk6I5jatRfROFW8nx4ot4h_uFTgRSL2CoC69wzJAwmPU58QJCP8Yb35lk/s1600-h/r308019_1349549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UU_HtHdY1fs8QC_3XQz2TZxe1F-JRAw3LuRsI_wbDj6XXM8MaGSTuH8PZpwxG-LDu5ndUIK9dqZ5IqoahVkk6I5jatRfROFW8nx4ot4h_uFTgRSL2CoC69wzJAwmPU58QJCP8Yb35lk/s400/r308019_1349549.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I won't try and relate JO'K's full <a href="http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/thebridge/colourfulsydneyidentity/johnny-okeefe.aspx">story</a> here, suffice to say it's an interesting one featuring flamboyant costumes, gigs with nearly all the first wave American rock'n'roll stars, failed attempts to crack America (despite the odd number one in New Orleans), a near fatal car crash, lots of mental breakdown, drink, drugs, 29 top 40 Australian hit singles, a successful TV career and an eventual overdose of prescription drugs.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">JOHNNY O'KEEFE and The DEE JAYS- So Tough<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10376455-c36" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10376455-c36" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'So Tough' bw 'That'll Be Allright' came out in 1958 and is one of JO'K's best and most rocking 45s. 'So Tough' was a then current track in the US charts thanks to a myriad of recordings by various New York Doo-Wop groups, the original being by The Casuals. JO'K's version is at least as good as any of the American ones, though to be honest all the versions I've heard are great, raw, zany rock'n'roll fun. 'That'll Be Allright' (sic) is a JO'K and The Dee Jays original and shows that 'Wild One' was no fluke, as it's a classic slice of rock'n'roll with cool percussion and bad boy lyrics.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">JOHNNY O'KEEFE and The DEE JAYS- That'll Be Allright</span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10376456-38e" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10376456-38e" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2kP3BS23PNE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2kP3BS23PNE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This 1950s footage of Johnny O'Keefe offers a glimpse of his unique stage presence and the fan adoration he received as Australia's king of rock'n'roll.</span></span></span>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-67759590306087846622010-01-29T21:21:00.005+11:002010-02-15T20:59:06.720+11:00The SHY GUYS- You Are My Sunshine/Rockin' Pnemonia And The Booga Loo Flu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7_S2h5D5nZMad3nALndk6HZvNF_H13O5unBuPBONUtAUx94pP9H7s-hUflhBUL3KnNIuDSKFy52-C_AmAD0uKapC9lhY7GzQUdn9M5r7hBaQvpG0byOuIJy08qrxK8SdKdqHdpr0hQg/s1600-h/Scan1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7_S2h5D5nZMad3nALndk6HZvNF_H13O5unBuPBONUtAUx94pP9H7s-hUflhBUL3KnNIuDSKFy52-C_AmAD0uKapC9lhY7GzQUdn9M5r7hBaQvpG0byOuIJy08qrxK8SdKdqHdpr0hQg/s400/Scan1.JPG" width="396" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I know very little about this record. I think that the Al Schultz Orchestrations mentioned on the label was some sort of music agency based in Chicago, but not sure if that means The Shy Guys were from Chicago too? The date hand written on the label of 16/1/70 seems too late for the sound of the record, that I'd guess to be closer to mid-60s. I would be grateful if anyone can point me towards more info.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What I do know for sure is that this is a storming two sider of a 45. My pick is the B-side, 'You Are My Sunshine'; a raw slice of soul with rough gospel style vocals and swinging garage rock instrumentation. On the plug side, a version of the Huey 'Piano' Smith classic, The Shy Guys add a horn section, but otherwise keep it raw and soulfull. Great stuff.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">THE SHY GUYS- You Are My Sunshine</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10314078-ec2" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10314078-ec2" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">THE SHY GUYS- Rockin' Pnemonia And The Booga Loo Flu</span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10314108-a02" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10314108-a02" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-6178318759783786252010-01-17T13:18:00.018+11:002010-01-17T23:44:44.637+11:00BILLY BLAND/GRANTLEY DEE- Let The Little Girl Dance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsG1Wp-UErHevnlszzPXBZXTTsj7LgCkmjiRsUb7VoZ6njuru0GZ7l-BS1pzvGyHHbb4J57xZcVkVqUYeqzh6zL3IiRODgHfvnIYdvrZVd6f22RlB9Z_f0PbFUfLONv5INCMRVmjFgtY/s1600-h/billy+bland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsG1Wp-UErHevnlszzPXBZXTTsj7LgCkmjiRsUb7VoZ6njuru0GZ7l-BS1pzvGyHHbb4J57xZcVkVqUYeqzh6zL3IiRODgHfvnIYdvrZVd6f22RlB9Z_f0PbFUfLONv5INCMRVmjFgtY/s400/billy+bland.JPG" /></span></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">BILLY BLAND- Let The Little Girl Dance</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10193378-ade" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10193378-ade" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Billy Bland's 'Let The Little Girl Dance' is an absolute classic RnB/pop crossover record. Nice to get an original copy on Old Town, a really consistent label out of New York.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The story goes that Billy was in the studio when Titus Turner was recording this song and stepped in to show him how to sing it, little knowing producer Henry Glover had the tape rolling and that Bland's demonstration would end up a hit single.</span><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nZeYs6xNqNJZuEt5_gISXow8D01Ua57lMKDjFUFbsvtv5LJWO0YNNslQDy3UZW8GRCivqDubVSezFqL7vaJWrJEqDAHMivw2j0HdE3l1FkwMWFsXCJkT-VUMaw7s1P8hIQlFoodBJKE/s1600-h/grantley+dee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nZeYs6xNqNJZuEt5_gISXow8D01Ua57lMKDjFUFbsvtv5LJWO0YNNslQDy3UZW8GRCivqDubVSezFqL7vaJWrJEqDAHMivw2j0HdE3l1FkwMWFsXCJkT-VUMaw7s1P8hIQlFoodBJKE/s400/grantley+dee.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">GRANTLEY DEE- Let The Little Girl Dance</span><br />
</div></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10193379-395" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10193379-395" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In 1966, six years after Bland, well known Melbourne DJ Grantley Dee released his own version of 'Let The Little Girl Dance' it was a minor local hit and a sought after record now. The arrangement was kept pretty much the same for Dee's version (if it ain't broke...), except the parping sax is replaced by a nice raw guitar break, in fact it's a shame Bland's hadn't had more guitar considering the mighty Mickey Baker apparently played on the session. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dee was the first blind singing star in Australia, and you can witness a little of his charismatic DJing style in this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYaH4czapHQ&feature=related">great 60s doco</a> about Melbourne radio.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpvARetYJwOrtSsnMSHMS545-Qi1rKEJgj8VEkUCzISbLlQ2YPZ-7Uk0Pc47FOVoivU4EdDZZYCP8eSri-OU4f4Q8Cd68M7-2jacvdexV7WbMfqtBw1vOWVQjJoEHKxKBcSB6GfIpFh4/s1600-h/hp003767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpvARetYJwOrtSsnMSHMS545-Qi1rKEJgj8VEkUCzISbLlQ2YPZ-7Uk0Pc47FOVoivU4EdDZZYCP8eSri-OU4f4Q8Cd68M7-2jacvdexV7WbMfqtBw1vOWVQjJoEHKxKBcSB6GfIpFh4/s400/hp003767.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Grantley Dee with trade mark black glasses. </span><br />
