Ohio Express –That’s The Way a Woman Is

Ohio Express –That’s The Way a Woman Is/Talking ‘Bout You –Hansa 10043 AT (1970 German issue)
Late entry in the Ohio Express franchise. Not sure who was involved in this one, it seems to post date any Graham Gouldman/Strawberry Studios involvement, but came out 3 years before the great Wham Bam (as by Ohio Ltd.).Both tracks are Ritchie Cordell compositions, although The Messengers released the better known version the following year with different song writing credits (Michael Morgan, John Hoier), so it appears that there was some “confusion” over the actual publishing and authorship. That’s The Way a Woman Is truly rocks as a tune and clocking in at just under two minutes, it’s a lean clean Bubblegum machine. Perhaps the Messengers version is more finely realised and amply deserved its hit record status (# 62 in the US and hit in Japan!). Go check that version and GREAT review here: http://awesomejams.blogspot.com/2009/04/thats-way-woman-is-in-jungle-rare-earth.html for your own instalment of My version is Better Than Yours...The B side shares more than a similarity with Crimson and Clover and I have included Talking ‘Bout You for your full enjoyment of this double whammy. Nice sleeve too...

Hear a full version of That’s The Way a Woman Is

And Talking ‘Bout You

The Tricks - Wham! Bam! Ala Cazam

The Tricks - Wham! Bam! Ala Cazam/Lucy Brown –CBS 4867 (1970 UK issue)
Originally released on Date in the US; The Tricks’ Wham! Bam! Ala Cazam is a joyful and incredibly catchy Bubblegum ditty with slight Soul overtones. The Tricks were probably one off studio creation from US songwriters/producers Billy Carl & Reid Whitelaw (1910 Fruitgum Company’s Goody Goody Gumdrops, Golden Gate etc...). While the production is bright, full and commercial –They certainly went all out for a hit, the track still retains a single-minded powered driving beat. I don’t believe that anyone will remain unmoved by this one and it should have been a huge hit at the time.

Hear a full version of Wham! Bam! Ala Cazam

Fran O’Toole –Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet

Fran O' Toole 8th February 1947 -31st July 1975

Fran O’Toole –Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet/Drift Away –Emerald –MD.1179 (1974 IRL)
As part of the ongoing saga of chronicling the countless versions of CYHASYF that appeared around the world, here is the Irish version that was actually a top hit in Ireland in 1974. It’s a really good version with a different restrained stomping arrangement on the chorus and a key change at the end. This version has the added poignancy of what happened to Fran O’Toole who also sang and played keyboards for The Miami Showband. That name is still synonymous with one of the more horrifying outrages that occurred during “The Troubles”.

Fran was murdered on the 31st of July 1975 during an ambush by the UVF along with Miami Showband members Brian McCoy and Tony Geraghty -Read the story here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Showband_killings

There is a later Miami Showband single (under the name Miami) Reelin’ N Rockin With Susie (Mint), which features a similar, but inferior re-working/re-mix of CYHASYF on the B side.
Hear a full version of Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet

Leather Head –Gimme Your Money Please

Leather Head –Gimme Your Money Please/ Epitaph –Philips 6006371 (1974 UK)

On first hearing you could believe that this is a recording of an embryonic Stranglers. The approach is pretty punked out with the keyboard a dead ringer for Dave Greenfield on this BTO cover. This single appears to have been the sole release by this local band from Leatherhead, which is just up the road from Guildford where The Stranglers plied their trade. Not sure of the whole line up but Geoff Boswell was on bass and Marcus Bird played keyboards...was there a link between Dave Greenfield and Marcus? The B side is quite a proggy epic, running at over 6 minutes, again featuring that same organ sound - Junkshop Prog anyone?
Thanks to PK for the turn on

Hear a full version of Gimme Your Money Please

Shiva –The Legend of Tutankhamun

Shiva –the Legend of Tutankhamun/ Valley of The Kings –D’art –ART 2017 (1972 UK)
Released as a tie- in to the 1972 Tutankhamun exhibition, The Legend of Tutankhamun is a memorable and fun novelty cash in by the mysterious Shiva. The vocals have a great drone effect going for them and come across like some earthy pagan hurdy gurdy. This is on a par with and a great companion piece to The Dynasty release on Phoenix from the same year: http://purepop1uk.blogspot.com/2009/01/dynasty-tutankhamun.html

Go Boy King Go!

