David Ireland –Shoot The Family Man/ Coming Up Strong –Sovereign SOV 120 (1973 UK)
I couldn’t find much about David Ireland. He had at least two singles released in Holland, including this one that also garnered a UK release. The producer is Richard Pulin who was involved as producer/arranger with Pink Elephant in the early 70s. Both songs are strong acoustic based rockers, somewhere between John Kongos and Dave Edmunds with a little T. Rex thrown in for good measure. Simple, understated and waiting to be discovered...
Finally, thanks to Alan Kirkham’s visit to his loft, here
are the results of Stud Leather’s only photo session in Hampstead Heath in 1973.
Positioned in all their freaky glory atop of Roger’s Firebird, these great shots fit the insane
glory that is Cut Loose perfectly. Now is the time for some enterprising souls
to actually re-release the single in a great picture sleeve.
From Left to right
Dickie
Graves, Alan Kirkham, Johnny Aldrich, Hayden Gridley and Roger Cook
Emidisc Acetate –Further Away From You/Jailhouse Rock (UK 197?)
A complete mystery here, can anyone provide anyinfo? I expect this acetate only got as far being a hopeful demonstration tool which most likely got turned down by whoever was offered the opportunity to further their careers. The only clues are the names I. Hall and C. Patmore (it takes some guts or sheer stupidity to appropriate the song writing credit for Jailhouse Rock!)
Sonically, I would place the recording somewhere between 1972 and 1974, the overdriven fuzz guitar is full of intent, but low on delivery. Inept yet charged up to the max. The song and performance falls somewhere between rock and roll revival, Crunching Proto Glam and no holds barred dumb heads down Boogie. It may be stretching it a bit, but the version of Jailhouse Rock has a certain MC5Back in The USA feel to it. All high energy with dynamic drumming, although the guitars are far from any Sonic Smith/Kramer interplay. Any ideas?
The Friendly Persuasion – Apathy /Yours Truly Jack The Ripper–Mac-A-Lynne PRSD 2230 (1974 US)
The Friendly Persuasion seem to have been a surburban Detroit act and this was possibly their only release. Although featuring organ and mellotron Yours Truly Jack The Ripper sits on the right side of Gothic Prog thanks to its reliance on the hook and the restraint shown. No schlock horror here, but a damn catchy novelty opus. The A side is pants though….
Hear a full version of Yours Truly Jack The Ripper
Shakane –Dance of The Dead/Down Down Down –Sonopresse AG 45763 (1973 French issue)
Perhaps the most obscure single released by Bristol’s own Shakane. Although featured on the two different versions of their sole album, France appears to be the only territory where Dance of The Dead was issued as a single (although the track also appears on a split Swedish Jukebox EP). Dance of The Dead must rate as their heaviest and most rocking track with a great gritty and cutting guitars. This is something like Roger Bain produced Budgie revamped through Mike Leander’s early Glitter dreams with Redbone inflexions. It rocks fairly and squarely and sounds perfect as a stand-alone 45. (Note Trevor Burton’s Down Down Down was also issued as an A side in Germany). It’s really hard to keep up with the lack of continuity of Shakane’s release strategy… (UPC, Green Light, Sonet, Bellaphon, CBS, Youngblood, UA and now this!)
The Flamin' Groovies -Have You Seen My Baby?/Yesterdays Numbers -Kama Sutra 2013033 (1971 German issue)
Featuring two killer sides from their Teenage Head LP, this pic sleeve was only released in Germany at the time. This is only the 2nd copy I have seen; the photo is presumably from 1970 and a Kama Sutra promo shot. I believe that this must be the hardest Groovies cover to find, with the 2 versions of the UK 1972 Slow Death single coming in a close second.