</div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-62993285148435771832010-01-15T15:17:00.000+11:002010-01-15T16:22:03.424+11:00JACK SCOTT- The Way I Walk/Midgie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11Ch3gM4gDI0kwmvW4KG7t75ruiJlZRCgYAH6ELSaV7a8PRiNutU4wQu1vh3TmsLzm6F19yXSP4iuDS_fOhvbPT6LndzdjGeob8PgoQo5B4I_1cnZgKEiCbDxwqRYpJohYupX-jC4BiA/s1600-h/DSCF8876.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11Ch3gM4gDI0kwmvW4KG7t75ruiJlZRCgYAH6ELSaV7a8PRiNutU4wQu1vh3TmsLzm6F19yXSP4iuDS_fOhvbPT6LndzdjGeob8PgoQo5B4I_1cnZgKEiCbDxwqRYpJohYupX-jC4BiA/s400/DSCF8876.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426823240730564450" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">Sticking with rock'n'roll/rockabilly here is another of my all time faves that I managed to score on 45 recently. Jack Scott (or Giovanni Dominico Scafone Jr to his mother) was one of the very best of the second devision rock'n'rollers; a position pretty well illustrated by his billing on this concert poster:</span></div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM3ZVoje8rKnqpQ06iqMgPbjufhDZUzQcmjEwUKqd6Ygbyc287z3fVjPdsBxHKtJfnv88jvp5eKyziKUONG9VuqPkGcZaRoJkpOUU2GgNwMiUxT68PZMZIF3kq3xKx5d0eLTDFRynmLU/s400/3200705260_b8db9b5c7e_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426822778648572658" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Like Bob Luman (the subject of my last post) Scott went on to have a long and varied career in pop, rock and country, but made his most exciting records in the 1950s. 'The Way I Walk' is probably his best known track thanks mainly to the Cramps, but he recorded a few other classics around the same time, 'I Never Felt Like This' being a personal favourite.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">JACK SCOTT- The Way I Walk</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10178779-1cc"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10178779-1cc" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">
</span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">JACK SCOTT- Midgie</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10178780-521"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10178780-521" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">
</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-JIJVXUOJzUFc25DOsoDeTwu1X9nJ1xcts2KkVQGA7DEv55DfdZNVWykegbV7qeFx9nC3qM-So1IveyVV31RYyJcH-lS5HH3GZ1N-IfDHsGAjQozGc4OX_ArZZZExjxcSPMRyBAfQK8/s400/chant3333333333333333.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426818361854102290" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Jack with his backing singers The Chantones</span></div></div></div></div></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-10179258515985184262010-01-14T13:59:00.000+11:002010-01-14T17:56:59.165+11:00BOB LUMAN- Red Hot/Whenever You're Ready<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-CRIhlnyyX9K1zuVsQ1bgYxGn7udA9aA1aMYhA7Ri58EX9efYk5KCaPTLropvP5LjutBYi3s91rPVGGg2n5csk7oMGE5L63zufpipq1hQu_7UyBsf49gsfSoVm_lu-rjG5A2L9KdeRc/s1600-h/bobluman.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 396px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-CRIhlnyyX9K1zuVsQ1bgYxGn7udA9aA1aMYhA7Ri58EX9efYk5KCaPTLropvP5LjutBYi3s91rPVGGg2n5csk7oMGE5L63zufpipq1hQu_7UyBsf49gsfSoVm_lu-rjG5A2L9KdeRc/s400/bobluman.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426432642951238658" /></a>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">BOB LUMAN- Red Hot</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10166678-7e5"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10166678-7e5" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>
</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">One of the very first rockabilly tunes I got into, Bob Luman's version of 'Red Hot' is still one of my all time favourites. It's everything rockabilly should be: fun, swaggering, wild, crude, sexy and above all a great dance record. It also features some incendiary guitar playing from a 17 year old James Burton, who then repeats the trick on the slightly more restrained B-side.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">BOB LUMAN- Whenever You're Ready</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10166679-613"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10166679-613" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">
</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This 45 came from <a href="http://www.licoricepie.com/">Licorice Pie</a> possibly the best used record store in Melbourne. Unfortunately (though appropriately) I seem to have warped the record by leaving it on the player during a couple of days of plus 40 degree heat- not something I had to look out for in Scotland!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Perhaps the warping is a sign that the vinyl is a 70s repress? I really find it hard to tell what's an original with rockabilly records, as the bootleggers got in there so early on compared to other genres. The good news is that it still plays great as you can hear above.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">The following youtube footage is from Roger Corman's 1957 rock'n'roll exploitation movie 'Carnival of Rock' and features the same band as play on 'Red Hot'. Shortly afterwards Burton and bassist James Kirkland would jump to Ricky Nelson's ship.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">
</span></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pY__GozzAM4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pY__GozzAM4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-65802024140898005332010-01-10T15:27:00.001+11:002010-02-01T11:26:09.090+11:00PAUL REVERE and the RAIDERS- Let Me<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh737OX9C9rC0HM4bRJXC9dLxGFrJMG2SZBMYAIxMQBepWm9SYLqOenQGpqITRAArsagzcFhfh4mQqac8EHL9R7MZxJLfQx4HPxdGZ0E2ZTpJgmvScrHpR3qALZrr_Zx6XPb9cP454uTjc/s1600-h/paul+revere.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424966042295574754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh737OX9C9rC0HM4bRJXC9dLxGFrJMG2SZBMYAIxMQBepWm9SYLqOenQGpqITRAArsagzcFhfh4mQqac8EHL9R7MZxJLfQx4HPxdGZ0E2ZTpJgmvScrHpR3qALZrr_Zx6XPb9cP454uTjc/s400/paul+revere.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 399px;" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A brilliant slice of late period garage rock (1969), or early glam depending on how you look at it, from Mark Lindsay and the gang. A really cool false ending too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Considering their first single came out 1960 and they kept recording into the 70s, the Raiders had an amazing run of often great records and managed to weather all sorts of musical fashions while maintaining popularity; they wouldn't even have their biggest hit until 1971. Partly down to their novelty image, but mainly because hardly any of their records sold in the UK, I'm still discovering their songs and thankful for it.</span><br />