Hear a full version of The Legend of Tutankhamun

Story –Teenage Fighter

Story –Teenage Fighter/I Want You –RCA PB 4541 (1980 NL)

This is Belgo –Glamsters Lennart & Dagleth (Hush) landing in the 80s armed with two great tunes but at the mercy of some 80s studio technology trappings, especially the LinnDrum. However it’s easy to rise above any sonic imperfections as both tracks are sublime Powerpop/Glam/Bubblegum workouts with a heavy dose of FUN. You can’t usually go wrong when you have the word Teenage in a song title and Lennart and Dagleth hit the jackpot here. The arrangement on Teenage Fighter presents quite a few twists and turns without hindering its hooky simplicity. The B side is heavier and in some ways sillier, a bit like Cheap Trick covering The Troggs with syndrums straight off the soundtrack of Cannibal Holocaust...

Enjoy Teenage Fighter

Hear a full version of I Want You

Left Side - Can't You See Me

Left Side -Morning Sunrise/Can't You See Me - Philips 6012610 (1976 NL)

Can’t You See Me is the B side of the last ever Left Side single. The mawkish A side is not worth talking about, but the Peter Koelewijn produced B side is stomping crunching action of the highest order. The track is pure riffarama perfection and the lead vocal is on a par with Earl Vince And The Valiants with its Neo -Rockabilly stance and delivery. The track was probably recorded at an earlier session than the A side and is also available on the hard to find Best Of LP.

Hear a full version of Can't You See Me

NEDERGLAM!!!!!

It may have been an obvious choice of words to merge, but the coining of the term NederGlam has really taken on its own momentum since the breaking of the jar...
Now the time has come to welcome into the world the NEDERGLAM website !!!!
Created by Jos as a companion to the Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet comp, it will feature interviews, facts and pics and much much more...
It's still early days but interviews with Mark Boon (Smyle) and Cor De Boo (Dump) are already up with much more to come including Frank Klunhaar (Pantherman!!!!).

Enjoy!
www.nederglam.nl

Norman Kenway –Black Lady

Norman Kenway –Black Lady/Blackwater Hill –J.J. Records J.J. SP 002 (1974 UK)

Although not sporting the wildest first name in rock, this is the sound of our Norman rattling the cage of his chicken-in-a-basket cabaret world in attempt to join the boot stomping sexually rampant drug induced rock scene of 1974. OK, it’s not that wild, but Black Lady is a nice obscure rockin’ number at the periphery of Junkshop Glam. The B side is interesting too as the guitar also gets a bit fuzzy during an otherwise understated performance.
The single came with an autographed photo signed by “The Kenways”. I assume that Norman is the blond bloke, but who is the peroxide lady and her older male strummer?

Hear a full version of Black Lady

Fancy –Star Lord

Fancy –Star Lord/ Brother John –Sticky STY 3 (1973 UK)

This is NOT the Fancy of Wild Thing near fame, but Nigel Benjamin with this Southend combo 2 years before joining Mott (post The Hoople). The line up also included Bob Banasiak on guitar, Phil Mitchell on bass, and Chris Holibon on drums. Bob Banasiak would join Angel (Good Time Fanny) soon after recording this single. He plays on both sides of Angel’s Little Boy Blue single.
Star Lord is a prime example of anthemic early 70s British rock full of pretty loud guitar heroics courtesy of Bob Banasiak. It’s nothing terribly original, but quite a neat ride all the same throughout its 5 minute+ running time. Brother John is rockier, but never really cuts loose. It’s a tough single to track down as only a few were ever pressed up. Thanks to Just A Buzz for the background information: http://www.justabuzz.com/

