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

Wellington –Swoop Down On You

Wellington –Swoop Down On You/ Superstar –Negram NG -675 (1975 Dutch issue)
Swoop Down On You is probably the 3rd single from Northamptonshire’s very own Wellington. Their 2 other singles came out on Concord, but I can’t find any confirmation if this one even came out in the UK. It’s very similar to Catch Us If You Can (see review and hear sound clip here: http://purepop1uk.blogspot.com/2006/09/wellington-catch-us-if-you-can.html), as it’s a catchy stomper with rattling piano and a top hook. In fact it’s so similar to Catch Us If You Can that it even shares the same B side -Superstar. Their other single Alright I’ll See You Tonight is also fun with its intro that totally rips off Get It On .

Enjoy the whole Swoop right here...

Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet: The Launch

OK, finally here are a few pics from the launch of Clap Your hands and Stamp Your Feet. Building up to the launch there had been a lot of national press, radio and TV coverage in Holland, it was quite amazing actually, there are just so many angles to this thing. Seeing pics of Pantherman in the mainstream national press was quite a thrill.

I must say that I am very proud to have been involved in this compilation. The guys at Excelsior have done a great job and the CD and booklet look amazing. It certainly stands out from your usual CD.

Anyhow, I spent the Friday mopping as best I could singles from the 500 or so dealers at the fair, I took the odd short coffee break and ended the day hanging up with Jos our 100 Nederglam pic sleeves display. The concept was huge. Fuck Fen shui, this is the really important stuff!


100 singles rule!

So as Bonnie St. Claire was the focus of it all and a goddess, so all the Bonnie singles ended up dead centre, the Left Side singles were on...you guessed it –the Left Side. Cardinal Point had to be at a Cardinal Point, so were on the bottom right. Shelby The Clap’s single had to be next to The Rockets as he was a Rock N Roll Drummer...it goes on and on. Earlier in the day, I got Bonnie’s number and gave her a ring -she seemed really happy to be involved...


On the day itself, the momentum was building nicely and then 1 o clock was suddenly upon us. I started by spinning a couple of tunes, Jos projected his compilation of NederGlam videos, and then Smyle were ready to take to the stage.
The Smyle guys were super friendly and their short set was just what was called for; full of Beatle harmonies and Powerpop jangle. They hadn’t played together in 35 years, but the fun and complicity they shared on stage was pretty infectious.



Mark Boon of Smyle

Pantherman (Frank Klunhaar) showed up minus costume. It seems his mask is kept in a glass display in his living room, but perhaps one day...Anyhow Frank is a very friendly and TALL gentleman, still I am sure he call in his gnashers if required.


I am going to bite you...


Had a quick word with Pete Koelewijn , his name appears all over this compilation. He wrote and produced CYHASYF, Locomotion, Rock N Roll Drummer, and so much more. His production and knack for combining the NederStomp with killer hooks are legendary. Jos will be talking to him in more depth soon and interviews will be appearing on the NederGlam website (more details shortly).

But where was Bonnie? We were told that she was on her way and then we heard that she was still at home, so we gave up on her showing up, but the show went on culminating in those involved (Pantherman, Pete Koelewijn, Smyle and Wally from Lemming) being presented with the CD.
Then it was all over, a special moment had passed where the last two years of researching and getting the compilation had reached its apex or had it?



Robin, Bonnie and Jos (and sandwich)

...We then we get a call that Bonnie was coming after all...and 1 hour after the main event had reached its premature climax, Bonnie strolled in. It was lovely meeting her and chatting. I then had the honour to introduce her on stage and present her with the CD, but Bonnie had other ideas..."Play the record" she said and off she went performing Clap Your Hands and Stamp Your Feet, even passing the mic to me to help out on “backing vocals...”!


Clap Your Hands an Stamp Your Clogs...motherf***ers

Ever the professional Bonnie then held court signing singles, albums and photos for a long line of fans. She is still a top draw attraction and Holland should be proud of her - she is a national treasure! She released some classic Euro Glam HIT singles, but one shouldn’t also forget Tame Me Tiger and I surrender. Classic singles with classic performances. Go check out YouTube as well...her influence and talent should never be belittled.