Hetherington – (It’s Just a) Teenage Love Song/ That Girl’s Alright –Mowest MW 3007 (1973 UK)
Hetherington is in fact John Hetherington who released several singles on RCA, Uni and Neighborhood prior to being the first UK signing to Tamla’s Mowest imprint. Teenage Love Song is one those classic pop songs that will engrain itself into your head and linger. The song itself, the production and performance make this really something special and a sublime piece of British 70s Pop. which deserved hit status. The B side is more like uptempo Nick Lowe
Hear a full version of (It’s Just a) Teenage Love Song
Spode appears to have been a pop alias for Heavy rock band Toby Jug (Brotherhood) who prior to signing to D’art (Dart), released the mediocre Sing Along Song on Decca. However Cincinnati Woman is pretty amazing. The echo and reverb could place this song bang in the middle of a Holloway Road Joe Meek extravaganza and the galloping rhythm adds an overall Outlaws/Tornados feel. Very strange for 1971 indeed…
Purgatory –Polar Expedition/Lost War –Purgatory 0559 (1970 US)
Purgatory were a Dayton (OH) high school band who got as far as releasing this single. In fact it sounds pretty advanced and well worked out considering this was their first commercially released recordings. There’s an undeniable Doors influence especially in Rick Fannin’s vocals, but we are not in Phantom (Capitol) ersatz Doors mode. Polar Expedition is the up-tempo side and has a Morrison Hotel feel whilst Lost War is a more atmospheric yet tuneful Psych Track. Purgatory were Rick Fannin (vocals), Robert Davis (guitar, Mike Parker (bass), Mark Carlton (organ) and Bruce Carper (drums)
Ash’s Midnight Witch would have been featured on volume 5 of Bonehead Crunchers, only my copy is too ropey to feature. All is not lost, so in all its crackly glory, here are both sides of this stupendous heavy nugget. Written by Doug Ford of The Masters Apprentices, Midnight Witch is top notch heavy fare owing much to Blue Cheer and Black Sabbath. Warrant follows a similar hard hitting and crunching theme with some killer guitar moves by Ron Hood. Ash hailed from Melbourne and this was the band’s 2nd and last single
Monica TÖrnell
–Long Long Weekend/Give It Back –Philips 6015107 (1974 Sweden) Nice take on NQB’s Long Long Weekend. Starting off more like
Sympathy for The Devil, it’s taken at a slower pace but packs a gritty punch
and Monica’s raspy voice somewhat at odds with her sultry teenage looks. Monica
had a long career in Scandinavia, but Long Long Weekend finds her at her best,
however he B side oversteps the mark in the funky department. Hear a full version of Long Long Weekend
Smoke –Dreams of Dreams/ My Birth –Revolution REVP 1002 (1970 UK)
Often wrongly mistaken for the creators of My Friend Jack, this track has even appeared on at least a couple of the “other” Smoke’s anthologies/Comps. In fact this Smoke were a bunch of young freaks from Bury St. Edmunds (Suffolk) and I believe this was their only release. Dreams of Dreams is a great psych track but confined within a neat pop format so it doesn’t drag or have flute or anything of that ilk. The band once went for a record breaking 100 hours playing non-stop. You can see the hilarious news report on this here.http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/213383 Thank god they were tighter on this single! The band were Taffy Ridgen -Vocals, Steven Vaughan-Williams - Guitar, Ted Chapman -Bass and Billy Grey - Drums
Hi I have just listed 47 singles on ebay including Bad Luck, Johnny Dick and this Andy (Anders) Glenmark single in it's original issue. Hear a soundclip of Rock It in My Pocket
Wax Museum –Lontano Da Te/Confusion –Rotor 7602006 (1974 Belgium)
The A side sounds like you would expect from the sleeve and the title. A mawkish Euro slow dancer that would have been conducive for a medallion-after-shave dipped disco Romeo to make a move and clinch the deal on some poor soul. However the B side is nothing that can be expected from the sleeve. It’s a maniacally wild and raw Punker positioned somewhere between Garage and Proto Punk. Confusion comes across as a close contender to Stud Leather’s Cut Loose even the low-mixed honking sax adds to the effect. A great release from this bunch of losers….