Hear a full version of Star Lord

The Equals –Diversion

The Equals –Diversion/Here Today Gone Tomorrow –President PT 414 (1973 UK)

Great 70s single by The Black-Skinned-Bue-Eyed Equals. This catchy 1973 release finds them mixing in their usual Rock/Soul edged Bubblegum with more than a hint of Crunching Glam. The incessant I’m Back I’m Back I’m Back I’m Back and tight handclaps all add to the illusion of the perfect crossover. The B side is good as well and provides further proof that there are plenty of lesser known Equals tracks due for a proper reappraisal. The fast rockin’ She Lives For Today (B side of Hang Up My Rock N Roll Shoes) with its cutting lead guitar is another cool one to look out for.

Hear a full version of Diversion

Unknown Acetate –Midnight Woman

I just bought this acetate on ebay, but the only information I have is that the tune was published by Carlin Music. It starts out in pretty snarly and gritty fashion, but then goes off in a commercial tangent with a chorus that recalls Three Dog Night covering The Sweet’s Alexander Graham Bell. It then loses its definition a bit before returning to the second verse in a meatier mode. Perhaps this actually got a release? Who knows...

Hear a full version of Midnight Woman

Biggles –Gimme Gimme Some Lovin’

Biggles –Gimme Gimme Some Lovin’/Can’t Buy You –Philips 6006 160 (1971 UK)

This is Mike Berry (U.K. Jones, Ning, Small Wonder etc...) with the simple but effective premise of sticking two great tunes together (Crazy Elephant’s Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ and Spencer Davis’s Gimme Some Lovin’) to maximise the results. Add to that some “live” audience participation worthy of The Premiers’ Farmer John with a clangy Dear Prudence guitar riff and Bob’s your uncle...

Mike Berry: “It was a simple idea, would it work if we stuck these two songs together? And it did...”

Top idea, top performance and top result!

Hear a full version of Gimme Gimme Some Lovin’

Jinx –I Saw Your Face

Jinx –I Saw Your Face/I Love You –Pink Elephant PE 22.809Y (1974 BE)

BelgoGlam combo featuring singer Marc Morlock (bass/ vocals), Dan Tritonian (guitar/vocals), Paul Mendez (keyboards) and “Pedro” on drums.
Both sides of this second Jinx single are fantastic Play It Loud era Slade concoctions with I Saw Your Face featuring melodic raspy lead vocals over a Beatles meets “The Stomp” bedrock. I Love You is more incessant and showcases some fine HEYs...
In a world where Robert Mutt Lange is better known as Mr. Shania Twain, this single was produced by Mr .Vangelder –Smith (AKA Jacques Zwart). He also co-wrote the B side. Mark Morlock (HG Wells !) released a slew of singles under his own name during the 80s. Belgium as the new Holland? Discuss at your leisure...

Hear a full version of I Saw Your Face

Day ‘n Night –I Just Need Somebody

Day ‘n Night –I Just Need Somebody/Such A Lot To Talk About –DJM DJS.220 (1970 UK)
The word sumptuous was invented for times like these... Opening with thunderous flanged drums, I Just Need Somebody turns into a wondrous near Aphrodite’s Child-like over-production full of pathos supported by some great mellotron. OK, it’s real dramatic Psych Pop; but its simple premise and hook keeps it at bay from any pretentiousness. Not sure how this single came about but Jacques Moralli –the mastermind behind Village People, co-wrote the A side with Jack Fishman who seems to have been mainly involved in soundtrack work.

Hear a full version of I Just Need Somebody

Teddy Lane –Heart Break

Teddy Lane –Bye Bye Love/Heart Break-Negram NG 357 (1973 NL)
Teddy Lane was formed by Shoes singer Theo Van Es while he spent a couple years on vacation before rejoining The Shoes in 1974. Future Catapult bassist Aart Mol was also in the band.
Funny, it sounds more like they’re singing Heartbeat and not Heartbreak on this top B side, but whatever the correct title, it’s a fine rousing performance recalling as much Slade as Artful Dodger. Over a crunching Glitter Beat; The vocals sound just like Billy Paliselli while the chord progression during the middle eight is pure Gary Herrewig...The A side is less significant while their other single Do The Rock ‘N’ Roll is pretty nifty, but Heart Break still has in the edge in my book.

