Archive for the ‘The Beatles’ Category
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011
Listen: Ob La Di, Ob La Da / Joyce Bond
Ob La Di, Ob La Da / Joyce Bond
Found yet another gem at Academy Records in Brooklyn, hysterically sitting peacefully amongst the 50¢ boxes: Joyce Bond’s version of ‘Ob La Di, Ob La Da’. A song seemingly written for the natural Caribbean bounce, it further validates the lightweight value of The Beatles. Again, I preferred The New Vaudeville Band when comparing equals.
To be honest, I had no idea this even got a Stateside release, so I admit needing to be more humble in my criticisms of the local vendors. But hey, Steel Pulse singles on MCA are not worth $10 guys.
Listen: Robin Hood Rides Again / The Joyce Bond Review
Robin Hood Rides Again / The Joyce Bond Review
Nonetheless, way more fascinating is the B side here. Policy usually meant a straight up instrumental of the single’s A side was the norm, or as the mid 70′s evolved, a dub version. Not so this time. A completely new track, instrumental, and clearly nothing to do with Joyce Bond in any way other than her label copy credit.
Produced by B. Lee. Was it Byron or Bunny? Seems Joyce Bond had musical affiliations with both.
If ever there were an expert on Ska/Rock Steady/Reggae/Dub, it’s Duane Sherwood. He’s the go to on this stuff for all things not previously grooved into my gray matter. Inconveniently in this case though, he’s not big on the pop end of the genres. Add to that, the records recorded in the UK as opposed to down the yard, of which this is one don’t grab his attention. But given, as he pointed out, Bunny Lee produced a version of Otis Redding’s ‘Mr. Pitiful’, released by Joyce Bond and Little John in ’69, one year after this issue, Duane guessed B. Lee to be the Bunny man himself.
A fun, sonically out of place on Decca or any other major label at the time, single. I can only imagine how few were pressed, not to mention, sold.
Tags: Bunny Lee, Byron Lee, Decca, Duane Sherwood, Island, Joyce Bond, Little John, Otis Redding, The Joyce Bond Review
Posted in Academy Records, Bunny Lee, Byron Lee, Duane Sherwood, Island, Little John, MCA, Otis Redding, Steel Pulse, The Beatles, The Joyce Bond Review, The New Vaudeville Band | Comments Off
Sunday, March 13th, 2011
Listen: You Really Got A Hold On Me / The Miracles
You Really Got A Hold On Me / The Miracles
I do think The Beatles cover version on a very early US album turned me on to ‘You Really Got A Hold On Me’. Not one for The Beatles after about two minutes into The Rolling Stones ‘Not Fade Away’ in ’64, it must have been their second album at most. Long gone from my collection, I can’t verify. Never mind – it did the job.
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, as time would eventually refer to them, indeed made many great singles – it’s virtually impossible to pick a favorite. But this I remember as one of those first times in life. I still feel the exact same wonderment with every listen. It has never gone away and there are very few records I can say that about.
Tags: Motown, Oriole, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Tamla, The Beatles, The Miracles, The Rolling Stones
Posted in Motown, Oriole, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Tamla, The Beatles, The Miracles, The Rolling Stones | No Comments »
Sunday, January 23rd, 2011
Listen: Dear Delilah / Grapefruit
Dear Delilah / Grapefruit
Formed from the remnants of Tony Rivers & The Castaways, and Harmony Grass by George Alexander, birth name: Alexander Young. Brother to George (founding member of The Easybeats) as well Malcolm and Angus (founders of AC/DC). For some reason, the family left him behind in England when the others moved off to Australia. Lucky guy.
Grapefruit issued their first single to much attention as The Beatles had acquired the publishing and hence posed in trade pictures with the band. As with their label, The Beatles tended to be quite good at A&R. Even Brian Jones was in those publicity shots, God knows why. Result, the press were interested.