Records picked up in Utrecht

Here are some of the singles I picked up in Utrecht. I arrived on the Thursday so was finally able to visit the Da Capo shop http://www.dacaporecords.nl . It’s absolutely great for singles (and LPs -if you like that sort of thing) –the basement (The Beatcave) is crammed full of singles at 1 Euro each and they also have a single bar full of more collectable singles, plus all the singles in the main shop. It’s well worth arriving a day early and checking the shop out. I must have found around 30 singles at Da Capo. The remaining 70 or so singles were found in 3 days of going up and down the aisles at the fair in a mad obsessive daze...Here’s to a return in November to the best record fair in the world!!!

Smyle –Tandem
The Hammer –I’d Do It Again –NL Pic Sleeve –this is Mark Boon post Smyle –a great powerpop single.
Amsterdam –Donay
Tiger – Hot Amsterdam/ The Bomb. This is in fact The Tigers On Vaseline –the B side is indeed “The Bomb” and rocks to the max.
Drama –Mary’s Mamma (Peter Koelewijn production –the B side is best)
Wellington –Swoop Down On You -would you believe a third single by Wellington? I don’t think it got released in the UK –good uptempo Glam)
Shadows of Knight –My Fire Department Needs A Fireman –Ger Pic sleeve
Renee –Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On
Radar –Sweet Baby Sweet –Killer Dutch Glam single –If I knew this one before, it would have been on the comp – a prime candidate for volume two !
Mike Berry –Don’t Be Cruel (The Joe Meek one, not the Ning one)
Zoo –Walking –CNR - another stomping Dutch Glamster
Whistle –The Party Must Be Over –UK demo
Lemming –Bang On
Rocketters –Rocket Man
Cape Canary –Let There Be Light
Brownsville Station –King of The Party –Ger pic sleeve
Resonance –Moto Rock –French Pic Sleeve. This is the same bunch who did OK Chicago . Great motorbike noises over a chugging beat
Circus –Over and Over –Negram
Bacchus –who Put The Bomp –The B side Teen Queen is the reason to own this one
Fickle Pickle –The Letter Dutch Pic Sleeve
Los Brincos –You Know (B side is Spanish version of Nobody Wants You Now)
Serpentine –Yesterday Papers –cool psych 2 sider –perfect Circus Days fodder
Serpentine –Instant Alison
Girlie –Andy –Dutch Pic sleeve
Nick Gilder -Roxy Roller –Dutch Pic Sleeve
Anita Garbo –Race With The Devil –Good cover of the Gun hit with a Glammy B side
Mathew Passion –Company Director –Dart
Wei Wei Wong –Sing Song Boat –Dart
Mighty Love –We’ve Gotta Live With One Another –D'art
Left Side –Morning Sunrise –absolute killer B side on this their last single, forget the A side
Moving Men –The King of Crazy Town –The Rockets in disguise in ultra rocking Glam mode with quirky effects galore
Cardinal Point –Peppermint Twist
Bintangs –Riding On the L &R –what is it with the Dutch and flutes? –Otherwise a cracking rocker
John Arthur –No Lady No –CNR
Whichwhat –Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ (the Crazy Elephant Tune)
Heart-Stronger –the Dutch Heart’s 3rd and last single
Zoom –Bye Bye Honey Bee –self produced French poppy Boogie Glam single
20/20 –nice Dutch pic sleeve of Cheri
Artful Dodger -lead track off 3rd album, but with front cover featuring photo used for the painting on the front of their first album.
Jungle Jim –Big Fat Onraguman (Swedish Pic Sleeve)
Pebbles –Mother Army
William Shakespeare –Can’t Stop Myself From Loving You (Ger Pic Sleeve)
General of Budapest –Everybody Join us
Carl Simmons –King Of Rock N Roll (this is Dick Turpin of Madeline fame)
Chicory Tip –Good Grief Christina –Dutch Pic Sleeve
Chicory Tip –Survivor
UFO –C’mon Everybody –early single –sounds like they only wanted to be Blue Cheer at this point
Teddy Lane –Bye Bye Love –good rocking B side
Hector –Bye Bye Bad Days –UK DJM
Giorgio –Today’s A Tomorrow / Underdog–Ger Pic sleeves
Slade – Get Down and Get With it –the short haired sleeve
Bert De Conninck –Cadillac –Killer cover version
Uge –Mad Charles (a wonderful mad release –check out the blog)
Shakane –Big Step (Ger Pic Sleeve)
Shakane –Down Down Down (the Trevor Burton song-great B side as well –Ger Pic Sleeve)
Streak –Bang Bang Bullet –Dutch pic sleeve
R.B Zipper –Come Back Marianne –Ger Pic Sleeve
Pantherman –Pantherman –French Pic Sleeve
Barefoot-Frightened –Pye Demo