Hear a full version of Heart Break

Weeny Boppers, Flying Saucers, Spivs and a Grudge: The Laurice (Laurie Marshall) Story

Many of you will recall the buzz that the Grudge single (When Christine Comes Around/ I’m Gonna Smash Your Face In) created on this blog 3 years ago. You have no doubt been searching out Oh You Beautiful Child by Spiv; one of the top 5 Crunching Glam tracks of all time. You may have been aware that there was a link between those singles and Paul St. John (The Flying Saucers Have Landed) by the same token you may have also overlooked the Weeny Bopper single (David, Donny And Michael). Well it’s time to set the record straight as I had the real pleasure of interviewing Laurice AKA Laurie Marshall AKA Paul St. John. Laurie Marshall has been known as Laurice for the last 30 years and here is the background story to those great records...
Laurice was doing session work at Abbey Road in the late 60s/early 70s. Laurice had been making demos for a guy called Peter Bowen who was first engineer at Abbey Road who had a little demo studio out in the Home Counties. “That’s where I learned my recording techniques...”Around the same time Laurie also worked with Alan Parsons, who was also engineering at Abbey Road. Through this he got the first gigs as a songwriter for Marble Arch Music and PYE Records.

Paul St.John –Flying Saucers Have Landed/Spaceship Lover –PYE 7N. 45190 (1972 UK)

In 1972 Laurice, under the pseudonym of Paul St. John, recorded and released Flying Saucers Have Landed/ Spaceship Lover. In my opinion those are two wonderfully produced slabs of late Psych mixed in with some Bolan and Donovan. A good description would be Erik Von Daniken in velvet Loons.
“That’s exactly what it was! I thought the books were wonderful and they inspired me to write those songs. Both Flying Saucers Have Landed and Spaceship Lover were based on Erik Von Daniken. I later met Erik Von Daniken. He came to speak at Toronto University when I was in Toronto - and I was in the front row. I, of course, gave him a copy of Flying Saucers, and he was quite thrilled about it.”
Although amply deserved, success was elusive as the single barely got a release...
“I was really upset because I worked really hard on that record and it wasn’t taken seriously by the record company. They didn’t want to promote British singers...When Flying Saucers Have Landed was released, I was so pissed off with the BBC that I went demonstrating one day with a sandwich board outside the BBC. I walked up and down all day with a sign that said “BBC unfair to British recording artists”.

Hear an edit of Flying Saucers Have Landed and Spaceship Lover

Grudge –When Christine Comes Around/ I’m Gonna Smash Your Face In –Black Label BL 002 (1973 UK)

I found 4-5 copies of this single in the basement of the Record & Tape Exchange in ‘79/’80 and just had to have them based on the title alone. And god, talk about NOT being disappointed...
Both sides are simply amazing, but I have a slight preference for the B side; sounding like a 1910 Fruitgum Company or Ohio Express backing track with a camp lead vocal, a very catchy sing-along chorus, assorted screams and an Elvis impersonation coming on more like Mae West in the middle eight - this is one incredible release!

I’m Going To Smash Your Face in (Marshall –Jumbo Music p 1973)

I’m gonna smash your face in
I’m gonna smash your face in baby
I’m gonna smash your face in, oh yeah, my paper doll

When I see you look at me, I know that I can tell
You think that I’m a fool and treat you much too well
Things are going to change round here you’ve met your Waterloo
I’ll throw you in a great big trunk, this is what I will do.