<div><div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">PAUL REVERE and the RAIDERS- Let Me</span></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10106189-80e"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10106189-80e" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"> </span></div></div><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/REj9ctsLRKc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/REj9ctsLRKc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-89129960997707348872010-01-08T18:26:00.004+11:002010-02-01T11:31:48.204+11:00The BEAT MERCHANTS- So Fine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA98sZDUbpkzc-StkBQ6nS5Xe2ucBfUOakMF6tFyDFxdIDWrnOykyAuQFJ8USgk_cjtcQ96WGf9wtrSk7AHGnskq4w5EnJH2lWg9s2AyI3fL_peZIE9bayxe7llzDpSJ_QolHnifm54kg/s1600-h/beat+merchants.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424267152234165282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA98sZDUbpkzc-StkBQ6nS5Xe2ucBfUOakMF6tFyDFxdIDWrnOykyAuQFJ8USgk_cjtcQ96WGf9wtrSk7AHGnskq4w5EnJH2lWg9s2AyI3fL_peZIE9bayxe7llzDpSJ_QolHnifm54kg/s400/beat+merchants.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 396px;" /></a> <br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've seen this single a few times over the years and always wondered what the deal was, considering the other side of the record is Freddie And The Dreamers' 'You Were Made For Me' (Freddie's second biggest US hit). Apparently this was how all the Tower copies were issued and internet sources claim The Beat Merchants taking the B-side was down to some kind of pressing mistake, but I'm not so sure since the "Introducing The..." legend seems to suggest a marketing ploy by Tower, though if it was one it was unique and quite unsuccessful considering The Beat Merchants never followed up on the exposure.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whatever the story it's a stroke of luck, as an otherwise very rare record (the original UK issue bombed) is easily available and it's a stunning track. Like 'Pretty Face, The Beat Merchants first single, 'So Fine' is a stone cold classic. Raw British RnB pop following the Yardbirds into the stratosphere. One of <i>the</i> great bass intros leads into tight harmonies, wild harmonica and undulating rhythms, it almost defines a genre a year before most so called freakbeat records were recorded.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The BEAT MERCHANTS- So Fine</span><br />
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10081026-0e1"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10081026-0e1" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424280957022916866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIuJG6A5wJ8B8jq3yTRIMAcN6P89nflZPV6foa7DVEo0hpxEcgjBjnDx53FEytRgRozOIwpxzysgTOjAqeK1fSIel3qEL_SaNIpyPtlg6_uLHRTdofWaUp5j3gOLZuO-p4ewnXXFPr7s/s400/beat-6.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 250px; width: 400px;" /></span></span></span></span></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-55306431943252749802010-01-07T12:57:00.005+11:002010-02-17T00:07:09.807+11:00MARQUIS OF KENSINGTON- Sister Marie/Flash<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdgex_2LpignxxWbOkvSrN4Frst48KF-7vFnnw-lFGLisyM1S-Pqes3NLRg_Ps1QV5kbM-abWCZVFiaAN3E2bNKI99zkrKNAl-5UVAVJd8fGXTmb8yI2nVLD56dA5hp0foj-TgZePPIU/s1600-h/marquis.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421708661264500546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdgex_2LpignxxWbOkvSrN4Frst48KF-7vFnnw-lFGLisyM1S-Pqes3NLRg_Ps1QV5kbM-abWCZVFiaAN3E2bNKI99zkrKNAl-5UVAVJd8fGXTmb8yI2nVLD56dA5hp0foj-TgZePPIU/s400/marquis.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 392px;" /></a><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I found this 45 for a few cents at Camberwell Market, the reverse of the German picture sleeve was particularly enticing with the word BEAT prominently featured above a fine selection of CBS LPs. Turns out 'Sister Marie' is a pretty abysmal slice of badly sung 60s kitsch with lyrics about a nun and what sounds like humming through grease proof paper and comb. I nearly didn't post it. But I did. Sorry!</span></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">MARQUIS OF KENSINGTON- Sister Marie</span></div><div></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10062191-9de" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10062191-9de" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The instrumental B-side, though still total kitsch, is a much more fun and atmospheric proposition. Heavy drums dominate, keyboards stab and some nice fuzz guitar adds colour. It puts me in mind of the sort of stuff that </span><a href="http://pauldurango.blogspot.com/2008/06/va-speedball-experience-early-70s.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">soundtracked</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> European porno movies in the early of 70s. In fact an Italian calling himself The Duke Of Burlington had a hit single with a note for note </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heKfvvlf26I"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">cover</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> of 'Flash' in 1969.</span></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">MARQUIS OF KENSINGTON- Flash</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10062200-130"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10062200-130" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, it turns out the story of this record is much better than the music. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The men behind The Marquis Of Kensington were actually Mike Leander and Robert Wace. Leander was a great producer and arranger who played a part in many classic records. While at Decca he produced or arranged Marianne Faithful, Billy Fury, Cliff Richard, The Rolling Stones, The Small Faces, Them... I could go on but I think you get the idea. He then had a short spell in America with Atlantic where he arranged 'Under The Boardwalk' for the Drifters, was back in England in time to arrange 'She's Leaving Home' for The Beatles and spent the early 70s at Bell where he helped craft Gary Glitters glam hits.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Robert Wace though certainly not as musically talented as Leander is just as interesting a figure in the British pop. Like Kit Lambert with The Who, Wace and his partner Grenville Collins were bored ex public school types who saw pop music management as a way into show business and the rapidly exploding excitment of what would become the swinging sixties. With their connections and talent for publicity, hype and provocation, they helped The Kinks become one of the biggest bands in the England and managed them right through to 1971.