In the US, the debut single ‘Dear Delilah’ was released via Terry Melcher’s new imprint, Equinox, and hence got a decent push. Mom Doris Day wasn’t about to let son and Beach Boys’ friend Terry flop. But despite being recorded in “new orthophonic high fidelity” and getting some decent airplay, the imaginative psychedelic taint (not my words) of ‘Dear Delilah’ only reached #98 in the Billboard Top 100, and #21 in The UK. A shame.
Listen: Elevator / Grapefruit
Elevator / Grapefruit
The album AROUND GRAPEFRUIT, from which it came, was chocked full of gems including the followup ‘Elevator’. I remember it and The Small Faces ‘Lazy Sunday’ shockingly being played on my hometown Top 40 one Saturday afternoon that spring. Getting picked up for some daytime airplay so quickly upon release via the generally tight WNDR seemed quite optimistic. I was temporarily content.
It was over before it started though, as both peaked and stalled during the same week (5/11/68) on Billboard’s Bubbling Under The Hot 100 chart (above, click to enlarge). Nearly failed my finals as a result, the depression was so bad.
Listen: Lady Godiva (Come Home) / Grapefruit
Lady Godiva (Come Home) / Grapefruit
Things took an even sharper left turn for Grapefruit a year or so later in ’70 when the band got a touch too progressive, recording DEEP WATER for new, in US that is, label RCA. It’s one of those blues soul prog rock calamities that sells for a nice price nowadays, but grinds by at snail’s pace once you get it onto the turntable. Second single, ‘Lady Godiva (Come Home)’ wants to be hooky, but some cringing lyrics and slightly Foghat leaning vocals prove punishing. Having said that, I do like a nice clean aural snapshot of a bad single, and this is one. They’re totally fascinating artifacts.
Listen: Universal Party / Grapefruit
Universal Party / Grapefruit
An unexpected, and more than low key reprieve occurred without explanation or commitment by Deram in ’73, when the label issued ‘Universal Party’. First listen will most likely result in a shrug at best, but the faint hint of glam gets a bit more addictive with a few more spins. Given it was Grapefruit and on Deram meant extra rope.
In hindsight, I guess nothing compared to the optimistic sound of those first few releases, which I’m reminded of daily as I eat my grapefruit each and every morning.
Tags: AC/DC, Billboard, Brian Jones, Bubbling Under The Hot 100, Deram, Doris Day, Equinox, Grapefruit, Harmony Grass, RCA, Terry Melcher, The Beatles, The Easybeats, The Small Faces, Tony Rivers & The Castaways, WNDR
Posted in AC/DC, Billboard, Brian Jones, Bubbling Under The Hot 100, Deram, Doris Day, Equinox, Grapefruit, Harmony Grass, RCA, Terry Melcher, The Beatles, The Easybeats, The Small Faces, Tony Rivers & The Castaways, WNDR | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 14th, 2010
Listen: I Wanna Be Your Man / The Rolling Stones RollingStomesWannaBe.mp3
Like every other kid, I was crazy about The Beatles after seeing their first Sunday night ED SULLIVAN SHOW performance, and that was quite by accident. I knew nothing of The Beatles prior to them appearing on the screen. My folks watched the program religiously, it’s how we ended the weekend basically, it’s 9pm broadcast, then off to sleep.
Most parents regretted the moment that band hit the airwaves, a nationwide frenzy occurred on the spot. Seriously, there was chaos in school that next day. It was like no one could concentrate, and Beatlemania literally avalanched the youth of America. Little did we know, the best was yet to come.
I have forever proudly said, “I loved The Beatles until one minute into ‘Not Fade Away’ on HOLLYWOOD PALACE.” For true, nothing can compare to The Rolling Stones’ US television debut. Suddenly, we’d been hit dead center, this time for real.
Two days later, by the Monday, I had somehow mustered up enough money to buy The Rolling Stones’ full length, ENGLAND’S NEWEST HIT MAKERS and their single ‘Not Fade Away’ at Perrin’s Drug Store. Having eyed multiple copies of each sitting unsold for several weeks prior, I was panicked all day Sunday they’d be gone. Luckily, there they sat, waiting. The album had the poster insert, and the 7″ was in the picture sleeve. I still tingle at the memory. How could I have been so stupid as to leave the others behind?