I’m gonna smash your face in
I’m gonna smash your face in baby
I’m gonna smash your face in, oh yeah, my paper doll
I’m gonna kick your teeth in
I’m gonna kick your teeth in baby
I’m gonna kick your teeth in, oh yeah my paper doll

You’ll scream and shout, but I won't heed your call
I’ll keep you locked up all your life behind this dudgeon wall
I’ll tie you to a great big chair, you’ll live your life in fear
It’s time for you to pay the price for saying I’m a queer

I’m gonna smash your face in
I’m gonna smash your face in baby
I’m gonna smash your face in, oh yeah, my paper doll

(Elvis impersonation break)…I’m gonna smash your face in, I’m gonna smash your face in, I’m gonna smash your face in, ‘cos I feel so lonesome tonight.

It’s just no good it’s plain to see, it’s time to end your fun
You’ll end up begging me for more, bread and water too
The scar is deep inside my heart, it’s written on your face
Your evil ways will soon be gone, ‘cos acid leaves no trace

I’m gonna smash your face in
I’m gonna smash your face in baby
I’m gonna smash your face in, oh yeah, my paper doll
I’m gonna kick your teeth in
I’m gonna kick your teeth in baby
I’m gonna kick your teeth in, oh yeah my paper doll

When Christine Comes Around follows the same theme….It’s got a cheesy teeny-bopper Status Quo feel, A mad Wipe Out type intro…and the lyrics? …well you guessed it!

Christine, Christine, Christine
When Christine comes around I’m gonna smash her face in, I’m going to have her high up on the ceiling where no one can hear her urgent screaming etc…ad nauseum!

Hear an edit of I’m Gonna Smash Your Face In/ When Christine Comes Around



So how did this incredible single come about?
“My college chum Simon Potter (Simon Godd on the label) was the co-writer of When Christine Comes Around. He became the head of the English Department at the famous Wimbledon College, the Jesuit school for boys. When he started, he lived in a ground floor flat in Wimbledon. Well there was this girl just upstairs from him who had an apartment above him and every time he had a visitor there would be a knock at the door and there she would be...She was a very homely girl and it wasn’t like she was a great conversationalist. She could suck the oxygen out of a room in 2 minutes. It was really difficult. And guess what her name was? CHRISTINE! We were driving around London one day after an awful evening visit by this dreaded lady and Simon was talking about what he wanted to do to her. I said why don’t we write a song? It took us about 20 minutes and it was done.”

The story behind the Black Label is also worth hearing:
“I had hooked up with this guy Cyril Black. Cyril was a real character-.talk about Tin Pan Alley...In the 50s and 60s there was a very famous band leader called Stanley Black. He was very well regarded and very prestigious …and then there was his brother Cyril - who was a walking embarrassment to Stanley, apparently!
Cyril was really hungry for success. He had this tiny little room in Denmark Street. He was such a stereotype, this little Jewish guy in Tin Pan Alley with glasses. You could trust him as far as you could throw him – which wouldn’t be very far. We went to see him and sung When Christine Comes Around to him and he thought that it was wonderful. He knew this rich heiress called Prudence. We went to see her, sang the song to her, she thought it was wonderful and we were in the studio before we knew it with my band and it just took off...She loved I’m Gonna Smash Your Face In as well. We were doing Punk before we knew what Punk was. I didn’t know what we were doing, I just enjoyed it. Oh and Christine finally put 2 and 2 together and she was not amused...and she stopped coming around. Finally – she got the hint!

The Black Label reference is 002; did you have anything to do with 001?
"No, but Cyril wanted the first to be 002, so people wouldn’t think it was the first release. I found out a little bit later that Cyril was in the soup for tax evasion and fled to Canada! "
Did you think it was going to be a hit?
"Of course, I thought that everything I did was going to be a hit. The band I worked with really got into the song"

Weeny Bopper –David, Donny And Michael /Won’t You Smile For Me –PYE 7N. 45203 (UK 1972)