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In fact in Wace's case he'd actually fancied being the star himself, and had initially employed The Kinks as his backing band until the limits of his vocal style, which Dave Davies described as a "kind of mixture of Noel Coward and Buddy Holly", became all too apparent and he joined Collins in management. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This record is evidence that Wace did not put his singing completely behind him. 'Sister Marie' is sung by an incognito Robert Wace and was the follow up to another Marquis Of Kensington single 'The Changing Of The Guard', which had been a hit in continental Europe. 'The Changing Of The Guard' is a great little tune, sort of sub Kinks, with nostalgic lyrics that actually suit Wace's 'upper class' vocal style.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o6RGEKGiLnk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o6RGEKGiLnk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There is a comment below this video on youtube which I'd like to think comes from Grenville Collins: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Great to hear this again, it was the last throw of the dice, the Kinks were not working and money was tight - desperate times, desperate measures. We took the track to Germany and sold it, got the contract and the cheque all in one day! We thought no more about it until one day the record coy called and said that it was a hit and they wanted to do a TV promo tour. This is where our troubles began, Robert Wace refused to go so we found a good looking kid on the King's Road and taught him to mime."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I guess 'Sister Marie' was then thrown together to keep the German record company happy and earn a bit more cash. I wonder what ever happened to the guy they got in to mime, who's also featured on the above record sleeve?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423845541658845378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45b_WevP-b6WFQCv-BwgOmSJt31jpZn1m-rMLIWLBmRjpuSuWnvtCgNo6WOinJxQtM2hZU-yTlUvIJk19bZh-WiYr7dhSIdsch5SUuj8kgwu-wMQVB_5cmFkt5XEbschNJATXt27Qk5c/s400/marquis+back.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 397px; width: 400px;" /></span></span></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-70751291035866734942010-01-07T11:27:00.000+11:002010-01-07T12:57:18.009+11:00The TWILIGHTS- Needle In A Haystack/I Won't Be The Same Without Her<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPodHyqRf5DnyobJfmwBvgVs-uh5ZpmdavrD_-Ao6MM9ZcEH_kCVqSQufHOX4dp2gMfbV1Ergw96xQ13akI1GjZLndSzYozpFvTEPVPWZEDM5wz7dmLKfKqmL5SVXCxV4yX0JCMxAzkQg/s1600-h/DSCF8817.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 397px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPodHyqRf5DnyobJfmwBvgVs-uh5ZpmdavrD_-Ao6MM9ZcEH_kCVqSQufHOX4dp2gMfbV1Ergw96xQ13akI1GjZLndSzYozpFvTEPVPWZEDM5wz7dmLKfKqmL5SVXCxV4yX0JCMxAzkQg/s400/DSCF8817.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423789590654984706" /></a>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This stomping beat guitar version of The Velvelettes classic was a monster Australian hit in 1966 for The Twilights who were one of the country's best pop bands in the mid to late 60s. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The B-side is a version of Goffin and King's 'I Won't Be The same Without Her'. The Monkees also recorded this track in 1966, though they wouldn't release it until their 'odds and sods' LP, Instant Replay, in 1969. I'm curious as to whether The Twilights got an early listen to The Monkees version; which is most likely considering the subsequent attempts to turn them in an Australian Monkees with an aborted <a href="http://www.milesago.com/tv/twilight.htm">TV series</a>, or if there was a Carole King demo of the song that made it down under? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Wouldn't it be great if someone put together a decent compilation of Carole's Brill Building demos? The ones I've heard (on shoddy budget compilations- the rights must be a mess) are amazing and there are supposed to be a lot more floating around...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">The TWILIGHTS- Needle In A Haystack</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10060059-017"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10060059-017" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">The TWILIGHTS- I Won't Be The Same Without Her<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10060060-c0c"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10060060-c0c" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">
</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/37BBmRnJnwY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/37BBmRnJnwY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-7269141280795406842010-01-04T00:05:00.001+11:002010-02-01T11:34:44.725+11:00DIZZY MANS BAND- Tickatoo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGr8g647RakpHK5KrQPt9M5hjh-V-nx8w_1fxamrwi0rPWHaa4mdxO_DMYbbVbabkyge7EJ8R-T5xIteCHALhNE2kjT0e7SBwpWVp0tOX4-3lkhwFOsldzkJQB1YGh6iC-yFX4Z0SIGng/s1600-h/DSCF8811.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422509562418024290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGr8g647RakpHK5KrQPt9M5hjh-V-nx8w_1fxamrwi0rPWHaa4mdxO_DMYbbVbabkyge7EJ8R-T5xIteCHALhNE2kjT0e7SBwpWVp0tOX4-3lkhwFOsldzkJQB1YGh6iC-yFX4Z0SIGng/s400/DSCF8811.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 394px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGr8g647RakpHK5KrQPt9M5hjh-V-nx8w_1fxamrwi0rPWHaa4mdxO_DMYbbVbabkyge7EJ8R-T5xIteCHALhNE2kjT0e7SBwpWVp0tOX4-3lkhwFOsldzkJQB1YGh6iC-yFX4Z0SIGng/s1600-h/DSCF8811.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ever wondered what Creedence Clearwater Revival would have sounded like if they were weird samba obsessed Dutch men? </span><br />
<div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No, me neither.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">DIZZY MANS BAND- Tickatoo</span></div></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10011662-d21"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10011662-d21" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-25883587120605748982009-12-29T05:56:00.009+11:002010-02-17T00:11:36.643+11:00JACK KITTEL- Psycho<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FpUdYkDTjhmMU06ydRXdEgAKHGnbEd1VmsozmB6mHHYsR3lAxTqNvRUJcD_BXOSiPQRad0I1StA1b3P-BFhxrIUEiJIdEhiw-I_2yYktTMTx77pC69feP5KfHLpoHsdIvlU_uiU7yCk/s1600-h/jack+.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419726681219264386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FpUdYkDTjhmMU06ydRXdEgAKHGnbEd1VmsozmB6mHHYsR3lAxTqNvRUJcD_BXOSiPQRad0I1StA1b3P-BFhxrIUEiJIdEhiw-I_2yYktTMTx77pC69feP5KfHLpoHsdIvlU_uiU7yCk/s400/jack+.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 396px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FpUdYkDTjhmMU06ydRXdEgAKHGnbEd1VmsozmB6mHHYsR3lAxTqNvRUJcD_BXOSiPQRad0I1StA1b3P-BFhxrIUEiJIdEhiw-I_2yYktTMTx77pC69feP5KfHLpoHsdIvlU_uiU7yCk/s1600-h/jack+.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">JACK KITTEL- Psycho</span><br />