Also 3 LPS -The Swedish Shakane LP on Sonet, Bonnie St. Claire (now signed!) and Lemming
Plus tons of spares– watch this place...

Bert De Coninck –Cadillac

Bert De Coninck –Cadillac/De Katvis –Parsival 1018 (1975 Belgium)

Before I get round to finally listing all the singles I found in Utrecht, Check out this fabulous Flemish take on Vince Taylor’s Brand New Cadillac that I found at the fair. This version owes more to The Renegades or The Shamrocks than to Vince Taylor’s original but it has real bite and sports a blistering lead break that simply oozes attitude as does the vocal performance that is positioned somewhere between smooth crushed velour and pure snot (get with the Phlegm!). Bert is still making music in Portugal –check out his site here: http://www.bertdeconinck.com/

More details on the Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet launch soon....I am still waiting for a snap of Bonnie and me on stage –anyone?

Hear a full version of Cadillac

Return from Utrecht...again

Well I've just returned from an extra special time in Utrecht. Picked up just over 100 singles -including the French Pantherman single (thanks JP) among some other real treasures and the usual 15% of duds...

I will do a couple of posts on the fair and the launch of Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet...Yes, Pantherman was there , Pete Koelewijn, Wally from Lemming also. Smyle did a fine a set and...Bonnie St. Claire performed Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet!!!! Incredible stuff -More soon!

Utrecht Record Fair and Clap Your Hands and Stamp Your Feet

Well, yeah -of course I'll be there!

This time it's even more special as we are launching the Clap Your Hands and Stamp Your Feet CD. A bit less time for me to go digging for singles, but well worth it for a chance to be part of this great project.

Here are some details of the launch event -read on and see some of you there!

All the best

Robin

Coming out next week, on Excelsior is a compilation CD of early 70s Nederglam !
Fistful of Records Jos and Brit accomplice Robin Wills worked on this thing for some years now, having done all research, compilation and sleeve notes. The CD is entitled "Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet" after Dutch glam's biggest hit record at the time by Bonnie St Claire & Unit Gloria. Other songs included are some totally unknown Glam Rock stompers & crunchers by acts like Booby Trap, The Heavy Dwarfs, Dump, Zingara, Pantherman and Plastic Feet. Among somewhat better known acts like Lemming, Catapult, Left Side and Long Tall Ernie And The Shakers you will discover a multitude of Glam era obscurities here that will blow your socks off and open your mind to some great sounds and beats ! With The Netherlands being the main country in continental Europe to boast a Glam Rock scene, a compilation of this stuff was way overdue. The CD contains 24 songs by 23 acts, plus a 52 page full colour booklet crammed with cool pics, plus the incredible stories behind all bands and songs. Also included are reprints of all original sleeves, whether Dutch or foreign.


The CD will be launched at the Utrecht CD and Record Fair, next saturday April 18th, between 1 and 3 pm. There’s gonna be DJs (well Jos and yours truly), original Nederglam videos, an exhibition of Nederglam memorablia and record sleeves, and there’s a Smyle reunion gig ! Also there will be many ex-glamstars present, like the Catapult guys, the one and only Pantherman, of course Smyle, Lemming singer Wally, some Left Side guys, producer Peter Koelewijn, Mr. Pink Elephant Willem van Kooten, the Booby Trap singer and all members of Bonnie st Claire & Unit Gloria, most probably including queen Bonnie herself !!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet” is available in all good Benelux record shops, and can be ordered from the online Excelsior shop, go to : http://www.excelsior-recordings.com/

The CD will be shipping in the next few days

My Version Is Better Than Yours Part 9: Crazy Elephant vs. Doctor Father -(There Ain't No) Umbopo

Continuing with a jungle theme, here we have 10CC competing with themselves. So the question is: do you prefer them shackled to the Bubblegum Kings or working for themselves?