“2 weeks later we were in the studio with Weeny Bopper singing David, Donny and Michael ; it was such a switch. When my dad heard Christine and I’m Gonna Smash Your Face In, he was furious with me and wouldn’t talk to me for 2 weeks, but then he heard the Weeny Bopper single and that kind of redeemed me. It was quite funny really, and I chuckle to this day when I think about it.”
The Weeny Bopper single does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a yearning paean to the teeny Bopper idols of the time, namely, David Cassidy, Donny Osmond and Michael Jackson. It’s definitely one of the better tribute records from the era and puts the C into cute. Quite a change from Grudge!
“You know, Robin, Weeny Bopper was the most professional singer I ever worked with. She was 10 years old, she walked into the studio cool as a cucumber. She was very accommodating and so sweet. It really was a dream session.”
The song is co-written by Cyril Black.
“I had to give Cyril a writing credit; he was just too much...”
Hear an edit of David, Donny And Michael

Spiv –Oh You Beautiful Child/ Little Girl – PYE 7N 45293 (1973 UK)

Oh You Beautiful Child is a great example of the perfect Glam Cruncher with its slap-back compressed handclaps, cutting lead, catchy hook and exuberant vocals, it’s definitely up there with the best hard Glam singles of the 70s.

“I was an A&R man for PYE Records for a while and that’s when I recorded Spiv. The demo was incredible and I asked the guy at PYE –why don’t we just release that? No No No, we must do it all again...They really had no idea...
Spiv was an actual band and a real nice bunch of guys...But how do you tell those guys after the record was made that you are not getting played because the promotion guy from PYE has left your record on the BBC’s doorstep? Promotion guys were just dumping releases in and around the offices there. It was a real scandal"

Hear an edit of Oh You Beautiful Child and Little Girl

"I then left PYE in 1974 and was concentrated on moving to Canada. I realised that I wasn’t get anywhere in the UK. I was told that I should go to America, but it was easier to get to Canada first. I started recording and then all the Disco stuff came up.”

Laurice continued to record and released disco records with some success, but the eventful quirkiness didn’t end there:
“Boy, could I tell you some stories about the nut who ran my record company. This guy who ran Casino Records in Canada was such a loony. He actually went down to see Elvis Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker in Nashville and told him that if he didn’t sign me that he would send some of the boys round to “take care of him”. I ended up having my contract suspended!”
Laurice has continued to record until recently in a more Jazzy approach, but will he ever revisit his Grudge days?
“Records like Grudge were a breeze, I could do them now with my eyes closed...but there isn’t a market for them – or is there?”
“I’m coming out with a new CD entitled Rockin Retro. It is a retrospective of some of my rock songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Christine is on it, of course, and some real rock rousers from that era. You’ll see some details about it soon on my website http://www.lauricenow.com/ and if that is what people want, then I’ll follow it up with more from any or all of those eras. I’ll let you know, when it is released. It shouldn’t be long now. And by the way, many thanks for the interview and hello to everyone out there who support good music that should never, never die!”

Buster Jangles’ Flying Mattress –Love Has Taken Over My Brain

Buster Jangles’ Flying Mattress –Love Has Taken Over My Brain/The Little World I Knew-RCA 2112 (1971 UK)

A strange one this one... Released in ’71, it comes across like John Kongos tripping out with a muffled Ronnie Bond with abundant lashings of cheap fuzz. The effect is hypnotic through repetition; but a definite winner in my book. Buster Jangles were probably/definitely not a real band, but the results of an overnight session from misled songwriters cum producers Clark and Naylor expanding their horizons while nailed to the beat after an evening out on the tiles...The B side starts off disjointed but then turns into a pleasant Monkees/Sunshine Pop number.

Note: I have a spare vg copy of this single, if anyone has a suitable trade –contact me through my profile page.

Hear a full version of Love Has Taken Over My Brain

Portrait –Sh-Sh-Sheila

Portrait –Sh-Sh-Sheila/Hurt Bad By Love –CBS 4520 (1969 UK)

Sh-Sh-Sheila is a Cool number that jumps around much in the same manner as U.K Jones’ Let Me Tell Ya or Goodbye by The One Hit Wonders. I guess it makes sense as a pure product of ’69 as it has a Jerk dance stance with bubblegum overtones, a Kingsmen/ Who riff and a pounding pre-Glam handclapped beat. Both songs are written and performed by Derek Savage and John Turner who would release Your Mother Thinks I’m a Hoodlum as Savwinkle and Turnerhopper (see review November 10th 2008) on Pye the following year.