TNS –Time’s Up/Telling Your Fortune –TNS 111372 (1972 US)
OK, not only Bonehead Crunching time, but crackling time as well as this is copy is ahem…well played.
TNS was from Grand Rapids (Michigan), originally known as The TNS Blues Band, they shortened their name to TNS in time for the recording of this bona fide crunching classic. It has all the ingredients, a heavy pulsating beat, really meaty and overdriven guitars, killer lead and pure PUNK vocals…I mean this is real Iggy-type stuff. Both sides are ace, but Time’s Up wins in the Stoogian department; Telling Your Fortune being a Chicken Shack cover.. The line-up was Allen Martinez (vocals), Steve Barkwell (bass), Dave Dehoog (drums) and Randy Nichols on guitar. Guys –if any of you ever read this please get in touch. We need more info and I need a better copy!
Hi No music to upload at the moment, but in the meantime enjoy this great decal that was once stuck on Terry Rae's drum kit circa 1973...prior to joining The Hollywood Stars Back soon!
Bad Luck –Le Motard/ Terre de Feu –self-released 144.018 (19? Switzerland)
“I’m a biker, not a delinquent” goes the chorus of this misplaced slice of not so-hell-bent-for-leather Biker Thug Rock. The fact that the band came from Yverdon a centre for watchmaking in Switzerland rather than Hicksville Oregon or Detroit partly explains their safe positioning. However why does the singer spout theses inanities with such venom, why do the guitars roar louder than any Japanese bike ever could? Why is the performance so bestial and why do they sound like they really MEAN it man?. Information will probably become available soon. A colleague will be posting “information” wanted posters in the local bars in downtown Yverdon. I am sure the single was financed by the local motorbike shop and to add extra Swissness they were also sponsored by the local insurance company! BTW, you could be mistaken in thinking the band was called Moto Systeme, but that name appears to have been the shop.
The likely lads were Guy Niederhauser, Claude-Alain Humberset, Eric Fitze, Cannon Mayerat and Olivier Staempfli. They appear to have been members of the Les Dragons motorcycle club based in Les Tuileries - Shudder…
Now the first thing I have to say, I have a deep love and fascination for The Easybeats. Their UK period is for me a prime example of an artist at the height of its powers (in my opinion from 1966 to 1986 Vanda & Young were on a creative run to matching anything by Brian Wilson, Ray Davies, or Lennon & McCartney).
Now back in March I was in Paris and wandered down Rue Keller to pop into Born Bad.
I looked up and on the wall was a copy of Easy Fever volume 2. This great Aussie Easybeats EP features a perfect running order of Happy Is the Man/ You Me, We Love/ Saturday Night / All Gone Boy . Although released in January 1968 it features the European sleeve of the Good Friday cover.
Now although the record was VG+, the sleeve was very tatty. In fact I was even doubting that it was the original cover, but some sort of composite stuck together. So I passed on it, but then ended up regretting the lack of purchase. So upon my return I scoured ebay as well as having it listed in my searches. I sent emails to various Australian dealers and acquaintances but nothing showed up. Then 2 weeks ago I received and email notification: It had a appeared as a reasonably priced BIN from an Australian dealer:
Yes, BUT…no record, Just a sleeve is great condition. Then I remembered my visit in Paris back in March…
So here I am on the 25th of May back in Paris, only thing is that the guys at Born Bad have broken their partnership up. For some reason the record shop has moved to where the clothes shop was (Rue Saint Sabin) and the clothes shop has moved to where the record shop was in Rue Keller.
So of course I pop record the record shop, hoping the EP was still there, but no...
The guy tells me that the EP was on sale or return and all SOR records are still in the basement of the clothes shop. So I go to the other shop, get soaked in the rain, and lo and behold, they tell me that they no longer have the SOR records!. Aaaargh. However they said the record was likely to be back at the record shop. So, I start to walk back and the street is now closed off by the police, so I have to make a detour and somehow try to find my way back. I get there and after a couple of phone calls, the EP is produced!