Crazy Elephant -There Ain't No Umbopo/Landrover -Bell C006-91465 (1970 French issue)

Written and released as part of 10CC's tie-in with the Kasenetz Katz Bubblegum Factory. This version of Umbopo was produced by Ritchie Cordell with Graham Gouldman and probably features all four Hotleg/ 10cc members. The Crazy Elephant take on the song is an admirable cavernous Spectorian tour de force a la Checkmates (Love Is All I have To Give) and should have been a huge hit at the time. There's a surprising emotional resonance as well, partly because the lyrics, but also due the lead and backing vocal performance and interplay. The bass playing is also just fantastic.

Hear your Crazy Elephant Umbopo




Doctor Father-Umbopo/Roll On -Pye 7N. 17977 (1970 UK)

Released and probably recorded after their tenure with Kasenetz/Katz, this version could pretty much be considered a Hotlegs' single. They slow the track down and elongate it into a 5 minute + opus giving it a slight raga/Psych feel with the detuned guitar (E TO D or full DADGAD?) working well. Although there are extra lyrics, it does tend to go on a bit, but the backing vocals at the end are worth hanging on for...

Hear Doctor Father's Umbopo

Earle Mankey -Mau Mau

Earle Mankey –Mau Mau/ Crazy –Bronze BRO 53 (1978 UK issue)

OK, this is not particularly obscure, but I gave this copy a spin while I was tidying up and it was a real joyous occasion getting reacquainted with it. It’s a real Pop producer’s single and it sits somewhere between Biology (off that first Sparks/ Halfnelson LP) and the Move’s Do Ya with its monster riff. Fun with a capital P for Pop.
…this might just give me the momentum, to start a mini series of Jungle themed tunes…

Feast on the Mau Mau

Reparata –Your Life Is Gone

Reparata –Your Life Is Gone/Octopus’s Garden –Dart ART 2057 (1976)

Originally released on D’Art in 1972 as a B side, Your Life is Gone gained its rightful place as an A side on this later issue following the success of Shoes (on Dart, Polydor and Surrey International). Your Life Is Gone may be one of the best death records of all time as it’s not that over the top or schmaltzy and features some of the greatest ambulance sirens ever committed to vinyl. Apart from the appeal of its theme, Your Life Is Gone is also up there musically with some the best sides Reparata released with The Delrons on RCA in the mid 60s. It’s a fine mix of Spectorian grandeur with a great vocal performance full of pathos and vulnerability as well as featuring some neat Bijou electric sitar and those brilliant sound effects...

Enjoy the full version here:

Reinstated Sound clips

This weekend, I have replaced over 100 sound files that were previously graciously hosted by Lou of http://pop45.blogspot.com/
They are now, thanks to Lou's help, all on Divshare. I think you should now have access to over 300 sound clips or complete songs, so go back and jump head first into the archives...

Castle Farm –Hot Rod Queen

Castle Farm –Hot Rod Queen/ Jewels of Fire -EMIDISC Acetate (1972 UK)

With a title like Hot Rod Queen, it’s difficult to go wrong and this track is all you would expect it to be with a high octane delivery and exuberant performance at the crossroads of Junkshop Glam and Punk’d out Boogie. Castle Farm were from the Romford area and it appears that they only released one single (Hot Rod Queen/ Mascot) on their own Farm label. Both sides of the released single were recorded at Tangerine studios in London, but this acetate has the rampant dual guitar fuelled Jewels of Fire instead of Mascot as its B side. So the question is…is the version of Hot Rod Queen presented here the same as the A side of the released version? The released version can be found on something called Cosmorama: Blow Your Cool Vol 2. If anyone has that comp, could you please compare the tracks and get back to me with the answer –thanks!

Hear Hot Rod Queen!