Hear a full version of Sh-Sh-Sheila

Moving Men –The King of Crazy Town

Moving Men –The King of Crazy Town/Girl I Wanna Hold Your Hand –Decca 86049 (1975 France)

The Moving Men were an off-shoot of Gallic space age baldies –Les Rockets. The song was written and produced by Claude Mainguy. It was later re-recorded with French lyrics and released by Les Rockets as Les Fils Du Ciel.

Information from: http://www.lesrockets.com/i_movingmen.asp

The King of Crazy of Crazy Town is a fine sturdy rocker with some great effect laden vocals and robust riffage. The B side is a more traditional Rock ‘n’ Roller, which gains from the switch to a more stomping rhythm ¾ of the way through.

Hear a full version of The King of Crazy of Crazy Town

1976 bites back... Roobarb's A Star and Mach II - Concorde

Just to prove that 1976 wasn’t a complete dead loss, here’s a double review featuring a couple of singles I picked up at the weekend.

Roobarb –Roobarb’s A Star/Go To Sleep My Teddy Bear -Bell 1485 (1976 UK)
Released as a tie in to the then popular pre-Tween cartoon series, Roobarb’s A Star is a charmingly cute yet devilishly catchy tune. You just can’t fail to be moved...

Enjoy the full Roobarb below!

Mach II- Concorde/Supersonic –Spark 1141 (1976 UK)
Anyone for an ode to the Earth-shrinking-City linking-droopy-nosed Concorde??? Concorde is supersonically melodic and delightfully naff. You’ve got to dig that phasing on the Rule Britannia “French horn” part and its Pilot meets Blue at a Tony Rivers/Dodgers get together approach. The B side is, as you would expect, an instrumental with some dodgy synths parts replacing the vocals .

Hear the full version of Concorde

The 1970s -What was the golden age?

Base: 272

A comment to the Radar review by Matt, got me thinking...When you collect 70s singles especially of the Glammy persuasion, anything after 74 doesn't conjure up the same sense of excitement. But is it snobism?

So with more time than sense, based on the 272 70s singles reviewed these last 3 years, you can see above a chart that represents what appears to be the golden period for singles -namely 1973 and 1974. I have always said that 1974 was the new 1965! There is a big drop after 1974 into 1975 and it plummets dramatically for 1976 and beyond. So basically The Drones or The Suburban Studs do not cut The Mustard like Daddy Maxfield does...

Just to upsept the theory, my next two reviews will be for singles released in 1976...

Radar –Sweet Baby Sweet

Radar –Sweet Baby Sweet/ Midnight Fire –EMI 5C 006-25506 (1976 NL)

Sweet Baby Sweet is an astute choice for a title on this female fronted late Dutch Glam corker as it...well ...recalls a female fronted Sweet track! It features great vocals over an exuberant performance all perfectly rendered by its powerfully compacted production. The B side Midnight Fire is really good as well, drawing parallels with The Shocking Blue, it also rocks along in fine fashion. Sweet Baby Sweet was the first out of three singles released by Radar; the others being One Way Ticket and Don’t Ever Go Away (all on EMI)

Hear a full version of Sweet Baby Sweet

Singles on ebay! Including Rainbow Family, Mighty 'Em etc...

Hi
I will be listing about 30 singles on ebay. I have put a few up already, including Mighty 'Em, Bert De Connink and Rainbow Family, with more being added over the next few days.

You can find them here:

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/purepop1uk

In the meantime, here's a clip of the Rainbow Family single for those who don't know it...

UPDATE (6th May) : OK, all done I have listed 28 singles all with sound clips....This is my lot for a while -good luck!

Competition: Win a copy of Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet

Easy one this...er, perhaps not. But the first person, apart from Jos, who recognises the mystery track will win a copy of the NederGlam comp "Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet".
Failing anyone recognising the artist and the track, the best review or comment on the track wins it...
Answers through the comment function on this post
Good luck!

Here is the mystery track