Along with the great black and whites being printed in 16 MAGAZINE and TEEN SCREEN, the articles mentioned the band’s previous single having been a Beatles song. And this I needed a copy of. Given my cousins were in the jukebox business, they became my prime target for as much Rolling Stones content as possible, and it was my Dad who convinced Uncle Dominick to search out more records for the little pest, me.
Low and behold, he delivered a copy of ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’, as an A side, a few weeks later. I had often asked about the record’s origination, and was told it came from his regular one-stop. Years later, when I got my first job in a one stop record distributor, it all became clear, as indeed there were always a few piles of promo 7′s in the office, said copies waiting to be auditioned and considered for bulk purchase. Bless them for rescuing this gem from the rubbish bin.
The official US commercial release of ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’ has forever been in question. Seems the choice was quickly overshadowed by ‘Not Fade Away’ and apparently very few copies, promo or stock, found their way to the public, making this even more cherished.
Listen: Stoned / The Rolling Stones RollingStonesStoned.mp3
As with ‘Now I’ve Got A Witness’ from ENGLAND’S NEWEST HIT MAKERS and ’2120 South Michigan Avenue’ from 12X5, B side ‘Stoned’ grabbed my ear. Where’s the singer?
Yes, I was at first disappointed with the lack of vocals, but there was always so much enjoyment coming off these instrumental tracks, you could just tell the band loved playing this stuff, almost like it was home to them. And having worked very early on with Phil Spector, it’s clear his blessing encouraged them, given so many of his singles by The Ronettes and The Crystals coupled throwaway (at the time) jams on their B sides. Quick on the studio time and easy as a publishing grab.
Listen: Stu-Ball / Ian Stewart & The Railroaders IanStewartStuBall.mp3
When Bill Wyman produced Bobbie Miller’s ‘Everywhere I Go’ for UK Decca in ’66, word is he assembled various Rolling Stones and the band’s life long silent member Ian Stewart for the session. In true Phil Spector fashion, the resulting studio jam yielded B side ‘Stu-Ball’, credited to Ian Stewart & The Railroaders. Unlike earlier instrumentals from The Rolling Stones, this copy took more than a few weeks to land. More like a few decades.
Tags: 16 Magazine, Bill Wyman, Hollywood Palace, Ian Stewart & The Railroaders, Phil Spector, Teen Screen, The Beatles, The Crystals, The Rolling Stones, The Ronettes
Posted in 16 Magazine, Bill Wyman, Decca, Hollywood Palace, Ian Stewart & The Railroaders, Phil Spector, Teen Screen, The Beatles, The Crystals, The Rolling Stones, The Ronettes | Comments Off
Sunday, November 14th, 2010
Listen: Step Out Of Line / Twice As Much TwiceAsMuchStep.mp3
Just as there was never any question in my mind who conquerd the decades old Beatles vs. Rolling Stones challenge, so too did that boil over and apply to their respective managers. Brain Epstein vs. Andrew Loog Oldham.
Opinions don’t matter. The facts are the facts.
Brain Epstein’s roster: The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Cilla Black and The Remo Four.
Andrew Loog Oldham’s roster: The Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, The Poets, The Mighty Avengers, Vashti and Twice As Much.
Then there was ALO’s Immediate Records roster: The Small Faces, The Nice, The Amen Corner, The Outer Limits, P.P. Arnold, Chris Farlowe and again, The Poets and Twice As Much.
Okay…..I will stop now and show some mercy.
Focusing on the clear champion had me thinking today about Twice As Much. In a constant quest to emmulate Phil Spector’s production style, ALO applied many attempts to the squeaky clean Twice As Much. Possibly going a touch too far by giving them a very California ’67 sound, a year earlier in ’66 funny enough.