<div><div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9954623-c03" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9954623-c03" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, fantasy;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Quite a complex history behind this brilliant slice of gothic American country and western. What I can unravel is as follows: 'Psycho' was written in 1966 by a prolific blind songwriter Leon Payne, who's music career stretched back to the 1930s and who's writing credits include such classics as 'Lost Highway' (Hank Williams) and 'I Love You Because' (Elvis Presley </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Johnny Cash). Depending on who you believe, Payne wrote 'Psycho' in response to a notorious mass shooting spree at the University Of Texas and the strangely affecting letter the shooter left next to the bodies of his mother and wife, or to the story of murderer and grave robber Ed Gein (who also inspired Bloch's book/Hitchcock's movie of the same name), or possibly both.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't think Leon Payne ever recorded the song and certainly it's first appearance on record was that by Eddie Noack in 1968. Unfortunately for Eddie the world was not yet ready for such a creepy record written from the point of view of a serial killer (at least not one without Porter Wagoner's name on it) and Noack's version sunk without a trace.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jack Kittel then revived 'Psycho' in 1973 with the inspired, in my opinion definitive, version posted here. I can't find out much about Jack Kittel and he seems to only be remembered for this song, which became an underground classic after being picked up by various DJs including Dr Demento. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Elvis Costello then brought 'Psycho' to a bigger audience, releasing a live version in 1981, which is the same year that this Raven pressing of Jack Kittel's version was issued in Australia (perhaps not coincidentally). I'm guessing this 7" was a bit of novelty fun for </span><a href="http://www.ravenrecords.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Raven</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, who at the time were best known for excavating Australia's exciting 60s pop history with records such as the demented Ugly Things compilations, and are still a respected reissue company today.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's possible the Raven pressing was not exactly 'official' as the label has no publishing information and miss-credits Jack Kittel as the songwriter as well as offering up a choice of spellings of his name. This could also account for the B-side being simply a backwards recording of 'Psycho', complete with backwards label. Whatever the motivation, it was an inspired decision as 'Psycho' sounds almost as good, and just as chilling, running the wrong way (admittedly I do have a huge unquenched love of backwards pedal steel brought on by early exposure to 'Change Is Now' by the Byrds).</span></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">JACK KITTEL- Psycho (backwards)</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9954642-c26"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9954642-c26" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420533818861776594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNF8GlVgHT9MadedP3Kulkyf7BwQ0LGXpW89JOk9r6oFlJH2Sdw1OJK05O1me81KpfqJvkuiTmVWdxzKLXl9QoJVYxK7_mIeTus_wYpzpBwyj5wRG0rzFyQerZI4dyfiY6vp6Nue4jpX0/s400/jack+back.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 396px;" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Psycho' then had a further part to play in Australian music history being covered by The Beasts Of Bourbon on their great first album from 1984 and subsequently becoming a minor hit for the band. I've posted their promo video below.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, -webkit-fantasy;"> </span></div><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vy9oLsN5qzk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vy9oLsN5qzk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-3881795648315609502009-12-23T11:10:00.000+11:002009-12-29T20:34:56.198+11:00The FEELIES- Original Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF93vUmJ6UwmSAukgUa08jIQjJC0kcToGULIDHaxIQew_eElvs8hVua-N1OAb1ekBsWWAdORU0CgEwl-uw-JH8QclT3XDaLpYojY4JtcYD760YDOq7F2elw0XEBKGVtcjtsezfbUBQtM/s1600-h/DSCF7697.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF93vUmJ6UwmSAukgUa08jIQjJC0kcToGULIDHaxIQew_eElvs8hVua-N1OAb1ekBsWWAdORU0CgEwl-uw-JH8QclT3XDaLpYojY4JtcYD760YDOq7F2elw0XEBKGVtcjtsezfbUBQtM/s400/DSCF7697.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418217385728778354" /></a>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Glad to see The Feelies have been getting some recognition recently, following reissues of their first two LPs on <a href="http://www.bar-none.com/the-feelies.html">Bar/None</a> & <a href="http://www.dominorecordco.com/artists/the-feelies/">Domino</a> records. The first LP, Crazy Rhythms, has long had a special place in my record collection and I'm looking forward to checking out the second one at some point. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">'Original Love' is my favourite track off Crazy Rhythms, so I snapped up this single when I spotted it in <a href="http://eggrecords.com/">Egg Records</a>, Brisbane (dig that Stiff company sleeve, not a design I'd seen before, but then I guess it wouldn't have been unlike Stiff to only use it once). Weirdly 'Original Love' was relegated to B-side by a Beatles cover, I reckon it should have been the other way around- but what the hell do I know?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">The FEELIES- Original Love</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9876845-58a"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9876845-58a" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-27362376490236469142009-12-21T08:34:00.002+11:002010-04-08T23:09:17.302+10:00MO-DETTES- White Mice<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLRJJcWBIOMmJq8-9jfP-JNdwV2XxAp92TJuTHfojjuqy1s8mHlCUIiy3zhto5PJGCKWxSJeb3McMcf9wtQMT0nLH_CLZ6y_LH7n9NtsdD0oHs13ieEhZdEDEpaoMLkJll_u_-_CooBA/s1600-h/DSCF8047.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402381488587840898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLRJJcWBIOMmJq8-9jfP-JNdwV2XxAp92TJuTHfojjuqy1s8mHlCUIiy3zhto5PJGCKWxSJeb3McMcf9wtQMT0nLH_CLZ6y_LH7n9NtsdD0oHs13ieEhZdEDEpaoMLkJll_u_-_CooBA/s400/DSCF8047.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 400px; width: 389px;" /></a><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417185861721159170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hWITJk2bW6xRyGqaxv94VAupO_QHempcCO9Lub_KwCHOQ3wB08XlNYhVrczsB48QOOuymwabMh7inDVEbFMDatPF76i0zOG0uhZ8lSyg-IpsWrauvVbFMAHD4NpxE_qsOhLDh5S_Q3I/s400/DSCF8039.JPG.jpeg" style="cursor: hand; height: 399px; width: 400px;" /> <br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Following my twisted record collector logic, I've bought two copies of this single since arriving in Australia, despite already having a copy (possibly two) back in Scotland. In my defence they were cheap and 'White Mice' is a really great song; landing in that midway point between new wave pop and post punk skronk that's perfect to dance to, and one that I always have in my DJ box. I hadn't seen the second issue with the 'fish and chips' photo and thought it might be a different version, but it turns out to be the same with only a different B-side (I've no idea why it was reissued). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;">I believe that singer Romana Carlier had actually been the front woman (under the name Regula Sing) for Swiss band Kleenex, 'White Mice' certainly has a very similar sound to the amazing Kleenex singles, can anyone confirm this to be true? (edit: Robin Wills of the wonderful <a href="http://purepop1uk.blogspot.com/">Purepop blog</a>, has vouched that Romana Carlier was definitley NOT in Kleenex).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;">Unfortunately the rest of Mo-dettes output really doesn't match 'White Mice', but their one LP is still well worth tracking down.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, fantasy;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, -webkit-fantasy;">MO-DETTES- White Mice</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="28" id="divplaylist" width="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9843764-d77"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9843764-d77" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
<div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif;">And do make sure you check out this really cool video:</span> <br />
<div><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S0JCoMYpiA0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S0JCoMYpiA0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></div></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-36610471660888096482009-12-16T21:35:00.000+11:002009-12-18T11:00:39.605+11:00SUNNY and the SUNGLOWS- Talk To Me/SUNNY and the SUNLINERS- Every Week, Every Month, Every Year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYJEAh1pRJHUGMnF4dAOManlUxuCMnXBnClbxJISm7kar_xIIcdmm0OsbrOAx932Jqzl5liL-vlmhsHfPbcy6lHjEAHZPTQ5P9wRXKyiOqdm1qa8I9v_9vyR8mGqgjklIRSxAN_1COOI/s1600-h/sunny.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYJEAh1pRJHUGMnF4dAOManlUxuCMnXBnClbxJISm7kar_xIIcdmm0OsbrOAx932Jqzl5liL-vlmhsHfPbcy6lHjEAHZPTQ5P9wRXKyiOqdm1qa8I9v_9vyR8mGqgjklIRSxAN_1COOI/s400/sunny.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416037825918122514" /></a>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Found this in the cheap 7" rack at the second hand record music store <a href="http://brella.org/collectors/">Collector's Corner</a>, though certainly not the best shop in Melbourne, it's alright considering it sits in the middle of one of the busiest shopping streets in the city, and I've had a few interesting records from them.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">I knew nothing about Sunny and his band(s) (there's a different name on each side), but the Tear Drop label design really appealed to me and I knew the Crazy Cajun publishing credit meant some Huey P Meaux involvement; a man who's production skills are, I always felt, totally undervalued. 'He's About A Mover" by Sir Douglas Quintet, "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)" by the Hombres, 'You'll Lose A Good Thing' by Barbara Lynn being three classic<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial, serif;">s that spring to mind. But having now done a little research on the 'colourful' history of the 'Bayou bad boy' there is probably good reason for his under appreciation today: very young girls, dodgy business deals, guns and drugs were all apparently par of the course for Heuy (if anyone knows of a good biography please let me know).</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">It turns out that Tear Drop was in fact one of Meaux's many record labels and 'Talk To Me' the biggest hit on it. Not sure if Heuy was the producer (there's no credit on the label) but it's a fantastic record. 'Talk To Me', the plug side, is a sumptuous ballad that makes the most of Sunny Ozuna's great voice and some luscious strings, the B side on the other hand, i<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial, serif;">s an ace up-tempo soul number with hints of Tejano music and all night parties. Sunny and his mixed race band were apparently the first to break the colour barrier on the popular TV show American Bandstand playing 'Talk To Me', so this is a little slice of history as well as great record.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">SUNNY and the SUNGLOWS- Talk To Me</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9799139-9de"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9799139-9de" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">SUNNY and the SUNLINERS- Every Week, Every Month, Every Year
</span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9799138-2ea"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9799138-2ea" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></div><div>
</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-L9Ym0rexC1phTer_MpyBO4M7YSsHAzZkigoEykvmrZqke-Hjbgn7Z_I5yt5CgWaksvn063PDfVU5b9QrZcY7TVno828QHgcSU-LmvBM29hYhkVPdb8UjwT4ZC5DignDR7IUFDTh1sg/s400/sunny_ozuna.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416037528161148930" /></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-83624684486005403372009-12-16T18:13:00.000+11:002009-12-16T21:09:00.249+11:00The YOUNGBLOODS- Darkness, Darkness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-Iao_ncRBl1Mh_sHpAuqLe1VZ75sxVFmu4gutXPd9uy_b0AhLIGeVDgcvoFxzBO5xqOm0n5kVtXRFLxdQeQL9HW6gtCWANQXOqMPMw4F1GJDEsXRbwyLgjVbc-MPlZ5uKEt2qT7l9Tg/s1600-h/youngbloods.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-Iao_ncRBl1Mh_sHpAuqLe1VZ75sxVFmu4gutXPd9uy_b0AhLIGeVDgcvoFxzBO5xqOm0n5kVtXRFLxdQeQL9HW6gtCWANQXOqMPMw4F1GJDEsXRbwyLgjVbc-MPlZ5uKEt2qT7l9Tg/s400/youngbloods.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415731846194345090" /></a>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">More fun, eclectic and with better songwriting than many of their west coast hippy contemporaries, I really like The Youngbloods. 'Darkness, Darkness', along with 'Sugar Babe' (a great song about drinking featuring the immortal lines, "Run like your mamma when the police come" and "I got drunk and I fell on the floor") are my two favourite songs of theirs. I was first hipped to The Youngbloods by Jon Savage's inspirational psychedelic booklet that came free with an early Mojo and which sent the school-age me scurrying after all kinds of mind expanding pop nuggets that I would never otherwise have heard of.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">'Darkness, Darkness' is a beautiful track featuring one of the very best west coast rock guitar solos, and it wouldn't have sounded out of place on the Kak LP (also introduced to me by Mr Savage). I had always assumed it was an LP only song so was very pleasantly surprised to find this single, sporting an appropriately psychedelic RCA company sleeve.