Check out Jewels of Fire!

Sweeny Bean –Rock ‘N’ Roll Wedding

Sweeny Bean –Rock ‘N’ Roll Wedding/Overcoat –Sonet SON 2028 (1971 UK)
Rock ‘N’Roll Wedding is a dead simple and fun primitive Boogie workout. It reminds me of The Farm’s Fat Judy, but in a slightly tamer, less PC threatening mode. Fat Judy loses weight and gets hitched? Still the Moonshine had to be on tap all the same. I have absolutely no clue on the background for this one . I am hoping that they named themselves after the infamous Scottish Cannibal clan leader Sawney Bean (http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Scotland-History/SawneyBean.htm ) and that some typo gremlins sneaked in somewhere, but it could just be the name of some backwater moonshine brew...

Listen to a full version of Rock ‘N’ Roll Wedding

Ant-No Road Goes Your Way

Ant-Banana Pie/ No Road Goes Your Way –Pye 7N45332 (1974 UK)
Somehow following in his dad’s footsteps, but not quite...Bygraves Junior also showed up on Pye, but musically Anthony was more tuned in to the times and didn’t require hands in quite the same manner.... His 2nd release (as by Anthony Bygraves) -Painted Lady was a fine Glam single which found its way onto Glitter From The Litter Bin, but this release was his first venture on the label. The A side Banana Pie is pure Trad Dixieland Big Band Rock ‘N’ Roll, but the B side really has something special going for it. It’s got some cool and loud Wah Wah interjections, effected camp lead vocals and a very bizarre orchestrated arrangement. The track doesn’t really know what it wants to be, but somehow would have fitted on the soundtrack of Phantom of The Paradise, if Beef had in fact been Roast Beef but slightly on the pink and underdone side...

Listen to a Full Version of No Road Goes Your Way

Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet: The tracklisting

Hi all
It's been two years in the making, but the compilation that Jos De Groot and I have been preparing is about to be released (with a 52 page full colour booklet!!!).

It's coming out on Excelsior on the 20th April, and is being launched at the Utrecht Fair on Saturday 18th. I will be providing more details of the launch event soon, but there will be some way cool stuff happening there...

Anyhow here is the tracklisting, hopefully it will be the first volume in a series...

Booby Trap - Kelly, Grace & Sally

Catapult -Let Your Hair Hang Down

Lemming -Father John

Heart-Lovemaker

Dump-Annabelle

Long Tall Ernie And The Shakers -Motor Man

Amsterdam-Mary Lou

Bonnie St. Claire & Unit Gloria-Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet

The Heavy Dwarfs-Moeder Natuur

Left Side -(like a) Locomotion

Black Fire-Do It

Smyle-She Means A Lot To Me

The Rockets-Rock And Roll Drummer (Part 1)

Plastic Feet-Big Blond Baby

Cardinal Point-The Grand Pretender

Melody-Stepping Stone

BZN-Sweet Silver Annie

Cherry Van Gelder-Smith-Goodbye (Guitarman)

Hank The Knife And The Jets- Guitar King

Zingara-Girl, Girl, Girl

Serpentine-Powerful Jim

Hans van Hemert-Because of the Cats

Pantherman-Pantherman

Bonnie St. Claire & Unit Gloria-The Rock Goes On

Jordan Parker Review –Ginger Bread Man

Jordan Parker Review –Ginger Bread Man/Tell Her –Sire 45-4115 (1969 US)

Ginger Bread Man is an obscure, but totally wonderful tough Bubblegum creation. It has all the obvious trappings of the genre with its instant hook, driving beat and organ break, but the performance has a real edge with snotty Jagger-like moves as well as featuring some neat rough and ready crunchy guitars. Tell Her is a sprightly uptempo number which is nearly as good as the A side so the single is a definite two-sided winner. I can’t find any info on the band, but I have been led to believe that members of the band went on to form The Hopple Street Exit, so my guess is that they were probably from the Cincinnati area...

Listen to a full version of Ginger Bread Man



Here is the background on the band. Thanks for the information!