On this second single, David Skinner and Andrew Rose were allowed to write both sides, unlike their first and much of their other records, which conveniently slotted in Jagger/Richards and Marriott/Lane songs.
Listen: Simplified / Twice As Much TwiceAsMuchSimplified.mp3
It’s this B side which is their real gem, maybe their best ever. Pretty dependable at picking hits, I’m not sure how Andrew fumbled hiding ‘Simplified’ on a flip side.
I recall my pal Denny getting a copy of this in late summer of that year, and we both played in relentlessly for weeks.
Tags: Andrew Loog Oldham, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Cilla Black, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Immediate, Marianne Faithfull, MGM, Phil Spector, The Amen Corner, The Beatles, The Mighty Avengers, The Poets, The Remo Four, The Rolling Stones, Twice As Much, Vashti
Posted in Andrew Loog Oldham, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Cilla Black, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Immediate, Marianne Faithfull, MGM, Phil Spector, The Amen Corner, The Beatles, The Mighty Avengers, The Poets, The Remo Four, The Rolling Stones, Twice As Much, Vashti | No Comments »
Monday, September 20th, 2010
Listen: Kind Of Hush / Gary & The Hornets GaryHornetsHush.mp3
Lou Reizner is a name you will notice often if you scour various mid 60′s singles in the Mercury/Philips/Smash/Fontana family. He either produced, A&R’d or both for the company. I’m guessing one of his pet projects, or maybe assignments, were brothers Gary & The Hornets.
Every week several bands suddenly appeared out of nowhere, clad perfectly in wide colorful cords and uncomfortably fitting polka dot or paisley shirts, complimented by the obligatory bowl cut. These kids were no exception.
A hipper looking, but not better sounding, version of contemporaries The Cowsills (sans the Mom), they covered a few well know (Herman’s Hermits ‘Kind Of Hush’) or semi well known (‘The Troggs ‘Hi Hi Hazel’) singles. None with any success.
Listen: Baby It’s You / Gary & The Hornets GaryHornetsBaby.mp3
One such well known track, ‘Baby It’s You’ was recorded by many, including The Shirelles and The Beatles, but the hit went to a female led, more soul/blues white act, Smith. For Gary & The Hornets, it was yet another unsuccessful stab at some Top 40 success.
If I had to guess, the hope was their voices would improve with age – but that wasn’t meant to be. Turns out I have five of their 7′s, and the more recent ones don’t indicate much of an upward trajectory.
Never mind. They were fun at the time, and encouraged many an aspiring youngster to give a go at cutting a single or two, and for that we should give Gary & The Hornets a nod.
Tags: Fontana, Gary & The Hornets, Lou Reizner, Mercury, Philips, Smash, Smith, The Beatles, The Cowsills, The Shirelles, The Troggs
Posted in Fontana, Gary & The Hornets, Lou Reizner, Mercury, Philips, Smash, Smith, The Beatles, The Cowsills, The Shirelles, The Troggs | No Comments »
Sunday, May 16th, 2010
Listen: Spooky / Gary Walker & The Rain GaryWalkerSpooky.mp3
Is it possible to record a bad version of ‘Spooky’ – especially when Scott Walker is producing, or even just in the studio sharing oxygen with you? Before The Walker Brothers crumbled at the seams and eventually broke up, drummer Gary Walker was making solo singles – the first two, ‘You Don’t Love Me’ and ‘Twinkie Lee’, both becoming UK hits and as importantly, both produced by Scott Walker.
Shortly after that official breakup, Gary Walker & The Rain began what was to be a very desirable and highly collectable band. Members included Joey Molland, who prior was a member of Immediate Records recording artists The Masterminds, and after the breakup of The Rain, Badfinger.
I saw Badfinger in those days, they supported The Moody Blues. Despite their Beatles connection and Beatles sounding singles, I went along anyways – after all, it was two UK bands in my dull hometown of Syracuse. I recall speaking to the band after their set, for some reason they were all wandering around the audience looking depressed. Maybe it was bad acid.