</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">The YOUNGBLOODS- Darkness, Darkness</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9786790-935"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9786790-935" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></div><div>
</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 396px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2ZXaqOw_bwBu7AO9QK7QccNna5BJt1dCjWpVMC6DBVvKB0mdg84v17llVBlQ7FcQrHLoHhwLNS5VBqQQGMeL7cO-rDZyRnFx7Bej4_7iT9FCDVaeaU2QdCw6mn-66PEZCALpsgdZaks/s400/rockband.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415772848352328866" /></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-58041314380854388142009-12-15T14:15:00.000+11:002009-12-14T21:12:29.589+11:00LITTLE SAMMY- Rhythm and Crunch/When It Comes To The Crunch (It's Smiths It Is)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit38BiE7X-m3XU19gfbu0uLFHv6EvNLzgR3hsxDtRDLIuoURZKjNCsVgfbQkTVQW9i3cfHltpJ8UcdlIaoNKPcWa-_s90zrM2lzcSSHExBhbVu8Q_N69I7cUc9H-2o2XrbYPDLZHUrp8M/s1600-h/DSCF8449.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit38BiE7X-m3XU19gfbu0uLFHv6EvNLzgR3hsxDtRDLIuoURZKjNCsVgfbQkTVQW9i3cfHltpJ8UcdlIaoNKPcWa-_s90zrM2lzcSSHExBhbVu8Q_N69I7cUc9H-2o2XrbYPDLZHUrp8M/s400/DSCF8449.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414926295195256098" /></a>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div>From the <a href="http://recordhuntinginaustralia.blogspot.com/2009/11/marv-johnson-dont-leave-me.html">sublime</a> to the ridiculous!</div><div>This 7" (which is another from Revolve in Sydney) is a daft piece of mod soul kitsch advertising Smith's potato crisps. The 'When It Comes To The Crunch' side is my favourite, featuring more of Little Sammy's white boy soul ravings about how crunchy everything is: "Dancing's crunchy, romancing's crunchy with Smiths! Shout it's crunchy! Look out it's crunchy! We're so crunchy, ooh so crunchy!" backed by some slightly manic girl singers.</div><div>It's not total kitsch as the band are pretty tight and you can hear hints of a smoking club band under the inane lyrics, but unfortunately it's not in the same class as the 7" Smith's Crisps put out in New Zealand by <a href="http://waxidermy.com/the-challenge-the-crunch/">The Challenge</a>, which is a real punky bit of garage rock penned by Ray Columbus.</div><div>The internet tells me that Little Sammy, also known as Little Sammy Gaha, was a popular singer on the Sydney club circuit in the 60s who then moved to Paris in the early 70s where he grew a beard and put out some very silly looking glam rock records. Good for him, I say.</div><div>
</div><div>LITTLE SAMMY- When It Comes To The Crunch (It's Smiths It Is)</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre;font-size:11px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9747674-a3b"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9747674-a3b" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>
</span></span></div><div>
</div>LITTLE SAMMY- Rhythm and Crunch
</span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9747673-f96"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9747673-f96" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-17134944663684364842009-12-14T17:01:00.000+11:002009-12-13T22:50:19.650+11:00MARV JOHNSON- Don't Leave Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9j8JzbRjjv0jCGiDrhU3w-NOGKjl9yXYZZy25A-K6DU9mkneBVzGjyISbkNUSfkE1Qx-mbwTGQT3ePBMviBFH7-lZhMpBoXU2WFQNW6IzE5YqnX6vaFt_zlx_8bxDcAPXSx6DnFtLJ4/s1600-h/DSCF8034.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 396px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9j8JzbRjjv0jCGiDrhU3w-NOGKjl9yXYZZy25A-K6DU9mkneBVzGjyISbkNUSfkE1Qx-mbwTGQT3ePBMviBFH7-lZhMpBoXU2WFQNW6IzE5YqnX6vaFt_zlx_8bxDcAPXSx6DnFtLJ4/s400/DSCF8034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402382357291169410" /></a>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">There was a period in the late 50s and early 60s when a small group of producers/songwriters including the likes of Leiber and Stoller, Curtis Mayfield and Berry Gordy, working with the cream of the early soul singers, would occasionally produce slow, haunting, exotic ballads featuring choral backings, baroque string arrangements and yearning lyrics, often about dreams or fantasies; songs that in lesser hands would have sounded like middle of the road slush, and with the coming of the British invasion would soon sound weirdly antiquated, but nevertheless stand as shimmering, sublime, other worldly things of beauty. I'm talking about records like 'What A Diff'rence A Day Makes' by Dinah Washington, 'On The Horizon' by Ben E. King or 'Isle of Sirens' by Jerry Butler. Along side these records I would place the sublime (I know, I've said sublime already, but it really is the best word for these records) 'Don't Leave Me' by Marv Johnson, co-written by Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson and produced by Mr Gordy back in 1959.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I've owned a British, London pressing of this record for 15 years, one which I've played countless times despite a huge crack down one side of the record- I simply stuck a piece of sellotape across the other side and it played ok (those London records were made to last!), but I was nonetheless happy to pick up this Australian copy for a dollar- though I do hate the plastic company sleeves that seem to have been popular with Australian record companies.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Of course as the 60s went on Curtis Mayfield and various Mowtown staffers would refine and modernise this type of ballad (The Temptation's 'Just My Imagination (Running A Way With Me)' for example, is almost a sequel to 'Don't Leave Me') and in Britain the Walker Brothers would remake it for swinging London, but personally I miss the unique atmosphere of the earlier productions.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">MARV JOHNSON- Don't Leave Me</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9735349-c4e"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9735349-c4e" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-45609661617985360852009-12-14T16:14:00.000+11:002009-12-17T14:24:06.830+11:00BOBBY and LAURIE with the RONDELLS- Tonight, When I Come Home/High Noon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVK4R3Git5xPRaUxrM1CRlSLJ3pxhKu3BsNVIODSgkTeTCdh-M48gpzafdGIEicBYRhvkan4eNdz3_BpHmxyTYqltZV5NM-svUueI7R6yDzz3EcLRZXoSXVEpxIlxtTIJdyyH3V8UbD20/s1600-h/bobbie+and+laurie.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 396px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVK4R3Git5xPRaUxrM1CRlSLJ3pxhKu3BsNVIODSgkTeTCdh-M48gpzafdGIEicBYRhvkan4eNdz3_BpHmxyTYqltZV5NM-svUueI7R6yDzz3EcLRZXoSXVEpxIlxtTIJdyyH3V8UbD20/s400/bobbie+and+laurie.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414516623560385554" /></a>
Another huge Australian pop single that didn't get a release outside the southern hemisphere. It was the north's loss though as 'Tonight, When I Come Home' is one glorious slice of pop: a great melody set to a smile-inducing stomp, propelled by an amazing fuzz bass line, perfect hand claps, and crowned by an awesome two finger piano solo. It's two minutes that prove that in 1966 the homegrown Australian pop industry could match anything coming out of the UK or US of A.<div>
</div><div></div><div>BOBBY AND LAURIE- Tonight, When I Get Home</div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9732875-36c"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9732875-36c" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><div>
</div><div>Melbourne duo Bobby and Laurie were the first 'long hairs' to hit the Australian charts pre-Easybeats and released a cracking series of singles and a couple of great LPs for both Go!! (you gotta love a record label with two exclamation marks in its name!!) and Parlophone, working with some of the best beat and pop musicians and producers around, before moving into a more country pop direction.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 345px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNw9YjtHOPops4YCxJ6NP33TZCzT6j14JIuObYJ8VINh8beFI9Qa18uoR3xQo-C6iciUrzuRzdCPgMidxN7MF2lz4YMnoJ1D83vohOR_muA6LuBR47MGN3h8ESg0rvKFCNt6GKZAfqzxo/s400/image093.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414540276526708066" /></div><div>The flip side of this single is a version of the theme from High Noon and shows the direction of later Bobby and Laurie records. It was a pretty strange move from tuff r'n'b pop to country ballad novelty (though they had done it once before with a hit version of Roger Miller's 'Hitchhiker'), but I don't think the move was simply a record company put on as they were obviously country fans (certainly Laurie was anyway). At least they had good taste in country, in time covering the likes of Porter Wagoner and Lee Hazelwood, and I would love to hear their 1967 LP Exposiac which apparently mixed up country with a little psychedelic rock.</div><div>
