James Hogg –Lovely Lady Rock

James Hogg –Lovely Lady Rock/Happy Sad –Regal Zonophone RZ 3054 (1972 UK)

Produced by Chris Thomas, Lovely Lady Rock was the first of three singles released by James Hogg (AKA Robert Ashong) on Regal Zonophone. The song itself depends heavily on its high riff content and the neo-Rockabilly cum Hard Rock/Tough Glam approach. It’s a great hard hitting rocker, although perhaps lacking a chorus as the track is full frontal with no real melodic relief. The B side is another tight rocker very much in a similar vein.

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Flamin’ Groovies –Shake Some Action –Dutch Picture Sleeve

Flamin’ Groovies –Shake Some Action/ I Can’t Hide –Philips 6078505 (1976 NL)

It’s not often worth buying a record for its cover alone, but this is an occasion where the sleeve truly justifies the means. It is especially worth it when you consider that this is the Capitol 1973 version with Ron Greco on drums and not the 1972 Rockfield version that can be found on the SSA LP. It’s a mystery as to how this version was used Holland in 1976, was it intended or not? Someone, somewhere should know…

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Bullet –Jay Time Acetate

Bullet –Jay Time Acetate (1971 UK)

Tales from the vaults…Once known as Bullet, John Du Cann, John Gustafson, Paul Hammond and original singer Harry Shaw, later had to rename themselves Hard Stuff to fend of litigation from a US band of the same name. This version of Jay Time is significantly different from the opener on Bulletproof with extra lead guitar play and different vocal parts, but I can’t say if this is the same version released last year by Angel Air on Bullet's  Entrance to Hell compilation. This is part of a small haul of Hard Stuff/Bullet acetates that I recently acquired

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Incredible Hog –Lame

Incredible Hog –Lame/Tadpole –Dart ART 2026 (1973 UK)

Funny, I always passed by looking into Incredible Hog. Perhaps this was due to originally mixing them up with the god-awful Blodwyn Pig in terms of name and LP cover art. However Lame distances itself from any Prog Porky leanings with this fine Glam/Hard Rock crossover with finger snapping in lieu of handclaps, but featuring some great HEYs during the stomping parts which also feature some pure Eddie Phillips (Creation) guitar moves. Tadpole is also worth hearing, but is more intricate and hasn’t got the upfront dumbness of Lame. More Porky Prime Cuts to be discovered include much of the Hogback n’ Pig output on CBS.

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Tweed -6 Days

Tweed -6 Days/Inspiration –Play 24 (1972 Ireland)

Although Teddy Palmer, Memories or Fran O’ Toole had notable forays into the Glam field, Ireland never produced much in the way of pure Junkshop genius such as Hector, Pantherman or Daddy Maxfield did on celebrated occasions. The fact is that in order to make a living; many acts depended on the Showband lifeline as was the case here with Tweed.
However, there are no horns on 6 Days and it’s a jaunty and pleasing number with a nod to Jeepster and it includes a snappy fuzz part. The production also has a nice line in compression. This was their first single and they later to signed to Polydor with Ed Welch producing one single and Paul Lynton and Jeremy Paul (Hector!) involved on another  http://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/tweed.html

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The Great Grannies –Sugar Man

The Great Grannies –Sugar Man/Facts of Life –Corridor Records 45-301 (1965 US)
Sugar Man falls somewhere between a classic Girl Group sound and a “Girls from The Garage” performance juxtaposing Fuzz with Bee hives up-to-the-mic vocals. It’s an infectious ditty (dum dum ditty) and although not reaching the heights of The Tammys (Egyptian Shumba), it definitely hits the spot in my book. It looks like the band was comprised of 3 sisters and came out of Odessa (Texas). 47 years on they are no doubt grannies in their own right, but as to their current greatness....who can say?


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