Had no idea then he’d been a member of both The Masterminds and Gary Walker’s band. Lucky for him or the poor guy would’ve ended up running for cover.
Listen: Come In, You’ll Get Pneumonia / Gary Walker & The Rain GaryWalkerPneumonia.mp3
An even more interesting member of the lineup was Charlie Crane – a very unsung musical hero of mine. Lead singer with The Cryin’ Shames (UK not US band), it is indeed his voice on their Joe Meek produced anthem ‘Please Stay’, posted elsewhere on this blog. Search it out just to see how incredible this guy’s voice was and additionally, what a terrific compliment it made to that particular tune.
Most likely by accident, seems every single Gary Walker & The Rain released had a connection to another worthy band or artist. In this case, they were neck in neck with The Easybeats’ version of the song, released a bit earlier on United Artists and selling a few more copies, but just a few. Great song, deserved better result regardless of the version.
Listen: Francis / Gary Walker & The Rain GaryWalkerFrancis.mp3
This B side to ‘Come In, You’ll Get Pneumonia’ was always a favorite and of great interest amongst collectors. Seems the garage fuzz fanatics find it a must. I don’t see the musical connection but do love the track.
Listen: Hello, How Are You / Gary Walker GaryWalkerHello.mp3
From ’69 to ’75 we jump with Gary (who in the intern was a motorbike messenger delivery fellow – so the unofficial story goes). Having left his Japan-only success, The Rain, behind him now for six years, out of nowhere pops, oddly enough, another Easybeats cover, ‘Hello, How Are You’. Nice idea – I wonder in hope, can we expect ‘Friday On My Mind’ any day? Why not and what a treat that’d be.
In keeping with the aforementioned famous friends attachment, this version was produced by Allan Clarke from The Hollies. Not sure who’s playing on it. Any ideas are welcome.
Tags: Allan Clarke, Badfinger, Charlie Crane, Gary Walker & The Rain, Immediate, Joey Molland, Philips, Polydor, Scott Walker, The Beatles, The Cryin' Shames, The Easybeats, The Hollies, The Masterminds, United Artisits
Posted in Allan Clarke, Badfinger, Charlie Crane, Gary Walker & The Rain, Immediate, Joey Molland, Philips, Polydor, Scott Walker, The Beatles, The Cryin' Shames, The Easybeats, The Hollies, The Masterminds, United Artists | No Comments »
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Listen: Stubborn Kind Of Fellow / Marvin Gaye MarvinStubborn.mp3
Neck to neck, it’s a real tossup which guy epitomizes the early 60′s mod / soul sound: Smokey Robinson or Marvin Gaye. Funny enough, it’s as strong a debate as you might expect around The Beatles / The Rolling Stones challenge. At least at some of the pubs in North London, where the Tamla guys seem to be fixtures on a Sunday afternoon. I’d never thought about it actually. My barometer was always tuned to what The Rolling Stones were covering, so I’d lean towards Marvin.
Not sure why ‘Stubborn Kind Of Fellow’ never seems to show up on comp cd’s or anthologies, not any that I have, given it was his debut UK single and all. Besides, is there any other Motown based release that credits The Vandellas on the label?
Listen: Can I Get A Witness / Marvin Gaye MarvinWitness.mp3
This original paced version took some getting used to on first listen way back when. I knew the faster ‘Can I Get A Witness’ from ENGLAND’S NEWEST HIT MAKERS. Don’t shoot me, I was far from the only kid in America that got my soul music from the UK bands instead of pop radio, early on that is. Now that faster Rolling Stones take just feels wrong, but hats off to them for introducing American middle class kids to their own culture.
It’s pretty dramatic the difference between early and later Marvin Gaye. Even more than Stevie Wonder, but way less than say, Underworld. I think they take the cake. Check out that first album.
As with both singles above, these mono vinyl pressings possess a sound absolutely no other format can enhance or replace.