Jordan Parker Revue was a four piece group originally made up of two sets of brothers from the Dayton , OH , area. Their first single was a UMAC production on Night Owl Records: “Man of the Hour/Mardi Ellen” writers H. Urschel (aka Jordan Parker) & Eric Smith, respectively. The band tracks for this single were recorded in 1967 at UMAC Studio, Miamisburg , OH ; however, if I recall correctly, the vocals were re-done at Chess Studios, Chicago.

Sometime in 1968 one of the brothers decided to leave the group and was replaced on drums by one of the band’s producers. There was a brief association with Calvert/Marzano, who recorded JPR at ODO Recording, NYC, but no record deal resulted. “Ginger Bread Man” (writers Urschel/Albert) on Sire Records was the groups’ second single, released in Oct. 1969, produced by Opus 65. All tracks for this record were done at Jewel Recording, Mt. Healthy, OH (there was also a mix done w/Richard Gottehrer at Bell Sound, NYC, but it is unknown if this or the Mt. Healthy mix made it on to the record).

JPR's “third” single, if you will, was an unaccredited performance on “Monday Morning Man” (Urschel/Albert) by Trudi on 20th Century Fox Records, released in 1970; this was also recorded entirely at Jewel Recording & produced by Opus 65. Actually, by this time Jordan Parker Revue had ceased to exist under that name but had been wholly absorbed into Trudi & Hopple Street Exit, a seven piece band that was formed when JPR merged with a group featuring Trudi & her husband (also one of JPR’s producers). Hopple Street became a popular local act in Dayton , OH , & there was a second Trudi & Hopple Street single (“Together/Hang on to Your Heart”) released on Counterpart Records, but by then there was only one remaining JPR member in the band.

David Alexander –Love, Love, Love

David Alexander –Love, Love, Love/ Missy –Rare Earth RES 112 (1974 UK)
Kicking off with some loud pounding drums swamped in reverb, Love, Love, Love then develops into a semi-Stonesian rocker more often than not recalling Rockmore Williams (Lady Rock). David Alexander has a strong voice with some cool snarly moves and inflections sometimes recalling Roy Loney (check out how the way he sings the word “City” –just like the Groovies’ City Lights). Both songs and production are by studio wizard Phil Cordell (Springwater / Dan The Banjo Man), but not sure which David Alexander this one is, perhaps he was the Welsh dude behind Taste The Wine on Penny Farthing that same year? A cracking song and performance in any case…

Hear a full version of Love, Love, Love

Fat Daddy –Roll Daddy Roll

Fat Daddy –Roll Daddy Roll/Help Me –Bootleg BL 262 (1976 Aus)

Fat Daddy were a Melbourne Band and big favourite on the Sharpie scene. They were known to wear face masks for live performances:

“We used to wear these grotesque masks. We were anti the whole pretty boy/satin/Sherbert thing. We wanted to be the ugliest band in the world..."(Max Wella –Top Fellas).

This is the first of two singles released on Bootleg (the other being Fat Funky Rock And Roll –which I need!!). Roll Daddy Roll is a no-nonsense-straight-ahead Boogie/Glam piece in a similar world to Buster Brown or The Angels.
The band consisted of Max Vella, Mick Stillo, Tony Catz and Carl Stanley. They later merged with Ken Murdoch (Ex Taste; also on the Bootleg label) and became Texas. Texas were pretty big on the live scene from 1976-79 and released 4 singles and an album in a rockin’ bluesy ZZ Top style.

Hear a full version of Roll Daddy Roll

Booby Trap –Kelly, Grace and Sally

Booby Trap –Kelly, Grace and Sally/ The Hooker –Ariola 13 336 (1974 NL)

If it wasn’t for the that fact that Booby Trap appeared for about 30 seconds on Van Oekel’s Discohoek (a zany Dutch TV-show back then), then we wouldn’t even have known of Booby Trap’s existence in the first place! Bass guitarist Albert Schierbeek was a sound engineer and later guitarist with Dutch rock-legends The Bintangs (his brother Harry played drums with them all through the seventies). Fronted by the fine voice and Jagger-like aesthetics of vocalist Jan Rijbroek, Kelly, Grace and Kelly sports a very snappy and catchy Sweet- like tune with ancillary handclaps and ample guitar-riffage. While Jan Rijbroek seems to extol the merits of a ménage a trois on the A side, the B side finds him imploring his girlfriend not to go on the game! The Hooker features a mean slide guitar riff and falls somewhere between The Flamin' Groovies’ Slow Death and Shot In The Head (Haffy’s Whiskey Sour/ Savoy Brown) albeit in a more poppy vein.