</div><div>BOBBY AND LAURIE- High Noon</div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9733155-d73"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9733155-d73" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-87469759675175731872009-12-02T16:51:00.000+11:002009-12-04T11:30:21.575+11:00DINAH LEE- I'm Walkin'/Who Stole The Sugar?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPIftr8UVTUbOwRtrnLbMFv_XtRiLf0JYucm-1EiTAbDnneOfDgpJzpvVARfAlYxJ-6UKGGfnQ-k_Ej0-bckFr_HGRfAgcsfbdTpBnQUMOI81WsGZsxqTHkmFnsiEpZJJyzR097UnTJ0/s1600/DSCF8351.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 390px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPIftr8UVTUbOwRtrnLbMFv_XtRiLf0JYucm-1EiTAbDnneOfDgpJzpvVARfAlYxJ-6UKGGfnQ-k_Ej0-bckFr_HGRfAgcsfbdTpBnQUMOI81WsGZsxqTHkmFnsiEpZJJyzR097UnTJ0/s400/DSCF8351.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410430322912264770" /></a>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div>Dinah Lee may not have been as punk as <a href="http://recordhuntinginaustralia.blogspot.com/2009/11/toni-mccann-my-babynosaturday-date.html">Toni McCann</a> but she did make some great gutsy and soulful beat records. Dinah (Diane Jacobs before the record company decided Dinah Lee was cooler) was part of the exciting early '60s scene in Christchurch, New Zealand that also threw up Max Merritt, Ray Columbus and Dave Miller, and she was also apparently responsible for bringing the 'mod' look to the behind-the-times antipodeans. </div><div>This 1964 single was her third release in Australia, though she'd already had an album and a couple more singles in NZ where she was already a sensation. Raucously backed by The Kavaliers (originally Samoan rock'n'roller Freddy Keil's group) Dinah blasts through a fine cover of Fats Domino's "I'm Walking" much in the style of early Lulu (who seems to have been <i>the</i> big influence on all the Antipodean beat girls- more of which in a future blog). The B-side "Who Stole The Sugar" is a slower but still raw bluesy ballad with merseybeat harmonies, I could have sworn this was a cover but can't find any evidence for this, or for that matter any mention of the listed songwriter Wayne Healy. Anyone know who he was?</div><div>
</div><div></div>DINAH LEE- I'm Walkin'</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9384682-2ac"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9384682-2ac" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, -webkit-fantasy;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, -webkit-fantasy;">DINAH LEE- Who Stole The Sugar?</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9384683-925"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9384683-925" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The youtube clip below includes some fab contemporary footage:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">
</span><div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pKHaVA1feTo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pKHaVA1feTo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
</div><div></div></div>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-46477473722950763482009-11-21T17:13:00.000+11:002010-01-15T16:11:55.127+11:00The EVERLY BROTHERS- Love Is Strange/Man With Money<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsZYaAVBBkgZBdl4R26Ic56ttjcye0K64PKku2pKZ4K7Wram5UnRBJtc4UKLHT7YckvdaXkfcNQwf6XS5L1AdG6r8NSwGBh7GGDgfVzhFuQrs4JoIxQlVh4I4Mek_OMTKQ7mLxed6lHQ/s1600/DSCF8044.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsZYaAVBBkgZBdl4R26Ic56ttjcye0K64PKku2pKZ4K7Wram5UnRBJtc4UKLHT7YckvdaXkfcNQwf6XS5L1AdG6r8NSwGBh7GGDgfVzhFuQrs4JoIxQlVh4I4Mek_OMTKQ7mLxed6lHQ/s400/DSCF8044.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407156229868690130" /></a>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A perfect single. Both sides. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Released in 1965, when the Everlys were one of the only rock'n'roll era acts still being influenced by and influencing the cutting edge of pop music, and still having hits, at least outside the US. I would guess that most of the British groups listened carefully to the production and particularly the guitar sounds on this record (the ever amazing James Burton), and that 'Man With Money' was a touchstone for the future sound of The Who.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The EVERLY BROTHERS- Love Is Strange</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9465364-bf3"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9465364-bf3" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><div>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial, serif;">The EVERLY BROTHERS- Man With Money</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9465365-57b"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9465365-57b" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624923706321301380.post-27855980257693149132009-11-12T17:44:00.000+11:002009-12-02T21:50:41.120+11:00The STRANGE BOYS- Woe Is You and Me/Baby, Please Don't Go<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdxDRjJnXJ-eoizF9DqtgdgIZX-iHloedUumVWPmyUN_cCpmd1-Nv2rdXumWWoBXdqB1Sev5cAyCJYs4fW_Qyvs9PpWA1lIBSyvHKDDcfEJVe5oomu3_Lwe_kfDWfUTqp_uyg3Ibhyv8/s1600-h/strange.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 385px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdxDRjJnXJ-eoizF9DqtgdgIZX-iHloedUumVWPmyUN_cCpmd1-Nv2rdXumWWoBXdqB1Sev5cAyCJYs4fW_Qyvs9PpWA1lIBSyvHKDDcfEJVe5oomu3_Lwe_kfDWfUTqp_uyg3Ibhyv8/s400/strange.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403104680737125074" /></a>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Really enjoying this Texas band just now. The A side of this single comes off a great album called 'The Strange Boys and Girls Club' (on the magnificent </span><a href="http://www.intheredrecords.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">In The Red</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> record label)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">. Like the Black Lips they play old music but make it fresh and vital. Their sound is a garagey slurred take on the blues, with a real pop ear under raw production, and for me it really hits the spot. The B-side is an old blues/rock standard that I first heard in its rock form (Them, Amboy Dukes, AC/DC*), but The Strange Boys laid back shuffle takes it further back toward Big Joe Williams 1935 version, though John Lee Hooker gets the writing credit on the Strange Boys' sleeve (not sure how that works, good lawyers I guess).</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I obtained this 7" from </span><a href="https://missinglink.net.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Missing Link</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> one of two great Melbourne record shops still selling new music, both from city centre basements, and thriving through a love of music and strong connection with the local scene. While Missing Link leans towards punk, metal and experimental stuff, the other great store (and record label), </span><a href="http://www.offthehip.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Off The Hip</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">, focusses on garage and '60s style rock. Wish there was something like either back in embra.</span></div><div>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The STRANGE BOYS- Woe Is You and Me </span></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9380483-fd6"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9380483-fd6" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>
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</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial, serif;">The STRANGE BOYS- Baby, Please Don't Go</span> </div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9380537-8af"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9380537-8af" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">*I'm afraid I couldn't resist posting this clip of AC/DC camping up 'Baby, Please Don't Go' with Bon in a drag, fag in hand!</span>
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1VlRUIHwygc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1VlRUIHwygc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Christopher Fasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922703251133192535noreply@blogger.com0