Tags: Martha & The Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Motown, Oriole, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Tamla, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Underworld
Posted in Martha & The Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Motown, Oriole, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Tamla, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Underworld | No Comments »
Monday, January 25th, 2010
Listen: Do The Teasy / Joyce Bond
Do The Teasy / Joyce Bond
I’m actually looking for information about Joyce Bond. My ska collector friend Duane thinks she may have been based in the UK, and recorded a few lightweight rock steady style covers, including ‘Ob La Di, Ob La Da’, actually making yet another Beatles amusement park novelty song sound passable. This track though, is bordering on greatness. Please send along details on her if you have any. And if you have a copy of her ’67 album, SOUL AND SKA, name your price.
Tags: Joyce Bond
Posted in Duane Sherwood, Island, Joyce Bond, Ska, The Beatles | No Comments »
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Listen: Take Me For What I’m Worth / The Searchers SearchersTakeWorth.mp3
Despite their clean cut Mersey look, The Searchers made consistently good singles for years. A staple of The English Invasion, like The Beatles and Freddie & The Dreamers, their past haunted them a bit when smaller labels in the US that had issued unsuccessful debut singles trudged them out to compete with more current hits. Didn’t seem to harm them much as ‘Sugar & Spice’ fared equally well next to ‘Needles & Pins’ in ’64.
A short time later, hits became a bit of a struggle (although most were well chosen covers), with spotty airplay hindering P.F. Sloan’s ‘Take Me For What I’m Worth’ unfairly. It’s seven week run that began in January of ’66 got it to only #76. Oddly, it didn’t fare much better back at home (#20).
Listen: Have You Ever Loved Somebody / The Searchers SearchersHaveSomebody.mp3
Maybe the suits needed to go, and the adaption to an image more in line with Them, The Yardbirds or The Kinks would have kept initial fans interested. Even The Beatles dumped that look, probably in their constant effort to unsuccessfully keep up with The Rolling Stones, although for predictably klutzy flower power / Nehru gear. ‘Have You Ever Loved Somebody’, like ‘Take For What I’m Worth’ before it, was highlighted by a very unique vocal harmony that gave both singles something irresistible. Again, US airplay was playing it’s fickle hand and it’s short three week chart run found it stalling at #94, with a similar fate in the UK (#48).
Tags: Freddie & The Dreamers, Kapp, P. F. Sloan, Pye, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Searchers, The Yardbirds, Them
Posted in Freddie & The Dreamers, Kapp, P. F. Sloan, Pye, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Searchers, The Yardbirds, Them | No Comments »
Saturday, July 25th, 2009
Listen: Good Day Sunshine / Roy Redmond RoyRedmondGoodDay.mp3
Listen: That Old Time Feeling / Roy Redmond RoyRedmanThatOldTime.mp3
Part of the Loma Records roster in the mid 60′s, Roy Redmond’s path crossing with Jerry Ragovoy made perfect sense. He’d produced many acts for the label, almost like a house producer, most notably Lorraine Ellison. Warner Brothers, being the imprint’s parent label, obviously decided not to give them their own UK visibilty. To my knowledge, all those US Loma’s came out on WB over there, as with Roy Redmond’s.
Having recently gotten this as part of Tony King’s collection, it was the B side ‘That Old Time Feeling’ that drew me in based on the Ragovoy production. Plus it was co-written by Donnie Fritts, for years Kris Kristofferson’s keyboardist, having learned his craft at Muscle Shoals and with Rick Hall’s Fame Studios.
Until a few days ago, the A side ‘Good Day Sunshine’ was simply a repellant to my interest, being a most cheesy Beatles composition in an already crowded list. With ‘That Old Time Feeling’ being so good, I felt responsible to give it a spin. Wow. I should have trusted Jerry Ragovoy’s work way more. It’s terrific. Amongst the song’s many qualities – it sounds nothing like The Beatles original.