Note: Kelly, Grace and Sally is the opening track on the compilation “Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet” to be released on the 20th of April on Excelsior -more details and full track listing soon!!!

Hear an edit of Kelly, Grace and Sally and The Hooker.

Kenny Pickett –Got A Gun

Kenny Pickett –Got A Gun/ Same –Fbeat PRO 2 (1980 UK)

Recorded around the time when ex Creation members Kenny Pickett and Eddie Philips contributed the great Teacher Teacher on Rockpile's Seconds Of Pleasure LP. It seems that this promo only release was the only other opportunity they got on Fbeat. Kenny wrote the lyrics, Eddie wrapped the tune around the words and the results recall Brotherly Love’s Public Enemy No 1 with a bit of the chorus of Sweet’s Alexander Graham Bell thrown in. The sound is part Glam, part Powerpop and part late 70s Squeeze. It’s just a shame that Kenny and Eddie weren’t able to exploit the semi-success of Teacher Teacher with more tunes like this one as Got A Gun proves they had more to offer in a Powerpop Glam crossover mode.

Hear a full version version of Got A Gun here:

Cut Loose: The Stud Leather story

Cut Loose: The Stud Leather story

Cut Loose is undeniably one of the most amazing timeless punked-out singles ever released. The fact that I have up to now posted two reviews on this amazing single, at least shows how much I care about this particular monster, but I know that I am not alone in my obsession and many of you share my enthusiasm for this fab slab of plastic.

Recently Roger Cook (who sang and co-wrote the track) got in touch and now for the first time here is the story behind this Killermost of all killer singles .

The band was formed in 1972 when Roger Cook met Alan Kirkham at IPC Magazines in London. Roger was a writer and Alan was an Art Editor.The band’s formation had a slightly different aim from what Cut Loose could lend us to believe:

Roger: Basically I'd always fancied myself as a songwriter and Kirkham and I started out writing stuff more like “Yes…during their Fragile period", which was a long distance from the way we eventually ended up sounding. We would write 7 minute singles but I thought that these were never going to get played…

The line up was Roger Cook on lead vocals, Alan Kirkham on guitar, Hayden Gridley bass, Johnny Aldrich on drums and Dickie Graves on backing vocals. Dickie seems to have been quite a character:

Roger: Dickie was a talented and eccentric individual who I recruited while he was dancing on a table in a HABITAT!!! We used to drive my Trans Am down his street in St Mary's Cray with him sitting on the bonnet dressed up as a robot. We both needed attention-from an audience-and probably medically as well…

Q: What were you trying to do with Cut Loose?

Roger: I just wanted to do something which was the total opposite of cerebral. I was (and still am) one of the most optimistic people I know. I just wanted to rant, explode with enthusiasm and throw in some Dr. Hook for good measure because I had just seen them in concert and was smitten.

Q: How did the track come about?

Roger: Let's just do a 12 bar in E!" said I and I wrote it in my bathroom. Kirkham figured out the guitar. Graves chipped in with parts of the chorus. The drumming (which actually makes the track work) all came from Johnny who had had some fame with a group called the Wranglers (Got onto Top of the Pops but nothing came of 'em) He also worked at IPC as an artist.

To my ears, Cut Loose not only sounds deranged, but also sounds more than just a tad drug fuelled…

Roger: It was just pure enthusiasm....we didn't think about anything.....The explosion at the end is a hand grenade sound effect supplied by De Lane Lea where the track was recorded in Soho."

Hear Cut Loose here:

Q: How did you end up getting signed?

Roger: I got some encouragement from Micky Most at RAK but he thought we were just loud and proud. Eventually someone recommended Clive Stanhope at DART. He loved Cut Loose straight out of the box and put it out. Tony Blackburn played it, Fluff Freeman supported it.