On closer inspection, I realise it is in fact an original sleeve, but in very poor condition held together by tape.
Tomorrow I return to London. I expect a package from Australia to have been put through the letter box, and hopefully by 1pm tomorrow, I will have a fine copy of the record and a fine copy of the sleeve for the one of the most perfect EP ever created….
Now why do I do all this may you ask?
BECAUSE I CAN!
Now sing along with me…All Gone Boy, I’m an All Gone Boy…
Tears –Stranger in Town/Ollie –Gazell C286 (1974 Sweden)
Great double-sider culled from the first Tears LP. Ollie has the essence of 1972 Sweet but put through a Crunching Glam blender, while Stranger in Town is a tad more sophisticated but still packs a mighty wallop. Although there were primarily known to have released 3 LPs (the first 2 are essential purchases), it is now becoming apparent that more singles were released at the time. Now, I still haven’t seen proof that the influential God Save The 45 was released as a single…still waiting and hoping for confirmation on that.
Sublime Deluxe –Chose Molle/ Donne-Moi Ton Corps Juste Pour Le Sport –Flamaphone 781807 (1979 France)
Is it Punk? is it Glam? Is it Transgender Plastic Punk? Most certainly and most likely –yes... Featuring loud beefy guitars and affected vocals, Chose Molle is a hilarious take on Wild Thing. Don’t worry if you don’t speak any French, you’ll get it without missing a thing (or chose as the case may be…). The B side is more Plastic than Bertrand ever was - Pogo Pogo Pogo…!
I don’t want to get my fingers too sticky, but at a glance it looks like Sublime Deluxe is in fact the creation of one Claude Puterflam who was in Système Crapoutchik amongst other ventures. Brave lad...
Hear a full version of Chose Molle
Hear a full version of Donne-Moi Ton Corps Juste Pour Le Sport
Lenny Drake –Love Eyes (Cast Your Spell on Me)/(I’m A) One Woman Man –Rated X (for Excellence) Records 6969 (1970 US)
Now this is a hot one from 1970: Proto Punk, Garage, Bonehead…This single hits all the spots and then some; it really CUTS LOOSE!Love Eyes contains some of the most blistering guitar ever cut to vinyl and it’s no dirge by any means as it’s a great tune with a real chorus. What makes this an even more remarkable release is that this appears to be a one man band operation all underpinned by a vintage drum machine!!! Weird and truly wonderful…The B side is also good but a more straightforward garage track with a rickety beat and fuzz; but without the edge of the A side.
Lenny was the leader of a 60s Detroit area instrumental band Lenny and the Thundertones and is also the man behind the incredible This World (Is Closing In On Me) -Preston/Chris Carpenter. The man certainly loved using brackets in his song titles! More info on the web http://blueflower.tripod.com/lenny1.htm
Melodiers –Thinking of You/Bein’ in Love –Pageant 131 -970 (197? US)
Where the world of song poems and Bonehead Crunchers collide…The unfortunate soul known as Yvonne M. Rioux sent off these heart-felt lyrics along with her cheque to get this paean to lost love put to music. She would surely get the love of her life back once he heard her masterpiece. Just imagine her excitement when the records finally arrived in the post, but then she played it…
The Melodiers were the house-band on The Tin Pan Alley/TPA label once the label had relocated to Florida, and Pageant was on an off-shoot label. For poor,Yvonne the band didn’t even bother changing chords during the song!!!. The singer clings on to the lyric sheet tighter than he does to any semblance of structure or tune, however the guitarist is quite inspired and truly lets rip underpinned by the Dee Dee Ramone drive of the bass. All in all it’s quite an overwhelming experience sitting through this performance, remembering they probably cut another 20 “tunes” during that session. The B side has some other deluded soul’s marriage proposal receiving a crooner delivery
The 2nd day was a more relaxed affair, although
some dealers were only displaying their wares for the first time today, so
there was plenty of new stock to go through.
