Horizontal –Jennifer Generator

Horizontal –Jennifer Generator/ The Last Time –RCA 2140 (1972 UK)

I picked this one up on the strength of the title alone and it nearly lives up to expectation. I couldn’t find any information at all on this release, but Jennifer Generator is a late Bubblegum entry with a nice chord progression and lush harmonies. The use of a Fender Rhodes also adds an unexpected touch. The B side ups the tempo and has more than a hint of Buddy Holly/ Bobby Fuller as if channeled through Kasenetz/ Katz

Click on title for edits of Jennifer Generator and The Last Time

Me And Him –For The Sake Of The Show

Me And Him –For The Sake Of The Show/The Loving Arc –Dawn DNS 1108 (1975 UK)

Me And Him try their damn hardest to be The Beatles here, but end up sounding more like The Rutles on this fine vaudevillian Baroque Pop number. The orchestration and repetitive leitmotiv render the tune instantly hummable and the overall effect is a pure charm offensive. I don’t know who these guys were, but they released at least one further single Waiting Here on Dawn (DNS 1121) in1975.

Click below for a soundclip of For The Sake Of The Show

Bubbles –This Is Where The Hurdie Gurdie Heebie Geebie Greenie Meenie Man Came In

Bubbles –This Is Where The Hurdie Gurdie Heebie Geebie Greenie Meenie Man Came In/Zap N’ Cat –Decca Y-10832 (1975 Aussie issue)

Finally got my mitts on this great 2-sider. David has already reviewed this on his 784533 site (http://784533.co.uk/) and I can only second his opinion. Some may find the A side too quirky, but for me this is the essence of pure Bubbleglam and every bit as wonderful as its title. From the Chicory Tip gurglings to the near sea shanty vocals, this is a real gem to be cherished and sung along to! Zap N' Cat is an out and out Punker with a great cutting guitar sound, it also features a great lead and drum break. ENJOY!

Click on title for edits of HGHGGMM and Zap N’ Cat

Screemer – They’re On Bell Flexi (Interplanetary Twist)

Screemer – They’re On Bell-Lyntone –LYN 3534 (1976 UK)

This is a pretty naff flexi disc promoting Screemer’s Interplanetary Twist (Bell 1483). Anyhow it’s an opportunity to meet Adrian, Glen (is this 80’s plonker Zaine Griff?), Rob, Dave and Alan. The promotional effort didn’t work and Interplanetary Twist sank without a trace. This Phil Wainman production was also at least two years out of date, although it had a certain Rocky Horror edge; it didn’t get a chance to resonate with the public at the time. It seems that this same band had a later single on Arista (In The City), but is not to be confused with Screamer’s City Or Bust also on Arista that same year.

Click on title for the full Screemer flexi experience

Shake A Tail Suzy

Shake A Tail Suzy/ Meet Barry Sheene –Sound For Industry SF 144 (1973 UK)

Barry Blue meets Barry Sheene! This is a double sided promotional flexi disc for Suzuki that was issued in 1973 . Barry Blue produced and co-wrote Shake A Tail Suzy
under the pseudonym Barry Green. The A side is simply a different edit/mix of Big Wheel’s Shake A Tail (Bell 1310) that can also to be found on Velvet Tinmine, although this version predates it. There are more cycle noises, more suggestive purrs, plus other slight variants…The B side features an interview with Barry Sheene. It is yet to be confirmed if this is the same edit of the interview as the flexi that came with the February ’73 issue of Japanese Bikes Monthly.

I ‘ll post another “flexi” review in a couple of days.

Click on title for a full Shake A Tail Suzy

Ted Mulry Gang –Jump In My Car

Ted Mulry Gang –Jump In My Car/Give It To Me –Philips 6000192 (1976 German issue)

Although it shares a common theme with the Prowler single, this is nowhere near as pervy. In fact Jump In My Car is a comforting automotive Pub Rock/Boogie ditty quite close to what Dave Edmunds/ Rockpile were doing around the same time featuring a very similar use of monkey beat guitar chugging. Chris Spedding’s cover on his first RAK album is probably better known over here, but this is the original “hit” version. What’s next? Stan Collymore covering Bird Doggin’?

Click below for a soundclip of Jump In My Car

Sweeney Todd -Roxy Roller -German Pic Sleeve

Sweeney Todd -Roxy Roller/ Rue De Chance -Nova 6.11959 (1976 German issue)

Just an excuse to show off this classic German picture sleeve and as a reminder of the great slice of Power Pop/Glam found within

Hear a soundclip

Prowler –Pale Green Vauxhall Driving Man

Prowler –Pale Green (HMMMM) Driving Man/Jaywick Cowboy –Parlophone R5986 (1972 UK)

Welcome to the ongoing rummaging of future New Seekers boy Brian Engel’s closet. This is one twisted release for sure… Behind the nifty lead guitar and pop sheen of the chorus there’s a nasty tale lurking within. I bet Lyn Paul didn’t hear this one before the audition!

I’m that nasty shifty kind

That greasy 1950s kind

I’m a pale green HMMMM (Vauxhall) driving man…

Obscene and conniving

Pale green HMMMM (Vauxhall) driving man

I’m sure the management at the Vauxhall Luton plant weren’t too pleased to have their superior brand tarnished in this way, so the word Vauxhall has been replaced by a fuzz effect –It’s weird but strangely fitting. Does anyone know if any copies exist with the Vauxhall intact? I would love to hear it!

Be sure to also check out Brian’s later single by The Shambles (February 16th 2007 post)

BTW, I’m a proud Vauxhall driver, but thank god it’s of a darker shade of green!

Click below a full Pale Green (HMMMM) Driving Man

Barry Blood –Poor Annie

Barry Blood –Poor Annie/ On The Run –Alaska ALA 24 (1975 UK)

Supposedly a descendant of Captain Blood... Poor Annie is closer to middle of the range Pub Rock than all out buccaneering Glam. The guitar sound is relatively crunchy and the track comes across like Ducks Deluxe (playing the 100 club in October!) track with a few more chords thrown in. The B side is interestingly sparse. It was probably a live in the studio demo with just electric guitar, slightly off mic vocals and drums. Not quite Doctor Ross or John Lee Hooker, but pretty cool all the same. Barry later recorded an Eastenders off shoot song: Killing Time (Angie’s song) and She’s The Queen Of My Rock ‘N’ Roll in ‘82 .

Barry in the early 70s. Photo courtesy of Steven Blood

Click on title for edits of Poor Annie and On The Run