We were never told where Cut Loose was released. I had no idea it was released in Germany or Japan for example. We learned many years after the event that it had been a success in France with the dance crowd. We never received a penny in any royalties...

Q: What happened after Cut Loose?

Roger: The band broke up immediately after Cut Loose and I released a DART single under my own name Roger Noel Cook called Slick Go-Getter. Slick Go-Getter was really something I wrote to sum up what an ego-tistic fellow I had become...Jonathan King liked Slick Go-Getter and I now know why...it was gay!

To these ears Slick Go-Getter is an enjoyable upbeat number, reminding me of West Coast 60s Dunhill style Folk Rock with “swinging” London lyrics.

Hear Slick Go-Getter here:

I’ll let Roger fill everyone in with what happened next, it is quite the tale…

Roger: The reason the band was doomed from the outset was I had already become financially very successful by age of 21. I already had an E-type (which I mentioned in Slick Go-Getter). I was a successful writer (Tom & Jerry and Dr.Who if you can believe it) I'd sold a pop poster concept to IPC. I had a leather clothing company called FORESKIN LTD and Warner Bros asked me to be the youngest ever CEO of their Publishing Division when I was 24. Basically I was doing better than any of the guys topping the charts and I could see much more moola coming my way. It was music or money. I chose the latter but my music days were to return. Here's how:

I became one of the Producers ( along with Paul Raymond and Adam Cole) of the massively successful ELECTRIC BLUE soft porn series which is in fact the best selling video series of all time. One of my inputs as Producer was I had to write and record all of the dozens of rock songs which appeared on the ELECTRIC BLUE soundtracks. To date there are 200,000,000 ELECTRIC BLUE tapes and CDs in global circulation so effectively I have sold more units of my music than the other (more famous) Roger Cook and (I'm told) more than Michael Jackson by quite a margin.

I formed a recording band called BROADSWORD to cut ELECTRIC BLUE-THE MUSIC...and another band called CROSSFIRE to cut OUT OF THE BLUE...the rock tracks from those compilations are still played on the PLAYBOY channel in the States and have been for the last 28 years...amazing really...Finally ELECTRIC BLUE-THE MOVIE was released in cinemas around 1980-ish and was a big success in the West End and I performed a number in the movie called BROOKLYN BARS...I Can't find a copy of the movie...It was released alongside our regular monthly ELECTRIC BLUE releases on video but I haven't spotted a copy any where...Pornsters tend to keep their stuff!

Er...that's it...born poor....got punked...got porned...ended up rich...Doncha love Life?

Thanks a million to Roger for telling the Cut Loose story and its aftermath!

Here’s a recent photo of Roger Cook in his Villa in Spain.

Whistle –When The Lights Go Out On Broadway

Whistle –When The Lights Go Out On Broadway/Lincoln Lullabies –York YR 209 (1974 UK)

This is the elusive 2nd single by Whistle on the York label. It’s perhaps not quite as endearing as The Party Must Be Over (see review May 12th 2008) but it’s an altogether more ambitious arrangement featuring orchestral stabs and strings over a full fronted guitar driven attack very much in the mould of a Bob Ezrin production from the period. The track shares a similar drawn out intro to their first single and rocks out, but the chorus doesn’t quite have the same sing-along effect as the chord sequence is quite monotonous throughout.

Hear a full version of When The Lights Go Out On Broadway

Renegade –My Revolution

Renegade –A Little Rock ‘N’ Roll/ My Revolution –Dawn DNS 1067 (1974 UK)

A Tremendous Stompin’ Chompin’ Monster –My Revolution just guzzles all and sundry along its hungry path. The actual A side is pretty hot too, taken at a higher velocity, it sports a mean pair of cutting lead guitars. No surprise here as the guitar-men in question are Pip Witcher and Roger Lomas (EX –The Eggy/ Sorrows and future Zips members).

My Revolution was comped on Glitter From The Litter Bin many moons ago…

As an ongoing dubious marketing exercise, this is a spare copy that is about to go up on ebay! Well I hadn’t covered it here so far –had I?

Hear edits of My Revolution and A Little Rock 'N' Roll