Apart from the usual bargains...
There were some top
ticket items to be found and either
1)Bought outright for cash
2)Paid via PayPal by phone
3)Or left behind to be mulled over until a new
opportunity beckons
I couldn’t leave the building without a slice of Bonnie,
especially when looking this fetching! (see above)
Novak’s Kapelle. This was a recent discovery for me and I
now have their first 2 singles. Check out this very cool TV appearance
Some weird and wonderful heavy Fuzz US releases. and a killer Brazilian? Fuzz Monster
More unique Glam, I was unaware that these 2 great songs
from Tears had appeared as a single. So will I ever find God Save the 45 in
that format one day? The Monica Tornel is a great version of the NQB song
Next week, there is the London Olympia fair which is always
a rather deflating experience after Utrecht, but then again what isn’t...
Got up in time for the early start as usual for set up day...
Jaarbeurs...6:50am...the gateway to paradise...
I was lucky to stumble upon a German dealer with plenty of unplayed radio copies of some prime Glam singles. All spares...
Picked up the rest during the morning, of particular note is the title track of the next volume of Bonehead Crunchers, namely Streetlight Fight by Angie
Some nice discoveries , including what sounds like a killer Glam single by Zabu. A French guy connected to Magma of all people. Iwas looking for that Charlie Woolfe single with its great B side featuring Ian Hunter and Freedy Fingers Lee. It's All Meat is a cool Canadian single. The B side of that Spode single sounds like Joe Meek...
Tomorrow I start again, but am returning to London tomorrow evening as I have to be at Wembley for the FA Cup semi final
So here we go again...Always hoping to make new discoveries whilst
wading through box after box and crate of singles. I have no wants list as
such; purchases are solely based on
opportunity and the mood at the time...so who knows.
Now I received the following comment on my Belgian shopping trip back in
February. Of course it was sent by “anonymous”. It appears that this person
feels I should refrain from sharing how I actually find this stuff. Now I am
not going to write about my ebay purchases, but half the fun is the journey and
digging for gems. I know my shopping trips have led to others making the trip
to Utrecht as well as going to the record shops I have written about. So what
do you think? Should I keep quiet? Could my ego take it? Anyhow here is the
comment from the prat himself.
Anonymous said...
Don't you think it's a snobby
ego-trip to post photos of records you buy? Nobody like you - the famous
collector of obscure 70's 45s! WOW! Buy records - make trade/sell list - that's
OK. But better keep posting details about obscure records with sounds on your
great blog, than your shopping (ego)trips and comments about record shops. And
what is an expensive used record? Used records have no price - the price is
what the record collector is ready to pay.
Black Snake Regeneration - Where Ever You Want/Tree –Vedette Records 5016 (1971 Belgium)
Black Snake Regeneration are in fact Les Serpents Noirs a long standing Belgian combo from Liege who’s long journey from purveyors of Belgo-Twist in 62 through many stylistic changes continues to the present day. http://www.serpentsnoirs.be
So a lack of confidence in their own identify probably explains the use of a different moniker for this fascinating single. So where does it fit? Well hard to say, but it’s really bizarre. It starts with strange lo-fi sounding percussion adds some pounding piano along with the popsike vocal attempt then returns to the tribal chanting section and ends with some compressed lead and a weird "scratch" effect. What the hell were they trying to do?. It’s a one-off for sure, but a most enjoyable interlude to their career.
Reviews of tasty and obscure hook-filled rock'n' roll releases (Glam, Heavy Bonehead Crunchers, Powerpop, Pop/psych,Garage, Surf, 60s Girl Group Rock)...Plus any quirky musings that tickle my fancy...
I created this blog in order to stimulate interest, share discoveries and encourage people to go out and search for the original vinyl. Hopefully this blog might also encourage labels to actually compile some of this stuff officialy.
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