Tags: Donnie Fritts, Jerry Ragovoy, Loma, Lorraine Ellison, Muscle Shoals, Rick Hall, Roy Redmond, The Beatles, Tony King, Warner Brothers
Posted in Donnie Fritts, Jerry Ragovoy, Kris Kristofferson, Loma, Lorraine Ellison, Muscle Schoals, Rick Hall, Roy Redmond, The Beatles, Tony King, Warner Brothers | No Comments »
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
Listen: Love Heals / Colours ColoursLoveHeals.mp3
A lot of great records were released in ’67, especially during that year’s summer. Decades later, and yet another genre from the day has found it’s own identity: Sunshine Pop. Not someone who happily admits to being a fan, without question there were some fine, no denying it singles to transport you right back to the moment if in fact you lived it. You couldn’t turn on the radio for more than half an hour and avoid a classic waiting to be. The Forum, Sagittarius, The Avant-Garde, The Cyrkle and The Third Rail all had their airplay moments with mid chart, near hits. Seldom lamented, Colours’ ‘Love Heals’ sits perfectly amongst the crop. Undeniably tinged with British influence, very Beatles to be specific, these one (near) hit wonders even spelled their name the UK way. Not sure about the album, but definitely find the 7″.
Tags: Colours, Dot, Sagittarius, Sunshine Pop, The Avant-Garde, The Forum, The Third Rail
Posted in Colours, Dot, Sagittarius, Sunshine Pop, The Avant-Garde, The Beatles, The Cyrkle, The Forum, The Third Rail | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
Listen: You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away / The Silkie
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away / The Silkie
A 1-2-3 blueprint for success in the burgeoning UK folk rock scene of 1965: be managed by Brian Epstein, cover Beatles song in folk style, have obligatory female harmonizer in lineup. Boom, you’re off to the charts. And that’s exactly what happened with The Silkie. But, after said single, ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away’ made the UK Top 30 and US Top 10, no one, including Brian, was interested. Despite being afforded an album on Fontana, with good songs and production, and a beautiful sleeve – the world moved on.
Listen: Born To Be With You / The Silkie
Born To Be With You / The Silkie
But the world made a mistake, as the fourth and final single released in 1966 was a gentle but terrific remake of ‘Born To Be With You’, a hit for The Chordettes some ten years prior. It went unnoticed by just about everyone, except me that is. I couldn’t believe no one cared. Admittedly the folk scene was a bit passe two years down the line, but the song alone deserved more attention. Proof came in ’73 when Dave Edmunds literally recreated a wall of sound production and applied it to what became a hit remake.
Posted in Brian Epstein, Dave Edmunds, Fontana, The Beatles, The Chordettes, The Silkie | No Comments »
Monday, July 28th, 2008
Listen: Mr. Apollo / The Bonzo Dog Band
Mr. Apollo / The Bonzo Dog Band
The Beatles lifted so much from these guys. Tell me ‘Yellow Submarine’, or lots of SGT PEPPER and MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR weren’t influenced by the work of The Bonzos, and I’ll know you haven’t bothered to listen to them. It may have been innocent flattery, but I’m not too sure about that. Paul McCartney did produce their hit, ‘I’m The Urban Spaceman’. He may have felt guilty. I do pick on The Beatles when I can, too vaudeville for me and they were quitters but admittedly had many good singles. It’s that Beatles vs Rolling Stones rivalry I can’t quite shake.
Last year, a friend at EMI in London sent me the entire set of Bonzo Dog Band reissues on cd. I still play them a lot, very worth seeking out. As for the 7″ vinyl, ‘Mr Apollo’ was the first to be released after they dropped the Doo Dah from their name. The US was lucky enough to see them at The Fillmore East, opening for Spirit and The Kinks, their first US shows in three or four years after the Musician Union’s ban, we’re talking 1969 and ARTHUR had just been released. This was October 17 & 18 to be exact.
Tags: Fillmore East, Liberty, Paul McCartney, Spirit, The Beatles, The Bonzo Dog Band, The Kinks
Posted in Fillmore East, Paul McCartney, Spirit, The Beatles, The Bonzo Dog Band, The Kinks | No Comments »
